2014 Making Waves - Benfleet Yacht Club

Spring 2
014
the Newsletter of the Benfleet Yacht Club
In the Mag:
The club wins at pontoon.
Comm. Geoff says hello
Wendy gets wet feet
Cruising with Steve and Angie
Bosun Keith has a good year
Margaret sails the Nore Race
Sailing report from Phil
Dinghy & cadet sailing, Adam
Cadet Tom goes sailing
Alex has a night out.
Paula entertains the club
Tina’s Kitchen serves us well
Richard’s father with Sybella
Oops! says Pam
Ian visits Reculver
Terry aboard Ocean Breaker
Ieon’s Little Snapper
Bill remembers old friends
Home from Dordrecht
Keron samples the States.
Holly Mill comes home.
Benfleet gets a new landing stage
As a result of a lot of hard work by a
lot of people Benfleet Yacht Club has
a new landing stage. This replaces
the old barge which needed some
attention.
The work was masterminded by Gary
Baker, (Rear Commodore, House, for
Ashley, Gary, Billy and Steve finish off the ramp.
2013), who has ideas to extend the
pontoon further towards the slipway. He was helped by many members at the Work
Party and some who helped finish off the ramp later.
Essex rocks with ice.
The improved access to the water will be a great improvement for yachts, dinghies
and support boats. Marshalling the fleets of Oppies and Toppers during Cadet Week
should be much easier.
Leigh buoy at low tide.
The Nore Race is having a revival with
New Estuary Buoys
more entries last year than we have seen in
recent times. Here is Murray Higgs in Poppy
reaching the Medway buoy.
A club for all ages
Benfleet committee members
Yacht & Dinghy Programmes
Social highlights for 2014
www.benfleetyachtclub.org
This year the Nore Race will be on Saturday
21st June (HW 08:00) with the Prizegiving on
the following Friday, the 27th June.
The Nore Race is organised by Benfleet Yacht
Club and sponsored by Dauntless Boatyard
Hello BYC members.
I am Geoff Cook your new Commodore. I have been a member for over twenty years
and have loved every minute at the club.
I have been on the House subcommittee for many
years and I suppose I know every wire, fuse, drain, nut
and bolt. I spend most of my time at BYC and my wife
Barbara often refers to the club as my first home! We
have a Legend 36, Free Spirit, and like to sail locally in
fair weather when we can.
I must thank Steve Bibby for his excellent leadership of
the club over the last two years. I am really looking
forward to my role as Commodore and with a fair wind
and calm seas I hope to bring lots of enthusiasm to
Benfleet YC.
I look forward to seeing you all at the club, whether it is
drinking in the bar, having a bite to eat, in the Green
Caravan or at one of the many events we have
planned in the Dowsing Room.
Sue Stripe is Club Steward and I would like to thank her and the bar staff for the smooth running of the bar.
It is good to see Cadet sailing doing so well and I look forward to seeing them on the water. Their friends and parents
are welcome to use the clubhouse. I hope that you all have a great year on your boats no matter where you go or what
you do. Kind regards, Geoff.
Tidal surge on the morning of 6 Dec 2013
During Wed 4th Dec and into Thurs 5th Dec a deep low
pressure area north of Scotland tracked into the North Sea
with a following wind. The sea surface was sucked up
above its normal level and surged south. At Benfleet on
the Thurs lunchtime the expected spring tide was much
lower than usual - it only came two thirds the way up the
slipway - as the tidal flow down the East Coast was
sucked back. By early evening the surge had reached
Harwich, the low tide turned early and water level became
two metres over what you would expect at that time.
The wind had fallen but the tide kept coming. The record
for Sheerness, above, shows high tide peaking one metre
over expectation, 7m rather than 6m. At Benfleet many
members had made sure their dinghies were secure and a
team prepared the clubhouse to meet the rising water as
best they could. They reported that there appeared to be a
succession of waves of water near the highest tide.
Carpets and soft furnishings didn’t escape and there are
plans to replace them with more water resistant
alternatives. Wendy reports soon after the event >>>
Just a glimpse of the water in the early morning.
You really have to feel the water inside the wellies to
appreciate it fully though! Geoff and Ashley put plastic
sheet and sandbags over the manhole outside the front
door and the cellar sump but the clubhouse inside had
about four inches right through. We had lifted all the
bottles off the floor of the cellar in the evening so it was
OK! Sue Hancock and I took all the paperwork out of the
bottom two drawers of the filing cabinets and Brian Wallis
emptied the safe! Just as well we did! Wendy Webster.
Cruiser Captain’s Report
Hi All. Another year done and time to reflect on last years
sailing and start to plan for the coming season.
Last July and August brought some fine weather, however, with careful planning Angie and I still managed to
host some of our cruises in pretty horrific conditions!
The Wine and Cheese was held in rather gusty conditions
but once the tide dropped we managed to get the dinghies
from seven cruisers across to Hideaway and Dansen aan
Zee for the event and with some Benfleet Spirit (or wine)
we still managed to enjoy ourselves.
The BBQ on the Barge at Queenborough was also held in
a bit of a blow with one or two squalls thrown in for good
measure, however the six boats that attended had a
pleasant afternoon and it was worth the effort.
Some of the other events were held in fine weather and
was good to see some of our newer members attending
along with the regulars and I would encourage other new
members to join us.
The Calais Rally saw ten boats attending, Benfleet retaining the Coupe de Ville, the trophy awarded to the club with
the most boats making the crossing. The Narrow Seas
Club hosts the event and invites several local clubs to join
them. This Whitsun cruise to Calais has been held since
1968, previous cruises to Dunkirk date back to before the
war. Those attending are keeping tradition alive and enjoying a rewarding experience in the process.
skippers to improve communication, anyone wishing to be
included please see below.
Our programme for next year is also listed below and later
in the newsletter. It will soon be with us; maybe its time to
put the newsletter down and start getting the boat ready!
The shakedown to Queenborough with a meal in the yacht
club is on the 26th of April and Angie and I look forwards
to seeing you all there.
Best Wishes, Steve and Angie Deal
Next year I intend to establish a Cruising List of interested
2014 Cruising Programme
Cruising List
If you wish to be included in Emails or
Text, informing you on the latest news on
our organised cruises please email:
steve.deal59@yahoo.com
Please supply
Yacht name and length,
Crew names,
Email address
Phone numbers
Preference for text or email
Regards, Steve Deal, Cruiser Captain
Sat 26th April HW 11.11 Shakedown to
Queenborough with meal in the Yacht Club.
Sat 3rd - Mon 5th May HW 15.57 Cruise to
Chatham Marina, Sat evening meal in the
Ship and Trades BBQ Sun afternoon.
Sat 24th May Calais Rally
Sat 14th June HW 14.09 Wine and Cheese in
Stangate.
Sun 6th July HW 07.03 Ray Day with
lunchtime BBQ
Sat 2nd August HW 17.05 London Cruise to
Limehouse, Sat evening meal in the Cruising
Association.
Sat 16th August HW 05.10 Cruise to
Brightlingsea.
BYC Clothing is available with the
name of the club and your boat
name as an option. Prices are very
reasonable. Details by the bar door.
For more information see
Trevor Chopping or Geoff Cook.
Sat 23rd _ Mon 25th August HW 12.13
Medway Cruise, Sat evening Queenborough
BBQ on the Barge, Sunday evening Meal in
the Medway Yacht Club.
Sat 28th September HW 02.51 Cruise to
Gillingham (leave Friday afternoon)
Bosun’s Report 2013, Keith Cushing
Another excellent year for moorings. A big thank you must
go to all the teams that help in launching and hauling out
member's boats of all sizes. Despite the movement of the
barge and the new pontoons being manoeuvred we
eventually managed to haul out everyone.
The first phase of the pontoons has gone very well, thanks
to Gary Baker and his team. The second phase is still in
the planning stages. For the last two years we have had
meetings with Ben Fanning representing the P.L.A., Rob
Scriven, Brian Wallis and myself. The eventual outcome is
a considerable saving on our original costing we have
been paying.
We now retain the mooring rights to C trott which is 2440
feet which includes an area which belonged to the P.L.A.
for a private mooring, F trott remains the same of 1000
feet, G trott is now 900 feet because the four bankside
moorings encroached into this area and reduced the
original 1000 feet allocated to us in the past. The bankside
moorings total 63 and for the back rill, which is east of the
race hut, we are charged for 15 occupied moorings. The
Dock Area will be an additional licence to all the moorings
above for us to retain at no additional cost.
Moorings are available on F and G trotts, with C Trott now
having spaces towards the crossover end. Two Tree
moorings and the banksides are full. We are still reminding
members that we have two holding buoys in the Hole for
all club members to use and one holding buoy HR020 in
the middle of the Ray.
Our thanks must go to the crane team Peter Allen,
Stephen West and Bob Livingstone for all their efforts in
lifting masts and engines throughout the year.
Concrete Pads have now become available so that if any
member wishes to lay up on one of these pads please
contact me. May I also remind members to kindly mark up
their own trolleys with their boat names, it especially helps
the haul-out team in locating your trolley when you haul
out. Also could all road trolleys have a boat name or the
member’s name on the main frame.
Wishing you all a happy sailing season for 2014.
The Bosun
Windcheetah
Rip Van Winkle
Memories of a Nore Race
Margaret Cushing
They say that every picture tells a story, well the picture on
the west wall in the Dowsing Room at the club tells the
story of the Nore Race that Keith and I entered that year.
In the foreground there are two cheetah catamarans, one
sailed by Peter and Carole Bloomfied called Windcheetah
and Rip Van Winkle sailed by Keith and myself. We
regularly sailed with the Leigh-on-Sea club and we thought
it would be a good idea to enter the Nore Race again that
year.
We had to be on the east rack at Leigh very early to catch
the tide the only problem was it was a very foggy day, so
bad we couldn't see very much at all. Peter and Carole
arrived and we launched our boats. There was no wind so
we started to paddle out towards the general direction of
the pier. It was very eerie. Were we doing the right thing?
Too late to turn back now the water had already left the
slipway. We then met up with a few boats in the mist and
then it started to rain, which dispersed the fog and we
found ourselves in the middle of all the other boats in the
race all milling around for the start, this is when that
picture was taken.
The rain got heavier which brought the wind and we were
now very wet before we had even started the race. The
first guns went off and we are now waiting for the starter
gun. Now the wind had really got up and the sea was
getting a bit rough and then the gun, and we were off.
What a start! Everyone trying to be on the line first and to
get clear water. There were a lot of boats in the race that
day, everyone racing to the first buoy. I cannot remember
seeing very much of the deck as I was actually either
trapezing or sitting on as it was completely awash with
water as we raced together with the other cats to the first
buoy which we all rounded round together, everyone
shouting for 'water'.
Now we are on the second section of the race heading
across the river to the other side and then it happened.
We did not have wet suits, gloves and boots like today. It
was just warm clothing under oilskins and soft shoes for
Opposite: Before the start of the 1965 Nore Race.
Keith must be wearing his wedding ring in this picture!
Keith and Margaret were married 12 September 1964.
They celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary this year.
the deck, so by this time we were both soaked and very
cold and couldn't feel our hands just hanging on to ropes
and tiller. Keith's hands were so cold he didn't feel his
wedding ring slipping off his finger but we both saw it
bounce a couple of times on the deck and then a wave
washed it over the side, right in the middle of the deep
water channel. There was nothing either of us could do but
carry on with the race, but he hasn't lived that down!
