July’s review of the month is an epic tale of adventure on the high seas from Phil Beale. He won a £50 Buyagift voucher for his story – and you could do the same!
I was lucky to be given a Buyagift Evening Sailing experience by my wife for my birthday last November. I decided to save the the voucher and book an evening in July to try and make the most of a summer evening on the Solent, so actually went on the experience Saturday 3rd July 2010.
My wife & I made a day of it, stopping at Port Solent where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the sunshine overlooking the marina on our way down to Hamble. On arriving in Hamble we found they were celebrating Hamble Week with activities taking place by the waterfront and lots going on.
We waited at the agreed meeting point in good time for my evening sail. I wondered as I saw a group of people come back on to the quay if they had just completed their afternoon sailing experience, and I was right, however I was most surprised when Martyn the skipper then came over to me and welcomed me informing me that I was the only person who had booked for that Saturday evening so it would be just the two of us going out for a sail on this beautiful summer evening. I became a little nervous trying to decide if this was a good thing or not.
I needn’t have worried as Martyn made me feel very welcome and at ease, and didn’t seem the least bit worried that I was the only member of his crew for the evening. He expalined the basics of sailing for me with enthusiasm as I hadn’t sailed anything since a couple of outings in a dinghy on a school holiday many years ago. As we made our way out into Southampton Water he let me take the helm. I am sure that in larger groups every member has to take their turn at sailing the boat, but as the only one there, Martyn then let me take control for almost the whole experience. With many yachts having returned to port for the evening, Southampton Water became almost free of traffic and it was possible to thoroughly enjoy sailing up towards Southampton picking out the landmarks along the way. There were no clouds in the bright blue sky and clear views back across to the Isle of Wight, and it felt great to be in control of our yacht “Dream Time”.
As we returned towards Hamble we dropped the sails and started the engine ready to navigate our way back to the moorings. It was then that we experienced a slight hitch as the fuel ran out due to an incorrect reading on the guage. Martyn quickly got one of the sails back up and let me take the helm once again, although this time steering a steady course back towards the marina under such a light wind was not so easy. However we made it back safely in the end and I was complimented on my careful helmsmanship in getting us there!
As we drew closer to the waterfront we could hear the band playing as the Hamble Week celebrations were by this time in full swing. I rejoined my wife who had been waiting patiently for our return and was able to thank her for such a great present, the sailing experience which had turned out to be very special, that I will remember for a long time.
Phil did one of our sailing experiences. Thanks for writing in Phil, the voucher is winging it’s way to you right now.
If you have a review of your Buyagift experience then we want to see it! Send them in to reviews@buyagift.co.uk for your chance to win a £50 Buyagift voucher.