Noel Hopkinson's second next yacht was the Colleen class Shalimar and she is the yacht that most members associate with Noel, for he sailed it successfully in club races for 22 years. It was rare for Noel to miss a race, and as for retiring in heavy weather, Shalimar was sailed to the point of foundering. Shalimar was a very low wooded boat by modern standards. However, Noel revelled in it and was always at his best in heavy going.

It came as quite a surprise to me when Noel sold Shalimar after racing her for so many years with so much success. I'm sure that everyone had come to expect that man and boat were a permanent combination, but all things change and Noel's next boat was a 5.5-metre class called Crest.