Osprey (20ft) Suzy ‘B’ (28ft) Itch (30ft) Saga (32ft)

Osprey, my first boat was a 20ft 10ins bilge keel Snapdragon. Not famed for its incredible boat speed or ability close to the wind, she was an ideal first boat, provided me with immense fun; I sailed her from Findhorn to Orkney and back safely, she taught me the basics - and I even won the biggest race in the Moray Firth at the time with her - The Varis Cup! (Yes, I know - a fluke!) Suzy ‘B’ was built in that famous boat building centre, Glenrothes. A Highlander 28, she was underpowered engine wise and had a very flexible hull structure- too flexible actually - but with a new crew, as novice as I, we raced her quite well in the Clyde (Class 2 FYC) and did not disgrace ourselves very often. We took part with 275 other yachts in the Scottish Series in Loch Fyne for 2 or 3 years. Wonderful fun. Itch was bought back in the Moray Firth. A Scampi 30 with a fine racing pedigree she was a very hard boat to beat and few did very often, especially when I had a reasonably competent crew! My present yacht Saga is a Jeanneau Symphonie 32 which was bought after I, and the crew, got fed up being soaked in our bunks when it rained on Itch. She is a very comfortable, well equipped boat ideal for reasonably quick cruising.

The Family (Sailing element)