SYC NEWSLETTER August 2024

Message from the Commodore Tom Hutchinson

Ormidale Barbecue The 2024 Ormidale BBQ took place on Saturday the 3rd of August. Even the most optimistic would not have anticipated the rain stopping, the wind dropping and the sun coming out as the BBQ was being prepared on the beach. That however is exactly what happened.

Seven members were in attendance with a further four locals joining the group for a most splendid evening of food, wine and good company. Thanks to Don and Marje Gillies for once again hosting the Commodore on Black Pepper, and a special thanks to our Master Chef Don for cooking the food on the BBQ. It would be remiss of me not to also mention Caroline, Norena and Marje who organised the food and also to acknowledge our Secretary Graham for his amazing ability to rescue our camp fire which, in my hands had been smouldering without a sign of a flame for a considerable time. 

 

Commodore Tom starting the fire

 

On a personal note, this was the first time I have been able to wear sailing boots following my injury. The bad news was that the large boots I had borrowed leaked and after a prolonged period standing on the beach, I was unable to remove the boot due to my ankle swelling. Many thanks to Graham and Don for hauling the offending item off of my foot.

Once again it was a successful and enjoyable event. The poor forecast of strong winds and rain (apparently the theme for this summer) had daunted others from joining us.

(above) Key BBQ Organisers (below) Chef Don juggles two barbies

Prior to the BBQ, Caroline and I with Norena crewing were lucky enough to enjoy a brief weather window when we sailed to Kerrera for the weekend and caught the race start for the final leg of the Clipper Round the World Race in Oban. The view from Kerrera Marina of the Parade of Sail was exceptional and we thoroughly enjoyed the view and commentary from the race organisers via the handheld radio. The turnout on shore and on the water was good with the Marina at Kerrera emptying as boats with dress flags joined the end of the parade. Pipers could be heard from the shore and then aboard the Clippers themselves. After a brief stop for lunch, we climbed to the monument and viewed the start of the race from outside Dunstaffnage Marina until the boats disappeared sailing down the south end of Mull heading for the finish line in Portsmouth. Tom 

 

Message from the Secretary Graham Gillies

Autumn Muster The next Serpent event will be our Autumn Muster on Saturday 14th September. There will be a race round the Cumbraes with a start and finish line off Largs Marina (starting at 11am). It is expected that most participants will be dining at the Scotts restaurant at the marina in the evening. Those wishing to race, please complete the race entry form (also attached to this email). Participants (racing or cruising) please arrange your own berth at Largs Marina and book your own tables at Scotts which can be done online at https://www.scotts-largs.co.uk (suggested time of booking between 7 and 8 pm).

If you are not racing, there is no need to complete a form on this occasion but please let the secretary know you are joining us gwagillies@gmail.com

Closing Supper We are planning a closing supper in October (date to be decided). The event will be a tour of Glasgow Central Station at 3pm. These tours are very popular and more information can be found at glasgowcentraltours.co.uk

The Central Station tour takes around 90 minutes, it costs £15 and numbers are limited to 18 folk per tour. This will be followed by a drink locally and a meal at ‘Bombay Blues’ across the road at 41 Hope St. It offers an excellent curry buffet for £17.99 (and also has an à la carte menu). You can join us for all or part of this event.

We are unable to confirm the date of the event until the timetable for October is posted in early September, so look out for another email soon.

Diary of Events for 2024

Autumn Muster – Largs – Saturday 14th September – There will be a race starting and finishing at Largs. Most participants will be dining at Scott’s restaurant in the evening.

Central Station Visit and Supper at the ‘Bombay Blues’ October date to be decided.  

Annual Dinner Saturday 7th December at the Glasgow Art Club

A rare settled sunset this May      GG

 

SYC  NEWSLETTER  July 2024

 

Message from the Commodore     Tom Hutchinson

 

The planned Cruise in Company to Ballycastle before the Craobh Muster was cancelled due to winds gusting force 6 & 7 featuring for much of the week beginning 8^th June. Only Silverjack, crewed by Graham, Ian Thomson and David Dorward ventured round the Mull of Kintyre and made a valiant effort to join the Craobh event.

Don and Marje Gillies were, at this time, storm bound on Black Pepper in Ormidale, however all was not lost and they travelled by car to Craobh where they joined the Aquaholic team which included Norena McAdam from Adastra.

Joining us in Craobh on their new berth were Catherine and Stewart on Encore with their crew Bill and Lilias also Doug, Alison and Finlay Gray on Shenavall.

By the morning of the 15^th the weather had improved significantly and three boats crossed the start line as scheduled for the round Shuna race. The Officers of the day were Don Gillies and the Commodore on Aquaholic. This was the first time the Toy team had raced their new boat which will, I am sure, feature in many more club events. The course set was an anti-clockwise circumnavigation of the island of Shuna.

