There’s an old adage that you can please all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but never all off the people all of the time. Our charters for the young carers sponsored by The Rotary Club are a case in point as we found to our amusement when looking at the “Rotary Log” on board. The youngsters are encouraged to write their thoughts and impressions in here, comments on the days, what they have learned and so on. Given that these are carers who are on respite breaks for a brief time away from their often daunting responsibilities these are, for about 99% of the time hugely positive. They thank the Skipper and Crew and the ‘bosuns’ (The Rotary staff who accompany the youngsters on board) for the fantastic time they have had and talk excitedly of being ‘allowed to steer’ or wind winches and haul sails. The sing the praises of the excitement despite rain and bad weather. It is a pleasure to read these comments and we get quite chuffed with ourselves that we, the Cambria Trust, are providing such a well-appreciated service.
Never sailing again. Amusing comment by a young carer on a Rotary Charter; pic by Matt Care
You have to smile, though, every now and then at a comment from one poor soul for whom the sailing thing just hasn’t worked. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I guess. In one the lad was obviously being properly polite as his Mother would expect; he thanks the crew and notes all their hard work to keep him entertained but finishes with an apologetic, downbeat “I won’t be going sailing in the future. I apologise for my verdict but it’s just my opinion. Thank you for having me.” Fair play to him. As I said, not everyone’s cup of grog. We were laughing (in an ‘Ah Bless!’ way) too at another unimpressed ‘customer’ who makes just 2 entries in the log, one that she “Hates walnuts in brownies!” and the second is the one pictured, “I am never coming back again! I hate boats!” No names no pack drill, but we did wonder what we’d done to upset the lady. Maybe Denis and Ryan had her living on ship’s biscuits and polishing the binacle in a Force 8? We hope she’s over it now and back in the warm on solid dry land and now, reflecting back on it, still thanks the Rotary Club for their try.
