Instructing for Cornish Cruising

I have just had a week on the water instructing for Cornish Cruising.

I had three chaps training with me who are all working towards their Yachtmaster qualification. Andy has been working as a Dive boat skipper in the Caribbean. He and his partner are planning to work commercially as Skipper and Hostess on big charter catamarans in the Caribbean. Jim is Andy's partners Dad and he and his wife plan to 'semi-retire' in a few years to do similar work. Andy and

Jim will be doing the Yachtmaster in about

5 weeks after more training and 'mileage building' sailing to Ireland and France. Richard is a keen surfer who has worked as a deckhand on the

R Tucker Thompson, sail training ship, in the Bay of Islands New Zealand. He is doing Cornish Cruisings Yachtmaster Development programme through to the Autumn when he takes

his exams.

My brief was to give them

'Familiarisation' covering the Competent Crew and Day Skipper Syllabus. We did lots of 'bumps and curcuits' visiting the Fal, Heford River,

St Mawes, Fowey, Mevagissey and Goran Haven.

We had mixed weather, which was good for training purposes but rather wet a couple of times. However we had some lovely weather for a whole afternoon practicing sailing onto a buoy in full view of budding armchair sailors in St Mawes.

Also a great sail back from Fowey ducking into Mevagissey and Goran Haven for sailing to anchorage skills.

We ended the course with a bowl of Helford Native Oysters prior to Night Pilotage in the Fal.

I am now ready for the next Serendipity Charter - sign up now!