Reports of Events

 

East Coast Dry Meet

 

The Founder President Robert Jones welcomed members to the 27th event and Geoff Lloyd then led the morning session.

 

Legal Aspects.   Rudi Fortson QC advised on the legal implications for the yachtsman for personal civil liability in the case of collision or injury.  He outlined the standards for reasonable care and specified what is considered damage resulting from an incident. Damage limitation by the boat owner has a part in any decision. He also discussed jurisdiction covering damage done by one UK boat to another; or by that done by a non-UK boat in a UK port; or actionable in the state of the defendant’s flag.  Also, importantly, there is a 2 year limitation period for starting the action.

 

Yacht Sentinel.  Chris Glasow, of Intelligence Devices Limited, who invented the system, gave an interesting talk.  This system keeps a constant look-out for your craft and alerts you to possible problems by sending text reports to your mobile phone.  You can choose to integrate anchor alarm, shore power loss alarm, battery monitoring, bilge alarm, temperature alarm, mooring alarm if the boat is moved beyond a designated area and GPS tracking.  This will work up to 5 days without connection to external power.  It is user friendly with low power for use on swinging moorings and can detect a hatch alarm for intruders.  He is working on an iPhone application at present. The system can be tailored for individual boat owners’ needs. He is offering a 20% discount on purchase price to Countess Owners Association members.  Web site www.yacht-sentinel.com.

 

Weather maps for free.  Dick Westland, standing in at short notice when the guest speaker fell ill, gave an impromptu talk on sources of free “Weather” based on Frank Singleton’s excellent website www.weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Home.     5 day UK synoptic charts can be downloaded. He also discussed the US Navy + Met Office GRIB. Data, updated hourly, can be downloaded to show wind direction and speed, pressure and wave heights.  This can be run as a moving display where changes can be clearly seen.  This can be overlaid on suitable chart plotters and PC navigation software.

 

Rallies for 2011.  Tony Kerry summarised the rallies planned for this year where he is the contact

 

Saturday 14th May – Shotley

 

Saturday  4th June at Titchmarsh  5.00 pm meet at Countess flag boar followed by meal at Harbour Lights at 7.00 pm

 

Saturday  10th September at West Mersea   This has changed. See News page.

 

In Liverpool between 30 April and 1 May there is a Shanty Festival; Tall Ships; and Yacht racing. Geoff Lloyd would like to arrange a COA event if there is any interest.

 

Peter Holt hopes to arrange an event in the South West.

 

 

MastaClimba.  Graham and Sue Wright demonstrated their invention to help get someone up the mast when brute strength is not available.  They set up a dummy mast in the car park and we were able to test this. 01531 821673 www.mastaclimba.com.

 

Gas Installations.  There was a short discussion on gas installations.  Peter Spreadborough of the PBO and Southampton Calor Gas Centre has always been happy to advise.  www.socal.co.uk/

 

Ian Anderson Trophy.  Mike and Helen Norris who were away last year and awarded the trophy then accepted the trophy for a photoshoot.  Mike then presented the trophy for 2011 to Robin Traves for his 2000 mile sea journey around Britain and his RNLI sponsored donations from this trip.

 

An excellent lunch was enjoyed by all and then the afternoon session, introduced by Colin Campbell. began with the AGM.

 

Rigging.  Dave Nicholls of DRS Rigging Ltd the gave an instructive talk on various aspects of rigging.   We were able to handle many rigging parts showing various common failings.  He outlined the many snags that can occur and answered questions.  As a rule of thumb he recommended that a rigging check with the mast down was done every 3 years and rigging changed between 5 and 10 years usage depending on the type of sailing done.  A very friendly, helpful session.

 

Robin Traves on his Circumnavigation of Britain.  Robin spent 3 months and 3 days on this voyage, sometimes singlehanded and at other times with family members or friends on board or joining up with other Countess Association members. Starting along the south coast he went over to Ireland to Kilmore Quay and then  met up with Geoff and Betty Lloyd at Wicklow.  After Belfast he continued on to Islay where the weather clagged in.  He mentioned some marinas he had found with good shelter and good service.  As time was short most of his slides concentrated on the journey along the Caledonian Canal which he found very well organised by the lock keepers. There were some stunning views of Ben Nevis and the area around Fort William and an interesting passage up Neptune’s Staircase (a series of 7 locks).  At Inverness he found a good marina but warned the facilities were sparse.  He had not spent all the time on board but had left his boat to visit sites like the Speyside Steam Railway.  Then on to Lossiemouth where he found a lovely harbour.  He cut short his account telling us of his journey back home but gave us an entertaining chat of achieving a long held ambition.

 

 

“The Countess” Refurbished.  John Homer recounted the work to rescue his Countess 37 from neglect.  This boat had originally been fitted out at Murray Prior’s yard at Burnham for a gentleman in 1984.  When money ran out the previously unnamed boat reverted to Murray Prior’s yard.  He continued working on it for his own use and the boat became “The Countess” as the yardsmen were directed to work on ‘the Countess in the yard”. Following use by the Priors the boat had remained unused for approximately 6 years before Murray Prior’s death and then John and   Joan Homer approached the yard to purchase it.  John illustrated the changes with before and after pictures showing the whole process of rejuvenating The Countess.  The last thing he had installed was a bow thruster and the session opened to questions about installation and use of that facility.

 

This brought us to a wind up of the day and further questions including some advice from RNLI’s Terry Corner on biodiesel fuel.  There is a European directive for low sulphur diesel.  Some suppliers use road diesel at marinas and this can include biodiesel additives.  Terry suggested asking any marina what fuel they are supplying and suggested avoiding biodiesel as this does not store well.  Low sulphur fuels can also be detrimental to older design engines.  These may need to use additives to counter this if low sulphur fuel is used.

 

Peter Coy brought another Dry Meet to a close having again organised another exceedingly entertaining and informative day.

 

(Our thanks go to Lynda Bennett for writing up the ECDM)