Days of Yore (kshire)

My first boat was yacht Snugs. Designed and manufactured by the same American company as Enigma, snugs was a Hunter Marine H22 lifting keel sloop built in 1981. She was a touch under seven metres long with tiller steering, masthead rig, transom mounted outboard engine, chemical toilet and a galley with a tiny sink and an even tinier alcohol stove.
I bought her in in 1995 and first sailed her on the inland reservoir, Rutland water, but in March 1996 she was moved to a berth at Clapsons Marina, South Ferriby, and I took to tidal waters for the first time under my own command. Certain conditions on the bleak brown waters of the River Humber were less than fun and the phrase "its Grim up North" could never have been closer to the truth.
There are not many times I can remember not having to wear oilies.

In 2000 the boat was shipped on the back of a lorry to Hoo Marina, on the northern shore of the river Medway in Kent. Before launching, she was remaned 'Ewan K' in memory of my best freind who passed away in January of that year. Ewan had got me into sailing as a teenager, sailing gaff rigged yachts on the Norfolk borads.

The H22 was a perfect day sailer and weekender, but her meagre toilet and cooking facilities were not really adequate for extended voyages. She was sailed hard and her age meant she was getting a little tender, too tender for the abuse she received. Financial pressures at the time meant that some repairs were put off until they were absolutely necessary. But she was a great starter boat and the I learned an awful lot in those heady days on the brown waters of the Humber Estuary.

She was sold in November 2001.