Hi Everyone,

I have just bought my very first boat, a Sinbad from Andy Seedhouse in Woodbridge. I'm looking forward to recomissioning it and bringing it up to Leicestershire for use on Rutland Water. Well that's a start anyway.

My first of many questions: Is there any way of determining the age of the boat? There is a photo on the sales sheet showing the boat with a seal logo on the mainsail and the number 369. Although I appreciate that over the years these things can get mixed up.

Sinbad 369 was built in 1978 or 1979, called Alea and was originally kept in Bosham on Chichester Harbour. In 1995 she was bought by a Mr Warwicker who sailed her out of Brancaster in Norfolk until 2006 when we lost touch. We never heard from Mr Seedhouse! Welcome back!

Geoff Harwood ex Sinbad/287 Zalophus

Thank you for the reply and interesting information Geoff.

I have had a quick look, "Alea" is Greek and refers to the Goddess Athena. Alternatively, it is a Casino in Nottingham. I'm not keen on either although I have taken a gamble buying the boat without looking at the sails. If you are keeping records I'll let you know the new name as soon as my Grandchildren come up with a decent name; something a little less embarrassing than "Oswaldtwistle".

One of the sail bags has a tag marked "Warwicker" to back up your information.

I understand the boat was up for sale due to the previous owner passing away and anecdotal evidence suggests it was kept on the Orwell. I was pleased to find plenty of cleaning materials on board so bless him (or her) and thanks for a clean ship.

I was enjoying the sunshine at Woodbridge yesterday, having a nice lunch in the cockpit with the outboard well cover removed, when I noticed these numbers on the stern. I've read about them somewhere but I can't remember if they are significant or not.

I reckon it's 242.

Sometimes these numbers drilled into the reinforcement behind the rudder pintles are tantalisingly close to the official sail numbers by which we have identified the chronology of Seal 22s and Sinbads. Sadly none seem to exactly tally and sadly yours is an extreme example. I did once try to get all 22 owners to send me the numbers together with the sail numbers to see if there was any correlation but no-one seemed very interested.

Geoff Harwood ex Sinbad 287 (drill holes 276 if I remember rightly!)

Thanks Geoff,

When I read about these numbers before I went looking for them in my boat, expecting something more obvious than this and gave up. It's amazing what you see when you're not looking! I wonder if it's worth circulating a photo as maybe others don't really know what they're looking for?