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.

 

Pablo in the Ship Inn.

This Photo of Pablo took a while coming. Here is one taken in the Ship Inn during the club’s 25th-anniversary raid to Piel Island. A large squadron of Wardley’s boats sailed over in-company. It was quite a hairy ride at times. It got very wind-over-tide whilst crossing Mort Bank. Quite a few members with normally sturdy sea legs reported feeling queasy on that tumultuous crossing.

Again, another of Pablo taken on the same raid to Piel Island. Here he was in deep conversation with persons unseen, banging the world to rights about some topic.

And behind a rather nice motorboat complete with with a fly bridge–very nice! And further beyond lies the spit of land called Foulney Island, and in the far distance stand the two Heysham nuclear power stations.

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