Testimonials

Lulworth bound

In August 2002 I organised a stag weekend aboard an 8 berth sailing boat for my friend, I was to be his best man. I found the number of a yacht charter and booked for 2 nights and 3 days sailing. We were to sail from Southampton to Lulworth, via Poole and then back.

Although I have a little experience in sailing I felt more comfortable about having a designated skipper, enabling me to focus on being with my friends rather than worrying about their safety. I was a little dubious about having an unknown person onboard as it had the potential of disturbing the balance of the trip. The last thing we wanted was some safety mad 'lights out at 10' person taking the 7 of us away for a stag weekend onboard.

We stepped aboard the boat on Friday afternoon and as soon as I met our skipper, 'Dan', my concerns ebbed away. I knew we were in the hands of an experienced sailor who also knew how to have fun. Within an hour or so of sailing we had all become acquainted with the skipper and he quickly berthed himself into our way of being.

Dan was excellent company throughout the whole trip. He was just as willing to let us just sit back and enjoy the sailing experience as he was to enthusiastically teach any of us more if we required. He became a full member of our party while still maintaining a professional approach to the crew and vessel.

For any further sailing trips or tuition requirements I would insist on having Outside Edge and Dan as the skipper. Not only did he demonstrate himself to be extremely confident at sailing the vessel, he also became a valid member of our stag weekend. At the beginning it was like having one of our friends as skipper. At the end, one of our friends was skipper.

Thanks ever so much for a great weekend.

Regards
Emile

Scillonian Adventure

Director, Shoreline Surveys Limited br> In March 2002 a friend of mine contacted me to ask if I and nine others would be interested in joining him in sailing a 40 foot yacht from Falmouth to the Isles of Scilly. My sarcastic response was:

"Sounds fantastic, except that you and Simon are the only ones to have ever sailed."

"Not a problem, there's a guy, Daniel Owen, who runs an outfit called Outside Edge that specialise in trips like this. He's a fully qualified skipper who organises the yacht, food, kit, mooring fees, what to bring as well as ensuring that we don't come to a watery end."

"And it's that simple?" "Yup" was the reply.

And indeed it was that simple. Just a few weeks later our motley crew was assembled on the harbourside in Falmouth where we were introduced to our vessel: "SummerWind".

On-board, we stowed our gear, went through a safety briefing (life-jackets and man-over-board drill amongst other things) and after a couple of beers as reward for our effort; we kissed goodbye to loved-cars and set sail for the Scillies.

Once at sea, every-now-and-again we'd hear the skipper's voice:

"Emily, could you pull that rope please" or "Ben could you stow the Genoa now"

And each and every time the receiver of the request was amazingly someone that was able to carry out whatever it was they were asked.

"But where's the jargon", I thought, being a Management Consultant, "surely we're not all supposed to work out what's going on?"

As time went on the skipper's commands were heard less and less, as during maneuvers we each began instinctively to pull on the correct rope or change position at the right time. Basically, through the course of the week we "goose-winged", "jibed" and "tacked" our way from island to island, mooring up to share a yarn at the bar with the seadogs in "The Mermaid", St. Mary's, or to enjoy a meal at "The Turks Head" on St. Agnes, whilst watching the gigs row home.

We "hoisted the spinnaker", "moored under sail", carried out an (involuntary) "bag of sweets overboard" drill, encountered "squalls", sent Matt up the mast (at his request) and generally got to know our vessel like she was our own. Though most significantly, in those seven days "she" became our own, thanks to the understated skill and good humor of our skipper.

The trip was a tremendous success and I've leapt at every chance to get on the water ever since. A big thank you to goes out to Daniel and Outside Edge.