Page 34 - Yachter Winter 2019

34 CREW
THE U-TURN, THE TRAFFIC, THE PEOPLE, THE KINDNESS, AND THE PROPOSAL
Last year, one of the conveniences of berthing our 2004 Bavaria 38 (‘Crews Control’.....or as Andy likes to call her “Crews Outa-Control”) in Chichester marina had to be when, twenty minutes into the journey to our home to the depths of Kent, Andy remembered that he’d left a thru-hull open.The U-turn back to the marina became a regular occurrence and
the source of Leanne’s consternation.Andy’s standing defence is that there are three disadvantages of getter older, the first is that he forgets things... although the other two he just can’t remember.
When we moved to a swinging mooring down-river from Gins, Leanne highlighted that there will be additional consequences if Andy forgets an open thru-hull.“If you forget something in future,” she warned, “you’ll have a dinghy ride to add to the U-turn.”
In April we were still uncertain whether moving Crews Control to Beaulieu River was the right thing.That weekend happened to be the grand reopening at Gins and Toby, a member of the club, happily answered questions Andy had about the club and, in turn, introduced us to Lauren, the General Manager, and Maggie, the Membership Secretary.The decision was made on the spot, why wouldn’t we become members of the club?
As we approach the end of the 2019
OUR ENJOYMENT OF THE FACILITIES AT GINS HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY THE SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP SO KEENLY OFFERED BY THE MANY MEMBERS
summer sailing season, we reflect that
we have yet to identify any negatives to becoming members. Maggie’s continuing assistance has been invaluable to us as new members. Lauren and her team at Gins are always hospitable when we arrive at Gins (after another tiresome four-hour journey from Kent).The traffic on the M20, M26, M25, M3 and M27 motorways usually contrives to make our arrival later than planned but Colin the Bosun has always been accommodating when called upon. Our only difficulty is that the closer we get
to Gins, the more our conversation turns to the appetising food Rob will serve on our arrival.
Our enjoyment of the facilities at Gins, and its beautiful location, has been enriched by the spirit of friendship so keenly offered by the many members who have welcomed us to the club.When the house batteries
on Crews Control recently developed a problem, Colin and club members (rather, if we may say, now ‘friends’) keenly offered a helping-hand together with those crucial ‘nuggets of wisdom’ that one gains only from being experienced sailors.
Such is the comradeship within the
club, members (now friends) with boats on neighbouring mooring balls keep an eye
on Crews Control, reporting that all is well when we are not about.We return this act of kindness whenever possible.
“IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING IN FUTURE,” SHE WARNED, “YOU’LL HAVE A DINGHY RIDE TO ADD TO THE U-TURN.”