| CONTENTS | MAY 04 | |||||
|
Latest news
|
29 & 30 May 04
The annual Pwllheli Catamaran Open incorporating the Pwllheli Raid long distance race was held over the weekend of 29/30 May. Despite all the calls to support this event the turnout of just nine catamarans was disappointing and casts a shadow of doubt over whether the event will be run next year. Those that did make the trip, including two Tornado Sports from Brightlingsea in Essex and a Hobie Tiger from Rutland, were treated to the best weather the race has been run in for some time, a perfect Force 3 to 4 and a warming sun. In contrast to some of the wild and windy conditions over the last couple of years the sailing conditions were far more pleasant this time. As with last year, Jonathan Jenkins was crewing for me and we were out to defend our trophy, however, the sight of Will Sunnocks & Mark Self with their Tornado Sport in the boat park suggested that we needed to concentrate on defending second spot. 'Defeatist' I hear you all cry however those that are familiar with Mr Sunnocks sailing successes over the years will understand that only major gear failure was likely to prevent him from regaining the trophy he won in 2002. So to the racing. Along with ourselves, Pete & Chris Gregory in the Nacra 6.0 and Adrian Mould & Simon Stannard in the Prindle 18-2 also made the trip from Dee. The wind direction promised to make this an upwind/downwind race with a couple of short two-sail reaches thrown in. We set off upwind trying to stay in touch with both the Tornado Sports and Nacra 6.0 from Bala. As we approached St Tudwalls Islands off Abersoch we were holding 4th spot ahead of an Inter 20 and the Hobie Tiger. It's always difficult locating the buoy half way across Hell's Mouth which is designed to keep the cats inshore but it was particularly difficult this year as it was 50 degrees off the bearing that had been given in the briefing. This caught the first four cats out and probably cost Will Sunnocks 20 to 30 minutes. He was going to have to sail exceptionally well to make that back up but guess what??? Rounding the islands off Aberdaron the two Tornado Sports hoisted their 25sq/m spinnis and shot off back to Pwllheli. By this stage we were 2nd on the water having a good race with the second Tornado Sport. After a short two-sail reach out of Hell's Mouth the spinnis were back up for the home leg to Pwllheli. Will Sunnocks more than made up his time winning quite comfortably but we held onto our 2nd on handicap. Sundays racing comprised two short 'round the cans' races off Pwllheli then a semi long distance race to the Bell Buoy off Abersoch and back. We scored 2,3,3 to finish 2nd overall behind the Tornado Sport of Will & Mark who finished the event with four straight firsts. After a few tuning tips from a time served Prindle 18-2 sailor, Adrian scored 6,7,5,6 to finish 6th overall with Pete 7th having to count a couple of RTD's. Overall, another great weekend but if the event is to survive, support from the local Clubs, ie. Dee and Bala must be forthcoming. Let's hope we get both the support and the weather next year. Alasdair Davidson. 26 May 04
It takes a leap of faith the venture an invitation to the general public but once again DSC hurled headlong into the void and the Gods smiled. Not only were we blessed with clear blue skies and bright sunshine but there was a benevolent wind wafting warmly from the North West. The sea state was calm and the estuary waters adopted a more inviting hue, still not the crystal pureness of a Caribbean lagoon but definitely a more friendly brown. There was enough breeze to generate a thrill but not too much to instil trepidation. Sailing prospects assembled on the shoreline watching and waiting with eager anticipation, contemplating no doubt the possible consequences of the innocuous 'disclaimer' they had just signed up at the clubhouse. The 2 safety boats and rescue team backed up safety on the water. The Beach Master kept the waiting throng under control as he strolled with authority to and fro directing willing participants to the waiting craft. Sundry items of nautical attire were banded about and exchanged furtively like an Egyptian bazaar, as each person waited their turn for a ride. Harnesses and life jackets of all shapes and sizes to match the variety of waiting crew were donned and adjusted. Like a shoal of predatory sharks helms poised at the waters edge with an impressive range of boats from the DSC stable. Big fast cats and sleek Dart 18's, the mirror and the wayfarer to mention a few. Ready to pick up and whisk off our guests one at a time and take them for a sailing taster. For my part I piloted 'Animal' a Nacra 6.0 and treated guests to what I hoped was an exciting experience. Towards the end of the available sailing time I took fellow club member and friend Michael D (trusty