On Monday 24 July, Happy Return left Penzance harbour, with John Van der Hoff, as skipper, and

James Walker, as mate accompanied by three MBLA members, five Sea Cadets (two girls and three boys) and accompanied by two Cadet instructors .

The youngsters really engaged and listened to John V - who's an excellent instructor – during the introduction and safety talk. One lad was especially keen, enquiring, and handy and we have him pencilled in as a future member!

Excitement increased as we put up canvas. Sailing with only the smaller mainsail, for simplicity of instruction and handling, the breeze was stiff enough to scud Happy Return at a speed to impress the youngsters, who commented on the silence, being used to motorboats, if any.

They really liked viewing St Michael's Mount from 'the other side' – of course you can't see this from shore.

But the crowning experience was Happy Return meeting up with a small pod of common dolphins,

some young ones, who obliged by swimming round, diving under and keeping pace with us, leaving for a bit – hunting – but then returning, and playing round the boat, going under and coming up, bow riding to Happy Return.

One girl was particularly entranced, and watched, eyes shining and mouth slightly open, as long as

she could.

All in all, a very successful trip for all of us, hopefully to be repeated, and no-one was sea-sick!