Cruising Instructor

After Easter I went on another RYA course with Cornish Cruising in Falmouth. http://www.cornishcruising.com/home

This time it was to train as an instructor. When we take groups as part of our new sailing ministry ('Serendipity Sailing' we call it), developed during my sabbatical last year, instructing is always part of my role. So I was keen to develop the right skills and have my progress assessed.

There were four of us Yachtmasters being coached in instructing skills by Nick, a Yachtmaster instructor with whom I had sailing from Falmouth to London last year.

We sailed in the Falmouth area going no further than Turnaware (by Trelissic), Helford, St Mawes and Portscatho. Most of the time we were honing teaching and coaching skills for boat handing, navigation, pilotage, sailing, safety proceedures and crew management.

We had some great sailing due to strong winds and sunshine although the cold wind was from the north but that meant calm seas.

It was very satisfying for us all to pass and I learnt new skills and felt stretched and challenged by it all.

I am looking forward to putting it all into practice!

Moving to Cornwall

In February we visited Cornwall where Ken was interviewed for a new job. On the way home the Archdeacon 'phoned us to let us know that the Bishop would offer him the post of Priest in Charge of St Just in Roseland with St Mawes and lead minister in the Roseland Cluster of Parishes.

Of course we are very excited about this, in fact we can hardly believe it is happening. We will be moving to St Mawes on the 29th May. Our last Sunday here at Holy Trinity in Nailsea will be the 18th May and the Licensing at St Just in Roseland will be the 16th June.

St Just is a very famous church, John Betjeman called it the prettiest churchyard in Britain. Thousands of people visit ther church every year. St Mawes is a lovely fishing village with a strong maritime flavour, a sailing paradise not unlike Mangonui in New Zealand.

The new Rectory is in St Mawes and has a view of the sea. We have to 'downsize' by about two thirds from the Rectory here in Nailsea so we are daunted by the task.

We have been here in Nailsea for nearly eleven years and it is now time to move on but it will be difficult to say goodbye to so many good friends.

You can read more about where we are going at:

http://www.stjustinroseland.org.uk/

and

http://www.stmawes.info/