RYA Helmsman Course

Booked last year, the long awaited day came last Tuesday for Pat to do the RYA Helmsman Course. She was not looking forward to it, principally because she has a fear of making herself look stupid. We booked with Andy Newman of Willow Wren Training at Rugby He only takes three students at a time (there are three locks at Hillmorton, so it works out just fine that way). The other two students turned out to be two Boy Scout leaders needing a qualification before taking a group of Scouts on a boating holiday, and they hadn't had the experience of four years on the cut. To sum it all up, the weather was great if a bit chilly at times, the company brilliant and the course excellent. Pat summed it all up at the end by saying "Why don't hire boaters get to do this. All you get with a hire company is how to start the engine (I had to telephone the company to find out how to stop it on my first trip), and a quick whizz through a lock, but not all the tricks and tips that you learn on a course like this". Follow the voyages of narrowboat Nuggler at www.nuggler.co.uk