A Boating Biography
Page updated 13 March 2009
I'm Greg Chapman and this site contains my boating biography.
To jump to my recent exploits go to the bottom of this page and use the menu for intervening years!
1950s
Canoeing on the River Wey - 1950s
Some of my earliest boating involved family picnics taken on the River Wey in hired skiffs, punts, and even a canoe.
1960s
A Holiday on the Llangollen Canal - 1963
The Chapman family take to the water for a week in a 24ft plywood cruiser.
Holiday on the Norfolk Broads - 1965
It took a bit of persuading to get Mother to accept another boating holiday, so it was 1965 when we took to the water again on the Norfolk Broads.
Holiday on the Norfolk Broads - 1966
My brother Mike, two school friends and I hire "Buzzard", the cheapest yacht in the Blakes catalogue.
Last Holiday with Parents - 1967
The final holiday taken with my parents was aboard the Yacht "Spindrift 1", hired from the Eastwood Welpton yard at Upton on the Norfolk Broads.
Boating with Friends on the River Wey - Late 1960s
Having left school and started work, boating then meant trips with friends. These tended to be either my or Mike's colleagues from work.
1970s
Trips aboard "Matchmaker" Tony's Sharkie - 1970
Another friend, Tony Herbert, bought a small GRP yacht called a Sharkie. He kept her at Bosham in Chichester Harbour.
A Holiday on the Llangollen Canal - 1970
Friend, Graham, my brother Mike and I take a holiday on the Llangollen Canal with Mike's girlfriend and one of her friends from college.
Aboard Jemima, Dad's SeaHawk - 1977
On retiring to Norfolk Dad bought a boat, a SeaHawk. which the family named "Jemima". Father was not a great boater. He bought it mainly to encourage frequent visits of his children.
1990s
I learned of a campaign to open Soham Lode to navigation and join a party aboard friend, Robert Laws' boat "St Kilda".
2000
Mike's Fiftieth Birthday - 2000
Part of the celebrations for my brother's fiftieth birday involved a trip aboard "Walnut", hired from Martham Boat Building and Development Company.
2001
A Short Trip aboard nb Fulbourne - 2001
I cadge a lift aboard nb Fulbourne as she makes the transfer from the Middle Level to the Great Ouse.
(Planned!) A year's ownership of a share in a narrowboat - 2001-2002
Liz and I buy into the OwnerShips scheme and have a one twelfth share of a narrowboat.
2004
The Purchase and initial tidy-up of Imagination - 2004
I refuse to bid in an eBay auction, but buy the boat afterwards when it goes unsold.
The Launch of Imagination - 2004
Trying to launch a boat for the first time causes problems. The second attempt goes OK!
2006
An Account of the Three Rivers Race - 2006
Brother Mike and I make an attempt on the Three Rivers Race - a 24 hour marathon.
2008
An Account of the Three Rivers Race - 2008
I find a fellow SeaHawk owner from Scotland to make my second attempt on the Three Rivers Race.