MAY 2006

Comment May Bank Holiday has taken us well into Spring and of course the Sailing Season has begun in earnest. Members who have launched so far have done so without any major incidents. The work done on the slip has proved to be very worthwhile.

The date chosen for the annual RNLI proves to be a bit difficult for tides. Watch out for notices but please note that we have a tide at 11.26 am so the race will obviously start early and so will the jollifications. Burgers etc will be available for lunch. One of the main attractions is the visit from the lifeboats and as they will be there on the tide it would be a shame to miss them. Please also consider offering your services as a helper. We would all be grateful.

Dave Flynn has postponed the arrangements for a Blue Grass Night in aid of the RNLI. It will be held in September.

There are notes from the General Committee Meeting, which finished quite quickly.

Good sailing!

Dick Tyrer

Sadly Dick Tyrer, one of our members died last month. The Commodore has written some memories of Dick.

Dick Tyrer lost his battle against lung cancer at Easter. His funeral last week was well attended, with a good number of club members present. Dick referred to himself as a boozing member, and was regularly at the club on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Dick regularly crewed for me and Geoff Welch. He could always be relied upon to do whatever was necessary, just so long as his considered opinion was that it was necessary. He wasn't too good at putting up with nonsense, wasn't Dick. Mind you he didn't always get it right.

I recall a time when Dick and I had gone for a sail with Geoff on Edge of the Wind. Sadly we left it much too late coming back in. Geoff's mooring was around North 25 at the time. We grounded several times on the way up river, but as the boat had a fin keel, we managed to keep going by hanging out one side. Finally though, despite our best efforts we became stuck fast, and sadly only 50 metres from the mooring.

"I know," said Geoff, who reads all the books, "what you do is get on the boom. I'll let it right out over the side of the boat. And the leverage effect of the two of you will pull the boat hard over. Hurry up! Get on with it."

With some (well founded) trepidation, I climbed on the end of the boom, and Dick got inboard of me. Geoff, bless him, let the boom right out. There we were hanging out over the water while Geoff gave the engine full throttle. It was a good effort and the boat struggled and shook, but refused to move.

It was then it happened. The topping lift broke! Geoff had forgotten to read the bit about supporting it with the main halyard (or perhaps ignored that bit due to time constraints).

The boom, with Dick and me on it, dropped like a stone to the toe rail then stopped. Sadly we didn't and continued (with minor injuries) downwards into the river. Dick landed on top of me, grinding me into the muddy riverbed. Unfortunately Dick then floated away with only his bum showing above the surface. He was in his sailing suit and all the air in it became trapped in his trousers. I had to wade after him and pull him spluttering and gasping into the upright position.

The last thing I recall about that event was Geoff saying "While you're in there could you just wade up and get the dinghy for me."

He was a good friend Dick. Always ready for a good discussion and with an opinion, which was always worth listening to. He constructed and raced model yachts. His little boats were truly works of art. He was Commodore of Birkenhead Model Yacht Club some time ago.

Dick spent his youth in the shipbuilding industry, and then went to sea as a cadet with Blue Funnel Line. Later he worked for Ford, and then went into the Construction industry becoming a Chartered Engineer and an expert in concrete construction.

Dick will be very sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Dick's wife Marie, his children and much-loved granddaughter. D.Wilcox.

Notes from the general committee meeting 9 th May 06

The Commodore opened the meeting. There was an apology from Stan Warren who arrived later. One matter that arose from last month's minutes was the partial inward collapse of the sewage outfall. This doesn't affect the river users but is a danger to walkers. It is also somewhat smelly. The matter has been reported to various bodies and a letter will be sent to Hightown Parish Council.

In his report the Commodore said that he finds the siting of the new perches very confusing. It would help if the old ones could be removed or shortened. It is also becoming necessary for members to paint their mooring drums in the appropriate colours, red or green. The plethora of strange drums is yet another confusion on the river. The sailing committee will look into it.

The fish and chip with disco night was very enjoyable. The next social event will be the hog roast in July.

The Vice commodore's report from the Sailing Committee Meeting Tuesday, 2 May 2006

Present : Carole Fielding, Peter Williams, Phil Wright, Dave Ward, Ian Cowell, Kieron Riley, Simon Markland.

Apologies : Graham Cumming, John Newton, Andy Lee-McGurk, Martin Dooley.

The repairs and improvements to the launch slip have proved to be successful with no problems with any launch being reported.

An invitation to the RYA OOD training course will be sent to a number of members, SM will write to everyone suggested by the committee.