The results are as follows: -

1^st Silverjack    2^nd Encore   3^rd Shenavall

While we were enjoying ourselves on the water, the shore team were preparing food for the evening BBQ. This consisted of Caroline, Marje and Norena who were joined by Catherine following the race. The barbecue was once again held in the marina boatshed where seventeen people attended and enjoyed a fabulous evening with good food, music and company. I was particularly pleased to welcome new members Luke and Marta Newman to their first club event. They berth their Rustler 36 at Ardfern. As usual a big thank you is due to the Craobh Marina staff who provided the barbeque and boatshed and to the Serpent ladies who did so much to make the evening a success.

On the Sunday morning, Silverjack and Aquaholic with the additional crew of Don, Marje and Norena headed to Loch Spelve for the mussel feast. The weather was interesting to say the least and we were all very grateful to Inverlussa Mussels not only for providing the venue and mussels, but especially for allowing us to use their moorings in the blustery overnight conditions.

Eight members enjoyed a wonderful evening of good food and chat. The event was not without incident when the Commodore lost the propeller of their dinghy outboard. Needless to say, I am now a lot fitter than before thanks to all the rowing I’ve been doing. During the evening, we met a French couple sailing a beautiful sixty five-foot steel ketch called Milagro  which we were invited on board the following morning. Lauriane is a qualified Naval mechanic and is currently studying for her PHD while Damien carries out the routine maintenance including tuning the rig of this monstrous yacht. Damien has a most impressive sailing C.V. which includes racing Figaro yachts single handed in trans ocean events, I will never again complain about being short of crew when people like this team sail around Europe and the higher latitudes two up in a 65-foot, 45-ton yacht.

On the Monday morning Silverjack with Don and Marje on board headed for Oban while Aquaholic headed north to continue cruising.

I’m sure all who attended will agree that this was a wonderful event despite the somewhat blustery weather.

Tom 

   

Encore edging past Silverjack in the sound of Shuna    GG  

 

Shenavall moving well in the light airs   GG 

 

 Some participants at the Spelve Mussel Feast      David Dorward

 

 

The 65 ft Steel ketch ‘Milagro’ we were treated to a tour of    ^{David Dorward}

 

Message from the Secretary     Graham Gillies

 

 

Serpent Summer Barbecue The next Serpent event will be the Summer barbecue at Ormidale on Loch Riddon On Saturday 3^rd August. This is a relaxed and informal social occasion. There is no charge or provision by the Club for this event. Attendees require to bring their own barbecue, food and drink. There is no need to contact me if you are joining us, but it is helpful if you let me know by email a couple of days before if you intend to come. It’s a good opportunity to socialise and meet other members.

 

Crew Register I asked if any members were interested in crewing opportunities within the club. Luke Newman replied saying that he would like to be added. He has a Day Skipper qualification but would like to gain more experience. He lives in Perthshire, but keeps their boat at Ardfern so, in principle, he says he would be available on either coast. He can be contacted through myself at gwagillies@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Diary of Events for 2024  

 

Ormidale Barbecue – Saturday 3 August Our informal barbecue in the evening at Ormidale, Loch Riddon is a BYO BBBB event. Bring your own Boat, Barbecue, Bangers and Bottle. It is a relaxed and fun evening in good company. No booking required.

 

Autumn Muster – Largs – Saturday 14th September – There will be a race starting and finishing at Largs. Most participants will be dining at Scott’s restaurant in the evening.

 

Annual Dinner   Saturday 7th December at the Glasgow Art Club 

 

 

 

    Another settled sunset for the 2024 Craobh Muster   GG

 

 

SYC NEWSLETTER May 2024

Message from the Commodore Tom Hutchinson

I was delighted to welcome folk to the Commodores reception in Tarbert on the 18th of May. It was great to see so many members on the water. The weather was spectacular with temperatures topping 26 degrees in the warm sunshine. As is tradition, the reception was held in the Tarbert Harbour Association marquee where drinks and canopies were enjoyed along with the opportunity to catch up on every one’s latest sailing news.

Caroline and I are finally afloat on Aquaholic and have enjoyed our first short shakedown sail when I am happy to report all went well. We are based in Craobh hence why we did not feature on the water at Tarbert. I look forward to meeting up with many of you as the season progresses beginning with the cruise in company to Ballycastle which Graham has detailed below.

I must thank the Committee for planning the Tarbert event, and in particular to Graham, our secretary, for organising the berthing, and dinner. Thanks, also to Caroline, Marje and Norena for preparing the canopies and also to Don for making Black Pepper available as a base for the Commodore and for food preparation and for dressing BP overall for the occasion.

I hope the weather is as kind to us going forward as it was for the Spring Muster and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the season at our full programme of events.

Tom 

Notes from the Secretary Graham Gillies

Our opening Muster at Tarbert last weekend was well attended with 23 folk and 6 boats. In addition to the crews arriving by boat, the Commodore Tom Hutchinson and Caroline drove down from Craobh with Norena McAdam to welcome everyone to a drinks reception in the Marina marquee. The club yachts had largely arrived early due to the cancellation of the race and there was much chat and catch up on the long pontoon which THA had reserved for us.

