Category Archives: Club News

Classic Channel Regatta 2019 on Contessa 32 ‘Minstrel Boy’

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Kevin Ludbrook sails with a regular crew on a Contessa 32, ‘Minstrel Boy’ normally racing round the cans in the Solent or down to Poole and so forth but as she was built in 1972 she is eligible for the Classic Channel Regatta. This is his report on the Classic Channel Regatta in July 2019..

This series of races is normally reserved for venerable wooden craft with a proper sense of history but in fact many of these are no more than ten years older than the Contessa. The regatta has always been a mixed French and British event albeit with a smattering of Dutch, Belgian and German boats too and that helps to create a great atmosphere. Around seventy-five boats took part which also helps to make it a very sociable event.

The regatta lasts a week, starting with races in Dartmouth, a race to St Helier, then finally a race over to Paimpol followed by a day of races there.

Well Heeled – photocredit bananapancake

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‘Nick Nack’ sails around Britain

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Nick and Gail Leaver cast off on 11 May 2017 to sail their Dufour 325 ‘Nick Nack’ around Britain in leisurely style. They will be cruising up the east coast and then down the Caledonian Canal before meandering back to Port Solent later in the year.

Gail has been sending regular e-postcards logging their journey and their escapades on and off the water. Read on …. !

Postcard from Gail on Friday 24 August

Newlyn harbour was a good shelter from the worst of the stormy weather, rain and high winds and we ended up we staying for 4 days. The harbour wall at low water has an arrow marking cut into the stone indicating the Ordnance Survey (Newlyn Datum), used as the Zero level on all OS maps.

Newlyn Harbour

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Jan 2019 Flotilla to Grenadines and Tobago Cays

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The 2015 trip to the British Virgin Islands was a great success and many of the 21 members who went on the trip have asked about visiting the Caribbean again. 

After some discussion we have now finalised a ten day flotilla to the Grenadines starting in Saint Vincent on January 12th 2019 and ending in Grenada on January 22nd.   

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Protecting our oceans – something you can do NOW!

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Accept the Trash Isles as an official country and help protect our oceans

Every year eight million tonnes of plastics are being poured into our oceans. It affects over 600 different species of sealife with at least 1 million seabirds dying each year. There is now so much of it that an area the size of France has formed in the Pacific Ocean. And by 2050, there’ll be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

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‘Stiletto’ – Slow Boat to the Med

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Andy Giles and Jane Paulson have embarked on their long-awaited ‘Slow Boat to the Med’ big adventure with their Bavaria 33 Cruiser ‘Stiletto’. They crossed the Channel on 15 April 2017 and their final destination is the island of Ikaria in the Eastern Aegean – Andy’s roots.

We’ll be updating this page soon. In the meantime jump to their blog for the latest news! www.sailblogs.com/member/stiletto

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Yarmouth Harbour updates for 2017

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Yarmouth Harbour have established some new features for visiting yatchsmen over the winter months:

  • ‘MOOR and enjoy Yarmouth’ is an overview film about Yarmouth town to ensure visitors get the most out of their stay. Watch it here
  • FREE showers are now included in the price of the visitor mooring.
  • Cockpit Essentials is a new visitor refreshment lounge with freshly ground coffee, bags of ice, local products, 24 hour news, Wi-Fi and charging points.
  • Their new website now includes an updated ‘Yarmouth Directory’  http://www.yarmouth-harbour.co.uk 

Portsmouth Small Boat Channel Update

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Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth have issued the following important notice about changes to the Small Boat Channel at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour.

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth, that following the widening and re-orientation of the Portsmouth Approach Channel, as depicted on the newly published Admiralty Chart 2625 (2 March 2017), further adjustments have been made to the positioning of the Small Boat Channel that runs between 4 Bar Buoy (50 46.97N 001 06.48W) and Ballast Pile (50 47.62N 001 06.83W). This notice supersedes LNTM 23/17 (Small Boat Channel Re-alignment) and should be read in conjunction with the regulations contained in General Direction 7/10 (Portsmouth Harbour Entrance – Approach Channel, Small Boat Channel, Swashway and Inner Swashway).

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Sign the Petition – Lobster Pots and Small Craft Safety

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LOBSTER POTS AND SMALL CRAFT SAFETY – TIME TO CHANGE THE RULES!

The Cruising Association (CA) have sponsored a Government petition to change the rules regarding lobster pots and small craft safety.

“We believe that the current, voluntary, arrangements and guidance have not been adequate and that the number of call-outs, by the RNLI and coastguard, to small craft disabled by fouled propellers and rudders shows the significance of the problem.

We hope that all stakeholders will work together, with DEFRA, to find a solution, particularly one that is cheap and practical for our fishermen.”

At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament. Deadline is 10 October 2017. Click here to sign the petition.

Many thanks to Roger for bringing this to our attention.