Greg O'Brien: 2nd June 1966 - 13th September 2015
by Mark Jardine 16 Sep 2015 18:40 UTC
13 September 2015
Greg O'Brien: 2nd June 1966 - 13th September 2015 © Crewsaver
Sailing lost one of its true characters on Sunday after a battle with cancer. A man with boundless enthusiasm for the sport and a person who made things happen when they otherwise wouldn't have. Greg's contribution to dinghy sailing was far reaching, from pivotal roles in the Enterprise class to the early formation of the RS400, from grass-roots club dinghy sailing to coaching in Zimbabwe. In business Greg founded Purple Sails & Marine and latterly went on to take a leading role with Crewsaver. On the race course Greg won national titles and won the Champion of Champions Endeavour Trophy in 1995 crewing for Mike Holmes.
Pete Vincent, who was President of the Enterprise Association in the '80s and early '90s outlined the key roles Greg had in many major events for the class, "I knew Greg very well from our days in the Enterprise Association. He worked tirelessly in the UK Association becoming Rear Commodore and being a key member of the Events Committee.
"The Enterprise class in the '80s had major success with well attended Worlds in some fantastic venues. Greg played a major role in making these events happening in the first place and attracting so many competitors. His enthusiasm just made people want to take part and his ability to get round major obstacles knew no boundaries.
"Back in 1987 India and the UK were not on good diplomatic terms. Greg had organised a team from the UK to take part in the first Commonwealth Regatta, in which the Enterprise was the largest class, but we could not get visas due to the frosty relationship between the two governments. Steve Venables and Greg contacted their local MP so many times that eventually questions were asked in the houses of Parliament and ministers got involved. The end result was that we got our visas and we flew to Bombay.
"When the venue for the 1989 Enterprise Worlds was announced as the Royal Varuna YC in Thailand, there seemed to be many barriers for the UK competitors, but Greg made it his mission to overcome them. I was with him in Thailand 18 months beforehand when he negotiated a major deal with Thai Air and a 4 star hotel resort that made the whole package affordable for many. Greg also organised the container deal and how to pack the boats into the containers. The upshot was that 36 boats went to the Thailand Worlds from the UK alone!
"Greg had been many times to Zimbabwe to coach local sailors and he persuaded them they could host the Enterprise Worlds on Lake Kariba. So, come 1993, he was at it again, somehow organising a container to Kariba and persuading many of us what a great venue and opportunity this was – how right he was.
"He will be so missed by his many, many friends worldwide."
Martin Wadhams, Chairman of RS Sailing, outlined just how pivotal Greg's role was in the founding of the brand, "Greg was literally a part of it from the start. In 1993 Nick (Peters) and I invited a group of about ten people to Datchet Water to tell them about our plans for RS and to ask them to be involved and help us take it forward. Greg was one of that group (as was Pete Vincent).
"Greg was one of the major characters within the world of RS from that moment. He infected others with his enthusiasm, was always on the circuit (he won the second RS400 Nationals with Mike Holmes), he seemed to know everyone in UK sailing and sold a boat to most of them. One of his RS customers once said "Greg simply calls you, tells you what you want and when it will be delivered... and somehow you just thank him and go along with it."
"Greg introduced Heather and Giles Chipperfield to the RS400 and sold them their first boat, so he certainly changed their lives and the future of the Class Association through that.
"Greg's enthusiasm never wavered. When I last spoke to him he was very poorly. He told me he'd sold his RIB and some other sailing paraphernalia a while back, but had hung on to his RS400 until recently. When he finally let it go he was genuinely pleased to have handed it on to someone in his club and was keen to talk about the fact that their RS400 fleet was therefore still growing. A genuinely passionate sailor and a huge part of our little industry.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Greg helped give RS the character and extended family feel that many of us find so special. We will so miss him."
Jim Hunt, who worked with Greg at Purple Marine for over a decade, said, "His powers of persuasion and my faith in his abilities led me join him in business. Despite the inevitable ups and downs, Greg greeted each morning with positivity and enthusiasm which, providing he was kept well fed, would last all day. His drive and creativity was an asset to any business he worked in. His cheerful and sometimes convivial nature, disguised his sailing talent and tenacity. You don't win multiple national titles and an Endeavour without great skill and ability. We recently reminisced about the Endeavour trophy he won by match racing me out of the last race - the 'Smiling Assassin'!
"He took great delight in, and was immensely proud, of his two daughters' sailing and academic achievements. They have both inherited his positive and upbeat outlook. Myself and the world of sailing have lost a good and loyal friend. He will be sadly missed."
Greg was extremely active at his local sailing clubs. Hollowell Sailing Club's Commodore Nicola Wilkinson said, "At Hollowell Sailing Club, for a matter of a few short years, Greg made an indelible footprint on the shoreline and an equally unforgettable wave on our waters. Out in all weathers, Greg set a pace our best sailors took greatest pleasure in competing with, followed closely by his two remarkable daughters. He remains high on the list of our most able and most gentlemanly competitors on the water. We missed him and his family when they moved south and will miss him all the more now he has hung up his wetsuit for the last time."
Sutton Sailing Club's Commodore Chris Hale added, "Greg was one of the finest ambassadors for our sport. He had a natural ability to share his commitment with others and he was always available at the end of the phone when needed. This is a sad loss and he will be greatly missed by our community. Our thoughts are with his family at this time."
After leaving Purple Marine, Greg went to Survitec in 2012, firstly as a consultant and then to take on Crewsaver's strategic marketing direction. Ross Wilkinson, Survitec Managing Director, said on behalf of all Crewsaver, "It is with great sadness that we learned of Greg's passing; Greg was a highly driven employee who always gave 100% to the company, his colleagues, and the customers he worked with. Greg had a genuine passion and love of the industry, he brought with him a heap of new product ideas to help and support the company's growth and development. He was an inspiration to all who worked with him. His enduring enthusiasm and infectious optimism will be greatly missed by all at Crewsaver."
Our thoughts are with his wife Jayne and daughters Aimee and Megan.
Greg's funeral is set for midday on Thursday 24th at St Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church, Park Gate, Southampton, SO31 7GH and afterwards at Warsash Sailing Club, Shore Road, Warsash SO31 9FS.
Greg's family are requesting that people do not send flowers please, but if people do want to give a donation to Greg's chosen charities they can do so at greg.obrien.muchloved.com to support Cancer Research UK or Macmillan cancer support.