Guildford Coastal Cruising Club

News

Club news & other items of general boating interest


Members wishing to comment on any news item should use the Club's Discussion Forum

  • MAIB Report on Throw Bags

    17 Sep 2018 19:09 | Anonymous member

    MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) has reported on the failure of a batch of rescue throw bags.  To ensure that a throw bag rescue line is ‘fit for purpose’ it is recommended that:-

    ● The entire length should be examined for joins or other discontinuities by feeling along the line with bare hands to identify rough patches or lumps and, if any are found, the line should be removed from service and the supplier informed.

    ● Knots, splices or other methods of securing the ends of the rescue line should also be checked for integrity.

    ● Throw bags should be exercised at regular intervals to ensure the line deploys freely when required.  Full details are available on the following link:-  https://www.theca.org.uk/system/files/MAIB%20_SB2_2018_Throw_bags.pdf

  • Wight Trophy

    27 Aug 2018 22:00 | Anonymous member

    Congratulations to Andrew Barlow (GCCC Club Secretary) and crew of ‘Danu’ on being awarded the Wight Trophy 2018 in competition with YOSC for best annual timed trial around the Isle of Wight’s southern coast.   Read all about it here!

  • DSC Calling

    19 Aug 2018 23:34 | Anonymous member

    MMSI Numbers
    How useful are they?

    The club’s recent VHF Workshop prompted a valuable trial ‘on the water’ for both Individual and Group DSC calling using MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) Numbers.

    To benefit from DSC (digital selective calling) members are advised to:

    • Show their Individual MMSI No. on the club website for other members to call them up.
    • Store the club's Group MMSI No. 023200070 in their VHF set as well as their own Individual MMSI No.

    Tony Atkins, who initiated the trial, has produced a document outlining the findings which can be found here.

    A brief summary about the club's Group MMSI No. can be found in the 'Rally & Cruise Information' area of the club website.   Consult your VHF manual for instructions on how to use DSC.   Rally Officers are encouraged to use DSC as a way of keeping members 'up to speed' when on rally!

    Leon Barbour

  • VHF Radio Checks

    01 Aug 2018 10:24 | Anonymous member

    Who should you call?


    The Cruising Association confirms with Coastguard (MCA) that "Radio checks with HMCG should not be a first resort as it ties up the air wave and increases operator workload.”    Furthermore, “checks with other vessels or shore stations at 1W power and at a distance of around 8 miles provide a much better test of antenna and radio set performance” and that “radio checks should be carried out primarily with marinas and other shore stations or with other vessels. National Coastwatch Institute shore stations are usually well placed for such calls which should be made on Channel 65".

  • Commodore's Cockpit

    25 Jul 2018 10:45 | Anonymous member

    A personal half-yearly view

    Wow, what a blazing summer - long may it last; ideal for sailing, but the gardens are parched and hosepipe bans are already appearing.

    No matter, the rally season is well underway and the club’s annual two-week summer cruise in June (this time to the Channel Is & N Brittany) was again a great success; a fleet of eight boats competently headed up by Tony Atkins (Past Commodore 2013-15) in ‘Sarinah’ - read all about it in Rally & Cruise Reports.   Let’s hope another volunteer comes forward to plan next year’s cruise (‘Going East’ ??); there’s plenty of help available!

    I must own up to missing out on being one of those ‘Greenhorn' contenders who make our rallies so successful and who hold the whole summer programme together.  Well done to Chris for setting up the programme and for updating the attendees spreadsheet on our club website.   Also well done to our valued Rally Officers who keep the venues informed about our registrant’s details.

    I’m really looking forward to the next rally at Lymington - ten boats registered and the rally now full; but I guess latecomers can always try booking ‘independently’!

    I was pleased to see another of our ‘anchoring-in-company’ midweek rallies take shape - attracting four boats to a rendezvous at Newtown Creek.  No doubt the combination of fine weather and tranquil surroundings was a big draw.  The report should be interesting, especially as we’ve not had a one since S’ton Town Quay!  Where are our budding reporters?  And a few pics would be useful!

    I gather the club’s annual Summer BBQ was a triumph, held in glorious sunshine with a record (i.e. best ever!) turnout to date.   And such a great outlook over the clubhouse lake.   So sorry I couldn't be there - but you all know why.  And I still get flak for it!

