We had a packed day on the River Deben near Felixstowe on Sunday 19th October, with no incidents. and very little rain, considering the forecast for F4-6 South Easterly.
The water ski area on the Deben proved to be a good substitute for sea-going trials.
Thanks to the two drivers: Dave Barber and Ian Brown, and their input to setting up and driving the boats. Thanks also to Rick Westwood for all the finer checks, especially to the boat with the new outboard engine. Thanks also to Connor for sorting out the ferry slipway access. 
During the exercises, we dropped a ‘virtual’ anchor and let drivers cox the boat to a destination, using verbal cues for changes in boat direction. 
Then there was a group test of co-ordination in retrieving the boats from the slipway in a fast-moving current: 
Most of the work was done in setting up the boats, and securing them in our boatshed, but after a good clean: 
At the boatshed, we did a couple of exercises to show how to set up the anchor rope (figure of eight) to take the painter and the buoy (with a spring clip) when dropping the anchor at a dive site, then we had a final debrief to check that all outstanding boat defects were noted, before wending our way home before dark.
