KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

I love boating in all its formats: motorboating, sailing, even travelling on a local ferry – as long as I am on the water, I am happy. I am most content, though, when on a classic boat from the 1950s or 1960s, especially if it is one of the marvellous creations of Carlo Riva.

I’m not sure why this is, maybe my age, maybe the heritage of my Italian mother, or my frustrated father’s land-locked interest in boats, which only got us as far as the Earl’s Court Boat Show every year. Most likely a combination of all three and a desire to emulate La Dolce Vita garnered from watching old films and the exquisite photography of Edward Quinn.

Wherever the passion came from, including reading old back issues of magazine, I have always loved classic boats and some 30 years ago I first dipped my toe in the water of actually owning one by answering a classified advertisement for a beautiful 15-ft wooden runabout that looked close to the Rivas of my heart’s desire but which at the time were out of my budget.