Seahope
Well-Known Member
Last weekend we spent our time learning how to do three point turns and coming alongside within our home marina. The outcome is shiny new RYA Helmsman tickets which means that at last we are insured to go out alone on our boat 
I can recommend Nigel (Hayling Sea School) for his calm demeanor and confidence building approach in taking us on as complete newbies. The extra large fenders he brought with him came in useful
I'm sure he will appreciate the plug for his new web site: http://www.haylingseaschool.co.uk/
After Saturday's cold and damp day it was great on Sunday to be able to take the rear canvas off and take a trip from Portsmouth to Bembridge. As newbies we kept the speed down to a maximum of 27 knots which seemed fast enough for us anyway. Apologies for not posting photos but Nigel was making us do the passage planning, navigation whilst checking we didn't run into anything or aground so I didn't get around to taking any.
Even after two days of fairly intensive manouvering exercises I am aware of my limitations so I'll be off to the chandlers for many more fenders before we go out on our own. It will also have to be a low wind day too as berthing in wind is rather challenging with our current skill levels and I would rather not damage any boats (including mine). I'm assuming that in the season proper there will be more boats around to miss as it was very quiet out.
I can recommend Nigel (Hayling Sea School) for his calm demeanor and confidence building approach in taking us on as complete newbies. The extra large fenders he brought with him came in useful
After Saturday's cold and damp day it was great on Sunday to be able to take the rear canvas off and take a trip from Portsmouth to Bembridge. As newbies we kept the speed down to a maximum of 27 knots which seemed fast enough for us anyway. Apologies for not posting photos but Nigel was making us do the passage planning, navigation whilst checking we didn't run into anything or aground so I didn't get around to taking any.
Even after two days of fairly intensive manouvering exercises I am aware of my limitations so I'll be off to the chandlers for many more fenders before we go out on our own. It will also have to be a low wind day too as berthing in wind is rather challenging with our current skill levels and I would rather not damage any boats (including mine). I'm assuming that in the season proper there will be more boats around to miss as it was very quiet out.