COMMENT

The sunny days are encouraging activity in the laying up yard and Trevor, our YBM is being kept very busy. Although the nights are still cold and icy, nature is catching up, everything is growing and signs of spring are everywhere. Many of my frogs died during the big freeze although the fish survived. I hope there are a couple of frogs hidden away somewhere. Perhaps they will come out when the nights are warmer.

At the end of this month the clocks will be moved forward one hour.

Great plans are afoot for the forthcoming spring working party, some people have already been organised into groups to work on the river and in the yard and other members will be given things to do when they arrive. It is a good opportunity to get work done both in and outside the clubhouse. There is plenty to be done!

I would like to thank the members from other committees who faithfully send me reports from their meetings. There are a lot of notices for members further on in this newsletter, which arose from the General Committee meeting last night, here are reports, some notes and notices from that meeting.

The Commodore went to the OD course at Liverpool yacht club, which he said was interesting and worthwhile. He also went to Liverpool Sailing Club where a dinner was held in their new premises, which are superb. Mark said that it was a very enjoyable evening. Although he had another engagement elsewhere, Mark said that the Burns Night was very good in BSC.  The next social event will be a quiz night with a fish and chip supper.

The Vice Commodore was not at the meeting so Ian Cowell, The Hon Sailing Secretary, gave the Sailing Committee notes.

Minutes of the Sailing Committee held on Tuesday 2nd March 2010

1. Attendance: P Wright (Chair), I Cowell, M Kennan, T Roberts, A Bridges, P Williams.
2. Apologies: C Loughran, D Wilcox, A Lee-McGurk
3. Minutes of Sailing Committee held 2.2.10: Approved.
4. Matters Arising:

1. Race Officers Course held at Tranmere on 27.2.10: P Wright reported that 6 members of the Club attended the Course and all will receive certificates. The Course was considered to be well worthwhile and a number of matters raised during the Course would be merit our Club exploring. For example, Pursuit races in which boats were set off at different start times according to their handicaps. Placing of buoys to vary BSC courses were also thought to have merit. Another Race Officers Course is to be held later in the season.
2. Winter Lectures: Dr G Welch has been approached with a view to giving a First Aid talk. There is also to be a talk on the proper use of Lifejackets.
3. Draft Sailing Season Document 2010: Was considered, Race Officers allocated, and approved for printing in the Club booklet.
4. The Commodore had agreed, that instead of the Club going to the Dee Sailing Club this year, the Club would instead have a weekend cruise to Conway together with the Ranzo Trophy on 10th July 2010. This has been incorporated in the Sailing Season Document.
5. Round the Windmills Race: Two possibilities were considered; either a two tide race incorporating the Burbo Bank and North Hoyle Wind farms or a one tide race from the Alt around the nearest Burbo Bank Windmill and back to the Alt. The preferred option was the one tide race and the course and timing for such a race will be considered during the season in preparation for next years programme.
6. Club Year Booklet: Members of the Committee were selected to proof read the drafts for the Club Booklet.
7. Help Team: P Wright said he had spoken to the members of the Help Team and all were willing to continue in the team for the forthcoming season.
8. Altmouth Cup 2011: P Wright said he and the Sailing Secretary had considered the possible options for the race during 2011 and the preferred dates are: 1st - Sunday 12th June 2011;

2nd – Sunday 29th May 2011 that is perhaps a bit early in the season;
3rd Sunday 10th July 2011- times are just OK but height of tide in the evening is only 7.97metres; 4th –Sunday 28th August 2011 which is late in the season finish could be in darkness. The best choice by far is Sunday 12th June.

1. Winch Keys Holders: A member of the Club had requested that he

hold a set of winch keys in addition to the list agreed at the previous Sailing Committee Meeting. It was agreed that the six key-holders, namely, P Williams, M Parker, A Bridges, D Wilcox. W Woods and T Roberts agreed at the Sailing Committee Meeting on 2.2.10 were sufficient for the Club’s purposes and there was no justification for further extending the list. The key-holders would be listed in the Club booklet.

