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.
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!
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!
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
(above, our club secretary approaches the anchorage)
The first big event of 2019. Seven Wardleys Marine Yacht Club boats meet at the Ship Inn before heading up the coast to Ravenglass and beyond.
The weather was great with a soldier’s wind across Morecambe Bay. We all creamed across in double quick order. Some boat moored up, some anchored. All sailors made it the pub for drinks, followed by a slap up meal prepared by King Steven of Piel Island.
The flotilla is still on going as this post is being edited. It is currently at Kippford up in Scotland.
Please enjoy the photographs with fun captions. The photos speak for the themselves given the happiness writ large on our member’s faces.
Kangie heading out on yet another great adventureJay with the Wardley’s MYC mascotFE FI FO thumb I smell the blood of a Wadley’s Yachtsman”Janvier Six (6th January) getting ready to catch a buoy.Janvier Six’s anchor manWardley’s MYC senior yachtsman survey the anchorage.Rivendel cracking-on up the coast of Cumbria.Rivendel closing in on a safe haven.The mighty SIKA flying her colours, goes into battle with the monsterSIKA pausing in Bass Pool before heading in to find a mooring.Fantastic work done to SIKA is back from Skippool looking every bit a new boat.Super glossy Nimrod hoves into view. John G. would love the engine on, but Skipper Nick is all for saving the planet.Happy days out on Morecambe Bay. Nimrod heading in to find a mooring.Jamila keeps an eye on the flotilla as it arrives at Piel. This is the first stop before heading up the Kippford via Ravenglass and Whitehaven.Wardley’s boat are in fierce competition for available buoys. Kyle 2 and Sika are amongst the first to settle down for a night at the Ship Inn.WMYC members toast the start of the Grand Flotilla outside the Ship Inn.Outside the Ship Inn about for go in for dinner. Beautiful weather all day. It’s always the same at Piel — Bloody Mavellous!Dinner is served in the dinning room out looking the garden.A view down the river to Barrow in Furness. An amazing photograph of the submarine sheds ,with the shipping docks and some moor yachts in the foreground.The sea chart showing the way up to Whitehaven, and then across to Ramsey on the Isle of Man.
Take a look at some of the original photos on Microsoft’s Onedrive.
In the summer of 2018, three WMYC sailors go for a sail up to Whitehaven. Please sit back and enjoy the video slide show. Do click full screen if you can.
Hope you enjoyed the ride!
A friendly base for Yacht Cruising on Morecambe Bay
