Journal

Spring 2009

 

 

A Fresh Start.

            I wish to thank everyone at the London A.G.M. in January who elected me as your President. Quite what I am supposed to do is debateable but I feel a certain sense of responsibility for setting in motion some changes that have re-shaped our committee and I shall play whatever part they want me to in order to keep the spirit of the Association happy and vigorous. The folk who are now running things are incredibly enthusiastic and deserve our support and although I don't have a proper job I will happily continue to get our journals printed and distributed and lend a hand on other matters if and when I am called upon to do so. I have to admit, that a land-lubber President is a pretty un-edifying prospect so I began tackling the fitting-out jobs as early as weather permitted this year and I hope to be afloat again soon.


Everything seems to come at a rush as soon as the clocks get changed and the days get longer. I used to write a 'things-to-do' list at this time of year but the length of it always looked too daunting so I am now experimenting by doing things that come to mind on a daily basis. It's a good day if I can feel at the end of it that some progress has been made. After all, I am only half an hour away from the boat. How does one cope when the boat is on a French canal or in a Spanish marina, I wonder. I love reading the stories of these intrepid sailing wanderers that we have in the Association and envy them their planning and organisational skills but I don't seem to possess that 'go-off-and-do-it' gene. Do they write job lists? Do they have a lucky star?


The boat yard I am in is well run and accommodating. It has always had a relaxed and easy-going air about it. However, I notice polite signs appearing now drawing attention to the fact that pontoons and staging can get wet and slippery and extra caution is required. When minor repairs and maintenance on and around the fabric of the buildings are taking place objects like traffic cones linked with tape give warning of potential hazards. When the crane is used yellow hard hats are liberally distributed. The care taken to prevent accidents must of course be applauded but the reaches of Health and Safety appears to have no bounds and over-rides the freedom of individuals to make their own judgement on matters of risk and reward in areas of their lives where personal decision-making builds confidence and character. At the bottom of our road is a school and when cycle training is in progress, in our cul-de-sac out come the cones, tape and notices and almost as many adult supervisors as children. The children, by-the-way, are all clad like American football players covered with shiny hard plastic protectors for every moving limb and joint. Any motorised movements are treated with extreme suspicion by the supervisors. It is odd that after all this they then allow them to risk life and limb on the highway. What's all this got to do with sailing you might say. Well, I've often sat on boats on the Continent watching enviously the apparent freedom of young and old cycling as a matter of habit. What's more, not a hard-hat in sight. But then cycling is a means of transport over there, everyone does it. Here it is a toy that children play with and do 'wheelies' on and adults ride self-consciously. You see, it's not really a very British pursuit. Sometimes I think sailing is like that. We can be a bit shy about admitting we've got a boat. Keep it quiet. I have a feeling that on the Continent, it is seen as just another pleasurable means of transport which is part of their way of life.

Pat Lacy, Steeplejack.

 

Editor's Rambling.

           Firstly I would like to apologise for the fact that the committee listings in the last journal were incorrect. I had hoped to include "stickers" with the correct names and addresses when the Newsletter was sent out. Unfortunately, due to delays in getting the newsletter out, it was very nearly time for this journal to be published by the time it was ready so, hopefully, the correct committee list will appear in this journal.

Earlier this year, former manager of Thames Marine, Ray Smith, sent me an email copy of a brochure for the Mirage 28. More importantly, Ray Smith tells me that he is still in contact with Ray Walsh, former Thames Marine director, and he has confirmed that the Snapdragon and Mirage Association may reproduce any Thames Marine information. I am hoping that Ray will be able to supply copies of other brochures for our boats, with a view to putting them on our website for historical interest. He asked me to advise members that, should they require any glassfibre materials, or coloured gelcoat for repairs, to contact Ray Smith or Steve Irving at Haven Mouldings on 01268 698823. All members are invited to ring or visit them on Canvey to discuss any Thames built boat.
I think I have managed to include a reasonable variety of articles in this journal. I already have my first article set aside for the next one. However, I don't intend to start work on the next journal before the end of September, unless I am prevented from getting on with the myriad of other things I have to do by circumstances beyond my control. Please feel free to email me with your articles and photographs, or post them to me anyway. I will put them to one side but hopefully I will find them when it is time to start assembling the next journal.
Don't forget our website. I know that Graham Polson, our "siteminder", was thinking about putting up a small piece about each of the boats in our Association on the website. I also know that there are some members' of the Association who think this is unnecessary as we already know what our boats look like. But I remember that when I was looking for a bigger boat to replace my Lysander, I didn't have a clue what an 890 looked like and, because the numbering attributed to boats doesn't always correspond with their size I had no idea of how big it is. I must have passed over several boats because I didn't know if they were available as a bilge keeler and the advert didn't say so. I didn't have access to websites then but now I, and a great many others, do their research online. I have already mentioned Ray Smith's contribution but if you have any old Thames marine brochures for our boats I am sure that our "siteminder", will be glad to have them. Graham fits in the running of our website with running his own for his business. Obviously, as a volunteer who has to earn a living, he will have to give priority to his own website but, it makes his job easier if people make material available to him. It also makes our website more interesting for other people!

 

Logo