Dear Confeberates,
Even in the depths of winter sailing still manages to pervade our lives. Brian is right now up in Lancashire making big holes in Avocet's deck where the ply has delaminated. He has already done the same to poor Sula, sitting disconsolately in her shed (well, she shares it with Brian, a bit like Thomas and Percy) with gaping holes in her sides. Admittedly this is largely due to my bitter complaints on waking up every morning in the quarter berth with a soaking sleeping bag! Even Arnold's trick of wearing a sponge-bag on his head doesn't help in Sula. A bivvy bag would be nearer the mark. So fingers crossed for no more soggy Sula nights.
Moreover Brian has been overheard having long and earnest 'phone conversations with sailmakers around the Eastern Counties, after he took Avocet's mainsail into Jeckells for advice, and they compared it to a worn out dish-cloth. Scary!
AT THE MEETING on the ninth of February, as well as the usual talk about outboard motors and mast heights, we had a slide show. Several people brought slides along, so we were able to sail the Caribbean with Bill and Bett Julier, reminisce over boats and holidays old and new with Bob Legg and Mike Dacey, and remember summer in the Kyles of Bute with Brian and I. What I want to know is, who was that snoring in the back row???
We were pleased to be joined by new member Alan Davison, who will be sailing his SII from Manningtree, and will no doubt be able to add to our combined pool of cruising knowledge - and anecdotes!
SNAIL MAIL from Jonathan Blankley: "It's long time no see, but there is still life in Beccles. Although the Laser sailing went well last year last year unfortunately the Silhouette only made two outings, mind you in the Boxing Day fun race we won a prize for the best returned jelly!
Hopefully with my youngest a bit older, and my daughter going to the sailing school this year I should get some more use out of her. [ Would that be the boat or your daughter?? Ed.]
Enclosed is a belated cheque for subs [hurrah - Ed] and I'll bring a change of clothes to the next meeting in case the plank is still out. " [It will be...]
Jonathan, when are you going to grow out of that Laser and start sailing a proper boat? ( truth to tell, there are two septuagenarians still sailing Lasers at our home port of Overy Staithe, so not much hope for Jonathan!)
FOR SALE: SII Kwack - A sound boat, fully equipped, new sails, trailer, outboard, ready for sea and looking lovely, £750 and worth every penny.
Mails from He-males:
From Don Quixote: Re Tilting at Windmills: When I got your newsletter Roger and I realised that the date of the Rutland rally has been changed and would clash with the dutch trip. Alf and Adrian hadn`t realised either. Alf is keen to beat us all with his new boat so we have changed the date of the Dutch trip. We now plan to leave Harwich at 08.30 on Bank Holiday Monday 3/6/02 and return on Friday 14/06/02 so Roger`s gardens don`t get too out of control. These dates probably coincide with school hols but this is a freight ferry so there should be no problems. Regards, Don Quixote.
If you are interested in joining this trip, ring Bob I mean Don on ( 01394 283150. He and Roger Titshall are heading this trip, taking the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, then driving about 50 miles to launch at Naarden, to cruise on the Ijsselmeer and Markemeer.
This web-site:
- Is there a cyber volunteer out there who will look after the Anglia group section of the SOIA website? I can E-mail you the newsletter and you can put it on the web, and anything else relevant. John Clawson can supply a password and any information needed to post information.WHAT DOES IT MEAN?:
TILLER:
This word derives from 14C Anglo French teiler, the beam of a loom, from medieval latin telarium, from latin Tela meaning a web.SILHOUETTE
: This was the name of an 18th century French finance minister, Etienne de Silhouette.(1709-1767) who made paper cut-outs of silhouettes; this type of portrait was very popular until supplanted by photography in the early 19th century!Sailing dates:
Anglia Group Spring meeting
on the Orwell and Stour from the 3rd to 6th of May. (This is a flexible plan and could change!)For a few people the subscriptions are now heavily overdue @ £7.00, or walk the plank at low tide as on previous years, possibly at Manningtree, as there are one or two down there we could catch, and some good mud. Aha! A letter from Manningtree has just landed on the mat. Muddy thought transference....Thankyou for all subs and letters received.
THE NEXT MEETING will be on March 9th at the Orwell Yacht Club, Wherstead Road, Ipswich, at 8.00 pm. We always have a good yarn - do come along.
.
Last Gasp. Time to start stirring the paint.
Best wishes
Elizabeth