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)