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Technology Leader rewards its employees
Teleste
As a provider of World Class Solutions, for broadband and professional surveillance systems, Teleste believe in working hard and playing hard. Q2 of 2005 was one of Teleste UK's best quarters in recent years, and we took the opportunity of celebrating it with Java Charter.
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 We were welcomed onboard in Gosport on a warm Summers morning, with a glass of chilled champagne. After a safety briefing, we left the marina, and had a quick tour of Portsmouth Harbour. Our Skipper served 15 years in the Royal Navy and was able to provide detailed knowledge of the Dockyards history and the warships – there was everything from Fast Patrol Craft to Aircraft Carriers. Then it was out to the Solent and we opened up the throttles to our 24 Knot cruising speed. Java Bean is a 38 ft flybridge motor cruiser, and there was plenty of room for all of us in the upper helm position – it’s so quiet up there, even at high speeds. It’s a fantastic experience, and everyone took the opportunity of taking the controls of Java Bean, under the watchful skipper’s eye. |
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After a short detour to view the Napoleonic Forts (which are in the centre of the Solent) close up, we headed off to the Beaulieu River. It was mid-week, the Solent was fairly busy with many commercial ships with their cargos from all over the world. We were soon passing Osborne Bay, and Osborne House, the Isle of Wight residence of Queen Victoria. Then before we knew it we passed the Cowes entrance, keeping well clear of the ferries. One of us was on the wheel all the time and the skipper provided the navigational advice. We felt in charge of this fantastic craft! We soon entered Beaulieu River, and had to slow down to a more leisurely pace. We went all the way up to Bucklers Hard while sipping more Champagne, and tasting delicious snacks. Buckler's Hard is an 18th century village, part of the Beaulieu Estate, where ships from Nelson's navy were built - particularly topical this year due to the Trafalgar 200 celebrations. |
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By now it was almost 1300, so we made a high speed trip over to the river Medina with lunch in mind. After passing the chain ferry, aka floating bridge which joins East and West Cowes, we saw a strange looking craft named Blade Runner. |
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Its job is to move blades for wind turbines, which are manufactured on the Isle of Wight, to Southampton where they are packed with other wind turbine components to make complete kits which are then distributed worldwide. |
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After another pleasant river sail for a few miles, we moored opposite the Folly Inn where we would have lunch. A small ferry takes boaters from the mooring pontoons to the Inn, but for some unknown reason the ferryman had stopped work early. Boating people are a friendly bunch, and a neighbouring yachtsman and his son readily offered us a lift. Fifteen minutes later we were tucking into tasty starters at the Inn. We spent the next few hours over lunch, telling jokes, and sinking a few beers and wines. In no time at all we were out in the Solent again cruising at 24 knots before returning to Gosport. |
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