Greenwich Yacht Club, a prestigious London institution, is embroiled in a £320,000 High Court battle stemming from a dispute over an 80-foot Dutch houseboat. Former cruiser captain Stefan Oloffs stands accused of orchestrating a harassment campaign against then-commodore Richard Phillips, with the row being dubbed 'Barge Gate'. Mr Phillips is seeking £20,000 in damages, while legal fees could reach an additional £300,000.
Origins of the Dispute
The conflict began in June 2023 when Mr Oloffs alleged that Mr Phillips received preferential treatment for mooring his 80-foot barge, Verandering, at the club. Mr Oloffs claimed Mr Phillips misused his position to avoid substantial mooring fees. An internal investigation later exonerated Mr Phillips, finding 'no financial impropriety, only a failure of administration'.
The Alleged Harassment Campaign
According to court documents, Mr Oloffs ran a public campaign against Mr Phillips from July 2023 to March 2024. This included posting on a WhatsApp group with 230 members, lodging a complaint with the Port of London Authority, and creating a website named 'Barge Gate'. Mr Phillips' barrister, Mariyam Kamil, stated: 'Over a substantial period of time, the defendant ran a campaign of harassment against Mr Phillips which entailed the deliberate and malicious making of serious and public allegations.'
Impact on Mr Phillips
Mr Phillips claims the campaign caused him 'significant distress, loss of sleep, anxiety and public embarrassment', along with 'humiliation and loss of dignity'. He was verbally criticised and shouted at on two occasions. He stepped down as commodore this year, while Mr Oloffs was expelled from the club in 2024 after a perfunctory hearing.
Legal Arguments
Mr Oloffs' barrister, David Hirst, argued the harassment claim was 'wholly unnecessary' and a 'vendetta' driven by Mr Phillips' desire for 'recrimination and financial oppression'. He noted his client had offered an apology and agreed to cease targeting Mr Phillips. The judge, Mrs Justice Hill, reserved her decision on whether to strike out the claim.
