CSC Spring / Summer Magazine 2016

Christchurch Sailing
Club News
Spring/Summer 2016
1
TILLER TALK
Life’s never boring, is it? As last winter showed, we never know
what the weather might be like so adaptability tends to be a
part of our life-style. We’re also fortunate to have so many
interesting opportunities open to us.
Our Club magazine is a showcase for the things that have been
happening at the Club and our winters are always as busy as the
summers. The new Training Room and the Training Programme
are a key feature, of course, but there are also accounts of
other activities and some excellent pictures for you to enjoy.
People feature strongly in the magazine, too. Officers and Class
Captains have their say and Carole Abbott, quite rightly, is
featured but Club members have a voice as well. You’ll find
helpful first aid advice from Dr Graham Archard; Diana Cobden
and Stan Evans’s look to the past and we remember the lives of
two fine Scow sailors. We also have news of how John and
Linda Moss and Di Kerr have spent their winter months.
Jim Mottram’s adventures have appeared in yachting magazines
for many years and on page 23 we reproduce a tribute to him
which appeared on the Irish website Afloat.ir. Jim was due to
give a winter talk about last summer’s cruise to the north coast
of Spain but it had to be cancelled. He was on a two month
South American cruise on the Marco Polo when he was taken ill
and spent rather a long time in a Brazilian hospital. He is now
home and well, but the interesting account of his experiences is
quite a saga.
Our active junior sailors are well
represented as they describe,
with enthusiasm, what they have
been up to. The new summer
programme, which the Junior
Coaching team have put together,
is very impressive and caters for
everyone from the youngest
Pirate getting on the water for
the first time right through to the
talented, committed members of
Team Chaos.
Val Roantree, Editor
Please note the ways that you can
become more involved in Club
life, whatever your particular interests and skills. On the sailing
front, the Scows, Ladies and Hawks are keen to recruit new
sailors, as are the Ralliers, who will also be looking for a new
Rally organiser next year. The Social Committee invites new
members to join, information is needed about Scow trophies
and various winter groups invite you to join them in the
autumn. Finally, skippers who want to encourage their wives to
cruise with them should read Mary McCann’s Scilly Adventure.
So, if the weather puts paid to sailing, there’s no need to be
bored, just pick up Christchurch Sailing Club News and have a
good read. But if the wind’s fair, get out on the water and enjoy
what we all like doing best. Happy sailing.
Val
CHRISTCHURCH SAILING CLUB NEWS
Val Roantree, Editor Tel: 01202 429383
Email: [email protected]
CHRISTCHURCH SAILING CLUB
The Quay, Christchurch BH23 1BY
Tel 01202 483150
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.christchurchsailingclub.co.uk
Stephanie de la Feuillade at the Optimist Nationals
FROM THE CSC OFFICE INBOX
Hi, I'm Jan, 19 years old and from Germany. I'm here with
working holiday visa and currently staying in Christchurch for work,
I'll be finish in about 3 weeks.
Thank you to all our contributors and also Profile producer
Frances York, proof reader Diana Cobden and photo production
expert Roger Allen, plus Julie and Karen for graciously dealing with
my queries.
Thanks, also, to our advertisers and Horizon Publishing Ltd.
Please support our advertisers' products and services and,
if you are in business, consider advertising in the magazine
yourself. Rates are very reasonable.
Details from Marco at Horizon on 01425
470950 or [email protected]
After that I want to travel, particularly sailing. I'm looking for a
nice crew to join for a sailing trip. My question to you: Do you offer
or provide such issues? My father has a sailing boat and I was
often with him and other boats on journey's and it's a deep wish
of mine to sail in New Zealand's waters.
May you can help me. Best, Jan.
There are some things that are beyond us!
Cover picture: Jack Arnell at the
2015 Finn Nationals, Hayling Island.
Photograph: Richard Beasley
3
COMMODORE’S
VIEW
As we look forward to the new sailing
season I also look back over the
previous year. The big project for the
Club has been the clubroom
extension, of course, and the new
room is proving such a great asset
that I think it won’t be long before we
are wondering however we managed
without it.
Outside the Club there are other influences which could affect
us. Last year the Council undertook beach replenishment at
Mudeford and, for a time, there was a real prospect of access to
the harbour being severely restricted. Fortunately, in the end,
safe options for marking the channel were undertaken and
there was no great affect on us.
Also, last year saw the end of the Navitus Bay Wind Farm
project and many of us are glad we will not have to negotiate a
field of windmills if we want to sail to France. Another area of
outside influence is the policing of our harbour, which with the
tight budget and low reported crime, is going to be something
of a self-help enterprise in the future. Do make sure you report
any crime and support our security patrol.
Carole is stepping down from her role as caterer after 26 years
and we wish her a very happy retirement. She has been a real
asset to the Club and provided us with a service which has been
the envy of other local clubs.
FROM THE BRIDGE WING
The bridge-wing is the best spot from which to see all that is
going on. In my naivety I had thought that the winter season
would be relatively quiet, giving me a gentle immersion into the
totality of Club activities. Not so. I have been amazed by the
intensity of effort in almost all areas of work associated with the
management of this vibrant community and the commitment of
all the willing volunteers who strive to make it so. There might
not have been as much sailing, but everything else has been
running at max chat. And whatever it is, almost invariably some
of it spills into the office.
The Christmas season brought out the best of our Social
Committee, with an excellent series of events being very well
supported by our members. All of this activity requires
substantial admin support from Julie and Karen, from the
printing out of flyers, notices and tickets to the booking of
places and taking the cash. ‘Is there a spare table for four?
Can we sit with Fred and Margaret? Can Carole do me a
vegetarian meal?’
No sooner is that rush over than we are straight into summer
storage bookings, with a concomitant blitz of questions,
incomplete submissions and special pleading, all deftly handled
by the ladies at the front desk, anxious to keep everybody
happy.
The moment that this deadline passes, attention switches
rapidly to the preparation of the Annual Programme booklet
with densely typed inputs from all the committees, listing their
planned events, the detailed racing programmes, cruiser rallies
and visiting yacht clubs, class meeting dates and important local
events, tide tables and navigational notes, security patrols and
training courses, where the Commodore stows his socks and
whether pigs have wings.
As well as our usual sailing programme we are hosting the Finn
Nationals on the 5 – 7 August. This is an Olympic year and the
America’s Cup Challenge so we wish good luck to the British
Teams for both events. Closer to home, I would like to wish all
our young sailors good luck this coming year as they campaign
within and beyond the Club. They are all a great credit to CSC
and the Juniors’ coaching team.
The Social Committee is looking for new blood so if you are
tempted to get involved but are not sure how, or how much
you want to commit, talk to the committee members as they
will be happy for your help and to give you info.
You will now have your Club Handbook so please check your
duty allocations. We have done a lot to ensure members can
select their own duties and most members do them willingly
and enthusiastically, so please don’t be one of the problems.
The office will send reminders by email but it is up to you, not
us, to ensure you do your duty.
The Club is fully committed to training and don’t forget we
offer RYA training courses in First Aid, VHF, and Powerboat;
full details are on the Club website.
A sailing club is not really a building or a site but it is the people
who make it what it is. In this respect, Christchurch Sailing Club
is a very special place with unique members – sometimes
fantastic, sometimes exasperating but always passionate. You
make the Club what it is and I am proud to be Commodore and
want to thank all members who contribute towards our Club.
Philip Whiston
Meanwhile, outside the window I can
see the daily efforts of the Bosuns and
the mooring inspectors, working
frantically in all weathers to ensure that
our buoys and anchors, chains and
tackle, escorts and safety boats,
tenders, pontoons and slipways are all
inspected and corrected, serviced and
burnished, repaired or replaced and
generally made Bristol fashion to
withstand another season of hard use
and abuse in what promises to be an
eventful programme.
In the midst of all this, we have been surrounded frequently by
the debris of invasive high tides and floods, often threatening to
turn the clubhouse into an island and leaving behind anything
from full sized boles to a tangle of twiggery, a wayward RIB and
even a private pontoon. Lots of clearance work for Denis and
for the volunteers.
Generally, much of this hard work spreads up into the office in
the accompanying discussions and decisions, orders and
payments, teas and biscuits, jollity and irreverent joshing. All this
to be completed well before cruisers take to the water. Sterling
work, to be admired by all who benefit.
And now it’s time to get our heads around the next big event,
the preparations for the AGM. By the time you read this, even
that will be history and we’ll all be rushing ahead towards what
should be an action packed summer, made all the more
enjoyable by the achievements of the winter.
Ted Vary
Honorary Secretary
4
AGM 2016 – SHORT AND SWEET
Last year’s AGM seemed like the longest in living memory and
this year’s could be a contender for the shortest, concluding in
just over an hour and a half. A rare occurrence – no elections.
The Officers were unopposed and the two vacancies on the
General Committee, due to Tim Tyrrell and Richard Beasley
standing down, were filled by the only candidates, Ian Wright and
Ricci Cobelli.
The real strength of our Club is that so much is done by
volunteers and their contribution was lauded at the AGM. Brian
Horrocks’s hard work in implementing the new accounting
system, in his first year as Honorary Treasurer, and the help
given to him by Pauline Vary were applauded.
Lawrence Crapper was presented
with a weekend away for himself and
Gill as thanks for supervising the
building of the Training Room
extension on time, on budget and
also for helping to obtain a
substantial grant towards the cost.
When things run as smoothly as they
do at CSC, most of us don’t know
how much planning and hard work
underpins it. The Flag Officers’ thanks
and flowers were given to our
Assistant Secretaries, Karen and Julie,
Thank you, Lawrence
and to Pauline, then Philip gave
Committee Member Barbara
Osborne an orchid to thank her for supporting him with the
social responsibilities of being Commodore.
The proposal to adjust the annual subscriptions to make them
more proportionate and benefit Juniors and young adults
received written thanks and endorsement from Toby Yeabsley,
who had requested the change at the last AGM. It was carried,
as were the other rule changes.
Another issue raised last year was CCTV coverage and, thanks
to member Dave Lincoln, it was reported that we now have
unobtrusive, effective monitoring of our grounds at an
advantageous cost. Security patrols will continue to be essential
as moorings are not covered by CCTV.
Ian and Liz Mansfield with the Commodore
AGM CAPTION COMPETITION!
From the candid camera of Roger Allen
Mary McCann won the Aldridge Trophy for her Isles of Scilly log,
a taster of which can be read on page 27, and Stephanie de la
Feuillade, whose picture features in the Editorial, won the Junior
Log Trophy. Liz and Ian Mansfield were astonished to receive the
Paul Reakes Trophy for their 50 years of sailing together in
dinghies and cruisers. The Tom Drew Trophy, which goes to the
outstanding volunteer of the year, was presented to Issie and
Libby Booth. Though they are still in their teens, they are
qualified RYA instructors and organise our youngest Pirate
sailors with competence and confidence beyond their years.
Worthy winners, indeed.
Everyone was keen to hear news about catering when Carole
retires but there was nothing definite to tell. Four enquiries had
not proved fruitful so the position is being advertised locally.
With just 136 members present in the auditorium, the
possibility of holding the AGM at the Club next year was raised.
The new extension gives greater capacity within the Fire
Regulations so it was agreed that, unless there were very
contentious issues on the agenda, we will be back home again in
2017. Thus, the meeting ended and Steward Chris dashed off to
the Club to open the bar. Hopefully, he won’t have so far to go
next year.
Val Roantree
Brian Horrocks and Pauline Vary
FROM THE REAR
COMMODORE
“Just where did the year go?” I ask
myself. It has certainly been a busy
one.
Protecting the Club
First, the mains electric supply
needed protecting from flood ingress,
then the supply within the Club was
upgraded to meet future
requirements. Installing a dedicated,
protected power supply for the office computers and database
affords protection from unexpected power supply interruption.
The Club’s quayside electric supply is currently being updated
and extended, as requested by members.
Libby and Issie Booth win the Tom Drew Trophy
CCTV system installation had previously been considered on
more than one occasion and was raised again by a member at
the 2015 AGM. My thanks go to Dave Lincoln for his generosity,
expertise and time spent installing a comprehensive system,
which has already proved invaluable on more than one occasion.
The mains water supply to the Club has been reviewed and is
proving to be complex but will be updated. Current issues
include a considerable, unacceptable reduction in the supply
flow rate to the men’s showers.
Improving the Club
The Big Project – our new Training Room extension.
The process is recorded in words and pictures on page 14.
Bridget Allen
Rear Commodore
6
MONEY MATTERS!
reconciliation of the bar cash, which will help me a great deal.
Last year I agreed to take on the role of
Honorary Treasurer after gaining
experience as a Committee member
for eight years and assisting Brian
Storey, the previous Treasurer, for
many years with the cashing up and
reconciliation of the bar cash. I also
provided cover when he was away on
holiday. However, you do not really
understand a role until you actually take
it on and although I was aware of the
ins and outs, I did not appreciate the
amount of work involved.
We have encouraged members to use the banking on-line
payments system to make payments to the Club, which reduces
the need to list and bank cheques. I hope that more members
will start to use this method of making payments in order to
further reduce work.
