First Time for everything

About a year ago Sharon, from Churchouse Boats, casually asked me if I could teach her to sail. "Oh yes of course" said I, not for one minute thinking she was serious.

Well with Stewart B as a father in law - you'd have thought the solution was obvious and then I thought back to the time I tried to teach my youngest son to drive and swiftly handed over to a driving school and could understand where she was coming from.

Well, during the stint on the CBL boat show stand at London, earlier in the month, she worked on me and when I mentioned that I was visiting the boat to check on her the following week Sharon decided she would come down for a look as well.

So it was on a very cold but bright and sunny Friday morning that we rendezvoused at Chichester marina. When I say cold, there was ice on the water that broke as we motored out of the berth with Sharon at the helm, resplendent in her new wet weather gear.

A sheet of ice extends across to the main fairway

The helming started with "My side...Your side" translated to Port and Starboard. We were soon down at the lock - another first for Sharon and out into the harbour. There was no wind but with the sun it actually felt quite warm as we motored down the Itchenor Reach.

She was soon identifying Port and Starboard marks, getting to grips with cardinal marks, tidal flow, neaps and springs as well as taking business calls.

Sharon had her first go at "ferry gliding" and successfully put us alongside the Harbour Masters pontoon gently enough  to save an egg from breaking.

The proud Skipper

After a visit to the office we set off again and found a buoy for lunch in the top end of the Bosham Reach.

A gentle motor back to the marina and Daislebee was safe in her berth with neither her or Sharon any the worse for the experience... in fact next time apparently it;s up with the sails...not bad for someone who has never been on a small boat before.