ALTSIDE NOTES.

Even though it is not officially Spring, today is one of those days when we can really feel that it is here. The postman has just done his round and is wearing shorts, we have frog spawn in the garden pond, which seems very early to me and people passing in the street are really looking cheerful and remarking on the sunshine.
The General Committee meeting last night was a good-natured affair and I have several messages and reminders to pass on as the reports unfold. The fitting out season is well on its way the social season will kick off on the 23rd March and the sailing season will soon follow. The sailing calendar will be in the club diary, some of you may get it in the post with this newsletter and others will receive one by hand as soon as Stan Warren gets them.
Inside the clubhouse work is in progress on the bar, someone heeded the clarion call for help. John Needham deserves thanks for his building skills and it is hoped that other members will come forward and offer their skills and some of their time. There is much work to be done. The outside of the building is in abeyance as we wait for architectural drawings to arrive, these will not include the roof which will eventually need repairing so it seems that fund raising will be a major feature in the future. Why not start by buying an extra ticket for the 200 CLUB, which is an excellent way of raising money, with a chance of winning more than your money back.
Many thanks to Bill Woods and Peter Williams for their contribution to the newsletter as you will read later and also to Kari Gillard for the news about her son.

THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11TH MARCH.

Apologies for absence were received from The Commodore and Bob Chamberlain.

THE VICE COMMMODORE'S REPORT this incorporates The Hon Sailing Secretary, the Club Captain and the Yard and Berthing Master's reports.
With reference to the slipways Dave told the meeting that the materials were galvanised and ready to be delivered for Kevin Pope to start work. The time arranged for the work to be done will be 24th March as the tides are most suitable then. The cost for this work will be £5700, a saving of £1140. The figure also includes sufficient materials to fill the centre gap in the laying up yard dinghy slip. There is also an intention to provide a strong point in the ground at the top of the slip to help members with the launch and recovery of their dinghies.

The Y.B.M suggested that the repairs to the Laying Up Yard surface should wait until the majority of the boats in the yard are launched. Bill would be prepared to temporarily fill the more troublesome areas with materials borrowed from the House and Grounds Committee supply. Bill further reported that the winch repairs had been carried out and that the lock on the winch control isolator would be fitted this weekend.
Keys would be distributed to the following members:-
KEYHOLDERS FOR THE WINCH Dave Wilcox David Rowles Bill Woods Alan Roe
Peter Williams Ted McGregor Mike Parker John Heyworth Joe Coady.

Please note that members wishing to launch may contact the above keyholders and they will act in a supervisory capacity only. The member launching will have to make the necessary arrangements for assistance.

The winch cable has been examined careful and the YBM has decided that it does not need to be replaced at present, provided that the necessary minimum three turns are always left on the drum.

The following members have been allocated moorings. Alan Roe (Arrow) N.32 and Mark Corms (Hurley) S. 12.

Whilst showing Cyril Porter the location of South 6 it became evident to the YBM that there was insufficient room for South 7. The Committee therefore intend to scrap the existing position of South 7 and to renumber the moorings to the south of South 6.

The Sailing Committee had discussed the awarding of the George McCloud Trophy and with the General Committee it was decided that it would become the Trophy for the winner of the Gallon of Ale Race. This is particularly good as we have no trophy for that race.

DINGHIES
If you have own a dinghy which is in the dinghy park or the yard you are asked to paint the name of your boat on it. Those dinghies that are not names in the next month may be removed. This is by the time of the forthcoming Working Party 12th April.

THE HAWTHORN HEDGE a special note from The Vice Commodore.

Last year we spent quite a lot of money and effort planting what we hope will become a hawthorn security hedge around the edge of the boatyard. The majority of the saplings have survived but there were several gaps. These were largely caused by people trampling them down when climbing the fence, throwing road cones back into the yard, or simply throwing junk on top of them. In one section someone tied an old bit of useless scaffold tube to the fence, breaking three plants. Well done whoever that was!
We have bought more plants and in filled the gaps. The potential hedge should begin to grow more strongly in this second year. Please give it a chance. If the members who park around the fence could adopt their little bit and keep it clear of junk and long grass it would really help. So would not climbing the fence and jumping on the hedge plants.

Can I remind you all that there is NO facility for collecting rubbish from the boatyard Please take your rubbish, old oil or anything else home, or to the waste reception centre at Formby. DW

EMERGENCY.If there is an emergency on the River there is a help team. Amongst the members are B Woods,
K Riley, D Ward, P Wright, A Roe, D Wilcox and J Heyworth.

THE REAR COMMODORE Carole reported that investigations are being made into the repair of the safe. Work has again started on the bar and the Committee wished to thank John Needham for his help. Wood is being donated for the whole of the bar top but there is now need of a joiner to fit the tops and secure the shutter.
Trevor Meyer is looking out for a glass washer (not a human one) and as soon as the above work is completed it will be possible to move the new fittings into the bar making it much easier to set it up and to close.
Plans are afoot for interior work to be done in the clubhouse at the working party on April 12th.

GATE SECURITY Carole told the meeting that the locking of the gate is still causing some concern.
After using the lock will users please reset the number by at least one digit. If we have to keep changing the
number it will cause a great deal of confusion. Please spend the extra second it takes to do this

Phil Wright suggested that whilst we have the services of Kevin Pope we should take the opportunity to have a hole dug for the lamp-post which will shed light over a large area. He will look into this with Dave Rowles to see if it is feasible for wiring up.