I have changed the procedures for the payment of petty cash,
which has reduced the workload on reconciling the bar cash
each week and I am utilising the banking on-line payments
system to pay invoices, thus reducing the need to write out and
sign cheques.
The Club has used TAS book as the accounting system for
many years, but this system is not being enhanced for the latest
software structure and/or flexibility. TAS book is part of Sage
and they have offered the Club free migration to Sage 50
Accounts. Although this means that I will have to learn to use
Sage, I am assured that there will be long-term benefits and it
should also reduce the requirement for certain manual records
to be created and kept.
I do enjoy working with Julie, Karen and Ted, the Hon Sec, as
part of the ‘office team’, which also allows me to know exactly
what is going on and any impact it may have on finance.
Brian Horrocks
Hon. Treasurer
At the time of writing this article, Karen and Julie, our Assistant
Secretaries, have agreed to take on the cashing-up and
THE WINTER BOSUN’S BOAT
MAINTENANCE CREW
Winter boat maintenance has become more challenging. It is
not just the boats that are ageing, but also the personnel that
are doing the maintenance. Luckily there are some younger
Club members beginning to show an interest. The other major
influence is that the current volunteers are understandably
unwilling to provide more than a couple of hours, once a week.
They have their own boats to take care of and, possibly, even a
life outside the Club. In contrast, the sailing season appears to
be getting longer, shortening the time available for maintenance.
Up to the writing of this report, most time and effort has been
devoted to Nannie. Apart from routine cleaning and painting,
and the replacement of a rotten supporting web to the floor,
additional work has been in response to an expert inspection by
Derrick Thorrington from the Committee. The maintenance
volunteers are indebted to Andy Rushworth, from the Sailing
Committee, for practical help and guidance in its execution.
The glass-fibre
work has been
done by Paul
Greenwood. The
ropework and
other accessories
have been taken
care of by Bill
Foot. The bulk of
the painting has
fallen to Eric
Nymph
Davies and Tony
Powell. Peter
Gimson and Ian Fisher have taken care of most of the
mechanical bits and woodwork. The engine has been serviced
by Mike Edwards and will be reviewed by Ben Taylor from
Power Afloat when Nannie is back in the water.
When Nannie is relaunched, Nymph will be brought ashore for
similar work to be done.
Roy’s Raider, one of the RIBs, is currently having its annual
engine service at RIBS Marine as, in their turn, will Shepherd, the
other RIB, and Juno, the plastic rescue boat with the drawbridge
bow. Each of them will be brought ashore for anti-fouling where
necessary.
Running alongside the refurbishment of Nannie, we have had to
clean and carry out repairs to the Club tenders. Paul
Greenwood has done an excellent job of repairing damage to
fibreglass on the hulls, ably assisted by Bill Foote when a helping
hand was required.
We have also, despite cramped conditions on the harbour side,
had a willing team cleaning and repairing the harbour and sea
buoys. My thanks go to Peter Gimson, Mick Ellis, Bill Ritchie and
Tony Powell for doing this wet and dirty outside work,
sometimes in some extreme weather conditions, so that they
will be ready for members’ sailing competitions next season.
The whole team works well together and is also prepared to
assist Graham when needed. ‘My thanks to you all’, says Colin
Bungey.
Co-ordination of maintenance has been undertaken by Graham
Begley, a task similar to herding cats, supported by our
quartermaster, Geoff Snook, and with some practical assistance
from the Hon Sec, Ted Vary, and Nick Woolley.
GRAHAM BEGLEY – SUMMER
BOSUN, RETIRED
Graham Begley, one of our catamaran owners, joined the Club
working party in 2008. It was soon apparent that he was
knowledgeable and experienced in working with both diesel and
petrol engines. His energy was soon harnessed and he duly got
promotion to Summer Bosun.
At that time there were three boats, with a dedicated bosun to
look after each. Graham replaced the system of separate bosuns
with a team of enthusiastic members with a bigger range of
skills, thereby giving us a higher level of summer maintenance
with more flexibility. Another big advantage was that the
Bosun's team then became experienced in all aspects and
peculiarities of each boat and so increased their availability.
During these years as Summer Bosun Graham has proved to be
totally dedicated, with his sense of humour and single-minded
objective of keeping all the Club safety boats sea-worthy and
ready for use.
All too often, many difficult problems occur from wear and tear
and sometimes from human error.
Some situations have needed that Irish
sense of humour but, with thought
and plenty of effort, they have been
solved and Graham has gained a
well-earned reputation as a first-rate,
dedicated trouble-fixer.
Thank you, Graham.
Lawrence Crapper
Graham
7
CRUISER REPORT
I thought that last year’s
programme was challenging, with
difficult tides, but this year’s beats
it. Also, Easter is early and
craning in has been delayed for
another two weeks until Friday,
8 April. There should still be no
excuses about time to put up
masts and prepare the boats as the first sensible tide to hold a
race is not until the 24 April.
Hopefully, having had one of the wettest and mildest winters on
record since 1910, the amount of water that has raced down
the river should create a good channel over the Bar along with
the training bank that was formed when the entrance channel
was dredged last year. Time will tell.
The Cruiser Prize-Giving Dinner gave the ‘Cruisers’ and
‘Racers’ a great opportunity to meet up at a very sociable event
on a wintery evening in January. It was very well supported with
over 70 cruiser owners having an enjoyable evening.
This year the trophies were fairly evenly spread throughout the
fleet, however one boat in particular was more successful
Nigel Burt and Derrick Falla collect the
Line Honours Trophy
towards the end of the season as a good crew seemed to help.
Well done, Allegretto.
The Line Honours’ Trophy was presented to the Club by Peter
Mather and it is for the cruiser that manages to chalk up the
highest number of firsts home in the racing season. For the first
10 or 11 years of its life it has read Crumfumbrum. Then it read
Bluemoon for a little less – 9 years. This year the engraver had
to change his type-set to a new setting. Well done, team
Resolution.
Boat preparation, with that ever growing list of jobs, should be
well under way now but, if it is anything like my little refit on
Bluemoon, next season seems to be looking good!
As I write this article the Cruiser Programme is off to the
printers, which means we will soon be racing. Many thanks to
everyone who has volunteered to be either Race Officer or
Time Keeper.
Looking forward to a great sailing season, good weather and fair
breezes. Happy racing and cruising for 2016.
Dave Yeabsley
Cruiser Class Captain
Bob Egerton’s crew all received medals from the Skipper, even if they couldn't make the prize-giving
LET’S GET RALLYING!
The Rally programme for this season is in
place and I look forward to leading the fleet
to old, and some new, anchorages and
moorings.
Our first rally is the early May Bank Holiday
when we will spend our first night at Cowes,
then sail to Ocean Village in Southampton
and finally to Lymington. In mid-May we will
enjoy a weekend in Yarmouth and at Spring Bank Holiday we
will visit Weymouth for a traditional seaside weekend.
Our annual visit to Hurst Castle Sailing Club, Keyhaven, in June,
coincides with their summer BBQ and disco. Non-cruiser
members are welcome to join us by road.
There is then a short break as some of our fleet will be taking
extended trips to the West Country, France and the Channel
Islands. There will be a Bastille Rally in France when we know
who is around.
Towards the end of July we sail to Bembridge for the highlight
Rally of the Year, the Bembridge Big Fun Weekend with a best
dressed-overall boat competition, crabbing, model boats and
the fabulous Dance on the Duver on Saturday night. We will
then continue for our Summer Cruise… where will that take us
this year? Watch this space and the weather, but we WILL have
a good time.
In August we have two events alongside at CSC – Stompin’ on
the Quomps and Christchurch Carnival and Fireworks Night.
For August Bank Holiday we will go to the River Hamble and
Warsash Sailing Club where we had a great time two years ago,
stopping somewhere overnight on our return trip on Sunday.
In September it is the turn of Redclyffe Yacht Club to visit us
and we will welcome them to our clubhouse and the annual
inter-club challenge.
We finish the season with our traditional rally to Yarmouth
where we will again enjoy an evening meal at Royal Solent Yacht
Club, possibly with over 50 boats and around 120 members
attending. Our very final event will be a laying-up supper at CSC
in mid-October.
Depending on the weather, I may try a couple of ad-hoc rallies
this summer. We have an invitation to North Haven Yacht Club
in Poole for a BBQ.
I look forward to seeing our regular ralliers and, if you have not
joined us before, it is very relaxed, very sociable and great fun,
so do come along and join us.
On a final note, this is my third and final season as your Rally
Leader/Organiser and we will be looking for someone to take
over for 2017. It is a most
enjoyable and satisfying task
and I will be happy to give any
help needed, so please think
about it and contact me if you
would like to talk further.
Have a good cruising season.
Jim Atkins
Rally Leader and Organiser
Weymouth Rally 2015
8
JUNIORS
GBR OPTIMIST NAPLES TEAM
Jack Acton
Hello again from Junior Class Captains Jack Acton and Drew
Barnes. We will be writing to you about the achievements and
the fun of the Junior Squad.
Out of all the achievements, we have picked out the ones that
stand out the most such as Abi Hayles for doing very well
during Junior Week, coming 3rd just behind Drew Barnes and
Sam DLF. Along with Abi we have had other achievements out
on the National circuit by Sam DLF who got into National
Squad, which is an astounding achievement at his age, and Drew
Barnes who got into Development Squad and has at this point
qualified for the Laser Europeans in his Laser 4.7 (borrowed
from his Mum☺).
Sonata match racing
The Sonata match racing was a huge hit last year (as I assume it
will be this) and on the first outing was won by Tringa 3 races to
Fiddlers Elbow’s 2. In the second set of races Tringa won all four,
this time with a different crew. However, any of this wouldn’t
be possible without the two boats kindly lent to us by Jim
Lawrence and Rory Barnes. If you are interested in taking
part in the match racing it will be taking place on the 11th and
the 25th of June. You also have to be at least 11 years old to
take part.
Along with our Junior success stories there have been
numerous internal sessions set up by the coaches and a team of
parents, like the Sonata match racing, training run throughout
the year, Pirate’s sessions on Fridays and, of course, Junior
Week. The dates for these will be on the Club website, Junior
Facebook page and in the 2016-2017 season calendar.
A big thanks
Looking back throughout last year, all of the activities were a
huge success and would not be possible without the help of the
parents and the co-ordination of the coaches. So, in that case,
from the whole of the Junior Squad we say a massive,
‘Thank you’.
Jack Acton (Captain) and Drew Barnes (Vice-Captain)
Drew Barnes
Drew Barnes had a great Easter in
Italy at the 34th Lake Garda
Optimist Meeting. In windy
conditions he enjoyed challenging
racing and was 28th in the fleet of
170 in his best race. With
competitors from as far away as
America, the event was great fun
on and off the water. ‘If you can
get there, try and go,’ is Drew’s
advice to CSC Juniors.
0500hrs, Saturday 2nd January 2016, the Naples team met at
Gatwick Airport. The team comprised of me and four other
members of the Optimist National Squad. After a short flight
we landed at Naples airport, met up with Pieter, our coach for
the event, and found a taxi that took us straight to the Reale
Yacht Club, Canottieri Savoia.
When we got to the club the weather was warm and sunny.
We found our charter boats and then had a raffle to decide
who got which boat. We then spent some time rigging them as
well as checking the spars, foils and polishing the hulls.
Without planning, Pieter told us we were going out for a sail.
We went to the changing rooms, got ready and headed back to
the boats. The charter boats had no mast clamps so we had to
tie the masts on!
The club didn’t have a slipway, so we launched from the
pontoon by lifting the boats into the water. We did some
training exercises (rabbit runs and downwind tuning) and then
we joined with the Italians and did a practice race with about 50
other boats. It was very light winds but it was great to finally get
out on the water after all the travelling.
There were three days of
racing in a mixture of wind
and conditions. On the
Sunday we launched in 20
knots, hail and dark
ominous looking clouds but
managed three races. On
Monday there was a
postponement while we
waited for the wind to
arrive and when it did, it
increased to 30 knots. At
Sam in action
this point the racing was
abandoned after completing two races. While all the other
countries went in, we requested permission to stay out and
have some fun on the large Napoli waves, which reminded me
of Pwlhelli. On Tuesday there was only just enough time to
complete one race.
After racing each day, food and entertainment was provided by
the club. We had great fun and made loads of new friends. On
the Saturday evening at the club the Italian sailors decided to
have a massive sing-song. We all joined in though we didn’t
know any of the words, but it didn’t seem to matter as long as
you were enthusiastic in your singing.
My results improved as the event went on and on the last day I
managed a 16th. My final result was 47th out of 91 boats. I was
really happy with this – I had never been abroad for a sailing
event before and I had learnt a lot.
Naples was an amazing experience and I am so glad I went. I
enjoyed every minute of it, from making lots of new friends to
surfing the Napoli waves.
Now I can’t wait to go to Braassemermeer at Easter!!
