COMMENT March has seen an increase in the activities in the laying up yard and at least one boat has gone into the water. Paintbrushes are in use although the fluctuating weather makes laying on paint a bit of a risky business. The warm days we have been experiencing seem to be confusing the local wild life with frog spawn being produced by day, only to be exposed to heavy frost at night. There are still a few skeins of geese around but no doubt they will all soon return to their breeding grounds. Even as I write this it is beginning to snow a little. A "blown off course" American Robin, seldom seen in this country, arrived on the east coast recently and attracted great numbers of bird watchers. Unfortunately it also attracted the attention of a sparrow hawk, which swooped, caught killed and ate it to the watchers great consternation. Who said, "Nature is red in tooth and claw"? Due to climate change the Scottish Ski resorts have been in decline for the last fifteen years. Two have recently gone up for sale and due to a lack of snow,.others are trying to develop different ways of attracting tourists.
In the clubhouse the numbers are picking up and conversation takes a more forward-looking turn into the new season. There will soon be activity of a different kind with the new roof project about to begin later this month. A lot of work will soon come to fruition and although there will be some inconvenience for a few weeks it will be worthwhile to have a much improved clubhouse. There is of course a need for funds, whilst many people have made donations or pledges there is a need for more. Donating or pledging is a good way to take part in the project, without doing anything physical. We will all benefit from the improvements.

What follows is a summary of the activities and meetings of the various committees, diary news and some dates for working parties and social activities. Sadly I have to report that we lost three of our ladies who died within the short space of two weeks. By the time this is read all three funerals will have taken place.

THE COMMODORE. told the meeting that he was very pleased with the turnout of members for the Extraordinary General Meeting at which the rule concerning proposals for membership was amended. It is no longer necessary to have known the proposed member for three months. The members present agreed this in order that the club could apply for a grant towards the provision of a disabled toilet. Mike then informed the relevant people and re applied for the grant only to be refused again, the reason being that they now require open membership of the club, no proposer or seconder is needed. (Talk about moving the goalposts). Mike was very disappointed, as he and his team had put a lot of effort into the application.

THE VICE COMMODORE reported on the Sailing Committee meeting. The Stevenson Cross is in the sand dunes but can be recovered and refurbished for use. Next year is the Year of the Sea in Liverpool but there is the Mersey River Festival again this year. Alan Roe attended a presentation about it and reports that it is bigger than ever anyone wanting to go will have to book early. Next week he will bring into the club more information and a list of tall ships that will be there.
The Yard and Berthing Master finally got all masts down in the laying up yard, just in time for the first masts of the season to go up! There is some difficulty getting perching poles at the right price for replacement on the River, there will be enough for this year but if you know of a supplier please get in touch with Alan Roe.All the sailing dates are now completed and will be in the diary. There is the addition of an extra race on each Bank Holiday Saturday.

THE SPRING WORKING PARTY 27Th MARCH AT 09 30 WILL TAKE PLACE AS USUAL

The hedge around the laying up yard is growing well and will give added protection from intruders. There are some gaps and new plants will be purchased to fill these in. This is a good time to remind all yard users to look to their boat and property security. It is easy to miss locking up after working on your boat but it could prove costly.

THE REAR COMMODORE told the committee about work going on behind the bar, a glass washer has been installed and the chiller cabinet will be repaired. The new lager is proving very popular. Worktops will be fitted and then most of the work is completed. There will be a further meeting to discuss how the clubhouse will operate during the building.

Most of the books will be retained and put in a cupboard and the magazines may be stored with Ian Cowell until a decision is made about them. The matter of the new steward is in abeyance until after the alterations.

THE HON SECRETARY reported that with regard to the Waste Management plan Mersey Docks etc will visit our premises to inspect the arrangements (bins) for waste disposal brought ashore.

Mark has placed correspondence received on the board and also a notice of a Yacht Safety Evening in Preston. In Liverpool Yacht Club on March 17th at 20.30 hours there will be an Update by the Clipper Ventures Team on the 05-06 Race. There will be new yachts and a new round the world course and a start and finish in Liverpool. Skippers and crews are wanted.

THE 200 CLUB.

The 1sst. PRIZE. Was won by THE ROOFER.
This is a donation that any money won should go to the roofing fund.

The 2nd PRIZE was won by Phil Wright.

The 3rd PRIZE was won by Maureen Bullen.

THE HON TREASURER reported that we are on track finance wise. The subs are helping with that of course. However it seems that some people are not paying their subs because Stan Warren is away. Arrangements are in hand about the banking and all subs should be sent to Stan's address as usual. There is no moratorium on the payment of subscriptions.

THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE have arranged the following dates, which will be in the diary, but you may wish to know now.

A CLUB GET TOGETHER 9th MAY
(will probably have to be postponed until the building is completed)

RNLI DAY 6th JUNE

BBQ 3rd JULY

A SOCIAL EVENT 4th SEPTEMBER

A HOTPOT SUPPER 16th OCTOBER

BONFIRE NIGHT 5th NOVEMBER.
THE CLUB DIARY

Mark Meadows has done a great amount of work on the new club diary. The new version should be much easier to read. If you have any alterations to your entry they MUST be sent to Mark a.s.a.p. Or NOW.

THE SPRING WORKING PARTY

The working party will be held as usual on the 27th March. There is always plenty to do including the big job of perching the River and attending to the buoys, one of which (yellow) came ashore during the winter. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board were responsible for knocking down two of the perches in the River mouth whilst recovering a red channel buoy from the shore there. This is the one big working party of the year and all are expected to attend. Please bring suitable clothing and tools for any task you may be asked to do.

SUNDRY DATES OF INTEREST

SUNDAY 21ST MARCH THE NORTHERN BOAT JUMBLE IN CHESHIRE.
JUNCTION 18 OFF THE M6 ALSO 12TH SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 25TH APRIL BOAT JUMBLE AND AUCTION IN THE CLUBHOUSE.
((will be postponed until the Autumn)

MONDAY 3RD MAY BOAT JUMBLE NEAR GARSTANG.
7 MILES NORTH OF PRESTON.

18TH---21ST JUNE THE MERSEY RIVER FESTIVAL.
REPORTEDLY BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER.

PORTSMOUTH YARDSTICK HANDICAPS

The P.Y. system depends upon the R.Y.A. receiving a feedback of returns from the clubs using the scheme. We sent in our return in September as required by the R.Y.A. The return is a list of the classes of boats that raced consistently together with our recommended number for them. Using the same information performance indications are calculated for the boats for which sufficient data is available. They need to have raced frequently enough in races with enough competitors to enable the indicators to be worked out. The performance indicators for 2003 are shown here.

You will see from the above that Gazelle consistently raced better than her number so it will be reduced by 9 for 2004. This is a very small change. Other boats have sailed better or worse than their numbers but to justify a change consistent indications are desirable.
During the past three years the P.Y. system has become much weaker .In 2001 one hundred and thirty five cruisers were listed. In 2003 only fifty cruisers were listed. I do not anticipate a change in this trend for 2004. By the end of this month B.S.C. should receive the P.Y. scheme for 2004. There should be a comment on its contents in the next newsletter. In the meantime I think we should prepare for changes.

The most apparent alternative system is the L.B.S.A. system, this operates on a different method to the P.Y. The boat is measured in detail by its owner and then a formula is used to calculate its performance potential. Once this is done the number will not change unless the hull, rig, engine or propeller is altered. Many B.S.C. boats already have an L.B.S.A. number, Tao, Mojo, Catch 32, Dee Topaz, Nimrod, and Django. John Hall has said that he may measure gazelle for 2004. Having an L.B.S.A. rating enables one to enter any of the L.B.S.A. open events, that of course includes the L.B.S.A. class in our Altmouth Cup Race. To give us all more information about the effect of using the L.B.S.A. system I will ask the sailing committee to include L.B.S.A. numbers and their corrected times alongside the P.Y. results during the 2004 season.

It is going to be an interesting season. Good sailing.

John Heyworth

It is with deep regret that I have to report the deaths of three of our club ladies and my sympathy is with all of their families and friends. Pat.

HAZEL MCDONOUGH, wife of Alan died on 22nd February. With Alan, Hazel had been a member of BSC since1966. She was a very keen sailor and liked to sail in the Straits. Hazel was a very friendly person and until some time ago was a regular Friday night member. Alan and Hazel had enjoyed a cruise in South America and around Cape Horn in January when they met other members of BSC and some who had moved away some years ago. She was taken ill after their return and sadly died. A good number of Club members attended Hazel's funeral in Thornton. We offer our sincere condolences to Alan and their two daughters.

YVONNE HOWE died on the same day as Hazel. Yvonne had been a club member many years ago. On her return to Crosby she rejoined the Club. Yvonne suffered severely from Parkinson's disease but bravely made as much use of her "better times" as possible. She sailed with Carl and spent some time on Moongazer in Portugal. Yvonne's funeral took place at St Nicholas' Church in Crosby.

