Category Archives: News and Reports

Updates and reports on events

AGM & Crane-in Dates

Wardley’s Marine Yacht Club Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday 29th March 2015 at 10:30am.  The venue is the Wyre Villa Football Club, Stalmine, FY6 0LA.

All member should have received notice of the AGM by post.  Annual subscriptions of £45 (due on April 1st) can be paid to the Membership Secretary at the end of the AGM.

Any subs not paid by 31st May will incur a rejoining fee of £75.

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 Committee is checking on crane availability, and further details will be made available as soon as possible.

As usual, there is likely to be a work party before crane in and it would be good to see a strong turnout!

RYA North West Cruising Conference – Report

 14 March 2015
Warrington

A lively, informative and entertaining day with
This was an interesting and informative day, attended by about 90 sailors based in or around the North West, but sailing over a much wider area.
Broadcaster PAUL HEINEY decided in 2011 that he was going to set sail for Cape Horn. By the time he returned he had completed a voyage of 18,000 miles, and 11,000 of those were single-handed. This made a fascinating talk, and will soon be available to read in his new book ‘One Wild Song’.
Engineer and magazine contributor VYV COX spoke on Anchors and Anchoring, hinting at the inadequacy of CQR anchors ‘ like an Austin 7’, and also making a good case that weight of chain alone does little to improve holding power.  See http://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/
Boat-builder DAVID MOSS was interviewed about his 50 years in wooden boat-building, restoration and repair.  40 of these have been spent running his boatyard just up the river from Wardleys. See http://www.davidmossboatbuilders.com/
There were also talks from IAN LOFFHAGEN of Rowlands Marine on developments in electronics and the 
RYA’s GUS LEWIS and STUART CARRUTHERS with updates on cruising and legal affairs​.

Crane Out – Wednesday 8th October

The day went well – see Vic’s comments on the home page.

Here are a few pictures:

The forecast was looking good - so the crane driver was given the go-ahead for 8th October.
The forecast was looking good – so the crane driver was given the go-ahead for 8th October.
Inspecting the bank: some doubt as to whether the crane jack will sink in so close to the mud berth on a big lift.
Inspecting the bank: some doubt as to whether the crane jack will sink in so close to the mud berth on a big lift.
There was always some doubt - would the crane be able to lift this large vessel?  In the end, the crane wasn't the problem - the ground close to the mud berth just couldn't take the pressure.  So this was as far as it went - just enough to inspect the prop!
There was always some doubt – would the crane be able to lift this large vessel? In the end, the crane wasn’t the problem – the ground close to the mud berth just couldn’t take the pressure. So this was as far as it went – just enough to inspect the prop!
The main mast from Nigel's vessel took some time to remove - it was the first time the vessel had been moved for some time.  After an interesting passage down the Creek, mudberth number 1 was used for this operation.  We look forward to seeing the results of David Moss's work on the mast next season!
The main mast from Nigel’s vessel took some time to remove – it was the first time the vessel had been moved for some time. After an interesting passage down the Creek, mudberth number 1 was used for this operation. We look forward to seeing the results of David Moss’s work on the mast next season!
Barry - dressed for the part - made sure we didn't go hungry.  Thanks for carrying on the tradition, Barry!
Barry – dressed for the part – made sure we didn’t go hungry. Thanks for carrying on the tradition, Barry!

 

 

 

Boat breaks away from Mooring at Wardleys

24th August – this morning Vic Matthews – our Commodore – received a call from the Coastguard to tell him there was a boat on the move, dragging its mooring, in the river near Wardleys.  Sure enough it was one of ours, Lady J. The rescue squad, Vic and Mike Smith went out in the workboat and managed to catch up with it. It was travelling at some speed on the incoming tide and would have ended up at Shard bridge if they hadn’t got to it in time. They returned it to a spare mooring and got in touch with its owner.

 Members with river moorings are reminded to check them regularly. Chains have a very short life on a drying mooring, and swivels and shackles are also subject to rapid wear.

Working Party – Saturday 16th August 2014

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