A personal half-yearly view

Wow, what a blazing summer - long may it last; ideal for sailing, but the gardens are parched and hosepipe bans are already appearing. No matter, the rally season is well underway and the club’s annual two-week summer cruise in June (this time to the Channel Is & N Brittany) was again a great success; a fleet of eight boats competently headed up by Tony Atkins (Past Commodore 2013-15) in ‘Sarinah’ - read all about it in Rally & Cruise Reports.   Let’s hope another volunteer comes forward to plan next year’s cruise (‘Going East’ ??); there’s plenty of help available! I must own up to missing out on being one of those ‘Greenhorn' contenders who make our rallies so successful and who hold the whole summer programme together.  Well done to Chris for setting up the programme and for updating the attendees spreadsheet on our club website.   Also well done to our valued Rally Officers who keep the venues informed about our registrant’s details. I’m really looking forward to the next rally at Lymington - ten boats registered and the rally now full; but I guess latecomers can always try booking ‘independently’! I was pleased to see another of our ‘anchoring-in-company’ midweek rallies take shape - attracting four boats to a rendezvous at Newtown Creek.  No doubt the combination of fine weather and tranquil surroundings was a big draw.  The report should be interesting, especially as we’ve not had a one since S’ton Town Quay!  Where are our budding reporters?  And a few pics would be useful! I gather the club’s annual Summer BBQ was a triumph, held in glorious sunshine with a record (i.e. best ever!) turnout to date.   And such a great outlook over the clubhouse lake.   So sorry I couldn't be there - but you all know why.  And I still get flak for it! Jan Baynham’s introduction of ‘Workshops’ adds to the club's continuing development and helps promote growth in our membership; novel ideas are always sought and the Committee is pleased to receive them - so please keep 'em coming! By way of a little history, our website now sports a list of Past Commodores stretching back to the club’s origins in 1973.   Many thanks to Shaun Atkins and Martin Lodge for jogging their memories and digging out the old files.   Finding out about other 'Past Officers' proved more challenging, but is still open to offers! With plenty of sailing yet to enjoy we can put off any thoughts about the Laying-up Supper and launch of our exciting Winter Programme in October. The club appears at peace with itself and enjoying the fruit of it’s labours. Happy Days, Leon

From 11 July this year, HM Coastguard’s CG66 safety identification scheme will have transferred to RYA SafeTrx for all Search and Rescue (SAR) operations within UK territorial waters.   Enhanced functionality is available when SafeTrx is used in conjunction with an optional mobile app.  RYA SafeTrx is free, irrespective of RYA membership.  

More information about RYA SafeTrx is available here.

Registration with SafeTrx can be established in either of two ways:-

• RYA SafeTrx App, downloadable from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Without a mobile app, online via https://safetrx.rya.org.uk/login.html.
  

Existing information on the CG66 database will be retained and used by Search and Rescue alongside SafeTrx data for the next two years. Register with SafeTrx if your current CG66 information is no longer valid.

Contact CG66.Enquiries@mcga.gov.uk to remove your existing information from the current  CG66 database.

The Struggle Continues:

As part of their continuing campaign and need for hard data, the Cruising Association and RYA are keen for small boat pleasure users to report any incidents they encounter with lobster pots.

Please send details of any such incidents either by email to the CA office on lobsterpots@theCA.org.uk or via the RYA reporting form at http://shorturl.at/JXY39.

Starts July 1st, marking the 50th anniversary of the first single-handed sailor to complete a non-stop voyage around the world.  A prize of £5000 was additionally awarded for the fastest voyage.

Of the original nine entrants only Robin Knox-Johnston finished, taking both prizes - the Golden Globe Trophy and the £5000!    

Read all about it in ‘A Voyage for Madmen’ by Peter Nichols (2001),  ISBN: 0-06-019764-1 : Harper Collins. Best read ever about the original 1968 race.

Follow the link for regular updates http://goldengloberace.com/en/ggr/

I am very pleased to let you know that your Commodore has been awarded the CA Love Cup for last year's two-week GCCC Summer Cruise to Normandy's 'Baie de Seine'.   The Cup is awarded annually by the Cruising Association for the “best log of a journey lasting less than 30 days”.

The Love Cup was originally presented to the Cruising Association in 1911 by Mr John Love, a founding member of the Association and it’s first President.   It is the oldest trophy to be awarded by the club.

