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THE PENNANT

THE NEWSLETTER OF NEWPORT USKMOUTH SAILING CLUB

A Welsh Pennant is available. Mae Pennant Cymraeg ar gael

September 2001

It is very sad to report the death of our President, Doug Doust and also Denzil Keene. Many of us will have our own special memories of Doug so Elwyn Blease has undertaken the task of writing a tribute to him on behalf of so many members. Our thoughts will be with both families.

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Doug Doust

Doug Doust, ‘The Admiral’ died on 10^th August, two days after his 84^th birthday.

Doug had suffered from a serious illness for more than a year but he had been quite philosophical about it and had remained active until about four months ago. His interest in boats started at a young age when he began sailing on his father’s boat at their home in Gravesend. Later, an employment transfer brought him to Uskmouth Power Station and he lost no time in joining the Sailing Club, which at that time was located on the west bank of the river.

Second only to his family, Doug loved sailing and particularly racing; to say that he was competitive is an understatement - much of the grey in my remaining hair is probably due to the years of sailing with Doug on the helm.

 

Doug was a past Commodore and of course, he was the Club President. The Club meant a great deal to him and he was proud that the facilities enjoyed by today’s members had been constructed in the past by members’ voluntary, unpaid efforts. He regretted that perhaps some members today treated the Club almost as they would a marina and contributed very little in effort to help the Club thrive. The occasional bouts of dissension which arise also worried him and he believed strongly that the Club was the poorer for these incidents.

 

Doug was a gentleman and a good friend and I shall miss him and his dry humour, his advice and his ready help for anyone with a problem or difficult job. Other members too will miss him, many of whom have known him for far longer than I.

 

If there is an existence after this one, then I am sure that Doug, somewhere, will be at the helm of a boat. He’ll be cursing the wind changes, the cut of the sails and the inaccurate wind instruments, but all of this will mean that he is absolutely happy.

Wherever he is heading, I am sure that we all wish him fair winds and a safe voyage

 

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Denzil Keene

It was with great sadness we heard of the death of Denzil Keene. Denzil has not been a member of the Club since family circumstances caused him to give up sailing. All who knew him will remember his great love of sailing, his enthusiasm for the Club and his mischievous sense of humour.

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A Day to Remember

Saturday 28^th July, a hot sunny day and the day for the Club to play host to the children of Belarus.

The children and host families arrived about 10.15 a.m. and were treated to hot dogs, crisps and fizzy drinks.

Afterwards in the field they participated in target shooting, potting the ball, ringing the wellie and soaking the skipper, (A VERY WET GAME) winning lollies, sweets and toys.

About 12.30 p.m. the children boarded boats for a trip up the river to the Town Bridge, the children and interpreter were commenting on the many new experiences and what a marvellous time they were having.On returning to the club, a meal was laid on by the hard working club members in the galley. Afterwards it was back to the field for more games.

At 17.15 p.m. it was time for the many

gifts, toys, games and shoe boxes filled with goodies to be distributed amongst the children. Then it was outside for the Customary Party Popper Broadside, counting down 123 in Belarussian and English.

Before leaving, the visitors presented Mark Crew with a plaque from Belarus.

Finally, the children, loaded with boxes of presents to take back to the home in Belarus left. We waved them goodbye, knowing that it was a day to remember for children and members alike.

 

A Tribute from Ray Ford

As you know I contacted Marcia Doyle with regards to the children of Belarus visiting our club, an idea that without the backing of the committee and all the help and ideas from other club members would not have been so successful.

I would like to thank everyone for their help, before and on the day. The response to the flyer for boxes of gifts was overwhelming, anyone who saw all the boxes piled high on the tables had to be impressed by the generosity of our members and friends.

I personally felt very touched.

All spare boxes and toys will be going to the children in Belarus on a convoy on September 1^st.

I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Ray Ford

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Club Site Development

Members may have read the notice in the Clubhouse describing -----

THE WOODLAND PROJECT

In order to bring it more fully to the attention of members it has been reproduced and included in this edition of the Pennant. Please take note of Doug McLeod ‘s request and pass your views on to the Committee.

 

Mooring Notices.

Bills or refunds will soon be going out to any member who has

1. changed their mooring

2. taken up a mooring or

3. relinquished a mooring this season.

New owners pay a standard charge for their mooring which is assumed to be up to the Club standard.

Members who relinquish a mooring will get a refund when that mooring has been occupied by a new owner.

The general idea is that, any member who occupies a different mooring from last year and has to spend money in order to bring it up to Club standards, is re-imbursed at the expense of the previous owner’s refund.

Let Jim Warrington or Ivor Preece know if you did spend money to make the mooring useable. If you don’t agree with your bill, please let us know. A few owners appear to have wandered off their moorings on to others--- they have joined the breed of ‘mooring – hoppers’ – a class which was thought to be nearly extinct!

 

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

Sept. 21-23 Weekend Cruise to Bristol

October 6,7 Boat Recovery Start 0700

October 10 Heavy Boat Recovery Start 0900

October 20 Trafalgar Night

November 17 Laying Up Supper

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Laying Up Supper

At the Laying Up Supper, the following awards are made:

• Seamanship Award

• Cruising Cup

• Novice Helm

• Best Crew

• Novice Crew

• Basil Mountjoy Cup – for contributions to youth sailing

• Enterprise Cup – for enterprise at NUSC, on or off the water

• Yachtsman of the Year – for the most amusing unseamanlike behaviour

The recipients of the awards are chosen by the Flag Officers but they will welcome any suggestions, accounts of incidents (near and far) to help them in their choices.