Sam de la Feuillade
CONGRATULATIONS! Sam was 58th out of 250 in the
Braassemermeer Rally, where he had been selected for
the first time to be part of the 40-strong RYA/IOCA
Squad. Well done, Sam. A great achievement.
JUNIOR MEMBERS’ SPONSORSHIP FUND
The Fund was set up to encourage and sponsor Junior Members to develop their sailing skills or
experience new challenges which otherwise may be beyond their grasp, such as participating in local or
national events and instructor training. Sponsorship forms can be found on the Downloads section of the
Club website.
Donations have come from members, the Club, through fundraising and in memory of members who
have died. The names of all donors are beautifully recorded in a professionally hand-crafted book donated by
Diana Cobden and dedicated to her husband Derrick, the former Commodore whose idea was the inspiration for the fund.
Any donations would be gratefully received and thoughtfully used. They should be sent to the Club Treasurer clearly marked
‘Junior Sponsorship Fund’. Thank you.
9
COME AND JOIN US!
HAWKS
The 2015 Hawk season provided a
wide range of sailing conditions.
High winds cancelled a number of
races, however, unusually there
were no races when there was not
enough wind to complete the
course. On a couple of occasions
the Hawks raced even though the
cruisers had cancelled; sailing in
exhilarating conditions, battling the
elements and one another. The
trophies were presented after the
AGM and annual Hawk Dinner to
Mike Devall, Ian Halliday, Alan
Hickman and Derek Hopkins.
The 2016 CSC Hawk programme includes racing every Sunday
from mid-April to October, eight evening races, one weekend
event and a three-day Solent Rally.
The ‘Hawk Crew’ offer to CSC members proved popular last
year and all those who volunteered went out for at least one
race day. Steve Walder-Davis sailed the Crew on the Helm race
and won the trophy! The offer will continue through 2016 so if
LADIES’ SAILING
We are a friendly group of ladies who
meet up for approximately 12 evening
sailing sessions between April and
September. Within the group the sailing
ability varies from novice to competent
sailors. Each session will take into
account the different abilities and we
structure the evenings accordingly,
Lisa Booth
from basic boat handling skills to racing.
Ultimately, we are there to enjoy
ourselves in the beautiful surroundings, learning how to sail and
improve our techniques.
The sailing season starts with our first social event, Round the
Buoys. We board the Club launches and motor down to the
harbour, acquainting ourselves with each Sailing Club marker
buoy and offering a toast to each one.
Last year we finished one of the sailing sessions with a delicious
barbecue at the Club. We also had a wine and nibbles evening,
sailing down to Barn Bite and beaching the dinghies, which was
great fun. For the first time we had an evening race against
Highcliffe Sailing Club Ladies. There was a fantastic turnout,
you would like to crew during Hawk racing (no previous
experience required), please email [email protected]
The Hawk 20 design has been in production since the early
1990s. The early boats are now being offered second-hand at a
fraction of the new price, providing the opportunity to own a
boat for a relatively low investment – and there are plenty of
newer boats if you are prepared to pay more. The Hawk can be
sailed (and routinely raced) single handed, although two or
three people in the boat is normal
for racing and up to six in the boat is
fine for family day sailing.
Additional boats in the CSC Hawk
fleet will always be welcomed. If you
would like to know more about the
Hawk 20 please email:
[email protected]
Finally, I would like to thank the
volunteers and teams that have
worked so hard over the winter to
get the Club and new extension
ready for the forthcoming season.
Ian Halliday
Hawk 20
a great evening of sailing and it is something that we hope to
organise again for this year. To finish off the season we had an
Indian night with each person bringing a different dish, a bottle
and having a good catch up. This year, again, we have lots
planned, from a knot-tying evening, picnic in the harbour,
BBQs and, hopefully, lots more.
The majority of dinghies sailed are Lasers, 4.7 and radial rigs,
together with Toppers, but any class of dinghy will be more
than welcome. If you don’t have a dinghy, the Club has a
selection which can be borrowed – two Toppers, two RS Fevas,
one Laser (4.7 or radial rig) – please make contact with me to
reserve a boat.
If you would like to join our group, or get further information,
please do not hesitate to contact me. We would all love to see
you and will make you more than welcome.
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all the helpers
for giving up their valuable spare time to come down to the
Club and contribute to our sessions. It really is much
appreciated.
Contact email: [email protected]
Lisa Booth Ladies’ Captain
CLASS 5 – READY FOR 2016?
With 2015 disappearing into the
distance, I’d like to congratulate the
winners of the 2015 class 5 series.
They are:
Darren Walker
Cian Ashby – ODM Race
Stacey Herring – Winter Sunday
Nick Mason – Spring Bank Holiday
Sophie Walker
– Sunday Series
– 1st Lady
Drew Barnes –
Sunday Series
and Hunt Cup
Julie Sephton – Saturday Series, Evening
Series, Winter Saturday
Abi Hyles – Easter Series, Hunt Cup –
1st Lady, Harbour Olympics
Thank you to Chris Arnell for awarding:
Anna Hayles – Class Captain’s Trophy
Sophie Walker – Class Captain’s Junior Trophy
A reminder about towropes. Please ensure that your dinghy is
equipped with a floating towrope at least 8 metres long and at
least 8mm diameter – see page 12 of the CSC News,
Autumn/Winter 2015.
The 2016 season is upon us, the dinghy
programme is complete and it’s looking
to be a challenging and fun-packed year
for Class 5 at CSC. So, with boats
checked, wetsuits dusted-off, tillers and
mainsheets at the ready, I’m looking
forward to spending more time on the
water and, hopefully, less time in it!
I’m sure you all have memorable events from 2015. Mine was from Junior week and a lesson to us all.
Emptying a Topper that was sailed without its bung was certainly a challenging task!
• Wood • GRP •
• Power • Sail •
• Repairs •
• Refits •
• Renovations •
• Restorations •
Rossiterʼs Quay,
Bridge Street,
Christchurch,
Dorset BH23 1DZ
Tel: 01202 483250
Fax: 01202 490164
The Comprehensive
Rigging Services
• Lymington’s Largest Selection of rope & wire
• Mooring warps, dock lines & anchor chains made up
• Masts, booms & spinnaker poles in aluminium
& carbon
• Headsails reefing systems
• Deck gear: blocks, cleats & winches
• Emergency backup
Fantastic deals for
club members
Good boats wanted
for our brokerage
Web: www.rossiteryachts.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
• Annual rig servicing
Di 5 %
fo scou
M r Cl nt
em ub
be
rs
• Rig checkovers
• Gas Safe Registered for marine gas system fitting
& service
• Architectural & commercial rigging
Lymington Yacht Haven, King’s Saltern Road,
Lymington, Hampshire SO41 3QD
Tel: (01590) 676292 • Fax: (01590) 688150
E-mail: [email protected] • www.oceanrigging.co.uk
11
SCOWS and their TROPHIES
Welcome to the spring/summer
Club magazine. Moving on from my
update in the last edition, things
have been happening on and off the
water. Conditions for the Scow
Winter Series were not ideal but
conditions were good for the first
Saturday race, which attracted a
turnout of 14 Scows. Well done
Paul Mecklenburgh and Alex Atkins
for winning the Winter Saturday and
Winter Sunday series.
Off the water, the first challenge was dealing with the winter
storage in the face of having to temporarily surrender half our
space under the clubhouse to accommodate the clubroom
extension works. Many thanks to those of you who were able
to fit in with my requests to locate elsewhere. In early January
the Scow fleet hosted the Club’s Winter Talk and, thanks to
Frank Tyhurst, we were provided with a very interesting insight
into The Birth and Evolution of Christchurch Bay.
The other has been the challenge of working with the Sailing
Committee to help pull together the 2016 Sailing Programme. In
this respect we propose to repeat what was in place in 2015,
with the inclusion of the Fisherman’s Race and Dinner.
Hopefully, this time, conditions will be suitable enough to allow
racing to take place.
In October we held our Annual General Meeting and I was
re-elected Class Captain, along with Howard MacKenzie-Cook
as Vice-Captain, Peter Flook, Capers’ Race Officer, Peter Ridley,
Frank Tyhurst and Ian Wright. We welcome a lady to our
Committee following the election of Christine de Laine. Our
class has lots of trophy history and we would like to learn
more. Christine has offered to co-ordinate this, so please get in
touch with her. I am encouraged by new membership enquiries,
some from ladies, and see this as a significant step forward in
broadening the appeal of the fleet.
The All Classes Dinghy Prize Giving has taken place and thanks
go to all who made this event possible. Congratulations to the
prize winners, especially Paul Moores who took home the
Percival Trophy. As many of you know, apart from being an
accomplished sailor, Paul also built a number of Scows within
our fleet.
By the time this article goes to print we shall have hosted our
second Welcome Morning; an opportunity for Scow sailors to
get together and talk about the season ahead.
Here’s to enjoyable Scow sailing in 2016.
Mike Dickinson
Scow Class Captain
Bugs Bunny
WELL MET IN YARMOUTH
Fascinating game, this sailing lark. Never know what will happen
next. Nor who you might meet. Sea gypsies come in all shapes
and sizes and in all kinds of boats. The one thing that unites
them is the sense of adventure that sends them off to havens
near and far, and the thing that differentiates them is often the
colours and symbols on their ensigns. I’m always fascinated
when I see one that I don’t recognise. It triggers my curiosity
about the owners and their origins; who are these adventurers
and where are they from?
For example, last summer I was at Yarmouth, taking the evening
air out in the cockpit whilst assessing the cut and clarity of the
ice cubes in my glass. A very smart vessel came gliding down the
line, heading for a slot on the pontoon directly ahead of my
The 2015 season Trophy Dinner saw
18 trophies and five individual
achievement plaques presented to
members of the Scow Fleet. It was no
surprise to see that Graham Fairbrass
needed a separate table for his
trophies, winning eight in total.
Congratulations, Graham.
As a new member of the Scow
Committee I have been given the task
of recording our Scow race results and
getting the trophies ready for prize
giving. The committee suggested that I look into the history of
the trophies to build up some background information, such as
why the trophies were donated and by whom, and what events
they were originally presented for, if not always to Scows. For
the older trophies, we think it would be interesting to find out
more about the earlier winners.
One of the trophies we present is the Winkle Picker Trophy,
which was donated by Eric and Thelma Davies, originally for the
Round the Harbour Race (CSC – Captain’s Club – ferry jetty –
Mudeford Quay – Stanpit – Blackberry Island – CSC).
The Winkle Picker was a nickname of Sophie Dawes, the
well-known smuggler and courtesan.
Could you please help us with any background information like
this for our other trophies? To start with we would be
particularly interested in information on these three.
This silver cup is currently presented to the
winner of the Winter Sunday Series. It has
attractive seahorse handles. We know it
was first presented to a Scow sailor in
1971. Can you add to this?
This silver tankard is presented for the
Autumn Saturday Series. It was first
presented in 1978.
Donated by P H Baker and first presented
in 1973, this silver cup is the ODM Trophy.
We know about the ODM race but would
like to know more about the trophy.
If you can help please contact me at [email protected].
Many thanks.
Christine de Laine
Scow Committee Member
elderly ketch. A trim lady stood in the waist with a line in
each hand. I judged it neighbourly to hop ashore and assist. A
competent skipper, speaking perfect English, brought his pride
and joy to a gentle stop, exactly on the spot. I took one line
whilst his mate stepped quietly down and went aft with the
other. Nothing unusual in that.
And then I spotted the ensign. In all respects Dutch – but with a
device in the canton. In fact, a golden crown. I wondered if it
signified a Dutch sailing club, with its own defaced ensign. The
owner very kindly explained, ‘You could call it a club, I suppose.
We are members of the Dutch Royal Family.’
Fascinating game, this sailing lark.
Ted Vary
12
CSC HOSTS FINN
NATIONALS
CLASS 4 REPORT
The 2016 Ice-breaker Series had a
good turnout of boats – 19 in all
over six races in the winter months,
which was a good achievement
considering the weather conditions.
The overall winner was Simon
Percival in his Finn. The Harbour
Icicle Open Series, organised by
Highcliffe Sailing Club, had 47
entries. The overall winner of this series was a Christchurch
Sailing Club member, Jack Arnell in his Finn, another creditable
achievement for both Jack and the Club.
Winter is now over and the 2016 summer sailing season has
commenced. As usual, I am eagerly anticipating a busy and
exciting season ahead. The dinghy summer storage has managed
to accommodate all requests for storage and the Club is now
full. This indicates an exciting and competitive sailing season to
look forward to. The recent publication of the RYA Portsmouth
Yardstick Numbers will also make it more challenging for the
RS300’s quest for success!
The season starts with the popular Easter Series which was won
by Ray New last year. No pressure for a repeat performance!
Some other forthcoming events include the Sea Inter-club
CHRISTCHURCH
SAILING CLUB
SECURITY
We begin the new season in the
hope that former success in
preventing crime affecting our
precious floating property will
continue. This is very much due to
the consistency of our efforts to
maintain a very watchful and
effective Security Patrol on the river
at all times of greatest risk. The
people who would like to commit crimes against our property
wish to do so without being seen or without being noticed. It is
up to us to ensure that we are vigilant and suspicious of
anything that could be a threat.
