Rockley Cruising Club

August 2010 Newsheet

The Club Bulletin - Contributions please.

Hopefully by now, some members will have had, or about to have, their 'summer sailing experience'. Now is the time to put pen to paper and write a little of your experiences for 'The Presidents Cup'. Long or short, we would all like to hear about your experiences.

Message from the Commodore.

Don't forget the Rockley Cruising Club Bar-B-Que at Davis's Boat Yard on Saturday 14th August! I ask all RCC members to attend if at all possible, as this will be a wonderful chance for us all to meet up, talk boats or whatever else takes your fancy. Please bring friends along; better still, bring a candidate for RCC membership!

None of us are getting any younger, we need new members and we need them now! It will be a chance for us to tell them about the benefits of membership, especially the information about the Harbour Area, along with the RYA and PYA affiliation. Debbie and I look forward to meeting you again.

Tony

Forthcoming Events.

Saturday August 14^th.	Summer Bar-b-q at Davis's Boatyard. Meet down by the offices at Davis's 13.30 for 14.00. This year we have obtained official permission! Davis's will provide us with their large bar-b-que - and the necessary charcoal and some drinks! All you need to do is bring your own food and drink and turn up! - bring your sailing friends to persuade them to join! We will be inviting berth holders from Davis's, so please come to help chat up potential new members. Let's see if we can swell membership numbers a little!	Pete and Pat
August 28^th Cruise to Christchurch	Worborrow Bay is quite a challenge, so Alan and I have agreed we should try Christchurch! (It's the January pink glasses!) Meet at the Ro-Ro terminal just after 10.30 on Saturday 28th August (The 10.30 bridge for some) and sail to Christchurch. It is essential to let Alan know your intention to join well before the weekend! Plan 'B' for poor weather will be a bar-b-que (or maybe even a pub if the weather is very poor/severe)	Alan and Lesley
Sept 18^th Bar-b-q and Sing-along at Redclyffe.	A return to the bar-b-q and sing along evening. Take your boat or come along in your car - plenty of parking for both! Pat and I have a family Golden Wedding party, so this year Moyra and Tony will be doing the MC'ing and leading the singing with Marion and Chris providing the music.	Sandra
October 9^th Bike Ride	Maureen will no doubt take us around an interesting tour of Arne with the essential of meeting at 'The Half Way House' for lunch. More details later.	Maureen
October 31^st Cockle Trail Walk	A walk around Old Poole Meet at 'The Kiosk' on the Quay at 10.30. To be followed by lunch at one of the Pubs in Olde Poole. Details later.	Pat and Peter
November 13^th AGM	After a good lunch at the Planning Meeting, The Black Bear at Wareham was booked for the RCC AGM on Saturday November 13^th. Lunch at 12.00hrs followed by the AGM at 14.00. Please put this date in your diary.	Sandra and Moyra

Harbour News and News from PYA

Poole is a Trust Port. The new government have ideas of selling it to a private company to help pay off some of the country's debts! Probably won't know more until the Autumn.

The contract for the second bridge has been let to Hochtief UK with a start date of April 10^th 2010, so the second bridge is going ahead and won't be affected by this round of Government cuts. For those in Holes Bay, test piles have by now been driven (Mid July) in preparation for the main pile driving work commencing in August. Dredging will be taking place in The Backwater Channel(to Holes Bay) in August. This channel may be closed at times, but we should be given 14 days notice!

RYA News

A large majority of sailors still want to keep 'traditional pyrotechnic flares'. The RYA recommends that you should have some method of sending a distress alert and since the Coastguard no longer keep a visual lookout, their value may be questioned. EPIRB's and VHF DSC now give reliable distress signals. The RYA guidelines are that if a boat has a '406 EPIRB' or a DSC radio, it still needs 3 pinpoint hand held flares as a final guide. I recently 'disposed' of my old flares very easily at the Poole RNLI Headquarters - but an appointment was essential! If you go to France with flares, ensure they are 'in-date'; or you risk a fine!

Whilst on the subject of flares, Insurance Companies are warning against carrying flares to a collection point while loose in the car boot. Put them in a small cardboard box for safety - better still, in a steel box with a lid.

Sarah Treseder has taken over from Rod Carr as the Chief Exec. of the RYA.

The RYA, on our behalf, is looking at the effect of offshore wind farms on navigation - also tide and wave generators. We may be asked for detailed input (via PYA) as proposals may affect Poole.

The Government's e-border programme is still unclear. They are now consulting with the European Commission, as it is likely to be illegal under EU Treaty. The Government have cancelled the contract of the company working on this on the their behalf. The RYA is looking after our interests.

Bits and Bobs.

A new pontoon has been positioned in the Folly Reach at Cowes, specifically for the Sailing Schools to practice their 'coming alongside' and to learn berthing skills. A little peace for us in the Medina river then.

An independent report published in March, recommends that 'Leisure Sailors' whose boats are over 9m and who sail outside harbour limits, should pay ~£100/year, towards maintenance of 'Marine Aids to Navigation'. The RYA are taking issue with some of the report's findings. However, the DfT have promised to consult RYA Members.

Portsmouth Boat Jumble Sunday 22^nd August at Portsdown Hill, Cosham, PO6 1BJ. 10am-3pm.

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