| News Brief, October 2000 |  Back to Latest Newsletter |
| Inside V-C’s Report |
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COMMODORE'S COMMENTS Suddenly sailing has become a high profile sport – who would ever have guessed that Britain really would ‘rule the waves’ and come home from Sydney with so many sailing medals. Overnight, complete non-sailors have become expert commentators on Ben Ainslie’s tactics and just how do you pronounce his Brazilian opponent’s name?! (‘pshyt’ – silent ‘p’, as in ‘pswimming’ - Ed.) All the activity ‘down under’ is great news for our sport so let’s hope that all this new interest turns into newcomers taking up sailing. We continue to go through the many obstacles that have to be overcome on the way to the Lottery bid. Planning permission has been granted for our proposed improvements to the Club House and our bid will be completed soon – then we wait! As we come towards the end of the year may I remind you of a couple of important dates: Saturday November 25th – the highlight of the Chelmarsh year - the annual Dinner Dance & Prize-giving at Spring Grove House, Bewdley. If you have been before you know it is a great night out, if you have not been, book now: it really is too good to miss. Numbers are limited so buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment. Sunday 3rd December – Annual General Meeting. This is held after the day’s racing and last year we just missed the quorum needed to hold the meeting so that we had to postpone the AGM until January. Do please make the effort to attend, this year we are holding an ‘Open Forum’ after the AGM where any ideas and comments (good or bad!) from you, the members, can be aired and discussed. Chelmarsh
has for many years had a close relationship with the Best Wishes to you all for some great autumn sailing. PETER WIDDOWSON |
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New standing orders….Yippee! |
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A non-sailors view |
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Laser News |
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Solo News |
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Fireball News |
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GP 14 News |
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Sheepdog
trials….. |
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Are we about to burn your boat? |
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In
Odysseus wake |
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AGM Notice |
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Website News |
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| Dinner Dance Booking |
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Editorial Here
you can see how the real work is done. Peter Townend collects the
articles, Sabina does the typing, and John gets to bed at 4am. The pizza, wine and sitting-out bench are just necessary editing aids.
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VICE-COMMODORE'S REPORT Ahoy there readers! As another season draws to a close it is time to review the Club’s activities and successes of 2000 and look forward to forthcoming events this winter and in 2001. During the past months, Chelmarsh has seen many changes for the better and whilst everything takes time, the Club has been making a fast track into the new millennium: we have become a Volvo Champion Club, befriended local journalists and had loads of free media exposure, bought new youth training boats, initiated race training under the auspices of an Olympic coach, and commissioned the plans for a £200,000 new extension…the list goes on! Moving on to specifics, I would like to thank all those who helped with the three taster days held in the summer. The feedback from participants has been excellent, with personal thanks going to many ‘instructor-drivers’. Presently, the scheme has recruited four new members, however with 9 people choosing to be ‘guinea pigs’ for the Instructor course, this figure is set to rise. Both racers and O.O.D's seem to have accustomed themselves to our two new buoys, East and West. In general, feedback has been positive - on light weather days they have allowed very short courses to be set and when the wind is from certain directions they facilitate truer beats. Thanks again must go to Rod, our valiant Bosun for securing them… and re-securing them(!). Approaching November, I am reminded of two important events — Don’t forget the Interfleet Team Racing, November 18th — has your Fleet Captain organised your team? This is a great event just to watch and (at crucial moments) listen to! Also, the Dinner Dance on November 25th for which I need to collect all the trophies. Please see Gary for tickets, it promises to be another great event with all the regular entertainment - courtesy of the young Whitehouses with singing and Neil Trinder / Mick Jagger with dancing. Find out who will receive the much sought-after Wooden Spoon! On a more serious note, several minor but worrisome incidents force me to write again about the responsibilities of the OOD. As a general expectation, everyone who drives a rescue boat should be fully conversant with its controls and handling and should have a clear understanding of rescue techniques. Whilst not compulsory, I strongly encourage everyone to do an RYA Powerboat course, one of which is being organised shortly by Hilary Davies. In the past three months, three incidents have occurred where rescue cover has been a cause for concern. Whilst it is obvious that everybody has a duty of care to their fellow members to do the best for the