So round the last buoy and back to the pier for us, still
blowing hard and we were catching up with Steve Sherwin
on his Swift, when all of a sudden he sees us behind him
and tacks towards the shore. Where is he going? And then
we looked back and saw why. Coming up the river was a
very large container vessel which came right through the
race. I wonder what that Captain was saying that day
coming up the river? Needless to say we quickly got out of
his way.
Then we finished the race at the pier and headed towards
the Ray bank where we met up with the other boats who
had nowhere else to go because of the tide, so to keep
ourselves warm we all had a game of rounders until the
cruisers finished their race and they could give us all a
warm drink, gratefully received.
Now we only had to wait for the tide to allow us to get back
on the Leigh rack, which took hours to do. Eventually we
got there. It had been a very cold, wet and exhausting day.
An experience of a race we never forgot. Later on we
changed our Cheetah cat for a Lynx Cheetah and then we
bought a brand new Condor Catamaran called Rebel
Rouser which was much bigger and faster. Far more work
had to be done by myself out on the trapeze. It is much
better watching the race from the end of the pier as we do
now with Stephen, and hopefully you do not lose wedding
rings!
Please. On your mooring, could you make the sinker
line between buoys actually sink! Make it long
enough and weight it so that it lies on the creek bed
at high tide. That way dinghies, support boats and
cruisers passing between the mooring buoys don’t
get fouled up. Thank you.
Sailing Report for 2013, Phil Bostock
First a weather report:
The weather last year was cold, wet and windy until June
when it improved a little, leading to glorious sunny weather
through July and August, then fairly warm, wet and windy
through September and October, and calm in November.
The sailing was affected accordingly.
early May was billed as a cruise to Chatham marina but they
cancelled. So at very short notice our Cruiser Captain Steve
Deal worked some magic and arranged a meal for 52 at
Medway Yacht Club, and this was very good. Well done
Steve.
Dinghy Sailing. The dinghy racing early in the year
attracted about three to five boats most races with the
weather not very nice, but only one race cancellation. A
patch of good weather at the end of April brought out
twelve starters for the fifth spring series which was a very
good effort. Overall Lewis Baker won the fast handicap
and Sam Blaker the slow. The summer trophy races also
had a modest number of entries. A few cancellations for
the Winter Series. Not a classic year for dinghy racing.
Race Officer Sue Hancock started and finished scores of
races through the year. Many thanks to her for her hard
work and dedication. She only started the Round the
World Clipper Race from Southend Pier and she might be
available to fly out to finish it somewhere! Or take the bus
if it’s Southend again.
We rely on Support Boats throughout the year. Tony
Cole, James Hancock and Stuart Godfrey were out in
the RIB for the Nore Race. Keith Cushing often supports
dinghy racing with his dory. A great many others support
the dinghy, cadet and rowing events and we thank them
all. We would welcome even more help covering the
events we have planned for this year.
Cadet Sailing. This has gone from strength to strength
under the leadership of Adam Smith, Dinghy Captain
supported by many others. Most Saturdays with a midday
tide from April saw several groups of Cadets on the water.
With instructors and support boats there has been quite a
crowd. About thirty cadets took part through the year.
Cadet Week attracted about fifty cadets and a similar
number of instructors and helpers. John Hancock leads
this and relies on many others to make this event a
success. Training of more Instructors is planned over the
next few months. Thanks to all the instructors and to the
instructors of the instructors! Steve, Gary, Tony and many
others, make a contribution to the club that is vital.
An innovation for Benfleet was the Mid Summer Regatta
over a weekend, packing in four races for a Cadet Series,
four Summer Series races for faster boats and one
Veterans Race for over 60’s. Taking part were 11 cadets,
17 fast handicap and 9 veterans, with a bouncy castle for
the youngsters and many families enjoying the sunshine
and the BBQ. Steve Bibby presented decorated mugs to
the winners on the Sunday. We will be holding another
regatta this year at the end of June. It is hoped veterans
will be holding
some warm-up
events in
readiness.
Yacht Cruising.
The yacht cruising
year started with a
Shakedown cruise
to Queenborough
at the end of April
with eight boats.
The next event
Calais Rally at the end of May was cold, wet and windy.
BYC had 10 boats and retained the Narrow Seas Trophy.
For the Wine and Cheese in Stangate in June there was a
howling wind overnight and on the return Sunday.
These experiences leads us to think that a Cruising List
might be a good idea with the contact details of anyone likely
to want to join in. Weather forecasting is better than it was
and weekend weather can be predicted fairly accurately a
few days ahead. So if there have to be changes or
cancellations you might get a call, text or email. Steve will be
holding this list if you want to add your details.
The cruise to St Kats, London in August was memorable.
If you went a day early, on the Friday, you had great sailing
conditions with a following wind, but if you went Saturday,
well, that was the day four inches of rain fell on Southend! It
was wet and horrible with no wind and no visibility. However
Wet, wet, wet!
Nore Race 2013 at Medway buoy
the reception on the pontoons made up for all this. We
dressed ‘black tie’ down to the waist and invented
cocktails to share! Amazing. The plan this year is to go to
Limehouse to make a change.
The cruises this year have been great. Many thanks to
Steve and Angie. If you are new to the club and want to
join in, look out for the yacht cruising events in the
handbook and the back of this newsletter.
Yacht racing. Benfleet is part of the Combined Clubs
Series CCS group and usually enters more boats than the
other clubs in the races. Paul Field is chairman of CCS,
and also on the BYC Sailing Committee. You probably
know that he also runs the BYC website. He is also a fount
of knowledge of club-lore and a big help to me.
Rollercoaster (Rob Scriven), Moonriver (Dave Holt) and
Mischief (Doug Rivers) were the team that won the
Interclub Challenge Trophy, and Rob also won the
magnificent Southend Town Cup.
The winners of the dinghy and yacht races will receive
their trophies at the Sailing Prizegiving Supper on Sat
1st Feb 2014. Should be fun - make a date.
Nore Race 2013. Excellent sailing conditions. 122 entries
and 102 finishers. 59 monohull yachts entered of which 31
were from Benfleet, which was an excellent turn-out. All
the boats that could sail well did so. The Prizegiving
evening also went well. A memorable year. My thanks to
Ian and Alison for help with the administration. Sue
Hancock was Race Officer on the pier. We gratefully
acknowledge sponsorship by Dauntless boatyard and the
help we had from a large number of club members on the
pier and at the Prizegiving. Without their help it would not
be possible to hold this event. If you would like to help on
the pier next year, spotting and timing, then set aside Sat
21st June in your diary.
The Nore Race is a major public event for the club and
sets a standard by which we are judged. Many new
members join us because of our good reputation.
Rowing. Penny Jones, Rowing Captain, leads a small
but growing band of rowers at the club. With Wendy and
Keith Webster and others Penny has organised the Round
Canvey Race for rowers and row/sailors for three years
now. First 13 entrants, then 17, this year 21 from this area
and beyond. A very successful event, again showing this
club at its best. The rowing race at the Commodore’s Tea
Day was a fun event and attracted six boats with a mixture
of novice and skilled rowers. It was a fine sight.
Southend Town Cup
Eight Benfleet boats completed the CCS Blackwater race
with Mischief, (Doug Rivers) winning Class A (Fast) and
White Cloud, (Phil Bostock and Laurie Mason) winning
Class B (Slow). We had a fine meal at the Colne Yacht
Club, Brightlingsea.
The Harty Ferry race had six Benfleet boats entered with
Millie, Mudwatch, Destiny and Rollercoaster all doing well.
Next year we will have the usual five CCS races to
Queenborough, Harty Ferry, Blackwater, Upnor and
‘Boatacs’ Stangate and the BYC Ladies Race and Yetton
Trophy, to and from Stangate Creek, and the London
Race (McCarthy Trophy). We will re-launch the Yetton
Trophy with a choice of start times to suit all boats. Look
out for an article by Richard Yetton on his father in this
newsletter.
Mugs were given as prizes at the Commodore’s Tea Day
and the Mid-Summer Regatta in preference to glassware.
Certainly for the younger sailors mugs seem more
appropriate than whisky tumblers!
Sailing Committee has about a dozen members, each a
leader in their own right. It is an inclusive group and we
are grateful for the help we receive from many members
outside this team; in fact from the whole club!
If you see an event in the programme you fancy then
please join in. Thank you.
Do you enjoy reading ‘Making Waves’? Could you write an article about your adventures?
Members, and others with an interest in the club, are invited to contribute to the next edition. If you had
your story with a couple of photos ready by the end of November then it may be printed and available to
read in January 2015. What a great way to start the year!
‘newsletter@benfleetyachtclub.org’
Cadet Sailing and Racing 2013/14
Adam Smith
The weather was not kind to us
in the early part of the season
and tested our resolve, however
with the exception of the first
session we managed to get out
every time, often in very strong
winds. Even in these conditions it
was clear the cadets had a great
experience sailing the larger club
dinghies.
Certainly it is clear to see how much the younger sailors are
progressing by attending these training sessions, so next
year there will be some extra racing sessions which some of
the more experienced cadets can start attending. This is
really only suitable for those with a minimum of RYA 2 or 3
and able and confident enough to sail around a course
unassisted.
We have now begun to see a handful of the younger Cadets
starting to race in the club’s dinghy races in the slow
handicap class, and as I write, competing in the Winter
Series. I am sure these ‘racers’ would like more competitors
so if any parents feel their young ones are ready then
please come and join in.
In the Series Racing there is a specific slow handicap class
which is suited to the cadets. The Trophy races are
generally longer and ‘all in’ racing and the Race Officer may
run an appropriate shorter course for cadets.
Following feedback and requests, next year we plan the
following;
 Six supported cadet sails, same as 2013.
 Two Cadet Racing Series, in spring and autumn, each
consisting of 4 races
 Organized set lunches at the club after the sessions where
we start early on the tide. We would welcome all Cadets
and parents to stay and support.
 Fee for the year’s Cadet sailing, which will cover all
sessions.
£10 for those using their own boats.
£15 for those using club boats.
This charge will be payable on the 1st sail (or the 1st sail
the Cadet attends) in full and will then cover this and all
subsequent sessions that the cadet attends during 2014.
( The money will go to club funds to partially offset expenses.
BYC is pleased and proud to support Cadet sailing.
Promoting sailing is important to us, but cost sharing is also a
good principle. Thank you for your understanding. Phil
Bostock, Rear Comm, Sailing.)
If you have any observations or suggestions for next year or
comments on this year’s sailing then please let me know.
Dinghy Report
2013 was a busy year with the Series and Trophy Races,
Cadet Sailing Days, new Cadet Race Series, Mid-Summer
Regatta and Commodore’s Tea Day.
In total we had 30 days dinghy sailing in the diary, most of
which has gone ahead with less than a handful cancelled
either due to weather, although the winter series is currently
testing us with too much or too little wind!
The new events were a definite success this year and will be
repeated again in 2014. The Mid-summer Regatta gave all
abilities the chance to compete in their own classes from
Cadets through to a 60+, age adjusted, Veterans class and
the Cadet Series gave the younger ones that are new to
racing a chance to compete away from the busy club start
line in clearer water further down the creek.
The Frye Trophy, ’Race to the Ray’ continues to elude us
with conditions not right on the day. We may need to
incorporate this race into a Winter Series Race.
Finally, please could members cut the grass and weeds
around their dinghies, or put down weed killer. It takes a full
team of helpers to clear the dinghy park at work party and it
quickly grows again in the early summer rains and it looks
very untidy. Thank you.
