Good to see ‘Shoal Waters’ included at last!, (image 1360) If you haven’t read his book or at least visited his website then you are missing at least 70 years experience in small boat sailing…Charles is ‘the man’ when it comes to creek crawling, (sorry Dylan, but …well…you know!), Charles has never used an engine and has sailed tens of thousands of miles in and around the East Coast, not only has he kept the same boat for nearly 50 years but he actually built it himself…quite a guy! Unfortunatley Charles has recently had to stop sailing due to ill health and problems with his hands…I think that Dylan may have inadvertantly picked up the torch……
Ooops….forgot to mention that Charles is of course Charles Stock….seek him out and be inspired….
I agree with all you say about ‘Shoal Waters’ Applescruffs. I’d just add that although no outboard, one of Charles’ essential tools was an old pair of wellies dangling over the stern! (for crossing the mud)
Regards
Instead of a motor he used a quant – a kind of forked pole to push the boat about. He also stated that after 50 years of pottering around the Thames Estuary pretty much every week-end, he was never late back for work – blimey!
Yes I love his book “High Adventure on a Small Budget” and I’m trying to replicate his philosophy. Great chap…