Poll was not surprised to run across a few of her regular friends in and around Docklands . While performing one of her highly appreciated routines in the Metropolis Club in Bethnal Green - arranging herself in a variety of artistic poses around a pole while wearing little more than thigh-high boots and an engaging smile - she picked out among her admiring audience one James Nolan .Nolan, who gets married for the second time this month, had been brought to the club - he insisted - by a group of "friends" bent on giving him an impromptu stag night.

In the usual crush around the stage, three faces were immediately recognisable to Poll: that nice Mr Nash , the editor, Clive Bartlett ofSaltwater Communications and among other, unidentifiable, yacht brokers of her acquaintance, one Ian Atkins , of boats. com As Poll neared the end of her performance Mr Nash returned to the group with beers for all. Then, as she assumed the position for her finale - an arrangement, Poll adds, that generally guarantees undivided attention - she heard Mr Nash remark loudly to the group: "Hey, do you know they're only charging £3 a bottle for the beer here?"

Poll feels Mr Nash's remark fell on stony ground as the remainder of the group seemed to be concentrating on things other than the price of beer . . .

In the light of Chris Murdoch's revelation that HRH Princess Anne hadbought several Nauticalia products by mail order, Poll wonders exactly what she could have bought?

Perhaps her terriers practice on those fake pussy cats before being let loose on dogs and servants?

The picture below is Poll's February caption competition . Her immediate reaction to this picture was unprintable, but perhaps you can all do better.

According to the grapevine there were two people on board, one of whom suffered two broken arms, while the other escaped lightly.

Poll understands there is more to the story behind this picture and awaits further details.

Further to her piece on the World Anti-Doping Code, Poll spoke to a very close friend of hers:

her Doctor .While he is more used to handling Poll's queries on more intimate problems, he nevertheless was able to assure her that the doctors involved in drawing up the code have allowed for a low level of THC in the sailors' samples to cater for passive inhalation. So partying without puffing is fine.

Poll's doctor went on to point out that the good news is that alcohol is not banned in sailing, unlike 15 other sports including, he pointed out, that cornerstone of French society, boule.

Poll wonders if anyone has seen a sober Frenchman playing boule?