Category Archives: Club Information

Message from the commodore, January 2021

Dear Member

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable Christmas, and on behalf of the committee would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.

The initial optimism we all shared approaching the Christmas break has been somewhat dampened as once again we enter a full national lockdown, this for the third time. In compliance with the lockdown requirements the club facilities and grounds have been closed until such time as the lockdown requirements are eased or fully lifted.

The good news is that some club members have had their initial vaccine injection and I would urge all members that are offered the vaccine to get inoculated at the earliest opportunity, as this is our best chance of getting back to some sort of normality.

Given the lockdown conditions I am aware that some of our club members live alone and I am sure feel more cut off and isolated than others. I would urge all club members to stay in touch with each other, be it by email, phone or the club Whatsapp group, especially If you know of any members who live alone, please give them a call and say hello, I am sure this will help lift their spirits.

Your committee will continue to monitor the current situation and any announcements will be communicated at the earliest opportunity.

As ever take care, stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all in better times, under better circumstances.

Steve Adams
Commodore WMYC

Commodore’s Statement 16th May 2020

Dear Member

I hope all members and their respective families are all well and that no one has been directly impacted by this deadly disease. Our thoughts are with all those who have been less fortunate.

Whilst the fight against the Covid-19 virus continues the UK Government has started to ease some of the lock down restrictions and in England at least this means we can take the first steps towards getting our club back open. During the lockdown period club officers and committee members of WMYC have been in active discussion with the RYA, MCA and other interested organisations to better understand and take on board the various messages and sometimes conflicting information presented by the UK Government.

Today WMYC held its first on-line committee meeting to discuss what steps the club should take to get the site up and running. The good news is that the club site will be open from 9am Monday 18th May, all be it in a limited capacity. The club house will remain closed but members will be able to access the site to work on their boats and in line with Government advice go sailing for exercise purposes. There is an accompanying document being produced by the Hon Sec Andy Sargent outlining how members will be asked to conduct themselves whilst on site, the success of which will determine how quickly we can move to the next stage.

Please stay alert, be respectful of other members and maintain social distancing at all times.

Lastly, if you choose to go on the water please bear in mind that the RNLI and MCA teams are running on reduced numbers and that any incident they attend puts their teams at risk, please be extra vigilant if venturing out.

I look forward to seeing you all in better times, under better circumstances.

Steve Adams
Commodore WMYC

Crane Out Monday 28th October 2019, and photos of new Jetty in progress.

Crane out date is Monday 28th October.

The crane has been booked, so let’s hope for good weather and low winds.  HW 10:55 GMT (clocks go back the night before!), 10.1m.  Members involved need to be on site early before 8am.

The craning plan is on the Clubhouse notice board – if your details are incorrect or missing, please contact a Committee Member as soon as possible.

Prepare in advance by slackening all guard rail wires and with two  lengths of rope around the hull, one forward and on aft on the desired lifting points, so that the strops can be pulled into position in a timely manor.  Please ask if unsure.

New Jetty in Progress. Thirteen photographs

Starting a the bottom of the slip and working back towards the club house:

1.

The extremity of the existing jetty is to be preserved.

2.

On the left hand side jetty, John Gorse proudly oversees progress

3.

The starboard side posts (rows 7 & 8 ) at the far end still await there complementary port side post.

4.

View of completed pairs, rows 6, 5, and 4. Note that rows 5 and 4 now have the scantling affixed.

6.

7.

Rows 4, 3, and 2 with scantlings and decking. The march of progress!

8.

Same as above put further back.

9.

Yet to be joined with the start of the existing jetty (the first post).

10.

Timber yet to join the affray. Five quotes for timber were sought with massive differences in price.

11.

Going slight back in time from the above images. Before the scantlings and decking.

13.

Our WMYC Club sadly flag flying at halfmast in respect of our dearly departed Pablo Bars.

The boat called ‘Inchree’ – September 2019

It is so sad to see once well  founded boats left neglected and abandoned. But then again our boat builders need a steady stream of new orders to support the livelihood of themselves and their families. So maybe  we should just accept that there will always be the boats of summer-day past, the boats of summer-day present, and the boats of summer-day  future.  Let us just remember the old and discarded as fondly as we can.

The stretch of tidal water called Bass Pool on the south side of Piel Island has been a focal point for WMYC sailors in 2019.  Abandoned over looking the castle, as high up as can be carried by the tide, where the sand and  seaweed give way to grass, lies a boat called ‘Inchree’.

 

Inchree’s view over Bass Pool and Piel Island beyond

 

Inchree has lost her bilge keels but still retains her big central block of pig iron. In her day, to keep the crew secure, stanchions once surrounded the boat, but only three now remain. The guardrail wire has long since corroded away.

 

She’s so slim!  But that is how boats had to be in the 50s and 60s. They had to be able to sail to windward. The idea of relying on the superbly reliable power of a modern engine was never fully factored into the equation.

 

Nevertheless she was equipped with an engine well that would take a small  3hp to get her home in a flat calm. Her owner wouldn’t need to hang over the stern in a seaway to operate the outboard. As can be seen, the port winch has succumbed to the passing years and is missing, but hidden from view, her starboard twin is still there and can be turned by hand, albeit with difficulty..

 

‘Inchree’s cabin by modern standards is very compact. Perhaps in the days before the cheap high calorie modern diet we didn’t need so much room to move about. Still, a quick glance is evidence alone that the designer thought long and hard to ensure the most convenient internal arrangement.

 

As already said, she had been well thought out. She possessed every convenience that was required in her time.. All members of the family were sure to want to come along and join the adventure.

 

Look at this photograph. With a bit of imagination one can imagine the water surging asunder, and possibly feel ‘Inchree’s bow rising and falling on the passing peaks and troughs. And maybe see a young child, proud of his father at the helm, peering through the window feeling both safe and exhilarated by the sight of the foaming sea.

 

Her name can still be seen clearly inscribed upon her bow. A proud owner there once was!

 

Well, time to get back to the mother ship and set sail to the English seaside resort of Morecambe, which is the next port of call.

 

Wardley’s sailors away we go.

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!