To the Blackwater Sailing Club near Maldon in Essex for a sail with Charles Stock, 80, the legendary dinghy cruising man aboard his 16ft boat Shoal Waters.

We are put aboard by the club launchman whose tender unfortunately hooked up the unseen stern rope of Shoal Waters around his prop.

After failing to unfoul the line with a boathook, yours truly stepped in: ‘Please look the other way gentlemen,’ I said and stripped naked and leapt over the side.

The line was soon unscrambled from the rudder and propshaft and Charles provided me a towel.

I’ve been trying to work out what I could claim on expenses for such devotion to duty…has anyone any ideas?