THE HON TREASURER told the committee that we are getting the subs in and we have a reasonably healthy balance. We need them all in as there are going to be costs to come. Dave has put a catalogue of equipment from the RNLI in the clubhouse.
THE HON SECRETARY reported that he has put correspondence on the board. Mark is sending details of our club for inclusion in the Mersey River Festival Handbook enhanced from last year.
There is a letter from Liverpool Sailing Club about a race they are holding on 15th June. Head of the River Race also on the board.

How would you like to skipper or crew a twin-screw lifeboat? If you would you will find details of this on the notice board too.

Mark has also made available some copies of the Coastline Newsletter and the Spring edition of the RYA Magazine. He has received copies of plans for changes in Douglas Harbour which he has passed to John Heyworth who will make them available in the clubhouse. They will be useful for people going for the I. O. M. Trophy.

The February winners of the 200 Club Draw were;

1. £30.00 to Mr David Warren

2. £20.00 to Mrs Maggie Kennan

3. £15.00 to Mrs Maureen Downey

The next draw will be held on Sunday 30th March at approximately 18.30 hours

THE HON MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY told the club that there are some outstanding payments to come in and also some subscriptions. He has received a letter of resignation from Fred Coyne, as he no longer visits the club. Carl Salkeld will become an out port member as will Jock Stewart.There are some applications for membership on the notice board
Stan has been working on the diary with Peter Devine and hopefully they will be available by then end of the month.

SOCIAL NOTES in the absence of Maggie Kennan we have a note from Shelagh Warren to remind all members that there is a list on the hatch board for names of those who wish to attend the Get Together in March. The Social Committee are aware that this event clashes with the Boat Jumble but it is hoped that some members may be able to attend both events. There will be wine and nibbles and it begins at 12.30 on the 23rd March. Please sign up.

The Vice Commodore closed the meeting.

S'EIXUGADOR pronounced SUGARDOOR

Eon's ago (1965) when I began building the Mark 2 Caprice, it was the done thing to consider registering small boats as "British Registered Ships" by the official bodies approved by Lloyds Register.
You were required to submit a shortlist of three names because each registration was to be unique, in other words you couldn't have too many "SAUCY SUES". Finding an unusual name was not easy and so I chanced upon S'EIXUGADOR whilst on holiday on the Spanish Costa Brava. This is a small inlet where in the past flotsam and jetsam were washed ashore and the English translation of this Catalan Spanish is "THE DRYING PLACE". Somewhat ironic also is the fact that we spend most of our time getting wet on our boats.
Finally, I never did get round to putting the boat on the official register.

Peter Williams.

MITHRIL

Since my new boat arrived in the yard Boat Yard I have had numerous enquiries as to the name Mithril pronounced mee'threel. Is it Welsh? Which language is it? In actual fact the name is fictitious and comes from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien author of the now famous 'Lord of the Rings'.

The previous owner chose the name because he could see a relationship between the name and his profession. In the book 'Lord of the Rings' there is a poem along the lines of:-

A new boat they built for him
Of Mithril and Elvenglass.

He assumed this to be the Middle-earth equivalent of fibreglass and as he had spent thirty years doing research on polyesters he felt that the name was appropriate.

I have done my own research and have found out that Mithril was a remarkable and valuable metal mined by the Dwarves in Tolkien's stories. It was supposed to be supple and easy to work and could be polished like silver but never tarnished and was as strong as steel. The first reference to Mithril is in the Hobbit when the dwarf Thorin Oakenshield gives a coat of mail made from Mithril to the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins for his protection.

Although the reference to fibreglass may be misplaced, the name Mithril not only appeals to me, it signifies strength and indestructibility, which is what we all hope for from our boats.

Bilbo Baggins AKA Bill Woods.

The next article was kindly e mailed to me by Kari Gillard who is the proud mother of Rory below.

Rory Gillard the London Skipper.

Rory Gillard, a 32 year old professional skipper from Gosport in Hampshire, will lead London's entry in the Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht Race. Assuming the helm in Hawaii at the start of the third crew leg, Rory will set sail on Wednesday, 12th February 2002, commanding a 14 strong amateur crew aboard London Clipper. His experience of sailing in varied waters, from the Solent to Queensland's Sunshine Coast, will stand him in good stead for a running start with his new crew on the Hawaii to Hong Kong leg. Born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Rory started sailing on the Irish Sea with his family and now lives in Gosport Hampshire. As a full time skipper for Formula 1 Sailing Rory has just completed his second ARC, commanding a Farr 65 across the line in 3rd place. With five Cowes Weeks and three Fastnet Races also under his belt, Rory is well equipped to lead the crew of London Clipper to racing success. No stranger to the organisers of the Clipper 2002 Race, Rory has previously skippered on the Clipper Reflex 38 fleet. Looking ahead to this next challenge, he said. 'The London crew have made a great start to the eleven month race and only narrowly missed another podium finish into Hawaii, finishing fourth behind Bristol, Liverpool and Jersey.

Many thanks to Kari for this article; it adds even more interest to the race as we follow it. One of our social events will be tied in with the finish of this race.

DIARY DATES.
The main sailing events will be
The Commodore's Cruise to Hilbre Island 24th May
The RNLI Day 1st June
The Altmouth Cup 27th July
The Menai Straits Cruise 23rd August.
There are of course several more sailing events, which will all be in the diary. Some of the dates are out of the usual time for them. This is due to the way the tides are this year.

SOCIAL DATES
Get Together 23rd March
BBQ Sat. 17th May
The RNLI Day Sun 1st June
The Clippers Return 27th September
Bonfire 5th November
Prize giving 8th November
The Christmas Party 20th December.

The AGM will be held on 14th December and it is hoped that other social events will be slotted in throughout.

FOR SALE
A Veritas 8 Texicom Security Control Unit. This is a new unit with many programmable features
£20.00.
Call John on 01704 871727

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