.... gets a wet shirt" (Old Thames barge sailors' maxim).
I wonder if my title for this post will be censored. Anyway, some of you have probably met Tony (Langmead) who is an esteemed Swallowboater (the proud owner of the prototype Cardigan Bay Lugger) and contributes to this forum: I haven't met him yet, but I owe him a pint (or something - we're going to have at least one when we do meet, anyway). His knowledge of Chinese history is questionable, he likes string (but presumably doesn't follow the example of Henry King in that direction), and entertains as well as informs.
As an example, those of you who take 'Water Craft' may have seen his contribution on p 49 of the latest issue (no 90), where he reviews, with characteristic verve, some of the ways which have been devised to assist micturition afloat - in the absence, obviously, of properly appointed and plumbed heads or the like. It's worth a read and, the forum having been asleep recently, I thought I would applaud his efforts on behalf of all of us, and wonder aloud whether anyone has any shareable ideas and/or experiences in this necessary area of human endeavour.
I've just two comments. 1) Someone who saw one of the 15 litre plastic water containers I use for water ballast in 'Cadenza', aboard but empty at the time, said "That's a sizeable comfort bottle you have there, Michael". 2) This is an opportunity (said he gleefully) to point out again that one of the many advantages of Fladen immersion suits over wet- or dry-suits is the easy access to the relevant parts of ones anatomy (although what happens then is not catered for). I simply don't understand why more small boat sailors don't use them, although they are not as inherently hilarious as Tony's thermal wear.