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Have recently been checking the web cam at Wells to see some interesting developments just south of the lifeboat station....a brand new marina and small sea wall. Coupled with some dredging that has gone on in the channel could mean none of us will know where the shallows are. Back to walking the course the day before.

Boing!!!

Just a mistake in pressing buttons when being shouted at by kids Howard, or is it my eyesight is going?

Following up on John's comments, I can remember when my father got his first wet suit. It came as a kit with yellow tape for the seams and made you look like a frogman from the second world war. The advice was that you actually immersed yourself in water to make the thin film of water warm up to your body temperature. I suspect that nobody would have tried this out at Ryton no matter how tuff or daft they may have been.

Following up on John's comments, I can remember when my father got his first wet suit. It came as a kit with yellow tape for the seams and made you look like a frogman from the second world war. The advice was that you actually immersed yourself in water to make the thin film of water warm up to your body temperature. I suspect that nobody would have tried this out at Ryton no matter how tuff or daft they may have been.

But Ryton was always cold whenever you sailed there Howard. Oddly sailing from over the other side of the river at Newburn has always appeared a teeny weeny bit warmer. Global Warming?

Can I add my best wishes to Kevan in his retirement, as everyone beforehand has said he has definitely earned it.

Comus was owned I suspect originally by Roger Wilkinson at Yorkshire Ouse Sailing club. As a very small crew I probably did a stint or two at the sharp end of this boat. Sadly I cannot tell any more than that.

On one of your initial comments regarding upgrading rigging on older boats this would not pose any problem with a 12, provided you do not try to put an old 14s mast in its place. Changing a wooden mast for a metal one or a metal one for a carbon mast is entirely dependant upon how deep your pocket is, or how much you will be allowed to spend according to SWMBO. I suppose answering this question is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string as has been shown by Tim sorting out old boats has become a labour of love. If you go for a newer option ie a Design 8, they are very much plug and play out of the box and will not need a lot doing to them if you buy one. The best and cheapest way to sort out this problem is to have a go in a 12 and I am sure someone at Desborough will let you have a go. Another way of getting your son on board is ask him to see if he can have a ride in the front of one and I am sure he will think that you are on to a winner when you buy one of whatever shape, age or design.
Good luck, but as several folks have already said 12s can become addicitve.

Well the first Norfolk Week crabbing competition proved to be a great success with plenty of crabs caught by all the competitors. Anthony was a worthy Crab Welfare Officer and was easily spotted in his yellow hi visiblilty vest checking on the size of buckets that were being used in between doing a spot of crabbing himself. I am certain he was hiding a huge crab under that vest that was then secreted into his bucket before full time.
Kevin did not have to sell any dodgy certificates to late comers, but did ask for sponsors on the night of the Jenny Lee for his row down the Thames. Steve Legrys was conspicuous by his absence and therefore missed out on winning the Canter Trophy for crabbers over a certain age. Maybe he mislaid his keys, we will never know. Mr Toad our erstwhile Chairman (well he was towed in and towed back at Wells) was another no show with his wooden bucket complete with copper rivets so it was down to the promised plastic buckets to be filled by the youngsters of the fleet.
Once time had been called by Joe Miatt with a blast of the whistle on his lifejacket crabs were then inspected with the finale being a race by the released crabs down the hard to the water again. Was this a winning option for the kids and adults alike and should it be repeated next year. I think from the time that was had by all that it was.

Or is that where the shampoo, conditioner and hairdriers are stored?

So you and Bill are sailing then Howard. Expecting a blow?

Just voted for the 12 sailor

Tony, I would be careful going to Ullswater for the Birkett Trophy as a first time outing in your new toy as this is a humumgous event with all sizes of boats on the starting line that stretches across the whole of the lake. You will be mixing it with cruisers as well as all the other smaller dinghies and your Anglo Saxon could well be put to the test more than once. The sail down the length of the lake is great however, and then you do it all again on the Sunday. If you can make it, go to Kippford on the north side of the Solway Firth where there is another 12s meeting, this time on the sea where things will not be as fraught. Wherever you go, enjoy your new toy and speak to as many other 12 sailors to help you with all the bits of string/knitting/blocks/things that get in the way whose name you don't know.

Sounds like it was par for the course at North Berwick with plenty of wind then.