THE BACK PAGE

KnickerTwister Series

Race 8 was abandoned as insufficient wind with a Spring tide prevented the seven participating boats from getting out of the river. Thus four races were required to qualify. The Series result was in doubt right until the last race. A lovely evening and NW wind allowed a long course to be sailed out to the Welsh Water buoy. Either John Parker, (Saeth Wen) or Ray Brown, (Maybee) could win the Series which Ray eventually did by one point.

Lessons for next year: Although spectators have enjoyed some wonderful views of the races from the Race Office, fairer races in westerly winds will result if the start line can be moved down river to the ends of the moorings.

Final Results

 

LATE NEWS

NUSC Cricket Match ---Saturday 15^th September Bilges v Fins For details see posters on Regatta Weekend

The General Committee has decided to go ahead with the tree planting scheme but with possible modifications in some of the critical areas:- for instance where boats could be stored and the grassy area towards the pontoon. Doug McLeod and Peter Hood are managing the project--- let them know what you think of it. The scheme will be finalised very soon.

 

The visitor involved in the incident at the Waterfront Festival disco has been charged on two counts of inflicting grevious bodily harm and is due to appear in Court shortly.

A number of entry passes appear to be failing to activate the barriers and gates. Some of the failures are caused by driving through behind other cars without using the pass. The system thinks you haven’t come in or out and so refuses to let you out or in. The wonders of modern technology .

Next Newsletter will be published early November nusc 09/01

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THE PENNANT

 

CRUISING SUPPLEMENT

September 2001

Thanks to Bob Looker for the following report.

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The Adventures of Tilly Whim V

This Spring we decided to sail to Devon and for once did not have winds on the nose all the way, in fact we didn’t have any reliable breeze.

The trip took us from Newport to Padstow in one jump, then Padstow to the Helford river. On the third day we left the Helford at 4.30 am bound for Brixham.

A very hazy morning with several large grey ships circling around. The warship Cornwall called on Channel 16 advising trawlers to beware of submarine exercises in the area. Tilly Whim under motor as there was no wind. With that warning we heard the submarine sonar pinging on our hull. It stayed under us all the way to Eddystone light where our engine failed (for the first time). Then as we were hoisting the sails we saw a big surge of water trailing away from us very quickly.

No engine so we wallowed around for a while with the sails slatting. Finally the wind picked up and we sailed into Plymouth bay. Wind died again so we dropped the anchor until the evening breeze filled in and we sailed into Queen Anne Battery marina (after warning them that we were going to do so).

The engine problem was that the diesel lift pump had worked loose. Phone calls to NUSC engineer, D.Jerwood had pinpointed the pump as the problem. D.Jerwood sent Simon Jerwood to check we were O.K. and that repairs had been made. For a second opinion I normally ask Ray Fradd, but Spain is a bit far to call for help!

Our plans for July involved sailing from Brixham to Foxes’ marina in Ipswich to have a number of repairs and updates done to the boat.

We set off in light winds with an uneventful trip to Cowes. At the entrance we dropped the sails and with a ferry behind us, yachts around us we motored into the entrance. With that the engine failed. Panic!!! Sails out in double quick time, spun round and sailed down a row of moorings laid out for Cowes Week. 3 knots of tide but sailed to buoy, stopped, crew were unable to hold on and lost 2 boat hooks. Sailed on to a mooring with a rope trailing and picked it up. Time 2200 hours, Went to bed.

0500 hrs, couldn’t sleep so decided to look at engine problem. It had to be dirt in the fuel or air. Took off pipe, blew back into tank, cleaned filters. Now to suck fuel back through system, Kristina volunteered, the only girl I know who could suck a golf ball through a hosepipe. Success, engine started.

Off to Ramsgate:- entering Ramsgate, engine fails, spin boat round, avoid ferry, anchor outside channel. This time I suck the fuel through, engine works.

Off to Ipswich, pass the Goodwin sands, wind dies, start engine, motor to six miles off Harwich, engine fails not to be restarted. Kristina has been sick all the trip so she says she might as well suck the diesel as she couldn’t be more sick. All to no avail.

We hoist cruising chute in a very light breeze with a spring tide, manage to stay out of shipping channel. At 0200hrs, breeze dies, we drift upriver fast, trying to paddle 10 tons of boat out of the shipping channel. At 0300 we anchor and keep our flood light on to warn ships. 0600, slight breeze filling in all the time so we tack up the Orwell to Felixstowe where Foxes’ launch takes us in tow.

For eight days we have glorious sunshine and easterly winds so all work can proceed: new rig, new sail, new galley, repair hull (topside bang) etc.

Now ready to return to Brixham, forecast strong westerlies 5 – 8!!

We sail back, stopping at Ramsgate, then to Dover to anchor and wait for a favourable tide. Leave Dover, W6, it took nearly two hours to motor the length of the short outer wall! Tide turns , we sluice up towards the Solent, wind against tide. On entering the Solent we see 250 yachts racing, it’s Cowes Week. As we pass Egypt Point in Cowes, we avoid all the yachts finishing their races. What a sight, ‘War Baby’ with twenty crew all hanging over the rail. All I had was Kristina hanging over the side to be sick. She swears that sailing is the best diet there is! I advised her not to be sick at Cowes because it’s illegal to dispose of diesel at sea.

That day in Cowes week, 2 boats sank and several lost masts etc. Several people were washed overboard. However, we entered Yarmouth, IoW at 2000 hrs, sailed at midnight due to a gale warning, W 8. Did not use the Needles channel, too rough, so slipped out down the side of Hurst Point as McMillan suggests.

Got to Brixham, no more submarines, no more engine breakdowns but relieved to be there with 7-8 blowing.

My crew was an 80 year old neighbour and Kristina, my wife. Strangely enough, both say they will sail with me again.

 

P.S. If Saddam Hussein married Little Miss Muffet, would he have let the Kurds have their way?

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