We travelled to Falmouth for the first part of the induction, and one of the first things we did was to visit the Maritime Museum’s overflow. It was amazing to see just how many vessels they have in storage.

In the museum we met with Reuben, who was restoring a wooden steam boat called Emma. We also saw Curlew, a Falmouth quay punt, whose mast had been replaced with a log that had drifted down river after the old one needed replacing.

In Falmouth we also did first-aid and sea survival courses as well as doing some gig rowing and visiting the Pendennis shipyard.

One project that really stuck with me was visiting Luke Powell at Rhoda Mary shipyard where they are building a massive Falmouth pilot cutter, Pellew.

We spent some time on the Lynher Barge doing various things such as using the crane, anchor watch, rowing, transits, sleeping in a hammock, and sailing the barge and a beautiful wayfarer.

In Brixham we did a VHF course and got our power boat level 2 licences. We also met Toni Knights, a local trawlerman and artist, who was kind enough to take us out in his lugger Iris. It was interesting just how much room there is down below a lugger as the masts are so far fore and aft.

My birthday happened to fall on the day that the partners came down to see us and we had a meal at the pub. It was good to finally meet everyone.

We started the maintenance course at the International Boatbuilding Training College, where we learned joinery, scarfs, rope work, caulking, treenails, steaming and laminating as well as classes on timber technology and boat-building terminology.
Matt Gregory