This year I am adding to the system of reporting by asking
patrollers to send me a text at the beginning of the patrol so
that I know that it is taking place.
There are increasing threats, way beyond concern for our
property. Our coastline is a border to a continent where there
are increasing numbers of people who wish to enter this
country or smuggle drugs, explosives or weapons into Britain.
It might sound alarmist, but if it can and, some day, will happen.
We should be aware of the possibilities and look out for any
suspicious activity or situation. A quick call to the anti-terrorism
line will be appreciated even if it turns out to have been a
mistaken concern.
There is a plan to have a meeting with the Police and Crime
Commissioner to introduce him to our efforts to keep this part
of Christchurch free of crime and ensure support from the
police to back up our activities. It has been said that marine
Series starting on 24 April, with subsequent races on 8 May,
culminating on the 22 May. Hopefully, Christchurch will win
back the trophy for overall winner in 2016.
The Finn Nationals are being held at Christchurch Sailing Club
this summer, which is always a prestigious event. We anticipate
that our strong Finn fleet will achieve great success this year as
it is on home territory.
Following the success of the social events of 2015, we plan to
organise another summer barbecue and any other suggestions
for social events would be welcomed.
Boat preparation and
maintenance are keys
to success in racing.
There are no
shortcuts! Don’t
forget the Sailing
Club’s Water Safety
Policy states that
dinghies are required
to carry a floating tow
rope at least 8 metres
long and 8mm in
diameter.
Simon Percival, winner of the Ringwood Boar
and Ice-breaker Trophies
All that remains to say is that I look forward to seeing as many
dinghy sailors as possible racing this summer.
Luke Ridout Class Captain
crime is under-reported in the Christchurch area. I believe the
reason that it appears to be so is because there is less crime
here and I'm sure that our activities have a great deal to do
with it.
There was a training session on 16 March to brief all new
members who are able to do a Security Patrol, so that I have
people to call upon to replace those who have done their stint
and deserve a break.
For some time I have been concerned that the Christchurch
Harbour Watch was not functioning in the right way, failing to
apply funds to those activities which provide security, such as
the Sailing Club and its Security Patrol. The funds raised have
been as a result of efforts by myself and other Club members,
together with the Marine Volunteer Service. Nothing has been
spent in the past year, 2015. I am determined to make a change
to the situation and have the Harbour Watch functioning in the
proper manner.
Two events where security is at high risk are the Christchurch
Food Week and Carnival Week, when the fair is present on the
Quomps. I will be asking for volunteers to patrol during the day
and during the Carnival Week, with the fireworks being a big
attraction, for a team of people to monitor our gate.
CCTV at the Club has now been extended across the Club site.
This will act as a good deterrent and could be useful in
investigating any unfortunate incident.
Finally, slap on the ‘Smart Water’ or ‘Selects DNA’! Stick on the
warning discs in places such as hatches as a deterrent and make
it clear to the thieves that it's not worth the risk!
I hope you have a happy, crime-free sailing season.
Ian Wright
13
FROM TEACHING TO TOASTIES AND
NOW RETIREMENT – CAROLE’S TALE
For over 26 years Carole Abbott has been CSC’s caterer,
providing everything from craning-in breakfasts to Christmas
Dinner Dance meals for 120. Lunches, reception buffets,
themed dinners, snacks - whatever has been needed Carole has
provided, making our Club the envy of all others in the area
whose members have enjoyed Carole’s friendly service, good
food and reasonable prices. We have indeed been fortunate, but
at the end of May Carole is retiring with our very grateful
thanks and best wishes.
Catering was not the career plan of the girl from Harrow,
whose private school did not even feature domestic science on
the syllabus. English was her first love and Carole trained as a
teacher. After two years in a primary school she spent a
summer at a PGL holiday centre accompanying children on
adventurous activities then, when the opportunity to travel
presented itself, she went to Greece as an au pair. Exploitation
of au pairs was rife in those days but Carole had good
employers and she had time to explore the country.
Cold, damp England couldn’t compete with the offer of working
on private yachts in the south of France and so 1978 saw
Carole visiting the Monaco Grand Prix and meeting James Hunt,
sailing to Corsica, seeing whales and dolphins and losing the
anchor on passage!
As a contrast, the next year Carole was the tea maker and
sweeper-upper for a company renovating houses for ex-pats,
where she met a chap called Ken who was doing the rough
plastering. We know the outcome, but there were more
adventures and challenges on the way, such as when Ken and
two friends sailed the Atlantic in a Nicholson 31 and Carole
flew out to Antigua to join them.
After more
building and boat
jobs, mixed in
with work in
hotels, Ken was
offered the
management of
the English pub
where Carole
was working. It
had no kitchen so
she would make
chilli or curry at
home and take it
The first sight of a tiger
in by bus to be
microwaved as
needed. With
no strict health
and safety rules
there was scope
for such
resourcefulness!
Carole and Ken
With ageing
parents at home
and the need to plan for a more settled future, Ken and Carole
returned to Britain, bought a house in Everton and continued
their work in the hospitality trade. It was Carole’s newsagent
brother who spotted the Royal Southampton Yacht Club advert
which brought them south in 1986 and resulted in Carole, to
her surprise, working as a full-time cook. Definitely not in the
career plan!
Carole and Ken were working for RSYC at Gin’s Farm on the
Beaulieu River, when some regular visitors from CSC suggested
that Ken help the Club out as the old steward, Jim Colley, was
ill. When he retired they were appointed as Steward and
catering franchise holder in January 1989, moving into the flat
with Sidney, the cat, and Chuggy, the dog.
When not working, Carole sailed with Ken on Ianthe, played
badminton and discovered the New Forest through dog
walking. At the age of 40 she took up riding and still rides
regularly, planning to help a friend with her ponies in
retirement.
Taking main holidays in the winter meant long-haul trips to Sri
Lanka, Borneo, Kenya, Egypt, the West Indies, USA and to India
five times. Though Botswana and the Galapagos Islands were
most spectacular, nothing could top the first sighting of a tiger
from the back of an elephant and they captured some stunning
photographs on that holiday.
In recent years Carole has worked on, despite a serious arm
injury and problems with her feet. She would like to take things
a little easier in retirement but dogs, horses and Ken’s six great
grandchildren may have other ideas about that!
Carole hopes to take up membership of the Club so she and
Ken can continue to enjoy the company of the many friends
they have made over the years.
Thank you, Carole. Your retirement is well-earned but we’ll
really miss our yummy favourite dishes. Your seafood chowder
is awesome!
FASCINATING FACTS
Things you didn’t know about Christchurch
Christchurch has only ever borne
one Olympic medallist – Pete
Allam, now Chief Executive of
Weymouth and Portland Sailing
Academy, who won an Olympic
The Olympic bench
bronze medal in 1984, sailing a
Flying Dutchman class dinghy, which he and Jonathan Richards built
at Bob Hoare’s boatyard in Jumpers Avenue.
Bob Hoare’s boatyard was also where Rodney Pattison’s gold medal
winning boats were built. Until the 2012 Olympics Pattison was the
UK’s most successful Olympic sailor, in the Flying Dutchmen class.
Colin Bungay, a long-term resident of Purewell, did much of the
construction of his boats, but he was not the CSC member of the
same name.
A commemorative bench seat was designed and installed by CSC
member Adrian Dwyer at the Splash Park on the Quomps. The wavy
base of the seat indicates the sea and the back represents the clouds
and sky. Profiles, cut from stainless steel using a highly sophisticated
water-jet technology, indicate the three Olympic medal-winning
Flying Dutchman dinghies and inset into the seat are disks marked
gold, silver and bronze.
Along the top of the seat is the name Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,
Pattison’s Christchurch-built gold-medal winning boat. The boat itself
is a prize exhibit in the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth and
each letter of the name is painted in a different colour, as it is on the
bench seat.
Pete Allam was awarded Christchurch’s Meritorious Award in 2015
but the bench is Christchurch’s only commemorative link with the
Olympics. It was ‘revealed’ by Sir Ben Ainsley, Honorary CSC
Member and Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor.
Adrian Dwyer contributed these Fascinating Facts. Have
you any to share?
14
THE BIG PROJECT
– OUR NEW TRAINING
ROOM EXTENSION
From this...
Before, during and
after – in the words
and pictures of
Bridget and
RogerAllen
... to this!
It was an interesting experience and a privilege to
be part of this project. Our thanks go to Ricci
Cobelli for his vision and research, also to
Lawrence Crapper, who was not only the Project
Leader but, together with Jim Atkins, was
instrumental in obtaining the grant funding enabling
a cost-effective building project.
I think everyone was amazed at the speed of the extension
build, which took ten weeks in total. Convincing the
equipment suppliers that the project really was on schedule
became a daily task.
Progress stages were duly recorded photographically, from
‘boys with their toys’ digging holes under the clubhouse, the
demolition of the old sundeck, moving the flagpole and fire
escape stairs, to the erection of the steel girder framework.
Some of the holes became known as the ‘Woolley Holes’ as
Nick seemed to spend a lot of time peering down the ones
he had created.
Nick’s ‘Woolley Hole’
This was followed by the roof, walls, flooring, windows,
cabling for electrics, Wi-Fi, AV and CCTV, paintwork and
carpeting. Apart from a few outstanding finishing touches, the
extension was completed in time for members to enjoy at
the Club Christmas Dinner Dance. The room has been
admired and welcomed by the Club Officers, Committees,
training teams and Club members and has been in great
demand ever since, prompting the question, ‘However did we
manage before?’
Moving the fire escape
Bridget Allen Rear Commodore
The Gaffer
Fitting the doors
The Training Room
The sundeck’s gone
Lowering the flagpole
15
CHRISTCHURCH
SAILING CLUB
RYA TRAINING CENTRE
Sally Davison
RYA CSC Principal
An RYA Training Centre for over 15 years,
Christchurch Sailing Club now has a fantastic new
training room from which we are able to run a
wide range of RYA courses for our Club members.
Our focus is on fun, safe and inspiring training
which is affordable to all our members.
Roy Brown Chief
Powerboat Instructor
For 2016 a new training room!
Fully qualified and highly experienced coaching
staff will be able to provide more RYA
shorebased courses in our new Club training
room this year. Look out for courses in basic
navigation, day skipper theory, first aid and VHF
marine radio. Dates can be found on the
website, the foyer notice board and from the
CSC Office.
RYA level 1
Displacement Courses
RYA level 3
Safety Boat Courses
We are good at what we do!
Our last three RYA inspections praised
both the standards of tuition and quality of
facilities. This is reflected in the high levels of
student satisfaction reported in student
feedback!
RYA level 2
Displacement Courses
Planing
Endorsement Courses
Discounted courses!
50% of course fees can be refunded to Club
members on completing safety boat duties.
RYA First Aid Courses
ICC Direct Assessment
and CEVNI Testing
RYA Navigation and VHF courses
16
OUR WONDERFUL CLUB!
WINTER QUIZ
Everyone I have spoken to about the completion of the new
extension to the clubhouse agrees that it has completely
transformed the place and made it much more fit for purpose.
It is already making a very great difference.
There has been a quiz running during the winter for many years
but in different formats. Our latest is non-competitive and has
increased in popularity this winter. People can turn up and make
teams of four on the night and we have a bit of fun. We meet at
8pm on alternative Wednesdays, fitting in around the Winter
Talks. The questions are usually bought from an excellent quiz
site and people chip in 50p a head to cover the costs.
Thinking about the extension in a quiet moment, I reflected
back to when I joined the Club over 35 years ago. Maybe others
can remember the chilly Friday evenings when we would huddle
around the portable gas stove, looking forward to the next
sailing season. We were all very enthusiastic sailors but the
clubhouse was not really the most welcoming of places.
Everywhere was rather drab and children were definitely not
particularly welcome. They were usually banned to a scruffy
meeting cum storage room, the Druett Room, at the end of
where the bar is now.
If we went racing in the harbour there was rarely a rescue boat
unless the wind was fairly strong. Very different from how it is
now, but there were a lot fewer of us sailing in dinghies. There
were no special events for the younger members – they just
raced with the adults. How things have changed for the better.
It was about 1982/3 that things started to improve when night
storage heating was installed. That made winter evenings so
much better, especially for the poor steward who had to
endure the chill all week long. It was about that time the ceiling
was also lowered to help retain the heat and make the acoustics
better!
At Christmas everyone wore Christmas jumpers and the funds
stretched to a glass of fizz and a mince pie and at Easter a few
spot prizes of Easter-themed confectionery.
Numbers have varied each time but the average is five teams of
four, although at one quiz before Christmas we had 32 people
and had to print extra copies of the fun picture round. The
questions vary, but everyone who comes has enjoyed the
quizzes and we have also attracted a few new members.
My thanks go to Mary McCann, who is usually our question
master and, with increasing numbers attending, has now
progressed to using the microphone!
So, if you fancy a winter mid-week night out to test your brain
cells (a bit), do look out for next year’s dates. We usually
resume in early November.
