April 2011 Newsheet

Now is the time to resolve to write a little of your summer escapades for The Bulletin to be published in the Spring. Please put pen to paper! I think a few people have interesting stories to tell!

Events for the Summer and Autumn

Report from PYA

• The Harbour Safety record continues to be 'good' with 11 'incidents' Oct-Mar, but, 26 in April. A large proportion of these were for speeding.
• A kite-surfing club is being set up to ensure those taking part have insurance and are competent.
• Several skippers have been 'spoken to' regarding 'running the red light' at The Bridge! Under new regulations, vessels in the basin will be given priority. i.e. - those going out - irrespective of tidal stream. IALA signals are still awaiting Trinity House approval. For those traversing the bridge, the lights will go green, only when leaves are fully raised.
• The channels into Holes Bay beyond the bridge, will be closed for periods up to 5hrs when positioning the spans. 2 weeks notice will be given - this is scheduled for late summer/autumn. The channel buoyage will also be altered slightly.
• Local NTM No 15/2011 details the interim proposed light sequences for control of the two bridges during bridge works in Holes Bay. At the moment I don't understand them!
• The long outstanding HRO's are soon expected - it is believed - to be signed off.
• Safety in The Harbour has been reviewed - particularly for racing boats. The guard boat will now position itself ~3 ship lengths in front of the ship. You will not be permitted to pass between the ship and the guard boat - without the risk of a rocket from the Harbour Master! This also applies to cruising yachts. This is 500m for Cotentin and Barfleur and 250m for Condor.
• Cruising yachts have a good safety record in the harbour.

PHC and Harbour News

• The RoRo Marina was expected to be ready for occupation by the end of May. 95% of the available berths have been let.
• The Harbour Master Plan and the proposed Marine Centre (involves PYC) is due for an Environmental Impact Assessment. This will be very wide ranging and is expected to take at least a year. Other sites are being looked at as well as Hamworthy Park. Apparently, the loudest objections are coming from the Hamworthy residents. The MMO (Marine Management Organisation) will give the final approval, not PHC or Poole Borough Council. Lots of discussion yet and believed to be a few years away!
• PYA were represented at a recent very acrimonious meeting on sea horses/eel grass in Studland. Studland will be a 'study area' and so we are likely to be able to anchor in harmony with the sea horses. Some reports on this in the media are very one sided and don't look at the mass of historical data. The BBC have been taken to task by BORG over one sided reporting in the programme 'The Truth About Wildlife'!
• BP have sold their site in Poole to PARENCO.
• All safety systems for a major incident, were activated for the recent Sunseeker fire and apparently worked well.
• Following re-structuring of the staff requirements of Barfleur and passenger limitations, it is hoped that Barfleur will continue to operate from Poole beyond October.

The RYA

• The RYA is proposing to change its structure at the November AGM. These proposals are to have a board of directors who will direct and support RYA staff in the implementation of Council Policy. The Board members will be appointed by the Council - which members vote in.
• The RYA is very actively co-ordinating facts about the use of certain areas within the proposed Marine Conservation Zones for pleasure use. Safe anchorages are usually in sheltered waters, so it is not surprising that eel grass grows there for example! The RYA has a seat at the tables where important decisions are taken about the MCZ's.
• The spread of alien species - they often kill off native species - is worrying. The RYA urges us to clean all your 'hard to reach areas' at antifoul time.
• The MCA has so far it seems, failed to convince the leisure sailors, that the initial proposals for modifying the Coastguards is beneficial. The RYA accepts that changes are required that will improve safety for leisure sailors and is working hard to secure the best solution for us. It is planned to outline what it sees as a powerful case, to a top level committee on this matter.
• The last Government it seems dashed ahead with plans for Wind Farms without adequate consideration in particular, to navigational safety. The RYA is bringing this strongly to the present governments attention.
• Members will now only get a summary of accounts and reports for the year - but you can ask for full financial accounts and reports - or of course visit the RYA web-site.
• A member was recently stopped in Belgian Waters for having red diesel in the tank - and fined 750 Euro! Perhaps it was because he paid tax at the 60/40 split. If you are passing through Belgian waters, beware and make sure you can prove tax was paid on your red diesel! The RYA have gone to the European Commission on this - again.

Other Bits and Bobs.

When you visit Yarmouth, you now have the choice of a pre-booked finger berth (pre-booking usually required in season, especially at weekends), an alongside berth (first come first served) - you can walk ashore but may be outside another boat or another boat may be outside you - or the 'historic' off shore pontoon and take the dinghy ashore. The first two have water and electrics available.