The arrival of Bulletin 89 reminds me to ask (I hope not too late) for page 17 of number 88, which was blank! We produce a duplicated church magazine, so I know the problems all too well.

You queried the bobstay in my modified Heron rig (page 11, number 89). I agree about the nuisance, when anchoring and when recovering a trailer. One day I may change it, but at the moment there must be a bobstay to resist the outer forestay, as there is no inner forestay (I did once sail with neither forestay when a clevis pin dropped out - only the luff rope kept the mast off my head!) The reason, is that I have a huge genoa made of polythene sheet for ghosting; this is set from the bowsprit end, and to ease the business of going about I find it best to abolish the lower forestay and hand the staysail. At other times the staysail luff functions as a lower forestay; except in genoa-ghosting conditions, force 1-2, this staysail is always set, until 3U knots of wind when it is the last sail to come down. All this may seem irregular to you experienced sailors, but this set-up meets my needs, and does work, and seems safe.

My sailing ambitions include three projects which other members may be able to help me with. One is "round the Isle of Wight" - Jim Smith has thoroughly opened my eyes to the possible dangers of this trip, but I'd still like to try, if a suitable "weather window" opened during my available time. I read of a G.P. 14 doing it in D.C.A. bulletin, but my rate would be rather less.

Another is the Dover Straits, provided the French/English registration problem gets solved. Again, the weather is the biggest problem, but there must be other matters to deal with and someone must know.

The third (scenic rather than epic) is a fortnight enjoying the Firth of Clyde and adjacent waters. Somebody must have done it before and may know of useful sources of information.

These three projects may find a response in someone else's soul, preferably someone whose boat is as slow as my Heron - any takers, for 1982 or later?

David Fraser