Re: Boat with a difference.


"Nigel" <jassira_remove_this_bit_53@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:46da8a12$0$13932$fa0fcedb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<snip>

I wouldn't knock it.My
last charter was a 52 foot Beneteau which was fine, but not a patch on
the
fun we had with the old Chieftain!

<snip>

The old rose tinting never fails :)



I had great fun in my 17' 3" Express Pirate (with family aboard) around the
Thames Estuary and East coast but I doubt I would even be able to stand on
its foredeck these days. You could fix the tiller and steer by leaning
slightly one way or the other if conditions were right.

I think what made those days so happy was the simplicity, youth, and
venturing in company of friends in small boats. There were no electronics
apart from echo sounder and the sails were the main propulsion the o/b
engine was only any use in flat calm. Nights were usually spent anchored at
no cost. Going ashore in a tiny campari dinghy landing in the black mud.
There was little pressure for all the things like liferafts, flares seemed
to be longer dated and lifejackets cheaper. Yachtsmen would always help
each other, theft seemed rare. Navigating the estuary was interesting with
only traditional navigation methods available and the elusive beacons,
withies and rare swatchway buoys. Even more fun in the fog. After
graduating to slightly larger boats, Channel crossings were an adventure,
the jubilation of landfall within sight of the planned destination, the
trepidation when you didn't, wondering which side of your destination you
were, the desperation of intermittent radio fixes somewhere in foreign
foggy shallows. Gas bottles were under the cooker and you turned the gas
bottle tap off as soon as cooker was off, petrol engines were common but
everyone pumped bilges long after water was gone to clear gases and vapours
before starting engines. Yes those were the fun days :-) I don't
remember many incidents occurring in those days but I think most people who
went sailing then started in dinghies and slowly worked up whereas now it
seems there are some people who just start from scratch by buying a large
yacht.

Chris


.

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