November 2005

COMMENT The last part of the sailing season; The Prizegiving Dinner will take place on Saturday the 12 th of November. We all look forward to a pleasant evening. The only things left then will be to take care of boats for the winter. More of that later!

The weather conditions that we have been experiencing have produced some spectacular autumn colours. If you fancy a day out to see them or even if you are just fed up on a wet day click on www.forestry.gov.uk/autumn . There are lists of places to go, a slide show and tree identification from fallen leaves, worth a look!

The" American" Grey Squirrels are back in the news. A new study shows that they outnumber the reds by 66 to 1 and are spreading rapidly. Naturalists now accept that red squirrels have all died out in the south except on the Isle of Wight. In the north of England £1 million is going to be spent in an effort to preserve the red squirrels. All sightings of grey squirrels should be reported to the Nature Reserve wardens. All grey squirrels will be exterminated leaving a 3-mile band round red squirrel areas.

It is hard to believe that the next social event will be the Christmas Party, although why be surprised? It has just been a very busy year with good and not so good surprises round the corner. We have celebrated the 200 th anniversary of Nelson and 400 years since the foiling of The Gunpowder Plot. Before the Christmas celebration we have an Annual General Meeting, earlier than usual this year. If you have never been to one why not come to this and find out first hand what goes on there and put your point of view forward if you wish.

There was an apology for non-attendance at the General Committee Meeting from D. Warren. The following are some notes and some messages from the meeting.

COMMODORE'S REPORT Dave was very pleased that the Hotpot Supper was enjoyable and that most people were happy with the disco. Some members however, did not turn up. If names are put on the list then supper is ordered accordingly. Stan Warren has taken the job of ordering "regalia" for members. There is a catalogue available in the clubhouse and Stan will be present to take your orders. If you order next week you will be in time for Christmas. A word of caution! Check that you order the correct size as they will be difficult/impossible to return if they have the name of your boat or the club's logo embroidered on them.

Dave has organised a Grand Raffle, to be drawn at the Christmas Party. Tickets are on sale in the clubhouse NOW. There will be many prizes. The first is a 5inch LCD Colour TV suitable for boat use. Tickets £1.00 each

VICE COMMODORE'S REPORT . Carole gave a report on the Sailing Committee Meeting. It was mostly concerned with getting the prize list sorted. Phil Wright has agreed to take on the position of Club Captain, replacing Alan Roe. Carole would like to recruit more young people to be on the Sailing Committee. Two special notices were as follows. There will be no sailing meeting next month.

MASTS IN THE YARD

ALL MASTS SHOULD BE TAKEN DOWN BY THE END OF NOVEMBER.

THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBOURS.

CHECK YOUR BOAT FOR NOISE MAKERS!

BOAT TRAILERS

THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION

OF SOME OF THE BOAT TRAILERS IN THE YARD.

OWNERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WHEELS SPIN FREELY AFTER THEIR BOAT IS ON BLOCKS. A SUB COMMITTEE WILL INSPECT .

LBSA PRIZEGIVING DINNER & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Will be held on Thursday 24 th November 2005

At Royal Mersey Yacht Club

Meeting 6.30 for 7.pm start

Dinner 7.30 for 8pm.

See Phil Wright to book a place

HON SECRETARY'S REPORT Martin has dealt with any correspondence that has arrived. Notices will be placed on the boards. He is preparing the notices relevant to the AGM, which you will be receiving soon.

TREASURER'S REPORT Dave reported that the accounts will be ready for presentation at the AGM. Unfortunately the Hotpot Supper was not a financial success due to the non-attendance of some members.

In view of all the work carried out this year the finances are healthy.

HON MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Stan presented the names of proposed new members to the committee. A sub committee had recommended them for membership. The General Committee accepted the nominations unanimously. Please welcome Mr George Fredrick Les Birel from Ainsdale as a Full member. Please also welcome Mr and Mrs Blundell and Mr and Mrs Farrington as House members. The number of House members is now 58.

Stan reported that plans for the Prizegiving Dinner are in order. There will be 55 people present. The time is half past seven for eight o'clock.

House & Grounds Commmittee Report - Tuesday 8 th November 2005 .

Projects.

The Rear Commodore circulated an update on the status of projects and their associated costs carried out by the House & Grounds Committee to date .

Clubhouse .

Bar General.

Monthly Bar Report - Annual bar takings up to the week commencing 24 th October and Petty Cash Outgoings for October monthly reports were circulated to the General Committee Members.

Audit - The Club Auditors carried out their annual audit of the bar on Monday, 31 st October and Tuesday 1 st November .

Porch/Foyer.

In preparation for the removal of the existing frontage to the porch area, the incoming telephone cable and socket have been repositioned. The hot and cold water pipes running through the porch area have also been renewed and replaced.

New replacement frontage is scheduled to be installed over the next week.

The Club telephone now resides on its own shelf within the porch and procedures will be put in place to empty the phone on a weekly basis.

