WINTER WORKING PARTIES 2006
Update March 16th,
Very many thanks to all those who came to help this day. Eventually, in dribs and drabs, two short of a baker’s dozen turned out in perishing conditions for the lastish working party before sailing starts. This made cutting the cake a bit difficult but the two smallest people shared so that worked out OK!The east matting is in very good shape and the beach under the west matting had settled sufficiently for the decking, and then the matting to be re-laid and tied down - and all done within the first hour.
Attention was then turned to Barry’s latest plan (approved by MC and the Marine staff) of erecting a further wind barrier to the south and east of the pontoon to try and stop the east wind dumping even more sand into the gap between the Fevas and Solos. This involved excavating a ditch alongside a buried ramp and thence under the parked tractor! The barrier to the north and west of the pontoon has worked admirably to keep sand out of the Feva park and there is a nice patch of sand for people to sit on in the lea of an E wind. If they want to watch the boats it is actually safer for toddlers to move along the beach a bit, away from the pontoon.Finally, Bosun Anthony asked if we could do two more little fences to the east of the new tender park. This was done and there is now a nice, new, tidily fenced area for the cruiser tenders. The new bank of sand behind here should be a great play area for kids!
At one time, about 8 people picked up and moved Electric Onion and then Cliff spent a lot of time measuring out spaces very carefully.
So when you bring your boat down, apply to Cliff for where to put it!
For your info, Barry then spent the afternoon writing programmes on the club data base so you should soon be receiving your handbooks and car plaques etc.
See you at the weekend. The Main HISC site has details of racing or see NEXT EVENT for times. Update February 26th,
Gerald has put a note, together with some photos, on the HISC website and Mark has sent out a thank you to everyone but Barry would like to thank, especially, all the valiant Soloists who turned out to do battle with the wind. Actually, once the sun came out, and provided you could keep the sand out of your face, it was not too bad. Robert Hack said he really enjoyed himself and had a jolly good day, along with the WHOLE Brewer family!
All the sand that was moved off the slipways was piled up behind the new barrier fence protecting the tender park, but with the wind, probably a lot of it will end up on the lagoon beach. The Feva pathway was denuded of sand so the base of the little blue boat is exposed ready for a sleeper wall - I’ll get there!The digger exposed and dug up the West matting, with its chains, and it is now folded back leaving the sand to settle before relaying. The East matting was firmly tied down, the end having become free floating.
The Vareos were moved to where the tender racks were and this leaves space for another 6-7 Solos continuing along that row - all very tidy.Meanwhile, the sand was blasting across from Easthead and the Winner banks into the Solo and Feva parks, prompting Barry to devise another PLAN - for a further barrier on the South side of the pontoon. The one on the north side also needs extending a bit to keep sand out of the tender park.
The fencing on the lagoon side is still looking good and someone has attempted to carry on the work where there is a big gap. Whoever that was, we have not finished along there yet!(A Stonechat, in full spring plumage, was guarding his territory along there - very pretty)
Next Party, in two weeks time when we get back from Lanzarote. Update February 15th,After discussions with the Marine Manager, it was decided to have a rest from fencing the lagoon dune and instead, erect a fence around the tender park on the beach ready for removals etc next Sat 25th. A lovely, but blustery day, and nine of us, and another young pup belonging to Elizabeth and Paul Brewer, built a magnificent protective barrier of again over 30 metres! Johnny Rees provided some slightly younger and useful muscle but bemoaned the fact that his new Winder may not be ready till June! Cake was lemon shortcake - slightly overdone due to distraction by Barry at critical timeOngoing, unsubstantiated rumour being circulated by the Elite Fleet is that the Solo Fleet is intending to buy, at half price, an Electronic Heart Defibrillating machine. If it is bought they would like to be able to borrow it. Update February 10th,
Major apologies, Phoebe is actually called Bebe, although she didn’t really seem to mind! Update February 3rd
Yesterday was really horribly cold but the eight or nine of us were a bit protected as we continued to dig our way around the west side of the lagoon and put up more hazel rods.
We were all pleased to see Diana out and about and she was a great help in the haulage and weaving departments. Phoebe, on the other hand, did some excellent digging but, unfortunately, rarely in the right place and even, at one stage, went so far as to remove a small piece of erected rod for her own purposes!Colin’s nifty tool, we discovered, has the official, but rather boring, title of ‘drain spade’.31 metres were erected for starters and after the coffee and cake break - chocolate with blackcurrant and cream filling - another 17 metres of fencing went up, albeit not entirely finished on the weaving front. At this stage Peter Piddock had to rush off to do the school run for his grandchild and take her home to Brighton!
Still plenty more to do but it is looking good and hopefully will help to restrain the tide in certain parts that are being eroded. Boat front. David McNamara is looking, with intent, for a used Winder with a wavelength rig.
