Space sailing experience begins today
For the first time a team of 10 intrepid sailors from SSTL and its parent Surrey University have banded together to take part in the 28th Ariane's Cup, the Space industries yearly sailing event. The team is formed from all parts of the SSTL group. The race is a chance for employees in the space industries to meet in a friendly social setting and not across the negotiating table.
1 Jon Sedden, The new Skipper
1 Mark Skipper, Still a Skipper but not THE skipper as 1st Mate
3 Paul Brooks
4 Ruediger Weiler
5 Claire Martin
6 Gary Cannon
7 Padraig Quill or Ben Stern
8 Mike Cutter or Andrew Carrel
Note: 7, 8 Part timers!
Gunwharf Quays
The 3 day extravaganza begins today (in fact now) with a registration and a visit to the historic dockyard at Port Solent.
The sailing skills range from Commercial Yacht Master to first timer with only a few of the crew having any racing experience so there will have to be a steep learning curve. The aim of the sailing is to learn how to work as a team with the enjoyment more important than the winning, which would be a nice unexpected bonus (though perhaps not for the companies public relations department, as the winning team must host the next year’s event). I expect though that the SSTL’s competitiveness will show itself after the starting gun.
The racing is taking place between Portsmouth and Cowes while the evenings are spent at Gunwharf Quays ‘Tiger Tiger’ and Historic dockyards honing those important socialising skills and relaxing those previously unknown muscles over a pint or two. The SSTL team will be wearing designer gear so keep your eyes open.
Visit the event website
