Category Archives: News and Reports

Updates and reports on events

News and Reports

Much loved members cross the bar…

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This year has been a particularly difficult year for WMYC,  since we have sadly lost two stalwarts who have put a lot into the running of the club, and indeed, who were both hard working committee-members at the beginning of this season.

Here are a few words I’ve put together: –

Both Pablo Bars and Bob Hoath have recently sailed away from us

No doubt they have arrived at a better and ever eternal landing ground,

Of sparkling waters, sun kissed beaches and rich muddy Morecambe-Bay-esque estuaries,

And where billowing white sail cloth hoisted aloft traverse blue skies, by long summer days,

And where harbour side inns filled with good company that beckon,  by short summer nights,

God bless them both, and those of their families left in their wake.

The following is a set of happy images celebrating our dearly departed Bob on his last sail to Piel 2019: –

Bob Hoath sailing past the tip of Walney Island in May 2019. The seal colony is not far up the beach to the left.
The same photo as above but this time with a club member and some of the top sides of the seaworthy and roomy ‘Janvier Six’ Westerly Centaur.
An all time classic WMYC photo with a WMYC member hook in hand on the bows. Bob  in the cockpit navigating ‘Janvier Six’ safely in to Piel harbour.

 

It wasn’t all plain sailing, with Bob in the middle of the trio. Steadfast at the helm, he had to contend with fast moving wind farm support vessel comings and goings. The sail of  Wardley’s boat ‘Sika’ can be seen bringing up the rear.

 

With ‘Black Combe’ the western most hill of the Lake District rising high above the town of Barrow, Bob looks out for a mooring close to the Ship Inn.  The Black Combe, correct me if I’m wrong, features in the lyrics of Bob’s, ‘Wardleys Sailor’s ballad.
The same photo as above, but zoomed out a little. The crew have been well briefed and know what to do. Buoys can be seen ahead and to port can be seen the long Piel Island jetty that drops down thirty six feet to cope with all states of the tide.
Bob in the Ship Inn surround by friends.

 

Bob looks up at the photographer. I leave the reader of this blog to fill in the caption of what was said :).
Bob in front the the WMYC club house on St. Georges day.

 

I’ve searched high and low for pictures of Pabs but cannot find any. Please, anyone, send me some if you can. I will include them here along with Bob’s.

 

Club Information, Forthcoming Events, News and Reports, Social Events

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

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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.
Club Information, Morecambe Bay, News and Reports, You'll enjoy this

The boat called ‘Inchree’ – September 2019

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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.
News and Reports, Sailing Events, Social Events

Anchoring at Bass Pool full report. August 2019

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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 →

Club Information, News and Reports, Sailing Events

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

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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!