Tide heights and times in the club diary have a slight variance to those published by Lavers. The Lavers tide tables will be used when publishing race details - i.e. Altmouth Cup.

Phil Wright will attend the next LBSA meeting and will obtain and distribute annual membership forms to BSC members. The LBSA "Livingston Cup" race will include an I.R.C. class in this years race. (see later note Ed)

KR advises that boat "Amelia" has not launched nor has he received notification of insurance. KR will check that membership has been renewed and take appropriate action.

J.Brown damaged part of the boat yard fence during launch. KR will write to Mr.Brown to enquire with regard to his processing of an insurance claim.

The New Members pack has now been completed and will be published and made available to all members who would like a copy.

The evening talk on Club Racing will take place later in the year once interest of members has been gauged.

Next meeting will be at 20:00 on Tuesday, 1 June at the clubhouse.

TIDES All tide tables, including those on web sites have some variations. To prevent confusion please use LAVERS Tide Tables available in the shops for £1.49 and check them against the ones printed in the diary. There are tide tables displayed in the clubhouse. These are also based on Lavers.

LBSA . Phil attended the meeting of the LBSA. There will be some changes as they are adopting the IRC rating to encourage larger boats and a mixed fleet. There will be two series, The Livingston Cup Series and the Wirral Regatta Series, for their two main trophies. They also award a trophy for a log. Please see Phil if you are interested in joining. The Fee is £7.00

WATER

Members using the hosepipes in the yard are asked to remember that the water is metered. There are four hosepipes please try not to be wasteful.

House & Grounds Commmittee Report - Tuesday, 9 th May 2006 .

Clubhouse .

Bar General.

Monthly Bar Report - The annual bar takings monthly report up to the week commencing 1 st May 2006 were circulated to the General Committee Members.

Projects.

Porch/Foyer - Work is ongoing within this area.

The Club signs for both the main porch window and on the exterior wall of the clubhouse have been installed.

Clubhouse central metal support beam ceiling area - Work is ongoing on finishing of the wooden panelling and choosing suitable lighting. Thanks are expressed to Mr David Forsyth and Mr George Williams for their time in installing the wooden panelling and electrical wiring respectively.

Door Closers - Closers have been installed on both the galley door and internal door from the porch area. Thanks are expressed to Mr Harry Conalty for their installation.

Galley - A replacement range cooker has been ordered and we are waiting upon its delivery.

General

Patio Furniture - The House & Grounds Committee are of the opinion that the club should have some patio furniture for use during the summer months. The furniture would be collapsible for storing within the metal storage unit.

200 Club.

Prizewinners of the April draw:

1 st Prize of £30.00 - Blank cork drawn

(Prize money of £30.00 will be carried over to the May draw)

2 nd Prize of £20.00 - Number 41, Mrs Jean Griffiths

3 rd Prize of £30.00 - Number 46, Mrs Barbara Smith

(Includes prize money of £15.00 carried over from the March draw)

The draw was kindly carried out by Mrs Shelagh Warren on Friday, 28 th April.

Date of next scheduled draw: Friday, 26 th May

The Hon Secretary has dealt with the daily correspondence. He has been in contact with the lifeboats visiting the club. There should be two inshore vessels visiting unless they are called to an emergency. Martin asked us to note the earlier start to the day.

The Hon Treasurer reported that the electricity meter needs to be read. Mark Meadows agreed to arrange it. Dave has paid a large number of bills this month including the cost of the proposed new cooker.

The Hon Membership Secretary. Stan recommended that we have a new House Member, Geoff Bridges of Aughton. Geoff has been a member previously and is well known to many members. He sails a Moody 35 in Croatia. There was a unanimous vote in favour of his membership. Please make him welcome.

Stan also reported that the number of House Members is just about balanced at the moment but there are some new proposals in the offing. The committee discussed the numbers and reiterated that we must not exceed the agreed number.

The Commodore closed the meeting.

The Occasional Alphabet will resume in a later edition.

LIFEBOAT DAY

SUNDAY 25 TH JUNE
Start at 11.00 am.

Bar Barbecue ,sandwiches and snacks

The RNLI stall, books and bric a brac

Tombola, raffle and other games.

The ever popular lifeboats and crews, come and meet them.

A fun race!

This is our one-day a year in which we make a big effort to raise funds for the lifeboats that depend on charity. We need helpers, gifts for the raffle and prizes for the tombola, members to enter the race but most of all we need YOU to support our event. Please make a note in your diary.