Tis The Season…. For Jersey Royals

cooking, recipes, food, potatoes, potato, Tis the Season.... for Jersey Royals fieldsIf you love your potatoes, your mash, your roasties and your chips then now is the season to celebrate. The first or early potato crops are being lifted in Cornwall and the South West, but for the real connoisseur there is only one option, the Jersey Royal. Now you lucky folk can get them in every high street in Britain, every good green grocer, every supermarket sells the most tasty potatoes you will try. Quite often at a better price than on the island of Jersey itself. So I hold my hand up here, I live on the island, I could always just go dig up a bucket load I guess, if the farmers didn’t guard them so highly.

Tis the Season.... for Jersey Royalsthefields

Right now across our fertile fields you can see acres of plastic sheets covering the wonderful Jersey main season potato crop. The earliest and hardiest growers would have been planting in November for the early season potatoes. Visitors to the island are often amazed by the land that is turned over to potato growing, virtually vertical pockets of soil on rocky outcrops are planted carefully suspended by ropes. The potato harvest lasts from early April through to June depending of course on the climate conditions. The above average temperature of the island, its easy draining soil and the use of the abundant local seaweed as a fertilizer all helps to shape the flavour of this perfect potato. The islanders would swear to the fact the secret is all in the use of abundant amounts of the pungent seaweed.

Tis the Season.... for Jersey Royals potatoes potatoes, cooking, food ,recipes,

We need however to go back to 1878 ( fear not this is only a minor historical digression and an essential part of our tale ) for the origin of the Jersey Royal or to be more precise the Jersey Royal Fluke and it’s unique taste. A pair of abnormally large potatoes were purchased and later cultivated by Hugh de La Haye becoming the fore runners of the modern jersey potato industry. Today at its peak 1500 tonnes a day are exported during the seasons peak and the Jersey Royal enjoys EU protected status.

So what do I suggest you do with the lovely little tubers, on the island they are consumed simply served in a bowl with golden Jersey butter. I have a taste for freshly boiled Jersey Royals with some cold smoked Jersey butter and coarse sea salt if I’m feeling a little culinary inclined. You can served them with Spring Lamb, they as you would expect excellent with simply grilled fish, but here is my favourite, a nice early summer recipe to look forward to, healthy, full of flavour and texture and very easy to make.

Tis the Season.... for Jersey Royalssalads

Roasted Jersey Royal, Chickpea and Sweet Red Pepper Salad

serves 4

The wonderful sweet flavour of the potatoes are complimented by the rosemary, the slightly smoky charred peppers, the salty olives and the crunch of the chickpeas all bound in a simple but fragrant vinaigrette.

1 lb Early season Jersey Royal potatoes, thoroughly washed 2 large sweet red peppers
4 oz ripe on the vine cherry tomatoes
a small tin ( around 4 oz ) of chickpeas, washed and drained 8 tlbsp quality olive oil

2 tlbsp sherry vinegar 1 tsp clover honey
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 cloves of garlic

1 small chilli, seeds removed

a large sprig of rosemary
a small bunch of flat leaf parsley, washed and picked mixed salad leaves
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

a heavy duty plastic food bag

Preheat the oven to 375F / 190C / Gas mark 5. Place your peppers on an oven proof dish and bake until the skins to blacken. ( You can achieve the same results under a salamander in a shorter period of time ). In a medium sized sauce pan place the Jersey royal potatoes and cover with cold water. Add half a teaspoon of salt place on the hob and bring to the boil, simmer gently for five minutes. Remove from the heat and drop into a bowl of ice cold water. Drain thoroughly and place in an oven tray. Toss with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, one crushed clove of garlic, the rosemary sprig broken up and plenty of salt and pepper. Roast for 30 – 40 minutes until the skins are crispy.

In the meantime place the charred peppers in the food bag, seal and allow to cool. As the peppers cool the self generated steam will loosen the blackened skins. When cool remove from the bag and on a chopping board scrap off the skin. Do not worry if you cannot remove it all a few blackened pieces add a smoky flavour to the salad. Remove seeds and any membranes and slice. Slice tomatoes in half.

Wipe a medium sized glass bowl with the second piece of garlic that has been cut in half. In the bowl dissolve a good pinch of the salt into the sherry vinegar then add a good grind of black pepper, the honey and mustard. Whisk in the oil. Immediately before serving toss the chickpeas, tomatoes, pepper slices and parsley in the dressing. Place over 4 bowls of mixed salad leaves drizzling with any remaining dressing, top with crisp roasted potatoes and enjoy.

