A work party took place on Saturday 16th August, starting at 10:30.

Many thanks to all who took part:

First, John Bacon because he was missed off the first version of this list – sorry John – and Bill Halliwell, Kevin Longworth, Brian and Katrina Rees, John Frubin, Mike and Rob Burke, Bob Andrews, Jack Tomlinson, ( who unfortunately hurt his foot and had a trip to A & E but he’s on the mend now), Norman Ingham, Mike Smith, Tom Bradley, Barry Williams, John English, Pablo Barrs, Vic and Linda Matthews, Pete Bresnahan, Alan Hughes, Roger Walkington, Peter Mosley, Bill Blenkinship, Erika Shacklady, Mike Morris and last but not least Dave Emmess.

A good turnout. Thank you everybody – if you couldn’t make it, don’t worry there will be another chance!

Work carried out included:

• Painting of container doors
• Painting of ‘A’ Frame
• Scrubbing of Tide Gauges
• Laying  cable (if trench dug by mini-digger in advance)
• Grass Cutting
• Strimming of undergrowth
• Pressure Washing of Guttering on Clubhouse, prior to painting

Let’s face it, the forecast wasn’t exactly brilliant.  Tropical storm Bertha was still blowing hard and possibly coming our way – but neither the met office nor any of the other weather sites seemed to know exactly which way the storm would go.

Thanks to the skippers of Kirsti, Moonshine, Raven, Rivendell,  Sika, Weaverbird and Alcudia (that’ll be me) who all showed some enthusiasm for the trip.

On Saturday morning we agreed that staying over at Piel for the night was not an option, but an out-and-back in a day looked possible. Eventually just two boats set out around HW – Moonshine and Alcudia – and hoisted well-reefed sails for the initial leg to Fleetwood.  The rain stopped almost as we left Wardleys, and we enjoyed an exhilarating sail, wondering what the sea state be like in open water.

Beyond the Lifeboat Station we soon found out, and with some wind over tide effects, let’s say it was quite lumpy.  No doubt it would have been  better further out, but we decided to have an easy day, and decided to turn around after watching the lifeboat towing a rudderless yacht in from the Wyre Light.

We anchored on sand just south of the marina channel, dried out and had a relaxing afternoon wandering around the nearby wrecks and doing a few odd jobs.  What a good spot for a club BBQ!

As the flood tide lifted us from the bottom, we were swung around and waited around 20 minutes before our keels escaped from the holes scoured on the ebb, wondering which way we would be set and if there was any risk of Moonshine and Alcudia ‘coming together’.  All was well,  and  with the wind dropping as the sun set,  we motored back to Wardleys on the last of the flood tide.

We’d had a good day.  Why not give it a try before too long?