Living in Falmouth it is hard not to get into Sailing, the town has such a rich sailing heritage with near perfect conditions for the novice and experienced sailor alike. As a surfer I have spent a fair chunk of my lifetime in the sea and have always had a strange infatuation with pirates and sea lore.

It was on a cold March day that I arrived at Falmouth Town Marina to join Cornish Cruising on a skippers course. Myself and three others were joined by our Skipper Lionel as we embarked on a 5 day training sail aboard Evie May.

After a few hours, the formalities were out of the way, safety checks done, charts plotted and a few man overboard practice runs we started the fun part, making way under sail. It is quite magical once you have motored out of the harbour, hoisted the main, unfurled the Jib and cut the engine. The instant silence is broken by waves whipping against the bow as the sails fill, the boat heals and you accelerate under the power of the wind alone.

I was hooked.