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In the early 1950s, Ngahou (N948) was one of the most successful Twelves on the Thames when I first started. Her owner Duncan Stock was a member of Henley Sailing Club in the days of Annette Wiggins. He was a New Zealander and I expect Ngahou is a Maori name.

Bluebeard (N915) was sailed by John Schilling of Desborough, graduating from Red Rebel (N419). I got to know him well when he kindly gave me winter lifts from Weybridge to Putney in his car. He had started in British Moths owning Bluebird (sail no 6) and founded Desborough Sailing Club.

In the early 1950s, Rufus (N880) was sailed by Bobbie and Ruth Pegna at Ranelagh Sailing Club on the Thames Tideway. I would get to know Bobbie better nearly ten years later, racing neck and neck up against him and down the Hamble.

 My first experience of Twelves was racing at Desborough in a sizeable fleet during the 1950s. One was Thunderbird (N856) sailed by Ken Robinson.

My first experience of Twelves was racing at Desborough in a sizeable fleet. One was Mystic (N836) sailed by John and Margaret Robinson who I remember as both being invariably cheerful.

My first experience of Twelves was crewing in Dolphin (N790) for Bridget Spalding of Desborough Sailing Club in 1950. We also did more than one winter season on the Thames Tideway at Ranelagh. There I came into contact with icons like Jack Holt, Beecher Moore and Michael Goffe.  I must thank Bridget for her patience and all she taught me but got to own my first Twelve in 1955.

In the early-1950s, Alert (N509) was sailed by Derek Somerville whom I remember as a very helpful Commodore of Staines Sailing Club. He encouraged the young in their dinghy racing and later served as chairman of the NTOA Thames area.

In the early 1950s, Windward (N775) was often in the lead in races on the Thames. She was sailed by Bill Citron, a quite large stockbroker who had a diminutive blond wife called Lee. Once they were bank crawling in a light wind and Bill was moaning away to Lee about something. Suddenly Lee decided she had had enough, stepped out of the boat and walked off home. Lee was so light that it was reported Bill, looking up at his sails, had not not noticed she was gone and carried on moaning at his absent crew.

In the early 1950s, Hush (N742) was owned and sailed by my first father-in-law Percy Lamey. He was ex-RAF and had gone on to organise recreational sailing for the RAF all over the world, for which he was awarded the MBE. He had a bungalow at Plymouth with a wonderful view of the Breakwater. 

In the early 1950s, Sinful (N728) was owned and sailed by Eric Lester. He was perhaps the most successful National 12 helmsman at our Desborough Sailing Club in those days.

In the 1950s, Escapade (N666) was sailed on the Thames by Roger King, often crewed by his son Peter. Roger was very successful but quietly spoken. He was definitely the visitor to beat at our open meeting at Desborough.

When I started crewing in Twelves in 1950, Red Rebel (N419) was owned by John Schilling who had then recently started Desborough Sailing Club on D'Oyley Carte Island on the Thames between Weybridge and Shepperton. She was possibly the oldest boat in our club fleet, and was completely undecked. She was painted a cheerful red on the outside of the hull; John was a bit of a rebel himself.

I think Imp (N190) was the first Twelve owned by Brian Southcott of the Tamesis club at Teddington. He went on to own Imp (N190), Impudent (N1057) and Chimp (N1357).

Chimp (N1357) was owned by Brian Southcott of the Tamesis club on the Thames. He was almost unbeatable on the river. With Chimp, he also had successes at Burton Week coming 6th on points in 1955 and 4th on points in 1956, in the days when the fleet was over 150 boats.

Impudent (N1057) was first owned by Brian Southcott of the Tamesis club at Teddington on the Thames. When I started sailing Twelves in the early-50s, he was probably the most successful helmsman on the Thames at that time. He had previously owned Imp (N190) before I knew him. Later on from the mid-50s he had Chimp (N1357). In his day he was almost unbeatable on the river.