September 2005

COMMENT From my window today there are definite signs of autumn, plenty of berries on the trees, lots of heavy cloud and the biggest indicator of all, a skein of pink-footed geese flying overhead. Signs too in the laying up yard where a successful working party was held last weekend. Some boats have already hauled out and there are quite a number due to come out on the big tides this weekend.

As I have not been into the clubhouse for a few weeks it was startling to note how much bigger it appears to be, the stoves have been removed and the central heating pipes are being fitted as I write. Reports from the Scouse night were that eighty people fitted in for the shanties quite comfortably for a very successful evening. I also hear that there is a fish and chip night on Saturday next, the 17th but that may have happened by the time you read this.

As promised last month here are the names of the new members in August. Mr Mike Bentley as a Family member, G E Lewis as a House member, Christopher Roger Seddon and Mr and Mrs George Cowley also as House members, a warm welcome to them all.

Notes from the General Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 13 th September.

Alan Roe, Stan Warren and Trevor Mayers did not attend.

THE COMMODORE reported that he had sailed in Liverpool Yacht Club's Commodores Cruise, which is a race. It was a blustery day, much rocking and rolling. After finishing seventh out of twelve they all enjoyed a buffet lunch.

Dave asked that we all take note of the forthcoming social events, the Fish and Chip Supper, The Trafalgar Celebrations and the changes made, now both, Friday and Saturday,21 st and 22 nd October, not as in the diary (See later details). The Prize giving night on 12 th November and of course the Christmas Party 17th December when the catering will be done by Gillians and The music will be very kindly provided by Martin Dooley.

THE VICE COMMODORE'S NOTES FROM THE SAILING COMMITTEE.

Tuesday, 6 September 05

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

Apologies : Ian Cowell

The yard needs another hose and stronger reels, CF will source hose and 2 additional reels.

Reminders for non-payment to be sent to Altmouth Cup boats that have yet to pay their fee.

The Rattray Race was discussed and it was suggested that the finish line be the Commodores boat, or other, and the Hilbre mast, this giving a short line and independent timings. SM will amend sailing instructions for next years race.

Flags being raised and lowered at start of races after some early confusion now seems to be widely understood and will be continued next season.

The feasibility of a fixed anchor point in the vicinity of the outer corporation mark for O.D. will be discussed at a future meeting.

An RYA O.D. training course will be arranged for March/April 2006.

The sailing instructions for the Ranzo Race B Course will be amended to a finish line of a transit from the Formby landmark and C12.

Tasks for the working party to be carried out on Sunday 11th were identified.

Concerns were raised about members who have not complied with instructions regarding the number of tenders in the yard and general tidiness.

The yard plan has yet to be completed while still waiting for the electronic measuring device.

Notice for the travellers and cruising trophies to be placed on the notice board, entries closing on 4/10/05.

Various names were suggested for readers, CF would approach .

Repairs to the main slip to be carried out once all boats have been hauled out. Plans to be drawn up before Christmas.

10 places are available in Albert Dock for the start of the clipper race on 18/9. AR has details.

A NOTICE TO ALL BOAT OWNERS

Please wind in the hoses after using. An easy winding reel is supplied.

also

Please do NOT leave your extension leads plugged in.

THE REAR COMMODORE Mark told the meeting that the work in the Snug area is ongoing. The work on the gas supply is completed and the central heating pipes are now being fitted.

The replacement entrance to the front porch was agreed by the meeting to be double glazed aluminium framed. Paul Middleton Jones will fit it.

The external light has been fixed and is now operating. Thanks were expressed to George Williams for doing the work and to John Lorenz for providing the scaffolding.

Welcome now that the nights are darker!

TAKE CARE IN THE BLACK HUT . WATCH OUT FOR ROOF PROPS AND ALSO PLEASE AVOID DAMAGING THE YELLOW GAS PIPES, WHICH ARE STORED THEREIN AND MIND THAT THE BIG BUOY DOESN'T TRIP YOU!

