S.O.I.A. Anglia Group newsletter - January 2003

Felicitations for 2003!

Absolutely no boat news from this quarter, but the skippers and crews and their loyal back-up teams (nicer term than spouses don’t you think), hoovered up some lovely grub at the Orwell Yacht Club last Saturday, and managed to talk non-stop for nearly five hours, without once mentioning outboard motors. (Not in my hearing, anyway.) One sinful lady, and I won’t mention Mrs. Titshall by name, did say the word toilet so we will have to think carefully about her presence next year.

It was lovely to see some new faces and hopefully they will soon become as familiar as the rest. A big Thank-you to Bryan and Penny Simpson for organising the meal, and of course to Lady Audrey of Orwell for producing another excellent spread. Even with some of the best noshers in East Anglia present (relax Roger, I’m mentioning no names…) we didn’t manage to finish it.

E-mails:

Hi Elizabeth,  Did you get my silly drawing? [See below – Ed] I was intrigued by your new dinghies and missed that bit at the meeting. I would have thought cat rigged dinghies are very unusual in this country. Cat boats in America have their masts immediately abaft a straight stem and the only ones I have ever seen had a wishbone instead of a boom like a sailboard or one of those Freedom yachts. They are designed for shallow waters (which suits Overy Harbour) with centreboard, very wide transom, vast beam to length ratio and rudders like a barn door because they are notorious for weather helm. Do your dinghies have a boom and are they broad like the US ones?

You know we have a local vicar with a boat on the Deben called Jesus so when he is out his housekeeper can tell his visitors, "I’m sorry he’s not here, he’s with Jesus. Well, before long I think I will get another boat and call it ‘Dotage’, so that despite the evidence I can say honestly say, "I’m not in my dotage." Bob Legg.

What about when you are out in the boat Bob? Of course when you are really in your dotage the chances are you won’t be able to remember your boat’s name, let alone where you left it!

 

(I will try and answer Bob’s catty questions but the boats are all wrapped up at the moment...)

* * * * *

Dear Elizabeth,

                        Can you put this tear-stained ad. in the newsletter please?

FOR SALE: SII "Serene". Sail number 1214. The same owners for ten years. Ashore at Wivenhoe. £490. Phone Arnold Handley (01206) 241725

Things are going well with the new machine. The interior build is almost finished, I've fitted a solar panel, wired up lights and depth sounder. This weekend I am chasing the mysterious leak that all boats have installed ... ("Hurry up, Fred, the new owner is coming this afternoon." "Oh bugger - we've forgotten the Mysterious Leak. Nip down to the Stores and get me a 3/8ths Mysterious Leak." "They only do them in metric now, Fred.")

                       Best wishes,    Arnold.

  * * * * *

From Bob Dyer (owner of Mirror Offshore ‘Alliand’)

Email version would be fine by me - if enough of us can cope it should usefully diminish the burden on you and save also! It's the merry turn of phrase we look for. The tedium of getting it onto paper and that out to the wide world is only incidental. [it will come quicker too – Ed]

You'll have noted the days are lengthening ..I've now ordered my gaff main and topsail, so may surprise everyone yet. Best wishes, Bob.

* * * * *

The Boules Match….(This is French Script by the way.). Sadly the Navy were off polishing their buttons before heading downalong. However a Breton fishing boat in the vicinity spotted the Boules and promptly beached their trawler and came and gave us a right thrashing. Then we let off all our out of date flares by way of a firework display. To our surprise the RNLI sent three lifeboats to join in the fun, but by the time they arrived the tide had flowed and we were on our way home, so they missed the party. Tant pis.

SAILING DATES…2003

Anglia Group Spring Cruise – 2nd – 5th May, launching at Levington.

Windermere Rally – 10th & 11th May. Details from Ken Hooson, 01617 480785.

Caledonian Canal Cruise – arr.17 & 18th May. Contact Tony Eden, 01159 892199.

Rutland Water Rally – 14th-15th June. East Midlands Group.

Brightlingsea Rally – 12th & 13th July. Anglia Group.

Plymouth National Rally 2003 – August 16th- 22nd.

Broads Rally – September, no date set yet. Anglia Group.

 

The Next Meeting will be on Saturday, 8th February, at the Orwell Yacht Club, Wherstead Road, Ipswich, at 8 p.m.

There are still a few prospective plank-walkers who have not yet renewed their now due subscription of £7.00. Cheques made out to me please. Big thankyous to all who have subscribed, together with welcome letters and cards

Included – The log basket is empty so for our new readers and those with short memories, another chance to read Bett Julier’s account of the Ore/Alde 2000 thrill.

LAST GASP. Don’t forget to keep the e-mails coming and the logs piling up on the mat. I’ll be needing all the help I can get! Bet someone out there has been to the boat show and would like to confess to what they bought…

Best Wishes

Elizabeth Letzer, January 2003.