 

https://about.me/cgott

 

 

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckon

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery                                                   By Wendy Breckon mermaidsign1

Some of the best places to visit are often just round the corner. If you take a few skips away from the sea in Lyme Regis, you will encounter a world of inspiration and wonder at the Mermaid Shop in Church Street. Take a partner or friend, a small child or two and enjoy the magical experience where the imagination can tumble and twist and creativity will flow. Here, you can almost hear the waves crashing, the circling sea gulls and the taste of salt in the air. This is one of my favourite places and always has been.

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckon linzi

Linzi West the delightful owner is a very talented portrait painter. On the walls of her studio is a collection of the young and old and those in the middle, in various poses. On the table near her easel is a superb collection of sketch books, some quite tiny, that Linzi carries to visually record journeys and travels. Here inside, are sketches of figures and faces and interesting places (as a writer with many notebooks crammed full of my ideas, I was quite enthralled).

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckon linzisketchbook3 The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckoneasel4

Linzi, who originally trained in Richmond, has been motivated and inspired by peoples’ faces from a young age. She captures the essence of character perfectly and enjoys how a face tells a story, their story, always from life.

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckonportrait5

A love of sketching and life drawing has always held a fascination.  Linzi creates her art in oils, charcoal and water colours, whichever is most appropriate. She describes the experience perfectly, as being one of the journey from the heart to the hand, which all creative people will appreciate.

Linzi feels the younger age group can be captured superbly onto a small canvas. Her portraits of children (6 x 6 inches) are very popular and the little ones only need to sit for an hour.

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckonceramics6

A visit to Lyme Regis for a holiday many years ago, gave Linzi the idea that this would be the perfect place to raise a family. Having lived originally in Windsor, the move to the seaside resulted in the opening of The Mermaid Shop, something she always wanted to do. Inside the window, her beautiful hand painted ceramics, lino cuts, prints, paintings and plates in their dazzling seaside colours nestle closely to each other. Here, the hearty sea captains, quirky fish and charming mermaids gaze out on all who walk by. Alongside these are exquisite cards and a selection of children’s books with her bold and cheerful illustrations inside.

The Magical Mermaid Shop And Gallery By Wendy Breckonpatrick7

If The Mermaid Shop is closed, feel welcome to telephone or even knock if you have an enquiry. You can also visit her website at www.mermaid-at-the-tudor.com or www.linziwest.co.uk

There are many charming and inspirational shops around the Jurassic coast, but this has got to be one of the best. If you get the chance, move away from the hubbub of Lyme, turn that corner, pay a visit, stay a while…

Now, did I use the word magical?

 

 

Planning Tips For Your Dream Wedding

wedding, weddings, wedding planning, wedding book, wedding advice, wedding tips, wedding planning tips, wedding survival guideMany women have dreamed of their wedding day since they were little girls. Although I didn’t and had no idea what I wanted on my big day after getting engaged. I had to start getting some ideas together and make what felt like a million decisions. It was fun but it was stressful. To cut down the stress for other brides I wrote my wedding planning book. Hopefully it will make the journey easier for other brides. In the meantime, here are some tips for creating your dream wedding.

Your Dream Wedding: Wants And Compromises.

You may have a specific idea of your wedding in mind but the reality will probably be different. This doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Just choose the things that you are not willing to negotiate on. When you know what is most important and worth spending money on you can focus on that and then look at cheaper options for other things. Or rope family and friends in. Most will be happy to help.

Budget.

This is the tough one but you need to work out what it is and then you need to stick to it. Enquire if any family members can help and then sit down with your fiancé and have a proper discussion about what you can and cannot afford. There is no point in going into debt for a wedding or taking out a loan. It is only one day of your life, an important one, but one day. You can have an amazing wedding on a small budget. No one should start their married life in debt. Watch out for the ‘W’ bomb. As in ‘wedding’. The W word makes everyone vastly put their prices up.

Guessing cost.

Always overestimate. That way you won’t be left short. Always remember VAT. Some venues and suppliers will be coy about whether VAT is included but ask them and get a direct answer and then make a note of it.

How much it will cost.

