May I also come in on the “what sort of a boat” correspondence?

I should like to put forward a case for the 12’ 9” “Mayfly”, which has the performance of a light dinghy coupled with the stability and seaworthiness of a much heavier boat (5’ 6” beam!) and good stowage space. It is also light enough to be manhandled alone with a light crew, using sea-esta rollers.

There are two versions, one with rolled decks, the other with side seats, but my experience is that the former is the better, being very comfortable in both light airs and a “blow”. Particularly in the latter, as I discovered last October — Force 6 in the East Solent, with a short, breaking sea. No water, other than a surprisingly small amount of spray, came aboard, in spite of missing stays twice, and having my crew and I wandering about in the boat, nor did either of us feel any appreciable strain. The big foredeck also allows an amazing amount of dry stowage space, well out of the way. I have, on occasions, sailed in most of the popular 12 - 15 footers, but this is the only one in which I feel safe and comfortable when things get dodgy. Yours faithfully, A. J. Yeatman