Travel Life
Right, the picturesque view out on to the bay from The South Sands Hotel, far below, Mungo outside the hotel, below right, Mungo sailing
The South Sands Annabel and Mungo stayed at the South Sands
on to the boat, clutching a picnic packed for him by the hotel, and went off without a back- ward glance – perhaps helped by the fact, that within seconds, Sam the instructor had given him the steering wheel. Now all I had to do was hop back into the
car and return to the hotel for my treat. Secure that my son was happily playing with boats, I succumbed to 90 minutes of
a bay full of tiny bobbing boats with white sails, to a larger boat, from where I was told, he would be learn- ing to sail. But I hadn’t quite realised until I joined them quite what an operation it was. The “boat” as it turned out, was The Egremont, a Mersey ferry towed down from Liverpool. Clearly it had seen better days but its reincarnation as an educational ship from where school chil- dren, adults and groups could be introduced to recreational sailing, was inspirational. Wooden floorboards echoed through the galleys and I was told that those who wanted to, could opt to sleep aboard. I made a mental note to send my children back here, although, perhaps, not with me! While Mungo gave me a critique of the advantages of a Wayfarer over a Topper, I struggled into a wetsuit and wondered at the things mummies do for their sons. Sam the instructor, who was
massaged heaven, soothed by the calming sound of the waves lapping on the seashore just below my balcony. As a health editor in a previous incarnation,
I have been treated to wonderful treatments all over the world, but this ranked among the best. Although I went for a straightforward massage with reflexology and could have had hot stones or something more exotic, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Debbie the masseuse knew her stuff. Plying me with water afterwards
she admonished me for not taking better care of myself and told me that I hadn’t exaggerated the tension in my back. “What you need is me for a whole week,” she said. Oh I wish, but back to business or in this case my nine-year-old son and the sea.
The last I had seen of him, he had been steering an erratic course boat across
www.firstelevenmagazine.co.uk
clearly chosen for his people skills as well as his sailing, however, wasn’t at all fazed. Deftly he navigated Mungo, myself and the little boat around the bay, giving me as much pleasure from watching Mungo’s rising confidence in a strange environment as well as a certain reas- surance that we wouldn’t capsize. A hope, which was dashed when I noticed
two men paddling towards us, on their surf boards. I asked what they were doing. “Paddle-boarding. And it’s your turn
As a
health editor in a previous
incarnation, I have had treatments all over the world but
this ranked among the best
next,” said Sam cheerfully. What! Nobody mentioned I would be taking a swim. I gave myself about five seconds before I reckoned I would be in the water. Apparently paddle-boarding is the latest craze. It is brilliant for toning every muscle in the body, but I wasn’t that encouraged to hear that Simon, my instruc-
tor’s nine-year-old son had just paddled 12 miles.
Sailing Courses ICC Salcombe provides courses and
one-to-one tuition in RYA sailing, windsurfing, powerboating and practical cruising courses for children from 5 years and upwards, groups and adults. ICC Salcombe, 28 Island
Street, Salcombe, Devon, TQ8 8DP. Tel: 01548 844300 Email:
info@icc-salcombe.co.uk
www.icc-salcombe.co.uk Summer 2012 FirstEleven 69
Hotel, a friendly family-orientated boutique hotel, designed to entertain children and give the parents a well-earned rest. The main part of the hotel houses 22 beachside bedrooms with giant beds - some with twin slipper baths overlooking the sea. Adjoining are five family apartments each with two double bedrooms, kitchen and sitting room. Rates based on low season: rooms from £150 per room per night, B&B. Beach suites from £320 per night for a family of four, on a B&B basis. The price is based on 2 adults and 2 chil-
dren under the age of 14. South Sands Hotel, South Sands, Bolt Head, Salcombe, Devon, TQ8 8LL,
www.southsands.com
Bully for him I thought, churlishly, as I
gingerly knelt on the oversized surf board and mentally counted the seconds. Somehow though, strange as it might seem, neither of us did fall in, and I even found my- self enjoying this weird experience of standing up on the water and paddling along the shore. Best of all was watching Mungo beaming and
later, listening to him chattering away of his daily successes over early child-friendly suppers. Pow- ered by his new found enthusiasm, he wolfed down locally sourced steak, spaghetti, crayfish, salamis, cinnamon cake, sticky toffee pudding and honeycombe icecream. I realised that I had underestimated his
gungho-ness factor. Over the weekend, he had raced around on a power-boat – with ex marine Chris – paddle-boarded and sailed on three different boats. I’m not sure that I’m a natural boatie but as a way of encouraging children to face and conquer small challenges while hav- ing a great time, it was second to none.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84