Das Boot

Back to New Brighton promenade today but this time we swapped the exertions of kite surfing for the more tranquil pursuits of model boating.

The pond was quite quiet when along came George and unloaded out of the back of his car a beautiful submarine. Not only could it glide gracefully through the water it could submerge and rise serenely too with George's hands on the controls.

He was so proud of his award winning vessel, so much that he said quietly to me more than once that he was so happy he could jump up and down. He explained that it had taken him a year to hand build the craft and about another two years to "get it right." But he said "look how beautifully she sails."

He also told me that building the thing had nearly killed him. He suffered an aortic rupture lifting it in and out of the test tank at home. He had only been saved by the skills of the surgeons.

These days he had to have help lifting it in and out of the water from his wife, though he never let her sail it!

NM beautifully captured the craft gliding through the water.