I guess some may feel in the grip of a cold and damp winter, yet there is a glow in the air with Spring around the corner.   Crocuses and snowdrops are fading, daffodils are in bud and March is only a fortnight away.  We can put away our angle grinder, touch up the keel with a final coat of epoxy resin, wield our trusty paint-roller and think about casting off our very practical but rather tattered old boiler suit.     

This annual toil of crouching beneath the hull - usually performed alone but occasionally with a little sympathetic help - is what drives a few of us out of the house and onto the road for a romantic (or not) journey to the south coast.   Or maybe you've enough dosh to pass all this effort over to the boatyard - depending on how intimate you wish feel about your boat!

But there may be some lingering doubts - have I booked my slot for the re-launch or am I still waiting to replace the anodes?  Have I checked the propeller or the cutlass bearing?   What about my seacocks, gearbox oil, engine service - and general all-round polishing?    Did I clean the two-stroke outboard, flush it with fresh water and run it dry to clear the carburettor of fuel?   Have I washed the genoa sheets?   Are my sails back from valeting?   I’m sure something was said about all this on the discussion forum!  

But no worries, when the jobs are all done we can look forward to a new season, heralded by New Member’s Night (March 20th) when Chris will officially launch the Summer Programme.   And then two weeks later there’s the Fitting-out Supper & Quiz by which time we can feel more confident in our plans for the coming season.  I look forward to hearing about them.   
How time flies!

Leon Barbour

A preliminary MAIB report about the use of tethers, based on a fatal accident whilst sailing in the Indian Ocean on 18 November 2017, can be found by clicking here.

The petition launched before the election for action against unmarked lobster pots has now been resurrected - see the article in Yachting Monthly

To sign the petition - click here

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS No 24(T) of 2017

COWES CHAIN FERRY

Clearance Depths
14 August 2017

Notice is hereby given that ..... Hydrographic surveys to measure clearance over the chains have been undertaken and the following temporary restrictions are in place:

Maximum Permissible Draught = Actual Tide Height + 1.1 metres

Mariners are advised that this is a ‘worst case’ (mid-ebb spring tide) when the ferry is berthed on the west bank and is being set to the north. Mariners are advised that increased clearances are available during this mid-ebb period when the ferry is berthed on the east bank. If your vessel is deep drafted and you have the need to transit the chain ferry crossing during this mid-ebb spring period, CHC strongly suggest that you allow the chain ferry to cross and be moored on the east bank before proceeding with caution.

Greater clearances are possible during other stages of the tidal cycle, particularly at High Water. Please see the indicative survey diagrams below.

All mariners are reminded that the maximum clearance depths are achieved at the mid-point between the prow of the Chain Ferry and the opposite shore. Vessels should avoid passing close to the prows of the ferry due to the obstruction of the chains as they slope down to the riverbed.

Any deep draught vessel or any other vessel requiring an unimpeded passage should contact the Chain Ferry, providing as much notice as possible, on VHF Channel 69.

Further chain adjustments and survey checks will be carried out in the near future, with the aim of increasing depths over the chains throughout all tidal cycles whilst maintaining a normal ferry service. The aim of these scheduled works will be to restore navigation clearance depths over the chains to previous reported depths for the previous ferry. 

Further surveys will be carried out as works require and all mariners will be advised of any changes to clearance depths via Cowes Harbour Local Notice to Mariners.

All mariners are advised that Cowes Harbour LNTM 15 of 2016 remains in force and all vessels should navigate with particular caution when approaching the Chain Ferry, especially with a following tide. 





This image shows the ‘worst case’ scenario with the vessel on the West bank and is being set to the North by the spring ebb tide.





Please see the full survey diagrams: http://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/cowes_chain_ferry

• LNTM 24(T) of 2017 - COWES CHAIN FERRY – Clearance Depths and Further Commissioning Works

HMS Queen Elizabeth Enters Portsmouth

16/08/2017

Britain's future flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into her home port of Portsmouth for the first time today.

Greeted by thousands of people lining the Portsmouth seafront, the 65,000-tonne carrier was met with the warmest of welcomes as she arrived in her home port just after 7am.

Royal Navy sailors lined up in ceremonial procedure on the flight deck of the mammoth ship, standing alongside civilian colleagues from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, as she passed the Round Tower.

HMS Queen Elizabeth was also greeted with a flypast of helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm, including Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and Hawk jets. 