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Update January 29th
This picture was taken today of the effects that the new fencing by the pontoon has had after all the recent strong N E winds. It is obvious that a drift is forming behind the fence but also a good pile had accumulated to windward of it. It would appear that an extension of a further 2-3 metres of fencing would help keep sand off the entrance to the dinghy park from the beach. A lot of sand has blown out from under the Fevas onto the path which is now feet under!
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Rumour verified - Nick Rawlings, ex-fleet captain of the 700s, is fetching his new Winder next Tuesday. He says it is not all glass - it has some fibres in it.
It is also thought that Johnny Rees has one in the pipeline that he is fitting out himself.
Update January 21st
Over a dozen people turned out for this first party, ranging from the youngest and smallest, who carried some twigs around for his Mummy and Granny to weave, to the oldest and tallest who worked like a Trojan all morning. Very many thanks to everybody who turned out and helped with this project.
The first, somewhat controversial, hazel rod fence was erected behind the Fevas in an attempt to keep out sand blowing in from the east. We shall have to see how it works. The second bit joined up the western end with the rock Bern, again to try and keep sand out, and then we proceeded around into the lagoon . Here, John Message has asked us to build fences to try and conserve and build up what is left of the Lagoon dune and protect it from the marauding dogs of members of the public, which are, probably ineffectively, hunting the profusion of rabbits! There is lots more to do here but what we have done, so far, looks good.
Most people turned up with some tool and I think it was Colin Waters, who possibly travelled the furthest for the morning’s work, who produced an excellent spade (called a rabbit spade according to a worker at Stanstead) which was very long and thin and pointy and ideal for digging trenches.
Val C turned up at about 11 am and, thankfully, fetched coffees for everyone, to go with the CAKE! which Cameron, at least, thought was yummy and having eaten then ran around looking like a hamster
So, what sort of cake would you like next time? Suggestions to Jane.
It was a glorious day and some were rather jealous of all the juniors out doing circuits and bumps just off the beach.
Latest rumour is that a 700 sailor is defecting! Not verified by personal contact as yet.
WINTER SERIES
Update Jan 7th.
We gather that Gerald New has acquired his Solo - not sure what it is as yet.( Gerald sailed a FF and writes the HISC web site
Update Jan 1st
Two Solos, Barry and Tony, braved the strong westerly winds and very lumpy seas for the Mengham Winkle. They survived, unlike the two Solos from Mengham, but were not placed but did go round and show a presence at the prize giving.
The Christmas Cracker was not sailed by any Solos due to horrible cold winds. However, the RS 700 fleet captain informed Barry that there were two of his boats out - bit of competition building here!
Update December 18th
Saturday was horrible and only Tony and Rob Eastwood ventured out.
Sunday was windless but a bit warmer so all the expectant sailors were again coerced into a bit of work This consisted of moving all the bundles of recently arrived hazel rods to a more practical position by the outside tenders, ready for the first working party proper which may be any time after January 13th. Eventually, a bit of wind came in but by then most people had given up and only Barry and Ted went out. Ted gave Barry a good run for his money but eventually conceded.
The prize giving for the Winter Series was held in the afternoon and Tony collected the Slow Handicap prize as well as the Sunday Solo prize - obviously back on form!
The overall results are printed on the HISC website and were somewhat modified, at last, as the assorted results for sail number 4313 were allocated to the proper boats!
Update December 10th
What a glorious weekend for December - providing you weren’t too anxious to be sailing!
Saturday saw Steph and husband, Tim, assembling the new wavelength mast and fitting a few other essentials such as a Harken Mainsheet fitting: didn’t notice any righting lines, as yet, though.
Sunday, and Barry rounded up about eight unsuspecting, loitering Soloists and everyone set about lifting the West Matting in order to reposition the four lengths of decking that the last monster tide had removed. Being impromptu, there was a shortage of implements and tools but sufficient for the job were eventually produced. The Mitchell Family with Granny, having done some serious plastic picking along the tide line to Seagull Island, joined in with even Cameron (of barely 18 months) wielding a shovel in the right direction, albeit with miniscule effect. He was better employed transporting bits of wire cut off a roll of electric cable produced by Chris Powell who had , enthusiastically, rushed home to get it. This cable, apparently, was left over from the days of windsurfers sailing round Hayling and needing a marquee with lighting for their annual event. Ted managed to produce a useful spike which made getting the wire through the holes possible and the matting was tied down as much as possible to the chains alongside This, hopefully, will prevent the decking washing out again at the next very high tide. Levelling off the rest of the matting would be left till later after viewing the effects of further gales.
A good job done and thanks to all helpers. Tick off on list on Parties ww
Update December 4th
On Saturday, six brave starters battled with 30 knots of wind over tide and with waves as high as the cliffs of Dover breaking over the Winner bank! Two were late to start, Zyg, as usual being late to launch and Ted getting stuck in irons at 3 minutes to go.