1. Budget: P Wright estimated the Sailing Committees expenditure

this year as: Electrical Repairs in the Yard – circa £800.00; Tops for perches - £300.00; Buoys, anchors, chains and shackles, miscellaneous circa £500.00. The total would be £1,600.00.

1. IRC (Channel Handicap): P Wright discussed the IRC Incentive

Scheme for IRC “Cruiser Classes” at Regattas. The incentive is a 50% reduction in New Application Fees and boats apply and pay for their IRC Certificate through the Club. The Sailing Secretary is to contact the IRC and establish the arrangements for boat measuring, etc on Merseyside and report back to the next meeting of the Sailing Committee. There would be benefits if a number of boats from the Club could be certified under the scheme. Boat owners who have so far shown interest include; M Meadows, I Cowell, C Porter, John Hall.

1. Handicap Secretary: Austin Bridges has now taken over as the

      Handicap Secretary. P Wright expressed surprise at the amount of
      data kept on Club boats over the years.

5. Yard and Berthing Master’s Report: T Roberts reported that a trench had been

dug and an armour core cable installed ready for work by the electrical contractor who would commence work in the Yard during the week commencing 8th March 2010. There was also a need for a further Working Party for hedge planting in the Yard during the next two weeks. Cliff Yates Trident 24 Mayrose was up for sale and has been advertised on e-bay. Cliff is to purchase a Colvic Countess from South Wales. If not sold straightaway the Trident will be launched on 29th March and the Countess will arrive in the Yard on the 30th March. The following moorings in the South Reach were now available: S5/S6/S14/S15/S19. N19 (Littler Mojo) and N20 (Jasmine) are now merged into one mooring only (Mike Ascot’s boat) and the moorings northwards renumbered. There are still 11 insurances outstanding. There will be a Working Party on 3rd April 2010 (see later Club Captain’s Report) when Cedric Loughran will head a team to install shackles, risers and buoys to the new Emergency moorings.

6. Club Captain’s Report: M Kennan reported that both the Slips by the Yard had

      been cleaned and suggested after his latest inspection the next time
      be at the April Working Party. Alan Roe had agreed to head up a team to clean
      the slips. Painting of the tops will need to be done and Ian Cowell had agreed
      do this work. The perching parties on 3rd April will be headed by: Section 1: A
      Bridges; Section 2: G Cummings; Section 3; W Woods; Section 4; P Wright.
      Mike Kennan also spoke briefly about the land opposite the Alt Centre.

7. Any Other Business: P Wright discussed trophies that had been unallocated.

This item will be included on future agendas.

INSURANCE CERTIFICATES

ALL COPIES OF INSURANCE CERTIFICATES (minus personal details if preferred) MUST BE IN THE HANDS OF THE Y B M BY THE END OF MARCH OR THE GENERAL COMMITTEE WILL ENFORCE THE CLUB RULES. BYE LAW No 9 AS AMENDED

A SKIP IN THE YARD.

AT THE WORKING PARTY A SKIP WILL BE IN PLACE FOR ALL YARD RUBBISH. THIS IS THE LAST TIME A SKIP WILL BE PROVIDED. THE TIDINESS OF THE AREA AROUND YOUR BOAT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN FUTURE.

THE WORKING PARTY WILL BE HELD AT 10 OCLOCK ON SATURDAY THE 3RD OF APRIL.

The Rear Commodore Charles gave his notes from the House Committee.

In attendance:  Rear Comm. Charles Lloyd, Kieron Riley, David Warren, Trevor Mayers, Steve Quinn. Apologies: Stan Warren.

1)  Notes of February mtg. Accepted.  Matters arising all on agenda.

2)  Club maintenance plan  Some additional items to be included.
 List to be re-arranged chronologically by SQ.
 DW arranged for Richard Scarrot to install a radiator in the lobby. 

3)  Electronic till in bar. Problems with till roll have arisen again.  Claire suggests that till roll is not the correct one as it is noticeably narrower than the feed guide. CL and SW to go over this with Julie.

4)  IT.  H & G suggestion of asking Chris Berks in consultation with the Commodore to do a feasibility study was agreed at General Committee.

