Dear Member,
POLAR SAILING AND NAVIGATING
I read in the Yachting Monthly that R38 ORBIT, owned by non-member Roger Stevens, lost her outer forestay on a shakedown cruise from Milford Haven to Jan Mayen Island Spitzbergen and return. Fortunately he did not lose the mast. However he is now doing a general upgrade prior to setting off on a circumnavigation that will include the Antarctic.
This little snippet has highlighted for me the fortitude and sheer skill of the early 20th century Antarctic explorers. Or were they lucky? In none of the writings and TV documentaries are square searches to find a rendezvous or food depot mentioned. Capt Wolsey found Elephant Island and South Georgia apparently with little bother and he always recognised his landfall, something that was often up for debate on CALICO MARTLET before GPS! Not only did he take sights in appalling conditions, but he had to check the deck watch and its “rate”, and then work the sight out using the long tables and traverses. No handy Air Navigation tables, and all in a virtually open boat dripping wet, exhausted, hungry, thirsty and very cold. Shackleton was very lucky to have such a navigator.
Incidentally the JAMES CAIRD Shackleton’s boat can be seen, during term time, at Dulwich College in south London. We wish R38 ORBIT the very best of luck and advise her to carry at least three GPSs.
AND TO KEEP OUT THAT COLD
Have you come across self-heating jars of Nescafe? It comes in black, with milk and with milk and sugar at £1.50 a throw. Just press the button on the bottom, shake and after a couple of minutes drink. Not for everyday consumption perhaps but handy in a crisis. We have only seen it for sale in Smiths at Guildford Station. It tastes OK but doesn’t get piping hot, and there is not a lot of it for £1.50
Happy sailing in 2002
ANNUAL DINNER
We had our largest gathering of members and friends in recent years at the AGM and Annual Dinner in January. At 41 diners, the Canadian Room at the East India Club in London was at its capacity. So much so that the cash bar in the dining room had to be abandoned, but the house wine was on tap to make up for this deficiency. We were without any of our continental friends this year, but the presence of several new members was very welcome. One absentee was particularly missed and that was our Atlantic Islands Vice President, Jose-Miguel Togores who is seriously ill. To send our particular good wishes all diners signed a copy of the menu so that Jane could forward it to him.
The Peter Brett Trophy was awarded to Barbara Jones for her log of R38 CALICO MARTLET’s cruise to Lofoton and Denmark. After dinner they gave a short talk about the trip based on the Norwegian alphabet.
NEW WEB SITE
As you will note from the minutes of the AGM Andrew Gardener has been forging ahead with the creation of the web site. He has found a very economical host in the guise of the Hampshire County Council. Penny Ward who set up and for some years ran the old web site kindly helped by allowing the transfer of information (brochures etc) to the new site.
The new site is now operating at rivalowners.org.uk and all members are encouraged to use it as much as possible.
The Newsletters will be put on the web site together with a host of existing and new information on the design, history, and events, all of interest to members. There is also a “forum” for discussion on cruising and technical matters. It has been decided that the site shall be open to all without any restricted areas. There have been 500 plus hits to date.
Now where does this leave the members who are not connected to the net? The Newsletters and the Roundup will be published and sent out as before. The Newsletter will probably include information from the site, so there will be a measure of repetition for those who regularly call up the site.
The existence of the web site is no excuse for those who are not connected to think that they need not send the Hon. Sec. information and comments for the Newsletter. There is always a shortage of material. So increase the flow please.
CREWING FOR ARC 2002
Charlotte Coleman, member Trevor Coleman’s 22 year old daughter, is looking for a crewing position in this year’s ARC. Trevor owns R38 TAKAROA and Charlotte has been brought up around boats. She holds a RYA Day Skipper ticket, a VHF license, together with safety boat and first aid certificates. Please contact her on charlotcoleman#hotmail.com or Tel 07968 034429 ( It is of note that there were no RIVALS in the ARC 2001)
NEW MEMBERS
The Association welcomes the following new Members
Chris & Jean Morrin R32 TRELISE Chichester
George Czoch R32 ALUSIA Portsmouth
James and Sara Pickford R36 KALABASH Chichester
John Duff RB40 AREHUSA of LYMINGTON Dartmouth
Mike McDonnell R34 RIVAL SPIRIT Plymouth
Derek Gemmell R34 COMET Fairlie
John & Jan Derbyshire R32 TRYVAL Chichester
A record completion ?
New member George Czoch has at last completed his R32 ALUSIA from the hull he bought last century . Retirement gave him time to get down to it at last and we hear that he has made a fine job of her. We hope to be able to see the result of his efforts at the Folly meet in May.
