Yachtmasters

After two fun-filled and exhausting weeks, the weekend of reckoning came.

We had shared our first week with Veronique, a Swiss sailor with a yacht in St Tropez, and Richard, a retired surgeon. They opted to defer their exam after a frightening incident when we were rammed on the quay by an out of control motor yacht three times! Our boat was damaged and we lost time, so it seemed sensible for them to come back next year.

Simon and Nicolas, two German meteorology students joined us in the second week. Simon was on the National Sailing team and hoping to compete in the Finn Class in the next Olympics. Nico had spent the summer sailing in a small boat without an engine  – from Kiel to Iceland and back!!

Karen decided that a year of practising manoeuvring a Dehler 38 under engine would make the difference between success and failure, and opted to crew for the other three.

In the end, Simon fell short on his navigation skills, and will return next year (with his dad) to try again. Nico and William are now proud Yachtmasters. Well done!