club, ultimately it has to be the OOD who takes responsibility for all the organisation on his/her day. As an OOD, having assessed resources in a given situation (safety boats, fuel, personnel, wind, participants) - if a situation is dangerous you should have no compunction in postponing or abandoning a race. Finally, OOD’s are not alone: various RYA race management courses can offer a helpful structure to work to, and every week you have a Sailing Captain who is there to advise (names printed in the diary). In conclusion: check your resources, check your Sailing Captain, and remember that safety has to be the number one priority. Don’t forget to start dropping your partner those little hints about that ‘hexaratchet’ (it’s a ‘must’ to go with the ‘little black dress!’) that you so desperately need - Christmas is only a few months away! Happy Sailing Sally Fowler |
Chelmarsh
Sailing Club Clubhouse
Telephone
Thank you…… ….. All the instructor team who helped train 12 adults and 18 juniors this year. …..John Dickinson who led the Junior training …..Fred Thursfield who taught an ‘Improvers Race Training’ day …..Dave Cowell who led the Youth Race Training …..Keith Wilkins who is doing some more this half-term
There are still a few places left on our next Powerboat course. This is a 2-day course to achieve RYA Level 2 (Inland) Certification. Dates are 4th & 11th November. Cost: £40 Contact: H Davies
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MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Inside the Newsletter you will find a bank mandate form for the next 5 year’s membership fees. It is a Club rule that all membership fees are paid by standing order so please please take the time to complete it and return to me as soon as possible. If you are not sure about your type of membership or have any other queries, then contact me for details of your current membership. Remember to include boat fees for all of your boats and your e-mail address, if you have one.
Those who joined the Club during the year 2000 will have already completed a form to include the next 5 years so will not have to send in another one.
Please do not send forms straight to your bank but return them to me at:
Yours in anticipation,
E Westwood – Membership Secretary.
A non-sailor’s lament — or, “How I learned to stop whinging and love having a wet bum”
Memories…….I meet someone called Peter Townend, fall in love with him and then find out that he is a sailor. This is interesting because although I grew up near the sea none of my family or friends sail.
Peter tells me that all his family sail and that they keep various yachts at the sailing club as well as at their holiday cottage in Ireland. I immediately envisage a vessel roughly the size of a tea clipper, myself busy brewing some tea or grog or whatever in a perfectly charming little galley while Peter does manly things on deck looking rugged in an Arran sweater – how romantic!
We have not been going out for long when he decides it was high time he took me sailing. I look forward to a trip to the seaside but instead we go to somewhere called South Staffs which turns out to be a small artificial pond next to the M6. He introduces me to “the yacht” - it is tiny and called a Firefly. Oh well, this must be the Townend’s fun size clipper and they are keeping the real thing in Ireland…. So much for my nautical adventure!
I
get changed into old jeans and sweatshirt, which is the Townend idea of sailing
gear, and join him for a lot of tinkering with bits of string which is called
rigging apparently. Then we are ready to set off. I ask him whether it would not
be a good idea to explain things to me before we start but he assures me that it
would be better if he taught me as we go along.
I hop into the boat and he gallantly launches it so I don’t get wet.
Maybe this is going to be romantic after all… I perch
on top of all the bits
and pieces in the middle in what I hope is a feminine and graceful manner
(remember, we have only been going out for a week or so). Peter gives me a piece
of rope to hold onto while he sits on the side of the boat leaning outward. I
wish he wouldn’t do that – he might fall out but then he has his own rope to
cling onto. To take my mind off the man-overboard-scenario, I inspect the
appointments. There seems to be an absolute dearth of tea-making facilities
which is mainly due to the non-existence of a ‘below decks’. I am rudely
torn out of my musings when Peter shouts something like “ready to go about
heave ho!” I reply “You what?” He frowns “Just unclip the gypsy, will
you?” I say “come again?” Suddenly the shore seems a lot closer than it
was before and comes closer still with every second. He reaches past me and
yanks at my piece of rope. “Mind your head!” This command I do understand
because the horizontal mast thing swings violently across and I duck. Anyway,
after that little incident he agrees to a little tuition: The pointy end is
called the bow and the blunt end is the stern. The horizontal-mast-extension is
the boom and the ropes all have different names. This actually makes perfect
sense: “ boom” is short and snappy and you wouldn’t want to get all those
ropes mixed up, would you? They have weird names, though, shroud, Cunningham,
kicker, sheet fitted or flat, only kidding, main sheet, jib sheet, spinnaker
sheet if your boat has a spinnaker, that is. After my mini lesson we have
another go. We sail up and down and eventually he lets me drive–oh, sorry helm
the boat. That is fun although also a bit scary (all that responsibility) and I
go back to crewing again. Eventually I get bored, I am sorry to say - the bar is
now open, after all.
