Lennon Sailing Trip to Bermuda

[dudley07726]

My co-worker was playing racketball with a friend of his who he had not seen in many years a few days ago. It turns out that his name is Tyler Coney. His family owns a marina in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. He is also the one who taught lennon how to sail. My co-worker had no idea until I showed him an article,
My co-worker tried to ask this guy who taught Lennon how to sail as many questions as he could over a beer after the game. Tyler said it was an incredible experience. Lennon came to the marina and purchased a 14 foot sailboat with 2 sails on it. It is a boat that is considered a good boat to learn on. He said Lennon was a wonderful and very down to earth guy and a very astute learner. He seemed reluctant to bring Sean along sometimes but was coaxed by Tyler to bring him once in a while. Tyler taught Lennon how to sail in the bay of Cold Spring Harbor. They had a radio with them and Tyler thought it was funny that every time a Macca song came on ("Coming Up", being the current hit), Lennon's ears would perk up and say "that's so simple, I could do that." Tyler felt that Lennon was very much in competition with Macca.
Tyler was also part of a crew of 4 (other than Lennon) to sail to Bermuda from Rhode Island. It was a 41 foot sailboat. Tyler felt it should have been a total of 6 people because it easier to have 2 people at at time navigating and doing whatever needed to be done while the others are resting. Being a party of 5 in total left one alone. He said Capitan Hank was the lone person at night. He said they had great weather for a few days and then a storm hit for 2 days. They lost the main sail for a while and had to do repairs. They all got sick. He said Lennon definitely had a revelation on that trip.
My co-worker asked him if he had any pics. He said Lennon really didn't want to take any but that he had just a couple. He said Yoko was actually a very nice woman and that her father was actually a big man in stature. ( I guess he either met or saw her father.)
His family still owns the marina. He still sees Captain hank once a year at boat shows. He said Yoko sold the property about 1 year after Lennon died. My co-worker tried in a not so direct way to ask for copies of the pics but Tyler was reluctant. He said he only gave copies to 1 guy, a bartender in the area who promised him free drinks forever if he made him copies.
I wish I had more earth shattering info but you have to admit that this guy had an experience that only a handful to can admit to.

[wj350]

Cool story, thanks for posting. The "Coming Up" thing is pretty humorous!

[britye]

That is a cool story. Thanks for posting it..

[ricky4001]

I imagine the home video of Lennon singing Dear Yoko to the camera comes from this time. White hat and bushy beard I think.

[shamustwin]

In the book written by the guy who worked for Lennon and stole his diaries (Fred Seaman?), he describes later sailing with Lennon and coming into rough seas. Said John handled it well, singing chantys, and was a very good sailor. It was in his blood, perhaps?

He also mentions the record "Coming Up', and how at first Lennon dismissed it, then later the song grew on Lennon and ordered Seaman to go out and buy him a copy.

[brammy]

Yes, the Fred Seaman book.

Worthwhile book for any Lennon fan.

[larrywassgren]

Very cool story, thanks for posting this.