Di Kerr (Organiser)
From that time the facilities have been steadily developed with
all the Flag Officers in succession, and their committees, leaving
a legacy of improvement to the building, the environment and
equipment, including rescue boats. In recent years these gained
a higher profile as more money was invested.
However, while the Flag Officers and committees were busy
making improvements this had the knock-on effect of making
more activities possible. When I joined we had a racing
programme for dinghies and cruisers and the latter held a few
rallies a year, the best attended of which was the Cherbourg
Rally at Whitsun, when about 20 – 30 boats would cross the
Channel. The social calendar was very busy but that was about
all there was. If one raced a dinghy, even on quite windy days,
you were expected much of the time to be self-sufficient. I have
vivid memories of sailing my Scow in about a F6 and at the
bottom of the harbour, along with Mike Furneaux, almost
completely filling with water. Luckily, I had an anchor, which
Mike and I hung on to while we bailed. Fortunately Derrick was
not sailing and did come to rescue us in the early Nannie, just as
we had finished bailing.
Now there is just so much happening that the Club is buzzing
with activity and not just with people looking after their own
boats. You will have read in the magazine about many of the
activities, but they do not run themselves and many of them do
not involve the Club officials to make them work. It is this
enthusiasm for making things happen in order to promote our
Rule 1 that really makes OUR Club the best one around. . .
We are so very lucky.
Diana Cobden
MONDAY CLUB’S BEEN PAINTING
This amiable group of volunteers was once again in action early
in the season. We received an anguished request for a
demarcation line for the Winter Bosuns, in the long boat shed,
with words of warning incorporated. First there was an exercise
in printing large letter outlines and cutting out paper stencils,
then laying them out on the carpet at home to ensure there
were no unfortunate spelling mistakes. Spray-painted in white,
the warning looked very convincing and was completed at short
notice.
Work on the Training Room extension had begun and the mast,
which flies the Club pennant, had been removed. An urgent
Christmas Quiz Night
request resulted in a team being gathered together to clean,
sand and paint it white then later we assisted, with words of
advice, in erecting it in a new position.
The wall beneath the Steward’s flat was the next task, black this
time. This was done in two sessions, as we encountered some
rotten wood paneling. Oh, the bollards too, almost forgot them.
Yes, you have guessed it, white paint again - too windy to use
the florescent spray at the time.
Next it was the turn of the starter’s hut. This was given a fresh
coat of white inside, tidied up outside with a coat of preserver
on the outside to come. Then, work on the balcony.
This year it seems to have been nothing but painting, and mostly
in either black or white. Oh, I forgot, there was some wood
preserving in between. Looking forward to a change from
painting? Oh no! There is, for each one of the team, antifouling
to come. Ah, but what a relief, at least it should be a different
colour!
The Club is fortunate to have volunteers who are so loyal and
devoted to doing a good job for the benefit of all the members.
Long may it continue.
Ian Wright
Black ... and white
17
CSC
SOCIAL
SCENE
‘Who du
n it?’ A m
urder to
solve
It has been another busy autumn and winter social season at the
Club. A very successful Bingo and Curry Evening in October
was followed in November by that good old perennial Rollo’s
Quiz, but this time with added Fizz and Cheese.
as
t Christm
Carols a
ckett
Chris and Jane Lo
Christmas festivities kicked off with a sold-out Christmas
Dinner Dance followed by a very well attended evening of
Carols around the Tree and the Christmas Draw. The
Christchurch Sailing Club Philharmonic Choir came into its
own, making a really good sound. The theme for our New
Year’s Eve Party was a Masked Ball, for which everyone made a
great effort, with some tremendous masks on show. All three
events were enhanced by the splendid new Training Room
facilities, finished on schedule and just in time!
over dinn
er
Burns’ Night singalong
For Burns’ Night Carole put on traditional haggis and we
enjoyed some Scottish music and prose. There was a special
moment when somebody started singing Loch Lomond, quite
quietly. The room gradually took up the tune until everybody
was singing for all they were worth – and in tune. Once again
the Choir showed what it could do.
In February we held a 1920s Murder Mystery Party, assisted by
James Coakes of Bournemouth Murder Mystery. This time we
tried an American Supper which went really well.
Notwithstanding some pretty dubious acting, everybody had an
excellent time.
Paul Moores’ mas
k
was a winner …
An ABBA Tribute Band provided the entertainment at the
Craning-In Disco on Saturday 2 April – it proved popular and
was great fun.
ABBA disco night
We have already planned ahead with a Hallowe’en Craning-Out
Disco on 29 October, a Sea Shanty Evening (another
opportunity for the Choir) on 19 November, the Christmas
Dinner Dance on 10 December, Christmas Carols and Draw
on 16 December, the New Year’s Eve Party, of course, on
31 December and Burns’ Night on 28 January. Put the dates in
your diary now.
We are also planning, with the Sailing Committee, to put on a
Club Open Day early in the 2017 sailing season. Watch out for
more news about this.
n Cox’s elegant
…. and so was Ja
creation
You will have seen from the Commodore’s Newsletter that the
Social Committee is looking for some new members to step
forward at the AGM this year. Please do consider it. It is hard
work but very rewarding and great fun. Do speak to any
member of the Social Committee for more information.
Emily Dancey an
d Ben Cordon
Martin Dancey
Chairman, Social Committee
Derrick, Ali and
Conor playing at
Burns’ Night
Keith Barkway
Fun at the Christmas Dinner Dance, thanks to the Social Committee
DIRECTORS: G.H.E. ELKINS S.F. ELKINS M.J. ELKINS
YACHT MOORINGS, STORAGE & CHALETS
TIDESREACH • 18 CONVENT MEADOWS • THE QUAY • CHRISTCHURCH • DORSET BH23 1BD
TEL/FAX: (01202) 483141 VAT NO. 187 5621 31
We are a long standing family business taking
pride in treating each boat as if it were our own.
Excellent storage and mooring facilities
with competitive prices in an idyllic location
in Christchurch.
Tel: 01202 483141
Email: [email protected]
19
CSC ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
OVERALL WINNER
The categories and winners of the 2015-16 competition were:
Junior
Tom Browett
Up Close
Joy Watson
Looking Up Steve Walder-Davis
Messing About
on the River Hilary Dancey
WINNER – CLOSE-UP
Runner-up Hannah Bowden
Runner-up Frances York
Runner-up Frances York
Runner-up Lynn Hellberg
Overall winner – Looking Up Steve Walder-Davis
Thanks to our independent judges, who had a tough job in
selecting the winners, and well done to all the entrants.
Looking up – Steve Walder-Davis
JUNIOR WINNER
Although the number of entrants was down this year, the judges
commented that the standard was higher once again. The only
comment they made about improvements was that of
presentation. Some prints would have been better with the
uneven white surrounds trimmed. Don’t forget that there is a
suitable cutter in the office if needed.
All the winning images can be viewed on the Club website.
Joy Watson
MESSING ABOUT
ON THE RIVER
The themes for the 2016-17 competition are:
Action on the Water
Seascape
Technology in Use
Junior – any topic
Roger Allen
Tom Browett
CSC PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP
The group is run by Roger Allen, who is a professional
photographer. We met nearly every Tuesday afternoon over
the winter and about 15-24 members attended each week.
The sessions were an enjoyable mix of talks on theory and
practice, supplemented by practical sessions and field trips, such
as photographing autumn fungi in the New Forest. They
covered the artistic arrangement and content of shots and
lighting as well as how to get the camera settings right.
Photography is one of those subjects where the more you learn
the more you find you still need to learn and where theory and
practice are equally important – quite a lot like sailing.
In addition to Tuesday critique sessions, the group exhibited
their work on the temporary construction wall in the clubhouse
before Christmas and at a public exhibition in February in the
Regent Centre. Some of us have even been lucky enough to sell
some prints.
WINNER – Hilary Dancey
Towards the end of the
season we also met for
a photoshoot with
veterans at the
Bournemouth Memorial
Homes to capture
images for their website
upgrade.
It has been an
interesting winter and,
Roger prepares to photograph fungi
hopefully, our skills will
have improved enough
to make a difference in the summer photo challenge!
The group’s abilities cover a wide spectrum and the type of
camera is rarely a barrier to improvement. So, if you want to
improve your photos in sociable and supportive sessions, why
not come along next winter?
Steve Walder-Davis
20
THE JUNTA’S JOTTINGS
CSC ART GROUP
Pamela Bedford, Carol Oakley, Ian Wright and Stan Evans for
achieving sales.
By the time you read this, the usual winter programme of Art
Group activities will have paused in favour of getting boats on
the water. This is no excuse for packing away the brushes,
however, as you can paint afloat just as easily as in the
clubhouse! Perhaps photography and sketching will take over.
The group has had another productive winter under the benign
dictatorship of Howard M-C and his henchmen, Frank and Mike.
We regularly muster up to 20 dabblers, both beginners and the
more experienced. We started the winter with a joint
exhibition with the Photographic Group on the temporary
bulkhead in the Club whilst the building works progressed.
We think this effort surprised
many Club members, who
don’t normally get to see our
work, and showed the
amazing depth of talent in the
Club.
As usual, we had our annual
winter exhibition at the
Regent Centre, which was
also well received.
Congratulations to
We know that some of our members are with local clubs such
as the Highcliffe Arts Fellowship and the Hengist Group. This is
a good way to keep the hobby going and there is plenty of
advice for those looking in that direction. Have a chat to Mike
Gardner, Meg Fitchett or Joyce Lawrence, who will be able to
tell you when the local exhibitions are on. Frank has his usual
busy schedule with the Professional Maritime Art Group. Their
next exhibition is at Denbies Wine Estate in the Surrey Hills
(Dorking) from 23 May until 5 June. The Estate is well worth a
day’s visit, so come up and see for yourself.
The artists’ supplies industry has changed radically in recent
years and the mail-order service these days is magnificent. Go
on the web for Ken Bromley Art Supplies, who have a £5 off
spring deal for orders over
£55, and Lion Supplies, who
are also competitive. It’s often
worth getting together for a
bulk order.
Thanks, everyone, for your
support and look out for next
winter’s schedule, starting the
Wednesday after craning out.
The temporary art and photo display in the clubroom
CONNNECTIONS
What is the link between the following – Lighthouses, a
16th century English King and Retirement Homes?
Well, like all quiz questions, it’s easy when you have the answer.
They are all services provided by Trinity House. ‘Who or what
is Trinity House?’ could well be the next question.
Let me explain. The Corporation of Trinity was founded by
Royal Charter granted by King Henry VIII in 1514. The exact
function of the Charter is lost in time, but essentially it is a
private company with no links to the government of the day.
This Charter granted the right to build lighthouses, beacons
and navigation marks and to charge a fee, known today as
Light Dues.
Light Dues are paid by all commercial vessels and registered
fishing boats visiting or operating from UK ports. On a large
ship this will amount to several thousand pounds. These dues
are revised each year and set at a level that covers the entire
cost, consequently there is no cost to the taxpayer. A
suggestion was made some years ago to include private pleasure
craft, but this was never pursued. The difficulty in collection was
possibly the main reason.
As a matter of interest, Trinity House is known as the General
Lighthouse Authority of England, Wales, Channel Islands and
Gibraltar. Scotland and the Isle of Man are in the care of the
Northern Lighthouse Board. Ireland, both north and south, is
serviced by the Commissioners of the Irish Lights.
That covers lighthouses and the 16th century English King.
Not so well known is the charity work of the Corporation.
Money generated from the Corporation’s own resources is
available to the charity sector. These funds are used for such
things as supporting sea-going Cadet Officers, grants to other
nautical charities and retirement homes at Walmer in Kent.
To complete the picture, the whole is governed by a Court. At
the head sits the Master, an honorary title until recently held by
HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh. At present it rests with HRH,
The Princess Royal.
The Ruling Junta, Howard,
Frank and Mike
The day to day operations are run by the various Wardens,
who are also Elder Brethren, of whom there are 31 and who
are elected for a variety of reasons. There are always one or
more members of the Royal Family plus senior politicians and
other people in public life who have an interest in the work of
the Corporation. As examples, Sir Winston Churchill and the
Duke of Wellington were Elder Brethren in their time. Lastly,
are the 300 Younger Brethren who have no official function but
are expected to attend the annual Court.
For those who like
detail, the 1514
Charter was
granted to:The Master Wardens
and Assistants of the
Guild Fraternity or
Brotherhood of the most
glorious and undivided
Trinity and of St Clement
in the Parish of Deptford
Strond in the County of
Kent.
Ken Gordon
St Anthony Lighthouse, Cornwall
OLD SALT'S MUSINGS
RYA ON THE BALL
On Christmas Eve I finally got a message from the RYA that
the 1754 shipping forecast for 25 December WAS TO BE
DELAYED BY 2 MINUTES AND 30 SECS.
But what's the value in that when the thing is already 262
years out of date?!?!
Perhaps their carrier pigeon was a dodo.
21
TALES FROM THE ARCHIVES
‘To know where you are you must know from whence you
came.’
Stan Evans uncovers interesting snippets from the Club
archives – The Club piano, the Ladies’ Cup and
Hypothermia.
