In celebration of bad sailing

New owner Monty Halls tests his sailing skills with his family aboard their Colvic 34 ketch, Sobek. A recently qualified Day Skipper, Monty faces a few unexpected challenges...

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There are many folk who have stepped onto Sobek and made an immediate (although entirely understandable) mistake. They have assumed that I know what I'm doing.

It's not a long-lasting sensation, but in the early stages, it can be a bit discombobulating for all concerned.

But this certainly couldn't be said of my best mate, a dear old mucker of nearly 40 years. He's seen it all, every level of muppetry imaginable, and always has the air of a spooked animal whenever I invite him to try something where I'm in charge. This changes to a bovine acceptance of imminent death once we're underway, and then sheer, unadulterated, unfettered joy when I give up and turn for home.

And so as he stepped aboard Sobek, Bodders glanced with more than casual interest at the life raft, the flares, and then - as we chatted in the saloon - side-eyed the Mayday card propped up by the VHF.