Enclosed is a picture reminding us of the talent that was David Thomas, who it is reported has died at Warsash. In the mid 1060s David was a key member of the 'Hamble River mafia' and he got top 5 finishes in the nationals two years running. But his real skills lay in the field of design. From the Unit single hander that came so close to winning the trials for the new international boat to replace the Finn, through to a highly successful range of cruisers, from the small to the far larger, then back down to the cheeky Foxer that is so much a part of the Hamble River scene today, David's designs always seemed to go well. Mind you, he was not adverse to taking a magnifying glass to the rule book before he started on a design, as was the case with 2972, the (in)famous Nitro. Back in 1975, the rules, as they do now, allow the bow planks to be faired in at the stem, but back then David found that there was nothing to say how far aft this could be carried. So, for Graham Pike's new boat, David asked builder Spud Rowsell to fair in the planking; in the end, this wasn't even carried as far aft as the shrouds, but with the rules as they stood, in theory there was nothing to stop a boat being built with a smooth skin.2972, Nitro brought about a rapid change in the rules, as well as bring Graham and crew Pat King 3rd in the Inlands at Draycote that year. As Barry Dunning said today, another legend lost.
 
The picture shows Nitro as she is today, still in excellent condition and in the hands of owner Nick Crickmore, a potent force on the classic scene. It is just possible to make out the smooth sections in the first 18 inches or so back from the stem.
Dougal