The Bar will open at 11am on Sunday for those members who wish to watch the Clippers passing by. Ted Hassall has been asked to represent BSC in Liverpool for the Clipper event. We have been allocated a Clipper, Canada named Victoria. It is hoped that we can be visited by some of the crewmembers either before the race or after the finish. Mark Meadows will invite them.

THE 200 CLUB

The first prize was won by Mrs Shirley Burns.

The second was won by Mr Alan Needham and

Mark Meadows won the third prize.

If you have not yet joined please think about doing so, the proceeds are a big help to the club.

Mark brought to the General Committee a request that smoking at the bar should not be allowed. It is unfair to other members and to bar staff to smoke beyond the designated area. The Committee agreed. Please take note of the following:-

NO SMOKING AT THE BAR

Applicable from 1 st October

Agreed by the General Committee 13 th September.05

THE HON SECRETARY has dealt with correspondence. A letter of thanks has been received from the R N L I for the donation sent from the Lifeboat Day event. Martin will put notices and correspondence received from the RYA on the relevant notice board.

THE HON TREASURER has done his usual stuff, paying bills etc for the refurbishment. Dave also pointed out that the Scouse and Shanties Night made a profit of £572 for the R N L I and thanks Hughie Jones and all who supported him in any way and to the Scouse cooks who were highly praised.

MEMBERSHIP . In the absence of the Hon Membership Secretary, Mark Meadows told the meeting of the interviews that had taken place with three applicants for Full membership. They are Mr Robert Berks and Mr Christopher Berks who have bought Camellia and Mr Timothy Brunsden. After discussion a ballot was held and all were admitted to full membership. Please make them feel welcome in the club.

TRAFALGAR CELEBRATIONS .

As reported there are changes to the advertised Hotpot Supper.

On Friday night 21 st October there will be a club night and the Beacon will be lit at about 7.15pm

On Saturday night the 22 nd October there will be a Hotpot Supper and the ever-popular Stormin'Norman will provide the music.

Tickets will cost £7.00

Watch the notice board for further details of the above weekend.

The Commodore closed the meeting.

TROPHY HOLDERS.

Please can all trophies be returned to Pat or John Heyworth or be left behind the bar for safe keeping within the next couple of weeks.

An Occasional Alphabet J

Juliet. Dot dash dash dash Flag: Blue, white, blue horizontal stripes .

Some flag meanings

J. I am on fire and have dangerous cargo aboard. Keep well clear. (Flown when

you don't want anyone alongside).

JH. I am aground, I am NOT in danger.

JL. You are running the risk of going aground.

JW. I have sprung a leak.

JX. Leak is gaining rapidly. JX. (Just below surface). The leak has ceased.

Jack or Jack Tar - colloquial term for a sailor cf. (I care not for your predicament Jack, I am suitably catered for).

Jolly boat - vessel carrying Jack ashore.

Jig - Sailors hornpipe, Old Phonetic alphabet before Juliet.

Jigger - a measure for rum.

Jiggle - First aid to any non-working part particularly electrical.

Jib - a foresail.

Jibe - a consciously executed manoeuvre with the sails

Jibe - a retort when the jibe is involuntary.

Junk - a Chinese vessel or the detritus of the laying up yard.

Jug sling - a knot or hitch which is still waiting for a use to be found for it.

Jaws - film to deter bathing from yachts.

J for oranges (Bad phonetic joke).

Jurby - Manx port

Sound of Jura - Scottish musical with Lulu (surely some mistake. Ed.)

Some famous yachts: J class

Jonimo a Cygnet 20

Juma a Bowman 36

This arrived by post. Very many thanks to the anonymous wit. Any offers for K? Ed .

Dear Editor

Whether "senior moments" are getting the better of me or whether some gremlin got into someone- else's system I do not know, but somehow the second page of my celebrated article, "A Slow Boat to the Review of the Fleet" went AWOL. For those who have been on tenter­hooks ever since, wondering whatever happened next -1 enclose the thrilling sequel!

You will all remember that the famous motor tug "Brocklebank" had arrived in Southampton via Dublin, Milford Haven, Penzance, and Falmouth - now read on with sheer delight!!

