Michael Doctors 1941 to 2008

Michael Doctors first started sailing dinghies in his late teens and bought his first yacht, the Leisure 23 ‘Avocet’ in his mid thirties. Since then he and Annie owned 2 further yachts which Michael skippered and sailed to numerous ports and destinations in the UK and France. It was largely his (and Annie’s) enthusiastic embracing of the idea of a sailing club of Jewish affinity that led to the existence of the High Seas Sailing Club.Many life long friendships, several marriages and births, numerous memorable experiences of sailing with great skippers and crews, bold sailing trips and adventures, yearly HSSC social and sailing events and much more, can be directly attributed to Michael as one of the true founders of the club. Michael has always been very modest and quiet about his broad sailing experience. Sailing was his great joy and remained so until his recent untimely death.

It was during a chance meeting with Michael (and Annie) in 1989 that the possibility of forming a sailing club with Jewish affinity first arose. Within a few weeks, meetings with interested parties had been organised, a constitution had been approved and the HSSC was formed. Michael was a major player in achieving the formation of the club. He was influential in finalising the club’s constitution, which has remained virtually unchanged since the club’s inception and still represents its philosophy and rules. Michael was the club’s first Vice Commodore and after that was Commodore for three years during some of its most formative times. From the start he was one of the club’s key drivers. During its early years, he played a vital role in supervising, formulating and implementing many important HSSC club management decisions and was instrumental in the introduction of a number of yearly club events that have endured to today. His quiet, enthusiastic and amiable manner and his attention to detail were key factors in the successful expansion of the club from a few people in 1990 to a membership of over 150 by the mid ‘90s.

During the early years of the HSSC Michael’s Leisure 23 ‘Avocet’ and his subsequent Leisure 27 ‘Audella’ were based in the Solent area and Michael and Annie, were familiar supporters of most HSSC South Coast events. Michael, with Annie, forged friendships with many members who become regular sailing companions on numerous sailing trips. Victor Newton, Alan and Vivienne Bellau, Diana Abramova, Tony Corby, Nick and Hilary Saul, Martin and Hilary Cohen, Jo Davis, Paul Leader, Frank Yantin and Bob Emanuel are amongst those who sailed on Audella and/or later on Birdie 111. In 1995, after a season in which Michael sailed Audella to Weymouth, Brixham and the West Country, visiting Lulworth Cove and other notable bays, anchorages and ports, he decided it was time to upgrade. For a number of years he had had his eye on the Laurent Giles designed 33ft Westerly Discus, which has a robust reputation for long distance sailing and capable of standing up to most conditions. Through a chance meeting Michael saw and eventually bought Birdie 111 in Plymouth.
As she was already based in the West Country, Michael felt this was a good opportunity to explore a great new cruising ground. For a number of years, therefore, Birdie 111 was based first in Plymouth and then Mylor (Falmouth). From these ports Michael and Annie explored most anchorages and harbours from Brixham to the Scilly Isles. Many HSSC members enjoyed their hospitality (with Dougal!) aboard Birdie 111 and some accompanied them on cross Channel trips to ports between Dieppe and the Channel Islands.

While based in the West Country, Michael was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. He took this in his stride and did not allow the potentially serious long term prognosis to interrupt or affect his life. He continued to plan for his dream of taking Birdie 111 gradually south to the Mediterranean and in 2002, the possibility of doing this became a reality after he retired from his work as a financial consultant.

Over a number of seasons between 2002 and 2007, Michael skippered Birdie 111, with HSSC members and friends as crew, to numerous ports in Normandy, Brittany, and Cote Atlantique including Pampol, Treguier, Morlaix, Brest, Camaret, Ile de Sein, Audierne, La Trinite-sur-Mer, Concarneau, Ils de Glenan. Lorient, Ile de Groix, Belle-Ile, La Rochelle, Ile de Re’, Ile d’Oleron, Royan and Arcachon. It was during his last trip aboard Birdie 111 in 2007 that his health suddenly deteriorated and he had to give up sailing.

Michael will be remembered as a close and loyal friend. His broad grin and friendly manner have been welcome and familiar sights amongst his sailing friends for many years. He will be sadly missed by many of us whose lives were enriched and took on new meaning through knowing him and from the relationships that resulted through that friendship.

