Words by new OGA member, Andrew Liddiard

Look out upon Folly Reach, bathed in the golden embrace of a fading day, and behold them: few were promised but ten magnificent gaff-rigged beauties made it, their sails furled, their spars at rest, their timbers humming with the quiet satisfaction of a journey well sailed.  Nestled together opposite the Folly Inn, their masts forming a graceful forest. The sun dipped towards the horizon, painting the water in strokes of amber and rose. And from their decks, a new kind of music rose – not the creak of blocks or the slap of halyards, but the joyful murmur of voices, the clink of glasses, the laughter that only good company and a perfect moment and Sue’s sausage surprise can evoke.

For that night, the Folly Reach pontoon was transformed into a grand ballroom, and these ten noble ladies and gentlemen of the sea were its honoured guests. They carried the spirit of adventure, the camaraderie of shared passion, and the quiet dignity of true craftsmanship. They danced with the wind, weathered the squalls, and now, in this tranquil haven, we celebrated. 

We raised glasses, cans, and bottles, not to their passing, but to their enduring spirit. To the gaff rigs, to the timeless beauty they embody, and to the indelible memories they create. May their timbers remain sound, their sails ever full, and their journeys always lead them to such perfect sunsets and such friendly company.