Yours Derek.

I was sorry that on looking through my files, I found that the " senior moment" was mine. I haven't worked out how I missed the second page of Derek's account of his trip and I do apologise. I will therefore print the whole, just in case you missed or have puzzled about the abrupt end in last month's newsletter.

Pat.

A Slow Boat to the Review of the Fleet

In the Canning Half-tide Dock, next to the famous Albert Dock there lies a fine vessel: the motor tug "Brocklebank" formerly owned by the Alexander Towing Company but now owned by the Liverpool Maritime Museum. It is presently chartered to the Wincham Preservation Society, a splendid body of old sea-dogs who maintain it and take it to various Maritime Festivals around Britain and occasionally overseas, to represent both the Museum and the City.

This year our renowned vessel was invited to take part in the Review of the Fleet by Her Majesty the Queen, at the Spithead anchorage off Portsmouth, to celebrate the 200 Anniversary of Nelson's famous victory at Trafalgar, (when Nelson knocked the living daylights out of the combined French and Spanish Fleets.) Or in politically correct parlance when the "red" team beat the "blue" !!

Whether the Queen herself had issued the invitation I was never in a position to ascertain, this information being on a strictly "need to know" basis ! At any rate your fairly- intrepid member of the Sailing Club being also a member of the noble "Brocklebank" band of seafarers set sail with them for foreign parts on June 15 th . Our stalwart leader, Capt. John Temple, a Senior Mersey Pilot, recently retired, had plotted our course with all due care and decided that we could reach our objective via Dublin (a foreign port in Ireland) and Milford Haven (another foreign port in Wales). Thence to Penzance and Falmouth (in the fairly- foreign Dukedom of Cornwall) coming eventually to our desired haven via Southampton.

In Dublin I was delighted to be introduced to Prince William, not unfortunately the royal personage himself, but the training vessel named after him. I went on board and was shown around this fine square- rigged vessel which encourages 16-25 year olds, particularly, to get a taste for big ship sailing. I learnt that she would be following us to Portsmouth to take her own place in the Review.

On our way to Milford Haven, not far from the Smalls lighthouse, we were escorted by about twenty dolphins that stayed for about two hours playfully gambolling all about us. Whilst in this Welsh port your correspondent, mindful of the Sabbath, went to St. Andrew's parish church to morning worship. Here I found I was in renowned company, for to this church in the year 1802 Nelson himself had come to worship, together with Lord and Lady Hamilton, whilst on his way to join the "Victory," which had anchored in the harbour awaiting his arrival.

The journey from Wales across the Bristol Channel and around Lands End was full of roly- poly but only one of our number disgraced himself. (Not your correspondent, I hasten to add!) After two days in Penzance we arrived in Falmouth. Our berth here was in a yacht marina alongside the Falmouth Maritime Museum. Our skilful skipper manoeuvred the "Brocklebank" amongst the dainty yachts as if she were a Dinky toy and came alongside the slender pontoon so gently that even an egg would not have been crushed! Whilst here we visited the Museum, which is an Aladdin's cave of delights for the small- boat owner, displaying all manner of dinghies and small sailing craft.

We sailed from this noted naval port in an opposing Easterly, of all things, and arrived twelve hours later in Southampton in a berth immediately behind the QM2. (Sometimes one can feel really small!)

The next day we left to take our due station to be reviewed by our Sovereign. On our way down the Calshot Channel and across the mouth of the Medina River, off Cowes, we were joined by the Balmoral, which dared to overtake us. However we were very graceful in defeat, as you would expect!

