2010

Brightlingsea Cruise 12th June 2010

Eight boats went to Brightlingsea

Mistress	Atlantis	Tortuga
Foreland Gull	Mascot	Nejmah
Norma Ann	Lollipop

Wind - Saturday F3 generally North, Sunday F3 generally South.

The weather was kind to us, had a very comfotable trip down the Wallet. We were all tied up in time for lunch.

This was the weekend of the Brightlingsea Boat Show so some of us took a trip down river in our dinghies for a look.  A pleasant afternoon was provided by the crew of Norma Ann who wupplied us all with drinks and nibbles.  In the evening a majority of us went across in the little trotter boat to eat at Winkies Fish and Chip Restaurant, a favourite of ours, then finished off the evening with a drink in the Colne Yacht Club.

Left a lunchtime on the Sunday for a pleasureable trip back to Walton.

Janice Wood.

Spring Bank Holiday Cruise to Woodbridge 29th to 31st May 2010

There was a very good turn out for this cruise.  Woodbridge always seems to be popular with our members.  14 boats took part.

Gypsy Rose	Atlantis	Firecrest
Scorcher	Tortuga	Mistress
Sonsy Lady	Tomora	Norma Ann
Mascot	LUxala	Blue Moon 2
Tamissa	Iceni 2

Wind - Saturday F 4-5 Southerly, Monday F3 Southerly.

Most boats decided to travel up on the Friday and enjoyed a barbecue in the evening.  Those who do not yet enjoy the luxury of retirement followed on the Saturday.

Rain, as forecast, arrived on the Saturday, just as we had all tied up.  Some of us took a walk into the town for a light bit of shopping, whilst others rested up.

On the Sunday we were all invited to Woodbridge Sailing Club at lunchtime.  Most of us took a picnic round and enjoyed socialising in the sunshine by the river with a nice glass of cider.  We had use of their barbecue and kitchen facilities too.

Couldn't leave until after lunch on the Monday so we patiently waited for the tide, keeping an active eye on the depth gauge on the bar.  One boat touched slightly and had to go back into the berth for a further 10-15 minutes.

An enjoyable weekend, which ended up with most people in the yacht club Monday night for dinner.

Janice Wood.

Heybridge Basin Cruise - May Day Bank Holiday 2010
(only we didn't go to Heybridge!)

Twelve boats siged up for the second cruise of the season.  By popular demand, the plan was to revisit Heybridge Basin.  (Our previous visit in 2008 was "blessed" with strong winds and heavy rain).

From early in the week prior, it was clear that the forecast for the weekend and the following week was not looking good for the trip.  The return would be against strong NE winds - perfect for coming up the Wallet!  By Friday, six of the twelve had already withdrawn.  After a "group worry" over a pint on Friday evening and after a couple of phone calls, it was decided to alter the venue to Woodbridge.

Saturday dawned fine with light winds, so we ended up motorsailing to Woodbridge.  Group drinks on Luxala resulted in a bucketfull of empty bottles and late dinner!

Sunday daytime was a time for hibernation - strong winds and persistent rain.  The rain cleared in time for a group meal for 11 in Prezzo in Woodbridge.

Monday was still windy but fine and we walked the riverbank towards Melton and had a drink in the Wilford Bridge Inn.  After lunch, half the group set off for a night on a buoy at Ramsholt to catch the tide on Tuesday.

The lockkeeper at Heybridge was understanding of our decision not to travel and has invited us to visit later in the year.

 

Attending -

Bella Ropha	Blue Moon 2	Iceni II
Luxala	M'Lady of Aldsworth	Tortuga

Mike Lightwing.

Lifeboat "Ramble" 17th January 2010

When we can't cruise, we ramble.  Not so much a ramble this one, more a stroll, on a brilliantly sunny Sunday morning, along to see our old friends at the Lifeboat Station.  Rolly Jarrold organised this one and found himself with a mass event.  Over 50 members joined the walk.  Garry Edwards, the Coxwain, welcomed us and Bryan Ward outlined the history of the current craft.  The Clacton Inshore Craft also arrived for us to see.  Everyone was shown round the lifeboat and then visited the Lifeboat Station.  Returning to the Club House a delicious lunch was enjoyed by 70 plus people.  A thoroughly good time was had by all, as can be seen in the following photographs.

2009

 RIVER THAMES CRUISE

5th to 20th September 2009

The cruise to St. Katharine's Haven this year was orgaised to accommodate the London Mayor's Thames Festival, a week of spectacle, concerts, exhibitions, music & carnival, all arranged along the South Bank from Tower Bridge to the London Eye, with W&FYC crews well placed to enjoy these events, being berthed in St. Katharine's Haven.

