After five years, ‘Crow’ made a remarkable return to the East Coast Gaffers fleet this summer when she joined the Annual Cruise with her new owners Will, Ellie and baby Isaac. Will brings the story here.
‘Crow’ is the brainchild of the late Bob Berk, the designer behind the infamous ‘Dirty Girty’. We bought her almost entirely on the strength of her reputation amongst the East Coast Gaffers. Time and again we’ve been told that Bob was an exceptionally intelligent designer who thought through every detail, and ‘Crow’ is a perfect example of that. There isn’t a hatch, lock, hinge or mechanism on board that doesn’t have a purpose. Many of the solutions are wonderfully ingenious – features that most people would never have considered. Discovering these hidden details and understanding why they exist has become a very enjoyable part of getting to know the boat.
There are some boats that are simply built to sail. Others seem destined to become part of family history. This trip was both. After lying largely unused for almost five years, ‘Crow’ was finally back where she belonged – under sail on the East Coast. What made the voyage even more special was that it wasn’t just a recommissioning cruise; it was our very first family boating holiday together.
The trip certainly wasn’t without its challenges. We were all learning the quirks of a new boat while also discovering how to cruise and race with a small baby on board. It was a steep learning curve, but one that proved incredibly rewarding. Fortunately, we soon realised that many of the races and longer passages coincided almost perfectly with Isaac’s nap times, making life on board far easier than we had imagined.
We’ve absolutely loved learning how ‘Crow’ sails. She is beautifully balanced, remarkably quick, and surprisingly easy to handle with the minimum number of Crew (which is one I guess?) – something that has been invaluable as we’ve started sailing as a family.
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made us feel so welcome as new boat owners. The support, encouragement and kindness shown to us throughout the week – especially towards Isaac – made the experience even more memorable. Whether it was lending a hand after the smacks boat decided to make its own escape (new dinghy spares by the shore team), offering advice when the engine chose the worst possible moment to stop as well as taking Isaac to explore the local area so we could have our dinner. Everyone was there to help with a smile.
Some of the highlights of the week included:
- Seeing both of Bob’s designs, ‘Crow’ and ‘Dirty Girty’ leading the fleet in the East Coast Race – something that hadn’t happened for many years.
- Ellie somehow producing an incredible risotto for seven people in a galley that had barely been tested. With very few of the kitchen utensils we needed and the gas running out almost as soon as we started cooking, it was nothing short of a miracle!
- Transforming Crow’s spacious cockpit into Isaac’s very own floating playpen, giving him the freedom to enjoy life afloat just as much as we did.
- Spending an unforgettable week together as a family, exploring the beautiful rivers and creeks of the East Coast while creating memories that will stay with us for years to come.
Report: Will Harvey
Photos: Paul Masters & Colin Stroud
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