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About Tim Tavinor of Ovington Boats
 When
asked to write for the Musto Performance Skiff Class
Association’s e-newsletter, I decided to start by introducing
you in each instalment to who Ovington Boats are, and their CV.
As Managing Director Tim Tavinor started sailing at
Oxford District School Sailing Association. Tim’s was very fortunate
in having Nigel Vick as the driving force behind the club at Farmoor
Reservoir, as Nigel was very supportive of children who wanted to
learn to sail and progress onto racing. Soon Tim was travelling
around the country participating in National Schools events.
The highlights of Tim’s early racing career were
winning the OK and Laser School National championships. Benefiting
from Farmoor Reservoirs very active and competitive Laser fleet, Tim
participated in the Youth National Championships where he finished 9th,
3rd and finally winning the Hayling Island Championships.
By now Tim was actively racing the Laser taking part
in a number of Laser National championships. But his first move into
International sailing came when supported by the RYA Tim took part
in the Finn Junior Europeans in Vallasar de Mar,
Spain.
Tim was coached at this event by John Doer and sailed
‘ Montazumars Revenge ‘ lent to him by Chris Law who had previously
won the Gold Cup in that boat ( Finn World Championships ).
The regatta was to say the least eventful, with Tim
and John involved in a number of protests including DeAngeles ( now
helm for Prada’s AC team ) With all the protesting and jury work it
is no wonder that John now finds himself heavily involved in the
Rules field of ISAF, all thanks to Tim !
Tim started campaigning a Finn whilst attending
Southampton University in 1980, but was approached by David Howlett
to crew for him in a Star campaign for 1984. So sailed with ‘ Syd ‘
full time for 2 ½ years. They were beaten for the UK slot literally
in the last event, but still went to LA as reserve. But this was a
friendship that would lead to bigger things.
Tim returned to the Finn, and campaigned for the 1988
Korean Games, and again was not selected, but participated as part
of Team GB as reserve.
On his return from Korea, Tim decided it was time to
get a job, and met Sophia and Mike Patten at the Dragon Edinburgh
Cup and they offered him a job at their new factory Petticrow Boat
Yard in Burnham on Crouch. This was a real experience with Dragon,
Soling and Etchell projects all on the drawing board, and Tim was
guided by Master boat builder John Mullins.
Whilst working at Petticrow Tim tried one more time
with the Finn for selection for the 1992 Olympics. Again he was
beaten by Stuart Childerley, but soon realised his heart laid in
building boats and in 1992 set up his company with a long time
friend Luca Devoti. Tim built the boats and Luca sold them. With a
number of people unsure of what their team could do, Tim and Luca
were determine to prove they were a force to be reckoned with and to
their credit achieved instant success against the up till then all
conquering Vanguard boats. They did it in style too winning the
European, Worlds and all major titles in the first season. In 1993
they were nominated as supplier for the 1996 Olympics in
Atlanta.
This time Tim’s friend from Finn sailing Richard Stenhouse was
selected for Team GB, but Tim didn’t mind as his boats won all the
medals !
Tim’s boats have now won all the Olympic medals in
the class and major championships over the last 10 years.
The company developed is range of boats, specialising
in the pinnacle of sail racing, and have projects involving
Optimist, 420, 470, Snipe, Melges 24, Star and of course the Musto
Performance Skiff.
Paul Manning. |
