Dick Durham on West Mersea

I am in awe of your energy! Far enough for me! Generally I find it is counter productive to walk a long way for alcohol on the grounds that walking back becomes difficult.
 
tillergirl said:
DD ought to know better than to public personal comments about individuals especially when he writes silly articles about the East Coast he professes to know, ignorant of well publicised buoyage changes that have been in position for best part of three quarters of a year. Frankly I do not believe he walked all the way from the waterfront to the Peldon Rose - but I'll buy him a pint to say sorry if I'm wrong. A nasty spiteful little piece. He's utterly wrong about the crabs as well. The crabs are the best fed crabs in the world!
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DD has been factually challenged before.

YBW article on Calais some years age did not mention the lock gates being inop and replaced by a sill, even though that had been the case for 7 months at the time of publication.
Doubt he even went there.

YBW article on Ostend - again a year or two ago. He just phoned the Ostend Harbour Capain for 10 minutes, and hey presto: article! All the accompanying pictures were at least 10 years old.
Again, doubt if he even went there.

LBS couple of years ago - a YBW video feature on what boats were available and how you could pay for them.
Lady from Barclays Marine Finance told him a typical marine mortgage was base rate + 2.45%. He then went on his merry way repeating at every stand he could get a mortgage at 2.45%.

Etc...
 
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WMYC

Been in for lunch and a pint often over the last couple of years. In oilies with guide dog and never anything but helpful and courteous service.

Launch staff especially so

Love the place for a visit
 
We have been there a couple of times in the past three years, never any problem with the service or the welcome.

There are perhaps even friendlier places, but no doubt there are worse as well. :D
 
LittleSister said:
Yes. He also has his very own version of the Collision Regs to base 'informative' articles on.:eek:
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Does he not have a grey weathered looking beard? That's him looking 'salty' enough for the YM pictures.

Writing interesting articles is very different to presenting factual information for sailors. The only problems with the 'interesting' variety occur when armchair YM readers use this info for real.

A great example of the factual variety is the excellent North Sea passage pilot by Brian Navin. First class for information, but very little detail on the pubs etc when you arrive leaving the question of visiting in the first place open! A dull read unfortunately...

Tom Cunliffe is one of the few who can mix a great writing style with the required information.
 
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xyachtdave said:
Does he not have a grey weathered looking beard? That's him looking 'salty' enough for the YM pictures.

Writing interesting articles is very different to presenting factual information for sailors. The only problems with the 'interesting' variety occur when armchair YM readers use this info for real.

A great example of the factual variety is the excellent North Sea passage pilot by Brian Navin. First class for information, but very little detail on the pubs etc when you arrive leaving the question of visiting in the first place open! A dull read unfortunately...

Tom Cunliffe is one of the few who can mix a great writing style with the required information.
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I bought an old channel pilot from a forumite. it was far better than a new Peter Cumberlidge North Brittany & Channel Islands cruising companion.



DD is as i understand clean shaven
http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/magazine/meet-the-team
 
xyachtdave said:
......A great example of the factual variety is the excellent North Sea passage pilot by Brian Navin. First class for information, but very little detail on the pubs etc when you arrive leaving the question of visiting in the first place open! A dull read unfortunately...
Tom Cunliffe is one of the few who can mix a great writing style with the required information.
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Agree that TC is a good read (and a thoroughy good bloke he is, too).
However you raise an interesting point about pub/hostelry/restaurant etc detail in 'pilot books'. The beleaguered author can put the stuff in, but the trouble is that much of it will be out of date before the thing is printed.
 
Cantata said:
However you raise an interesting point about pub/hostelry/restaurant etc detail in 'pilot books'. The beleaguered author can put the stuff in, but the trouble is that much of it will be out of date before the thing is printed.
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That is so true, a good pub/restaurant can become a disaster overnight if for example the chef has a row with the manager and walks, a not infrequent happening with chefs. :D
 
I reckon TC gets the balance just right between pilot book and handy information. His channel pilot is top class.
 
sailorman said:
DD is as i understand clean shaven


Maybe he had been out late for a couple of late nights consecutively when I last saw a picture...

I do take Cantata's point about restaurant recommendations etc going out of date much quicker than the pilot information.

Also in the event of needing information in a hurry (port of refuge etc) the authors favourite drinkeries etc are of little use! Well maybe when safely tied up....

My thoughts are a little local inforamation to check the place is worth visiting in the first place is handy, though given peoples posts on some of our favourite more unusual destinations, it's probably best to find out for yourself.
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