Cadet Sailing, Tom Smith
As a cadet I have been able to sail more often this
year due to the extra sailing sessions before and
after cadet week. This helped more cadets to get out
on the water, boost confidence and practise the sport
which they enjoy.
At the start of the year the winds were strong and the
instructors took us out in the two man boats, the
Fevas, Picos, the GP14 and the Leader. It was good
experience and every cadet enjoyed going out in the high winds. It was exciting to go on the different boats, taking turns
to crew and helm. As we carried on through the year there were many great sails and everyone became more
enthusiastic; the older cadets even started to race in their sessions.
It has been great to meet up with sailing friends on a regular basis and I would like to thank everyone involved for taking
time to make these events happen. Here’s hoping 2014 is another great year for cadet sailing.
Cadet Christmas Night Out.
Alex Morley and Amberlie Coleman
To celebrate
Christmas the
older cadets went
out for the evening
on 6th December
to the Hollywood
Bowling at Festival
Leisure.
Here we all are
queuing for our
bowling shoes (not
sure who had the
smelliest feet!)
Alec had a ride on the Santa Express.
After Bowling it was back to base for a takeaway Pizza, Jelly and Ice-cream and festive games.
We all had a great time and look forward to our next outing.
If any cadets have ideas on future events please let us know. We hope you all have a great sailing
season in 2014.
Entertainments.
Paula Bootle
Dear Members. As you are aware we have a great social calendar at BYC
which helps to drag us through the winter months until we are afloat once
again. The Entertainment Committee (those quiet, shy ladies!) work their
socks off to lay on the many functions and dinners here at the club. They are
a well oiled (some may say pickled) team who work together brilliantly to
make the functions successful. By the time you read this article the busy
Christmas and New Year season will be behind us and we will all be looking
forward to the nights lengthening and getting back to sailing, but I would like
to thank all the Ladies of Entertainments listed below who have helped me
throughout the entertainment programme and have volunteered to do so
again this year:
Helen Baker, Nicola Scriven, Angie Deal, Ann Cox, Sarah Joy, Sue Coleman
and Ann Adams. Well done for all your efforts, I know how hard you work to
make it all happen. Also a big thank to all of you that have come along to the
events and supported the club, we have consistently had more than 80 bums on seats which is a fantastic turnout and
one that makes us the envy of many clubs!
We are running a Burns Night Dinner on the 8th February and would love to see you there. Please keep an
eye on the notice board and posters around the club advertising future events. Look forward to seeing you.
Safe sailing and fair winds for 2014.
The Bosun was in the dog
house when some wag at the
AGM had a bone to pick. Keith
won’t mind if you ask him to tell
the story, again. Don’t be put off
- his bark is worse than his bite.
Curlew in the creek by Two Tree Island
Around the club:
Finance
Committee meet
nearly every Monday
throughout the year. This
year the team is: Brian
Wallis (Asst Treasurer),
Phil Blatchford, Bert
Graham, Sheila Scurrey,
Pam Tovey and Mike
Watts. At the AGM the
team were thanked for
their hard work and
dedication.
Last year John Hancock, Brian Wallis, Steve Bibby,
Graham Nevard and others analysed the club income and
expenditure to better understand our finances and allow
us to make savings where possible.
Brian has announced that members fees may be paid by
internet bank transfer this year with the intention to move
towards use of card payment systems in the future.
Sue Hancock is Club
Secretary, Race Officer and
leads the catering at Cadet
Week. She will also be
playing an important role at
the Prizegiving in February,
but you will have to come
along to find out just what!
Tina and Sue
Tina’s Kitchen. This is where the good food comes
Colin McClellan has
from at lunchtime and for special occasions. Tina’s mum
Sue helps out when it gets busy.
been at BYC for 46 years
and is always busy around
the club. Colin is on the
Moorings Committee, part
of the team responsible for
launch and haul-out, and
allocation of moorings and
lay-up pads.
Here you see Tina modelling her new BYC uniform with
Sue also dressed smartly to serve guests at a private
function in the Dowsing Room.
Commodore Geoff Cook has said that the club plans to
upgrade the kitchen equipment and environment as a
priority this year. This support should greatly help Tina to
continue to provide good food at a good price.
The club will also be asking Tina to cater at club functions
through the year. You might also ask her if you have a
private function planned at the club.
Dowsing Room Hire.
Members may hire the hall for £75, with £100
returnable deposit against breakages.
Please contact Wendy Webster, Asst. Sec.
Transom Sticker
‘Combined Clubs
Series’ is a group that
meet and organise cruising
yacht races for the clubs
along the south Essex
foreshore and Paul Field is
chairman. BYC members
may enter these races which
usually have a social event
after the finish. Take a look
at the programme of events
in the handbook.
Yetton Trophy Relaunch
Richard Yetton
We put up the Yetton Trophy in the memory of
my father John Yetton, who was a member of
our club from the early 1930s until his death in
1976. His first boat was a small motor boat the
Otterselle, then Wanderer, the Quiz built about
1886 by Shuttlewoods of Pagelsham.
The first boat I sailed with him was an 18ft open
beach boat in 1951 that he bought at
Shoeburyness and he and Reg Marrison rowed
back to Benfleet with no wind. Finally he bought
his beloved gaff cutter Sybella in 1954 from
Fambridge Yacht Station on the Crouch. He
kept this until his death in 1976, and Sybella
was then bought by Ron Salmon.
He was not a great cruising man but loved just
to sail to the Medway, Queenborough and
Upnor. Then when Stangate Creek was cleared
of the ‘mothballed’ naval ships this was then his
favorite anchorage. Both his and my mother’s
ashes were both scattered there so watch where
you drop your anchor!
The ‘Race back from Stangate’ is very simple.
An anchor start off Sharfleet Creek with sails
down. An hour before low water to give the
slower boats a chance to get out of the Medway
before the tide turns. Grain Edge buoy to port,
Nore Swatch to port, Leigh buoy, to port, first
Ray entrance channel buoy finish line.
John Yetton in Sybella
This race is for members who do not normally
take part in the racing scene but may enjoy
something a little different on their way back to
Benfleet.
Please enjoy it. Richard Yetton.
On Saturday the 14th June this year Ladies will take charge and order their crew about - quite unlike any other
day! They will compete for the ‘Petticoat Pot’, a traditional BYC trophy from the days when gender equality was
still work in progress.
Then in the evening to get over the excitement we have the BYC ’Wine and Cheese Party’ in Stangate creek.
No one can remember just when this event became part of our heritage, but that is probably the effect of the wine.
The following morning, on Sunday 15th June, we have the ‘Yetton Trophy’ race back to the Ray. Eyes may be a
little bleary but this is a race with a difference. Boats are anchored together, with sails down, with no one having
any significant advantage of position.
Over the years we have found that boats big and small each have a best start time. Deep keel boats can’t get into
the Ray until the tide has risen a bit. Slow boats in light winds have trouble sailing against the rising tide off
Sheerness. This year we are proposing a new idea; if it works we might use it again.
Each skipper chooses a start time to the nearest half hour and announces it beforehand on the VHF, let’s say
channel 72. Then at this time, up anchor, up sails and away. As Richard has said, Grain Edge to port, Nore
Swatch to port, Leigh buoy to port. The finish line is in the Ray between the second pair of small red and green
buoys. Each boat records its own finish time. We trust you! You might like to report it on VHF channel 72.
High water is at 2:54pm, 5.92m. With good weather this should be a great weekend. Good Luck.
BYC Sailing .
Oops! Oops! and Oops Again!!!!!
Pam and Alan Tovey
st
Friday 31 May: Load Dorcas with lots of yummy food
ready to take Mica, Stewart and Kaycee for a day sail
Saturday. Not easy to get away on time as a babysitter is
needed for the twins (aged 2½ ). Bit tense. Dropping tide.
Will we get off the staging? Yes, just made it. Motor to the
crossover. Been doing this creek for 20 years.
Oops no. 1: Missed a red buoy. Stuck on the mud.
Oops no. 2: Left on a dropping tide again next morning.
Go aground at exactly the same spot as the motor boat
the day before. The mud was so soft we stayed upright all
day, thank goodness. Watched seals in the creek. Very
anxious we were going to be neaped for days! Luckily the
mud was so soft, we managed by rocking Dorcas, hauling
on the anchor and using the genoa, to get into deep water
at the top of the tide and back to the buoy for a second
night. Aim - get up early to set out as soon as possible on
the rising tide next morning.
Woke up next day at 5am; just enough water to float in the
creek but very, very misty. With the mud banks still
uncovered, using the binoculars to pick out the withies, we
managed to creep around all the twists and turns which
were beginning to cover with the flood tide. We made it on
to a buoy at Aldeburgh for hot rolls and bacon at 7am.
Lessons learnt as Dorcas is a lift keel we thought if we
set out with the plate down it would keep us in the deep
channel. Oh no! Not in that soft mud! The obvious lesson,
which we know really, but Alan likes a bit of a challenge:
Use the rising tide.
Monday 22nd July: Up at 4am to take the tide from
Harwich with the aim to make the trip to the Hole for a nice
rest on the BYC buoy, then onto our staging the next day.
We had a fabulous sail, saw porpoises off Shoebury,
entered the Ray, but punching the tide now, looking
forward to a nice meal in the Hole.
Comment from Kaycee (aged 7) '' This is my worst boat
trip ever.'' We managed to get Mica and co. ashore plus
all the food. Alan and I spent the day at 35 degrees
drinking water and eating buns. As the evening tide came
in Richard and Sheila Scurry tried to tow us off with the
chugger; no chance. How lucky were we! Along came a
big RIB with two enormous engines who just managed
with a series of snatches to get us off and afloat.
We then had a lovely evening in the bar with Sue, Jill,
Sarah and Steve Bibby, belatedly celebrating Tina's
birthday.
Lessons learnt – concentrate more and don't get
distracted when others are on board.
Tuesday 16th July: Motor up the river Alde to spend a
beautiful evening at Iken Cliff. Passing a motor boat
aground 50m from the buoy we moored up to for the night.
Oops no.3 Aground in the hole. Scary. Will we fall down
the bank? No, we were well wedged, upright, but with the
stern in mid air. So no early night for us. We floated off
nicely on the rising tide only to have the engine overheat
alarm sound. So engine off and we were swept by wind
and tide back on the mud!! It is the fastest I've seen Mr.
'laid back' Alan move.
He had the outboard off the bracket and on to the dinghy
in a flash and took a rope to the buoy. Midnight. At last we
are on the BYC buoy and how lucky were we. It had been
a beautiful evening but as we went below the most
horrendous storm began!
Lessons learnt be as careful in familiar situations as in
new ones, especially when tired. Concentrate!
Overall we had a great season with so
many good highlights I can’t bore you
with them all, but we took our daughter
Anna on the Roach for a few days and
saw baby seals still suckling from their
mothers and playing in the water,
which was quite special.
Reculver Towers,
We managed to
take Mica, Stewart
and Kaycee out for
a lovely day-sail.
Only problem was
the heads stopped
working. Nice job
for Alan to strip it
down. Then
noticed that the
holding tank lever
had been put in the
'off 'position.
I suppose that could be Oops no.4! HAPPY DAYS !!!!
