University of Plymouth staff sailing - a snapshot
"Thursday
afternoons, a quick finish at work and onto the Barbican Water Taxi. At the
Mount Batten Centre, old friends and new faces talk of wind and soon enough we are on the
waterside fiddling with ropes and sails. We launch our brave wee
vessels and fly away out onto the water. Lee Ho! We tack up the Cattewater,
picking our way through the moorings and the expert racers, then on into the
open water of the sound. Our little fleet reaches for freedom. Plymouth looks
so pretty from the water. More experienced sailors guide newer members as we
zig zag out and around Drake’s Island or towards the Breakwater. The sun sinks.
Time ticks and always too soon sailing instructions are issued. We come about
and set our sails to run for home. The Mount Batten Pier and Jennycliff slide by
in the soft evening light. With boats put to bed, soon enough the thrills and
spills of the day’s sail are being mocked, exaggerated and analysed in time-honored fashion. Eventually, with happily tired bodies it’s time for home."
James
Bettany