When we went to Ireland on holiday the yacht there turned out to be a slighter larger version of the Firefly: yes, it can take up to 10 people, but only if a couple drape themselves over the foredeck and the others play sardines, at least two of them being small children, no, the sailing isn’t very exciting, it takes ages to go anywhere and do not even ask about the galley. However, they also have a 505 out there and sailing that was definitely not boring. We zoomed about Roaring water Bay, visiting all the little islands out there. Each island has its own character and it was fascinating to go to a different one on each outing, also trying to pick one without any visitors so that we could have it all to ourselves.
I only toyed with boredom once when Peter said “ Ready to go about?” for the umpteenth time so I replied “No, not really.” He looked taken aback and after he recovered he insisted that we had to tack. When I argued that we had gone about so many times already and wasn’t it time we did do something new for a change he agreed with me, gave me a big smile and put his feet up. I did change my mind quickly though, those sharp edged rocks jutting out of the water had their own persuasive powers.
I
went to Plas Menai this year, initially just to be with my husband on his
birthday but ended up joining the try-a-boat-thing and thoroughly enjoyed it. In
August I had a taste of a taster day and now, after all these years I am almost
ready to give up my non-sailing status and maybe do a course.
Sabine Townend
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LASER NEWS
Club Championships
Fred, Peter and your fleet captain attended the final of this year’s Laser Club Championship. It was held in Portland Harbour at the new sailing academy based in the old naval helicopter training centre. We drove down on Saturday morning and even had time for an early lunch before the first race at 12:30. we sailed three races back-to-back in a wind force 4/5. The race lengths were about fifty minutes. I was managing to get positions in the twenties out of a fleet of about 90. After that we were all very tired. Scott Bader who sponsored the event put on an excellent meal that evening.
Sunday brought a light breeze which we were all glad about. Two races back-to-back: first race started in a light breeze which faded to nothing and then picked up a bit. Saw Peter and myself get a 7th and 8th. The second race again started in a light breeze which died to nothing and to Peter’s disgust (as he was in the top ten) filled in from behind and everyone caught up.
Overall I came 21st, Fred 30th and Peter 37th. Eighteen Chelmarsh sailors took part in at least one of our eight nominated races to qualify for the final, which I was quite encouraged about. I know some of you cannot sail as regularly as you might like to. So for next year I am prepared to give a bottle for the winner on the day. I will publish the dates in the Spring issue and try and remind folks just before. If you are on e-mail let me know your address, mine is on the web page.
Richard Coates
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SOLO
NEWS
Our outing to the Salcombe Open on May 13th- 14th was very enjoyable as a social event ‘though the racing was somewhat less than perfect. Saturday’s race started in the estuary in a heavy sea mist, then up into the creeks where the wind fell away to nothing and the sun scorched down on us. Back through the ‘Bag’ into the estuary where the mist had become so thick that it was impossible to read the ‘course shortened’ flag and some of us were chased by the rescue boat to tell us it was all over. Walter and I were the only two to finish within the three hour cut off, and we only managed that by the skin of our teeth.
Sunday
races, two back to back in the morning and one after lunch, were sailed in the
estuary only, and with a force 3-4, in much better conditions. The only problem
was getting from the boat pa
rk to the start at dead low water down a narrow
dredged channel with mud banks on each side, on which two of our number got
stuck, thus missing the start of the first race. In the second race Walter had
to go ashore to repair his boat so was disqualified. With all these problems, I
was the only Chelmarsh boat to sail the last race, finishing 14th
overall out of 21, just beating the Salcombe Fleet Captain, who was last of the
locals, by two points—so none of us exactly covered ourselves in glory.
Then on to our own Open on June 10th. A perfect day - sunshine and a force 3-4, eleven visiting boats and twelve Chelmarsh. Four races, two back to back in the morning and two back to back after lunch. Chris Brown won the event with two firsts, a second and a discarded fifth. He was duly presented with the cup last competed for thirteen years ago and finally tracked down under the stairs at Jon Clark of Edge sails in a very poor state. It has now been repaired and re-plated and sent on to Chris looking very smart. First of the ‘genuine’ Chelmarsh Solo Fleet (if J.C., Paul Cullen and Peter Townend all sailing borrowed boats will excuse the expression) was Walter in 14th place. Walter’s racing has improved dramatically this season and I am sure he will be up amongst the leaders in next years opens.
