Dear Joan,

I was slightly surprised to find myself mentioned twice in the Winter magazine (101).

Firstly, George Ellis made some comments on the Yorkshire Coble. Undoubtedly the true Coble was (and is) a rather idiosyncratic device, but I think the point must be that the modern, plastic hull like mine is a rather 'watered down' version of the species. The true Coble has a very deep forefoot and sharp bow, to give grip on the water in the absence of a centreplate; they also tended to be 25' - 35' long without much beam. Hence the possibility of broaching or rolling if you get sideways on to the beach in heavy surf. Ones like mine, whilst retaining the overall style or appearance of the original Coble, are to start with, much shorter and beamier by comparison (17' 6" x 6' approx.). The forefoot is not so pronounced and at the back are two 11" deep skegs, or bilge keels (mine has been given added depth here). It still retains the distinctive tumble-home and cocked-up stern, with an outboard recess, all a bit a la Drascombe. Normally there would be a very deep rudder, traditionally hung on either the port or starboard side of the transom according to tack; mine is a central one with a pivoting blade for East Coast shoal water.

Another modification is the rig. Originally the Coble had a large dipping lugsail; very powerful but not so good at pointing up, and hard work to go about. Mine has a standing lug which doesn't have to be dipped and, especially with a boom and gooseneck type of fitting, points better. To compensate for the loss of sail forward of the mast there is a roller-furling jib on a bowsprit. She has a few lumps of lead in the bottom, but really needs a couple of sacks of shingle which can be moved from side to side as required - as it was originally - or jettisoned to compensate for the ballast provided by your catch of fish!

I have found her pleasant to sail, without the problems mentioned. I think there is a probability that what happened once in a blue moon became legend and was expected to happen all the time. I had not actually seen a 'real' Coble until last Christmas when I was walking round West Mersea's muddy shore and stumbled upon a proper wooden one, 30' long at least and very lean (6' max.), with the deep forefoot and lots of sheer - very different from mine. I would invite George for a sail but I hope (regretful necessity) that by the time this is printed, she will be sold. I had envisaged camping cruising with her wide, flat floor, but my 'chilly' wife said 'NO'! In case she isn't sold (boat - not wife) and anyone is interested, give me a ring on……………

I am glad to hear that my 'Chilly Missus' prompted Christopher Leffler to put a lid on his Drascombe. We are very pleased with the 22' pre-war gaff cutter which we bought in early 1983. She is a cosy, comfy old girl, with nice mahogany inside and brass oil lamps (no, not the wife again!) and, I must confess, does in some circumstances have the edge over a 12' dinghy, especially with the two children and two dogs. I'm afraid that our preoccupation with 'Lady Beatrice of Paglesham' ('Lady B') meant we neither sailed nor made much effort to sell 'Cobler' in 1983. However, we are keeping our 12' clinker dinghy. We are planning to take little 'Cobweb' to Coniston for the Whitsun Bank Holiday week where, with friends with a Mirror, we can play at 'Swallows and Amazons' (on the day I'm writing this is the second edition of Arthur Ransome's 'Coot Club' on TV, which looked promising from the first one). If all goes well, I hope to write a few words on our Lakeland trip.

Lastly, it was nice to see an article by Jim and Renee Bailey. In Summer '82 I was coming ashore from the Coble when this Mirror 16 came past and beat our tender to the club slipway. "Isn't that a DCA burgee?” I asked. "Good grief” said Jim, "That's the first time in XXX years that anyone's recognised it!" I also made contact with another DCA member in Spring '83, though I did not know it at the time. When I bought 'Lady B', she was ashore at the Brandyhole Y.C. near Hullbridge, at the shallow end of the Crouch. I had painting to do, and nearby was a rather nice clinker gaff 16 footer. Her owner was varnishing her and we had occasional chats. She had been built locally on the Crouch, at Fambridge I believe, and he had owned her from new. He was on the water shortly before me, and it was only as I was setting off to sail 'Lady B' back to Paglesham that I noticed his boat (was it 'Moon River'?) was flying the DCA flag. So, to the man with the white Alfa Romeo, a belated "Hello!”

I hope to attend some East Coast DCA events in 1984, but if you do see an old gaffer with pale blue main and staysail, but tan jib, in that area, give us a shout.

Graham Wadeson