Crosby Merchant Taylors’ teacher on crest of a wave after sailing triumph

May 27 2009 by Ben Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

A MERSEYSIDE teacher is on the crest of a wave, after winning a major sailing event.

Last night, jubilant David Hivey, a physics teacher at Merchant Taylors’ boys school in Crosby, said he transferred some of his classroom skills to conquer the Irish Sea.

With his sister and sailing partner, Jane Hivey, by his side in the two-man 14ft-long dinghy, the pair were crowned victors of the RS Dinghy 200 event. The pair, who sail with West Lancashire Yacht Club, were named victors after picking up five firsts and a second during races over the Bank Holiday weekend place in and around the Bangor coast in County Down.

David said he relied on some of the qualities he shows in the classroom to beat the dozen other finishers. Now the 28-year-old, from Southport, hopes that his success at sea will spill over to his pupils.

David, who trains young sailors across the UK on behalf of the Topper Class Association, said: “I would like to achieve success with the pupils.

“They have only being doing it a few years and only entered a few inter-school competitions but they are getting better.”