The fleet is still growing, not by the leaps and bounds of last year, but I know of at least three people who are looking for boats in order to join us.
Finally our fleet dinner is to be held at the Swan at Knowle Sands on September 30th which should be a pleasant social occasion. The date was chosen as there is no general racing the next day and we can nurse our hangovers at home!
Garth Reynolds Solo 3987
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FIREBALL FLEET NEWS
We are slowly coming back down to earth after Abersoch. Oh, those lovely days when the crew could just lie out on the wire without having to expect the wind to change! Adam and Chris did really well leading for most of the week. Mo and Ian came first on the last day and have continued to sail well. Paul Cullen and Martin Smith came first overall after sailing consistently well, although not getting a first all week, and Adam Whitehouse and Chris Barley came third.
The Nationals were held at Penzance during August. Paul Cullen, sailing with crew Tom, from Bristol, achieved sixth overall which is pretty good out of a fleet of 70. Mike and Karen enjoyed the evening entertainment!
This
weekend we went to Clywedog, a beautiful place up in 
the Welsh hills.
The Saturday was catastrophic as 100% of the boats practised their
capsize drills. With only five out
of ten boats starting races one and two we sat up in the club house keeping warm
and watching how to stay upright. On
the second day the wind had blown itself away so we just drifted around in
torrential rain. The final results
were:- Paul Cullen and Martin Smith 1st, Martin Bunn and Paul Morris
2nd, and Mike and Jean Jones 3rd.
Well done to you all: Chelmarsh showed them the way forward.
(Martin says ‘we also won the darts and drinking’
which was put on for the evening entertainment).
The Club Fireball is getting used more frequently. It would be nice to see it out at the open if anyone is interested. Give me a ring if you are (01746-766710). We have managed to obtain a jib and main sail and would appreciate a spinnaker or any bolt-on goodies that anyone can spare - have a look in your lofts - THANK YOU!!!!!!!
All the preparations have gone well for the Open. I am sure it will all run smoothly. I would personally like to thank anyone who is helping during the weekend.
“— Thank you —” Sam
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GP14 NEWS
As I sit in the sun watching tumbling Ted (Ted: our unbalanced geriatric gardener) crashing down over the rockery – back dropped by more Tumbling Ted (Tambelus Edwardius: the plant variety) cascading over the borders - it seems hard to imagine the impending autumnal mists and mellow fruitfulness. So, what does this all mean? Essentially, in the now accepted post-modern preamble, another newsletter article needs writing and, in a vain effort to compete with the creative genius of the editorial team - and to prevent them from inserting their own annoyingly personal bylines (no I haven’t forgiven the ‘bit of tit’ caption) I have decided that this edition will be themed into zones. Thankfully, there are fewer zones than at either the dome or a typical first beat at Chelmarsh and therefore, hopefully, readers will be kept in phase with the prose - as opposed to prosaically phased! Hope to see you all in the forthcoming weeks – Happy sailing! (Andrew Motion—look out! Jon ’ave larned writin’!- Ed) Jonathan
GP14
13385; jonathan@carter136.freeserve.co.uk
tel: 01299 824 318
Sarah scoops young sailor award
Sarah
Allen continues her year of success by being been voted RYA West Midlands Young
Sailor of the year. This means that
she will also be considered for the national title of RYA Young Sailor of the
Year 2000. Having sailed in all the
key GP14 events this season, Sarah’s commitment to our class has resulted in
her being first Lady in the Worlds, South Africa and winning the Bronze Fleet at
the Nationals, Mumbles. We wish her
all the best for the future.
Saturday saw medium winds and a seven-foot swell. With the majority of the fleet evenly matched for boat-speed, reservoir skills of spotting shifts and gusts were key to success. A somewhat noisy evening of entertainment ensued and (thankfully) being a token oldie this allowed me to get to bed early with a nice cup of tea!
