Last year I flew half way round the world for our White’s day out, so I guess there was no getting away with it this year. While we headed of to Thetford Forrest the boys took the water, doesn’t matter how many times I get out it still breaks me to leave a windy beach, but then I guess that’s I’ve inherited from my farther.
Actually he may be worse, despite being seventy-three he can’t give up sailing, his latest project is building a BOD, Brightlingsea One Design. Last one he built started off his sailing career, though I’m sure he wasn’t so obsessive back then.
This ones been months in the making, every brush of varnish to the turning of the screw on the last fitting has been undertaken with the utmost precision. If you haven’t been roped in to lift, polish or just admire then you’re one of the crew. Again an all family, well plus a few friends are to make up his crew and what determines your qualification, weight.
My younger brother back has the dubious honour of being a permanent crew, so the third member of the team Even it’s first launch couldn’t be a silent affair with the whole BOD fleet turning out to see the new competition and that I’m certain he will be.
While the timing of our day out may have coincidently fallen on a windy day, he’d was there when the picnic was planned and while I know he wouldn’t have missed it for the world, he we shared the same wrench in the stomach as we left Brightlingsea. At least I didn’t try to go out before we left, Reece told me on the drive over, he’s already caught Granddad giving the boat yet another polish.
Forgetting the wind, the day was perfect, though it still surprises me there are no disagreements with so many of us, but then living in Brighlingsea time doesn’t pass so quickly before you see a cousin or nephew.
With the boat now on the water there is just one question unanswered, will Grandma join Granddad in the team line up. I’ll not hold my breath, but this is where it all started, a perfect team on both sea and land.
