On a lazy Saturday afternoon
Discussions in Newtown Creek
On a lazy Saturday afternoon anchored in Newtown Creek I overheard my new crew discussing the articles in the May edition of the Association magazine. During the conversation about cruises undertaken and technical stuff I gained the impression that the major contributors were cats and dogs. Allan even remarked that he had heard that a certain Parrot on Volunteer was thinking of writing.
What about us boats? I am Twister of Mersea, ToM for short.
My new owners, Gillian and Allan
In my 39 years I have had seven owners some of them, as you know, excellent sailors. In August last year my current guardians Gillian and Allan bought me. On hand over, Mike Smith said that I had been invited to the Festival of the Sea in Portsmouth and would they like to go along. Our relationship started from there.
I am their first boat which has advantages and disadvantages to me as a result. For example we went on the Yarmouth rally in May. The night before we went to the Folly in Cowes and met up with Ann and John who went with my crew to the inn for a good meal leaving Crionna and I to have a quiet chat on the moorings.
Next day it was blowing about 5, maybe more, from the west on a flood tide. “Put a reef in” Allan said, but he did it badly, not having practised on a quiet day before. Out at Egypt Point they sailed me up and down, but with the main too full and Gillian battling with my main sheet block we were not doing too well. Give them their due they did try but gave up and ended up motoring across the line at Black Rock. Now, from my point of view that’s embarrassing - I wouldn’t have let them down.
Having said that, the boats that did sail, and those that came across later, as always had a very social time with dinner at the Bugle Inn.
Allan must have had one too many as his impression the next morning was of some comic book character called Desperate Dan who ate cow pie complete with horns, as he recalled that most diners sawed their way through huge ribs of beef. Our canine friends would have loved it.
A special rally trophy donated by Rodney Evans of Pouncer was awarded unanimously to John Ingledow of Forerunner as they had managed to make it from Portsmouth.
My crew look after me
The up side of my first time crew is that they do take me seriously. My engine has had a complete overhaul, cutlass bearing replaced, the works.
On the mooring over winter I was left completely naked, everything that could be taken off, unscrewed or just tugged off was taken ashore. In March they attacked me with a vengeance: below deck repainted, bilge’s repainted and all varnish re-coated.
Suddenly in April I am out of the water and my topsides are painted and yet more varnish applied. Allan had great fun refitting all the strips of newly varnished wood he had taken off, locker doors and cabin sole - he said it was a bit like a jigsaw puzzle.
My crew's sailing skills are improving
Back in the water in May I felt good with my restored varnished transom as I was originally. To be fair they are getting better at sailing me. On the Jubilee holiday we went to Weymouth via Newtown, Yarmouth, Lulworth, Cobbs Quay etc and they only managed to put me aground twice and drag the anchor once.
I did the round the island race on June coming 9th in our class. I am sure we could have done better if we had been more upright in the water on the last leg from No Mans Land Fort to the finish and gone inshore to the island, but they seemed to enjoy the day. Alan Armstrong, one of my past owners, saw us on the water, nice to meet old friends.
Fourth in the International Twister Championships at Weymouth
We came a definite fourth at the International Twister Championships in the Weymouth Regatta at the end of July and enjoyed the four day event in light airs, with the normal Twister social atmosphere. Peter and Stephanie from Silver Twister joined us for two days and improved my crew’s performance considerably.
From there I went down to Dartmouth for a couple of days. Gillian and Allan met Sue Holman and her daughter over a few drinks at the yacht club and had some good meals at local fish restaurants. Gillian wanted to go up river to Totnes but Allan bottled out with just 0.3 meters under my keel above Blackness Point.
Season's end in Yarmouth
Back to Yarmouth for a weeklong regatta with Folkboats in light airs and sunshine. Waiting for a wind allowed time for Gillian and Allan to strip and varnish my coachroof and gain a sun tan in England!
So all in all, Gillian and Allan are getting more adventurous and confident about my capabilities (pity I can’t tell them). I am looking cool on the water - what plans they have for me now remain to be seen.
ToM
Crew comment:
Precocious boat, If we had known there was so much
varnish that deteriorated in front of your eyes, then we would
have gone for GRP. The only time we really needed your engine
was off Portland Bill, engine panel lights we had, turn the ignition
switch – no starter motor, no engine; we round the Bill
and you start first time.