crew of Permanent Waves, a Dart 18) for a spin. Having spent the preceding hours duly sailing with caution and care in consideration of our guests safety, I proceeded to open her up a bit and let rip at full tilt. At my age you would expect that I had actually caught on that life it seems is actually a crash course in humility. Flying a hull, and showing off, the wind built suddenly, Animal reared laterally, roared, (OK she did not actually roar but poetic licence for effect) and we hung vertical on the cusp, both on the trapeze wires standing fully upright on the windward hull, the prospect of recovery just beyond my grasp. The mainsheet would not free and in we went. Plunging headlong through the starboard emergency exit and into the now slightly less than inviting estuary water. Capsized in full view, in a gentle breeze, I had successfully demonstrated the power of the beast and my own rank ineptitude. Oh shame of it! At the club a carnival feel was building and the brightly coloured bouncy castle was taking a pummelling as the younger members and younger guests pounded out their boundless energy. The lawn was neatly trimmed and the barbeque was assembled, burgers and sausages sizzled aromatically the smell wafting on the breeze to whet the appetite. Salad and rolls, cake and other treats lay waiting for the hungry gaggle. Like a graceful swan the DSC negotiates such waters with grace and style, meanwhile there is the powerhouse of dedicated members that are paddling away beneath giving it drive and direction. The purpose of such a venture is of course to attract new members to the DSC and of course the brilliant weather helped, but much more than that it is the willingness of DSC members to give their time and make available their boats and equipment. It is the open and friendly nature of the club, the clubhouse and the hospitality team. It is the spirit of support and help that pervade the club activities, in a cynical world DSC is a good place. I must also mention the Lady Commodore's chocolate cake. The final piece was saved for me and despite many attempts to secure its consumption by other members, I got it and it was delicious! Mark Emptage 20 May 04
On a fittingly sunny Saturday morning 1 May 2004, the President and Commodore met at West Kirby Lake, in the company of many of our Junior Members and their 'parental helpers', to receive from Sue Orrell the most generous gift of a patrol craft in memory of her husband John, who tragically died last year. John was a long standing member of the Club who devoted a good deal of his time to training youngsters to learn how to sail and who coped with handing on his knowledge without the facilities which we have today. Our new patrol craft, 'Puffin' is a 3.8 metre Bombard, keel inflatable craft, with a Johnson 8hp outboard motor, It has all the capacity we need to provide scope for racing control on the West Kirby Lake as well as providing important safety back-up when juniors are on the water. So, from all members of Dee SC, and especially from Junior members and their parents, we say a particular thanks to Sue and say how much we value your generosity which we will use to foster the training of junior sailors in the area, just as John would have wished. 16 May 04
Proud new dad Graeme. BTW the Laser is for sale. (archive photo) Six Dart 18's, a Nacra 6 and four mono hulls took to the water in the almost still air. A slight tidal draft could be induced by ferry gliding across the incoming flow. The first course was set up river and the fleet drifted towards the windless mark (I know it should be the windward mark but in these conditions it was truly windless). James predictably overcame the impossible and rounded first in the Dart fleet with Pete overshooting and clawing his way back at a statues pace. Some helms had turned and ran at the prospect of no-wind sailing, but as we all know this is the true test of skill. Following a fifth place our Commodore applied the formula of helm mass divided by the available wind power in micro Newtons hm/mN and on finding the result produced a negative coefficient he did not compete in the following 2 races. The wind did pick up to a f2 and there was enough to complete the next two races in an orderly fashion. James took 3 firsts and the series with Pete S taking 2 second places, John Hope a second a third and a fourth. Simon M claimed one third. Only one international canoe out of a possible five with new dad Graeme N helming. Welcome and congratulations to Graeme and Wei Wei on the birth of a new baby girl Emma. At a robust 10lb 12oz she will be available for crewing shortly. Animal took the Fast Cat spring series with 3 firsts the fleet captain Alasdair relegated to second and Adrian & Rick despite their bold claims secured third with DILIGAF. Steve Scott won the Mono hull series with Graeme (int