| I am, it has to be said, the sort of person who likes | | | | abroad.' |
| to stick to the rules: I get agitated if I cross the road | | | | In short, I insisted on a trip away. |
| before the Green Man is showing, and once threw a | | | | But where did we go? What, you may well ask, could |
| wobbly playing Snakes and Ladders with a bunch of | | | | compare with a week of competitive sailing on the |
| four-year-olds - who absolutely insisted on going up | | | | West coast of Scotland, in the company of friends, |
| the snakes and down the ladders. | | | | and assisted by good food, beer and hopefully (but |
| So it came as no surprise to the Sailing Fanatic when, | | | | not necessarily) sunshine? |
| after informing me of his plans for the Scottish | | | | The Sailing Fanatic suggested a trip overnight to |
| Series, I took a look at Rule Four of The Reluctant | | | | Millport. Brave, but foolish words... |
| Sailor's Ground Rules for Sailing. This provision - also | | | | In the end we went to York. For a weekend. |
| known as the 'Fair's Fair' rule - provides: | | | | Without the kids. |
| 'The Sailing Fanatic will match every week/weekend | | | | Now I accept that this might not seem like a |
| that the Reluctant Sailor spends sailing with a week | | | | particularly good deal to all you other Reluctant Sailors |
| weekend somewhere warm, dry and comfortable - | | | | out there, but when you bear in mind that we |
| preferably abroad.' | | | | needed babysitters (thank you again!); the Sailing |
| But somehow, when faced with the prospect of | | | | Fanatic is also a Workaholic; and (the clincher) the |
| numerous Sailing-Fanatic-free weekends - as he and | | | | sailing season is almost upon us and no anti-fouling |
| his crew attempt to get in enough pre-race practice | | | | has yet been applied to the boat.... well, it looked like |
| so that they at least look like they know what they | | | | a pretty good deal to me. |
| are doing on a boat - Rule Four seems to be a little | | | | York was cold, but lovely. Lots to see, lots to do and |
| lacking. It makes no allowance for the aggravation of | | | | lots of pubs to sit in. |
| being left to entertain the kids/do all the boring stuff | | | | It was in one of these - the Cross Keys, next to the |
| in the house for umpteen weekends in a row. | | | | Minster - that the Sailing Fanatic let slip his plans for |
| So, although it goes against all my rule-sticking | | | | the future: Cowes; Cork Week; the Round Ireland |
| principles, and purely for the benefit of Reluctant | | | | Race; Antigua Week and sailing round the world. He |
| Sailors world-wide, I have amended Rule Four slightly. | | | | seemed quite surprised when I raised no objections. |
| As from today Rule Four (A) adds: | | | | But I wasn't thinking of sailing. I had my mind on Rule |
| 'The Sailing Fanatic will accept that it is a pain in the | | | | Four (A) and the sort of trip that could possibly |
| neck when he disappears for a day/weekend/week | | | | compare to a Round the World yacht race. |
| in preparation for and for the duration of any major | | | | I could go to Australia... and New Zealand... or how |
| sailing event and will compensate the Reluctant Sailor | | | | about Hong Kong... or even Moscow... or... hey! Why |
| with a corresponding day/weekend/week | | | | not do the whole lot! |
| somewhere warm, dry and comfortable - preferably | | | | Fair's fair, after all... |