In the 1950’s, bridge, dancing/music evenings etc were popular.
On one dance night the band was surprised to find that the
event had been moved to Grimmery Point, on the marshes
down the harbour.
There is no record of how the refreshments arrived but they
did need a piano, so the instrument was loaded from the Club
quay straight on to Nannie ll as foredeck cargo. The sight,
complete with a group of musicians seated in the cockpit in
their evening wear, must have been a surprise to passing sailors.
The dance was enjoyed by those who managed to get there.
However, when it came to lifting the piano back on to Nannie
for the return journey this proved too big a challenge so it was
simply pushed into the river and taken in tow!
Needless to say, the piano was never the same again. The
Commodore and the Committee were not amused.
The second story is about past adventures in a trophy race.
One of the oldest trophies raced for regularly in the harbour
each year is the Ladies’ Cup, which was thought by some
members to be a race for ladies. In fact, the cup was presented
to the Club by the lady members in 1912 for a dinghy handicap
race in the harbour. This very nice rose bowl is a great trophy
to win and the race has
always been wellsupported.
However, during the
latter part of the last
century the format for
Ladies’ Cup Day was
very different.
The Ladies’ Cup
The race was always
scheduled to be held on
EULALI a Christchurch Classic
During our summer cruise to South Brittany last year, Val and I
went up the Odet River through the resort town of Benodet,
heading for one of our favourite anchorages, the Anse de
Combrit. Coincidently, a classic yacht regatta was taking place
with many beautiful boats, such as the recreated 1898 Fife
designed Pen Duick and the old 12 metre France. However, what
really made me take a second look was seeing an old, familiar
Christchurch, Rossiter-built yacht on one of the local moorings,
not apparently involved in the regatta but looking as good
as new.
This was not a Curlew or Pintail or any of the standard
production models, but a one off and probably one of Hugh
Rossiter’s proudest achievements. Eulali was a modified Kim
Holman Twister with an attractive counter stern, the
appearance enhanced by a varnished hull. Built in 1967 by the
yard, which was then known
as Purbrook Rossiter, she was
taken up to London for the
Boat Show at Earls Court
where she was exhibited
afloat in the pool. Before the
show Eulali was awarded the
prestigious Lloyds Yacht
Trophy for the finest standard
of construction of all the
boats, worldwide, built to
Eulali moored in the Odet River
Lloyds’ Class that year.
the day the Club had its annual lunch party. The race was held
in the morning with the lunch after the race, which was started
and finished at the clubhouse. However, unlike the usual race
starts, the dinghy helms would wear outlandish clothes, some
helms with top hats and other weird head gear and, perhaps,
sporting a dummy red nose.
Not satisfied with that hilarity, the aim of the helms would be to
see how many others they could soak with water before the
race started. The OK helms had an advantage, as the washingup bowls they used as giant bungs in the access holes of the
cockpit bulkhead could also deliver a large quantity of water in
one go. However, once the start gun had sounded everyone
was determined to win the Cup.
Afterwards there would be over 100 diners sitting down to a
superb meal of fresh Christchurch salmon, efficiently and
cheerfully prepared by the Club social committee. The men
wore their black ties, or lounge suits and the ladies were superb
in their attractive and elegant dresses. The wine soon flowed
and a very lively lunch was had by all, to be followed by a
presentation by the Commodore’s wife to the winner of the
Ladies’ Cup
On one Ladies’ Cup day the lunch was scheduled to be held
before the race. After the lunch some of the helms were
perhaps a little too inebriated to be out on the water larking
about in sailing dinghies. In fact, one Albacore helm barely made
it back to the Club because he had hypothermia and had to be
helped to the changing room. After a good dry rub down and a
drink of hot coffee he was back on form again. No lasting harm
done.
However, the General Committee quite rightly took a serious
view of the whole fiasco which could have had a serious result.
No more fun and games on the water before the Ladies’ Cup
race and, sadly, the annual Club luncheon has now ceased to
be held.
Finally, about a century ago:The Long Boat Shed was built in 1911 at a cost of £198 and in
1914 the Club subscriptions doubled to a guinea, £1 1s 0d,
(£1.05) per year.
Stan Evans
When we were back in
Christchurch I took a
photograph of the yacht to
Charlie Rossiter to confirm
that there could be no
mistake. He had been
unaware of her present
location. It is probably not a
bad thing that she has found a
home in France, as she is
clearly still beautifully
maintained and we know that
the French value classic
wooden boats more than
people do in this country.
When talking to Charlie, he
told me that Eulali helped him
to get his first proper job.
Eulali at the 1967 Boat Show
During the Boat Show a wellknown character, Captain
‘Boozy’ Bennington, came aboard the boat with some of his
friends. He was in charge of Lloyds’ Yacht Department.
Subsequently, when applying for a job with Lloyds, Charlie was
asked which surveyors he knew. The mention of that name and
an explanation of the circumstances changed the whole
atmosphere of the interview and he got the job.
John Roantree
22
FIRST AID ON BOARD
With the onset of a new sailing season we are all, no doubt,
checking our winches, servicing our engines and checking all the
myriad of bits and pieces which will ensure a trouble-free
season on our boats. Does your annual check list, though,
include a check on the content and suitability of your first aid
kit? Is it half-empty, are the medications out of date or have you
completely forgotten to put it back on board?
First aid does not just include major accidents such as
hypothermia and broken bones but includes such common
ailments as headaches and sea sickness. So, a well-considered
and stocked first aid box is not only a real necessity but a very
useful piece of kit.
Firstly, the container should be fit for purpose. This can be
anything from a ‘Tupperware’ box to a zipped, linen bag or
custom-made box. However it would be helpful to label the
container so that all know what is in it. It is also important to
let your crew and visitors know where the first aid kit is
housed. Remember to take it ashore when you lay-up, to
reduce deterioration through damp, and check expiry dates
when putting it back on board.
It is also recommended that a
first aid manual be kept with
the kit. Although £11 seems a
lot to pay for 26 pages, ‘First
Aid At Sea’ is a spiral-bound
publication with laminated,
water-resistant pages and is
aimed at the boating market.
A more comprehensive
manual is the St John
Ambulance ‘First Aid Manual’
(pub Dorling Kindersley),
which is much the same price
but nearly 300 pages of wellillustrated advice. It must be a bit disconcerting to patients if,
when faced with a common medical emergency, their doctor
reached for the text book to see what to do. Similarly, common
boating emergencies should be considered in advance and the
relevant procedures studied. The RYA First Aid course is well
worthwhile, containing information relevant to boating
incidents, and is run at our Club.
Sun Protection – Sun screen might not be thought to be a
first aid remedy but we all know that, without it, first aid will be
needed, so high factor sun cream should be available on board.
After sun is also a good idea to carry.
Dressings – A
good selection of
waterproof plasters
to protect minor
injuries is
worthwhile to keep
lesions dry and
clean. However,
most cuts and
scrapes will do
much better if left
Sea sickness glasses
open to the air to
keep dry, so
plasters should be taken off as soon as practical. Non-stick dry
dressings are also useful for minor burns or blisters. A
triangular bandage is also recommended although I think it
unlikely that it will ever be used unless there is a significant
injury on board and someone who is well-qualified to treat it.
Crepe bandages can also give comfort to strained or sprained
joints but ensure that any bandage is not applied too tightly.
This is an example of a procedure that can be looked up in the
book before applying!
Allergies – Modern antihistamines are non-sedating and should
be carried for allergic rashes and reactions. They can be used
for intensive itching caused by insect bites. The older
antihistamines such as Piriton can cause extreme drowsiness so
should not be used by people in charge of the boat.
Other medications – The sun can cause cold sores to erupt
so keep some cold sore cream such as Zovirax. Antibiotic eye
cream can be purchased without a prescription from a
pharmacist but care should be taken not to misdiagnose eye
conditions and treat incorrectly. Similarly, those prone to
urinary tract infections may need to carry Trimethoprim with
them – again a pharmacist can supply these if the condition is
recurrent. Anti-diarrhoea medications such as Imodium and
rehydration medications are useful although tummy upsets are
usually best treated by allowing them to run their course.
Indigestion tablets are as effective as the liquid and take up a
fraction of the space.
You should ensure that all your on-board guests have their
relevant medications with them stored in a dry place. The friend
with asthma who does not have their inhaler because ‘I only get
asthma when I am in contact with cats’ is possibly at risk. There
may be something else on board to which they do not know
they are allergic and which could cause an asthma attack very
quickly.
Emergencies – A ‘space blanket’ costs very little but can be
literally a life saver after immersion in cold water or even after
spending too long on deck in cold conditions. It is essential to
use these properly. Warming up a person too quickly can cause
serious problems. A resuscitation mask is also very cheap and
even if you cannot use it, there may be someone else on board
who might.
So, what should the first aid kit contain? Below is a list which I
think is not unreasonable to keep on a boat travelling across the
Channel. Going further afield you may want to consider a more
comprehensive kit. If you have younger people on board, then
children’s medications should also be included.
Finally, be aware of what is in your kit, know if your crew has
any medical conditions of which you should be aware (it is not
good news to find your look-out is colour blind!) and
remember that medical advice is always on hand through
Channel 16, if needed.
Analgesics – Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are good pain killers
and are also used for the relief of temperatures. Remember you
must not give aspirin to children nor aspirin or Ibuprofen to
those with asthma.
Sea sickness – Prevention is always better than treatment. We
all have our methods to reduce seasickness but if someone is
prone to it then prophylactic remedies should be taken well
before setting off – preferably six to eight hours before. Over
the counter remedies are good but perhaps not as good as
Scopolamine patches, which are stuck behind the ear and last
three days. Your doctor can provide you with a prescription for
these but you will usually have to pay privately as the NHS does
not rise to paying for nautical hobbies! Sea bands can be very
effective to some and I have had great success with sea sickness
glasses which might not look very fashionable but are very
effective for someone who suddenly feels sea sick.
Graham Archard
Resus-aid mask
23
‘THE GREAT JIM MOTTRAM’
If you cruise far and wide you are almost certain to meet
someone who knows Jim Mottram, having met him in a
distant port or up a secluded creek. If you surf the net
you may also come across him, too. This article is from the
Irish edition of Afloat and is used with the permission of
the Editor.
Dunmore East very much wants to be a hospitable port and can
do it very well too, given half a chance. Harry McLoughlin was
talking enthusiastically about some of the fine boats and great
sailing people he has welcomed since he took over as
Dunmore's Harbour Master in
the Spring of 2013, and from
2014 he best remembers the
great Jim Mottram.
So he arrived into Dunmore East early in the season, intending
to go up the Barrow, across Ireland on the Grand Canal, then
back to the sea again via the Shannon through Limerick. But
after going up to Waterford from Dunmore, he reckoned the
early-season surge down the River Barrow would make things
unnecessarily difficult, so he cruised right round the south coast
of Ireland and went up the Shannon Estuary to Limerick. There,
he unstepped his mast, and motored north through Lough Derg
and into the Grand Canal at Shannon Harbour, then right
across Ireland to swoosh down the Barrow – which becomes
even more lovely the further south you go – until, in New Ross,
the manager of the Three Sisters Marina John Diamond set him
up again and on he went down
to Dunmore East for a warm
welcome and a celebration of
his near-circuit of Munster.
Harry McLoughlin discovered
Jim had a special birthday
coming up while he was in
Dunmore East, so he and his
wife took the lone skipper
along to the Waterford
Harbour Sailing Club for a
party to celebrate both the
birthday and the success of his
cruising since he'd last been
with them.
Jim cruises alone in his pretty
little Elizabethan 23,
Reservation, out of
Christchurch in Dorset, just
outside the west entrance to
the Solent. Over the decades
he has logged some
formidable voyages, down to
Spain and round Britain three
times. But, as his boat has a
lifting keel which reduces the
draft to 2ft 6ins, for 2014 he
decided that a cruise to
Ireland with a spell on the
inland waterways would make
for a change.
And which birthday was Jim
Mottram celebrating? His 80th,
of course.
Jim and Reservation on the Irish canals
OLD SALT’S MUSINGS
NOT THE NAVITUS WINDFARM
The Little Tern needs protecting.
So does the Common Tern and
the Sandwich Tern. In the UK
they are classed as Species of
Conservation Concern. In the
USA they are an Endangered
Species. It is an offence to kill or
capture them or to damage or
destroy their breeding or nesting
sites. The UK populations flee
our winters down to the southern hemisphere, often averaging
30 knots during their long nocturnal flights.
As you read this, there are internationally important
populations of these birds breeding nearby along our local
coasts, stretching from the Isle of Purbeck in the west to
Bognor Regis in the east. This area is particularly important to
the birds because much of the sea around here is the ideal
habitat for their foraging, which they do primarily by plunge
diving for fish in summer during their breeding period. They go
out from and return to their nest on every foraging trip and this
means that they need to operate as close to their colony as
they can. As a result, the waters around their nesting sites have
to be considered for protection and, to achieve this,
internationally recognised Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are
being established, some in our favourite cruising grounds.
