How yachting has changed

[The Q]

Southern broads somewhere?

 

[billyfish]

I never sailed in anything bigger than a 505 until I was about 20. And mostly a lot smaller. I thought that was fairly normal for kids from the 50s and 60s. We didn't know anyone with a yacht. Ownership is a lot more widespread these days, for sure. Which has everything to do with the demise of Hilliard's, and the rise of GRP. Much of that sailing for me was at Worthing and Littlehampton. I would be surprised if the young man Wansworth didn't see the short trousered me at some point in the 60s or 70s.

So my Dad built first a Enterprise in 58 then a 505 raced at Worthing YC before the Kestral.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

So my Dad built first a Enterprise in 58 then a 505 raced at Worthing YC before the Kestral.

I would almost certainly have known him, as a child. Though until about 1970 we had a Mirror, 7697, Polyanna. Then we had a Pegasus, my 505 days were about 1977 to 1981.

 

[johnalison]

Southern broads somewhere?

No. I never sailed south of Acle bridge. The first was on South Walsham and the other at Horsey Staithe, 1962. It would be quite normal for us to start from Potter and take in Wroxham, Barton broad and Horsey Mere in one week without an engine, and a few pubs on the way.

 

[Concerto]

Another big change has been how we get water onboard. When my parents first started sailing from Queenborough in Kent. To fill the water tank was quite hard as there was no hose where you could get the boat alongside. It meant using the dinghy and lots of water carriers at high water to save carrying them down the long causeway. When we joined Medway Yacht Club in 1970, we could go alongside the dolphin and use a hose. It was a revelation.

Back in 1967 we sailed to Torquay and back in 4 weeks. When we visited Lymington and tied up at the quay, but spied the first marina at Berthons - what luxury to walk ashore from you own berth rather than using a swinging mooring needing a dinghy to get aboard.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Another big change has been how we get water onboard. When my parents first started sailing from Queenborough in Kent. To fill the water tank was quite hard as there was no hose where you could get the boat alongside. It meant using the dinghy and lots of water carriers at high water to save carrying them down the long causeway. When we joined Medway Yacht Club in 1970, we could go alongside the dolphin and use a hose. It was a revelation.

Back in 1967 we sailed to Torquay and back in 4 weeks. When we visited Lymington and tied up at the quay, but spied the first marina at Berthons - what luxury to walk ashore from you own berth rather than using a swinging mooring needing a dinghy to get aboard.

We still take water to the boat in a can, by tender. No water at our mooring, nor, in summer, any place in the harbour we can come alongside.