GYC September 2005

Newsletter

 

Congratulations to Colin Robson for climbing the mast of the ‘Tenacious’ and raising money for the Jubilee Sailing Trust. This Trust provides opportunities for people of all physical abilities to enjoy sailing on a tall ship. Currently the Trust owns the ‘Lord Nelson’ and the ‘Tenacious’.

 

 

 

Social News…

 

Change of Date…Please note that the scheduled talk on Nelson that was to have been given on the 13th September by Anthony Cross will now be on the 18th October at 1930hrs.

Other Social Events

Friday, 16th September. Clubhouse open – Nelson River Pageant.

Saturday 17th September. Great River Race. PM Music by ‘Dammit’.

Saturday and Sunday 17th and 18th September – Art show in Classroom.

Sunday 18th September – Open House.

 

Tuesday 18th October – Talk on Nelson. 1930hrs. Anthony Cross

 

Saturday 5th November. Free fireworks. Food available.

Saturday 19th November. Annual Dinner Dance and presentations.

 

Sunday 4th December. 1700-1900hrs Free afternoon - Greenwich Concert Band.

Sunday 11th December. Christmas Lunch.

Tuesday 20th December. Make a model boat for the Winter Solstice.

Saturday 31st December. 2000hrs New Year’s Eve.

News from the Harbour Master…

John would very much like some help with work on the Work Pontoon and the Workboat – both of which craft are now ashore for repairs/renovations. If you are able to give some help with this please contact John Bailey at the club to negotiate times for this.

 

Rowing Section…

 

Saturday, 10th September 2005

09:30hrs/16:00hrs

Erith

1400hrs

 

Sunday, 11th September 2005

10:00hrs

Erith

1430hrs

 

Friday, 16th September 2005

Boats to Richmond for Race day. (17th September). HW Richmond Lock 1312hrs.

Leave GYC 0915hrs. LW GYC 1940hrs. Rowers meet at Richmond Bridge on Saturday 17th at 1130hrs.

 

Work Parties

 

Up-coming work-party dates are as follows:

 

Saturday September 24th                           Saturday October 22nd

 

Work parties start at 0900 hours and go on until 1230 when you have the opportunity to enjoy a bargain Full Greenwich Breakfast and cuppa courtesy of Pat and her team, for the knock-down price of £2.50.  See me outside the tea-room and I’ll find you a job.

 

Remember all members are required to do a minimum of 2 work parties a year, in order to keep GYC as a low-cost, self-help club.

 

Damon Rowley

 

Visit of Gypsy Moth IV to GYC…

 

How she is now…

Those of us who were lucky enough to get down to GYC on the 6th September were treated to a tour of the Gypsy Moth IV. Magnificently restored, she is now in the tender care of the UKSA and will begin a 22 month circumnavigation shortly. Three lucky youngsters at a time (three on each leg) will have the opportunity of taking part in this venture.

 

We were allowed – indeed encouraged – to have a good look around the ship. The quality of the restoration work is breathtaking. As much, it seems, of the original has been preserved as has been thought practically possible. Even, on the port side, by the original nav station, the old large dial instruments are there – quite visible…but - if you lift the panel they are on - you are immediately blinded by an array of state of the art equipment – all underneath the original stuff!

 

Some of us – those who admit to be being human as sailors – were reassured by the performance of the erstwhile skipper in bringing her alongside the GYC Pontoon. Before she could be moored close in alongside, the tide caught her by the beautiful long keel we all know is there and stubbornly swung her bow outwards – almost as if she were unwilling to spend time moored on Father Thames and would rather be off – Eastwards and Southwards!

 

As a slightly embarrassed crew member remarked to me as we tried to pull her back in, ‘…you’ve got strong tides here!’. But the engine had to be restarted and the main electric winch used to coax her into position.

 

On being asked how she sailed, the skipper replied she was a tad tender. But then, as John Bailey reminded me, Sir Francis Chichester had complained of the same thing many, many years earlier!…(Nearly forty – in fact).

 

Almost by way of a bonus - as Gypsy Moth IV prepared to leave - we had a display of a Rescue Drill over the Thames Barrier by an RAF Sea King Rescue Helicopter. A dummy casualty (a fifteen stone dummy – mind!) was lifted on a stretcher from Pier 8 and lowered – with winch person – onto the south shore. The Sea King then lowered stretcher and winch person onto a Fire Fighting Launch. An RNLI RIB and a Police Launch were also in attendance.

 

Apparently one of the reasons for the choice of venue for this Drill is the difficulty in removing a stretcher casualty from a Pier at the Barrier by way of the Maintenance Access tunnels.

 

Cruiser News

Sea Reach Trophy:

Thanks to everyone who turned out to take part in this re-introduced event. We were blessed with (unusually) a stonkingly fine Bank Holiday weekend and it didn't take too much imagination to transform Sea Reach into the Mediterranean, except for the one big difference ~ tides! The course was shortened due to the very light winds, with boats largely tracking across the tide instead of the original 3 mile up-tide slog and the reduced 6 mile course seemed more than enough for most.

 

For those used to normally racing in the confines of the river, Sea Reach was an interesting change; clean air with no building turbulence, long legs where crew settle in to sail trimming, turning marks you need to navigate to find, and finally constantly vectoring-in the tidal factors. Needless to say, most of us got it wrong at least once! A good race, with a close finish, the winning boat's margin only 68 seconds.

 

 

With the Bank Holiday behind us, and the lovely memories of summer cruising, it's back to reality for most as school holidays end and winter draws in.

