Ramblings

There's not much going on in truth. I'm currently cladding the gable end of the house and finishing the balcony project off. My car needs some expensive repairs, so I'm basically skint and can't consider buying the roofing at the moment. I have, however, booked a sailing trip for this September to do the practical part of the German costal waters skippers licence - I did the theory and navigation parts last winter.

I did all of my cruising (back then) without any form of licence, with the exception of the restricted radio operators - it really wasn't necessary and nobody was concerned. We were boarded twice by the US coastguard, and they certainly weren't bothered. It was, however, very much learning by doing. (as an aside, I also did a course on celestial navigation, but on reaching the northwest Pacific was somewhat frustrated by days of blanket cloud and not a glimpse of the sun. I bought a GPS in Oregon!)

Here in Germany, things don't work like that. Licences are necessary - even to go coarse fishing! I have to admit, I also felt a desire to learn and improve, so I did the basic inland and sea boating licences here some years ago and wanted to go on from there. Doing it all in German is challenging, but I haven't regretted it at all. And one outcome now is that a group of us from the course have booked this trip in September - so, more sailing and meeting good people - what more could you want!!