This is the question. The answer is: quite a bit. My husband and I managed to get married for less than £10,000. We paid for the majority of this ourselves but did have some family members contribute. Not bad when the average wedding costs £21,000. Spreadsheets are your friend. Negotiating will also be your friend. Try to get money off everything. Don’t take the first quote and rope family and friends into the planning if money is tight.

Controlling Costs.

This is very important. Watch out for VAT and always account for everything. Use a spreadsheet if you can. Keep an eye on the small things as they can all add up.

Dealing With Suppliers.

When dealing with suppliers always remember that you are the customer. Be polite but always be firm. Read the small print and make your wishes clear. More importantly, don’t pay any final invoices until everything has been checked. One supplier charged us for VAT despite the fact they said they wouldn’t. Hmm. Always be careful.

Hatton Gardens. 

Hatton Gardens is the area in London where all of the jewellers are located. You can get a very good deal here.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are your friend. If you don’t know how to do one then quickly brush up your skills. They will be your saving grace. Have one for your wedding budget and one for your wedding guest list. For the wedding guest list one, leave space for information such as dietary requirements, RSVP received, gift given and thank you card sent.

Organisation Tips

Have everyone’s contact details to hand. Use spreadsheets and have plenty ‘to do’ lists. Make sure your partner pulls his or her weight. Weddings are hard and stressful to organise, don’t go it alone.

Wedding Planner: To Go It Alone Or Hire Help.

If I had the money I would have hired a wedding planner in an instant. However, they are expensive and you don’t really need one. I am not saying that in a rude way, they will save time and probably a lot of money but weighing up the cost is important. Your venue might have a wedding planner or venue coordinator onsite. If so, this is a tremendous bonus.

If you get a wedding planner make sure you check their recommendations and also have a clear idea of what you want. It is their job to take your ideas and make them into the wedding of your dreams. Don’t accept anything less, budget permitting.

If you are getting married then get your hands on a copy of The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity. It has great advice on planning your perfect wedding and is written by our editor, Catherine Balavage. It is also available in Ebook format and is a great guide for wedding planning.

 

 

Alfresco Dining Helped Along by Hardy’s Wines By Margaret Graham

Alfresco dining helped along by Hardy’s wines By Margaret Grahamrosegrapes

Thank heavens Thomas Hardy travelled from Devon to the south of Australia in 1850, because, within a short while, he began to work with John Reynell, South Australia’s first winemaker and learned the skills of winemaking. Soon Thomas had moved on to become his own master, beginning within a long blink of an eye to create wines that ‘would be prized in the markets of the world’.

Alfresco dining helped along by Hardy’s wines By Margaret Graham2

Summer is coming. So, what about a few ideas for recipes and some Hardy wines to go with them.  Try them and see how Thomas’ efforts have borne fruit.

Alfresco entertaining is a quick and easy way to gather groups of friends and family in an informal setting to enjoy the long summer evenings. Whether you’re hosting a Bank Holiday BBQ, heading out for a picnic or enjoying the weather with some outdoor dining, Hardy’s has a summer wine to match any occasion. Here are some tips to help you whip up a fuss free night of entertaining to make the most of the summer months.

For alfresco entertaining in the garden with friends, complement the longer evenings with tea lights in jam jars and add to the atmosphere with your favourite summer soundtrack, but keep it low, or you’ll have the neighbours joining you.

Simple bite size appetisers are a good idea, such as smoked salmon canapés. Serve on blinis with crème fraiche and pair with a delicious glass of Hardys Stamp Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay (Asda, £8,99RRP). This medium-bodied wine delivers fresh lime with hints of nectarine and apricot and a fresh, zingy finish

Freeze summer berries to use in place of ice cubes –  add some frozen berries to your Hardys Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay (Asda, £9.75RRP) for the ultimate summer tipple

Prepare in advance and whip up fruit based dessert the day before.  For the perfect wine pairing, serve with a glass of Hardys Stamp Shiraz Rosé (Tesco, £7.99RRP

This wine… We came, we tried, it conquered. You can see from the photo that we chilled, sipped, and drank..

wine, wine review, shiraz, alcohol

So, the scent: Full of the summer fruits – strawberry, cherry & citrus aromas, with hints of spice.

Palate: the fruit flavours continue, true and rich, smooth and creamy, with soft tannins & excellent fresh acidic finish. Perfect for alfresco dining.

