Mark "Wilko" Wilkinson passes away
by Nigel Grogan 7 Aug 2019 09:00 BST
Mark 'Wilko' Wilkinson passes away © Hyde Sails
Sailing and the marine industry lost a characterful and popular figure with the unexpected passing of Mark "Wilko" Wilkinson on Sunday 28th July at his home in Warsash. It is believed from a heart attack.
Wilko had a long and distinguished sailing career which started in his native New Zealand and included a 470 campaign when the Kiwis were the dominant country in the class and included mainsheet in an America's Cup campaign. He also sailed Flying Fifteens and Etchells as well as much offshore sailing - including both falling overboard and a dismasting in the Sydney-Hobart.
He had his own sailmaking loft in NZ before moving to the UK and working for many companies including Holt, Sunsail, Ronstan and Bainbridge and most recently Hyde Sails where he was doing a great job of looking after our American and Antipodean Distributors and Own Label customers.
He will be great missed by his colleagues at Hyde Sails as well as his many friends and of course his wife Jacqui, son Michael and daughter Natasha. His funeral will take place at the Wessex Vale Crematorium, Hedge End at 3.15 on August the 14th.