Now nearly 20, I decided I should sail a Merlin Rocket, a Proctor MK 6, a river boat with a very tall mast made by Needlespar. My then girlfriend got fed up with crewing it because every seam leaked, it was sold and I bought and Enterprise instead, then another. Sailing on a little pond was not that great so I joined Reading Sailing club— where I met Will’s father Bill Loy who suggested I should get a Solo as couldn’t get a crew so I bought my first Solo 661 ex Junior Champion boat. And that was the start of my sailing SOLO career. Venue Memories I have sailed in Holland, Hayling, Plymouth, most clubs in the Thames Valley Largs ,Pitsford, Rutland, Whitstable and more. Holland is must do if you get the chance for sailing and hospitality. We camped next to the Masten Bar in Enheuzein . The event was sponsored by Heineken.Oh dear there were a few hangovers. Fred Imho ff won he was FD World champion at the time. Hayling HISC OMG lots of wind lots of tide all the time and the famous Hayling Bar. Three great events each year. Plymouth The Nationals 100 plus boats so a bit close at times. The Dutch sailed very well with Micheal McNamara full sails and bendy rigs. I called starboard on the Navy Frigate when in the lead. I got hooted at and back winded. At least 80 boats went to the other side of the Frigate and waved as the sailed past.
Plymouth 1970 ish
Whitstable Nationals in the 70’s First race a very strong wind destroyed the fleet. I was second at the windward mark and looked back whilst surfing huge waves in shallow water. Everybody was capsized so a zoomed up the beach asap. The week was postponed till Thursday pm ie one race. Most camped and got wet, very wet. An orange boat called Ziggy Stardust, new, was lost, the owner along with several others were washed up in Herne Bay. All OK. Two years later Ziggy was found on a beach in Holland.
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