For something a bit special, serve up a classic Antipodean surf and turf dish to really wow your friends. Try Lantana Café’s onglet and mackerel recipe that can be paired with both red and white wine, in a nod to the meat and fish flavours. Match with Eileen Hardy Pinot Noir (www.hardys1853club.com , £34.99) and William Hardy Adelaide Hills Chardonnay (www.hardys1853club.com, £11.99)

 

Onglet with baby gem lettuce, smoked mackerel, popped wild rice and gochujang dipping sauce

Ingredients

6 x trimmed Onglet steaks (approximately 200g each), seasoned well with salt and pepper 200g x boneless smoked mackerel fillets, flaked2-3 baby gem lettuces separated into whole leaves (approximately 4 leaves per person) 30g wild rice. Sunflower oil for popping the rice. Gouchugang dipping sauce (recipe below)

Preparation

1.       To make the popped rice, add enough oil to a heavy bottomed pan to just cover its base and place over a high heat. When the pan is hot, add the wild rice and shake the pan vigorously to coat the grains thoroughly. Cover the pan with a lid, reduce the heat to medium high, and shake the pan until you can hear the rice popping.

 

2.       Reduce the heat to medium low and keep shaking the pan until the popping slows. Note that wild rice will not make as much noise as popcorn does so listen closely. Tip the popped wild rice onto a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain.

 

3.       To cook the steaks, place a fry pan over a medium to high heat and when hot, add a couple of teaspoons of oil. Depending on the size of your fry pan, place 2 or 3 pieces of onglet into the pan (don’t overcrowd the pan) and cook each side for 5 minutes until nicely browned. Repeat until steaks are cooked and then transfer to a plate and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

 

4.       When ready to serve, place the flaked mackerel fillets under a grill for a couple of minutes to warm slightly. Arrange the gem lettuce leaves on a serving platter or board. Slice the onglet on the diagonal into 1cm thick slices and place these over the gem lettuce leaves- a couple of slices per leaf. Scatter the flaked mackerel over the top of the steak and place dollops of the dipping sauce on top. Finally, scatter the popped rice over the platter. The idea is that people help themselves with their hands and create little parcels with the gem leaves.

Gouchugang dipping sauce

This will make more than you need for this dish but it can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week and used as a condiment with other meats or noodle dishes.

Ingredients 1/4 cup kochujang (red pepper paste)* 1/3 cup daenjang (soybean paste) or miso paste*5 cloves garlic, minced. 1 green chilli, deseeded and chopped finely. 2 spring onions, finely chopped2 tablespoons rice wine*1 tablespoon honey1 tablespoon sesame oil. Black pepper to taste. Water to thin, if needed  *Available from Asian supermarkets

Preparation: Mix the ingredients well and chill. Depending on the type of kochujang and daenjang you use, your sauce may be too thick. You can thin with water or sesame oil.  Credit – Lantana Café, Shoreditch 

All that’s needed is the sun, and it’s breaking through…

 

 

 

The Antarctic Pavilion: Alexander Ponomarev – Concordia

Fondaco Marcello, Calle dei Garzoni, Grand Canal, Venice 56th Venice Biennale of Art

Saturday 9th May –  Sunday 22nd November 

The Antarctic Pavilion- Alexander Ponomarev – Concordia1

For anyone who happens to be in Venice between the above dates I think I trip to the Antarctic Pavilion would be an extraordinary experience. Following the critical success of the Antarctic Pavilion’s inaugural exhibition at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale, Concordia is a major installation by the celebrated Russian artist Alexander Ponomarev.

The Antarctic Pavilion- Alexander Ponomarev – Concordia voice in thewilderness

Concordia is Latin for ‘harmony’ – the personification of concord, a treaty or pact. It is also the name basis of the Costa Concordia, wrecked off the coast of Italy in 2012 after a catastrophic blunder by its captain who abandoned ship before the safe evacuation of his 3,229 passengers.

For the 56th Venice Biennale of Art, Alexander Ponomarev’s installation, curated by Nadim Samman, deploys the Costa Concordia disaster – specifically, the broken pact between Captain Schettino and his passengers – as a provocative lens through which to view the fragility of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. This agreement suspended military activity and sovereign claims on the continent’s territory, limiting human activity there to the pursuit of peaceful scientific endeavour. As the global struggle for resources intensifies, the future of this treaty is in peril.