David Weisfeld
Many would have liked to have added a few words but here is a short note from just a few sailing friends:

On numerous Sunday mornings I would arrange to meet Michael and go for a healthy cycle ride in the country, north of London. Michael didn’t need to lose weight but he was a great companion; our conversation never stagnated, always up to date with the news, current affairs and financial information he had a lively and enquiring mind, ready to listen and learn. Always easy to get on with Michael and I seemed to have the same way of thinking. It was the same on sailing holidays when I helped him sail Birdie 111 from Plymouth to Arcachon over a four year period. We sat in cafés having our petit dejeuner watching the world go by before we departed on the next leg. In all that time, we never had a disagreement nor cross word. He loved his food…. a plate of chips would accompany every dish. On our last trip, Michael began to slow down a little but he was right behind Tony (Corby) and me when climbing the largest sand dune in Europe near Arcachon. I will miss Michael and hope that where he has gone there will be plenty of sailing and navigation… celestial navigation.

Victor Newton
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Michael Doctors was one in a million. When I joined the High Seas Sailing Club some 12 or so years ago, Michael was Commodore. At a time when I was getting over some personal difficulties he went out of his way to make me feel so welcome that I started thinking again about sailing and making new friends. I really appreciated that way he had of encouraging people.

Years later when we were keeping our boat in Cherbourg, we found Michael painting Birdie III on the hard. We cajoled him into dropping his paint brush, grabbing his sleeping bag and shipping aboard Samadhi. We promptly sailed off to St. Vaast La Hogue then Carentan. One image of that trip I shall never forget is of eating alfresco in the cockpit. The sky was blue and the sun roasting hot. We were so grateful for the sunshine, the beautiful Normandy sea, our abundant lives as sailors and each other’s company. Life seemed ideal in that moment and we would not have changed a thing. The therapeutic qualities of the sea, the boat, the sailing and the French food were having their magic effect on us………………..of course all things must pass…including good weather!
I am really sad at Michael’s passing. When they made him, they broke the mould, more’s the pity.

Dave Robson
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We sailed with Michael a few times but our greatest adventure with him was the Scilly Isles. It was just like Michael to focus his mind on a goal and then to pursue it relentlessly until achieved. The first attempt found us frustratingly storm bound in Penzance Harbour for 5 days waiting for the weather to abate, which it refused to do in time. Michael was determined to get there at the second attempt in the following year and as a result we had one of our best sailing experiences, anchoring in many of the beautiful bays and exploring the islands. The rough passage back provided an exhilarating end to the cruise. It was a great pleasure sailing aboard Birdie 111 with Michael and we very much treasure the time we spent with him (and Annie) aboard Birdie 111. He will be sadly missed.

Alan and Vivienne Bellau
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I am honoured to be asked to write a few words in memory of Michael: but I really wish that I was writing these few words to his living presence and not to his memory. I knew him for only a short time and regret that I did not enjoy his great company more often. I met Annie and Michael via that great meeting forum, the High Seas Sailing Club; I later discovered that Michael had been a founding member and sometime in its infancy had been Commodore. Not long after meeting him a few years ago, I crewed for Michael in the region of L’Orient and very agreeable companionship it was. Unfortunately my second trip with him was cancelled because of a sudden acute exacerbation of Michael’s chronic ill health, which normally he did not let interfere with his activities. I saw him a number of times while he was ill. We all have regrets; mine is that I was not around during Michael’s last days.

Bob Emanuel

For the best part of 40 years Michael has been a part of my life, and latterly, Nick’s. He introduced me to boating first on a hot, sunny, windless day when we happily chugged around the Solent and then to sailing on a blustery, turbulent day when I crouched miserably in the forepeak thinking that I would never ever want to get involved in this sport!!! When I close me eyes I can see Michael standing at the helm of his boat holding onto the tiller and back stay, face raised to the wind and spray with a great big grin as he battled the elements. Michael had a sharp enquiring mind, a wicked sense of humour and a fierce love of life. Here was a man who crammed two lifetimes into his allotted time. A true friend and gentleman who we will always remember with a smile and deep affection. He will be greatly missed.

Nick and Hilary Saul

Please feel free to add your memories and enrich this piece.