We came to our anchorage just north west of the Spit Sand Swashway with Gilkicker Point not far away. From here we had a splendid view of the new Portsmouth Spinnaker Tower and all the units of the fleet, which Her Majesty was going to review. Prior to the big day itself there was a rehearsal, the salute being taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. Then came the day we had all been waiting for, Tuesday 28 th June and to my untold surprise a very important guest indeed arrived on board our tug, not quite royalty, but the next best thing: Commander Cedric Loughran and hid lady wife Fran. Just fancy, here was I, far away from the madding crowd, and all of a sudden we were entertaining two noted members of the Blundellsands Sailing Club. So all of us together, waited breathlessly for the arrival of the Queen of England on HMS Endurance. It was this red-hulled vessel, which carried our Sovereign past all the assembled ships. Endurance was preceded by the flagship of Trinity House, the Patricia and followed by HMS Chatham, the Queen's official escort. All the bonny crew of the Brocklebank were at action stations, most smartly turned out in matching sweatshirts and navy trousers, ready to give three hearty cheers. Now on every other occasion whenever the Queen has seen me in the crowd she has graciously waved. And although I cheered and and waved to her most loyally as she passed, I wasn't absolutely sure whether this time she had spotted me, for the nearest Endurance came to us was three quarters of a mile! However it was a stirring sight to see all the 150 naval vessels from 35 navies plus 17 Tall Ships and hundreds of smaller craft as they cheered Her Majesty to the echo. Later on the Red Arrows gave an amazing display of their skills. The mock Battle of Trafalgar took place between many of the Tall Ships, which had been present at the Review. And the day ended with a fantastic firework display when over ten tons of fireworks were rocketed up into the night sky, turning night into day by their brilliance.

After such a red-letter day, our hectic participation with the Marines in their fast-roping displays from their helicopters down onto our deck, during each day of the Portsmouth International Festival of the Sea, faded into the memory. For when my grandchildren now as, "Granddad where were you when the Queen reviewed the Fleet in 2005?" I can reply, so proudly, "I was there!"

Derek Bowker.

The vital statistics of the Tug(for those interested in such things)are: Length 103 ft., Breadth 27ft., Draught 13ft 2ins., Engine: Crossley 8 cyl. Turbo charged diesel developing 1200 hp./ Speed 12.5kts., Bollard pull 18 tons. Built be W J Yarwood and Sons of Northwich in 1965. DB

NEWS FROM MIKE ASCOT

Having lived aboard Ninicha for the best 12 years of my life, sailing over 35000 Nm, mostly solo, visiting 25 countries and numerous Islands I decided that it was time for a change of life style. I put Ninicha up for sale in Spain but soon realised that selling her abroad could be difficult. I needed to bring her back to the U. K.

Being single handed meant that the French canals, due to the locks, were not an option, so I set off from my winter base at Almerimar, southeast Spain, heading for Gibraltar and the Atlantic route. I was just rounding the "Rock" when I had total engine failure. Luckily, I was carried back by the current and managed to anchor off La Linea where I discovered that the diesel lift pump filter was blocked. I had run the fuel tank almost empty as I intended to fill up with Duty-free but sucked up some gunge. I anchored off Gibraltar and drained the fuel tank before refilling with duty-free diesel. I also took the opportunity to replenish the alcohol supplies, stocking up with whisky at £4.25 a litre.

After leaving Gibraltar I enjoyed a relatively uneventful sail along the southern coasts of Spain and Portugal, stopping overnight in the lagoon near Faro

The Azores high had firmly established itself, so my plan was to sail out towards the centre of the high using the prevailing northerlies then try and pick up a south westerly once through the centre of the high. The forecast predicted settled weather with light winds from the North with no sign of any change in the long range forecast so I decided to tack up the Portuguese coast and just day sail hoping for stronger winds further north.

I approached Cape St Vincent at 5pm with clear skies and calm seas intending to sail through the night to get some sea miles under the keel. Fortunately I can miss a night's sleep without much of a problem, so long as I get to sleep early the next night. However, on rounding the Cape, conditions immediately deteriorated to dense fog with a chilling light northerly wind, which would have meant tacking through the shipping lanes on radar all night, so I chose to turn back and anchor in the lee of the Cape and wait to see if conditions would improve overnight. Next day visibility had increased to 50 yards so I set off again tacking well inshore but not making very good progress with the Atlantic swell literally taking the light northerly wind out of my sails.