In Ponomarev’s sculptural intervention a scale model of the grounded Concordia, tilting like a tipped iceberg (or perhaps a shift in the polar axis itself) stands as an image of terrestrial re- orientation: a new worldview.

The Antarctic Pavilion- Alexander Ponomarev – Concordia4

Elsewhere in the exhibition, fire invokes a notorious act of arson by a staff doctor from the Argentinean Almirante Brown station, who burnt his base to the ground when the setting sun announced the onset of winter.

Further works are based on the artist’s recent expedition to the (Russian Orthodox) Trinity Church of Antarctica when the whole expedition party received marriage sacraments from the southern continent’s only resident monk.

In addition to its invoking of paradigmatic disasters, Concordia is a meditation on community, responsibility, security and the strength of the ties that bind us together amid shifting personal and political landscapes.

The Antarctic Pavilion is a European interface platform for The Antarctic Biennale, to be held in Antarctica in 2016 aboard international research vessels. The Antarctic Biennale is also devised and implemented by artist Alexander Ponomarev and curated by Nadim Samman both of whom were named by Foreign Policy Magazine among the ‘100 Leading Global Thinkers’ of 2014 ‘for designing a blueprint for Antarctic culture.

www.antarcticpavilion.com

 

 

THE FAERIE TREE: A Book In The Making | Beltane

THE FAERIE TREE- A book in the making | BeltanefairytreeaprilBeltane: a season of fertility and fire, a time to welcome new life into the earth. A good time to contact spirits or interact with the Fae.

After the rigours of the last few weeks I am absolutely convinced that releasing a new book is akin to passing through fire. Or at very least, virtual fire. I seem to have spent most of my time tweeting, googling, goodreading, facebooking and linking in. Even my dreams – or nightmares – have been seen through the prism of my laptop or iPad screen.

Why? I have been chasing the writer’s holy grail: reviews. In a world where there are thousands of books, how else are readers to choose what to read? And without the right number of reviews (rumoured to be at least fifty) you are not going to kick on with those all important Amazon search algorithms.

THE FAERIE TREE- A book in the making | BeltanebluebellsinFT

Of course hunting down reviews is a potentially risky business because even when you ask… or suggest… that bloggers and other opinion formers review the book you cannot, quite rightly, influence what they say. With my first novel, The Cheesemaker’s House, I had my (only) one star review early on so I got it out of the way. With The Faerie Tree I’m still waiting. No fewer than three stars anywhere. Yet.

Of course there are reviews which are downright irritating and it just isn’t the done thing (again, quite rightly) to reply. Top of my list are the people who spell the main characters’ names wrong; I know reviewers are busy people but if they have skim-read a book they ought to admit to it. I subscribe to the Alliance of Independent Authors’ Ethical Author code (for more information see here: http://allianceindependentauthors.org/ethical-author/) and part of that is about being open and transparent when I review other people’s books. I would love all reviewers to do the same.

On the upside, there are reviewers you just want to pick up and hug. Like the one who completely got the fact that part of my reason for writing the book was to give people who suffer from depression a positive portrayal. Like the one on Goodreads who realised the book wasn’t really their thing but gave it three stars anyway because it was well written. Like the reviews that just make me laugh.

Some of that laughter could just be relief. Until a book is out there you never really know how it will be received. Overall, it’s doing really well; 4 ½ stars on Amazon and 4.1 on Goodreads. People are generally gripped by it – one reader in South Africa finished it by torchlight during a power cut. They are enjoying the characters, their relationships, their stories.

But I am learning, too. Of course it’s too late to change The Faerie Tree now but there is a significant minority who are finding one of the main characters irritating – have I got that wrong? And others feel the resolution of the mystery is too obscure… or even completely lacking. Should I have spelt it out a little more? All useful things to consider as I complete the first draft of my next offering and begin the editing process.

But, being Beltane, I have lifted my eyes from the screen and ventured out into sunshine in the natural world. Where better to go than the fairy tree wood in Hampshire where the story began? And to thank the faeries, elves and pixies who live there for their very large contribution to the success of their book.

The Faerie Tree is available as an ebook or paperback from Amazon, Kobo, Waterstones and to order from all major bookstores. Find out more at http://janecable.com/the-book/4588312168 .