There are already SPAs within the Greater Solent area that are
designated for breeding terns. These are at Chichester and
Langstone Harbours for the Sandwich and the Little Tern, the
Solent and Southampton Water for all three species and
Pagham Harbour for the Little Tern. The fourth associated SPA
lies within Poole Harbour (Common Tern and Sandwich Tern).
The proposed new SPA covers the area that the breeding terns
use for foraging during April – September. The new
Be inspired this summer and
try somewhere new.
recommendations
will include the
sub-tidal areas
not currently
encompassed in
the existing SPAs.
The landward
boundary will be
at the mean low
water line that
abuts any existing
SPA where terns
are already a
Proposed local S.P.A.
feature.
Elsewhere, the
landward boundary will be the mean high water line so as to
afford the birds protection within the inter-tidal areas, for
example at Portsmouth Harbour.
A preliminary assessment of the potential economic impacts
of classifying the Solent and Dorset coast areas has been
completed. This concluded that the extra costs imposed by the
new site’s classification were relatively low as the site covers
important foraging areas already covered at existing SPAs and,
therefore, there will only be the cost of additional monitoring.
Also, as part of this consultation, Natural England has been
liaising with Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group
(CHOG) to get up to date information on how these attractive
birds use Christchurch Harbour and its surrounds.
And the punch line is that the sailing community need has no
concerns about the establishment of these protected sites.
Natural England studies show that leisure sailing will have no
adverse impact upon the breeding and feeding colonies along
our shores. So, no – this is not another Navitus – and it will
help preserve these annual visitors to our shores, thereby
retaining one of the features that makes our particular stretch
of water such a rich wildlife habitat.
24
MONKEYS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Or what some Club members get up to
when there’s no sailing!
In February I went on the trip of a lifetime as a volunteer to
Riverside Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre near Phalaborwa, South
Africa. This is a Centre which takes in orphan Vervet monkeys
and baboons, then cares for them until their final release three
or four years later. The Centre relies on volunteers to help
look after the babies, who are so like human babies and with
similar needs.
The Centre has been running since the early 90’s and started
with one orphan monkey. At present there are over 40 babies
and about a dozen baby baboons. In the enclosures are many
Vervets and baboons going through the various stages before
their final release into safe, wild areas.
Our day started
at 05:30, when
we undertook a
huge range of
jobs including
making up the
bottles and
feeding the
babies, bathing
them, preparing
their food - fresh
fruit and
vegetables, bread,
corn meal and
Di and the monkeys
porridge. We
were then kept
busy cleaning out cages and small enclosures, washing down the
clinic area, harvesting grass and other plants for the monkeys to
eat. Then it was on to taking baboons for a walk, putting
nappies on the smaller baboons and monkeys who slept in
baskets in with the volunteers and, the best job of all, playing
with the monkeys and baboons.
There were some social highlights such as the visit to the
Junction, a local restaurant about 10 minutes away, where we
saw two hippos wallowing in a pool, the Saturday night
barbecue or Braai (South
African style) and the
traditional Potjie, where
we cooked pots of food on
the fire and which was
delicious. We also visited a
cheetah sanctuary and saw
rhino, wail dogs and ibex
there. Eight days was not
enough but it was an
amazing taster and I will be
doing a Winter Talk, with
photos, next winter to
share more of my
experiences.
Di Kerr
Orphaned baby Vervant monkeys
THE RNLI GROUP
The Christchurch and East Bournemouth
RNLI fund raising group, which includes the
Christchurch Sailing Club, had a good year in
2015 when they raised a total of £9014.
There was a special Flag Day held in the town, well supported
by Ros Crocker, Keep Fit ladies and other members of the
Club, which raised £386. Selling Christmas cards and souvenirs
finished another successful year. Pat Lokatis, Julie Marston, Eric
Davies, Mike Goodey, Ian Wright and Stan Evans, aided by the
local RNLI supporters, raised £442.
OLA AND WELCOME TO COSTA
DEMENTIA …
… where you forget all your troubles ... and your name, address
etc. etc. and where, like the Sword of Damocles hanging over
our heads, the great question of our time lies unanswered. . .
‘What have I come into this room for?’
Here on the Costa the days are long and sunny, the inmates, of
various ages ranging from 55+ to 85+, fight against senility and
other more common diseases by doing aquarobics, boules,
cycling, keep fit, walking, climbing, bridge etc, and who amuse
themselves at the end of the day with wine (€1.95 per bottle)
and gin and tonics, whilst playing card games such as foot and
mouth (don’t ask!!) and canasta.
We have every intention of wintering over there and
summering back home. To date this has gone well and we’re
finding our feet, but unfortunately we’ve had to come back this
February in order to sell the house and buy another one. So,
my report on ‘what’s going on’ and ‘what we’ve done’ is a bit
sparse, but I’ll fill you in next time. Meanwhile. . .
Close by, in the town
of Puerta Mazarron,
there is a weekly
Sunday market which
has in excess of 100
market stalls selling
pots and pans, clothing,
leather stuff, carpets,
Fabulous fresh spices
shoes, you name it. . .
it’s here! But you must
be prepared to barter, though how you barter downwards for a
belt at €1 I do not know! Its food market is full of locally grown
produce and there is a fabulous fresh spices stall that you can
smell from a good 20 metres. There is the ever present coffee
bar, where coffee and brandy are, as expected, €1 each.
This town gears itself for the Spanish holidaymakers, to make a
profit during August when the temperature reaches 45 degrees
or more. It’s us ‘silver surfers’ who keep it going from
September to April. So, there’s plenty of eating out at lunchtime
and grabbing a ‘comida del dia’ of four courses and drink for
€8.50. There’s coffee and brandy (€2) on the esplanade and
several Chinese restaurants which have a fixed price of €9.50
for the ‘As much as you can eat’ menu running all day. No
wonder everybody exercises.
The surrounding countryside is fantastic. There are several
Sierras within an hour’s drive, and which give you wonderful
and interesting walks. The views are stunning and from the top
you can see inland across the plains and out to sea. On one
walk you climb up a long winding track and over the headland,
coming down into a totally private sandy bay as this is the only
way in – very Secret Seven!
Sorry there’s not too much to report this time as we’ve had to
come home early, but next time expect a full report with
photos.
So, it’s Hasta La Vista mis Amigos.
John Moss
To date, the regular Coffee Mornings have raised £503 but the
meetings will have finished by the time this report is published.
They will start again on the first Thursday in the month in
September 2016. They are nice social functions and the public
and Club members are cordially invited to join us.
Christchurch Council has authorised a RNLI Flag Day in the
town on Saturday 30 July 2016. The Club is responsible for the
administration and I would be must grateful if a lot of members
will support us that day, in particular the cruiser guys.
Stan Evans
25
PROFILE – ANNE DEW
Frances York has interviewed Anne Dew, whose numerous moves in
England and Africa created interesting and unusual opportunities.
Anne is a London girl, whose father, a professional musician,
played piano with the big bands but, despite his keen efforts, she
chose art instead of music. Because of her father’s profession
the family moved often and before Anne was 11 she had
attended five different schools and lived in four different houses.
It was during her childhood that she began to keep the animals
that have been part of her life ever since.
Leaving school, Anne became a laboratory assistant before it
was pointed out that, with her affinity with children, she should
think about teaching so she enrolled at Weymouth Training
College.
She met her husband, Roger, when they were teenagers and
both enjoyed motorbikes. Anne had a Lambretta and had the
distinction of appearing on the front cover of ‘Scooter World’.
Anne’s first teaching job was on the outskirts of London, with
a class of 48 pupils, none of them particularly bright. As a
fashionably dressed young teacher, one Parents’ Evening a
mother told her she was going to give her daughter a right
telling off for saying Ann was an ‘old woman’!
Anne and Roger married and so began numerous moves as his
work in pharmaceuticals took him from London to Surrey and
then Kent, where Anne taught, and they became homeowners
for the first time. She also acquired her first dog, which she
took to school with her as it was allowed to stay in the
headmaster’s office – a more liberal attitude in those days!
After their first son was born, Roger joined ICI and was asked
to go to Kano in Nigeria. Tribal unrest was building and Anne,
then seven months pregnant with their second son, was sent
home to stay with her in-laws. On Roger’s return, work took
them to Cheshire then Berkshire, where they first took to the
water, sailing on gravel pits in a Gull dinghy.
Their third child, a daughter, arrived and they again moved out
to Africa, this time to Lagos. They remained there for about five
years, with the boys returning to boarding school in England.
Anne started teaching again, initially in a government school
before opening her own small school to prepare the children
of other ex-pats for their return to English boarding schools.
In Lagos they had a motorboat, which they used to get to
various beaches and the sailing clubs that they joined. They
sailed a GP14, while the boys, in their holidays, started in
Optimists and developed a love of sailing, which has never left
them. The sailing was in creeks, the harbour and sometimes out
to sea. It was here that Anne was involved in teaching young
children to sail Optimists. She admits that she is useless at
helming but ‘those who can, do, and those who can’t, teach’!
Junior Week 2015
One year Roger
was requested to
travel from Lagos
to Kano to close
the company’s
office and the
whole family, plus
dog, went by train
as the first
Europeans for a
considerable time
to make the trip.
There was goodnatured criticism
from the Nigerians
on the train as the
cook on board
toned down the
curry especially for
them.
Anne Dew
Back in Lagos, Anne began breeding German shepherd dogs for
the Nigerian Police. The Dog Master placed puppies with expats as he thought that a Nigerian family would eat the daily
bucket of food and the dogs would go hungry. He also believed
that they were more socialised and Anne’s dogs even went to
the beaches on their boat.
Roger’s work took them to Johannesburg and again they owned
two different homes and two more dogs as well as cats. Anne
taught in a prep school, which her sons attended, as all three
children had chosen to stay there to continue their education.
The school was considered to be quite liberal for the time as
the headmaster took in a few African pupils despite the
apartheid system. Anne also taught at an unofficial night school
for Africans, which was raided and shut down. Fortunately, she
had been forewarned and was not there at the time, but she
was made aware that her telephone was being tapped and that
she was being watched. This was accepted as being just part of
life at a challenging time in South Africa.
After over thirteen years living and working abroad they felt it
was time to return to England and the home they already
owned in Highcliffe. They joined CSC and bought Humbug,
which the whole family enjoyed sailing, and later Roger sailed a
Scow. Roger opened his first retail pharmacy in Christchurch so
it was back to teaching for Anne, her last eight years as a parttime special needs teacher to two profoundly deaf boys who
blossomed under her tuition, which she found very satisfying.
The Dews moved again, firstly to Bransgore and then to their
present home in the New Forest. They also joined the
Lymington Town Sailing Club, where Anne became Rear
Commodore, Social, for a time.
Retirement finally beckoned, which now allows Ann to enjoy
their old property. It has been extended and has a beautiful
garden, which includes 187 trees and shrubs they have planted.
She has completed a four year City and Guild course in textile,
patchwork and quilting and has made art quilts, which are
masterpieces of storytelling, for various family and friends,
including one for each of her seven grandchildren.
Anne shares her home with Roger, two black Labradors, one
ginger cat and one Siamese kitten, having been a breeder of
Labradors and Siamese cats at one time or another over many
years. Anne believes she has moved home 23 times in 30 years
but has no plans to ever move again!
26
BAGGYWRINKLE’S BLATHERINGS –
ETIQUETTE
When
Baggywrinkle was a
novice yachty,
umpety ump years
ago, sailing, or at
least cruising, was a
different game in
many respects. Few
went as far afield as
is common now,
for the challenges
were greater.
However,
The helpful way to secure Club dinghies
yachtsmen applied
much more energy
and attention to matters of etiquette, which are now largely
forgotten.
Naturally, flag etiquette is one of the first subjects to come to
mind. If an owner belonged to more than one club there would
be some agonising about which burgee was flown superior.
When should it be the home club and when should it be the
senior (oldest) club?
Ensigns were taken down at sunset. In an anchorage it was the
duty of the senior flag officer of the senior club to take the lead.
Others then followed. Most sailors then could recognise the flag
officer burgees, which does not seem to be the case now.
Baggywrinkle still remembers hearing an officer of our own
Club, who was late lowering his ensign, being berated by a sailor
who had been waiting to follow suit.
Of course, matters of etiquette were not restricted to flags.
Sailing matters were also governed by conventions and often for
good reasons. Fortunately, it is still generally accepted that
swinging room in an anchorage is the right of the first to arrive
and there are still sailors who think it rude to overtake to
windward.
Coming alongside another boat, a competent yachtsman was
expected to minimise the demands on the crew of the other
boat. Mooring lines always had a loop spliced in one end. That
end was passed to the other boat’s crew, who would simply
drop it over a suitably placed cleat. All adjusting could then be
carried out on board the newly arrived boat without any
further disturbance to the other crew.
Similarly when sharing use of a cleat or bollard, such as when
tying up a dinghy, spliced loops were supposed to be used in
such a way that anyone’s line could be released without having
to remove the others. Basically this was by feeding the loop
from underneath, through the other loops, then over the cleat
or bollard. Sadly, the loops on the Club dinghy painters today
are not really long enough for this technique to be used on all
the cleats, even if enough members were aware of it.
