Twenty six volunteers spent an evening on the Matthew, gently gliding over in the vague direction of St Mawes. Althoguh Rob used the engine to leave the pontoon, there was sufficient breeze to raise a single topsail, bringing her hull speed to a dizzy 0.9 knots. The more adventurous were all for raising a few more sails but their loudly dropped hints were not heard. In this picture a impromptu prayer meeting begs for more wind (actually they were lowering the topsail).
Meanwhile, on deck, Pat was doing his laser-eye trick at Lynn as he explained the difference between a back splice and an eye splice.
The really impressive part of the evening, other than the cold of a May evening which reminded on just how bitter it must have been on the original Matthew in the North Atlantic in winter, was Rob's steering as he brought the Matthew back to the pontoon. He took her right up to the Harbour Master's fuelling station, almost berthing for fuel, and then reversed her gently past £millions of yacht and through onto the pontoon; neither breeze, nor gust, nor b-minded tiller prevented him having complete control at all times. Not one for the amateur.
A great night out.
