Simon’s students on the Hawk 20
Twelve months after our first visit, we returned to the Firbush outdoor centre, near Killin (Stirling, Scotland).
It was the MSc students who talked Simon into it. They’d heard about our previous terrific trip from last year’s graduates, so they convinced Simon to make the booking.
Not that he needed much convincing.
Getting to Firbush
We left Edinburgh on Wednesday morning by coach, at about nine. We had a brief stop at Callander and arrived at Firbush by noon.
After taking our bags to the rooms, we ate our packed lunches and other goodies in the meeting room.
At 1.30pm the instructors came to organise the afternoon activities.
14.40 – The other wayfarer getting ready to sail
Simon and I chose the wayfarer, which meant putting the dreaded wetsuit on. Only, this time the wetsuits were much easier to handle.
For a start, they were sleeveless, so you didn’t have to fight your way into them anymore. Plus, the instructor reminded me that I had to turn the wetsuit inside out before putting it on.
Last year, that bit of crucial information was missing, so I ended up wearing my wetsuit inside out and back to front. No wonder I felt like a trapped baboon.
Sailing on Loch Tay
14.48 – Simon & Maria on one of the wayfarers
There were going to be two wayfarers on the water.
14.55 – The other wayfarer sailing away
Our patient instructor, Tom, took us to the wayfarers on the speedboat.
Simon and I went on one, and E and J on the other. Getting the sails and ropes ready was easy, after having done it last year.
And off we went. Simon was at the helm, and I was in charge of the ropes.
The wind was strong enough to crisscross the loch without much lingering, but not too strong to go overboard.
14.56 – Tom, our friendly instructor
A bunch of students chose the kayaks. They set off soon after us and did some practice paddling for a few minutes.
One of the most enthusiastic ones ended up briefly in the water, but otherwise all went well.
14.58 – The kayaks, mostly on the water
From the distance, we could see a third wayfarer. The girls there were obviously more experienced than us, and soon they started practising capsizing. Including going in the water and turning the boat.
Simon and I were happy to learn by just looking.
15.35 – Capsize training
For the next two hours we went from one side of the loch to the other, tacking and jibing as if our lives depended on it.
We even managed not to get hit too hard by the boom.
15.44 – Simon posing at the helm
More sailing on Loch Tay
The windsurfers were doing well too. One or two started to disappear in the distance, but they eventually returned.
15.45 – One of several brave windsurfers
The Hawk 20 was no doubt the most elegant of the boats. It went back and forth, unaware that the wind was starting to drop.
15.53 – The Hawk 20 sailing by
Eventually both the Hawk 20 and the other wayfarer sailed towards the dock.
16.20 – The wayfarer letting the Hawk 20 win
I suggested to Simon that we do a couple more tacks while the instructor helped them take their sails down.
And that’s when we got stuck in the middle of a dead still Loch Tay.
No more sailing on Loch Tay
With no wind to push us, we had no choice but to sit back and watch everyone else get to Firbush. Some of the students even went into the freezing loch, quite willingly.
16.54 – Braving the waters
Our wayfarer wouldn’t budge, so we drifted meekly for half an hour until Tom came to our rescue and towed us back to the dock.
There we had some fun emptying the water that had accumulated in the wayfarer.
17.06 – Emptying the water from the wayfarer
But the best part was getting on the speedboat and pretending for a few minutes that we were going to save the world, like James Bond.
17.10 – Where’s 007?
Before dinner, I walked around with my camera, taking snapshots of the grounds.
18.20 – Our future in sight
And the Firbush log cabin. Most five star hotels would kill for the views you get here from your bedroom window.
18.22 – The Firbush rooms
There’s also the dramatic sky, with the clouds reflecting on the loch.
18.23 – Looking at the southwest end of Loch Tay
And the speedboats waiting for tomorrow’s mission.
18.25 – The Firbush harbour after the activities
Dinner was great, as usual. We helped clear the tables, and soon we were back in the meeting room chatting away. And playing.
This year’s games lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. I’m still trying to work out how to get tickled by a game where all you’re allowed to say is ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
I, personally, prefer something more loquacious, as you may have gathered from this chatty blog.
I took all the photos with the Panasonic.