And so it goes on! posted 23.07.10

There’s been very little take-up for the Spinnaker Club venue at Blashford so that’s been abandoned for the moment. We’re still sailing in the harbour every Wednesday morning (Lasers that is) but considering the number of Lasers in the Club the numbers turning up to that is very small also. It’s not ideal and John Wakeley is varying the start times to better suit the tide. We’re learning as we go but it is competitive sailing around a course. The safety boat is always in attendance so there’s no fear of your boat disappearing over the horizon to Arne. I’m surprised that not more of our prominent Laser sailors have had a look at it. John Whateley started the Wednesday morning class for sailors new to the sport. Under the present circumstances it’s all we’ve got, so everyone is welcome to come and have a go!

Meanwhile Peter Wiles is searching for other alternative venues as it looks as if we’re in for the long haul. With regard to other venues one of the obvious difficulties, if access is not all round the water, is getting the safety boat to the lake.

Gosport Club has been kind enough to invite us to join them for any of their meetings.

Leisure Services are not making any progress with clearing Poole Park Lake but I understand that another meeting is imminent. The picture is by no means clear. From my own sampling I have found that the Tasselweed is declining - certainly around the edge - but what is left has been overcome by a blanket weed and the whole lot is topped off by algae at the surface. Now - if you take the algae off the surface do you let the light into the Tasselweed once again and encourage its growth? Answers on a postcard please. The situation changes week by week and I have every sympathy for the persons charged with finding a solution in today’s financial climate.

Roy Cane

Lunchtime Barbeque posted 14.07.10

Dear Club Members, Poole Radio Yatch Club would like to invite you to a Lunchtime Barbeque at the Clubhouse on Sunday 15th August 2010

Tickets cost £5.00 per person and are now available from Patsy Askell or Sheila Clark, all are welcome and it would nice to see you there and catch up on recent events.

Read all about it! Read all about it! posted 03.07.10

You’ve probably read in the local press that the lake has been ‘bombed’ by a blue dye. This is to reduce photosynthesis (try saying that when you’re drunk) thus inhibiting the growth of Tasselweed. It may take several weeks to have any effect I’m told. The Leisure Services Department of B o P are considering further measures if this doesn’t work.

Meanwhile we are investigating the use of the ‘Spinaker’ Sailing Club lake at Blashford. We sailed there several years ago but in the winter. Further news when we get it.

I have been driven to extreme measures and have acquired a Laser of my own. Having said many times in the past that I wasn’t interested in one of those floppy things, I find that circumstances alter cases. Just as I was getting the hang of it Peter Pritchard turned up so that was the end of my mornings aspirations. Eight of us gathered on Wed 30th with a nice fresh breeze from the SW. John Whateley had moved the time back (not being able to move the tide - although I told him that was defeatist) and we sailed over high water. He is using the old Power Station outfall as a base and from up there you’re looking down on the course. Works a treat. Nice mornings sail - off to the PYC bar for a drink and a chat - stay to lunch - job done!

Roy Cane

The Saga Continues. posted 17.06.10

This week (16th June) the John Whateley group assembled again - eight boats this time. Cliff Woods (now on holiday) had loaned me his boat. This time the tide was not so kindly. It was out! The NE wind was offshore. A course was laid, and out came the binoculars to view the leeward mark. I waded in and checked the electrics before I launched - no dice! Took a good look at the boat to discover it belonged to Norman Dyer - much laughter from the assembled company. I know they all look the same but that was ridiculous.

I’d prepared an experimental marker buoy before the event with an expandable tether to take account of the tide. It was placed at one end of the start/finish line. All was fine but as the morning wore on it got smaller and smaller. Finally it disappeared altogether. I’d started initially with two metres of line but John Trimmer convinced me I wouldn’t need all hat so I shortened it by half a metre. H was wrong! Fortunately, the buoy being fluorescent orange, was spotted underwater and recovered at close of play.

