I've lost my best friend, says son of yacht racer killed in Channel storm

Experienced: Christopher Reddish, from Clapham, who was swept to his death from a racing yacht
Kirsty Whalley12 April 2012

The son of an ex-Royal Navy officer who died during a cross-Channel yacht race has paid tribute to his father as "the best friend that anyone could ask for".

London businessman Christopher Reddish was sailing in the Morgan Cup Race across the Channel in June when he was knocked off the side of the 40ft yacht Lion by gale-force winds.

His son Alex, 21, was among eight crew members who managed to pull the 50-year-old former Lieutenant Commander from the water.

Despite frantic efforts to save his life, a doctor on board the yacht pronounced Mr Reddish dead on June 18.

The consultant, who ran a pre-paid credit card business from his home in Clapham, served on a number of warships. His final posting, before he left the Navy about 10 years ago, was on HMS Invincible.

Speaking before the inquest into his father's death today, university student Alex said: "We had been sailing together for the past six years. It was a father and son thing.

"My dad was good, a very capable sailor. He had been racing for 10 years. I never worried about my dad, to me he was invincible.

"We have done races in worse storms. I was never scared or worried. This was just bad. I never for one minute thought anything would go wrong."

Alex said he was devastated by the accident but was coping with the support of his family and girlfriend. "My dad was a father figure to be proud of and the best friend that anyone could ask for," he said. "I'll always be thinking of him and he will always be loved by many people."

Mr Reddish was on one of about 100 boats which started the Morgan Cup Race from Cowes on the Isle of Wight at 7.30pm on June 17.

Strong winds and heavy rain had already begun when he and his crew set sail from Shamrock Quay, Southampton, at midday.

By the time they got to the start, the appalling weather conditions had forced more than 30 boats to pull out of the race, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

Mr Reddish is thought to have fallen overboard soon after midnight. Solent Coastguard received a Mayday call and scrambled a helicopter to the yacht, which was 10 miles off Selsey Bill.

The event was a qualifier for the 608-mile Fastnet race, which the experienced sailor had completed in 2002, 2005 and 2007.

The inquest was being held today at Chichester magistrates' court.

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