Stewart and Catherine Toy and their crew just made it in the nick of time aboard their immaculate and, ‘new to them’, Sadler 39, ‘Encore’. They had encountered extensive dense fog in the lower Clyde after leaving Troon which necessitated cautious progress.

Tom warmly welcomed Mike and Freda Forbes on their Dufour 40, Micky Finn IV. They are our most recent Serpent members but need no introduction to Clyde sailing and racing having spent many years sailing from their base at Rhu. Talking of experienced sailors, it was also good to see Douglas and Mairi Brown in good form at the muster on their Nicholson 32, Mariella with its distinctive yellow Tinker dinghy. We were pleased that our Sailing Secy Charles, and Anne Sutherland were able to join us with their crew aboard Lollypop, their Beneteau 29. A failed heat exchanger proved to be a tricky issue to repair in time with a new unit requiring modification and necessitating a new alternator. Charles was pleased with the result, if not the cost. Other teams in attendance were Don and Marje Gillies on Black Pepper and my own crew on Silverjack.

Following the drinks and nibbles at the Marquee reception, everyone moved to the Anchor Hotel for dinner and a sociable evening.

Our next event is the Craobh Muster on Saturday 15th June.
The round Shuna race is planned for the morning with the traditional barbecue and jig taking place in the evening. There will be a charge of £10 pp for the barbecue food which will be provided.
Drinks will not be provided so please bring your own.
The next day, Sunday 16th we are holding another Mussel Party at Inverlussa Mussel Farm on Loch Spelve in the evening.
Again there will be a charge of £10 pp for food. Bring your own drinks. 

Mariella setting off from Tarbert GG 

 

Encore motor sailing back to Troon D Dorward

 

GDPR Please note that the GDPR policy on the website has been updated to enable a list of members to be circulated within the club. This list will not appear on the website.
If anyone does not wish their details as stated in section 2 of the GDPR policy 15th April 2024 version 1.2 to be shared with the club membership would they please inform the Secretary at gwagillies@gmail.com within one month of receipt of this newsletter.

Crew Register The club is planning a Crew Register for members which will also be circulated to the membership (but not on the website). If any members are looking for crewing opportunities, can they send me a couple of sentences about themselves indicating any sailing experience and sailing qualifications (if any) that they have and what sailing opportunities they are interested in. Please include a preferred contact detail.

 

Diary of Events for 2024

Ormidale Barbecue – Saturday 3 August Our informal barbecue in the evening at Ormidale, Loch Riddon is a BYO BBBB event. Bring your own Boat, Barbecue, Bangers and Bottle. It is a relaxed and fun evening in good company. No booking required.

Autumn Muster – Largs – Saturday 14th September – There will be a race starting and finishing at Largs. Most participants will be dining at Scott’s restaurant in the evening.

Annual Dinner Saturday 7th December at the Glasgow Art Club 

 

Micky Finn IV heading home GG 

 

 

The Serpent boats were afforded places on the Tarbert East Pontoon 

N McAdam

Feb 2024 & Annual General Meeting

The 2024 Annual General Meeting is to be held in the Commodore Suite at Royal Gourock Yacht Club on Wednesday 21st February. Coffee/tea etc will be available from 7pm with the meeting due to start at 7.30.  

 

 

After the completion of business Peter & Marian will give a talk on their 2023 cruise to the Baltic on Exody.  This is bound to be a fascinating account and all members are encouraged to attend. 

 

Jan 2024

The Commodore writes: 

This is probably my last Commodore’s Message before I demit office at the
AGM in February so I should take the opportunity to state that it has been
an honour to be of service to the club in that capacity and to thank those on
the Committee who have guarded my path and identified to me my
deviations from that which is deemed proper.

I am sure that those who attended the Annual Dinner a couple of weeks
ago will have had no regrets. I am no natural compere but despite a few
slip-ups from me the evening passed most acceptably with a meal
surpassing previous standards. 

 

Our Speaker, Mr Mike McKirdy gave a speech which was both humorous and thought provoking and the warmth of the reception certainly dissipated the chill of the Art Club’s heating which had suffered a failure. An interesting point made by Mike was of the alleged hierarchy of brown, green and blue spaces in terms of mental wellbeing and his observation that those us who sail in coastal waters must surely benefit from the blue to which I’m sure we concur.*   

*https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353433617                                        

all photos courtesy of Dr Freda Forbes 

The Raffle in aid of the Hope Foundation of the Royal Society of Physicians
and Surgeons of Glasgow, the charity designated by the speaker (https://
hope.rcpsg.ac.uk/) raised £385 and the club has received thanks from the
Chair of the Foundation.
As I remarked at the dinner, it has not been the most successful of years
for the Club in terms of events but those that did survive the weather were
enjoyed by all participants with the BBQ at Croabh being of particular note.
At least it resulted in a minimal prize-giving. The club has managed to
attract a few new members with the possibility of one or two more so we
can remain optimistic. Keep a look out for changes to the club calendar
and I hope next year to see as many of you as possible out on the water.