 

All is not lost! We've still got plenty of activity planned on the water to keep you in touch with the real things of life.

 

In September we have two more cruiser races to look forward to:

 

The OVENS BUOY TROPHY, Sunday 11th September.

 

This, rightly or wrongly, is regarded as the big one at GYC. Almost the longest race of the year, with a tricky tidal gate halfway, everyone would like to get their name on it at least once. It also traditionally attracts one of the biggest turnouts of the year. For this race we will bypass the usual introductory handicapping system whereby you have to have raced once already to get a number. For the Ovens, to encourage full participation, the handicappers will allocate a reasonable approximate handicap at a suitable level for all new boats, no excuse for not coming out now! It's an early start, with a high tide at 0630, but we need to get away in time for the slower boats to arrive at the Ovens by Low Water at 12.15. Many folk will meet in the Club on Saturday night and sleep on board overnight I guess. Last two years have been plagued by very light winds, but this year….?

 

The THURROCK TROPHY, Sunday 25th September.

The THURROCK TROPHY, Sunday 25th September.

Originally awarded by the Commodore of Thurrock Yacht Club for a race from GYC to the Thurrock Yacht Club line. We awarded a similar Trophy for a race back (which has never been run in living memory) Race start 0830.

 

Briefings for all races usually 1 hour before, we might brief on Saturday for the Ovens.

 

Hope to see you there. Many cruisers will be looking for extra crew, so if you haven't a boat but would like to go sailing come along on Tuesdays and see if you can get aboard.

 

Lionel Willis

Dinghy Section News

 

Dinghy Race Schedule 2005

 

Date

Race

Briefing

Start

HW

OOD

Safety Boats

4/9/05

Commodore’s Cup

1230

1330

1503

M Sadler

J Four, R Baker, P O'Rourke, D Purkiss

18/9/05

Mayors Trophy

1200

1300

1435

J Coleclough           

J Four, D Rowley, T Fossey, J Prehn

2/10/05

Open Day

1100

1200

1400

TBA

J Four, G Williams

16/10/05

Barclays Cup

1100

1200

1330

R Wheatley

J Four, J Prehn, P Murphy, T Fossey

WINTER ICICLE SERIES

30/10/05

1st Icicle

0920

1020

1150

L Willis

J Four, G Williams, N Crawford, S Wilson

20/11/05

2nd Icicle

1330

1430

1607

M Mitchell

J Four, B Harrison, D Rowley, C Pengilly

4/12/05

3rd Icicle

1330

1430

1517

D Duane

J Four, R Barnes, T McMahon, P O'Rourke      

Courses

Navigation classes - Autumn 2005:

 

There are still places available on our navigation classes. They start on September 13th and are at a reduced rate for members (see web site for details).

 

This year we will be running the Yachtmaster Theory Course, which is aimed at the more experienced sailor, some who have completed the Dayskipper Course or have several seasons’ experience. It covers passage planning and collision regulations in depth.

 

We will also be running the Dayskipper Class. This is an introduction to navigation, it assumes no prior knowledge. This will be taught By Julie Coleclough - active club member and very experienced skipper/navigator yachtswoman.

 

Myself Brian Harrisson will be teaching the yachtmaster course. I have added to my experience this summer by completing my four-summer “circumnavigation” of Britain and this summer sailing the entire south coast of England.

 

There are only a few places left on the Day Skipper so hurry up and get those forms in!  There are more places left on the yachtmaster. I suggest to those more experienced club members they think about brushing up and extending their navigational skills by taking up this quite challenging course.

 

Brian Harrisson

Tour De River Path…

 

Join GYC No Hill Push Bike Group on various weekends throughout the year. See the Famous River Thames on the saddle. The famous birds and the famous rodents. See the trees and rippling bodies! Conditions: You must bring a bike. 

See Mick Sadler 07950 577899

For Sale

1 fuel tank for two stroke petrol/oil with connecting hose £5

1 remote control box with cables (Johnson control box that was fitted to an Evinrude 6hp) £10.

Contact: Roger Gartland 020 8852 3515 or through GYC

 

‘Charming Chloe’, 26' timber Caravel is looking for a new owner/ guardian, needs small amount of work but does need to be launched this year. Consider any options of purchase/ just look after.  Contact Dave Purkiss 077 7492 8179 or Carla Pengilly 079 5734 3954 to discuss.

 

Dragonfly Vivacity 650 GRP Bilge Keeler

 

Four berths in two cabins. Separate heads. Inboard Yanmar 8 diesel with 12 gallon tank. Two batteries. Built-in two ring gas hob and grill plus double well sink. Electric cool box.

 

Two main sails, one full length battened roller reefed plus an older slab reefed. Roller reefed genoa. Two spinnakers, one small, one large. Auto-tiller. Suunto compass. CQR anchor. Recently rewired. VHF radio, digital log and depth sounder all included.

 

Very good condition: Recently repainted and antifouled. Mast and rigging replaced 8 years ago.

 

For sale with two-wheel trailer suitable for yard use but would need attention to the brakes before road use. Kept at Greenwich and sailed extensively around the Thames, Medway, east and south coasts.

 

Perfect boat for east coast waters or any shallow water sailing area as she only draws just under three feet and will take the ground well if needed. Perfect size craft for single handed sailing but can sleep four. See the magazine write-up below.

 

This web site gives many owners opinions on this versatile little craft.

http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-forums.showdiscussion/thread_id-8121/d5090ed6.html

£3500 ono

Contact: Ian Palmer, Tel: 07956 272 980, Email: mail@ianpalmer.net

 

Tony Norwell