The winter programme has been put on the website as far ahead as the end of December.  Some dates are cast in stone, but not all, so if you have a particular request for a course call me and let me know your requirements.  Additional dates for Spring 2011 will be posted shortly.

We have shorebased courses from beginner to Yachtmaster Ocean running over the winter so if you are interested or you know of a friend who might also be interested pass on the website details.  www.maritimeconnection.co.uk

Congratulations are due to the crew of Hoodlum, who improved on last year’s second in class at West Highland Week.  I was privileged to witness their triumphant return to Troon with silverware held aloft.  Well done all of you.  A tough act to follow.  Pity I had no camera aboard the RIB to capture the moment.  Love the Facebook photos, especially the one outside the distillery that made me make the comment that you all looked more like an ageing rock band than a bunch of yacht racing hot-shots!  Were any name suggestion sever pasted on the Club noticeboard?  Scottish Series next year, Robin?

“Broadsword, this is Danny boy”

You get a gold star if you can name the film from which this line came and a chocolate watch for the name of the actor who delivered it.

Since the sale of Saracen I seem to have dropped below the radar for RYA practical courses.  News is ………………. I’m back with a bigger and newer boat!

Broadsword is a Jeanneau 49 Deck Saloon that delivers on luxury and fantastic sailing.  From 2011 I’ll be offering the full range of RYA training courses from Competent Crew to Yachtmaster Preparation and judging from this year’s  student exam results I’m getting it right.  Who else is offering such luxury for RYA Training?  At 49′ in length Broadsword makes very fast passages and in addition to all the RYA Training going on I’ll be running island-hopping cruises on the west coast in 2011.  So if you are planning a training course  for next season give me a call and I’ll book you in.

Congratulations to three of my students, all of whom are members of Troon Cruising Club, who gained their full Yachtmaster Offshore qualification within the last few months.  They are:

Gary (the hero) Muir, Colin Paterson and Stuart Powrie.

Congratulations too, to Robin Ferguson and the Hoodlums, who finished second overall during the West Highland Week Regatta.  Four firsts and a fourth elevates these guys into the stuff legends are made of………………..

If you see some words are missing a letter “a” it is because my keyboard has a missing key requiring the “a” key to be struck with the impact of a piledriver in order to make any impression on it.  I sometimes think I should substitute every “a” with a “z” and thzt might mzke for more exciting rezding.

I am now about to enter the blogosphere, like Captain Kirk taking the USS Enterprise into its first worm hole.  I do so with some excitement and trepidation, not to mention sweaty palms hovering above the keyboard.  To be honest I have no idea what a good blog consists of, what the likely content is, or the tone that it should take.   So like the lone luddite sailor blundering into the unknown without navaids I am on a wing and a prayer, stumbling ever onward toward the abyss.  Truth  and honesty will prevail!  Live Long and Prosper me hearties!