Category Archives: News and Reports

Updates and reports on events

June 2016, trip to Piel then Ulverston.

Club members Simon and Joe Browning, Darren Griffiths, and Simon Ellis, sailing in their respective boats,  enjoyed a trip to Piel Island in glorious weather. After drinks at the Ship Inn and the obligatory walk around the island, they returned to ‘Rivendell’ for a barbecue hosted by Simon and Joe. The food was excellent as usual. Next day, instead of sailing home with the others, Simon Ellis in ‘Peter Duck’ hitched a ride on the morning tide flooding into Morecambe Bay to explore the shallow channels up as far as Ulverston. Contact was made with the natives — a friendly Drascombe Dabber crewed by local residents. All went to plan and all made it back to Wardleys Creek safely.

Ordinance Survey Map shows just how little water there is at low tide.
Ordinance Survey Map shows just how little water there is at low tide.

The following photographs are shown roughly in chronological order.

High Speed Ferry takes bikers to the Isle of Man
In the Lune Deeps of Fleetwood, a high Speed Ferry takes bikers to the Isle of Man. Note the damage to the port side bow. It must have hit something very hard. Recently, a similar vessel chopped a 30′ fishing boat clean in-half off the coast of France.
Yacht Rivendell
Yacht Rivendel with Joe on the bow and Simon B. at the helm. Looking for an over night anchorage at Piel Harbour.

Video taken from ‘Thunderball’ as ‘Peter Duck’ arrived at Piel Harbour, Saturday tea time..

Background: Peter Duck and power boat on mud, Foreground: flag and skipper (Simon E.) with great uncle’s WW2 binoculars.
Fell Walker aka Darren G. flying the flag.
Fell Walker aka Darren G. flying the flag.
Chapel Island guarding the approaches to Ulverston.
Chapel Island guarding the approaches to Ulverston. A holy order of monks once lived there, and as well as worship to the Lord Almighty, they offered refreshment to travellers crossing the Morecambe Bay sands.
Peter Duck at Canal Foot.
Peter Duck at Canal Foot (See map above). The tide needs to rise a little higher to match the level in the canal behind the lock gates. As any canal boater knows, its only when the levels are equal that the gates will open.
Safe and Sound behind the wall
Safe and Sound behind the wall. Now at slack water. There was quite a surge of water past the wall-end when the tide was flooding.
Haven Bay, Ulverston.
Plumpton Bight at slack water – a bay NW of Canal Foot provides a welcome haven from the surging 8 knot tide. It looks so calm now!
Canal running from Morecambe Bay to Ulverston.
The Ulverston canal running from the lock gates into the centre of town. (Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame, came from this small town)
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Pinched from Google Maps. Gives a good perspective of: Canal meets Morcambe Bay.
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And another one.
A prospecting drilling rig with the west end of Morecambe in the background
A prospecting drilling rig, with West End of Morecambe beyond.
Malcolm working hard hauling warps, whilst Mike takes a leisurely trip up the river with radio switched off.
Malcolm working hard hauling warps, whilst Mike takes a leisurely trip up the river with his VHF radio switched off 🙂

Stills and Video from the 2015 Silver Jubilee Piel Island Flotilla

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The Route

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Janet May

Approaching the sea and waves.

Peter Duck

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Thunderball

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Janet May hard pressed

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Peter Duck taking stick

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Ship Inn towards South Lakes

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Barn Owl on Piel Island

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Ship Inn towards Blackpool

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Entering Wardley Creek

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Thunderball finding mooring

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Raven arriving at Piel

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Darren still fast asleep in his bunk.

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Bunting for the Silver Jubilee

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‘Lythe Lady’ leading the pack.

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Wind against tide over shoal waters

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‘Lythe Lady’ looking for an anchorage.

JanvrieeSix

‘Janvier Six’ taking a bow.

Silver Jubilee Video Part 1

Silver Jubilee Video Part 2

Silver Jubilee Video Part 3

Work Party – Saturday 8th August

Lots of jobs completed in spite of a disappointing turnout!

THANK YOU to those members who turned up for the work party on August 8th.  In spite of low numbers, the yard looks much tidier, thanks to the hard work of the members who helped:

Richard Anthony, Jack Tomlinson, Roger Walkington, Neil MacSween, Sandra Jepson (and Caitlin),  Mike Smith, Dave Emmess. Tom Bradley, Bill Blenkinship, Pablo Barrs, John Bacon, John Gorse, Vic Matthews and Linda Matthews.

Well done and if your name isn’t here there will be plenty of jobs for next time.

 

 

Crane In – Sat 18th April

Crane in dates rely on the combination of spring tides and good weather – there are a series of possible days starting on Saturday 18th April through to Tuesday 21st April.

The crane is booked for Saturday 18th April, so let’s hope for good weather and low winds.  HW 11:23 BST, 9.7m.  Members involved need to be on site early!

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.