THE BACKGROUND AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS

• As you will have learned from the introduction, ZAMORA has now been sold, and I have decided to continue sailing, for as long as I am fit to do so, by chartering a yacht from one of my former charter company acquaintances for a week or two each season, on the West coast of Scotland or in the Mediterranean, and to invite any of my friends and former sailing companions who would like to join me to share the experience and the costs. My proposed programme will show as wide a span of dates as possible, and the actual dates annd preferred area will be determined by the first to express an interest. I will then look at charter availability, and unless the first to come forward has specified otherwise, will look for others to share dates, location and cost. It stands to reason that enquiries well in advance of the dates proposed are more likely to produce the requred results. Many repeat customers have become firm friends over the years. Any of you who have sailed with me and would like to do so again, will be welcome  subject to availability of space, and your ability to join and leave at places to suit the final programme which I will keep up to date in the following pages. I will take any number of crew from 1 to 4. As I am no longer operating commercially, there will be no fee, but you will be invited to pay an equal share of the costs. Although up to 4 visitors will be welcome, I only need one competent crew member to help sail a cruising yacht comfortably, except on longer passages where more are preferred to assist with watchkeeping. Because of this, and as I no longer have a commercial interest in filling the boat, first takers for any period during which the programme will mainly consist of day sailing will be given the option of limiting numbers to just themselves or themselves and nominated friends, taking the chartering cost into consideration. I don't expect a great rush of takers, but if you have particular dates or parts of the programme in mind, or want to limit the numbers in this way, I would suggest you  get your bid in as early as possible. Second and subsequent bidders for any given period will only be given a place if there is space and this doesn't go against the wishes of  those who have bid first.

• I retired as a commercially endorsed RYA/DTp Yachtmaster Instructor in March 2011, but will be able to give tuition to any guest crew who wish it. I will also be available to give "own boat tuition" if asked . However, as I am now "non-commercial", I no longer  run recognised RYA courses. If you come cruising with me, it can be for anything from a relaxing holiday to informal tuition in any aspect of sailing, seamanship and navigation, according to your experience and inclinations, but no longer  for a formal RYA course.

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