Summer 2016
As this is the time of year when many of us get out onto the water, in summer we have informal get-togethers in local pubs, often the Chequers but once this year in The Boat at Thrupp.
So what do members get up to in summer? Many escape to the Mediterranean sunshine; one or two go north to Scotland or west to Ireland; one of us bought a wooden boat in Denmark, and sailed it back to the East Coast; one couple took part in a rally of trailerable boats around the Frisian Islands; one fought gales in the Western Channel coming back from Brittany, one trailed a little gaffer from Chippy marina (his garage) for first sea trials in the Netherlands, and yes, she does float even if the leeway is a bit alarming…
Eleni (that wooden boat bought in Denmark) is a beautifully constructed oak-framed home-built replica of a Greek sponge fishing boat. Low freeboard. Massive sheer. Massive (technically 9.5 tons but probably more). Long keel. The Perkins diesel first served in a combine harvester. Pictured here in Faabourg Fjord she is now snug in her Maldon mud berth.