Ian Kemp
I think nearly all of us have at some
time or another sailed along the
North Kent shore and passed the
very distinctive old ruins of Reculver
Towers. Since the old channel
between the Hook Spit and Last
East buoy has been closed, with the
channel now to the south via a new
Reculver buoy, the route will take us
closer to the shore and the Towers.
They are a landmark visible for
miles and make an easy point to
head for so long as one keeps off the actual ‘Reculver Sand Bank’.
However how many of us have actually stood by these towers and looked
out to sea. On many occasions I have studied the towers from seaward
thru binoculars but early this year we actually stood at the towers.
We were down in Kent around spring and took the opportunity to explore this part of Kent. To actually get to the
Reculver Towers does involve a quite narrow lane but you finally arrive at a car park close to a pub and a public footpath
leading to the towers. Well worth the effort because to start with the view is lovely and especially as we were treated to a
fine sunny day if on the chilly side. Just to get close to towers is impressive as these
ruins date back to the 12th century and the remains of a medieval church. There had
also been a Roman Fort on the site and quite a large settlement most of which was
washed away by coastal erosion many centuries ago. The fort guarded the old
Wantsum channel that ran across Kent to Richborough, also guarded by a fort. The
whole area is steeped in history and to stand amongst these ruins and see how massive
they are is impressive to say the least.
At one stage around 1805 part of the medieval church was demolished to use the stone
to build another church at Hillborough but the towers remained. To this day the southern
half of the Roman fort survives as ruined walls and earthworks. Obviously it had been a
very large fort, with high defence walls and four gates, said to contain a barracks, a bath
house and head-quarters. So as you sail past Reculver just think about what this bit of
the coast may have looked like a few centuries ago, there was apparently some kind of
Roman harbour on that piece of shore.
Veteran’s Dinghy Race. This was a highlight for the more mature member at the Mid Summer Regatta last year.
The regatta itself was a new idea and if this club can’t run a veteran’s race then who can? This year the Mid Summer
Regatta will be on the weekend of Sat 28th and Sun 29th June with the Veteran’s race on the Sunday.
The rules are simple; the skipper must be over 60 but the boat may carry a crew of any age if the boat design permits, so
children and grand children are welcome but will add weight. To the normal dinghy handicap we add one point for each
year the skipper is over 60; there has to be some advantage given to seniority! For lady veterans we will cover our eyes
when doing the sums.
We are under the Race Officer’s direction, but the race will probably start after the Fast handicap and Cadets have
started their races. Last year the course was very simple, Buoy 1 to Port, distance mark to starboard at the finish. Not
much of a memory test there! Might be different this year to challenge us.
Mugs will be awarded at the Prizegiving later in the day. So prepare for a great day’s sailing.
All Aboard ‘Ocean Breaker’,
Terry Pond
not knowing how long we would be involved. There was a
dinghy astern, it would be quite impossible to row ashore
and return. We made a long line fast to the dinghy, being
the smallest I was put in the dinghy, the rest paid out the
In the early 1950’s, getting into sailing, I graduated from a
gaff half-decked 12 footer to an Enterprise, then I bought a line. I reached the beach, nipped up to one of the kiosks,
bought some rolls and Mars bars, re-embarked, the others
Thames Estuary One
Design (TEOD) called pulling me off to the boat. Getting rough now. They needed
Halo in partnership with me, I had the food!
a friend, Tom
Ocean Breaker, 35ft 8 ton auxiliary sloop, draught 5ft,
Merrifield, and joined
built by Wallasea Bay Yacht Station, owned by Harold
the Alexandra Yacht
Earley a member of the AYC. Her home mooring was
Club, Southend. We
Burnham. By now the tide had risen some, the keel was
fast learned the art of
just about lifting. With the rising waves she was really
trying to get to the front pounding. As the wind increased to strong gale, we sat
of the fleet, with the aid munching rolls, wondering if the anchor would hold, being
of our crew Ron Fiori.
close to the moored TEODS which were tossing about like
When not racing we did corks. We also thought when, if at all, the lifeboat would
the obligatory cruise to ever come, given the sea state and close proximity to the
Queenborough and
shore. Our small auxiliary engine would be quite useless
Ray Days, and sailed
against the wind and sea.
around the estuary.
After about half an hour, things continuing to get worse we
A different sailing world saw the Southend lifeboat rolling through the waves
from today; no VHF, no coming to us from the west. They swung round, went
mobile phones, no
ahead dropped their anchor, eased back towards us. Arthur
GPS, no magisters
and I went to the foredeck, lifeboat indicating they would
(deck shoes), only plimsolls, cotton sails and natural rope. throw us a line. It was impossible to hear anything with the
My first suit of ‘oilskins’ were yellow button front PVC,
wind noise. After three attempts, the rope falling short of
purchased from a shop in Southend, originally made for
us, Sidney Page, coxswain walked aft and with a mighty
wash-down aircraft operators at the airport. Club life was
swing threw us a coir rope which just made the deck. We
O.K. Social events a little formal; jacket and tie stuff! The
grabbed it, led it from the bow taking a couple of turns
TEOD fleet was strong, and friends were made. Arthur
round the mast. Hand signals meant we had secured and
Clement and I became good friends, lasting a lifetime and they waved to us they would get under way, which they did
enduring many subsequent sailing adventures, cruising
slowly. As this happened, we frantically tried to indicate we
TEODs to Woodbridge and the East coast, racing offshore had to pull up our anchor held by chain. The lifeboat lay
with the East Anglian fleet, Ostend, Holland et al.
back on us. Mr Page shouted to us not to worry about the
So, summer Sunday lunchtime mid 1950’s I went up to the anchor as he would pull us off it!
club for a drink. The strange thing was, though summer, it Unfortunately his track to keep clear of the moored yachts
was really blowing very hard from the S.W. The previous
was straight head to wind and sea. Our anchor was a few
night had been very still, a beautiful balmy evening, there
degrees off on our starboard side. It could never be a
had been an ‘At Home’ at the AYC. In his wisdom, or lack straight pull and the anchor chain was now bar tight &
of, a deep keel yacht had been anchored among the
humming! Then it all started, the starboard fairlead came
TEOD moorings, the skipper planning to scrub off one side away, ping, and shot through the air like a bullet! Instantly
as the tide ebbed. He was now faced with a problem,
all the weight of the pull, from about 10 degrees off the port
making tide, increasing wind, so much so that trees were
bow came against the tension of the anchor chain roughly
going over. The skipper, Dudley Rodgers, had just one
the same off the starboard bow. With all the pressure on
crewman with him, he asked Arthur and myself if we would the anchor chain, bang, it ripped the pulpit out, guard rails,
help him get the boat off to the pier head. We agreed.
toe rails, wire, the lot. What a mess!. “Time to get out of
this”, said Arthur, so we retreated to the cockpit.
Dudley, who was an
experienced yachtsman,
said he would walk off with
his crew before the tide
floated her. If he felt he
could not cope he would fire
a red handheld flare so that
someone in the club could
phone the lifeboat. We got
our gear and joined him, on
board. As the tide made,
the boat started to lift and
pound, we all thought she
would break her side. She
was O.K. although
bouncing at an angle of
about 45 degrees. Apart
from a quick drink in the
club we had had no food,
Now frantically
signalling to the
lifeboat to ease
up so we could
get the anchor
in, they went on
for another few
feet. With the
pull we now
swung free, as
there was
nothing to hold
it in place, we
were being
tugged
broadside by
our tow, held
tight by the anchor from the starboard side! As the waves
hit the port side, on deck was like being under a waterfall .
accomplished, after we went to his aid with a bit of brute
force, chain free, now zoomed away in a cloud of rust!
Back on deck as the boat slewed round, the tow gave us
slack to make fast the rope in a line with the bow. The
lifeboat, Watson class Greater London II now gave it more
power. We cleared the moorings, so rough that one
moment we could see her stern, the next we seemed to be
towering above her. They set course towards Canvey
Point the sea now deeper and coming in long swells. We
eventually turned for the pierhead, gaining the lee and
made fast, watching the lifeboat re-house.
Peter Gillson, lifeboat crewman, took our details, grinning
all the while as he knew my father very well. We bade
farewell to Dudley and his crew, were thanked, and left the
boat.
Tow to port, rope fastened round foot of mast, anchor
chain to starboard, nearly in a straight line athwartships.
Would the mast hold we wondered? A through deck fixing,
it seemed ok. Creaking a bit.
In those days the lifeboat engineer had a small workshop
at the end of the pier, as we strolled past Arthur saw a
bottle of milk at the door. Arthur’s family business was
Howards Dairies. He picked up the milk bottle and said
"Look at that, bloody, Co-Op!" So ended our only trip on
Ocean Breaker. We went back to the club, got out of our
soaked clothes, went home and slept well.
Arthur tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the
shore. Whilst all this had been happening, crowds of
people had gathered to watch. Spume, howling wind,
water everywhere. All we could do was try and let the
anchor chain go, (mind your fingers), easier said than
done. We found it fastened to the bottom of the chain
locker with a rusty shackle. The crew, who had not said a
word at all during this time, was delegated to find a
hacksaw /pliers to free it. This was eventually
Postscript: Some time after, while reading a book on
sailing, the author quoted, “Should you get your anchor
jammed in rocks, make sure the chain end is made fast in
the locker with rope, as you can cut it, buoy it, or let it go if
in dire straits.” So with my first cruiser to the present, I
have always marked the chain end, orange, line attached
to the chain locker fixing. Even on the East Coast, more
mud than rocks, it made good sense, though never had to
be used in anger!
My Little Snapper,
Ieon King
My wife, Susan, and I joined the B.Y.C in September 2013. I bought my 21ft Snapdragon, Night Star, in Heybridge Basin.
Although I was born in Benfleet I am new to sailing, so my old mate Tony Bell gave me sailing lessons. I remember
sailing down Benfleet Creek and coming across this club. I said, “I must become a member. It looks a great club.”
Night Star
at Benfleet
After joining, Tony and I sailed my yacht round from the basin
taking two days. First we sailed to Bradwell Marina and stayed
the night, so we could sail on the ebb tide in the morning. For a
small boat it was quite a comfortable sleep although my mate
did snore a bit. We were up with the alarm at 04:00. I cooked
some bacon rolls, and with a nice mug of tea, I set the route in
the navigation unit.
We set off and had to use the outboard at first as the night tide
was calm, but as we made our way past the River Crouch, the
wind got up. It was good to cut the
engine. With the sails up and,
going with the tide, we were doing
seven knots. We were heading for
the Blacktail Spit buoy, the old
snapper sailing well. After a while
we could see the Shoebury boom
and then reached Southend pier.
Not long now before we would
reach the mouth of Benfleet
Creek. After thirty minutes we
were sailing in the creek to her
new home.
It was great sailing the old girl all
that way and I am looking forward
to sailing her with my wife next
summer.
Memories of a bygone age.
Bill Martin
Army training. A new type of anti-tank bomb had been
created. It had been approved by Churchill and we were to
practise with it. It was known as a sticky bomb, and came
in a metal globular case. Removed from its case the bomb
resembled a large toffee apple about the size of a large
grape fruit. It was glass and covered with a substance
which really did look like melted toffee and would stick to
anything. One at a time we had to leave our trench, march
smartly up to a dummy tank, and with a quick movement
bring the bomb down on the tank where it would stick.
There was a seven second delay before the bomb
exploded which started as soon as one released the
handle. Of course the natural inclination was to get back in
the trench before the explosion occurred, but, "No!", the
sergeant would shout, "Walk! Don't run", to ensure you
were in control.
