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Anchoring at Bass Pool full report. August 2019

A brief synopsis goes like so: –

Five Wardley’s yachts entered ‘Bass Pool’ to drop anchor, three  lay there for the whole night.

Those that felt secure enough to trust their ground tackle all had big heavy hooks with plenty of chain, or had the modern  delta type anchors that cut deep and efficiently into the sand and mud.

Those who relied on their Chart-plotter for a suitable location were punished severely  by an  ebbing tide, and  were left embarrassingly  high and dry. The moral here is don’t trust the men from the ministry and their new fangled electronic charts.

Those who sailed furthest into the pool dried out briefly until the tide returned.

Those on an imaginary  line between the lighthouse and the castle brief elevated a few inches and settled again once the flood tide began.

Only those gently swinging at the outer margins of Bass Pool stayed afloat throughout.

Skippers with ladies aboard opted for the perceived greater safety of the large buoys closest to the pub.

Fifteen sailors and two Wardley’s dogs joined in the club event that took place overlooking ‘Bass Pool’ behind Piel castle. Everyone had a great time and later mingled with the other party goers on the island.

The night at anchor was quiet All those involved returned home safely the following day.

Lots of people on the island.

Continue reading Anchoring at Bass Pool full report. August 2019

We have a winner: Let’s go Anchor in Bass Pool comic outfit award’

By all accounts the sailing and anchoring adventure to Bass Pool by a group of Wardley’s sailors was a success. Five boats in all dropped anchor and  it really was a great sight to see so many!

In total

  • Fifteen sailors
  • Seven boats
  • Two dogs

Joined in the fun.

See: Let’s go anchor in Bass Pool event: –

As the Sailing Captain,  and with the powers invested in said role,  I hereby announce the winner of the  ‘Let’s go anchor in Bass Pool most comic sailor’s outfit‘ competition: –

Where the prize is  a bottle of :-

 

Kindly donated by our commodore: Steve Adams

 

And the winner is:

Nick ‘Nimrod’ Martin

 

It was a close run thing, all members sported at least one item of comic value, and everyone looked great on the day!

But special recognition must go to Nick for the following reasons: –

  • He came with a choice of hats, a classic skipper’s and a classic pirate’s hat, and also sporting a groovy ‘Treasure Island’ style  themed T-shirt.
  • The first boat to drop anchor in Bass Pool.
  • Brought along  the juiciest looking beef burgers (no contest here!).
  • And whose anchor light shone the brightest, and later on helped a trio of Wardley’s Sailors row back to their boat in the wee hours of the morning.

Please can we all give Nick  a loud round of applause.

You are invited to double click on the photograph!

 

 

CLUB EVENT: Let’s go Anchor on 3rd August 2019.

HOLY MACKERAL, The season still feels like it has just started, but we’re already at the halfway mark.  I know, it does not seem like last week since we were all CRANING IN, and proving emphatically to the WMYC’s HR department that we fully understand the word ‘TEAMWORK’.

Still, a sailing club would not be a sailing club without the odd SAILING EVENT, finding its way into the club lounge calendar (Linda, it’s the 3rd August).

Steve Adam’s our brilliant new Commodore decided that after my 52, often hair brained, crossings of Morecambe Bay in my Sailfish 18 in a matter of three years, I deserved bestowed upon me the title of ‘Sailing Captain’ . This honour did not come without obligation, and so here is the  pay-back in the form of a PLAN for a  forthcoming club event.

Great holding power the ‘Silvikrin’ anchoring location in the Furness Peninsula.

On quite a number of occasions when going to PIEL ISLAND, I and some other most excellent members of the club have eschewed the easy (Ronald McDonald’s Burger and Fries ) option of grabbing a mooring close to the jetty.

Instead we have sailed into BASS POOL and dropped anchor on the south side of the Island.

All I can say at this point is that it’s a JEWEL of a location that needs to be shared amongst us all

What I propose is to get out on our boats on the 3rd August 2019, cross the bay (it’s not that far really), and drop our anchors in the said narrow strip of water, and have a barbeque on the side of the Castle over looking our ANCHORAGE for the night.

