I am writing to thank you for the excellent week that I spent with my two brothers (Gareth and Andrew) recently with Dragon Drascombe (13-20th September).
Initially the main reason for arranging this was as part of celebrating my middle brother’s 70th birthday – as we have started doing for each other and that was certainly successful.
I had also hoped that I would learn some proficiency at sailing a Drascombe Lugger – I had mentioned to you at the time of booking that I had bought one and had it stored at a site in Pembrokeshire where I have a holiday home. I told you that I had only used on a few occasions and had not got on very well with it but that I felt that the tides in Pembrokeshire I had to allow for were not helping. So I hoped that trying to sail a Lugger without tides in the Ionian would allow me some progress.
That is where I think we managed some crossed wires and together with my saying I had done some flotilla sailing, I must have led you to think that I had reasonable sailing abilities! Obviously, you soon realised that I didn’t as far as the Luggers are concerned! That was something I had hoped I could learn and improve on in the Ionian. I am was happy that I completely understand the theory behind how sails work and points of sailing, etc but I think that my wind awareness, especially in lighter winds was not helping. Also, my brothers were feeling on holiday and were not prepared with regard to aspects of sailing and didn’t have much experience anyway.
So your tuition, both by motoring alongside us and advising and then by spending some time on board with us was extremely helpful and that certainly helped us while sailing mainly on a beam reach and repeatedly practising coming about.
I hope that by then you were a bit happier with us and it was so nice to be able to go off for the day and enjoy some sailing and the ability to stop at some lovely coves and beaches.
All in all the week was excellent and our stay at Geni Gardens was equally as good as had already been described to us in reviews on your website and our personal experience certainly backed that up.
We also enjoyed mixing with the other people present during that week and their company was great and we enjoyed some lovely evenings together.
I hope that I might get to repeat the experience at Dragon Drascombe – maybe not as three brothers, but perhaps with a friend.
As a thank you for your help, advice and putting up with us I have made a payment into your bank account – I hope this will be seen as an expression of thanks but also perhaps as some reimbursement towards your time spent in teaching us.
I sincerely hope that you will be able to keep the fantastic package of Dragon Drascombe going for a long time into the future. It must be a unique set up!
I hope to meet you again and that I might be allowed to return to further experience your amazing setup.
With my thanks and very best wishes,
Richard
“Dear Richard.
Indeed Richard it was initially a challenge and not expecting your crew of brothers to have had little sailing experience on small boats, just on yacht flotillas. However, within 2 days you had mastered the procedure of operating the outboard, managing the sails and all the basic boat handling techniques, resulting in a number of great days out on your own exploring the islands.
Well done to you all and I’m sure it will have laid the groundwork for you to sail your own Lugger in the waters of Pembrokeshire next summer. We all had to start at the bottom and work our way up through the challenges that sailing small boats has thrown at us.
My thanks also Richard for your kind and generous bank transfer, it wasn’t necessary because I enjoy introducing people to sailing and more so on Drascombe Luggers.
As you will note from my website I have a few charities that I donate too , but the one organisation that I support each year with a gift from the profits of Dragon Drascombe Ltd is TARGET OVARIAN CANCER.
It stems from the treatment my daughter Stephanie is still currently having from that disease.
Your generous donation will this week go directly to this organisation to help fund this important research work into the disease.
My many thanks again Richard, it was great meeting you all.
If I don’t see you down in Pembrokeshire this winter for a splash out in your Lugger, then hopefully we will meet up again in the South Ionian Sea.
My very best
Phil”
