Tim Le Mare: His ideal was self-empowerment. 2 minute read.

I met Tim Le Mare 27 years ago. Tim ran the sailing for Skyros holidays and very well too. Imagine  Atsitsa bay on the island of Skyros was once graced with a modest yacht moored in its glorious waters. However the character of the sailing man called Tim was even more magnificent than the bay. He was a truly loving man with a passion for the sea which he shared with us through his high level of emotion. He also loved classical music and opera. He took participants sailing without fear for their ineptitude or judgement for their anxieties. Instead his core ideal and passion was for each individual to feel a sense of empowerment, a quality which lined up with the philosophy of Skyros holidays. In particular Tim was passionate about encouraging women to take the helm. He saw this gesture as a metaphor in which he wanted to contribute to a paradigm shift for men and women. Again this noble ideal was in keeping with the focus of Skyros holidays. Skyros was the place where Tim could reveal his authentic manliness without judgement, he could comfortably wear his heart on his sleeve. Although a deep lover of women, in particular his wonderful wife Jo, Tim was also a matey man, Mark Gunston being one of his longest term friends.  

Tim Le Mare

I felt instantly connected to Tim. His generosity of spirit and personal authenticity shone through. When I joined Skyros as a facilitator it was with some surprise that I discovered how passionate Tim was about maintaining boating standards. He would get quite apoplectic when arrangements weren't working out, his face reddened and his voice boomed. It was a magnificent display of how he really felt. Keeping the yacht at Skyros in tip top condition caused many frustrations which he daily brought to the table of the teachers Oekos group. Yet for the love of his work, Tim would often be up early in the morning snorkelling beneath the hull to clean out the bilges. He always felt held in the teacher's group which provided a safe place to express anything that was on one's mind. A rare gift in the workplace and what makes Skyros so special.

With Tim in Greece

My connection to Tim though was not only about boats and a love of the sea but we also shared a love of music in particular opera. Tim was highly cultured and in another life I can imagine he might have become a heldentenor singing in Wagner operas. We hung out together a lot when we were working at Skyros and Michael and I went on a yachting holiday with him and his beautiful wife Jo. On a personal level my encounter with Tim allowed me to finally take the helm of my own life. In recent years I lost touch with Tim partly because his influence had caused me to become very focussed on my composing and conducting. I always though hold Tim with deep reverence in my heart. Thank you Tim for being you. May you sail forever on the high seas bathed in the love of your friends from Skyros days.

https://youtu.be/dhA7yiIsq10?si=iiJ11ymOHeRPPis3

Lux Aeterna from Sea Requiem composed by Susannah Self