The tide gave me a little trouble. Because it was low water when we started, the leeward mark was placed quite close to the main channel. As you rounded it the incoming tide, balanced against the wind, stopped the boat in its tracks and it hung there like a kite going nowhere. You don’t experience anything like that at Poole Park!

Why don’t you come along? There’s a whole new set of problems for you to tackle and even more people can watch me make an idiot of myself.

Roy Cane.

Experimental success! posted 14.06.10

John Whateley got us all organised last Wednesday morning (9th) and we sailed Lasers from the beach to the west of Poole Yacht Club. Car parking and access to the public beach were kindly provided by PYC. Most things went to plan and other things need sharpening up in the light of experience. Six laser sailors attended and others ‘looked on’ and helped in various ways. John provided a small outboard for the rubber dinghy and laid a course. The conditions were just right for a first occasion. There was a light onshore breeze and most of the event happened at slack water so no frantic chasing of boats occurred. Boats were launched from the beach so canvas shoes and shorts were the order of the day. There was much more preparation and clearing up to do than we are used to at our Club, so be prepared to ‘muck in’ if you do decide to join us.

At the end of racing the dinghy was stored in the PYC dinghy rack and we all repaired to the Club bar for a drink and a chat. To every ones amusement John got ‘told off’ for wearing his sailing boots in the bar. Whilst there we met the Commodore, John Lewis, and several of us stayed to lunch. While this is only a temporary arrangement I’m sure that there are other places in the harbour that we could use. Key is getting the dinghy close to the water and car parking facilities. If you know of such places do say and we will give them some consideration. We cannot expect PYC to help us out long term. Anyway we’ll be there again next week all being well.

Roy Cane

Newsletter posted 14.06.10

Latest edition of the Newsletter is avialable to view or print here.

Alternative venue posted 04.06.10

John Whateley has negotiated an alternative place to sail. The location is the beach to the west of Poole Yacht Club in Hamworthy. The Club is providing the parking and the access. This experimental event will take place next Wednesday 9th June for Lasers only. Who knows - it may blossom into something more but at the moment is purely a one off. A rescue boat will be provided for any Lasers that go astray. If you want further details ring John on 01202 760121.

Roy Cane.

Lack Lustre Lake posted 29.05.10

Since we’ve had to abandon sailing for a while don’t think your Club has abandoned you. Numbers of us will be in attendance on Tuesday and Friday mornings as usual. There’s plenty to do! After we’ve dried our tears and generally bemoaned our sorry lot we can chat to our friends, have a cup of coffee and a bun (cherry cake in my case), and maybe do a spot of maintenance. John Trew has brought the winter programme forward (in his mind) and will probably find you gainful employment. The Club and its environs has to be kept spick and span - perhaps you’d like to cut the grass! I’m busy researching swamp buggies as they could be raced around a course full of weed and general crud. Peter Wiles is looking into ways and means of weed clearance, but don’t hold your breath. He’s also trying to spot likely places to sail in the harbour - that will be something to look forward to.

Don’t forget the 60th Anniversary buffet lunch to be held on Sunday 6th June at the Clubhouse. Patsy Askell, together with her helpers is laying on quite a spread I understand. Unfortunately the ‘Ladies Race’ now consists of a four mile run around the Park. Don’t forget your singlets and shorts girls! - last one home’s a sissy!

Roy Cane.

Lake Condition Report posted 25.05.10

The weed situation in the lake is now so dire that it has been decided to abandon the race programme until further notice. It was hoped that we could run the programme for this Bank Holiday weekend in the main lake, local to the sluice. However, the weed is escalating at such a pace that this idea has been dropped.

The local Council is seeking advice on the matter and we must wait until a solution is found. We are making enquiries of our own in the hope that we can provide some contribution to the outcome.

Don’t forget the Ladies Race Buffet on Sunday 6th June. Needless to say this will take place without the Ladies Race. It commemorates the 60th Anniversary of the modern Club and will be a get-together of sail, scale and anyone else who fancies to join in.

