How
it all began....
I had been
warned, not once but several times
never to visit Nationwide Boat Sales
at Chesterfield. Alex Parker, with
whom I have climbed, walked, kayaked
and learned everything about navigation
I ever needed to know had told me
about the existence of a huge boatyard
in the middle of the Peak District.
Alex had also introduced me to sailing
many years ago and he just knew I
would never walk away from the place
without a boat.....he was right.
I
had returned a 'Capela' sea kayak
to her makers, P&H in Nottingham
and knowing that the Bakewell show
was in full swing I decided to head
for the M1 and then return home over
the Snake Pass. I pulled in to a filling
station outside Chesterfield and as
I was paying for my diesel when I
found myself asking if they knew where
this oddly located boatyard was.
A
map was produced and about 10 minutes
later I was pulling of the A61 by-pass
and heading for a quick look round
whatever boats might be on show, as
far from the sea as you can get in
this part of the world.
As you pull
into the parking area you are confronted
with a forest of masts, about 300
boats of all shapes and sizes are
lined up on acres of white gravel
just waiting. From St Tropez gin palaces
to blue water sailing boats to ski
boats, RIBs, kayaks, new boats, old
boats and everything in between.
I
walked straight up the main walkway
to the very back of the yards, took
a quick look at a rather neglected
but stylish old racing dinghy and
then proceded to spend the next two
hours looking at a great collection
of boats.
It
was at this point I realised that
I had started paying a lot of attention
to the price labels, I became concerned.
The Mk2 Wayfarers looked very attractive,
Jaguar 22's, several of them, looked
interesting. My mind was taking the
idea of a boat very seriously, budgets,
where to keep it, where to sail it!
Alex had been right to warn me. I
chatted to other buyers, looked around
the chandlers shop, and then decided
to look at the 'old lady' again. I
wonder what she is?
The
'old lady' was a Uffa Fox designed
'Jollyboat'. After looking at her
again I wandered off to look at some
more boats, there's lots to see. Fate
brought me briefly to ask Paul Mays,
one of the Nationwide' staff, about
the old dinghy, I couldn't find a
price label anywhere. Paul spoke to
me as if I was asking about a £50,000
cruiser instead of a rather old dighy.
"We are selling her for the owner"
Paul informed me, we found the price
label hidden by leaves and I was informed
that offers were invited.
"Offers
are invited" sounds quite innocent
but it was the final straw. I could
resist the temptation no longer. Just
a quick mental check, wind powered,
wooden boat, needs some attention,
structurally very good, could look
brilliant with some work. Offer accepted,
I now own a boat.
I
drove back to Manchester pondering
what I had just let myself in for.
I'll keep you posted.
David
Lynch (self indulgent) Editor, BlueDome