JOAN GRIFFITHS Joan's funeral will take place in Our Lady of Compassion Church in Formby tomorrow, Thursday. Joan died suddenly last week of a heart attack whilst she was undergoing kidney dialysis. Joan will be sorely missed by Bill and their two children She always enjoyed her time spent at the club social evenings since 1954 when they joined the club to sail dinghies. Over the last few years Joan showed great courage throughout her illness and will be remembered for her friendliness, cheerfulness and for her large smile. Our sympathy is with Bill and his family.

Yvonne Howe
16th January 1940 - 22nd February 2004

When I was asked if I would consider writing a short eulogy about Yvonne for the newsletter I was at first a bit reluctant This was only because I felt some members perhaps knew Yvonne longer and more intimately than I did. However, I decided to do this small tribute to our friend Yvonne.

Mark and I first encountered Yvonne about five years ago one Sunday at the clubhouse with Carl. I choose the word "encountered" deliberately. I remember seeing this smallish lady at the bar shaking and fidgeting on her stool but was not introduced to her on that occasion. She seemed happy and was enjoying a good laugh with the people around her. When next I saw Yvonne I went over and introduced myself and the rest as they say is history.
We got on like a house on fire and I found her to be intelligent, artistic and had a wicked sense of humour. I learned she had Parkinson's disease hence the shaking and fidgeting when I first saw her and she told me of her treatment. The actor Michael J.Fox (Back the the Future) also has Parkinson's and has written a book in which he details his campaign to find a cure for the disease. I read the book and learned a lot more about this horrible condition. Although Yvonne enjoyed reading she found it difficult because the words jumped up and down too much!! She took the book from me and attempted to read it but it wasn't the words jumping up and down that stopped her she just didn't like his style of writing and so I got it back..

Our children eventually got to meet Yvonne and we enjoyed a family party on Boxing Day in her house in Crosby with other friends and family. When Yvonne moved into her flat in the old Blundellsands Hotel building we went along for tea and some time later to celebrate her birthday - a good time was had by all.

Yvonne was no stranger to the Blundellsands Sailing Club some years ago but moved to Sussex to live and teach with her family and returned to Crosby when her husband died. She then rekindled her friendships with club members. In recent years she enjoyed many a Christmas party and social gathering with her friends once more.
People will have their own memories of Yvonne probably much longer than mine but in the few years I knew her I found her loving, good fun and extremely brave.

Sadly Yvonne's health deteriorated drastically over the last year and she passed away in hospital on 22nd February. Mark and I attended the funeral on Tuesday last together with Claire, Michael and Sarah who asked our permission to go with us. This spoke volumes to me that teenagers (and one near teenager) thought so much of somebody that they wanted to say goodbye and God Bless Yvonne.
Now you can Rest in Peace.

Colette Meadows

Many thanks to Colette for this contribution about Yvonne and thanks also to Bob Chamberlain for the next piece of educational entertainment. Ed.

"WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY"

Does that statement ring any bells?

The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet and 8.5 inches. That is an exceedingly odd number. Why was that used? Because that's the way they built them in England and English expatriates built the US Railroads. The English built them like that because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad, tramways and that's the gauge they used. They used that gauge because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing.

Why did the wagon have that particular odd wheel spacing? Well if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England, because that's the spacing of the wheel ruts. The first long distance roads in Europe and England were built by Imperial Rome for their legions and these roads have been used ever since,

Roman war chariots initially formed the ruts in the roads and everyone else had to match them for fear of destroying their wagon wheels. Since the chariots were made for Imperial Rome they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing. The United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman war chariot. Bureaucracies live forever!

So the next time you are handed a spec and told, "We have always done it that way" and you wonder what horse's ass came up with that, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman war chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the back ends of two war horses

Now we come to the twist in the story.

When you see a Space Shuttle sitting on its launch pad, there are two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid rocket boosters, or SRBs. Thiokol at their factory in Utah makes them. The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site.

The railroad from the factory happens to run through a tunnel in the mountains. The SRBs had to fit through that tunnel. The tunnel is slightly wider than the railroad track and the railroad track as you now know, is as wide as two horses' behinds.

So, a major Space Shuttle design feature of what is arguably the worlds most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of horse's ass.

And you thought that being a horse's ass wasn't important?

All contributions are gratefully received. Please keep them coming.

A last minute note

The building work will start on or around 12th April and it is anticipated that it will last

for at least six weeks.

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