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By *ockforplay66 OP Man 22 weeks ago
Southampton/isle of wight/ everywhere |
So, 20 or so years ago, I had a part time job as a powerboat instructor. A mate of mine had set up his own sea school, and as I was already qualified, I used to take a few courses for him when he was fully booked or had other jobs on.
Mostly, the courses were fairly mundane, usually entry level boaters, who wanted to get out on the water safely. The courses ran for 2 days, starting with some basic boat handling and progressing up to high speed control of the boat.
Typically, each course had 1 instructor and 3 students. Often, families would book together so it was a nice couple of days out. Other times, 3 complete strangers on a course.
These initial courses were done on an open RIB but other courses were done on bigger cabin cruisers or on customers own boats.
Anyway, that’s the technical bits and setting the scene. So, on this particular course, running on a weekend in July, the students consisted of a married couple in their 40s and a younger woman, Anna, in her late 20s. She was slim, fairly flat chested, shoulder length blonde hair. Pretty but in a very simple and “girl next door” type way.
I greeted all three of them at the entrance to the marina, going up to the office to run through the paperwork and safety brief. As soon as I greeted Anna, there was definitely a little spark, a glint in her eye, and a devilishly little grin.
The married couple were very quiet and seemed a little preoccupied with something throughout the briefing. By mid morning on day one, we had got the boat out on to the water and were doing the really basic manoeuvres to get everyone used to how the boat handles etc.
The normal way of working is that the instructor (me) demonstrates a move, then each of the students hop in to the driving seat to have a go. The married couple went first, the male half getting straight behind the wheel and, frankly, cocking up even a simple manoeuvre! Then his wife, and equally lousy. Oh dear, this was going to be a long 2 days! Then it was Anna’s turn, and wow, she was a natural. Perfect boat handling right from the start.
So, we get to lunchtime on the first day and as we get ashore, the husband of the couple takes a phone call on his mobile and wanders off somewhere. 15 minutes later he comes back to the office, his wife in tears and says they have to leave, sorry, something come up, and they won’t be back. I assumed some sort of emergency.
So now that left just Anna and I together for a day and a half.
“Does that mean I get you all to myself now or have you got to cancel the course?” She asked with a flirty smile.
“Well, they have already paid up front, if they don’t want to come back, that’s not your fault, why should you lose out!” I replied.
I phoned my mate to let him know that the couple had binned off and that I would just be solo training for the rest of the weekend.
So far, just a bit of flirting and good humoured pleasant conversation. But that afternoon, things would take a bit of a change of course, so to speak! |