For a bit of fun and to enter in the spirit of the occasion, we all get ourselves sailor’s hat, with an ANCHOR on the forehead band, and there shall be a PRIZE for the most authentic/comic look. See the Captain below, but it could also be the Jack Sparrow,  or other. Our Commodore has offered to sponsor a prize.

 

For those who have not anchored for the night before, this is a great location. The bottom is good heavy sand and has a ‘Silvikrin’ max hold.  Just let out enough chain and dig the anchor in with plenty of REVERSE THRUST. If your engine cannot shift your boat then the wind has no chance.

And if there is time, you can paddle to the south side (much closer to the boat). Check out the photo’s below of  a walk to the lighthouse last year (the day before the 2018 CRANE OUT): –

Members are encouraged to participate if they can. Cruising in company is a great way to boost confidence, and we will aim to stay in radio contact at all times.
Skippers are often in need of crews: if you haven’t got your own boat, it’s likely that another club member  would welcome you on board.  Just ask around!
Note: times are GMT. Add an hour!
On the other side: –
Piel Castle in the distance looking back across Light House Bay. Jamila moored in Bass Pool at the bottom.
Andy Sargent on Walney Island looking back towards the castle and the lake district hills

Piel Island and RNLI action, May 2019

 

About five Wardley’s boat sailed over to Piel Island off Walney Island during the recent bank holiday weekend, some  on differing days. Everyone reported having a great time and feeling exhilarated to be back on the open seas.

The weather was absolute great. The winds were fair and the sun was out for most of the time.

(Comments at work during the following week: ‘Now what exotic place did you fly off to during the bank holiday Simon’?).

The title photo above is a telephoto image, from the jetty, of Kyle 2 (Snapdragon 24) approaching the island. For all intents and purposes it looks like Andy Sargent is about to be gobbled-up by an angry orange monster,  but rest assured, the windfarm service boat was some distance behind.

Link to PHOTOS – will open in Microsoft one drive:-

Click here to see photos

(Note: all are hi-definition photos, so feel free to double-click on any to zoom in )

RNLI rescue

Later on that evening, we witnessed a late night rescue! The first we realize something was going on was when the RNLI station suddenly lit up like Piccadilly Circus, then the big boat came splashing down the long slip like a giant Log flume ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The smaller inflatable rescue boat also was launched. Then for several hour we were treated to the spectacle of boats rushing up and down the channel with eye dazzling spotlights panning in all directions. At regular intervals, serious firework style rescue flares hissed up into the sky with a loud pop, lighting up the water below and creating a feeling  excitement and trepidation. We learnt the following day that a tender had got loose from a moored yacht with no oars or outboard. The poor chap on board got whisked off into Morecambe Bay in the dead of night on a powerful tide. He/she must have been terrified.

Click for a report: –

RNLI report

 

RNLI donation and Crane-in April 2019

(Above: our Commodore Steve Adams handing over to the  RNLI the money raised at our Christmas dinner)

The  Wardley’s Marine Yacht Club 2019 crane-in day was a massive success! Everything went according to plan.

Hats off to everyone!

 

Crew members waiting for the action to start.

 

Plenty of members came, and there was no protesting going on! Formidable looking ‘Les Gillets Jaunes’ characters were everywhere, but in the case of WMYC it was all a magnificent effort laid on to shift boats around a yard and to put boats in Morecambe Bay.

 

It was a tight fit, our crane driver for the day was the boss  Mr. Daley  himself.  He confidently drove his big vehicle in and amongst our boats. As can be seen, he struggled to find space such was the crammed nature of our boat yard!

 

Crane assisted flying boats were soon seen hovering over head.

 

Higher and higher they got! 

 

Jamila is next. No bumps and damage to the mast this time around.

 

Yo ho the drunken sailor! Well, not really, unfortunately the new mooring was laid too close to a big hump, which threatens the rudder.

 

A WMY crew member, early on good Friday, enjoying the last drop of sleepiness before the fun begins.

 

Two Wardley’s boats safely tucked away in the  Fleetwood marina.

 

And  finally a  big thanks to all who lent a hand in any shape or form. And in particular, to our banks-man Michael Morris (directing the crane movements). And also to the wonderful ladies in the club house who supplied us with food and drink throughout the morning.

Job well done!