We are not alone. In August 2008 Mike and Jill Cross wrote to us from New Zealand to say they too have a red-and-white Roberts 38 called Sentinel, which they built of coldmoulded plywood in 1980.

Their picture shows her last Christmas looking in beautiful condition for her 28 years. Like ours she appears to be the center cockpit, cutter-rig version, the only other one of this type we have come across. The hull is rounded though, not double-chine like ours.

They comment: "We chose this name after a mountain in the South Island, an area where we grew up and had a few great holidays including our honeymoon. Our cruising has been confined to the coasts of New Zealand with most of the

time spent in the Hauraki Gulf (Auckland). We have made a few changes from the original plans but in general are pleased both with the performance and great times Sentinel has given us."

Incidentally, our own Sentinel visited Auckland in 1989-90, but it does not seem the two yachts ever met.