Q: What brought you to the Flying Fifteen fleet?
A: We met each other when we each sailed National 12s. David thought I should be crewing with him so he proposed and we got married back in 1979.  We sailed on the river at Henley SC and on the open meeting circuit, before moving down here and having Spinnaker Club as our home club. In  2008 Steve Tyler took us for a g&t on his rib on the harbour, the next day we tried their Merlin and the day after we bought one and sold our final National 12 which was a Feeling Foolish design. In 2013 I was seriously ill, which left me unable to sail a Merlin due to its complexity and physicality. We considered E15s as our sailability boat, but as David was still working, we tried an RS 400 and then bought one 2 days later. After a particularly windy sail in 2023, Frances decided, she didn’t like sailing and suggested we try a 15 as David had now retired. A week later, without having tried one, we bought 3971 and thought it appropriate to rename her Feeling Foolish

Q: Tell me about your sailing history
A: Started in a Heron  at Croydon Sailing Club on a 7acre puddle . Soon started crewing in a N12. Crewed in CSC team racing team for several years, reaching national finals for 3 years running. Met David on the Thames Area circuit and particularly Burton Week 1978, before continuing on the circuit.
 
Q: What has been your best sailing experience to date?
A: Tough one - there are so many! Probably reaching to Kingsbridge and back in N12 and Merlin
  
Q: What has been your worst sailing experience to date?
A Frances: being under a N12 turned turtle just off the start line of the Yawl fleet at Salcombe YC
 
Q: What is the best boat you have sailed?
A: Our last N12, Cooked to Perfection . A Feeling Foolish design built by our son-in-law, Mike Cooke
 
Q: Upwind or downwind?
A: depends on what in and where - upwind is great for its challenges, downwind for speed and exhilaration. Love a 2 sail reach!
 
Q: Light or strong winds?
A: As above! Though not the strongest winds

Q: Harbour or Bay?
A: harbour - I have always preferred inland sailing, finding open water for racing boring

Q: Your favourite music genre?
A: Jazz - one of our daughters got us into it when she played sax
 
Q: Your favourite drink?
A: After sailing, beer, of course
 
Q: What would your last meal be
A: David cooked lasagne is my favourite , with salad and garlic bread (also handy as that means he can’t go before me!)
 
Q: You’ve already got the bible, what other book would you choose? 
A: Frances - my kindle full and no bible
 
Q: What’s trendy now that you think is ridiculous? 
A: That question suggests I’m not trendy!