Now my mate 'Drummy', always a show off, walked up to
the tank, swung the bomb with an exaggerated backswing
and brought his arm down, but no bomb. It was stuck to the
back of his tunic. Well! If Marilyn Monroe had been waiting
for him in her bedroom, he would not have stripped off any
quicker. Flinging aside his tunic, 'Drummy' made a mad
dash for the trench with the sergeant bellowing "Walk!
Don't run" ringing in his ears.
In Normandy my battalion the 7th was to capture two
bridges. One at Ranville which crossed the River Ome,
code named "Horsa" and the other which traversed the
Caen Canal was code named "Pegasus".
Our platoon, while out on patrol, made contact with a
German unit, resulting in a brief shoot out. 'Jerry' withdrew
leaving us with a problem. Our only casualty was 'Johnnie'
Walker who had shrapnel wounds from a grenade and was
unable to walk, plus two German prisoners, both wounded,
one seriously. Being somewhat far from base it was
decided that Johnnie would be left behind to guard the
prisoners and a stretcher party would be sent to fetch them
in. It was a fine sunny day and John, having nothing to do,
decided to tend to the prisoner's wounds. To the more
distressed one he gave a shot of morphine, (every
paratrooper was issued with a tube of morphine,
like a small tube of toothpaste with a needle at the nozzle)
and using his shell dressings, bound up his wounds. He
then did the same for the other prisoner.
Unfortunately it was a German patrol who found them.
Seeing two of their comrades, both wounded and guarded
by a British soldier, they were seriously angry. A punch,
then clicking as weapons were cocked. John thought his
last moment had come. Then his previous prisoners began
speaking to his captors. Their attitudes suddenly changed.
He was given a drink, a cigarette, placed on a stretcher and
taken by lorry to a French hospital in Paris where his
wounds were attended to. During his stay a French orderly
told him to be ready and dressed at eight o'clock that
evening. His escape had been planned. He was helped out
of a window by the French resistance and was eventually
returned to a advancing British unit, then on to Blighty
where he made a full recovery. He was then returned to our
battalion. When asked about his experience, John would
say, "What you put in you get out. In my case I believe it
was my life."
During the breakout from Caen I was wounded and taken
prisoner. I finished the war in "Stalag7A’, Mooseburg
Bavaria, this period being the lowest of my life.
After interrogation, we prisoners of war were held in a
makeshift camp, not far behind the battle lines. Each day
we saw a new consignment of captured men arrive, usually
infantry and sometimes shot down fighter pilots.
I was quite intrigued when one intake was a unit from the
RAF Regiment. They are not as a rule regarded as combat
troops, their duties generally airfield security and that sort
of thing. Of course we were curious to learn the
circumstances which led to their capture. Taking the
opportunity during a quiet moment, the flight sergeant in
charge wryly told me of his experience. He was given a
map reference, and told to take two 15 cwt trucks and a
work party, and clear an airfield so a flight of C 47's
(Dakotas) carrying fuel and ammo could land that
afternoon. Estimating his position from the reference point,
he found the airfield. Scattered around were shot up Focke
Wulfs , ME 109's and other planes and vehicles. The
airstrip was pock marked with holes from preying rocket
firing Typhoons. Because of the urgency, they started to
clear the airstrip, towing away damaged aircraft and other
debris. Holes were filled in with tarmac and tamped down.
They had been working well over an hour when a lorry load
of armed Luftwaffe men arrived to find out what they were
doing. Astonishingly they had been working on an airfield
which had not yet been captured. Air force attire and the
Luftwaffe attire are not too dissimilar from a distance. I
daresay the Germans thought the party working were their
own. Mind you! Jerry had his share of cock ups as well.
Things even themselves out.
Food was the main topic of conversation among we
prisoners, very often we went without food for a day or so,
sometimes with just a slice of black bread. I recall
marching along a French road when a small farm truck
filled with cabbages slowed down to pass us.
As he came level to us, without thought or hesitation I
stepped out of line, leapt up and knocked off a cabbage,
and was back in line in double quick time. Somebody
muttered "You could have been shot for that" No matter, as
I broke off the leaves to share among my friends. I can still
remember the delicious taste of that cabbage . The crisp,
sweet peppery taste. I don't think I have ever enjoyed
anything like it before or since.
Stalag VllA Moosburg Bavaria:-The war was coming to an end. The
American army was just a few miles away. The rumble of their guns could be
heard in the distance . We thought that with a bit of luck we might be home in
Blighty in a couple of weeks, so long as the battle bypassed the camp. One
evening as we lay thinking in our bunks, someone said " When I get home I am
asking my mum to fry me a big steak, smothered in onions and chips.” Well!
This started the conversation. I'm asking for roast beef said one, another
thought stew and dumplings, some fish and chips. My contribution was roast
lamb, roast potatoes basted with the meat juices. Adjacent to me was a young
Canadian named Bob. "What about you Bob, What would you like?" " A bottle
of coke and a Turkish delight" said Bob. A stunned silence! I realised that
anybody from outside the UK was a bloody foreigner.
June 6th 2014 will be the 70th anniversary of 'D-Day' Those of us who took
part on that historic occasion and are still around are now elderly, but the
events of this day remain quite clear in memory. I still make the annual
pilgrimage to Normandy to remember old friends and comrades who never
returned home, and can now enter the military cemetery at Ranville without
weeping. There in honour lie many of my friends, just lads really. Images of us
attending dances, going to the pictures, pie and beans in the N.A.A.F.I. Playing
four card brag till the early hours, come before me.
I am saddened, but proud to have known them, and to have been one of them.
Bill Martin.
Calais Rally. Frank Martin
spare the town. Edward's Queen Phillipa interceded on
their behalf. Calais was spared and the burghers freed.
Rodin's sculpture displays the anguish and heroism of
those men.
Opposite the town hall and across the road is a park.
Enter the gates and turn right. There is a large concrete
bunker, built and used during World War Two. It is now a
museum. There are about forty rooms filled with artefacts
and the history of the Calaisians’ experience during the
war. I was particularly moved by letters from young men
who were to be executed the next morning. They were to
parents and family giving their love. One paragraph read:
"We are aware of our condition and are OK with it. I know
you will grieve, but do not pity us Papa, we die for France.”
I have always enjoyed visiting Calais and have supported
our club's attendance at the rally each year during the
spring bank holiday. There are many places of interest
worth a visit in the town. Many of us work and have other
commitments which curtail the time we are able to spend
there, for many just the holiday weekend, but there are still
places to see which are not too far from the yacht basin.
A ten minute walk from the basin, past the square, takes
you to the Marie , town hall, a distinctive red brick
building . Civic duties are of course ongoing, but quite a lot
of the building is open to the public, you might even see a
wedding in progress. Climb the tower and you are
rewarded with a 360° degree panoramic view of the town.
The gardens surrounding the town are neat and well
tended, but the thing to see is Rodin's memorial to the
Burghers of Calais. Edward the 3rd had starved the town
into submission and demanded that six prominent
members come forward with a noose around their necks
or he would raze the town. Six burghers offered
themselves asking that their sacrifice be recognised and
Continue walking downtown. There is a large crossroad,
with traffic lights. On the right there is a distinctive building,
a theatre. Unsurprisingly the area is called ‘Theatre’. Turn
left, take the second turning on the right and if it is a
Saturday you will find a large market, very French. Fresh
vegetables, chickens roasting on spits, sometimes Paella
cooking in a huge cauldron. If you turn right and take a five
minute ride on the bus, you will come to the hypermarket
‘Auchan’ Very interesting! I particularly like the fish section
with its wonderful display of oysters, scallops, prawns etc.
I often buy a kilo of mussels, wash and beard them, place
them in a saucepan with a knob of butter, a glass of white
wine, Muscadet preferably, should have ‘sur lie’ on the
label. Add a bouquet garni, gently heat. When the shells
have opened, the mussels are cooked. A buttered piece of
baguette, and a glass of muscadet! Delicious!
Of course there are many other places of interest: British
military cemetery, the citadel, Bleriot's beach and many
more. Another time perhaps?
Calais Rally Briefing, Friday 16th May 8pm.
If you are thinking of joining the Calais Rally this year and
just want to update your knowledge, then this is the evening
for you. The tides are right for a fine cruise later the
following week to the Calais Rally on Saturday 24th May.
"Dordrecht." "Where’s that?"
Dordrecht
from the sixteenth
century with a hexagonal
star shaped plan of
"Holland, inland from the Hook."
moats and wall;
impossible to mistake on
Phil Bostock
a map. It is an attractive
This was the start of a recovery operation for Spindrift,
place and in mid July it
Keron Riley's 'Rival 32'. An earlier short email has said that
had managed to attract
three days out on a trip to the Baltic, Keron had been taken
most of the boats in the
ill and had urgent surgery in Holland on his stomach. He
North Brabant, the
later said that he was disappointed to abandon his Baltic
province where it lies. We
cruise - "I was gutted!"
approached the harbour
A week in hospital for Keron; a week on Spindrift for Paul master's pontoon. There
Wiseman, crewmate. "I visited every museum and art
were choices; join the
gallery in Dordrecht", said Paul. I didn't say 'where' again
throng in an already
as by then I had found it on Google Earth and worked out
packed town centre
how the waterways connected to anywhere else I might
harbour or search for a
know. A busy stretch of tidal waterway led through a lifting space in a crowded
twin bridge, road and rail, then a fork with a waterway to
marina. I had done
the south before joining the 'Hollands Diep'. I had never
marinas so I went for
heard of it but it's a major artery from Stellendam on the
style! We were probably
coast inland to the heart of the Netherlands. Keron and
the last boat into the town centre and moored about five
Paul both flew back, Keron to convalesce with his sister's
boats out from
Willemstad
family.
the quay.
A few weeks later I flew
with Paul and Alan Carter,
another occasional
crewmate on Spindrift,
Southend to Schipol, train
to Dordrecht, waterbus to
the small marina just north
of Dordrecht. An easy
journey and we arrived
early afternoon after a good meal in town and a bit of
shopping. A few checks, then the engine started right away
and we dragged our keel through the soft mud of the side
canal where the marina was, into the main waterway.
Large barges powered past on the waterway ahead
sending waves of wash down the side canal. With each
wave we lifted and moved forward a few feet until we
reached the main channel.
Now Spindrift,
in common
with other
longish keel
boats, doesn't
know how to
go backwards!