Roy Cane

Lake flush 24th May posted 20.05.10

Club Members please note that starting this coming Monday, May 24th, the lake will be flushed. You may or may not be aware that weed has overtaken the bed of the lake in our sailing area and threatens to disrupt the calendar. The flushing operation may help to reduce the problem however Roy and Peter will survey the situation once drained.

In the absence of any obvious solutions I have purchased two pairs of pruning shears from the Pound Shop for them and with a pair of binoculars, will observe the sluice gate from a safe distance, in the hope of giving them ample warning!

On a serious note though, the racing calendar is under threat and the committee are in negotiations with Rockly Water Sports with a view to laying out some course markers in the main lake should the need arise.

Watch this space for an update.

Trimmer Trophy Date Change posted 04.04.10

Attention Laser skippers - the Trimmer Trophy will now be sailed on Saturday the 24th April.

RA Series gets under way posted 31.03.10

RA series results now posted on line, with the standings after round 2 found here.

Laser TT Round 1 posted 18.03.10

Laser TT round 1 results here

MYA Affiliation posted 08.03.10

Will all MYA Members please note that your new ‘Lifetime Affiliation’ cards are now available and are pinned up in the Clubhouse, ready for your collection.

Radio ‘A’ Class (RA) Veterans UK National Championship posted 07.03.10

Entry details can be found here for the MYA Radio ‘A’ Class (RA) Veterans UK National Championship, to be hosted by Poole Radio Yacht Club at Poole Park Lake on Sat 8th and Sun 9th May 2010

Racing gets underway posted 06.03.10

The 2010 race season got underway today with the first round of the PRYC Laser Spring series. Results here.

Resumption of sailing posted 18.02.10

As you are aware the lake will be empty until the 1st March. Thereafter sailing will commence to programme. The Leisure Services Department of Poole Borough Council are proposing to scrape the bottom of the Model Yacht enclosure in March to remove as much weed as possible. The work will take three days but as yet there is no firm start date since a licence is required.

Our first Open event is the Laser Tourist Trophy on Sunday 14th March (see Notice of Race section). On the same date we will be sending a team of RA’s to Gosport to start off a new four race inter-club series. A busy weekend.

Roy Cane

Laser TT event posted 18.02.10

Laser TT Round 1 at Poole Park on the 14th March. Entry details available here

January 2010 Newsletter posted 10.02.10

Your first Newsletter of 2010 is available to view here

PRYC Club Secretary’s Report to the AGM, December 2009

Commodore, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The year started badly with the loss of one of our most respected sailing members, Brian Askell. Not only was he a source of ready advice to those who needed it, his regular attendance to be RO at the midweek sailing certainly took a load off my shoulders. Fortunately Bob Beckett came out of retirement and stepped into the breech.

Although I’m handling it at the moment you will remember that we are still looking for a Sailing Secretary who will undertake the whole race sailing scene. The lucky incumbent would arrange for the organisation at all the Club competitions, calculate all the scores, recover the awards, see that they are engraved and deal with the prize giving at the end of the season in addition to formulating the following seasons sailing programme. John Trimmer has now offered to look after the Tuesday and Friday sailing as RO, in addition to his other heavy workload for the Club, and his help has been gratefully received.

Turning to Poole Council matters, I remember last year talking about the possibility of a water supply to the Clubhouse. The Council seemed quite energised by the project but I estimated the chances of success at 15%. Well, I have to tell you that the chances have now reduced to zero since the estimated cost was said to be £22,000. We have looked into this provision ourselves at various times in the past and concluded that it was not viable because of the lack of sewer service in Whitecliff road. This is the first time that the Council have expressed an interest in the work and suggested that a septic tank was the answer so we progress in that respect, albeit without a result at present. Those taps will have to remain dry Patsy.

The Park has once again been awarded a Green Flag. Cyril and Sheila, Shirley and I attended the press event, availing ourselves of the lavish hospitality on offer - weren’t those biscuits absolutely delicious? Steps forward had been made and a new flagpole was in evidence. Our pictures appeared in the Echo together with representatives of all the organisations which maintain the Park and use its many facilities. Well done Leisure Services!

