| Skipper: | Stewart Burness |
| First Mate: | Anne Burness Read her unedited version in First mate's Log |
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Anne eating Gambas (king Prawns) in La Rochelle's inner basin. |
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Water is in Stewart's blood (contrary to popular belief it isn't alcohol)
after an early water baptism rowing at school, took up sailing in the 60's.
His first sailing craft was a Wharam Hina 22 foot catamaran "Sunbury Streak" built in Marine ply. After realising that 1 foot wide bunks were not quite to Anne's taste, he started building a 32 foot ketch and lived on the boat at Sunbury upon Thames with Anne and their young son Mark. When the 2nd child Siona appeared on the scene, a house seemed more appropriate and a few years passed until starting boating again.
He purchased a 17 foot lifting keel boat "Yimkin" and had great fun sailing in the Solent and on the Wey Navigation.
Tango
was our next yacht, a solid Westerly 25. The family sailed the South English
and French Coasts, until we wanted a faster and more roomy vessel.
The Southampton Boat Show was our downfall, Westerly offered us a good price
on "Tango " as a "trade in" and all too soon we were the proud owners of
"Excalibur of Bosham", a Merlin 28.
Excalibur was a terrific boat; fast, roomy and
safe. We journeyed far and wide, to Spain in '89, The Azores (AZAB) in '94 and many RORC races in the channel, with very good results!
This picture was taken on the return from the Azores flying our Spinnaker,
surfing along making 13 Knots not bad for a 28 footer. As you can see it
was like a sleigh ride for 9 days.
Our current boat "Silver Tryst" nee "Thor Axe" is deceptively quick, considering the luxury below decks!
Email: stewart@burcom.co.uk