Central Heating.

Mains Gas Supply.

Phase-2 - which is the continuation of the gas pipe and ducting for the electrical supply and Comm's, linking the connections at the kiosk to the clubhouse is in hand and will be completed as soon as possible.

Central heating System.

This has been in use throughout the month during club opening hours.

There are a couple of outstanding jobs with regard to the installation of an electronic timer and the cladding of the visible copper pipes within the north end of the clubhouse.

Snug Area Review.

The large seating area wooden frame has been tidied up and strengthened and there are just the top, side and bottom wood panels to be installed in order to finish it off.

The curtains have now been hung and pictures will be added to the walls some old, but a lot new reflecting the past history of the club.

Grounds .

Black Hut - The work on strengthening the internal roof supports of the hut has been carried out and thanks are expressed to Mr Charlie Plant and Mr Bob Chamberlain for actioning this.

The replacement of the bitumen felt covering on the roof will be carried out in due course.

Clubhouse Road Working Party

Many thanks are expressed to the nine members who attended the working party on Sunday, 30 th October to repair the road.

Rubbish

It is with disbelief and astonishment with all the endeavours throughout the year to improve the clubhouse for the benefit of all the members that someone has taken it upon themselves to dump a load of rubbish from off the beach and place it in front of the clubhouse and leave it there.

Not only does it reflect badly upon our Club, but it also entices members of the public and rogue traders to add to it. Matters are in hand to get the culprit(s) to remove it.

Final

As this will be the final report prior to the AGM on Sunday, 27 th November, I would like to thank all those members who have assisted the House & Grounds Committee in one form or another during the course of the past twelve months .

200 Club.

Winners of the October 200 Club Draw :

1 st Prize of £30.00 - Number 12 Mrs Shelagh Warren

2 nd Prize of £20.00 - Number 65 Mr John Kervin

3 rd Prize of £15.00 - Number 148 Mr Arthur Gelder

The draw was kindly carried out by Mr John Bowen on Friday, 28 th October .

Many thanks are expressed to the nine members who attended the working party on Sunday, 30 th October to repair the road.

SOCIAL EVENTS. Questions were asked about the format of the New Year's Eve Celebrations. The General Committee decided that the format would be the same as usual. Bring your own food and make your own music. It always seems to be popular and very enjoyable, therefore no need to change it.

AN OCCASIONAL ALPHABET.

L = Lima Morse = dot dash dot dot. A yellow and black quartered flag indicating:

"You should stop your vessel instantly"

Landmark - A shoreline feature that is not visible from the sea.

Latitude and Longitude - A series of imaginary lines on the earth's surface, drawn at intervals parallel to the equator (latitude), or the poles (longitude), as an aid to navigation. Since they are invisible, many mariners find them of limited usefulness.

Launch - To set a boat afloat, particularly at the beginning of the sailing season; an often costly undertaking since, as many mariners know, there is no such thing as a free launch.

Lazaret - Although not all boat owners are superstitious, by long-time customs a small shrine, called a lazaret, is maintained in the stern of most boats. It is basically a locker with a watertight cover; and it contains what might best be described as an amulet or "juju". This consists of a barbecue grill (representing harvest and hunt) wrapped in 20 to 30 feet of depth-sounding line (symbolizing safe passage through shallow waters) and in turn knotted to several rubber fenders (symbolizing protection from collisions) with the rope of a small anchor (a token of peaceful anchorages). Exact practice varies from boat to boat; wellies (symbolizing protection from the elements) or a plastic bucket (symbolizing cleanliness) may also be tied to the anchor.

Lead line - A block of lead at the end of a length of rope, which is thrown over the side to determine depth. If it bounces, the course should be changed at once.

Leeward - Pronounced "Lourdes or shorted to "loo". The direction in which objects, liquids, and other matter may be thrown without risk of re-encountering them in the immediate future.

Lifeboa t - The only known class of vessel, which, upon going aboard, an individual thereby increases rather than decreases his chances of survival.

Life Preserver - Any personal floatation device that will keep an individual who has fallen off a vessel above water long enough to be run over by it or another rescue craft.

List. 1. A more or less permanent lean to one side exhibited by a boat due to misplacement of ballast. 2. A more or less permanent inventory of things that will need to be repaired or replaced on a boat, such as the ballast. S.Markland

SAFETY FOR WOMEN

As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women.  He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim. Some sound advice for us all as we all sometimes forget to take our common sense with us when we go out.

