Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

Tel: 01702 587 563

Thorpe Bay Yacht Club has long had the unencumbered use of the foreshore and our launching facilities. Rising global sea levels will, at some point well into the future, affect our facilities.

Southend Council have decided that the sea wall between the Coastguard Station and St Augustines Avenue needs to be raised now to prevent us being affected by the rising levels. The argument has long been raging as to whether this is needed now. Many believe that it is not – but the council believe that it is.

Link to Southend Councils Proposal Document
Link to details of Southend Councils Public Consultation

Southend Council have proposed a lifting of the sea wall and will give TBYC a sliding flood gate entrance to the water. The proposals will be up for Public consultation shortly with a meeting having been arranged for all members of the public to come and consult with representatives from Southend Council on Monday 22^nd April at Shoebury High School Wendy Owen Hall, which is accessed through Caulfield Road (not the Sports hall as previously thought) at 7.30 pm (not 7 pm).

A Campaign group headed up by Peter Lovett has been discussing this and alternative schemes with the council and all interested parties. The alternative scheme is attached.

I believe that the Council’s proposed scheme will have a detrimental impact on our club and its use of the foreshore. I would, therefore, like you all to look at the attached alternative scheme, which would not impact as much with our Clubs use of the foreshore and will not cost Southend Council tax payers as much.

It would be good to see as many of you as possible at the Shoebury High School meeting on the 22^nd April and support Thorpe Bay Yacht Club and the local community in making the right and informed choices for Southend-on-Sea.

Faithfully yours

Nick Elmore

Commodore

A bright but cold sailing day

The Spring Season starts this weekend, with 10-15mph winds and temperature touching 6c.

The Easter Weekend starts with the Sandhopper lift-in at 06:00, then the racing season commences with the Spencer cup on Friday – 11:30 start.

Spring Sat 1 on Saturday – 12:30 start, Spring Sun 1 – 14:00 start and finishing with the Easter Egg Race on Monday at 14:30.

Due to the poor weather, there are some essential pre season servicing and repair jobs on SS2, SS3 and SS4 that have been pushed to this weekend and mean that they will not be in service over Easter.

Our Racing Season will start as normal, but racing will be run from the Race box, with courses set on the blackboard using the old cub marks and Inflatables where necessary.  SS5 with the Elmore rib standing by will replace SS2 and SS3 rescue cover (thanks Nick).

SI for this season will be available on the website and noticeboard over the weekend.

Thank you to all those who have been working in tough conditions and continue to do so, maintaining and preparing all our clubs Rescue, Committee boat and club marks.

If you have time to help this week, please let me know, there are still some jobs to do, if not, enjoy the sailing, bar and food.

See you on the water.

New 2013 Sailing Instructions are available on the left hand link bar or at this link:

http://www.tbyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TBYC_2013_SI.pdf

By popular demand, Moules Frites Night returns to TBYC, but this time with a Steak option….

On Saturday 13th April at 7pm, enjoy delicious Moules Frites or Steak Frites for only £12.50 per person.

Tickets available now from the bar – numbers are limited and are selling fast, so please don’t leave it too late – looking forward to seeing you for another great social event at your club!

You won’t be surprised to learn the lift-in didn’t take place last weekend…  rescheduled for this Saturday.

For your safety and those of other,  it is important you stay clear of the boat park and slip from 7:15 am Saturday 30th March until the lift-in is complete.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Bill Dashfield
Cruising Section Secretary (for Rear Commodore, Cruising)

Easter is soon and I am looking for a crew for this weekend. My normal crew (Sue) is on holiday then so if any body would like to crew in the front end of a National 12 please give me a call on 01702 205297 . Are any of the cadets interested in the National 12? Its a bit more interesting than a Pico. Check out the YouTube link of the N12 championships last year.

At about 2:10 in to the video there is a shot of me surviving a gybe only to go in to a tack straight afterwards. I was the only N12 not to capsize at last years championships and one of only 13 to complete every race. That was one nasty windy event.

Steve Le Grys

N3432

Anyone interested in crewing on a regular basis, or as a one off (maybe the conditions aren’t favorable for your moth, for example), give the Sandhopper class website site a look…   http://www.sandhopper.org.uk/ … and check out the crew swap facility.  Alternatively, pop into the club on the first Wed of the month for an evening drink and a chat with the class sailors.

There are several boats looking for new and experienced sailors to crew and who knows…you might even find out why we always come off the water smiling, whatever the weather.

Lift in will now be postponed until Good Friday.  We will meet Jason and Roger at 06:00 and start to lift boats in as soon as possible.  Owners will be able to get out to boats from about 08:00.  HW is 13:45 and racing starts at 11:30.  This means you should be able to access your moorings until about 09:30.