When I was in Bradwell Marina, I met a chap called Alan Charlton. He’s a Jester Challenger who completed a singlehanded trip to the Azores and back in 2008. He was planning a trip to Oostende in Belgium on his new boat, and providing I could meet him at Shotley marina within a week, I was offered a place in the crew.

I managed to meet the crew of Mr Tinkles, and enjoyed an absolutely fantastic weekend crossing the North Sea, and getting rather drunk in Oostende.