Sitting in the wheelhouse enjoying a cup of tea suddenly I heard a call from the harbour attendant. "Can you help this yacht to moor up Pete as they are an elderly couple" I jumped on the pontoon to see a Vancouver 34 Pilot house approaching the pontoon. I took the lines and helped them to tie up and connect the electric cable. The couple on board were totally in control and handled the yacht like professionals. Once they had settled in I wondered over for a chat. Rhoda & Alan Cawthorne owners of the yacht named New Chance thanked us for the help and Rhoda explained that Alan had poor sight so usually asked for help coming in and tying up. Chatting to Alan I was very surprised to learn that they have sailed all over the place in New Chance as far as the outer Hebrides and the Caribbean up the Chesapeake and down the Mississippi. The big shock was when they told us their ages. Rhoda is 86 and Alan is 89. With Alan having problems with his sight Rhoda tends to do most of the sailing and navigation. Alan is a wonderful conversationalist and has so many stories to tell, you could spend all summer listening to them. Rhoda has a lovely ready smile and eyes that have seen so many wonderful places and people that they sparkle. We were invited aboard for tea and cake and so spent a lovely afternoon munching into Alan's home made Dundee cake,"quite the cook" Rhoda is certainly not a typical wife aboard as we discussed many projects she wanted to do on the yacht from replacing the teak decking to new spray hood and engine servicing. Of course they wanted to see our yacht so came aboard for tea and soon made themselves comfortable which we love. This morning we waved them goodbye as they were going to have a look at Herm and then Sark. We can honestly say that they have enriched our lives. We look forward to seeing them again some day. So keep an eye out for a Yacht called New Chance with a couple of sprightly youngsters on board and say hello.
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