NEWSLETTER November 2008
Chairman’s Letter
Dear Members,
Sadly we are coming to the end of the sailing season.
I hope you have found that the new programme and booking arrangements are
easier. We have had a very successful summer with only one cruise cancelled
(due to an injury to the skipper) and most of the berths were filled. The empty
ones were because of members withdrawing at the last minute. We do not request
a deposit so, if you do need to cancel a booking, please give as much notice as
possible. Given enough time we can usually find replacements.
The committee is now working on the programme for next
year and is looking to extend the number of sails. If you would like to do or
go somewhere in particular, now is the time to let us know. Immediately,
please!
Last year’s meeting at the London Boat Show was very
successful and you will see that we have included it again in this year’s
winter programme. If you would like to join other members do come on:-
There is no set agenda for the day.
Meet for lunch at 13 00 in the dedicated bar in the North Hall (promised
to “better-sited”)
or do your own thing.
Obtain your own tickets taking
advantage of the discounted offer negotiated by
We shall soon be coming to the AGM when, besides the
usual business, we shall have to discuss the future of LOSA. As you know the
committee has been carrying out a review of the programme and whether LOSA is a
viable organisation following the winding-up of the Marabu
Sailing Club. Our finances seem to in a good position but we are dependant on
having members and people to run the association. By drawing this to your
attention before Christmas, I hope to give you time to think about it, and that
you will come to the AGM with your thoughts and comments on the status and
future of LOSA. You might like to consider the following:-
·
We are one of nine organisations
listed in the Sailability Offshore Webpage, (http://www.rya.org.
? Firstly,
is there still a niche in the sailing world for an organisation like LOSA
or are there
plenty of others with the same objectives with whom we could work?
? What makes the Associaties
special for you?
·
Members Nick
Johnson, the membership secretary, has worked hard this year bringing the
membership list up-to-date and master-minding a drive to recruit more members
in the South East. He has mailed sailing clubs and care organisations for the
disabled and intends to send out more notices to the latter this autumn. There
have been about 5 new paid-up members and some other enquiries but we need more
if we are to improve our programme.
Now members are becoming more scattered instead
of all being based around Chipstead. Does this
matter? For example car sharing is more difficult but we have an extended
cruising ground.
·
Helpers
and Committee members. Could
you give some time and thought to whether you are able to help with running
LOSA?
Many on the committee have served for a long time -
some from the inception of LOSA so we are looking for people who would like to
stand for election. You do not have to become an officer but this year we shall
need to appoint a new Secretary and
also a Sailing Secretary. There are
3-4 meetings a year and we try to share out the work..
As you know each cruise now has a specific organiser
so the job of Sailing Secretary is
much less onerous than it used to be, but there does need to be someone with
overall responsibility who can co-ordinate the sailing programme.
The Secretary
is essential to the running of the organisation although LOSA does not to have
to deal with very much correspondence.
We are also looking for someone to take over as Editor and publisher/distributor of the
Newsletter which is issued about three times a year
We are reviewing our Insurance policy and need some
expert advice. Is there anyone amongst the membership with experience of insurance and liability?
All of these jobs are vital to the continuation and success of LOSA.
If you could help with them or in any other capacity please contact me or a Committee member for a
discussion. Do not put it off. Do it in the near future or soon after Christmas before the
Committee discusses the situation at our meeting on January 22nd.
To make
traveling easier especially for those who come a long distance and want to
return the same day, we are going to hold the AGM in an afternoon ending with tea, scones and cakes (paid for out
of LOSA funds). There will be more about this in the New Year. Put
the date,
Also note that there will be a training session on Navigation with an emphasis on use of
electronic equipment on
Back to thinking of 2008, have a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Winter Programme 2009
|
DATES |
ACTIVITY |
|
15.1.09 |
Club Day at Meet for lunch at 13 00 See November Newsletter or Website for details |
|
21.2.09 |
AGM followed by tea at Chipstead Sailing Club, Sevenoaks Short talk on Crossing the Atlantic 14 30- 17 00 approx |
|
12.3.09 |
Navigation Review 10 00 -13 00. Bring your own sandwiches for lunch. |
LOSA Sailing, April 2008
5 April- Daysail on the R Orwell Distance:- 9.3M Wind:- N/NW 4-5
Slipstream had just been launched so
after competing one or two fitting-out jobs and having had lunch we set off for
an afternoon-evening sail. The plan was to make the most of the variable cold
weather to go up river against the tide and then down towards Felixstowe
depending on how long we survived the very chilly wind. After motoring into
7-9 April.
