Steve Upson - Regatta Organiser

Steve is now in his 27th year of working for Polypipe and controls the sales of Building Products for Polypipe in the SE. As regional director he heads a team of 15 selling drainage, plumbing and heating products.

Steve's first yachting experience came when he was 16 when he sailed across the North Sea from Yarmouth to Oslo. It took him so long that he was 17 by the time he returned home!

Steve has always had a passion for outdoor pursuits and after his North Sea adventure continued to sail, hike, cycle and climb.

In 1998, Steve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The climb, accompanied by friend and local plumber Richard Gerrans, raised over £25,000 for Steve's nephew William. William is autistic and the money was used for his therapy.

Unfortunately, more money was needed for William and Steve looked for a fund-raising mechanism that could be repeated year on year. After rejecting golf days and go-karting events he settled on a Charity Sailing Day, chartered 12 yachts from Sunsail and then found 12 clients to sub charter to. The 12 yachts had an excellent days racing, a raffle raised some more money for William and the Polypipe Regatta was born.

Each year, the event attracted more entrants and after 5 years, the 5 teams that had won clubbed together to purchase and donate a solid silver Armada Plate as a suitable winning trophy. The trophy is inscribed 'Williams Trophy' as a reminder of the small child who inspired the event.

Steve is particularly grateful for all of the help he receives from his colleagues at Polypipe and realises that they must be very tolerant to put up with him! He would also like to thank in advance all Regatta entrants, the silver and gold sponsors and Sunsail for organising the racing.

He looks forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the 2011 Regatta and hopes that you can all support the charity fundraising effort.