Sunday saw very light and fluky winds. With little tide and flat water, getting out of the pack was vital. Thankfully, having both had an early night, Rod and I found it somewhat easier to concentrate than others. The final results were Tim and Hilary 14th overall and Rod –with consistent top ten results including a third - 5th overall. Going to opens and championships can be a daunting experience, not least because competitive atmospheres can often lead to animosity. However, I can personally recommend this event- such was the wonderful spirit of competition. Never more so have I wished that I too was 40! (Fear not – you will be, soon enough! – Ed)
Getting into a new sailing club can be difficult, especially if inexperienced in racing. Crewing can be a successful route to gain experience and meet new people, however it does take effort. I can remember joining Weir Wood SC and putting my name on their crews’ board. After three weeks I still hadn’t got a sail. Paranoia quickly set in - did I have BO or something? Why was it so unfriendly? The truth is that neither was the case – it just takes time to be accepted and with one lucky break your name gets known and new friends are calling you to sail.
Established club members can also make a difference. With the efforts of Sally and her team, many new people have been introduced to sailing with recent ‘taster days’. Moreover, from the ‘learn to sail’ courses new members are coming into the fleet. We are now in the fortunate position of having some upcoming talent which needs nurturing. Therefore, if your regular crew isn’t available one week, don’t just sit at home, why not phone a (potential new) friend. If unsure as to whom you could call ask me. I assure you that you will have a great time and will be helping the fleet gain in strength and number.
La cucina Italiana d’GP14, 21st October 2000
The more observant among you will notice two things from the above title. Firstly, that I cannot speak –let alone write - Italian and secondly, Saturday 21st October was not the scheduled date for the GP14 meal (it is now!).
Unlike previous years, the annual GP14 meal is to be held in the clubhouse. As previous years, all GP14 racers and cruisers, past and present are welcome (this includes closet GP’ers who also flirt with other classes!). Tickets for this three course (& real coffee) Italian extravaganza are £15 each and available through me, early booking is advised; numbers are strictly limited. It promises to be the social event of the year and for people new to the fleet a great way to meet fellow sailors. Dress code is casual, however, those demonstrating particular flair with their ‘Ital Design’ (remember that Morris car?) will be rewarded with free Marsala!
Ever considered sailing in the autumn and winter months (?) – too cold?! Think again! Members who pack up their boats for the winter - not to be seen again until the following May - miss out on so much. Often the winds are the most constant and in general stronger, so that you are kept warm just working the boat. Moreover, as in general there are fewer participants, you are far more likely to get great results and have a larger allocation of hot water (the National Lottery will be considering our case for full central heating and a massive new water boiler!). So don’t stop at the wrong moment – put that kinky wetsuit on - try keeping it going into the winter!
Congratulations!
Louise & Alan,
Tara & RobinWord has reached me that Louise has finally made an honest man of Alan by tying the proverbial spinnaker sheets in a marital half hitch - with extra figure of eight stopper knot just for good measure! Despite Alan’s reluctance to give up his beloved hobby of fishing, the omens are good for many years of wedded bliss - Derek has agreed to do all their decorating! I’m sure you will join me in wishing them the very best for the future, along with the hope that modern marriages allow time for lots of sailing.
Some pheromone thingy must have been in the air this summer as Tara and Robin have also tied the knot. After the wedding there was a splendid reception where guests witnessed the delights of Mr Michael Kelly who performed a stunning visual accompaniment to “I am the Music Man” involving the use of 3 chairs and the M.C.’s microphone stand! Hopefully, if Tara recovers from this ordeal we may once more see her gracing the front end of a GP14.
July saw the unveiling of the first JC rudder and… it worked! (and then it broke). However, like a phoenix the JC rudder MKII has arisen from the ashes and so far (fingers crossed!) it is proving light, fast, responsive and rigid. Various suggestions have been made for strength tests - primarily from Rod - although I haven’t quite reached the stage of confidence where I am going to jump on it from a great height. Does this idea allude to the strangeness in certain of his sailing techniques (!?). Anyway, for anyone fancying a go in long winter evenings, I’ve devised the following:
J C Carter.
PAGE 10
FROM
THE LAND OF SHEEP: ONE MAN AND HIS
CLYWEDOG
One grey Saturday afternoon in September and I find myself immersed in a cold lake at the foot of a black mountain. The centreboard sticking up from the bottom of my upturned Fireball looks as insurmountable as the peaks of the mountains around the lake. For some strange reason Andrew is clinging to the nose of the boat like a praying mantis. My only consolation is that Bob and Sam Cullen are equally upturned in the same lake but we are the right side of the start line!