An Early Season Cruise on the R. Deben
Distance:- 66M Wind-W3/4 &
NW 4/5
In
spite of the very chilly winds and a frost on the deck in the morning, this was
another enjoyable cruise to Waldringfield and back
with the R Deben looking as charming and delightful
as always in the sunny weather. The first sail of a season into this river is
always a bit of adventure as the entrance changes each winter. However this
time it seemed easier to negotiate and we got to Ramsholt
for lunch. After a night spent on a buoy at Waldringfield,
we had a pleasant time going down river in the sun. Arriving early at Bawdsey we found the spring tide too strong and had to wait
for the stream to lessen before leaving the river. (Well, the almanac does advise
leaving at slack water, and Slipstream only has a 20hp engine.) Even then we
needed full throttle to make progress.
The SW wind forced us to beat out to sea which made a change from going parrellel to the coast past Felixstowe.
After the second night in
Suffolk Yacht Harbour and spending a morning replacing the battens in the main
and sewing them in place, we went out into the Orwell, tacked down to
Felixstowe and anchored off Shotley marshes for
lunch, moving off to the mooring at Woolverstone around
tea-time.
---------------------------------
A Couple of Days around Harwich
Haven
Sailing is
a Dangerous Pastime!
So,
there I was, hammering up the A12 in a late April dawn listening to my
favourite radio station L.B.C. ( London Broadcasting
Company). At some point between the M25 and Woolverstone
the crackle became unbearable, so much so that I was forced to listen to
something else, so what were my choices? The inane drivel of a Radio 1 D.J.
(are they called D.J.’s now?) or should I tune to a
local
With
some trepidation we entered the Orwell late in the evening monitoring the VHF,
then later congratulated ourselves that we had outwitted the best that Hitler’s
finest had thrown at us.
---------------------
Or…………
24 April.08 A
day on the R Orwell and
We
sailed in the two rivers hoping to get to Mistly but
on seeing large dark clouds approaching from Manningtree
we turned soon after Wrabness and fled under jib to Shotley. Then we enjoyed a southeasterly
wind which sprang up for a while and ended up on a buoy opposite Levington for the night
25
April.08 Walton Backwaters Wind: W/S 2-3.
36M
Early
afternoon tides were right for a day trip. Departing from mooring before ten
and having estimated the earliest that we could get in, we sailed most of the
way and tacked into the Backwaters. We had the engine ticking over when the
channel was narrow (just in case) and were not as brave as some of the locals
over the shallows. (What was their draught?) Having anchored for lunch in
Hanford Water and seen the seals disappear in the distance we went up the
Walton Channel and the Twizzle to Titchmarsh
Marina, turned and left on a falling tide. Back again at Levington,
rain spoilt the end of the day and we motored safely back to Woolverstone whilst the RN had to bring up reinforcements and did not finish their
job until another day.
--------------------------------
A
seven-hour flight took us to the island of Bermuda, and after our March weather
the relative warm 19oC seem positively balmy, though the local
Bermudians were walking around in overcoats complaining about the cold. It was the first day of the tourist season,
my wife & I had five days to explore the islands, which we found beautiful
and having a very welcoming locals. Our highlights included a walk along a
deserted pink coral sand beach, the old Colonial buildings and our first scuba
dive, which allowed us to briefly explore a coral reef. As we indulge ourselves
with the wonderful seafood and local rum cocktails we mused over what our
voyage would be like. We had regularly passed Tenacious moored up in
The day had arrived to board our floating home
for the next month, no more wandering around the sub tropical garden that
surrounded our hotel, for the next month we would have a sea view. This was no
floating hotel like a cruise ship, by law as a British merchant ship we are
required to sign up as members
of the crew, as many others have in the past. All the berths
in Tenacious had an occupant, and the
“paying guests” were divided into 4 watches, with a watchleader,
(who had previously sailed with the Jubilee Sailing Trust and been recommended
by the permanent crew) to look after the novices. The Jubilee Sailing Trust was
founded to allow disabled people to sail along side able bodied crew, the buddy system gives everyone who has a disability
to have a designated person to help when necessary. Everyone went to their allocated berths to
unpack in their limited space, either in a dormitory or a small cabin with 2
bunk beds and curtains instead. All of the watches held a meeting when to teach
the novices the way that the ship ran. We were allocated or watch schedule
(watches are the times you are on duty and have to be on deck, these change
everyday to make sure there is a fair rotation, 3 watches off 1 watch working)
and our other duties which included “mess duty” (the mess is the dining room)
working either as a waiter or helping in the galley (kitchen). We also
discovered more about the ships routine and including the delights of “Happy
Hour” time devoted to cleaning the ship every day between 9 and 10. Our first day was spent exploring the boat,
learning what went where and literally learning the ropes. The evening was
spent with a final run ashore and the chance to walk on land for the last time
in what was likely to last time for 2 weeks.
Departure day arrived; everyone was ready to
head into what would be the unknown. Uncertain of the weather, sea conditions,
how the crew would get on and what if anything we would see and experience
during the journey. It was clear and sunny as we cast off from
(To
be continued).