Barnaby Scott will give us an insight into the trials and tribulations in realising his ambition to “Build his own boat”.
The boat in question is an Ian Oughtred designed ‘Haiku’ Sharpie. http://boat.waywood.co.uk/haiku/
Club News
Heart of the matter
Does anyone remember a few years back the inspiring tale of the Jamaican bobsleigh team who made the Winter Olympics?
It was so inspiring they even made a film about their exploits.
There can be nothing as daft as a country better known for its sunshine, its cricket and its beaches, producing a bobsleigh team.
It is said that until they arrived at the Winter Olympics they hadn’t even seen a bobsleigh track. Or snow.
Now that is crazy.
Sometimes Captain Ahab thinks the same about a cruising association from Bromsgrove.
We couldn’t be further the sea from if we tried.
Or moved to Coton in the Elms in Derbyshire which Ordnance Survey calculate to be the furthest point from the sea in England.
Or even near Lichfield which is the furthest from high water mark which includes tidal rivers.
But let’s not let facts get in the way of a good story.
Truth is we are a bloody long way from the sea.
In any direction.
And not sure if anyone else has noticed the ‘Cool Running’-type looks when you mention you sail with a group of jolly boaters from Bromsgrove.
Now you know how it must have been for the Jamaican bobsleigh team when they turned up in the Olympic Village to compete.
And there must have been many a chuckle when their application form to compete was received by the organisers.
They must have checked the date to ensure it wasn’t April 1st.
It is not as if Jamaica has an alpine tradition.
Nor Bromsgrove a sailing one.
But then Switzerland, a totally land locked country, did win the America’s Cup.
So there is hope for Bromsgrove.
If nothing else it just goes to show that a lack of snow or water is no barrier to sporting success.
And look on the bright side.
By being in the heart of the country, or nearly, means we are equidistant from a choice of coasts and coastal challenges.
It must be really boring living on or close to one coast or another.
Parliamo sailing
This is going to be a voyage of discovery but with Captain Ahab at the helm it will be one I hope you all enjoy as we set sail on a regular blog column through the by waters, shoals and creeks of sailing and cruising.
And as its winter hopefully Captain Ahab will keep you amused and stimulated until you can get back out onto the water.
But before you get on board with the Captain, you are bound to have many questions.
First who is Captain Ahab?
As many of you know Captain Ahab is a fictional character from Moby Dick but he is also a fictional character from Bromsgrove Boaters who has taken it upon himself to share his sense of humour and sideways glance at life as an occasional sailor.
Any why has he decided to share his thoughts?
To spice up and make more interesting Bromsgrove Boaters and its blog and website. But fear not, Captain Ahab may be fictional but he brings you no harm.
And please let Captain Ahab know what you think or suggest topics and issues on which you would like to hear from Captain Ahab, Silence will be taken personally and demonstrate a lack of interest in Ahab’s musings!
As you will learn Captain Ahab is a relative newcomer to the world of sailing.
Indeed compared to the many grizzled and sea bitten faces of many of those who come along to Boaters meetings, he is a mere baby.
Now many non-sailors consider sailing to be an exclusive non accessible pastime unless you are rich and have time on your hands.
The second may be true but we all know the first to be absolute bilge.
It is not money but language that makes it non accessible.
And Ahab is no good at languages.
He sometimes think it would be easier to learn Serbo –Croat than the language of sailing.
Even the most basic terms are designed to confuse and obfuscate.
Why is it Port and Starboard? Surely left and right are good enough.
If Ahab can drive and navigate through city streets using left and right why can’t sailors? After all they have less corners to turn.
And who came up with the terms sheets and lanyards and warps?
Bloody hell, they are all ropes and strings at the end of the day.
And heads, where did that come from?
Heads sit on shoulders, they are not place where we do our ablutions.
Do you get Ahab’s point?
We could go on.
Maybe it’s time for a Plain English Campaign for sailors and boaters.
Ahab is too old to learn a new language.