Captain Jerry Kyd, the Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, said: "HMS Queen Elizabeth's first entry into her home port of Portsmouth is an historic, proud and exciting occasion, not only for those of us serving in her, but also for the wider Royal Navy, the city of Portsmouth and the entire nation."

"The UK's future flagship, as well her sister ship HMS Prince of Wales, will be powerful symbols of Britain's outward facing global character and ambition. The Royal Navy has a very special relationship with Portsmouth dating back half a millennium and both carriers will ensure the Navy's city remains the focal point of our great nation's maritime power for generations to come."

The ship will berth at the newly-opened Princess Royal Jetty at Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth, which will be home to both of the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. The second, HMS Prince of Wales, will be officially named in a ceremony at Rosyth next month. 

The berth has been upgraded and strengthened to support the carriers as part of a raft of infrastructure upgrades which took place ahead of the arrival of the ship.

The approach channel to Portsmouth has also been made deeper and wider, from its original 210 metres to 450 metres, and the channel has been straightened as much as possible to avoid large course alterations.

Bespoke navigational lights, a high-voltage electrical supply and specialist carrier-specific gangways, known as 'brows', have also been provided as part of a £100m programme of works to prepare Portsmouth for the arrival of the carrier.

Sir Peter Gershon, Chairman of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: "I am incredibly proud to witness HMS Queen Elizabeth arrive at her home port of Portsmouth Naval Base having successfully completed the first phase of her sea trials programme. 

"Over 10,000 people have come together to bring HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to life, from early design to the magnificent ships they are today. It is thanks to their industrious endeavours and pride that we have achieved this historic moment in the programme to bring HMS Queen Elizabeth into service. 

"We're excited to complete the remainder of her test and commissioning programme before delivering her to the Royal Navy by the end of the year."

With only three other countries in the world building aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth will give Britain the capability to lead the way in tackling global issues in an increasingly uncertain world, from providing humanitarian relief to high-end war fighting.

And with the state-of-the-art F-35B Lightning fighter jets on track to make their first trial flights from the carrier's deck next year, the UK is now building towards delivering carrier strike capability. Both aircraft carriers are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance.

Leading Airman Liam Forgeron, 28, from Portchester, is an aircraft handler on board HMS Queen Elizabeth. He said: "Being a local lad, I am extremely proud that Portsmouth will now be the base port for the nation's future flagship.

"The historic port has a long and proud association with the Royal Navy and the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth will cement this relationship for a further 50 years. As a Royal Navy aircraft handler, serving on board this mighty vessel is a real honour, as I too get to make history in my home town."

Chris Waddington, from Southampton Water Sailing Association, wonders if members might be interested in their local racing events.  An evening series of ten events starts on Friday 5th May and a passage series of events starts on 17th June with the Round the Island Race.   

The first race is free and thereafter an entry fee of £10 per race is charged or £50 for the season.  Racing is very friendly and many aspiring racers have cut their teeth on this series before moving on to more challenging events.

SWSA Invitation
SWSA Cruiser Racing Programme 2017
Solent Marks 2017 - changes
Solent Racing Chart - central
S'ton Water Race Chart

Entry forms, courses and sailing instructions can be downloaded from http://www.swsa.org.uk
Chris can be contacted directly on chrismwaddington@yahoo.co.uk

The draw for GCCC's entry to the RNLI Alternative Boat Race was held at the AGM on January 13th. First prize, which provides entry for two to the race itself including dinner on April 10th, was won by Richard Vail.  Second prize, which wins the model lifeboat used to compete in the race, was won by Ron Moore.  Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all other participants.

National Coastwatch have been allocated a new dedicated nationwide VHF radio channel which is due to go live at all 50+ NCI Stations in England & Wales on 1st October 2014.

The channel is duplex on international marine VHF Channel 65 and it will be used primarily to allow NCI Stations to pass routine local information to nearby vessels including current weather condition reports and radio checks where required

NCI currently have four operational stations within the Solent area including one on the Isle of Wight - for details visit www.nci.org.uk

Many congratulations to Clive White who finished the RIR, an achievement in itself, in 19 position overall.  Clive left the Baie De Seine summer cruise on Wednesday after providing us all with a fine afternoon tea with homemade cakes. He left so that he could get Quickstep's bottom scrubbed which clearly paid off in such light airs.  Unless anyone knows better this has to be the highest placed GCCC boat in the RIR ever

At the AGM it was agreed that the membership subscription should increase to £45 per year with a £10 discount for prompt payment. This will be effective for renewals on 1st October 2014 and those new members joining on or after 1st July 2104 (new members joining after 1st July will renew on 1st October 2015)