Looking ahead

 

There's nothing quite like being on board a boat of any description, having to master controlling it, looking after every detail by yourself for fostering a sense of learning to depend on your own skills and abilities.

I  always enjoyed spending time as a youngster onboard learning new skills.

Paddling away

Water holds a fascination for most boys not least floating on it and here the scouts are literally putting their oar in propelling their boat along the river with their flags at the rear making their way upstream.

Messing about in boats was something I loved although I had to fight those who'd sooner wrap in in cottonwool to let me do everyday boys stuff and learn to handle risks.

Plain Sailing?

Although I have been on relatively small vessels one thing I have not done is attempt to steer one using the big wheel and other controls as this older German scout is clearly doing no doubt having had appropriate instruction and with permission.

He appears to be fully conversant with the task in this picture, which says a lot for the quality of instruction given.