 

 

How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Ceremony_Short.Still008When I first started planning my wedding I was daunted. The cost of most weddings is over £20,000. It seemed insane to spend this on one day of our life. The majority of our wedding was paid for by my (now) husband and I so I had to keep things cheap. I decided to stop panicking and start researching instead. This research became my book, The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity. I have an excerpt on wedding planning from my wedding book below. I hope this eases the stress and helps a little. You need it when planning a wedding.

Tips For Saving Money On Your Wedding

Cutting the guest list.

This is the best and easiest way to cut the budget. Every single person who comes to your wedding costs you money. So be ruthless and don’t feel you have to give everyone a plus one. Cutting children from your wedding will also save money but if you do this make it a rule across the board. If some guests have gone to the expense of hiring a babysitter and then see other children running around they are probably not going to be happy about it.

Cut the hours

The longer the wedding the more it will cost to feed people and give them drinks. You don’t have to have a long wedding, just do whatever you want. This will be easier if you have to be out of the venue at a set time but don’t feel like you have to use all of your allocated time, or pay to entertain your guests for the full amount of time. As long as you feed people and give them a certain amount of alcohol then they should be grateful and not too bothered if they have to put their hand in their pocket at the end of the night.

Marry off-peak

Getting married during the week will save money not only on the venue, but also with suppliers too. Your guests will have to take a day off work so factor this in. An autumn or winter wedding will also be cheaper.

Go Online

Buy things cheaply online and also check for cheaper deals than you have been offered. Car boot sales and charity shops will also have cheap stuff that could come in handy.

Getting Organised

Being organised and booking things in advance will save lots of money.

Minimoon

This is a mini honeymoon that couples have when they have to delay their honeymoon. You can also extend your first night hotel stay into a mini honeymoon. Staycations are best for minimoons. There are plenty of amazing places in the United Kingdom where you can have a romantic getaway. Cornwall, Brighton, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Devon, London…the possibilities are endless.

Have Your Honeymoon in Europe

If you live in the United Kingdom then not only will having a honeymoon in Europe be easy to get to, it will also be a lot cheaper. There are plenty of beautiful, romantic places to go.

Have Prosecco Instead of Champagne.

It is cheaper but tastes just as good. As long as you buy the right one.

The Wedding Survival Guide: How To Plan Your Big Day Without Losing Your Sanity is available in print, ebook and Kindle. The Kindle version is only £2.99.

 

 

Way Upstream by Alan Ayckbourn at Chichester Festival Theatre

Credit: Simon Annand

Credit: Simon Annand

When a play requires a river, a tree-lined bank and a floating motor cruiser as its set, it’s destined to be seldom performed. But Chichester Festival Theatre doesn’t scare easily when it comes to technical challenges and Nadia Fall’s extraordinary production of Alan Ayckbourn’s dark comedy easily meets the play’s epic technical demands.

With most of the action taking place onboard Hadforth Bounty the first half is where the laughs are to be had. Keith and June have taken to the water with colleagues and business partners Alastair and Emma for a jolly waterways holiday. Trouble on dry land back at their novelty goods factory sees PA Mrs Hatfield (Nicola Sloane) having to show up bankside with daily updates. Brash and self-important, Keith (Peter Forbes) quickly nominates himself as captain, while his disgruntled wife June (Sarah Parish) carps, huffs and idles. Lily-livered Alastair (Jason Hughes) and his timid missus Emma (Jill Halfpenny) end up doing the bulk of the graft, resentment building like a slowly developing tidal wave.

But the sit-com feel and the jokes at the expense of well-drawn middle-class characters give way to altogether nastier themes. With the arrival of Vince (Jason Durr), a savvy and seemingly harmless bit of eye candy who does, unlike the novice sailors, at least seem to know how to avoid capsizing, initial barbed teasing swiftly degenerates into disturbing casual cruelty, punctuated only by drunken revels and sexual shenanigans. Manipulating Keith off the boat to go and deal with the threat of strike action back at the factory, Vince introduces minxy Fleur (Emily Laing) into the equation, all the while ramping up the intimidation and spite.

As Ayckbourn highlights the consequences of power in the wrong hands and the fallout of perpetual feebleness, the laughter from the audience gets increasingly nervous.

Fabulously played, the performances are all stunningly good; not even Ben Stones gloriously clever set, beautifully lit by Tim Mitchell, can upstage this superb cast.

An odd but nevertheless compelling play, the launch of the 2015 Festival season at Chichester makes an impressive splash.

Until 16 May. Box office: 01243 781312; www.cft.org.uk

Vicky Edwards