Sytel Developers’ Retreat – Porthtowan, Cornwall

September 2014 saw the developers maiden retreat in Cornwall

In September 2014, Scotland voted to remain in the UK, Serena Williams won the US Open Tennis, Sytel met new suppliers and partners at the Esomar Congress Market Research event in Nice, France and … some of Sytel’s development team went on the inaugural developers retreat.

The setting

The Sytel developers took over a cosy backpacker hostel in Porthtowan, Cornwall, for a weekend of sun, sea, sand, surf and seals(!) (and some ASP.NET discussion… and maybe some F#).

As well as eating, drinking and making merry, they took to the water for the following activities:

Surfing

The surfing lesson turned out turned out to be more of a ‘humiliation lesson’. The developers came to the reluctant realisation that a lot more than two hours practice is needed to be able to stand up on a piece of foam and fiberglass on some of the finest waves in the UK.

They made a gallant effort, without too many injuries. Some even went back the next day for more, um, ‘humiliation’. That’s what we like to see in our developers – perseverance.

Kayaking

The two hour kayak trek surveying the Cornwall coastline highlighted its two main attractions. Its tin-mining heritage, which has left it’s mark on the rock landscape; and grey seals, who were out in force to marvel at the surface dwellers in their backyard. Yes, there was some capsizing involved!

Fun was had, and of course the next day they were sorely reminded of muscles they didn’t know existed. Must do it again sometime 🙂

They took lots of pictures, take a look at their photos below …