It was late in the season, just before the cruisers were due to come out. The wind was blowing ‘old boots’… cold… and the waves were rolling in south-west on the foreshore. We had an offer to go for a thrash in Wind Roamer. It was the too-ing and fro-ing bit we didn’t fancy. So we had our breath of fresh air and stood watching the proceedings when along came one who shall be known as the Mature Member (MM for short). “Hello,” says he. “How about a nice sail in the Cornish Crabber belonging to John the Shoreline Gaffer?” Well, that’s a boat that’s been on my short list for a long time. If only… we were hooked. “Yes please!” On with the gear, lifejackets and all…

The first attempt to launch the small dinghy proved to be disaster. The waves capsized dinghy, Yamaha and owner. Bale out… second try, and we made it, myself in the bows, Renee and MM amidships, John and the outboard in the stern. We had about 150 yards to get to Crabber. I was sitting with my back to the bows, increasingly aware of a cold wet back where the ‘oggin’ was slopping over. We proceeded. Said Renee to MM “Can you swim?” To which he replied, “Why, you have got a funny sense of humour!”

It was great. It was rough! Being in the bows, I was looking shorewards and able to see the backs of the others plus the increasing waves and wind force. I was fascinated to watch the water being shipped on all sides. Finally, when the freeboard was about ½”, she gracefully turned turtle on us and we were swimming… 4 bobble hats floating around doing nothing in particular. Renee and I grabbed an oar each and the MM’s spare gear bag… the water was cold… we kept together and swam the 100 yards to the beach. MM was puffing like a grumpus… so was I. I guess when our feet touched down and we waded in, Robinson Crusoe had nothing on us. Lost: 1 rowlock; John’s wellies. The dinghy washed ashore a bit later. Renee poured about 2 gallons of water out of MM’s spare clothes bag and returned it to its owner.

It just shows you — we had gone through the whole season without capsizing the Mirror 16, then a salt water bath. I thought, ‘I’ll take up stamp collecting.’ Like hell I will! Walking back to the club, I met a member and told him what had happened. The look on his face was a picture. He was so grieved to have missed the whole performance… it made up for everything! MM and I are still good friends and we have sailed the Crabber since.

Bearing in mind recent correspondence, the point of the article is that not many of us have had to swim ashore fully booted, clothed and lifejacketed as we have. As Renee and I grabbed an oar each, we were quite surprised at the amount of support they gave us — something for all to remember. No, it won’t happen again!