1971

[BluFin]

Still finding the odd bits as I dig out stuff.
This was Bill & Terry's first race. Was at Brighton but long before the marina launched at Newhaven , was an OPC race.
They broke the saddle on lap 3 but had moved up 5th spot.
Think Albert Boozer won that day in the shakespear. Following season the pictons ruled the roost. They were in a "Spear" as well but it was a heavy one with loads of balsa lay up they put it.
Found out all about thrust blocks that day Bill campained it the rest of the season but the old boy had the "Main Hydraulic Pump" failure not long after & was 74 before he raced again.
What else watched Billy most weekends in what was then Class IV E.


Boat was sold on and had an inboard fitted think it was somthing like city marine that had it was a Metzler dealer. They went out 2 blokes & 2 Birds one blowy day in Cornwall against all local advice never seen again, boat was found about week later and the bodies around the same time.

[Gav]

twos the year i woz born!

[Budski]

I raced in that race, indeed in all the Brighton marina races, including the first one that launched from Shoreham. We got a ticket from the harbour master that day...

Albert Boozer was my mentor and a great friend and sadly passed away earlier this year.

I raced an avenger 16 in those days called "The Optimist". We made the headlines at Brighton when our engine sheared off its mountings and wound its way into the cockpit, still running flat out. We then sank, due to the bloody great holes left in the transom.....

Oh the good ole' days....

[BluFin]

Bill Matcham (left) is still well & was selling up in Hammersmith and retiring to Ireland when we last spoke. Terry "the Old Boy" (Right) passed away in 98 after some really shitty heath problems. They really kept 3B going for a few years.
Who else, a very young Dave Picton (Mr No Fear) & Bill Picton. Was a real South Wales Crowd, Ken Wilson, cant recall if it was Sandwitch or Varne where he had the heart attack & passed away, dave was in the boat with him & drove it straight up the beach. Boat names Striker, Streaker, Jokers Wilds and there was that little orange A class Marina Other Names obviously Albert, Mr & Mrs Savage, Ian Roswell, be buggered if I can recall but faces? Were good times
real memory test now Optimist White with black trim & writing????

[Budski]

Boy, what a memory. Yes Optimist was White with black trim. It never lasted more than one race without delaminating and then mercifully someone stole it from Allhallows. We kept expecting they would bring it back when they realised what rubbish it was.

We seemed to spend half our lives on the M4 in those days, as a lot of the "action" was at Porthcawl and we all started racing Pictons from Bridgend.

[Lucky Green Frog]

Thought all Avengers delaminated!Optimistic to think it wouldn't.
Not sure Albert and Dinky Dalton won that? How about us in the Purple P16 Shaft. (Or have I got the year wrong?).
Yes, trying to remember some more. Dick Clemntson in the huge white Scorpio, John Still in a Shakespeare (hope it was flat). Alan Salvidge. Nah too long ago.
Glad to hear that someone else remembers it all -just.
What year were the finals in Guernsey?

[BluFin]

Blinding flashback for no reason, Kent Boat & Ski Club Hosted the Sheppy race, Class IV & III held on different weekends.