Sailing

 This somewhat warm day I'm travelling a little back in time to something I really enjoyed  although not without challenges.

I learned to sail in my teens at the Winsford Sailing Club in Mid Cheshire who use the "Flashes", man made lakes arising out the effects of subsidence from brine based salt extraction in that area, learning to steer and power the boats.

It was typically a few degrees cooler on the water compared to the land which you had to bear in mind in the summer months.

It was something I really enjoyed at the time.

Sailing

This is a scene I can well recall going sailing in my teens on a vast man-made pool with the support of a local sailing club, learning to master the sails, ensuring ones head wasn't hit the the boom toward the middle of the picture on  bright sunny day

Waterside activities

Fishing it had to be said wasn't something I exactly got not least because it required rather more hand-eye coordination than I had or for that matter have even now although several of my immediate peer group did and I did accompany them out.

I was happier sailing to be honest but in the end as the modern expression goes, it's all good as there's something involving the outdoors and being by or on water that you'll take up which is one of things you can do gaining your awards  within scouting as apart from being enjoyable, they are practical survival skills.

Being out with temperatures about 7 degrees in shorts and grey socks this morning reminds me of the revigurating properties of spending time outdoors being physical.

Sailing

Sailing was something that many do learn in scouting and given my past was something instead I learned at boarding school in the early 1980's with a traditional sail that I had to learn to move and also when my fellow pupils were doing it themselves avoid the boom coming into line with my head.

Fortunately we were near the Winsford Flashes which are used by organized sailing clubs including the one that owns the marina on it and they taught me.

It may of been unfortunate not to have done this via Scouting, but I was mighty glad I did anyway as its' a very worth while thing to achieve.