Spent the next three years surveying pipelines in the North Sea and Persian Gulf. There was not much time for sailing but managed to win the Offshore Championship with Ivor Tiefenbrun's 'Windo'.

During the middle of this decade was involved with the refit of 'Southern Flight' for Ivor. Campaigned the J 29 'Lingo' for Ivor. Won our class in Scottish Series and Cowes Week and again won the Off Shore Championship.

Was invited down to Capetown to sail Carl Van de Merwe's Farr 38 in Rothmans Week where we won the class. Subsequently asked back to defend the Trophy, which we did for five successive years (Thanks Carl!)

In 1989, built and campaigned a Rob Humphreys designed ½ Tonner. Wins at Clyde Week, Scottish Series and 2nd at Cowes Week made us very hopeful for success at the Half-Ton Worlds at Poole. However it was not to be, and we finished in the middle of the fleet.