This is from Bedfordshire police." Women.... In light of the recent kidnapping and now murder of

Leigh Mathews, I think it is important to read the following info for your own safety.
Things women should know to stay safe: Please take the time to read these pointers. There may just be one or two you hadn't thought of and after reading this, forward it to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in"

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. If a robber asks for your handbag, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you.... he is probably more interested in your handbag than you and he will go for the handbag. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the boot of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm through the hole and start waving. The driver won't see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc and just sit (doing their cheque book, or making a list). DON'T DO THIS! A predator could be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, and attack you. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a car park : A .) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and check the back seat .   B .) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most attackers surprise their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars .  C .) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the shop, or work, and get guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the lift instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.
7.If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!
8. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her 'whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear babies' cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby.
I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it's better safe than sorry.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE POLICE - Visit us at http://www.northants.police.uk

MSN Messenger 7.5 is now out. Download it for FREE here. http://messenger.msn.co.uk

Thanks for all these helpful tips contributed by Kathrine Hogarth. I hope we never need them. Also here is another message to all concerning safety. There is a national campaign that has been launched following the terrorist activity in London. See Mobile phones later.Ed.

PRIZEWINNERS 2005

ALTMOUTH CUP RACE

THE ALTMOUTH CUP CLASS "A "
SKUKUSA S. LOFTHOUSE

THE FORMBY CUP CLASS "B"
1st LA TOPAZE. C.PORTER
2nd CATCH 32 J. MYERSCOUGH
3rd TAO J.HEYWORTH

THE LEN MYERSCOUGH TROPHY - THE BEST L.B.S.A. PLACED B.S.C. BOAT.
LA TOPAZE. C.PORTER

ALTMOUTH CUP PORTSMOUTH YARDSTICK AWARD - THE ABBOT CUP & REPLICA
1ST. LA TOPAZE. C.PORTER
2nd CATCH 32 J. MYERSCOUGH
3rd NIMROD I. R. COWELL

THE CHANNEL TROPHY - THE CARLYTA CUP AND REPLICA
CHIA-CHIA P. EAGLETON

THE MANX TROPHY AND REPLICA.
TAO J. HEYWORTH

THE J.S.RATTRAY TROPHY
1st KAOL. C. G. LOUGHRAN
2nd NIMROD II. I. R. COWELL
3rd SEEL P. G. WRIGHT

THE SPRING BANK HOLIDAY SERIES - THE ORLANDA CUP AND REPLICA
1st MOJO M. S. MEADOWS
2nd NIMROD II. I. R. COWELL
3rd KAOL. C. G. LOUGHRAN

THE RANZO CUP
1st TAO J.HEYWORTH
2nd MOJO M. S. MEADOWS

THE COLLEY CUP
MOJO. M. S. MEADOWS

THE STEPHENSON TROPHY
KATHRINE HOGARTH

THE R.N.L.I. TROPHY
1st NIMROD II I. R. COWELL .
2nd TAO J.HEYWORTH
3rd KAOL C. G. LOUGHRAN

THE ARDEA CUP
1st KATHRINE HOGARTH IN JONIMO
2nd LYNN ROBERTS IN NIMROD.
3rd KARI GILLARD IN MOJO

THE GALLON OF ALE RACE - THE GEORGE Mc LEOD TROPHY
1st JONIMO. A. LEE-McGURK.
2nd NIMROD II I. COWELL
3rd MOJO M. S. MEADOWS

THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY SERIES - THE ALT CUP AND REPLICA
1st SEEL P. G. WRIGHT
2nd MOJO M. S. MEADOWS

THE LAST CHANCE RACE
1 st NIMROD II. I. R. COWELL.
2nd SEEL P. G. WRIGHT
3rd MOJO M. S. MEADOWS

THE CRUISING CUP
CIRRUS. J. V. & G. COADY

THE HARRY SWINBURN AWARD FOR ENDEAVOUR

THE CROSBY CUP
A. H. GELDER

THE TRAVELLERS TROPHY AND REPLICA
A. ROE

MOBILE PHONE OWNERS .

In your mobile phone address book store the word ICE and against it

the name and number of the person you would like to be contacted

" ­I n C ase of E mergency"

In an emergency situation, ambulance and hospital staff will then be

able to quickly find out who your next of kin is and will be able to

contact them. It is so simple that everyone can do it. For more than one

contact name use ICE1.ICE2.. ICE3 etc.

NEWSLETTERS ON LINE

In an effort to speed up newsletter delivery we would like you to contact us. Some members already read our newsletter on the web site and others receive it by e mail. If you have access to the internet and would be willing to receive your newsletter by e mail or just read it on the website pleas e mail me at JOHNANDPAT@heyworth.fsnet.co.uk with your e mail address.

This change would mean that we would not run out of them as sometimes happens in the clubhouse and also that Outport members would receive a monthly letter instead of the occasional ones as now. Keep in better touch!

Thanks to all who have supported me with articles and suggestions. Pat.

REMINDERS

Prizegiving Dinner 12 th November

Annual General Meeting Sunday 27 th November @ 10.30am.

Christmas Party Sat 17 th December

Grand Christmas Draw Tickets now in the clubhouse £1.00 each

Regalia. Order now from Stan Warren for Christmas delivery.

A taster of things to come at Christmas .

What did one eye say to the other?

Between you and me something smells