To park neatly
alongside the
other boats
needed a
three or five point turn in a confined space. If the dozens of
watching eyes only knew my inexperience with this boat
they would have shared my anxiety and put out lots of
fenders. The secret, it seemed, was to get the boat moving
backwards, with short bursts of
ahead to get the direction right,
the rudder being useless
The traffic on the
otherwise. After some creative
waterway was a shock.
manoeuvring we moored
An angry procession of
alongside another boat who
powerful barges, some
double length, tore up the seemed content at our arrival.
water surface. We kept to We ate in town, slept well and
the side but there wasn't were away early the next day.
much room to move. We I am told Numansdorp Marina,
about a mile away on the north
saw a gap and dived
across to the other bank bank of the Hollands Diep, is a
better place to stay once you
of the Oude Maas to
have experienced Willemstad.
where the twin bridge
lifting spans were. It
The following day we rushed
seemed a minor miracle through most of the meers and
when it opened at the
canals in Zeeland. This was a
time an internet search
bit sad as you could easily
said it should!
spend weeks exploring this
beautiful area, but we were on
Then we had to dive
a mission. Alan had to be back
back through the barges to the other side to get on the
to work on a defined day and
starboard side while a harbour master's boat looked on.
dawdling wasn't really an
Then back again to take the left hand fork going south.
option. So we cracked on and
Mercifully the tidal canal going south was fairly quiet. A bit got to Middelburg by the
of study had given us slack, then fair tide. We turned into
evening. I can't recommend
the Hollands Diep, a river half a mile wide, and headed
this rate of progress otherwise.
west to Willemstad. This small town has fortifications dating
From Hollands Diep there is a lock into the Volkerak,
another one into what becomes the Oosterschelde, another
into the Veerse Meer and yet another into the canal to
Middelburg. You get good at locks! Some are just for
yachts. Some are shared with boats big and small. All have
their very own potential for drama; rough walls with not
much to hang on to, wayward boats turning sideways in the
strong currents just as another dozen make a dash for the
exit. What fun!
name! We ate in town that night but another time tried the
marina bistro which was very good. The weather for the
next few days looked unsettled and I only enjoy channel
crossings in perfect conditions, so we came home by ferry,
Calais to Dover. Paul's wife Judy was good enough to pick
us up.
A few days later Paul and I
went back for the last leg.
We went from Dover to
We ran aground in the Veerse Meer. It was a bit stressful.
Dunkerque West. But that
We were on said mission and came to a region full of
ferry doesn't take foot
buoys; red, green, yellow, black; all shapes and sizes.
passengers. So my wife Dilly
Clearly the channel forked but just where the channels
dropped us off at Dover with
went wasn't immediately obvious. I slowed down but not
two folding bikes. We
quickly enough. We stopped. As I said, going backwards
peddled around the corner to
was not easy. After trying all the usual tricks we hit on the
the ferry and a couple of
one that worked. We shouted "Help!" to a passing RIB. He
hours later we were in
called his mates and three 150HP outboard engines
Dunkerque West. Just £15
pushed and pulled us into deep water. Luckily for us the
fare each seems a bargain.
Veerse Meer was full of pleasure boats at that time of year.
The cycle ride to the marina
What a relief.
was most interesting. Almost
a straight line along the wide
I like Middelburg. It is a most
track
on
the
breakwater,
the
'Digue
du Braeck', passed an
attractive town with all
oil
refinery
and
with
a
fine
view
of
blast
furnaces and other
amenities and restaurants.
heavy industry. About an hour later we were at the boat
Unfortunately we had a pile
and the cycles folded away into the front cabin. I can
of food to work through so
recommend this route for a crew change if you can stow a
we ate on board; a fair curry.
bike.
Again we were away
promptly in the morning. A
The following day, early again, we pushed a bit of tide
convoy of boats formed up
down to Dunkerque West then headed for North Foreland!
and made its way south with We fitted the autohelm and motored on 310 degrees for
the bridges coordinating
nearly six hours. Very little wind and a flat sea.
opening times. This happens It would have been a little quicker but we entertained a
twice a day, otherwise
boarding party from a French customs boat for half an
progress could be painfully
hour. They were lurking off Dunkerque and hadn't got a
slow. We went out of the final
better prospect. I waved to their Rib and three young
lock at Vlissingen
officers came aboard and, in a mixture of French, English
(pronounced Flushing by
and arm waving, we explained our total innocence despite
both the locals and the Brits) the boat having been at risk in Holland for a month and
into heavy rain and mist. We neither of us being the owner. They tried to search in the
went into the Westershelde a
chaos that
short way then retreated
was the
behind the breakwater and
cabin, leaving
held station. Other boats did
it tidier than
the same. There can be
before. Their
heavy traffic to Antwerp and I needed to be able to see it.
leader had
Eventually the visibility cleared and we made Breskens.
trained as a
There is an excellent camping equipment store in town with
history
items that can easily be pressed into service on a boat, and
teacher
we ate an excellent meal at the yacht club. This fairly short
before joining
run to Breskens was to set us up strategically for the
the customs
following day. The tides have a magic property hereabouts.
service. Paul
The falling tide runs south about four knots out of the
is a retired geography teacher so there was some common
Westershelde and along the coast. (Remember the falling ground. I gave them a copy of the newsletter before they
tide runs north off our east coast.) Then once you are well left which by chance had Keron's photo in an article he had
passed Zeebrugge, the rising tide also runs south! This
written last year. This diversion lost us a bit of precious
magic carpet carries you along the Belgium coast to
time but we made it up with a strong south-easterly we met
France. Amazing! So we left early the following day,
in the Thames and got to Benfleet more than an hour
pushed a bit of tide for an hour then shot down the coast all before high water, a journey of 14 hours. The bankside
the way to Dunkerque East. More sensible sailors would
mooring is set inside the adjacent moorings which took a
leave a bit later and go to Nieuwpoort. We went through a few approaches. More reversing practice, but by now it
violent squall around Oostende which had us worried for
held no fears.
half an hour until it cleared.
Our wives met us and helped get the folding bikes and
We went into the YCMN club marina and got the last berth. bags off the boat and away. I think we were all relieved but
It has a fuel berth and is a short walk from town. They also it is also quite satisfying to have taken the challenge and
had records of Spindrift so we booked in under Keron's
been successful. And Keron is now fully recovered!
Zeebrugge
HW Calais is 13:00 CEST
HW Zeebrugge is 13:15 CEST
HW Vlissingen is 13:45 CEST
HW Hook of Holland is 14:30 CEST
If HW Southend is 12:00 BST then:
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Lock
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From the States
Keron Riley
On my recent visit to the USA Maurice and Elaine Cooper
told me about Philadelphia, the city, not their recently sold
yacht. Having seen the sites for ever linked with the
declaration of independence I made my way to the
waterfront. It was too late to go round the impressive
Independence Maritime Museum but walking along the
river bank I saw the masts of an old square rigger. The
banks of the Delaware River was the last place to think
about sailing from London to Australia but here was
Moshulu, the ship made famous in The Last Grain Race.
She is now a restaurant so I went on board, looked round
on deck and had a drink at the bar on the foredeck.
In New York I was determined to
see the Peking again. She had
been in the Medway under the
name of Arathusa and was now
lying in the Seaport Museum
area. It was so disappointing that
the museum area had been
inundated by the hurricane Sandy
and has never reopened.
Derelict and closed, the Peking
was a sad sight. An old
longshoreman told me that the
Germans were negotiating to buy
her back.
New York is built on islands and you are always close to
the water. Although it was October the sun shone and it
was as summer in England, yet I saw only one yacht.
For many years Brian Thompson was a member of
Benfleet YC. He introduced me to cruising when I crewed
for him in his Kingfisher 20 Farina to Zeebrugge. Although
family commitments took him away from sailing, on
retirement he moved to Florida and bought a Catalina 22.
So in early November we managed a few occasional days
sailing the ICW, the Intracoastal Waterway.
Having met people who had sailed the Intracoastal
Waterway on the east coast of the US only now I became
aware that it is on the Florida west coast where the sand
spits, or ‘keys’ parallel to the shore extended from the
Everglades south. Wide lagoons joined by dredged
channels extend down the coast and provide delightfully
protected sailing and anchorages. The November
weather was sunshine with the temperature a steady 85°F
and winds force 3 to 4. Parts of the ICW are surrounded
by nature reserves and in other places the grassland and
trees surround expensive houses with a yacht or power
boat moored alongside.
behind each street a
canal from the ICW
has been cut to give
every house its own
dock. Behind one of
these houses Brian
keeps his boat on a
staging.
With a tidal range of
two feet access to the boat was easy and we were quickly
motoring out into the waterway. Usually I was given the
helm so the skipper was free to play with the sails whilst I
muttered to myself “red right returning”. Just as driving on
their roads I had to remind myself they do things the
opposite way round: a starboard buoy is red. There was
little tidal current and curiously, there is only one high and
one low tide a day on the west Florida coast.
We had some enjoyable days
sailing. Even in Paradise
outboard motors are
temperamental and we had to
anchor whilst the skipper
attempted to get it going
again. In the warmth and
sunshine it was relaxed and
pleasurable, reminiscing
about being in the same
situation thirty years before in
the cold and on a falling tide
off Harty Ferry, anxious to get
to the Shipwright’s Arms.
EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD
In June I ended up in a Dutch hospital. If you need
treatment in the EEC this might help. I was asked for my
passport and European Health Insurance Card which were
photocopied and returned. On leaving hospital I paid €60
for dressings and medicines I took with me. I assumed it
was all done so I was surprised when on 5th Dec I
received the bill from the hospital, all in Dutch, for €2011.
Mentioning this to David Marler he pointed out the phone
number on the EHIC. “SHOULD YOU NEED TO MAKE A
CLAIM ON YOUR RETURN HOME: Tel: 0191 218 1999
My call was answered by a friendly voice. I apologised
that I had left it so late but he re-assured me that you have
two years to submit your claim. Have your NI and EHIC
numbers and bank details ready. The bill was all in Dutch
but he said that was not a problem. He told me to pay the
bill and he would send me a form to fill in and a stamped
addressed envelope. I took the bill to my bank which paid
it and gave me a receipt (and charged me £25 for doing
so.) I might have been able to pay it online but needed
the receipt.
When the form arrived there were four pages of notes and
six pages to fill in and return. You are given a reference
number to write on all documents and strongly advised to
photocopy everything as all original documents must be
submitted and will NOT be returned.
We drove through Sarasota and over lifting bridges out
onto Longboat Key where we passed the headquarters of
the Sarasota Yacht Squadron. This is a members’ self
help club like BYC but with entertainment areas round the
clubhouse. For about a mile and a half past the Squadron
streets turn off the road and lead to the waterfront and
Keep every document from the hospital. I had a discharge
letter which gave the dates, the name of the doctor said
what the treatment had been: all this had to go on the
form. I could not find the receipt for the dressings so that
was €60 I could not claim. So far it has been straight
forward. All that is needed now is to get the refund.
A letter from down the creek...
Nick Ardley, Whimbrel, IYC, RNSA
Three men, ditch-crawling, in the dark...
Some time ago a good friend, Richard Scurrey,
asked if I would be available to help crew his boat
Holly Mill back from the River Deben ... she was
having some a little tender love around her bottom
parts... Well, the moment came and off I jolly well
went. There were two of us crewing, both
'hardened' skippers to exercise the good ship’s
owner! It was a bit like ‘Three Men in a Boat’,
without the pooch. My crew mate was Phil
Bostock. He’s a man I’ve met many times out on
the water whilst sailing up Hadleigh Ray and
Benfleet Creek, and too, around your friendly club
on the odd occasion I’ve been a guest.
The work done on Richard’s boat was done by Mel Skeet and his
grand team at the Granary Boat Yard. Now, this is a yard where
traditional skills run hand in hand with the copious needs of the
GRP fraternity – I love yards like that. I enjoyed a potter round the
yard in the short time before we were due to depart. Across from
the yard’s weather beaten office and store sat a new steel barge
yacht nearing completion - ready for rigging out over the winter. I
met her owner during 2012 and we had a long chat ... she was just
a shell then. Also, sadly, I had a close look at Gladys, a Finesse 28
(for sale), sitting in a mud berth at the lower end of the yard. I was
left feeling a little bewildered at the way the poor girl has been
treated: the owner has clearly, once, done a lot of work. However,
it has all gone to seed... Mel Skeet said he’d offered the owner a
‘fix it’ price a while ago... berthing fees have outstripped that cost
since. There's a lesson eh!