For those of you who, like me, had never been to Clywedog you simply head west for two hours leaving all civilisation behind – this place is nowhere near anywhere. High up in the Welsh hills, this is an odd shaped lake, narrow in parts, twisting into a larger Chelmarsh shape before turning again to reach the dam. The natives were extremely friendly and welcoming to the five Chelmarsh Fireballs. This is a two day, five race event and it was explained that Race One would avoid the main body of the lake because of shifty winds. To avoid said ‘shifty winds’ the start line took us through a funnel between two mountains – Andrew and I considered it a bonus that we eventually put in a start taking in an interesting capsize to get there. Ten boats entered, five completed the race with Paul Cullen & Martin Smith coming first.
‘Can’t understand why they’re not playing the shifts’ said Andrew knowingly from the shore as we watched Race Two in even heavier and shiftier winds. Paul & Martin again won, closely followed by Mike & Jean Jones. Martin Bunn & Paul Morris fought off a Clywedog challenge by hailing ‘starboard’ at the last second, causing terror in the opposing boat which promptly capsized.
If anyone had told me before the weekend that I would spend my Saturday evening on a conducted tour of a lead mine followed by a night of darts and dominoes I would not have believed them. Amazingly I enjoyed it all – and my contribution of ‘double top’ to start the darts, helped Chelmarsh to victory. I have to admit that the ‘day centre’ style chairs and Bob Cullen’s convincing dribbling during dominoes amongst the crowd of pipe smokers did remind me of a Sons of Rest Club.
Sunday awoke to thick heads and virtually no wind. The first race of the day took place in slow motion and I discovered why the locals smoke pipes.
Puffing on a pipe can help find the wind direction even on a stillest day or so it seemed as they all overtook us. Again a victory for Paul Cullen & Martin Smith who, at this stage, could have packed up, as two discards were allowed.
Paul & Martin decided not to take part in the second race of the day which saw the boats inch their way around the course. Victory came to the ‘young pretenders’ Martin Bunn & Paul Morris, well deserved after all their effort.
A breeze came up for the final race, which was again won by Paul & Martin, but not without several position changes during the race.
Chelmarsh dominated the overall results with Paul Cullen & Martin Smith first, Martin Bunn & Paul Morris second and Mike & Jean Jones third.
I was delighted to meet Mike Jones’s father on the Sunday – he and Mike won this event back in 1975!
A good time was had by all, we were all made very welcome and we look forward to seeing several Clywedog Fireballers at our Open soon.
PETER WIDDOWSON
To all Sailing Club Members
Here is a list of boats that do not appear to have owners who are members of Chelmarsh Sailing Club. We are on a search to find out whose they are so they can be taken away or disposed of at the end of the year. Some are new, some are not so new.
GP14’s
Plot 2
White
Plot 144
White
Plot 134
Dark Blue
Plot 159
Wreck
Plot 141
White
Toppers
Topper in Plot 182
Red
Topper in Plot 183
Light Blue
We really need your help in finding out the owners of these boats or they will end up staying on our property while we work through the system to get rid of them. If you recognise any of the above boats, please call me, Fred, or email:- matt.thursfield@btinternet.com
PAGE11
In Odysseus' wake: Chelmarsh in the Ionian - 2000.
Peter Hill led a group of eight Chelmarsh sailors on a voyage of discovery this September on board a yacht called 'Koula'. Koula is a Triton 48 bermudian sloop on charter from Nico of 'Yachting Greece', based at Sami on the island of Kefallonia.
You can read our diary/ships log at ‘www.aegis-ceramics.co.uk/greece’, where we hope you will enjoy the colour pictures and a fuller version of our activities. This is a copy of just one page off the website, which covers the last few hours we had on board Koula…. Which also happened to be the most exciting….. To set the scene, we were, rather unusually, alone in the harbour. We were berthed alongside a new concrete quay in a newly developed harbour at the north end of Zante, and we had been to dinner at the Peligoni Club, whose (english) proprietor was well known to Peter from the previous year. Following copious quantities of alcohol, we had staggered back the 2 km from the club, had a final coffee and another Metaxa at the taverna down the road and repaired on board…...
Wednesday 27th September
No sooner had we gone to bed, around 1:30 am, than the wind began to get up. In fact, not quite everyone was in bed, since John was busy typing about Friday and Saturday at the chart table. A few minutes before, he had been on deck looking through the binoculars at Jupiter and Saturn, and not having too much trouble holding the instrument still. Now the fenders were squealing, the warps twanging and every now and then, there was a rather more solid contact amidships than he liked. He put the deck light on then went on deck and added the big fender to the others amidships. There were quite big waves coming in now, and the sky was completely clouded. Blackness was all around us. Every minute the wave activity was increasing.
