Garry Flashman started sailing with his father, initially in a two-seater canoe complete with dagger board, bamboo mast and homemade cotton sail. As a teenager he helped his father build a Silhouette from drawings which they sailed around the Solent, trailed to Plymouth for the annual rally, and even sailed across the channel to Calais.

In 1989 he put a team together to build the Nobby Freda – a Morecambe Bay Prawner – which they took to the Southampton boat show. She caused a bit of a stir and was sold, at which point Garry lost track of her.

Fast forward 25 years and his wife Vicki spotted her for sale in Gaffers Log, the journal of the Old Gaffers Association. They went to Cowes to take a look, Vicki loved what she saw and they bought her.

Based in Portsmouth harbour, most of their sailing is in the Solent although they hope to cruise further east, perhaps to Rye. Being shallow draught and with a sharp turn of the bilge Freda can dry out happily in mud.