The John Love Cup

I would very much like to share this award with all GCCC members and especially those who accompanied ‘Shibumi’ on the cruise - namely Jane & Martin Shott (crew) of 'Shibumi'; Gareth & Isabelle of ‘KiK’; Chris, Denise, Andrew & Margaret of ‘Cadh ‘Ruadh’; Clive, Brian & David of ‘Quickstep’ and Simon & Jorgen of ‘Lacewing’.

I accepted the award at CA House in London on 28th March 2018, immediately following Tom Cunliffe’s Hanson Lecture on ‘Ice with Everything’ and just before sitting for the Association Dinner.

Very many thanks to all those who contributed in their own special way to the success of the cruise!

Leon Barbour

Time is running out for the Cruising Association Lobster Pot Petition, supported by the RYA.

To sign up for this petition go to Lobster Pot Campaign (closing date 12th March 2018).

I guess some may feel in the grip of a cold and damp winter, yet there is a glow in the air with Spring around the corner.   Crocuses and snowdrops are fading, daffodils are in bud and March is only a fortnight away.  We can put away our angle grinder, touch up the keel with a final coat of epoxy resin, wield our trusty paint-roller and think about casting off our very practical but rather tattered old boiler suit.     

This annual toil of crouching beneath the hull - usually performed alone but occasionally with a little sympathetic help - is what drives a few of us out of the house and onto the road for a romantic (or not) journey to the south coast.   Or maybe you've enough dosh to pass all this effort over to the boatyard - depending on how intimate you wish feel about your boat!

But there may be some lingering doubts - have I booked my slot for the re-launch or am I still waiting to replace the anodes?  Have I checked the propeller or the cutlass bearing?   What about my seacocks, gearbox oil, engine service - and general all-round polishing?    Did I clean the two-stroke outboard, flush it with fresh water and run it dry to clear the carburettor of fuel?   Have I washed the genoa sheets?   Are my sails back from valeting?   I’m sure something was said about all this on the discussion forum!  

But no worries, when the jobs are all done we can look forward to a new season, heralded by New Member’s Night (March 20th) when Chris will officially launch the Summer Programme.   And then two weeks later there’s the Fitting-out Supper & Quiz by which time we can feel more confident in our plans for the coming season.  I look forward to hearing about them.   
How time flies!

Leon Barbour

A preliminary MAIB report about the use of tethers, based on a fatal accident whilst sailing in the Indian Ocean on 18 November 2017, can be found by clicking here.

The petition launched before the election for action against unmarked lobster pots has now been resurrected - see the article in Yachting Monthly

To sign the petition - click here

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS No 24(T) of 2017

COWES CHAIN FERRY

Clearance Depths
14 August 2017

Notice is hereby given that ..... Hydrographic surveys to measure clearance over the chains have been undertaken and the following temporary restrictions are in place:

Maximum Permissible Draught = Actual Tide Height + 1.1 metres

Mariners are advised that this is a ‘worst case’ (mid-ebb spring tide) when the ferry is berthed on the west bank and is being set to the north. Mariners are advised that increased clearances are available during this mid-ebb period when the ferry is berthed on the east bank. If your vessel is deep drafted and you have the need to transit the chain ferry crossing during this mid-ebb spring period, CHC strongly suggest that you allow the chain ferry to cross and be moored on the east bank before proceeding with caution.

Greater clearances are possible during other stages of the tidal cycle, particularly at High Water. Please see the indicative survey diagrams below.

All mariners are reminded that the maximum clearance depths are achieved at the mid-point between the prow of the Chain Ferry and the opposite shore. Vessels should avoid passing close to the prows of the ferry due to the obstruction of the chains as they slope down to the riverbed.

Any deep draught vessel or any other vessel requiring an unimpeded passage should contact the Chain Ferry, providing as much notice as possible, on VHF Channel 69.

Further chain adjustments and survey checks will be carried out in the near future, with the aim of increasing depths over the chains throughout all tidal cycles whilst maintaining a normal ferry service. The aim of these scheduled works will be to restore navigation clearance depths over the chains to previous reported depths for the previous ferry. 

Further surveys will be carried out as works require and all mariners will be advised of any changes to clearance depths via Cowes Harbour Local Notice to Mariners.

All mariners are advised that Cowes Harbour LNTM 15 of 2016 remains in force and all vessels should navigate with particular caution when approaching the Chain Ferry, especially with a following tide. 





This image shows the ‘worst case’ scenario with the vessel on the West bank and is being set to the North by the spring ebb tide.





Please see the full survey diagrams: http://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/cowes_chain_ferry

• LNTM 24(T) of 2017 - COWES CHAIN FERRY – Clearance Depths and Further Commissioning Works