Jennifer Jane and the dinghy race 1/4

"Oh, I like sailing over the sea, so let go the jibsheets and hellum alee," sang Jennifer Jane's dad.

With sails flapping, the small sailing dinghy turned into the wind and Jennifer Jane jumped out onto the beach to stop the boat from bumping on the stony shore. Dad lowered the sails and putting the dinghy on a trolley, pulled it up the beach beyond the high tide mark.

"Now for some dinner and then a final practice this afternoon before the big race tomorrow," he said.

The family was on holiday at their cottage by the Therdle estuary. Dad was racing in the championships with Jennifer Jane as his crew and if he could win the big race the next day, he would have a large silver cup as a prize.

Mum was waiting for them as they got indoors. "Come on you sailors," she said, "dinner is on the table."

They all sat down and began discussing the morning's practice race.

Jennifer Jane was having a lovely time. The weather had been too calm for sailing once or twice and she’d canoed over to Attersea Island to see Barnacle Bill. He had been very interested to hear about her dinghy racing and had been able to pass on several useful hints about the local tidal currents.

"I don't know much about dinghy sailing," he'd said, "but seamanship is seamanship, wherever you are” and Jennifer Jane had been very pleased to listen and learn from him.

After dinner and washing up were finished, Jennifer Jane and her dad went out on the water again, practising for the race.

"We'll try a spot of tide cheating now."

The dinghy headed for the shore and then dad sailed along as close to the beach as he dared. The tide always runs less strongly close to the shore and the nearer they got to the beach, the faster they sailed.

"I think we can get in just a little closer," said dad and then, just as he steered them slightly nearer to the shore,.....crunch..., a terrible tearing bang shook the little boat and it stopped with a jerk.

"Drat it," said dad, "we seem to have hit something hard, the tide must be lower than I thought."

They both climbed over the side and walked round the boat looking for damage. Sure enough, when they reached the stern they found the rudder badly broken and splintered. The pintles, which are the hooks that the rudder is hung on, were twisted as well.

"Oh crumbs!" exclaimed dad, "that's torn it! we'll never get that little lot repaired in time for tomorrow's race."

Jennifer Jane was ever so upset to see him give up all hope of racing. "Never mind," she said hopefully, trying to cheer him up, "perhaps I'll be able to think of some way of getting a new rudder."

"Well, we do have a spare one at home", came the reply "but I forgot to bring it and I'll never be able to get it here in time. Even if I could, we still need a boatyard to straighten those pintles and the local yard has a waiting list for a week!"

Now Jennifer Jane is not the sort of girl who gives up very easily. She sat quietly on the beach and had a good think. Getting the pintles straightened would be quite easy, she thought. After all she only had to visit Barnacle Bill and ask him to take them to the goblin boatyard that looked after his paddle steamer. Getting the spare rudder from home was a different matter though. Still, one thing at a time, so she asked dad to take the pintles off the dinghy so that she could take them to a friend who could get them mended.

"I hope your friend knows what he's doing," replied her father, "but there's nothing to lose and perhaps I can patch up the rudder."

He didn't sound at all happy, but very soon Jennifer Jane had the pintles in her pocket and had slipped off quietly to go and find Barnacle Bill.