5) Galley improvements. A cupboard for utensils etc has been purchased.  Locks have been fitted to this and some kitchen cupboards.  Club utensils will not be available for non club members.  Only CL and TM will have keys for the moment.

6)  Food Safety Agency standards Some H&G committee and bar staff attended showing of FSA DVD as part of the training requirement.  Social committee will view it on 12 March. A visit by Sefton Environmental Health will then be arranged to consider our procedures. 

7) Bar     a) staff – have received their cost of living pay rise backdated to October, and a Christmas bonus for the three regular bar staff.
                b) Prices- suppliers’ prices and VAT increases mean that beer will need to go up 10p and Guinness 20p.  Wine and spirits prices can wait until the Budget in April as large rises in tax are expected for these.
                 c) Cash handling causing some concern.  CL and Treasurer to discuss with Steward.

8)  Fitting Out Dinner. Thanks were recorded to SWarren for a successful evening.

9) Function calendar.  Three new applications considered.

10) Waste collection contract due for renewal. A small price increase is proposed by Sefton Council.  Collection seems to have settled down now after some irregularities, so agree to renew for 12 months.

11) Working Party April 3. A list for house and grounds jobs is prepared.

12) AOB a) Need to consider a new beer supplier as there have been regular problems with deliveries recently.
                 b) The combination locks on the gate and black hut are getting difficult. CL to consult SW to consider new ones.

There was discussion in the meeting about the gate and locks, Until new ones are bought and in place please continue to lock the gate, do not leave the entry number exposed.

The Hon Secretary has dealt with all correspondence. He has arranged for the waste disposal collection to continue for another year. All relevant notices are on the board.

Thanks  were expressed by the General Committee to J Pope for cutting the hedge round the laying up yard.

Also thanks to the working party concerned with the trench digging and cable laying work. They were John Hall, Ian Cowell, Peter Williams, Cliff Yates, George LesBirel,Andy Lee McGurk ,George Williams, Alan Roe and Trevor Willets.

The Hon Membership Secretary. Stan said that only half of the membership subscriptions have been paid. These are expected by the end of this month. There were no new members this month.

The Hon Treasurer told the committee that financially we are OK considering that we are waiting for the rest of the subs to be paid. There are some changes afoot but they will not be decided until after the forthcoming budget,

Social Notes Mark was pleased to say that the Burns Night was a success. The next event will be a quiz night on the 27th March. See the posters for details.

Bob Chamberlain recommended an interesting web site. Irish sea Conservation.org.

The Commodore closed the meeting.

MAVIS HARTLEY
Sadly Mavis the wife of Sam died earlier this year. Cedric knew her well and has written the following about Mavis. Sam has all our sympathy. Ed.

“I write a few words about Mavis Hartley, beloved wife of Sam, who has recently “crossed the bar”.
Mavis was born in West Derby and joined the club with Sam in the early 1960’s. She was always cheery and found the best in people.

Mavis was not one to subject herself to crewing for “Captain Bligh” Hartley (understandable says Cedric who has decades of service in this role). She was often found in the grounds of the club on sunny days with their children Karen, Gary, Brian and Julie. They used the Hartley minibus as a beach base station whilst Sam thrashed around Liverpool Bay in the Lysander and then Kael II - now KAOL.

Mavis loved walking and being in the great outdoors. When the children had all grown she got herself a job at Jacobs of Aintree. This was work she loved and found most pleasurable. Many people benefited from the wagon loads of misshapes she purchased to bring home and generously distribute to her friends.

Mavis and Sam were regular supporters of the sell out monthly socials organised and mentored by our then social secretary Rita Gilbury with whom Mavis decorated the club with the most magnificent and elaborate Christmas décor known to man.

Mavis has been stricken with Alzheimer’s for many years but would have been delighted to see her very own Sam elevated to the list of Honorary life members.
Mavis leaves behind a staunch family, including Sam, who loved her very much. Those of us who knew her have our own fond memories of yesteryear.

God bless Mavis Hartley!                                                                      Cedric Loughran