WANTED - IRISH SEA VICE PRESIDENT
You will note from the minutes of the AGM that Tam Hazan has retired as the West Coast and Ireland Vice President as he has bought an Oyster 40. For simplicity it has been decided to change the name to the Irish Sea.
We hope that this will widen the number of members who may be tempted to take on the task of arranging subsidised booze-ups. Some of those on the Irish side should be able to show the UK members a thing or two in this line. We now have a good representation of members along the east Irish coast who must have the crack to do it. So please contact the Hon. Sec on +44 1483 505 140 or davidandbarbara#care4free.net to take on this interesting and entertaining task.
NEWS FROM THE AREA GROUPS
SCOTLAND - LES MORISON (01369 703323, les.morison#lineone.net)
Winter Dinner
A total of 25 people attended the Scottish Winter Dinner held at the Stirling Highland Hotel. A special mention should be made on the distances some guests had traveled to attend, notably Janni Clements from Holland and Brian and Sandra Conn from Northern Ireland.
David Vass was the after dinner speaker and gave a very interesting talk on his cruise in Norway in 2001 with his R36D BOREALIS. His slides were, without exception, excellent.
Summer Meet
At the dinner Les proposed that for the Summer Meet there should be held at a change of venue after a number of years at East Loch Tarbet. There was considerable interest in the idea and the hope was expressed that the location might be more accessible to Irish boats.
WEST COUNTRY - MICHAEL SMITH (01684 772128, mike#msmthassociates.co.uk)
Spring Meet at the Yealm – May 11th 2002
Mike thought that members might like another chance to sail into the Yealm, having been defeated by last October’s gales, and that the Flying Bridge Bistro at the Yealm Yacht Club would provide a change of venue. The Flying Bridge, for those who know it, is undergoing a change of management in April. Bridget needs to spend more time with her young family. Her oldest child suffered a serious injury a while ago but, happily has recovered. Kate Steggles, who is taking over, is a professional caterer and intends to maintain similar standards and prices.
Mike has made a provisional reservation for last year’s twenty four but challenges members to set a new record. Further details will be sent out by Mike when available or contact him.
Completing the reversal of last year’s gatherings, Mike proposes to opt for Salcombe in early October. Here too the catering staff are changing – it seems there were too many emotional upsets betwixt and between the male staff! Further details later.
SOUTH COAST - BARRY THUNDER (01793 826697) mail#barrythunder.freeserve.co.uk
The Folly Meet will be on May 18th. Food and wine/beer will be available on board the host boat R36 SALAMIS and provided space is found, on tables on the pontoons, from about 1730. There is a ferry service available to the Folly Inn where meals can be purchased if you are still hungry (most unlikely!!). Last year 16 boats and 36 owners and friends attended. We can accommodate more of both, so as this will be Barry's first event as organiser please come along and meet other like-minded people.
Charges
To allow for catering it would be appreciated if payment was made in advance. The cost is £4 per adult (juniors and toddlers free, but please give numbers). Should you decided to come at the last minute, please feel free to turn up and you will be made very welcome.
Mooring Fees
The normal mooring fees will be payable on the day. Some idea of boat numbers to expect would be appreciated in advance, so please return the booking slip and your cheque made out to ROA to Barry Thunder. 5 Rawlings Close, South Marston, Swindon, Wilts. SN3 4XA by 1st May.
EAST COAST – ERIC ORME (01394 386511, ericorme#audience.co.uk)
Winter Meet
Eleven members representing 6 boats enjoyed an entertaining evening at the Butt and Oyster at Pin Mill on the Orwell. Anne Brown (R34 ALIVERA) was the only member to come by sea. The nautical quiz was won by Carys and Arthur Williams (R36 SIAN II).
Summer Meet
Eric hasn't quite finalised the arrangements for the Summer Meet but it will be on the River Orwell on 8/9th June 2002
YACHTS IN OTHER AREAS
John and Inga Chapman phoned to say that R41 CALIDRIS ALBA had spent Summer 2000 on the eastern seaboard of the USA, going as far north as the Bras D’Or Lakes in Nova Scotia. They came south again to the Caribbean in 2001 and expect to cruise Cuba in 2002.
Malcolm Brown sent a Christmas card to say that R34 WAIMUNGU was laid up on Leros in Greece. He plans to head for Crete this summer. He has had a small stern anchoring platform fitted for mooring bows on to the quay. It was made from an old stainless steel ladder found in a marina skip, a cheap bow roller and a pine plank. Total cost £25.
HATCH REFURBISHMENT
John Marsh (R36 HARRIER) has had his deck hatches re-glazed at a reasonable cost by Eagle Boat Windows at Unit 2, The Sidings Business Park, Engine Shed Lane, SKIPTON. North Yorkshire. BD23 1TB.