Posted by Dan Vine on 12/22/99 from 62.137.47.66 via proxy webcacheH05a.cache.pol.co.uk:
Hi all,
I'm a new TARS member. I'd just like to say that I'm kicking myself that I didn't join sooner, having been a lifelong AR fan. The 'Lake' of my childhood was Christchurch Harbour during the summer holidays, and we sailed a Mirror there (interspersed with repairing it!). I still go sailing in the summer - often at Lake Bala in N. Wales. I sail a Lark dinghy, which is quite an exciting boat (if a bit tippy for my liking).
I was pleasantly surprised the other day when I bought a copy of K. Adlard Coles' 'Sailing and Cruising' and found a photo of Racundra inside. I then checked up and found that Adlard Coles was the guy who bought Racundra from AR on the basis that he wouldn't use the name Racundra in subsequent publications. He obviously didn't stick to this too strictly, because Racundra is mentioned (in passing) in this book.
Last year I visited Coniston and tried to find Swallowdale and the Dog's Home, using that 'In the footsteps of...' book. I must have come within yards of the Dog's Home and never saw it! Really irritating. As for Swallowdale, I may have found it, but wasn't sure. (I wasn't too bothered about finding either landmarks, compared to Piel Island). I always thought SD was a bit of a let-down as a child, what with Swallow being
out of action. Since then, of course, I've grown to love it (just as I never really understood Winnie-the-Pooh
as a child)...
Over and out,
Dan