Canoe) second. Rear commodore Adrian in third Our club treasurer Rob on (a Laser EPS) 'Light Fingers' (the boat not our treasure) a conservative fifth. For more details click on Results and select the fleet. An excellent choice of courses by Mike H, OD, ARO. Thanks also to the rescue crews and our Lady Commodore for the tasty apres sail food. The Past Commodores' Flag 01 May 04 I kept in touch with Bill, via sailmail, a radio email link, after our transAtlantic crossing to St Maarten during April/May 2003. He continued to Chesapeake Bay, via the Turks & Caicos islands and the intercoastal waterway, starting in Florida and had many adventures. He returned to Uk and Europe last Autumn, for a few weeks, leaving Spindrift in the USA and rejoined her in November to set off back to the Caribbean, via Puerto Rico and the BVI, amongst other places. Many friends accompanied him during this time, but I identified a window of two weeks, from the 9th January 2004, when he had no visitors and quickly booked a flight to St Maarten, where we met up once more for a bit of pottering around the Lesser Antilles. The arrival into St Maarten by air was quite different from the approach by sea in 2003! We arranged to meet by the lifting bridge at the entrance to Simpsons Bay, but missed each other for about an hour, after which, all was well and we soon found ourselves in a bar. The weather prior to my arrival had been quite wet and squally and these conditions continued during the following day, when we sailed the short distance to Anguilla in a wet and windy spell, with some quick reefing required, but by the time we arrived, it was calm again. Anguilla sells itself as the Island with exclusive hotels and great beaches, but, apart from that, the 'capital' is a one-horse town and the island is pretty featureless. Anguilla has a race week, as do most other islands, with their one design boats, which look as if they need a lot of heavy crew.
After a night at anchor and a short trip ashore, we set sail back to St Maarten, to drop off Bill's cousin, wife and son, who had been on board for two weeks, over new year. Bill and I then had to do some serious provisioning for the two weeks ahead, and when this was done, we motored round to Philipsburg to pick up fuel and water into an incredibly blue bay, where some of the old America's cup boats are raced for the tourists, who arrive in their thousands by cruise ships. That evening, we left St Maarten, just before sunset to motor to Saba, a Dutch island, about five hours away, for an exciting night approach, which involved avoiding a large, very unpleasant rock in the dark and searching for a mooring buoy, which appeared to be in the breakers! However, with the aid of Bill's searchlight, we found the mooring and settled in for the night, which was fairly uncomfortable due to a big swell.
In the morning, we decided a landing on the beach was impossible, so motored near a small harbour, picked up another buoy and proceeded ashore in the dinghy, or nearly! We arrived in the little harbour on the crest of a large wave, so Bill drove the dinghy up a slipway on the wave; unfortunately, it was not safe to leave the boat there, due to the swell and in getting it off again, I was swept into the harbour…………..so back to Spindrift for a change of clothes, which was waste of time, as it rained heavily during the second approach! Once ashore, we got a taxi to Windwardside, a small village high up in the island, which is 3000ft high and a true tropical jungle. We then set off to climb the mountain for about two hours, through lush vegetation, but were not rewarded with a view, due to the clouds from the earlier storm. Saba is a dormant volcano, which has not erupted for about 5000 years and was first settled by the Cibony in about 1175 BC. The present population is about 1400 strong and mostly descend from the English, who have made their mark with the timber houses and red painted shingle roofs. Most of the men went away to sea in the past for long periods of time, resulting in Saba being known as the island of women! It is home to the rare Anoles lizard, which has leopard spots, and is unique to the island.
After our wet start, we had a wonderful time walking the island, managed to get back to Spindrift dry and in one piece to set off before dark for St Eustatius, another Dutch island, which is a large oil distribution point. Another interesting approach to St Eustatius was in store, avoiding oil barges and supertankers, but we managed to find a mooring buoy in the dark, after some groping about. I think Bill had some secret night vision specs! St Eustatia was an important point for arms running by the Dutch to America, during the war of independence and we saw a plaque recently erected by the 'Daughters of the American Revolution' to celebrate the fact. Another 'special relationship.'
