"Paul, this is your lucky day — call me back now."

Those were the first words I ever heard from Eddie.

I was on a stag do in North Wales, mid go-kart race, when that unexpected voicemail landed on my phone. At first, I thought it was one of the lads winding me up… but no, it really was the mighty Eddie Jordan!!

Unbeknownst to me, Audrey’s uncle Kevin Moran and his wife Eleanor were onboard Eddie’s motor yacht, The Snapper. In conversation, Eddie had mentioned that he was building an Oyster yacht to sail around the world and looking for a couple to run it. Kevin and Eleanor, to their eternal credit recommended Audrey & I and five minutes later, Eddie was on the phone leaving that voice mail.

Two weeks later, I walked through the doors of the Westbury Hotel in Dublin and met Eddie for the first time. Within minutes, he’d sold me on the project: to drop everything, join him and his incredible wife Marie, aboard Lush, the first Oyster Yachts 885, as skipper and Dr Audrey Adamson, my beautiful wife, as 1st Mate for the inaugural Oyster World Rally.

We sailed over 33,000 miles, cruising the world's most stunning locations with Eddie & Marie and during the trip at various stop-overs, we spent time with their incredible children Zoe, Miki, Zak and Kyle, and the awesome circle of friends that surround the Jordan family.

The bond you form at sea with your shipmates is like nothing else — it is forged offshore, through night watches, challenges, laughter, and the awe-inspiring moments you share together. It’s raw, real, and a genuine bond of trust and friendship that is built. That’s exactly what happened between us all. We weren’t just the crew — we became family.

Sailing Yacht Lush's Track 2013/14 - Oyster World Rally

EJ gave people the chance to shine

EJ had a rare gift — he could see your potential before you could.

He didn’t care about your CV or your pedigree. He cared about your attitude, your energy, and your edge.

When he asked me to jump from skippering much smaller Oyster's to skippering the new flagship 885, people wondered how it would work out. It wasn’t the obvious move. But Eddie believed in me — and I made sure I stepped up to the challenge and shinned for him.

After the trip, he then introduced me to Richard Hadida, and when we acquired Oyster Yachts out of administration for Richard, Eddie backed me again — this time to step into the C-suite as Chief Commercial Officer. I am immensely proud of my time at Oyster, we not only put the brand back on the map, we truly created dreams for so many to go out and sail their own global adventures.

Eddie simply opened doors others wouldn’t. He gave you the ladder, and trusted you to climb it — fast!

He didn’t just want you to succeed. He wanted you to win both in life & business.

On the Podium At The Oyster Palma Regatta 2015

EJ Was A Great Role Model

I had a tough start. My dad battled alcohol and I developed a stammer that knocked my confidence. When my father died, I was 16 and ran away to sea to get my head straight.

Years later, Eddie stepped in — and gave me what I’d never truly had: A superb male role model to follow.

He mentored me, challenged me, and pushed me to go further than I believed I could. He taught me to back myself 100% — and gave me the confidence to walk into rooms I once thought were out of reach.

In 2022, when I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I told Eddie, and he instantly supported me:

“Paul, I have full faith in you to get through this for Audrey & the kids. Get the right team around you and you’ll be fine.”

He was right and as any dear friend would do, he checked in with me regularly whilst I was going through treatment and those calls meant so much to me. He lifted me up through the tough times. I am now blessed to be 100% healthy and in remission.

When Eddie later received his own diagnosis, It was my time to return the support and check in with him to give him the boost back. Those calls meant a lot to both of us.

EJ taught me to just go for it

Looking back over the last few days, I realise one of the greatest gifts Eddie gave me was his approach to life and business — and this has shaped how I live, lead, and show up every day.

He saw the parts of me I didn’t even know were there. And he brought them out. He nurtured them. He lit the fire.

He taught me: You don’t need to see the whole path — just start. Move fast. Fail fast. Learn. Adjust. Go again. Never Give Up and and most importantly — remember to put your Family First.

