<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 5.50.4207.2601" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello there - </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have arrived home after 6 months away working on
the film adaptation of Patrick O'Brian's "Far Side of the World".
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Had my Alberg 30 "Surprise" #426 left in the water
after my club hauled for the winter... and I sailed her yesterday. Had to
sweep the snow off the deck and the sheets were kinda stiff with ice but what
the hell - I got out before the freeze-up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I treated myself to a new genoa which I picked up
from the sailmaker on the way home... and after three years of teetering over
whether or not to keep the boat I am happy to say that the new sail made a
colossal difference in her performance. I think I will keep her after
all. My last boat was a beloved Folkboat and I have to say that until
yesterday the Alberg compared very unfavourably to her in regards to stiffness,
weatherliness, speed and general seakindliness. I feel now that #426
is a worthy successor to Touch Wood.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I had the sail made by Joe Fernandes' son Ron, who
is carrying on Triton Sails after the loss of his father. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Glad to be home (and that my engine block did not
freeze)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gordon Laco</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Surprise" KC426</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>