We dropped anchor in the bay and had a pleasant evening in a bar and, later, on board,with some friendly Dutch sailors, who had chartered a boat for a week. Next day we walked past some hot springs and bathed our arthritic feet, visited the Nelson museum (he married Fanny Nesbit on Nevis and spent some time on the island and at sea, blockading the Americans, much to the disgust of the merchants of Nevis) We then carried on to a lovely botanic gardens in the hills, had a prawn salad lunch and got a very hairy bus ride back to town! Next stop, was Montserrat, where the volcano blew up about nine years ago and is finally dying down, after devastating over 2/3rds of the island with pyroclastic flows and mud slides. We motorsailed with the wind mainly on the nose to Montserrat and arrived at anchor in an exposed spot, with a big swell running, in what passes as the harbour, the other one in Plymouth, having been destroyed. Next day, the sea was crashing over the jetty, as Bill had carefully counted the waves, we got ashore in a lull, tied the dinghy to a container, which was just as well ,as the next wave, nearly took it away, so we had to haul it further inland. The return trip was equally exciting, as the swell was just as big. We took a taxi on a tour to Plymouth, the old capital, which one can now approach, due to less volcanic activity and the sight is very sobering, resembling pictures of Hiroshima. It is hard to see how anyone will be able to resettle the affected parts, but, perhaps, the long run, vegetation will return as has happened where volcanoes have erupted in the past, such as St Vincent.
We sailed for Five islands bay, Antigua, after one night at anchor in the swell, for calmer waters and arrived……….in the dark to find a nice quiet anchorage. Next day we had a beautiful trip round to English harbour, inside a large reef and anchored right up the creek, near some bars, the music from which made the boat vibrate into the night. English harbour was an important British naval base from 1745 and Nelson was stationed there from 1784 for three years, but hated 'the infernal heat', which, strangely, we all seek nowadays! As Bill wanted to carry on further south, this was the end of our odyssey, so the next few days were spent exploring the capital, St Johns, with its amazing timber lined cathedral, swimming and goggling, rooting around English harbour and dining out with a married Swiss and Canadian couple, who sell semi-precious stones out of Indonesia and keep a boat in Antigua.
When I had to catch my flight back to St Maarten to go home, we had a great sail right around to the other side of the island and anchored for the night by Maiden island, at the end of Antigua International airport runway, which meant a quick motor into a small jetty in the morning (where we ran ran aground) and from where I got a taxi to the airport, which was an unusual way of starting the journey home. When we took off, Bill was still aground, but I know he got off in the end, as I have heard from him in St Lucia. He is heading back to St Maarten, from where he will make the W-E Atlantic crossing, starting about 12th May.
John & Charlotte Toms MAYDAY 2004 On a fittingly sunny Saturday morning, 1 st May 2004, the President and Commodore met at West Kirby Lake, in the company of many of our Junior Members and their ?parental helpers", to receive from Sue Orrell the most generous gift of a patrol craft in memory of her husband John, who, tragically, died last year. John was a long standing member of the Club who devoted a good deal of his time to training youngsters to learn how to sail and who coped with handing on his knowledge without the facilities which we have today. Our new patrol craft, ?Puffin?, is a 3.8 metre Bombard, keel inflatable craft, with a Johnson 8hp outboard motor. It has all the capacity we need to provide scope for racing control on the West Kirby Lake a well as providing important safety back-up when juniors are on the water. So, from all members of Dee SC, and especially from Junior members and their parents, we say a particular thanks to Sue and say how much we value your generosity which we will use to foster the training of junior sailors in the area, just as John would have wished. THE PAST COMMODORES' FLAG It is, perhaps, appropriate that our Club should have something in common with the HCYC, given that our present Clubhouse was officially opened, in 1982, by the Right Hon. Edward Heath. Not only was Mr Heath a parliamentarian of long standing and, indeed, a former Prime Minister but, in addition to his political and musical achievements, he was quite a noted sailor. For example, he won the Sydney-Hobart Race in 1969 in his yacht ?Morning Cloud?. The tradition was started in my days as Commodore (1987-1990) although I disclaim any credit for the idea. The concept was originated by a former member, Maurice Green, who maintained a keen interest in flag etiquette. As soon as he put the proposal to me I decided that we should implement it. So, what was the big idea? Simply that, as a memento of having discharged the office of Commodore, a Past Commodore of the Club should be entitled to fly, as his burgee, the Club flag but with the colours reversed! Thus, today, when you see a burgee sporting the Club's leaping salmon shown red on a white background, you will know that you are in the presence of one of the Club's Past Commodores. A little bit of tradition does no harm and I think it is rather a nice gesture to a retiring Commodore when he is, once again, consigned to the ranks! David Edmundson Hon. Secretary |
|||||
|
© 2003-4 Dee Sailing Club
|