Saturday 5th September saw an early morning start with a bright sunny day and WSW wnds gusting 30 knots, giving lively conditions and yachts deep reefed.  A welcome night's berthing at the Queenboro Barge followed.

Winds had eased on Sunday to SW 3 to 4 for the sail to St. Katharine's Marina where all yachts were locked through and berthed in the East Dock to join John & Jean in Scorcher who were already there.

St. Kat's this year accommodated the Festival weekend of Classic Yachts all berthed in the central dock dresssed overall, a spectacular sight with their crews in National dress.  We spotted one of our locals, the "Nancy Brackett" berthed in a prominent location.

There followed a week of Festival events including concerts, river pageants, street theatre, jazz and dance, school choirs with over 850 children, conccerts in the park etc. culminating in a street carnival on Sunday evening that took nearly two hours to pass by.  This was followed by a spectacular Thames river firework display.

These events ran parallel with the Tower Festitval a celebration of opera, dance, classic music and jazz in the historical setting of the Tower of London.  Club members enjoyed concerts by Nigel Kennedy, Lesley Garrett, Jimmy Cobb, Sadler's Wells and Dame Kiri Tee Kanawa.  The sound of Dame Kiri's voice soaring over the ramparts of the Tower of London was magical.

Club day was spent at Kew gardens on a lovely warm day with a full house enjoying the Riverliner cruise from Westminster Bridge to the Kew river station.  This was a first visit for many members and a second visit was considered a must.

Commodore Bran and Marilyn being with us, Bryan arranged a visit to the River Thames Westminster Lifeboat Station where we were given a tour of their station and Rescue Rib.  We learned that river users should use Channel 14 as a listening watch for a quicker response than using Channel 16 due to the number and positiion of aerials on the Thames.  A big thank you to Bryan and Will, the River Thames Lifeboat Coxwain and crew for a very entertaining visit.

The return cruise to Walton was delayed due to forecast gale force NE winds and heavy rain.  This meant some logistic shuffling for crews but allowed John & Marion (Atlantis) to pop home and complete their ploughing and for remaining crews to enjoy a day or two of "retail therapy".  With the weather easing on Friday all Club yachts locked out en masse in rapid time with a late midday departure and an uncomfortable wind against tide sail to our nights berthing at the Queenboro Barge, crews mooring up as night was approaching.

Next morning departure was in reduced visibility and very light winds but conditions improved rapidly off the Maplin Bank for the sail home in almost summer like weather, with crews berthing early afternoon after a very hectic but enjoyable late summer cruise.

My thanks to all who took part, your company makes it fun to arrange, with a big thank you to David & Barbara Bone "Blue Moon 2" for all the information on the freebies and two for one offers available for members and especiallly from the crew of Mistress of Hamford for the concert in Regents Park.

Yachts on cruise

Atlantis, Orion, Tamissa, Tortuga, Mascot, Pyramid, Blue Moon 2, M'Lady of Aldsworth, Scorcher, Mistress of Hamford

Date of River Thames Festival 2010  11th to 12th September.

Roly. 

 

LEVINGTON/ HALLS AND CROSBY CUPS
26th/27th September 2009

SHOTLEY CRUISE AND QUIZ

17th/18th October 2009

Fifteen boats visited Shotley Marina, the primary event being the Quiz Challenge hosted by Shotley Point Yacht Club. Last year's challenge was unfortunately a victim of the weather, but W&FYC were the victors in 2007 and were hoping to retain their crown.

The weather was much kinder than last year, being a relatively warm and sunny weekend. Shotley Point Yacht Club had laid on a programme of events for both Clubs for the Saturday. First was a talk by Fox's Electronics giving an update on recent electronics developments, particularly Broadband Radar. This was followed by the local volunteer Coastguard unit describing their role and activities. The afternoon ended with a bang as the Coastguard supervised the firing of a selection of flares. It was reassuring that the Coastguard had a number of calls reporting the sighting of the demonstration flares.

The evening started with a Fish and Chip supper for about 70 people in the Club Room, excellently presented by the Shipwreck's kitchen. The Quizmasters set a good variety of questions, varying from the straightforward to the virtually impossible. By the end of the 10 rounds only one point separated the first three teams. Unfortunately for W&FYC the top team this year was from Shotley, much to their delight. (We came second and third). W&FYC Commodore, Bryan Ward, thanked the SPYC organisers and promised to regain the trophy next year!

Attending

Blue Moon 2	Iceni II	Luxala
Mascot	Mistress of Hamford	M'Lady of Aldsworth
Moondancer	Palmera	Pyramid
Radiance	Reflex	Scorcher
Souvenance	Tamissa	Tortuga

 Mike Lightwing