Down at the first leeward mark there were only three left and at the first gate only two! According to James Gaskell, who was kept very busy in a rib, the huge waves were rolling dead downwind which made it difficult to get down them without gybing. Half of the fleet thought better about even trying them as the wind had risen steadily, and the three remaining didn’t all stay upright either. Rob Eastwood went in several times and even got stuck in the mud once, but refused all assistance from James in order to stay in the race. Barry did not have so much luck and on his second turtling exercise lost his rudder so had to be towed in. Even Tony admitted to having a bit of trouble with the rollers!
In view of the conditions and the diminishing number of competitors, the very nice R.O. decided to shorten the race at the end of the first sausage. Tony whizzed through the gate in 1st place to cheers from Missy (and Sarah) with Rob in 2nd place managing to find time to flash a beaming, triumphant smile at the race boat, amidst more cheers (from Sarah). Only one more boat, in the handicap class, finished
By the way, the very, very nice R.O was Paul Young, owner of Rondar Boats and manufacturer of Speed FRP boats. Sarah is now fully cognisant with all the differences between Speed and Winder boats and probably a few other things as well. (Report submitted by Sarah with a few embellishments).
Sunday, unfortunately, was cancelled after a postponement and almost immediately a slight wind arose!
Latest on the Grapevine. - Barry has been noted as attending the Line Dancing. Ted, also, is a regular expert and Tim will be shortly (all plus partners, of course). No other men brave enough ? Savvy enough? You have to concentrate like mad, apart from being somewhat fit!
Birds A heron was spotted and demonstrated perching on a pontoon on the West side of the Lagoon. Also the stonechat was seen again. Usual egrets and brent geese on flood in lagoon.
Local bird watchers invited into Christmas Fair.
Update November 27th
The wind went around to N-NW this weekend but was even more horribly cold. 5 intrepid Solos turned out on Saturday and 5 returned! But believe it or not there were 12 on the beach on Sunday despite the lowering clouds and imminent drizzle. This number was bettered, however, by the 700’s who mustered 14!
There were no problems getting off the beach this time as the promised 4-6 did not materialise - in fact, there were a few periods of not v. much wind at all.
Most people finished the course although there was the odd disappointment; David Sayce was OCS and never managed to get in contact again. Ted Gadd was the only one to try the Mengham shore and, unhappily, it did not pay off. Chris Powell retired but managed to sail home, having broken his rudder down-haul on a bank. However, he has already decided how to redesign the attachment. Chris Powles said he was still on a fast learning curve with his second outing in Banana Split. Rob Eastwood will shortly stop issuing advice to Sarah (even if it is only ‘Today is not a good day to capsize’) as he finished a good 3rd but only one place in front of her. She was trying out the ‘chocks’ to advantage and she and Steph, still with Larry’s old wavelength rig and finishing 5th, had a good battle all the way round - despite Elites sailing, in ungentlemanly fashion, through their wind. Usual ones up the front!
Latest on the Grapevine. a) Somebody’s husband is rebuilding an antique Solo in their garage and is prompted to hurry up and finish it in time for our Anniversary Race on June 11th. b) Gerald Bell, producer of the HISC web site, is contemplating abandoning the Fifteen Fleet. He has been asking advice on what sort of Solo would suit!
Update November 21st
What a glorious, if chilly weekend!
About 8 Solos launched on Saturday in the fresh NEasterly which fortunately did not fulfil its forecast of F3-5. David Sayce arrived home first. Jane did the trolley-dolley bit and then went off and planted more Tamarisk cuttings all along the outer hazel rod fencing, eventually ousting the bird watchers from the rock berm! The planting has been extended here, also, so more, lightweight, rope is needed if anyone has any to spare please
On Sunday, about 11 boats went out in a very light NE variable, including Chris Powles’ new canary yellow Winder! I think our last Yellow Peril went off to Locks SC. Tim Randall won this race which was shortened before people’s toes dropped off. Steph was out for the first time in the light stuff(!) and she was at least pleased that although last she was not getting laster, so to speak. Several boats had a bit of trouble with Elites and Fifteens around the marks. Robert Eastwood came off worse having established a good lead over the rest before he was buried by them trying to round Stocker.
After lunch , the diners sallied out to do some measuring for building more hazel rod fencing. This will, hopefully, make a new dune around the back of the Fevas near the pontoon, to try and keep out some of the easterlies. Also we need to to join up the existing fence to the rock berm. And John Message would like us to build some dune protection around the existing Lagoon Dune. Winter Work Parties to look forward to! All good fun and earns us points towards the Most Active Fleet Cup - again.
Birds. The birdwatchers were gazing over to Seagull Island where there were huge flocks of dunlin, oystercatchers, knot and plover. I, however, spotted a male stonechat in his rather drab autumn plumage, sitting, in typical fashion, on a gorse twig in the Lagoon Dune
OTHER NEWS
Christmas Party
Prize Giving
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