She looks beautiful, Julian (especially if I stand on my head to look at the picture). Very well done!
Your comment about 'not a great sailing summer' - well, the weather mostly hasn't been great, and you've been boat-building (it takes hold of you, doesn't it?), both of which may have contributed to our not having crossed courses around Poole. Actually, on Saturday and south of Brownsea Island I spied, far away to windward, the unmistakeable outline of a BC20 under jib and mizen (it was that sort of wind), and I thought, Aha there's Julian. I didn't fancy trying to catch up in a beat to windward, so I sneaked round the other side of Brownsea (which took quite a long time), and there she was, anchored off Furzey Island with her mizen set. Patrick O'Brien's characters go on about having the weather gauge, and I had it, with a vengeance. So I came storming down Whiteground Lake (which, according to the chart, becomes Blood Alley Lake further down towards Sandbanks), on a dead run with two reefs in a F5-6, planing in clouds of spray. It wasn't until I got close enough to read 'Jaunty' on the bow of the BC20 that I realised this wasn't Julian, but I shot past anyway and made some inane comment to the solitary sailor aboard who until then had been enjoying some peace and quiet. Unless he lends his boat, it must have been Jeremy Andrews.
So, Jeremy, if you get to read this, my apologies for disturbing your tranquility. I'll try not to do it again. And if it helps, those who know me will testify to my essential harmlessness. And Julian, it sounds as if any serendipitous rendezvous will have to wait till next year? I'll have to learn what an Oughtred Guillemot looks like, and - being around the same size as a Trouper - we can get competitive and have some races - ??
Michael Cavatina (Trouper 12)