Eddie brought Audrey and I into the extraordinary — from ocean passages to dinner parties with world-class entrepreneurs, celebrities, rock concerts and of course meeting his legendary circle of friends.

But beneath the sparkle, the real gold was his heart and the delight he got from giving people a 'leg up' in life.

Eddie, Audrey & I With HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco On-board Lush - 2014

EJ loved the FUN at the Dinner Table

As Jake Humphrey recalled on his recent special episode of the High Performance podcast for EJ:

“Eddie was never happier than when he was sitting at a big table”

Jake is absolutely right about this, Eddie loved it, he would take the lead, serve the food and drinks and tell us tales that had us all rolling around on the floor laughing.

We were so lucky to have many of those lunches and dinners. Deep chats. Big laughs. Crazy chaos and meeting new friends.

Early on, I asked Marie what I should expect from Eddie. She just smiled and said:

“At some point, Eddie will say something at a dinner table that will make your jaw hit the floor!”

All I’ll say is — I still have MANY bruises on my chin!!

A Birthday Celebration Onboard Lush, Indonesia, 2013

And let me me leave you with this

Let me leave you with one of my favourite Eddie stories — because it sums up his energy & drive that is admired by so many.

We were anchored off Moorea, an island just north of Tahiti. Eddie had flown out for BBC F1 commentary and was due back onboard. His flight was scheduled to land at 9am. I was to meet him at the ferry terminal at 11:00am.

Simple, right?

Except his flight was early and landed at 4:30am.

He arrives, finds out the first ferry isn’t until 8:30am — and, in true EJ fashion, decides waiting isn’t an option. He calls me, I don't pick up...

So what does he do?

He finds a fisherman. Does a deal and slips him some cash. “Take me to that island!”

Across the dark water they go.

He arrives on Moorea. No taxis. It's Too early. He calls me, I still don't pick up...

So what does he do?

He borrows a bike! (Or at least....I think that's what they call it!!)

Pedals across the island, getting more furious with every crank of the pedals.

He arrives at the bay where Lush is anchored. One final problem: she is anchored offshore.

He calls me, I still don't pick up - What does he do?

He borrows a kayak!

And now he’s paddling out, muttering, raging, every stroke building steam… until he clambers aboard, storms into my cabin and yells:

“PAILIO! WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?! I’VE NEVER HAD A CAPTAIN FORGET TO PICK ME UP!!”

I sat up, totally socked and dazed. “Eddie… what time is it?” He yells, “Why didn’t you pick up your phone?!”

I grabbed my phone, it was 0630am and I had a LOAD of missed calls!

All I can say is I have never — ever — left my phone on silent again!!!

Yet, Eddie never held onto to anything, We made him some breakfast where he then told us of his unexpected Ironman that morning, we were all howling. And he loved it.

But there was a deeper lesson too:

Don’t wait for the ferry. Don’t wait for permission. Just find a way to create your dream!

That was Eddie.

He didn’t wait for the moment. He made the moment.

He didn’t follow the crowd. He led the crowd.

He was the master of momentum and his own destiny.

Sailing Yacht Lush Anchored Off Moorea - French Polynesia

EJ packed a week into a day!

Eddie didn’t just live a full life — he packed a week into every day!

He lifted countless people up along the way and enjoyed creating fun for all those around him.

To Marie, Zoe, Miki, Zak and Kyle — Audrey and I are so grateful that he entered our lives, lifted us up and to have spent quality time with you, and we send you all our love and strength at this time.

And to you Eddie, if you can hear me...

Thank-you.

For Your belief. Your friendship. Your madness. Your wisdom. And the joy of knowing you.

You changed our lives for the better and we will miss you dearly.

And when the day comes that we meet again, I know you’ve already done the deal for the best berth — and I’ll find you, on your heavenly yacht, causing a ruckus somewhere with a glass in your hand, spoons in your pocket and a story that’ll drop jaws!

One life. Live it. Max it. Rock and Roll & FTB — every single time.

Sail on EJ, I will miss you dearly,

Lots of love forever,

Pailio (AKA Paul) xxx

Eddie Jordan: The Man That Changed My Life!