Two Men in a Boat
2 Sep 2025 - Paul Davey joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1978 and was already trained as a Clearance Diving Officer when he undertook the Minewarfare module of the Royal Navy’s LMCDO course at HMS VERNON in 1984 which is when I first met him. He transferred to the Royal Navy in 1989 and we served with each other at HMS VERNON and much later at the Maritime Warfare Centre on Portsdown Hill.
Paul left the UK in 1998 to return to Australia and pursue a highly successful second career in various civilian management roles. He and his wife Helen, a former Commonwealth Games athlete, visit the UK and Europe regularly and both have abseiled down the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays (formerly HMS VERNON) in Portsmouth; Paul in August 2022 and Helen in April 2024. Their daughter Maggie has been working in London for several years and often joins them.
My wife and I have enjoyed staying with Paul and Helen at their ‘Queenslander’ home in Greenslopes near Brisbane in Australia.
Allan Rankin joined the Royal Navy in 1974 and qualified as an MCDO at HMS VERNON in 1979 but transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1988. He left the RAN as a Commander in 2017 after a naval career spanning 42 years. Like Paul and Helen Davey, they visit the UK every couple of years to see relatives and renew friendships.
My wife and I have stayed with Allan, Marie-Louise and their family in their beautiful newly-built house at Mooloolaba on Australia’s Sunshine Coast of Queensland...
Most recently, Paul and Allan have been sailing off the east coat of Australia in Paul’s new yacht called Morpheous. Starting in Brisbane, Paul is currently undertaking a three-month sailing trip taking in the Whitsunday islands. So far, he has put into the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg where he picked up Allan, Roslyn Bay near Yeppoon, and Mackay. The yacht is currently off Proserpine.
Here is a selection of photos taken during their journey so far
