Editorial

After worrying once again whether the curtailment of cruising over the past year would result in a very thin Fish, I was delighted that my concerns proved unfounded. Not only do we have the concluding parts of Bert ter Hart and Randall Reeves’s recent high latitude adventures – both recognised by the Barton Cup – but from the past we have a memorable leg of the 1989/90 Whitbread Around the World Race and, equally gripping, The Gig, a wartime ‘true adventure’ from the pen of OCC Founder Humphrey Barton.

Less dramatic but equally impressive are the circumnavigations made by Saša Fegić, for which he received the Qualifier’s Mug, and Graham and Avril Johnson, which brought them a second Vasey Vase. And then there are the ‘limited-duration cruise’ accounts, without which Flying Fish would not truly reflect our Club and its diverse membership.

On a practical note, I’m often asked to forward the PDF of a particular article, book review or obituary. While I’m happy to do this, I always point out that anyone – member or non-member – can download items from any issue of Flying Fish direct from the club’s website. It’s not even necessary to sign in. If unsure how to do this read on, otherwise skip the next paragraph...

Open the website, click on the ‘hamburger’ at top right, then on ‘Cruising Info’ (near the bottom of the drop-down menu) and then on ‘Flying Fish Archive’ (near the top of the next menu). Alternatively, enter www.oceancruisingclub.org/Flying-Fish-Archive in the address bar. Finally, locate the issue you want in the central box. To read it online click ‘View Flying Fish’ below the front cover image, or to download it (about 10Mb) click ‘Download Flying Fish’. To download an individual article, find it in the contents list and click on the PDF icon to the right. The PDF’s name will appear at the bottom left corner of the screen, after which it can be opened and read or saved in the usual way.

Now for a couple of requests: Firstly, if you’d like to join the Flying Fish book review team please e-mail flying.fish@oceancruisingclub.org outlining your particular interests and the areas with which you’re reasonably familiar. Though most books are reviewed in hard copy, many are also available as e-books, including Kindle. Secondly, the Flying Fish larder is almost empty of recipes, so if you have any seagoing favourites that you’d like to share please do send them to me, with a photo or two if possible.

Finally, my apologies to Australian member John Maddox, whom I incorrectly stated in Flying Fish 2020/2 had been born in the UK. John, who joined the OCC in 1968, has been PO Sydney since 1991 and served as Rear Commodore Australia from 1993 until 1999, is proud to have been born in Sydney! He tells me that he did not set foot in England until he was 26, at the end of his qualifying voyage aboard Ramrod from New York to Hamble – see Pioneers and Trail Blazers, Flying Fish 2004/2 pages 27–31.

Lastly the usual reminder – the ABSOLUTE DEADLINE for submissions to Flying Fish 2021/2 is Friday 1st October, but if you can manage mid-September it would be much appreciated. Thank you!

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