The fog persisted for the next 8 days till I left Portugal and arrived back in Northern Spain at Bayona. Fishing pot markers had been a constant problem in the poor visibility and although they showed up faintly on the radar the real hazards were the undetectable small pickup buoys which were tethered on floating polypropylene lines. Deciding which side to pass the marker to avoid them resulted in many urgent avoidance manoeuvres. I was fortunate to only become entangled once, requiring a very unwelcome dip in the cold Atlantic to cut the line free from the prop. Once in Spanish waters the fog and pots disappeared.

I left Bayona with a northwest 4 forecast but as usual the forecast was wrong and became a northeast 3 on the nose. I gently motor sailed heading for the Scillies but after 5 days the wind increased to a lumpy 5 gusting 6. I was low on diesel so altered course and headed for Cork where I arrived 2 days later.

I was given an warm Irish welcome at the Royal Cork Yacht Club where I berthed for 3 days until the NE 7 died and I moved further east to the small fishing harbour of Kilmore Quay, a delightful small working harbour complete with its resident pair of friendly grey seals. No facilities here which meant a 4 hour "white knuckle" round trip on a shuttle bus to get Euros and supplies from Wexford.

Eventually the wind turned northerly so I decided to bite the bullet and beat into it back up the Irish Sea. It had been 24 days since I left Almerimar and I was getting a bit fed up with life aboard in inclement weather. The beat up to Holyhead was extremely unpleasant slamming into the usual steep short seas that you get on the continental shelf.

After topping up with more diesel at the unfriendly Holyhead Marina, they charged me £5 for tying my dinghy up whilst I visited the grocers 25 yards away! I left after half an hour and had a wonderful sail mostly at 7 knots up to Blackpool where I dropped anchor half a mile offshore and had a very rolly night. Next morning I sailed down the Lune to Glasson Dock a tricky passage, not unlike the Alt where precise timing is essential.

So once Ninicha is sold my lifestyle change begins.not certain whether to buy a canal barge on the continent or to summon up the courage to return to sailing out of the Alt with all its attendant difficulties and demands as well as the satisfaction of sailing out of one of the most difficult tidal rivers in England.

One lesson I have learned during the past 12 years living aboard is that its not the places you visit that are important. One palm-fringed beach is the same as any other palm-fringed beach. The most important thing is that you have the opportunity to meet so many other people of all nationalities and customs. I have made many good friends whilst cruising and I shall miss them all now that my wanderings are almost over. .or possibly just suspended until I get another knee replacement!!

Mike Ascott

The above letter arrived just too late for the August News Letter. Over the past few years Mike has generously kept us all informed of his travels through his articles for the newsletter. He has certainly had some very interesting times. We are more likely to see more of him if he decides to stay in this area.. Whatever he chooses to do I wish him well and want to say thank you for all his contributions. Ed.

HUGHIE JONES

Please note that Hughie Jones is at his folk club at the Everyman in Liverpool every Tuesday Night at 8.30 pm.

If anybody would like to buy any of his CD's Dave Flynn will get them for you and they will be autographed.

1973

My thanks to Phil Wright recently gave me two copies of newsletters from 1973. It was interesting to note that many of the problems that arose at that time are still with us.

Parking cars in the dinghy park, gates not being closed, and drums left on moorings despite personal approaches to the offenders by the Yard and Berth Master of that

They had congestion on the moorings and also in the laying up yard. There was discussion concerning single-handed racing and more encouragement needed to get boats to go on the Commodore's Cruise. There was always a large entry for the Isle of Man Race around that time from our club, twelve boats from BSC with an overall entry of fifty-five boats, but they had to contend with bad weather conditions. In 1973 George Butler was the first in the LBSA section.

In one of the newsletters Mike Carran, the editor, put the question forward:

"Is the present system of attaining the exalted position of Commodore by working up the committee ladder really valid?" I have heard this question asked much more recently in the club so it would seem therefore that very little has changed in the last thirty-two years. Ed.

SOCIAL EVENTS

Fish and Chips. 17 th September

Trafalgar celebrations Friday October 21 st lighting the beacon

and Saturday 22 nd A Hot pot Supper with Stormin' Norman

Prizegiving Saturday 12 th November.