The outdoor exercise equipment turned up and I was gratified to see that it was positioned where I had suggested. I have to say though, that it pulls in the public who take an interest in what we’re doing and may add to our membership. I had grave reservations at the start but they have been unfounded and Shirley has been much leaner and fitter since its arrival! Quite an unexpected benefit.

The biggest problem at the moment is the weed. I emailed the Council on the subject but as yet have no written reply. I understand from informal meetings held at site with the Park Supervisor that they are considering emptying the lake over the winter period. This may point the way to the future management of the situation - we shall see. I have made it plain that we will not be seeking to host National Competitions next season since the condition of the lake is indeterminate. This will reflect poorly on Poole.

The Membership this year has reached a new high of 128 - onward and upward it seems. It’s just as well you don’t all attend at once. Many of the applications have John Trimmer as the proposer as he continues his record of attracting the interest of passers by.

You’ll see from the accounts how important the catering donations are to the viability of the Club as a whole and how they help to keep the membership fees as modest as they are. We may have a tidy sum in the contingency fund but that would have been mightily dented if the acquisition of a water supply had materialised. We’ve not given up that idea of course and also the fence is looking decidedly shaky in some areas so future major expenditure is inevitable.

Major work to the remaining half of the clubhouse floor was completed early in the year and it seems to have worked. No longer do you spring up and down as you approach the front window. The number of floor joists has been doubled. It was interesting that the existing joists were only rotten at the ends. We have to thank a number of willing volunteers for their efforts. This year the boathouse floor will be repainted after the boathouse party next Tuesday when we’ve cleaned up the jelly and the trifle. I think John Trew has ambitions to repaint the outside of the building. No doubt Laurie Bryant will not wish to be involved as in recent years. He’s the only man I know who’s fractured his hip whilst washing out a paint brush. His new hip joint is functioning satisfactorily and he’s back with us. The loo was replaced by a more modern version which has proved to be cleaner and requires less maintenance. Incidentally I note that the loo income from donations was only £9. That doesn’t quite add up - even at one pee a time.

The work done to the marker buoys over recent years is now paying off. Stainless steel shackles and substantial chains together with anti-fouling paint and the fact that the lake has a greater proportion of fresh water has helped reduce the winter maintenance. The recovery boat is weakening by the season and will have to be replaced ere long. Suitable replacements with wheels are hard to find - unless you know differently!

There was one major competition tackled during the year - the RA Nationals. Peter Stollery, the MYA chairman, was RO for this three day event attracting forty competitors and allowing our most prominent sailors to take part. He was of course surprised that all he had to do was turn up and be Race Officer. I suspect that in most Clubs the chosen Race Officer does much of the preparatory admin work as well. Not so here, where we have a dedicated team on hand to arrange things and see that it all goes smoothly. Patsy Askell headed up the catering section, organising two evening functions at the Clubhouse as well as ‘feeding the five thousand’ during the day. Graham Bantock from Chelmsford won the event with his ‘Sword’, followed by Brad Gibson from Birkenhead sailing a ‘Venom’. Third was our own Peter Wiles with his ‘Sweet Mk 9’. The Mayor of Poole, Councillor Charles Meachin, presented the prizes.

The Poole RA Challenge Cup Series, competed for over nine events around the country, and culminating in our Taplin Trophy, has had another outstanding year. Masterminded by David Munro, the winner this year was Dave Andrews of Hampton Court, followed by Ken Binks of Eastbourne and then David Munro himself. There were 55 entries overall.

The Laser scene remains as strong as ever and has, in fact, been added to over the last season. Full credit must go to Class Captain John Trimmer and also to John Whateley who has not only instigated a Wednesday morning session for people who are new to racing but a Thursday morning session for those completely new to the sport. No-one can say that we are not using the Park facilities to the full. Monday is the only day for which nothing is scheduled.