Robin,
in the crew's quarters forward, was dazzled by the decklight and had woken up.
He agreed with JK that we should move. "It seems to me there's three
choices", he said. "We can go over to the other side of the harbour
with the other small craft, we can anchor behind the island, or we can go to
Zakynthos town". JK went off to tell the skipper about the situation, and
soon almost everyone was awake and getting dressed. In the next ten minutes the
sea state got up another force and now the yacht was leaping up and down by
about a metre, and was being twanged against the wall by the tightening bow and
stern lines. It was becoming urgent to get off the wall. Peter and Vaughan went
ashore to cast off the warps while Robin took the helm. Of course, sod's law
being operative, the stern warp chose that moment to get jammed in the ring on
the dock so we couldn't slip it. Robin, after a particularly graunchy contact
with the wall that cut through a second fender line, went ahead decisively on
the engine and we left it behind.
Circling in the dark, away from the wall, thank heavens, it all looked a lot
less dramatic, though the fenders were bobbing up and down on the interfering
peaks and troughs of the reflected waves. JK was all for kitting up with fins
and torch to go and get them and the warp, but was outvoted in this proposal. We
would come back by taxi and get them in the morning. ....the decision to go to
Zakynthos was already made in our minds... the other side of the harbour was a
nasty lee shore, and just as rough, while the lee of the island, though
attractive, was fouled with loads of local moorings, and it was very dark, and
we didn't know what the wind would do next.
We came out from behind the small island to a brisk but not strong north-easterly wind and a moderate sea. Lord knows what it would be like in that harbour if it really blew! Deciding to settle for two-thirds of the genoa, no main and the engine at low revs we were soon making 6-7 knots in the right direction. By 04:30 we were in sight of the port and by 05:30 we were snugged in, stern-to, between another yacht and a gin palace, with the 'three bare wires' system for controlling the anchor windlass working well under Tony's expert control. Time for an ouzo! And then it was bed at last, at least for a couple of hours until the town woke up and the taxis came to their stands……. Those fenders were £25 each and the warp another £30… Unbudgetted expenditure? ...not us!
NOTICE
OF MEETING
The 34th Annual General Meeting
is to be held in the Clubhouse on
Sunday, 3rd December 2000 at 17.30 hrs.
AGENDA
1. Apologies.
2.
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 1999.
3.
Commodore's Report.
4.
Treasurer's Report.
5.
Appointment of Auditors.
6.
Other items in accordance with Rule 24.
7.
Election of Officers and Committee.
Note:- Rule 24.
An A.G.M. is to be held in November each year, or as near to November as possible, the Secretary giving all members 28 days notice of the meeting and circulating the agenda of the meeting. Any propositions to be put to the meeting, other than the passing of the accounts, the appointment of auditors and the appointment of officers must be notified to the Secretary prior to the 1st October for inclusion in the agenda. Any amendment to such proposition must be
notified to the Secretary at least 14 days before the date of the A.G.M. and posted on the Club notice board at least 7 days prior to the date of the A.G.M.
The Secretary to have the authority to refuse an amendment if he considers it to be a new resolution and not an amendment to an existing one.
Candidates for election as Vice Presidents, Flag Officers, Officers and Committee Members shall be those of the retiring Committee who shall offer themselves for re-election and any other full members of the Club whose nominations, duly proposed and seconded, shall have been sent to the Secretary in writing at least 14 days prior to the date of the AGM.
No member may be appointed as Flag Officer until he has served at least one year as a Committee Member.
No business shall be transacted at an A.G.M. unless a quorum of 30 full members is present within 30 minutes of the appointed time for the Meeting.
V. A. JONES Hon. Secretary 15th November 2000
Stourbridge branch
of the RNLI. Recently our nearest RNLI branch in Bridgnorth has been
reactivated and, with Stourbridge’s blessing, we are now passing on
all Lifeboat monies raised to them. We were delighted to entertain their
chairman, Mr Jim Morgan, and his wife at the ‘Pie & Peas’ Supper
at the end of the Wednesday Night Series. Bridgnorth RNLI have presented
us with a superb Lifeboat Pennant which you can see in pride of place
behind the bar.
