BOATS
choice, but Jack and I did not have the
skills for such an undertaking. With a
certain audacity, we wrote to Uffa Fox
himself, explaining our dilemma. Perhaps
bilge keels could be the answer?
Uffa couldn’t have been more helpful,
replying almost by return post.
He sent us a set of detailed plans, with
weight, dimensions, even location of
bolt holes in their correct situation for the
keels, and exact positioning on the hull
to support the fi nished yacht with complete
safety. He wished us well and charged us
not a penny. What a gentleman!
Even so, it was no picnic. We had the
keels cast at a local foundry and delivered
to our home, from then on it was almost
‘blood, sweat and tears’ as the pair of us
struggled to man- (and woman-) handle
those lumps into their critical positions.
Determination is a useful help-mate, and
certainly played a major part in achieving
this essential and exacting task.
Now we had the starting point to turn the
hull into a yacht, capable of not only facing
whatever the North Sea could (at some
time hence and without any concessions)
throw at us but also accommodate two
adults, three children and a large, loving
Labrador dog!
Were we crazy? Some
thought so, but we happily
pursued our dreams. Having
learnt so much in that past 15
years, the fi tting out presented
few problems. Also we weren’t
quite so strapped for funds.
The big day dawned for Ugly
Duckling to take to the water.
We hired a mobile crane and
low-loader lorry and so our ‘proper yacht’
was transported the 10-mile journey to
Kings Straithe at York. I rather think we ran
to a bottle of Babycham for the launch.
Once safely tied up at her moorings we
were able to complete the job. We stepped
the brand new Proctor mast, complete with
her dark blue suit of Jeckells sails, which
were reputedly a safe colour being easy to
spot among white-topped waves.
To fi nish off we secured a brand new
7hp Mercury outboard to a very strong
bracket we’d bolted onto Duckling’s
broad transom.
With our very young family, we gently
cruised up and down the
non-tidal Ouse for a couple of
seasons, before at last
casting our eyes on the tidal
waters out of Scarborough.
We were granted
membership of ScarboroughYacht Club, and were allocated a mooring.
We loved being based at the coast. If the
tides were not favourable for sailing, we
could always take our children to the
beach, or the lovely Peaseholm Park. At
low tide they mud-larked in the harbour,
tripping over mooring ropes and returning
to the boat mucky and wet.Friends for life
Moored astern of us was a nice little 26ft
Colvic which, to our delight, was owned
by a young family with three children of
similar ages to our own. It was a meeting
made in heaven.
Our two families sailed together from
Scarborough, sailing just for fun but also
taking part in the Round the Buoys club
races. Despite being up against the class
racers, we did quite well, and both boats
bagged a few fl ags.
One very calm day when we were idling
just before the start of a race, my husband
decided to reduce drag by unclipping the
Mercury. He turned to tell me what he wasABOVE Fay and Jack with two
friends they met on a delivery trip.
RIGHT Fay and Jack with Fay’s
mother on the day they decided to
keep a boat in ScarboroughScarborough lighthouse is also home to
the Scarborough Yacht ClubFay made many friends at
Scarborough YCYorkshirePic
s/Alamy