The skipper’s good mate Sheila had come up to drive the car home
and after loading our gear and stores aboard we repaired to a
pleasant little watering hole outside Skeet’s yard for a spot of
luncheon ... tasty stuff and well worth the walk if cooped up in the
Tide Mill Harbour. Holly Mill’s mate departed and left us to it. I think
we had two teas and at least a coffee ... awaiting the tide! Oh yes,
the skipper briefed us too ... we listened intently, of course!
As high tide eventually approached (it was neaps) we departed ...
nearing Woodbridge, by Robertsons, darkness suddenly
enveloped us. From forward, I called, ‘...keep on in...’ we didn’t and
Holly Mill slithered to a halt ... not that we had much momentum.
There was a buoy ‘ahead’ but not the one I was looking for! We
were soon away, passing close to Robertson’s Yard and safely
rounding the Tide Mill. From then on, at my foredeck post, with
torch and binoculars, I constantly searched for the way ahead
amongst the myriad of empty mooring buoys stuffed into this idyllic
river's stream. Relief, of a sort, was only had after Methersgate,
Wolverstone and Ramsholt had been passed: in the dark those
buoys seemed endless.
During that evening passage I was only ‘shouted’ at once: a call
came, “...can’t hear you ... speak up!” It was our doughty and
trusting skipper, barking. All right for the aft guard ... looking ahead
all the time, but my neck was twisting this way and that, then hard
round to call instructions, as the dancing half submerged balls
appeared as if from nowhere...
There was one hilarious moment that sticks in my mind. Towards
the end of Waldringfield’s mine strewn fairway, a conversation aft
was overheard ... conversation being rather a loose term!
“You need to go to starboard...” The aft lookout said with his eyes
glued to his ‘tablet’ emitting its pale blue glow.
“I am going to starboard...” was the skipper’s immediate
response...
Then there was a muffled discussion, as the skipper
eased the throttle was eased to neutral. I left them to it
and stuck to my job...
Safely at a mooring, later, and going over the incident, I
said, “From my vantage point, I thought we were about to
head back to Woodbridge ... up Stoner’s Cut.” Not a good
idea at night on a falling tide – we all laughed!
I have to admit that a couple of electronic gizmos helped.
Phil’s ‘tablet’ had a land based programme* showing the
centre of the fairway - useful eh. Chart plotters I've seen
appear not to have that ... it’s a bit like the tops of
creeks ... chart makers leave out all detail of where most
(ditch-crawlers) know that water exists ... an ordnance
survey map provides more useful info than their watery
friends. However, I digress...
After a delicious dish of chicken cooked in wine (preprepared by the boat’s mate, packed up and frozen...)
washed down with a bottle of Holly Mill’s finest white
Bordeaux, we were soon preparing to shut down for the
night. Skip’s alarm clock was going to awaken us with a
clash of bells at 0530...
Harvey Jayne - white weeding on Maplin
We left the Deben at 0600, a little over 1 hour after full
flood, with no problems at all. The Ferry buoy, beacons
and Mid Knoll clear to see... Clearing the Outer Knoll we
beetled under power southwards fortified with copious hot
drink. It was a tad chilly for us, even well trussed up in
thick clothing and oilies. After crossing the shipping lane,
up went the mainsail. While we motor sailed, on auto-pilot,
bacon butties were cooked and enjoyed ... courtesy of our
skipper, bless him! The deck crew were muttering about
getting a proper sail, our skipper must have heard the
piratical comments being uttered, so up he came, tea
towel in hand and up went the genoa ... I say up: that's a
Whimbrel term ... we pulled it out, roll after roll... Then
Holly Mill felt happy, with a good quartering breeze, as
were her crew and grinning skipper...
Now I’m not a writer that bothers greatly with times ... but
we were eating up those long miles. By around 1300 we
were near the bottom of the Swin doing around 6.5 knots,
but the wind dropped and our speed fell. Our skip didn’t
hesitate: on went the engine. Almost on cue we motor
sailed past Southend Pier, on schedule, and sails were
stowed: the wind had gone nor’ west.
A short pause was made at one of Benfleet’s waiting
buoys, surrounded by a huge flock of Brent geese. After a
clear up the skipper deemed it deep enough, up creek,
and we puttered, slowly, home... Guess what? Yes. It got
dark again! Ah, but we were old hands at this game by
then... It was simple to find the buoys. “Know where they
are...” someone cheekily called to me! I probably know
them better than most... Besides; the old girl knew her
way. By around 1700 we were tied up alongside the new
pontoon to be met by the boat’s good mate.
Yes, it was a pleasant trip, with good shipmates. Lots of
good grub (keeps up the energy levels in the cold) and the
boat was grand. Ah, to be out on the water...
(* Ipad with Navionics App for UK & EU, with O2 GSM.)
Transom Sticker
A club for all ages.
A gang of boys aged 10 wondered what it would be like at Benfleet Yacht Club. They enjoyed
the Cadet sailing, drank Coca-Cola and talked about computer games. It was great!
At 20 a young man took his mates back to Benfleet Yacht Club because he was dating a girl
there and the lager was cheap. Full of old men moaning about the weather.
At 30 they raced their dinghies at the Benfleet Yacht Club because the girls behind the bar
were good looking and wore short dresses. The beer was OK and the food good value.
At 40, after a yacht race, then went to the Benfleet Yacht Club because the real ale was
excellent and the food good quality. The members argued about racing handicaps.
At 50 the group of experienced sailors cruised to the Benfleet Yacht Club because they had
fine wines at a reasonable price, and the conversation about the ARC was stimulating.
At 60 they chose to meet at Benfleet Yacht Club because the young bar staff were friendly
and the shandy quite good. They ordered food without garlic which wouldn't upset missus.
At 70 the retirees decided to meet at Benfleet Yacht Club where you could make a pension
go further and get away from mobile phones and the interweb.
At 80 the old codgers decided to meet at Benfleet Yacht Club because they had mobility aids:
ramps and a stair lift. You could sit and talk about the weather for hours.
At 90 the group got their carers to take them to Benfleet Yacht Club. They wondered what it
would be like as they were not sure they had been there before.
Loosely based on a yarn by a 94 year old.
Model of a Dutch barge.
Presented to the club by
Ken Evans, long time member.
Rayleigh Brass at the
Carol evening. Thank
you for the music!
At the ‘Laying Up
Supper’ Liz White was
awarded the Benfleet
Rowlock Trophy by
Steve Bibby for
‘Services to the Club’.
Liz is at the club many
days in the week
helping to keep the
place clean and tidy,
and helping on the
slipway during dinghy
sailing. This award
recognises her
valuable contribution to
the club.
Essex rocks.
In the spring of 1953 a borehole was
drilled on Canvey Island, near
Smallgains Creek Marina, looking for
coal. At 400 metres below ground level
they found rocks of the right age, 400
million years old, but no coal. If the result
had been different Canvey might have
been a coal mining town like one of the
four small pits that were in east Kent.
The borehole survey also showed layers
of chalk and above that London clay,
then gravel.
Looking at the stones in the gravel found
in Essex gives a clue where they came
from and it seems a million years ago
the Medway flowed north across Essex
joining the early Thames going through
Norfolk, then joining the rivers of Europe
to go north out to the Atlantic. No
English Channel then.
Then 450,000 years ago a great ice
sheet blocked that route and formed an
inland lake. The ice wall a kilometre thick
diverted the Thames/Medway. In terms of modern place
Greenland, but Essex might have looked like this .
names the old Thames missed London altogether, flowing
from Reading to St Albans, through Chelmsford and
Colchester to flow out near Clacton. On the way it dropped
gravel later extracted commercially, from the pits near
Fingringhoe, for example.
The lake overflowed the hills east of Kent and made the
first channel valley in a major event that carved a groove
in the sea bed that still shows on charts. Britain became
an island for the first time.
There have been several ice ages since, some severe
enough to push the Thames and Medway south to where
they are now. Each time the ice wall stopped the melt
waters ran off and dug channels under the ice sheet and
along the face. These deep channels have filled in over
time but are still with us as the many rivers of Essex that
flow out to the coast.
As the weigh of ice lifted off Scotland the land
rose up and in the south of England the land
fell. The land at the mouth of the Thames
gradually flooded and eroded. This detail from a
map by John Norden in 1594 shows Canvey as
islands extending to where the pier is now.
They were previously known as ‘The Five
Islands of Cana’s People’. Cana was thought to
be an Anglo-Saxon leader around 600AD
whose people settled all over southern England
and gave his name to several places, Canvey
and Canewdon, and through the surname
Canning, to Canning Town.
Seabed contours near the Leigh Buoy.
an
k>
Leigh Buoy >
an
db
At half tide there is at least three metres over the whole
area. The area was last surveyed July 2013.
PGB
< First Red and Green Pair
<S
There is a sand bank between the second pair and the
yellow buoy about one metre shallower than the depth
near the Leigh buoy. It is also very shallow south of the
first red buoy so best not to cut the corner at low tide.
< Shallow >
Yellow Buoy >
< 2nd Red and Green Pair
Near low water, leave the Leigh Buoy to port by 100 metres
on a heading of 330 deg aiming for the first small green
buoy. Near that buoy come round to 305 deg heading for
the second small green buoy. Then come round to 280 deg
aiming to pass south of the yellow safe water mark. Then
head at 300 deg towards the fishing boat moorings.
New Thames Estuary
Sea Reach Buoys
Benfleet Yacht Club
General Committee :
Officers of the Club
Commodore:
Vice Commodore:
Rear Comm. Sailing
Rear Comm. House:
Secretary:
Asst. Secretary:
Treasurer:
Asst. Treasurer:
Sailing Secretary:
Asst. Sailing Secretary:
Bosun:
Race Officer
Members:
Jan 2014
Geoff Cook
John Hancock
Phil Bostock
Chris Cox
Sue Hancock
Wendy Webster
vacant
Brian Wallis
Adam Smith
lan Bunyan
Keith Cushing
Sue Hancock
Mike Bonici
Jeff Carter
Tony Cole
Ashley Manning
Steve Millward
Sheila Scurrey
Dave Whitby
Finance Committee
Treasurer
Asst. Treasurer
Members:
Sailing Committee
Chair:
Secretary:
Asst. Secretary
Race Officer
Cruiser Captain
Dinghy Captain
Rowing Captain
Cadet Captain
Asst Cadet Captain
Members:
Moorings and Foreshore Committee:
Chair:
John Hancock
Bosun:
Keith Cushing
Members:
Carol Best
Trevor Chopping
Peter Deeley
Tony Greenland
Brian Little
Colin McLellen
Steve Millward
Dave Whitby
House Committee
Chair:
Secretary:
Members:
Entertainments Committee:
Chair:
Geoff Cook
Members:
Paula Bootle
Ann Adams
Helen Baker
Sue Coleman
Angie Deal
Sarah Joy
Nicola Scriven
Wine Committee
Chair:
vacant
Brian Wallis
Phil Blatchford
Bert Graham
Sheila Scurrey
Pam Tovey
Mike Watts
Phil Bostock
Adam Smith
Ian Bunyan
Sue Hancock
Steve Deal
Adam Smith
Penny Jones
Alex Morley
Amberlie Coleman
Dave Blaker
Tony Cole
Chris Cox
Paul Field
Dave Holt
Gavin Kemp
Laurie Mason
Chris Cox
Wendy Webster
Mike Bonici
Jeff Carter
Bob Mace
Ashley Manning
John Perry
Tris Pritchard
Alan Tovey
Mike Watts
Geoff Cook
Paula Bootle
Chris Cox
Brian Wallis
BYC Yacht Cruising Programme 2014
HW am Ht m HW pm Ht m Event
February
Sat
1
01:03
Fri
21 -
6.05 13:33
6.24 Sailing Prizegiving Supper 7.30pm
-
-
-
15:59
5.47 Spring Work Party; early start.
BYC At Home Evening 7.30pm
March
Sat 22 & Sun 23
April
Sat
26 11:11
5.58 23:27
5.48 Shakedown Cruise. Meal at QYC
Sat
3
03:42
5.73 15:57
5.56 Cruise to Chatham marina, meal.
Sun
4
04:21
5.54 16:32
5.38 Chatham BBQ Sunday afternoon
Fri
16 -
-
-
Sat
24 09:39
5.36 21:58
5.23 Calais Rally
Sat
14 01:47
5.89 14:09
5.89 Wine & Cheese in Stangate
Sat
21 07:59
5.37 20:16
5.23 Nore Race
Fri
27 -
-
-
Sat
5
06:13
5.07 18:23
4.90 Cruise to Harty Ferry, social
Sat
6
07:03
4.94 19:20
4.86 Ray Day; Fun day and BBQ
May
-
Calais Rally Briefing
June
-
Nore Race Prizegiving
July
August
Sat
2
04:56
5.38 17:05
5.24 Cruise to London, Limehouse. Meal at CA
Sat
16 05:10
5.80 17:22
5.80 Cruise to Brightlingsea
Sat
23 12:13
5.47 -
-
Sun
24 00:40
5.45 12:57
5.53 Cruise to meal at Medway YC
Queenborough Barge BBQ, byo
September
Sun
14 04:40
5.73 16:54
5.81 Commodore’s Tea Day
Fri
26 02:23
5.79 14:36
5.78 Afternoon sail to the Medway
Sat
27 02:54
5.81 15:08
5.77 Cruise to Gillingham Marina
October
Sat 11 & Sun 12
15:07
6.18 Autumn Work Party; early start
December
Sun
14 04:57
4.93 17:36
4.86 Annual General Meeting
BYC Yacht Racing Programme 2014
HW
am
Ht
m
HW
pm
Ht
m
February
Sat 1
Fri
01:03 6.05 13:33 6.24 Sailing Prizegiving Supper, 7.30pm
21 -
-
-
-
BYC At Home Evening, 7.30pm
March
Sat 8
04:54 5.30 17:21 5.02 CCS Prizegiving Dinner at Island YC
Sat 22 03:35 5.60 15:59 5.47 Spring Work Party
Sun 23 04:19 5.41 16:44 5.25 Spring Work Party
April
Sat 12 -
-
-
-
Fitting Out Supper, 7.00 for 7.30pm
May
Sat 10 10:01 4.85 22:24 4.84 Queenborough Race (org by BYC)
CCS
Sun 11 10:57 5.12 23:16 5.09 combined with BYC Warm-up Race
June
Sat 14 01:47 5.89 14:09 5.89 Ladies Race: Petticoat Pot. BYC
Sun 15 02:34 6.02 14:54 5.92 Yetton Trophy BYC
Sat 21 07:59 5.37 20:16 5.23 Nore Race
Sun 22 09:07 5.30 21:28 5.18 Interclub Cruiser Challenge & Team Race
Fri
27 -
-
-
-
Nore Race Prizegiving
July
06:13 5.07 18:23 4.90 Harty Ferry Race (org by LSC)
CCS
Sat 19 06:29 5.57 18:42 5.48 Blackwater Race (org by EYC)
CCS
Sat 5
August
Sat 2
04:56 5.38 17:05 5.24 Race to London - BYC McCarthy Trophy
September
Sat 6
10:34 5.23 23:14 5.48 Boatacs Trophy Race (org by EYC)
Sun 7
11:39 5.59 -
-
CCS
combined with BYC Wilson Trophy
Sun 14 04:40 5.73 16:54 5.81 Commodores Tea Day
Sat 20 10:52 5.08 23:26 5.24 Upnor Race (org by IYC)
Sat 27 02:51 5.80 15:05 5.80 Peter Cotgrove Mem Trophy org by BYC
October
Sat 11 02:54 6.11 15:07 6.18 Autumn Work Party
Sun 12 03:32 5.92 15:48 6.01 Autumn Work Party
December
Sun 14 04:57 4.93 17:36 4.86 Annual General Meeting
CCS
BYC Dinghy Sailing Programme
2014
HW
Ht
5.92 Icicle Trophy - start 10.00
5.62 New Year Reviver Race - start 12.45
6.24 Sailing Prizegiving Supper; 7.30pm
Jan
Tue 1
Sun 19
12:03
14:22
Feb
Sat 1
Sun 16
Sun 2
13:33
13:28
13:16
Sun 16
12:33
5.64 Formidable February Race - start 1200
6.22 Spring Series 1 - start 11.30
5.58 Spring Series 2 - start 10.50
Sat 22 &
Sun 23
15:59
16:44
5.47
Spring Work Party - early start
5.25
Sat 29
Sun 13
Fri
18
11:26
12:24
15:23
Sun 27
Sun 18
12:06
15:50
5.87 Spring Series 3 - start 09.45
5.43 Spring Series 4 - start 10.50
5.84 Spring Series 5 - start 13.45
5.81 Spring Series 6 - start 10.30
5.77 Vice Commodores Trophy - start 14.15
Sun 1
Sat 21
15:35
07:59
5.54 Rear Commodores Trophy - start 14.00
5.37 Nore Race
Sat 28 &
Sun 29
14:09
14:43
5.63 Mid Summer Regatta.
5.60 Races start midday onwards
Sun 6
Sun 13
07:03
13:55
Sat
Sun
Sat
Sun
Sun
26
14
27
28
5
13:15
16:54
15:05
15:39
10:12
4.94 Ray Day and Lunchtime Bar BQ
5.94 Kerry Cup - start 12.00
5.59 Round Canvey Race (Row & Row/Sail)
5.81 Commodores Tea
5.80 Peter Cotgrove Mem Trophy org by BYC
5.73 Interclub Dinghy Team Race org by LSC
5.22 Winter Series 1 - start 09.30
Sat 11 &
Sun 12
15:07
15:48
6.18
Autumn Work Party - early start
6.01
Sun
Sat
Sun
Sat
Sat
Sun
Sun
26
8
9
22
6
14
21
13:42
13:05
13:45
12:05
12:06
5.91
6.10
6.04
5.73
5.83
11:41
Winter Series 2 - start 12.15
Frye Trophy - Race to Ray - start 1200
Winter Series 3 - start 12.00
Winter Series 4 - start 10.15
Winter Series 5 - start 10.15
Annual General Meeting
5.64 Winter Series 6 - start 10.00
Sun 4
Sat 24
Sat 7
11:54
15:18
14:36
5.51 Icicle Trophy - start 10:00
6.06 New Year Reviver Race - start 13.30
5.60 Sailing Prizegiving Supper; 7.30pm
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
2015
Jan
Feb
Dinghy race start times are advisory and at the discretion of the Race Officer
BYC Cadet Sailing Programme
2014
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
13:33
6.24 Sailing Prizegiving Supper (7.30pm)
Sun
2
14:18
6.25 Paper Boat Race (registration from 12.00)
Fri
14
Sat 22 &
Sun 23
Sept
12:29
15:59
16:44
5.47 Cadet AGM
5.47
Spring Work Party - early start
5.25
Sun
30 13:13
6.06 Mothers day
Sat
5
5.35 Cadet Sailing 1 - launch 15:00
Mon
21 17:31
5.32 Easter Fun Day (Midday onwards)
Sat
26 11:11
5.58 Cadet Racing Series 1, Races 1&2, start 09.15
Sat 3 to
Mon 5
17:01
15:57
17:11
17 15:07
09:39
11:42
5.56
Early Spring Bank Holiday
5.16
5.87 Cadet Sailing 2 - launch 13.00
5.36
Late Spring Bank Holiday
5.66
Sat
31 15:01
5.64 Cadet Sailing 3 - launch 13.00
Sun
1
5.54 Cadet Racing Series 1, Races 3 & 4. Start 13.30
Sun
15 14:54
Sat 28 &
Sun 29
Aug
Event
1
Sat 24 to
Mon 26
July
Ht
Sat
Sat
June
HW
15:35
14:09
14:43
5.63 Mid Summer Regatta,
5.60 Races start midday onwards
07:03
4.94 Ray Day and Lunchtime Bar BQ
Sun
6
Sat
12 13:07
Sat 9 to
Wed 13
5.92 Fathers day
11:57
15:11
Sat 23 to 12:13
Mon 25
13:30
Sat
13 16:12
5.81 Cadet Sailing 4 - launch 11.00
5.59 Cadet Week.
6.20 BBQ & Awards on Wednesday
5.47
August Bank Holiday
5.64
6.05 Cadet Sailing 5 - launch 14.00
Cadet Racing Series 2 (Races 1&2) - start 14.00
Oct
Sun
14 16:54
5.81 Commodores Tea
Sat
27 15:05
5.80 Cadet Racing Series 2 (Races 1&2) - start 13.00
Sun
28 15:39
5.73 Interclub Dinghy Team Race
Sat 11 &
Sun 12
15:07
15:48
6.18
Autumn Work Party - early start
6.01
Sat
25 14:06
5.86 Cadet Sailing 6 - launch 12.00
Thu
25 14:44
6.03 Christmas day
Sat
7
5.60 Sailing Prizegiving Supper (7.30pm)
2015
Feb
14:36
Dinghy race start times are advisory and at the discretion of the Race Officer
Benfleet Yacht Club Social Highlights of 2014
Sat
18 Jan
1940's Themed Evening 8.00pm
Sat
1 Feb
Sun
2 Feb
Sat
8 Feb
Sailing Prizegiving Supper 7.30pm
Paper Boat Race. Registration from
12:00
Burns Night Supper
Fri
21 Feb
BYC At Home Evening from 7.30pm
Sat
1 Mar
Quiz Night 7.00pm start
Sat
22 Mar
Work Party. Jazz Night 8.00pm
Sun 23 Mar
Work Party.
Sun 30 Mar
Mothers Day
Sat
12 Apr
Fitting Out Supper, 7.00 for 7.30pm
Fri
18 Apr
Good Friday
Sat 19 to Mon 21 Apr. Easter Bank Holiday Weekend
Mon 21 Apr
Easter Fun Day , midday onwards
Sat 3 to Mon 5 May,
Early May Bank Holiday Weekend
Sat 24 to Mon 26 May, Calais Rally, Spring Bank Holiday.
Sun 15 June
Fathers Day
Sat
21 June
Nore Race
Fri
27 June
Nore Race Prizegiving
Sat 28 & Sun 29 June, BYC Mid Summer Regatta
Sat 26 July
Round Canvey Race. Row and Row/Sail
Sat 9 to Wed 13 Aug. Cadet Week. Awards on Wed 13 Aug.
Sat 23 to Mon 25 Aug. Summer Bank Holiday Weekend
Sun 14 Sept
Commodores Tea Day.
Sat 11 and Sun 12 Oct. Work Party Weekend.
Sun 14 Dec
Annual General Meeting
Wed 24 Dec
Punch Bowl
Sat
Sailing Prizegiving Supper 2015
7 Feb 2015