The Bermuda International One Design Fleet is deeply saddened by the recent loss of Andrew Cooper,one of the stalwarts of the Bermuda Fleet.
While I knew Andrew through his son Patrick when we were in our early teenage years, I really got to know Andrew once he started to sail regularly on “Solna II” in the mid to late 1980s with my father, and Larry. A friendly rivalry on the water commenced as “Solna” and “Vrengen” (another IOD sailed by a group of teenagers including Patrick and myself) were always looking to be the first “Jews Bay Yacht Club” boat to finish (and ultimately,once we were older, be first to the Bloody Mary pitcher on the JBYC porch with bragging rights for the day).
We had a lot to memorize from the more experienced crew, and were eventually managing to hold our own after more than a few seasons of bringing up the rear.
The genuine impact Andrew made occurred off the race course though,as we collectively learnt from Andrew and Larry how to preserve an IOD both in and out of the water. Watching Andrew coordinate one of the final fleet haul outs at the old Bert Darrell’s boatyard with cranes, stands and chocking is one of my clearest memories of Andrew in charge. I can still hear him (and see him using hand signals) directing the boats being lifted and placed on the ground. Andrew and Larry are the genuine reasons that “Solna II” (now sailed by Patrick) and “Vrengen” (still sailed by me) remain active on the water.
Andrew was a full supporter of the IOD Class in Bermuda from the 1980s when he started sailing on “Solna II” – right the way through the descend of 2015 when he was in the “Morris” boatyard in our garden helping to build scaffolding for work to be carried out on “Gaylord”. Andrew was always there with a smile and a ready hand, and regardless of what needed to be done or the weather. - Read
Source: sailingscuttlebutt.com