No yachtsman would have dreamed of going cruising without
taking a blazer, slacks, shirt and club tie for shore-going,
especially if visiting one of the local clubs. It must be said that
these garments were not always pristine examples.
It may seem strange to people today how much importance was
attached to some of the above matters and the scorn which was
sometimes heaped on those who did not comply. To
Baggywrinkle, at least, the times do not seem that far past.
HUNT THE MEGALITHS
For many people,
cruising provides
the ideal
opportunity to do
the things they
enjoy most, sailing,
of course, but also
walking, cycling,
swimming and
A fine allee couvert
snorkelling,
sunbathing,
socialising and visiting new places. It also opens up new
possibilities and sparks off new interests.
We enjoy walking so we always go off exploring when we are
ashore. John jokes about my passion for seeking out tourist
information offices, but a walking guide, town plan and a
collection of leaflets can provide direction and focus for our
meanders. Thus it was that we developed an interest in
‘megalithiques’.
It began when we saw ‘allée
couvert’ on a French map and
decided to find out what it
was. The discovery of a
passage grave – an unwrapped
tumulus – was an interesting
surprise and we subsequently
discovered many more, some
masquerading as dolmen or
cromlech, all over northwestern France. There’s a fine
collection in the Morbihan
A small part of Les Alignements
area where they were
de Carnac
probably used more for
religious ceremonies than for burials.
Whereas most British tumuli are unexcavated and look like
grassy hillocks, the bare stones of their French cousins, if large
enough, can be explored. The Grand Cairn de Barnenez still
sports a pebbly covering over the 11 dolmen of which it
consists, but we did not find it as interesting as La Hougue Bie,
on Jersey, which is an excavated tumulus that can be entered.
Menhirs, or standing stones, can be spotted all over Brittany
with stone circles easily accessible near Camaret and La Trinitésur-Mer. The stone ‘circles’ we encountered in Scandinavia
were mainly boat-shaped and the largest, Ales Stenar, is known
as ‘the Swedish Stonehenge’.
We sailed to La
Trinité-sur-Mer
specifically to visit
the spectacular Les
Alignements de
Carnac. More than
4000 standing
stones are arranged
in lines over four
km long with a
Ales Stenar
stone circle at one
end. It was well-worth the visit and it is hard to imagine we
could find better ‘megalithiques’.
Let’s hear about any interesting discoveries you’ve made when
away sailing.
Val Roantree
27
SCILLY CONFESSIONS OF A RELUCTANT CREW …
down with a feather, we
Extracts from the log of Soldier Sailor’s
were blessed with a pod
2015 cruise
of six dolphins playing in
This is a tale for all those intrepid sailors with reluctant partners
who are nervous of doing anything outside their comfort zone
on their boats. This was me at the start of 2015, not the sailor –
the partner.
When we moved to Scotland in 2002 for work, my husband,
Chris, spent ten years dreaming of buying a boat bigger than our
previous Trident 24 so we could spend his retirement out on
the water. Me? All I requested was a boat with a door on the
toilet and no PVC cushion covers. A fridge would be nice, oh
and hot water! Never in our wildest dreams did we think that
after only one week back down South our dream boat would be
offered to us and that was it – we owned a Moody! Soldier Sailor
was ours. Yikes!
Though the principles of sailing a Moody and sailing a Trident 24
were pretty similar there were differences. Having realised we
had some relearning to do, we spent a couple of seasons
bobbing around the Solent revisiting old haunts. I knew,
eventually, that Chris would not be happy about this and would
want to go further afield… like to France.
We signed up to go on the Club rally to Weymouth, we
watched the weather carefully and Chris studied the tides. We
listened to all the advice about whether to take the outside or
inside channel at St Alban’s Point and eventually off we went.
Now I know this area can be terrible, I’ve heard the stories, lain
awake at night worrying about it but having taken everything
into account we passed through without issue. Relieved, I
settled down to enjoy the weekend and face the return journey
when it came to it – which again went without drama.
I was now slightly less
concerned (or so I kept
telling myself) about our
plans to travel down to
the West Country and
eventually join up with the
Moody 30th Anniversary
Rally in Cherbourg.
June came, the strong
winds continued, we were
Happy lady sailors
all ready to go but it was
just too terrible. We
waited and waited and waited, then finally there was a window
of opportunity and we left Christchurch for Weymouth once
more. We picked up on the grapevine that a couple of other
Christchurch boats were heading in the same direction and we
all agreed to keep in touch.
our bow wave for half an
hour! This was a truly
magical experience
which I wouldn’t have
had if I had chosen not
to join Chris on this
journey.
Next stop was
All ashore for a walk
Dartmouth where we
met our fellow CSC members – this is where the fun began!
What, more fun? Absolutely! Lovely weather, seven wonderful
days in the Isles of Scilly, engine trouble which stopped us
crossing the Channel for the Cherbourg rally and, on our way
home, a final pod of dolphins joined us at sunrise on our bows
to cheer us on our way once more – truly wonderful.
Would I do it again? Yes, of course, but I have learnt:
• To check that I was happy to make a trip after having
considered all the weather forecasts (the ones that colour
me happy and those that err on the side of caution) and only
then make an informed decision. I know my limits and Chris
does too.
• That I prefer to sail long distances in company. It’s reassuring
to have friends nearby to radio and check-in with along the
way and, frankly, it was such fun. I wouldn’t have missed it for
the world. Perhaps we were lucky with our friends, but I
don’t think so. There are so many lovely people out there on
the water you can’t help meeting one or two you gel with!
• That I prefer to hang about on a buoy than in a marina. In the
West Country there are lots of buoys, some of which will
even take over four boats! So, you can raft up alongside
friends in glorious isolation. It’s also a lot easier when you
come to leave! (See, I’m still stressy!)
• Be flexible and honest with your partner – if you have
concerns, voice them and be prepared for plans to change.
As long as you are both safe there’s still a chance for fun!
There was every possibility we would never have made it to
the Isles of Scilly and, from talking to others on our return,
we have learnt that people have been known to sit in
Falmouth and wait for weeks for a weather window to make
the crossing, but there we were on our first attempt and we
made it. We were really, really lucky, I know, and it was truly
worth it.
Where are we going this year? Fingers crossed – France! It
must be easier to hit than the Isles of Scilly!!
Mary McCann
As our cruise progressed I gained confidence in Chris. He had
remembered his navigation from years ago; he also constantly
promised me that we would never do anything if I was unhappy
– a very important point for all you intrepid sailors. If you want
us to come with you, you must keep us HAPPY! Diamond rings
etc… seriously, just safe and happy.
Isles of Scilly
Our second long crossing
was across Lyme Bay –
the weather was
incredible. Rubbish for
sailing, of course, but hot,
hot, hot and flat calm.
Portland Bill, thankfully,
was a doddle, due to the
weather and taking heed
of local advice, then, half
way across, blow me
A pod of dolphins – truly wonderful
28
IN MEMORIAM
BILL HADLEY
Bill was born in Portsmouth on
17 July 1923 into a Navy family,
and joined up himself at the age
of sixteen. The third generation
to go to sea, like his father and
grandfather, he rose to the rank
of Chief Petty Officer and his
son Malcolm, also a Club
member, and grandson David
have made it five generations of
seafarers.
Apprenticed as an artificer on airplane engines and airframes,
Bill gained a lifelong set of skills and was always handy at making
things. He served in the Fleet Air Arm and was in Egypt during
the war. When Rommel advanced across the desert he was
given a rifle and told to ‘leg it’ up to Alexandria with airplane
spares, however he had never been taught to fire a gun.
Bill married Anne in 1959. He left the Services and joined De
Havilland at Somerford as an airframe inspector, turning down
a better paid job in Bolton for the lifestyle choice of living here.
When De Havilland closed Bill moved to Flight Refuelling,
at Wimborne, where he stayed until his retirement in
January 1985.
Sailing was a huge part of Bill's life. Having learned in the
Services, he first sailed in Christchurch Harbour with the De
Havilland Sailing Club in the late 1950s. The club was based in
an old motor torpedo boat beached near to where Highliffe
Sailing Club now stands. Sailing was mainly in GP14s, which also
raced in the bay. In the early 1970s Bill bought a Mark II
Silhouette and, enjoying some interesting adventures in her, it
was suggested that he join Christchurch Sailing Club in 1976 at
the princely sum of £16. He moved up to a small Westerly the
next year and enjoyed many years cruising up the Solent and
round to Poole.
In the early 1990s Bill and Anne parted and he secured a flat on
the banks of the Stour with the opportunity to commute by
pram dinghy to the Club.
The Club was Bill's main focus in retirement and he was Sailing
Secretary for three years, overseeing the introduction of
computerised race recording and the use of a digital timer on
the start line. He also sailed a Scow and administered the
Capers for many years. Bill and Stan Evans were the original
Bosun Team, so his artificer skills were put to practical use.
Bill campaigned on development issues, which he felt would
adversely impact on Christchurch and was particularly focussed
on maintaining the public ownership of Druitt Gardens. His son
Andrew, a Poole Borough Councillor, has inherited his
campaigning passion.
Gradually there was less active sailing and Bill became involved
with RYA training, including playing the role of the old duffer
who broke down and had to be towed back by the students.
Through frequent use, Nannie was affectionately named Bill’s
Armchair.
Age crept up on Bill but his mobility buggy enabled him to
lunch at the Club most days - a reverse take on meals-onwheels, with Carole providing him with regular sustenance.
Bill was always a gadget man, with eight laptops, several tablets
and other examples of electronic technology. He took
photographs, particularly of Scows, and could usually supply
one if needed for the magazine. He surprised the editor with
his competence with Windows 8, which he used for listening to
classical music concerts around the world, and he had no
difficulty in navigating between features at the age of 90. Indeed,
last September he was considering upgrading to Windows 10.
In 40 years of active membership at the Club Bill touched many
lives, some who have now passed on themselves. He will be
missed but not forgotten.
PETER TITCOMB
1940 – 2016
A local lad, Peter was educated at St
Mark’s, Highcliffe, Brockenhurst Grammar
School and Exeter University, where he
graduated in Economics, Social Science
and Psychology and became an expert in
Real Ale!
Peter worked as a representative for
British Cellophane in London and Leicester then joined the
family business, Titcomb Fashion Sunglasses, in 1965. He was
there until it was taken over in 1990 and then continued as a
consultant to the firm.
Peter met Janet at Christchurch Hospital and they married in
Weston, Stafford, in 1965. They had two daughters, Sally and
Jenny, whose children, Alice and William, were the source of
great pleasure to Peter.
Music was a great love of Peter’s. He liked all types but was
particularly fond of jazz and sang occasionally with local bands.
Peter’s other great love was sailing, which began at an early
age. His first boat was a British Moth and he also sailed his
father’s Scow Little Slam, and later Half Pint. Blue Tit was his own
Scow followed by Tit Willow. He knew the harbour like the
back of his hand, the holes, shallows and banks, and was a very
canny racer as the Club honours boards bear witness. He
enjoyed being part of the CSC Scow team which, for many
years, raced against Yarmouth Sailing Club.
Peter was a traditionalist and a great authority on all things that
matter. He had a remarkable memory and amazing recall of
facts, events and people. His saucy stories were legendary and
very funny. For many years he could be found round the
corner of the Club bar on a Sunday evening playing liar dice
with his pals.
Sadly, Peter’s health began to decline and he needed kidney
dialysis by 2003 followed by a transplant in 2006. He spent
long periods in hospital in recent times before his death on
12 January.
Peter was always the life and soul of the party and the
crematorium chapel was packed with family and friends who
gathered to celebrate his life. Afterwards, at the Club,
reminiscences and anecdotes were shared, often with smiles
and laughter, so like the many occasions when Peter, himself,
was telling a tale. He was a larger than life character and part
of our Club’s rich heritage.
IN MEMORIAM
We are saddened by the deaths of Simon Cullingford,
husband of Marion, and Archie McGrotty, a member for
many years.
Our condolences go to their families and friends.
THE MEMORIAL BENCH
A memorial bench was presented to the Club in 2000 by John
Coldbreath’s family to remember his many happy days at the
Sailing Club.
Every summer the bench is well-positioned on our quay
overlooking Clay Pool and it is delightful to sit there to watch
the water activity. The Club working party has maintained it in
good condition and, more importantly, Club members have
treated the bench with respect.
In 2011 the family was pleased that we wanted to place
memorial plaques on the bench for other Club members
who had died. The proposal was
also approved by the Committee.
The plaques are restricted in size
to 3.75 by 1.125 inches and
currently cost £15. Any enquiries
can be directed to Stan Evans on
01425 272453.
01202 496630
Large workshop and on-site work under taken.
72 Bridge Street Christchurch BH23 1EB
Fast friendly service at competitive rates.
Installations, and fault finding using the latest diagnostic tools.
Specialists in service and repair of all Outboard Engines, large or small, 2 stroke or 4 stroke.
Special Offer, Free Winterisation with every full Service