In spite of our heavy usage of the lake RA’s have taken a step backward during the season. The One Metre fleet is now so strong that RA’s do not appear on the Tuesday and Friday meets. There may be many reasons. The average age of RA skippers is increasing and trying to launch or recover an RA on a lee shore in anything of a wind can be a bit challenging. The rig is not as easy to change when coping with varying wind conditions. It’s much more fun to sail in a large fleet etc. etc.

We normally include our two Ten Rater open events which we did this year. Unfortunately I had to cancel both at a very late stage. I took some stick over this as it appeared that there were entrants waiting in the wings. The form is that you enter open events at least one week before. How am I to know that Joe Bloggs is planning to come from Essex if I’m not told. Tam O’Shanter, travelling down from Scotland and who’s entered in the correct manner is not going to thank me if he’s arrived only to find that there are not sufficient entries to make a satisfactory race. It’s about time that a stand is taken against late entries for open events. It affects both entrants and Club organisers.

I put the Ladies Cup into the programme as I had threatened to do. Up until several days from the event we had only one entrant. Many would-be competitors got the idea that the whole thing was deadly serious. A little thought should have disabused them of that idea. Much lobbying and arm twisting produced a workable number and I laid out a reaching course - as that was the simplest option. The event attracted more spectators, (sorry barrackers), than I had anticipated. Since I had paired the husbands and wives together, some tension developed and added a certain spice to the occasion. It was all over within the hour - probably just as well. Sheila Clark won, paired with Linda Munro. There’s a lesson there somewhere and I have learned it. Next year the pairings will be by ballot. We all returned to the Clubhouse where Patsy Askell had organised a BBQ (thanks to Jo’ and Martina, her hard-pressed son and his wife). As it’s all going to happen again next year, I hope the competitors will be more relaxed about the format.

John Ryland is running a midweek frostbite series at the moment. This will continue as long as we have water and the weather remains reasonable. There are no plans for Sundays unless someone wants to arrange some racing.

Next years programme is substantially complete. There are some major changes as I struggle to keep up with trends in the Club. Maybe I’m leading the changes rather than lagging them - it’s in your hands. Broadly, next year, the One Metres will be sailed in the week and RA’s on Sundays. This may not be universally popular but where were you with your RA in the week this year? The usual One Metre Club competitions on Sunday will be retained - The Mallard Cup will be split into four and sailed on the Bank Holiday weekends. These weekends will therefore cater for Lasers on Saturday, One Metres on Sunday and RA’s on the Monday. Remember my former email to the Council about resisting running National events because of the condition of the lake. My resistance must have weakened because we have included the RA Veterans event in May, on the premise that the temperatures will be a minimum and the weed may not be such a problem.

Whilst I’m on the subject of the MYA; at their AGM, it was decided to issue the ‘Acquaint’ magazine to every member. The yearly membership fee will be £10. The magazines, together with the Yearbook Diary will be posted to you. Membership cards will be phased out and proof of membership will be via the MYA website. You will need to retain your membership number in order to enter the members section. You can pay your PRYC and your MYA subs today after this meeting as they’re both due on 1st January. Please make out a separate cheque payable to the MYA as this makes things much easier for our Treasurer.

You will remember that the Club has bought an engraving machine and, as promised, Peter Wiles and I have engraved all the trophies. You will find therefore that, if you’ve won such an award, the year and your name will have been engraved on it already. This was not possible on one or two items but steps are being taken to update our trophies. We’ve also filled in some of the missing years where members have neglected to have their trophies endorsed in this way.

Another successful year then. The cups and trophies that you see here will be presented at the end of our meeting. Well done to the winners and better luck next year to the losers. Once again I would like to thank all those who have helped the Club in the past year, not only by their physical effort but by their generosity and good will. I hope you all have a very Happy Christmas and, in spite of the continuing recession, a Prosperous New Year.

Thank you
Roy Cane

Newsletter, November 09 posted 08.11.09

The latest club newsletter is now available here.