NEWS IN DETAIL...
Students help man's sailing dream come true
Two Marine Engineering students from Falmouth Marine School have made one couple very happy by rebuilding the engine of their Westerly Konsort, Vinbee II.
Adam Beer and Chris Browning, who are studying Light Marine Engineering level 3, were given the project by their tutor and company Marine Trak, based at Mylor Yacht Harbour, to enhance their studies and give something back to a valued member of the sailing community.
Peter Still, 65, who has been diagnosed with cancer, was finding it difficult to raise the final funds to finish the 29 foot Westerly Konsort. Mr Still, who is from Exeter but fell in love with Mylor Harbour and decided to keep his boat there, said: “My wife, Ellen, and I have spent thousands to try to get her back in the sea so when Nathan at Marine Trak contacted us about the students helping we were delighted. I’m not very well as I’m in the final stages of cancer, the doctors are unsure of how long I have left. I have sailed since the late 1950s and was desperate to get back out there and spend my days doing what I love. Being on our boat gives me a great lift and helps me to forget my problems. To be able to sail, feeling the wind, listening to the water and how the tiller responds, with the boat’s good solid engine running, and the wonderful rhythmic sound, gives me a fantastic feeling.
“I am overjoyed, the engine runs better than it ever did, my wife and I went to Trelissick last week and only opened her three quarters up and she did six knots, it only did five when we bought her. We are extremely grateful to Marine Trak and Falmouth Marine School for making a dream come true.”
Nathan Percival from Marine Trak said: “Mr Still is a valued member of the sailing community and customer, when I heard of his plight I contacted Falmouth Marine School whom we have worked with for many years. My employees Will Parkinson and Nick Smith removed the engine and delivered it to the Marine School, Will is a past Marine Engineering student from there and Nick is currently attending the college one day a week on the apprenticeship scheme. Once the students at the Marine School completed the work, we tested and refitted. It runs like a dream, the students did a first class job.”
Student Adam Beer said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to work on Vinbee’s engine. It benefited the customer and me, as it gave me extra time in the workshop on a live project and enabled the customer to finally sail his boat. It‘s also a great feeling to be part of something good.”
Ken Whitney, Programme Manager at Falmouth Marine School, said: “I was delighted that our students could work on this project, it fitted in perfectly with their syllabus, providing them with a customer and live project. We are also delighted that we could help out such a really nice couple.”