    Jan Baynham’s introduction of ‘Workshops’ adds to the club's continuing development and helps promote growth in our membership; novel ideas are always sought and the Committee is pleased to receive them - so please keep 'em coming!

    By way of a little history, our website now sports a list of Past Commodores stretching back to the club’s origins in 1973.   Many thanks to Shaun Atkins and Martin Lodge for jogging their memories and digging out the old files.   Finding out about other 'Past Officers' proved more challenging, but is still open to offers!

    With plenty of sailing yet to enjoy we can put off any thoughts about the Laying-up Supper and launch of our exciting Winter Programme in October.

    The club appears at peace with itself and enjoying the fruit of it’s labours.

    Happy Days,

    Leon

  • CG66 migration

    23 Jul 2018 14:48 | Anonymous member

    From 11 July this year, HM Coastguard’s CG66 safety identification scheme will have transferred to RYA SafeTrx for all Search and Rescue (SAR) operations within UK territorial waters.   Enhanced functionality is available when SafeTrx is used in conjunction with an optional mobile app.  RYA SafeTrx is free, irrespective of RYA membership.  

    More information about RYA SafeTrx is available here.

    Registration with SafeTrx can be established in either of two ways:-

    Existing information on the CG66 database will be retained and used by Search and Rescue alongside SafeTrx data for the next two years. Register with SafeTrx if your current CG66 information is no longer valid.

    Contact CG66.Enquiries@mcga.gov.uk to remove your existing information from the current  CG66 database.

  • Pot Marker Incidents

    06 Jul 2018 09:41 | Anonymous member

    The Struggle Continues:

    As part of their continuing campaign and need for hard data, the Cruising Association and RYA are keen for small boat pleasure users to report any incidents they encounter with lobster pots.

    Please send details of any such incidents either by email to the CA office on lobsterpots@theCA.org.uk or via the RYA reporting form at http://shorturl.at/JXY39.

  • Golden Globe Race 2018

    02 Jun 2018 12:29 | Anonymous member

    Starts July 1st, marking the 50th anniversary of the first single-handed sailor to complete a non-stop voyage around the world.  A prize of £5000 was additionally awarded for the fastest voyage.

    Of the original nine entrants only Robin Knox-Johnston finished, taking both prizes - the Golden Globe Trophy and the £5000!    

    Read all about it in ‘A Voyage for Madmen’ by Peter Nichols (2001),  ISBN: 0-06-019764-1 : Harper Collins. Best read ever about the original 1968 race.

    Follow the link for regular updates http://goldengloberace.com/en/ggr/


  • CA Love Cup 2017

    01 May 2018 20:00 | Anonymous member

    I am very pleased to let you know that your Commodore has been awarded the CA Love Cup for last year's two-week GCCC Summer Cruise to Normandy's 'Baie de Seine'.   The Cup is awarded annually by the Cruising Association for the “best log of a journey lasting less than 30 days”.

    The Love Cup was originally presented to the Cruising Association in 1911 by Mr John Love, a founding member of the Association and it’s first President.   It is the oldest trophy to be awarded by the club.

    The John Love Cup

    I would very much like to share this award with all GCCC members and especially those who accompanied ‘Shibumi’ on the cruise - namely Jane & Martin Shott (crew) of 'Shibumi'; Gareth & Isabelle of ‘KiK’; Chris, Denise, Andrew & Margaret of ‘Cadh ‘Ruadh’; Clive, Brian & David of ‘Quickstep’ and Simon & Jorgen of ‘Lacewing’.

    I accepted the award at CA House in London on 28th March 2018, immediately following Tom Cunliffe’s Hanson Lecture on ‘Ice with Everything’ and just before sitting for the Association Dinner.

    Very many thanks to all those who contributed in their own special way to the success of the cruise!

    Leon Barbour

  • Lobster Pot Campaign

    27 Feb 2018 09:10 | Anonymous member

    Time is running out for the Cruising Association Lobster Pot Petition, supported by the RYA.

    To sign up for this petition go to Lobster Pot Campaign (closing date 12th March 2018).

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