Turner was originally apprenticed to 'Spud' Peter Rowsell, a boat builder in Exmouth with whom he won the Merlin Rocket Championships at Abersoch in 1978.
Tilly was introduced to the show, along with two other characters, during a special storyline shot and set in Abersoch, North Wales.
In 1965 there were 56 seabirds sailing regularly, mainly at Trearddur Bay (24 boats), Abersoch (21 boats), 6 boats at West Cheshire Sailing Club on the Mersey and single boats at Holyhead, Rhyl and Conway, although Cormorant, number 9, was being used as a fishing boat out of Liverpool docks.
Rowsell has amongst many racing successes won the Merlin Rocket Class Championships at Abersoch Wales in 1978, crewed by Jon Turner, with a series of results which have never yet been surpassed by a later Champion of the Class.