burghbuzz

Andy and Jinti Wight-Boycott have been missed around the town, not least for their role on the Burgh Buzz. Here we catch up with what they have been doing.

Andy: We sailed 1600 miles from Ardrossan to Skye in the North and Dublin in the South. A day' s sailing would be 5 to 90 nautical miles. In the evening we would anchor, tie up to a mooring or come alongside a pontoon and sleep on the boat.

Jinti: I was frustrated at first because we did not go anywhere till May. We had had the boat since January and were getting to know it and making preparations at weekends but I wanted to get on with sailing. Andy would fiddle with the engine and I did various courses in such things as Day Skipper, First Aid, Radio, and Diesel Engines. The hardest decision was deciding on a name. We did not like the previous name "Oyster Pet" and the previous owner wanted it for his next boat. We eventually decided on "Selkie Dancer". A Selkie is an old Orcadian name for a seal and Dancer is such a lovely name for a boat. It is unlucky to change the name of a boat so we had to appease the Gods with a traditional ceremony, involving champagne. The best part was when we got to choose the Port of Registration and discovered we were able to have Burntisland, so that is what is written on the boat . (See picture)

A + J: Coming up to retirement we realised that we had a window of opportunity for something different while still healthy. We had been taking sailing holidays in places like the Ionian and Croatian Seas and thought it would be a great idea to take a longer journey where we could live on the boat, stop off and spend longer in places, have time to chill. We would like to go to the Baltic, the Yangtze and Russia. Andy has family in Australia, so perhaps ultimately there too. The idea is to spend six months at sea and six months back here, at least until we have everything settled. Burntisland remains our base.

Jinti: The first time Andy asked me out was to go sailing in the Moray Firth. He had a Fireball racing dinghy. My main concern was what to wear but it would not have mattered as I got soaked anyway hanging from a trapeze. Selkie Dancer has more comforts!

Andy: I have been sailing dinghies since I was a child. When first married we lived in Florida and sailed there. I forgot about it for 15 - 20 years while the children were small then got back in to it again.

Jinti: The best was sitting peacefully with a glass of wine watching a seagull on the bow at an anchorage at Canna. North West Scotland was beautiful, especially seeing the Cuillins from the water. I love to watch the birds, porpoises and dolphins. Once we saw a basking shark. We had had a bad first sail, which we did not feel prepared for. It gave us a fright when an engine warning light came on. On another occasion we turned on the engine and nothing happened.

SELKIE DANCER is an Oyster 406

LOA 12.34m / 40'6"

Draws 1.98m / 6'5"

Displacement 11567kg / 25,5000 lbs

Fuel 485ltr / 105 gal

Water 682ltr / 150 gal

MMSI 235000401

Call Sign ZQDN2

Andy: All the electrics were dead. I had inadvertently kicked off the switch for the main battery! The dangers come when close to the coast - too many hard bits - harbour walls, rocks and other boats! For me the best moments are arriving safely - and then the wine!

A + J: Definitely Canna. It only has a population of 20 but many boats anchor there as it is so beautiful.

Andy: Paxos (Greek Islands) is a favourite of mine and I have an aspiration to get there in our own boat.

What qualities do you need to live together in a cramped space for prolonged periods?

Jinti: Naivety, faith in Andy ' s ability and calm. The boat sleeps six so it is big enough to lose each other. We can each be in different areas. Once we have set sail one of us can sit down. You have to clip on for heavy seas but after the physical effort you can relax. I read and sew and knit long scarves. I enjoy the challenge of cooking in a narrow galley. I loved the fresh mackerel in Tobermoray and scallops in Dublin Bay.

Andy: I can be tidy if I have to. " Stow as you go, " is the rule on board. Jinti is great under pressure.

A lot of people have missed the Buzz. What will/do you miss most about the Buzz?

Jinti: I liked the contact with advertisers. And sometimes doing the distribution.

Andy: I miss the legitimate excuse to ask questions of people and organisations.

Jinti: To bring the community together. A forum for debate, to inform people.

Andy: To keep people informed. To promote the town to outsiders and a sense of pride in locals. The Buzz should look forward without ignoring the past.

Andy: I am really pleased that a new team has taken the challenge and hope they will broaden it. The new website should help.

Andy will be helping out as a Consultant on the Burgh Buzz until they take up their travels again in the spring.

Fife Council have introduced the Events in Fife publication promoting public entertainment events to Fife residents and the visitor market. The full colour publication will be produced 3 times per year covering events from October to March, March to July and July to October.

The publication is freely available from visitor attractions, tourist information centres, local area offices and libraries. You can also click on www.fifedirect.org.uk for full events listings or phone 01592 413522 for a copy to be posted to you.

To promote events in the next and future editions, you can add your event to the calendar at www.fifedirect.org.uk , complete the form at the library or local area office or e-mail details to events.fife@fife.gov.uk