Next Wednesday, March 16th., 7pm for 7.30, members of Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club will be addresed by Katie McCabe, the youngest person to sail single-handed around Britain at the Regal Club, Kingsbridge.  Last summer, at age 14, she left her home port, Topsham, and sailed anti-clockwise around the country in her 26 foot wooden yacht Falanda..  On Wednesday she will tell us, with the help of slides, about the lead up to the voyage, the voyage itself and her future plans. Please let us know, via events@kebc.co.uk if you will be with us if you can, it helps us to have an idea of numbers.   Don’t worry if you make a last minute decision to come, there will be plenty of room. 

On April  27th. Ali Jones will attend the Club evening at the Regal to address members.  She will first talk about seals, dolphins and whales in our seas, followed by a discussion on first aid on boats, including the use of radio, and ending with lifejackets and flares; bring your own for inspection. 

We are planning another talk on May 18th before organising a trip on the Lady Mary and a lunchtime barbecue in June and July.

WE NEED A GARDENER.There is a KEBC dinghy on the promenade which is filled with plants that is looking a bit tired.  Is there a club member that would like to take charge of this?  You would need to liaise with Kingsbridge in Bloom to tie the design in with the overall Kingsbridge scheme as I understand that the town has been entered in the regional and finals of the national competition..

At a committee meeting yesterday evening members also discussed the use of the excess income of £590 generated from the Tide Tables, this will be transferred to our charities account.  We have for many years supported the Chernobyl Children charity which this year really demands our attention.  It is planned to donate £250 to this cause.  We will also be helping, with money and labour, the Kids Afloat scheme which takes primary school children afloat in canoes during the summer to introduce them to boating. 

The Boatwatch schedules for this summer are in production and, from amongst the new club members, several extra volunteers have joined the scheme.  The replacement of notices around the estuary stating that Boatwatch is operating is to be carried out.  There will be a team leaders’ meeting, probably at the Regal, before the season starts.

Other topics discussed were club publicity and participation at shows such as Kingsbridge Show in September.  We are updating the information boards and producing posters.  Membership is 172 families at present, so we are healthy but want to keep it that way.  

I hope to see lots of you next Wednesday evening.

Tony Watson.

Christmas and New Year festivities are behind us and, hopefully we are embarking on an improving future.  I trust all our members achieved their aims and ambitions over the holidays, catching up with families and friends and enjoying themselves. 

The KEBC Christmas Dinner at The Cottage was attended by 30 members and was  generally acknowledged to have been a success.  Many thanks to Linda for her organisational skills and the Cottage Hotel team for good food, wine and service.  14 members stayed overnight and were similarly full of praise for the hotel.

At present we are welcoming the return of members.  If you haven’t yet paid your £15 membership subscription for 2022, please do so before January 31st.  If you pay by standing order please check that you have changed the sum to £15.  If you are unsure, contact treasurer@kebc.co.uk   We will assume that members that haven’t renewed by the end of this month have resigned and their details will be deleted.  The Club’s sort code is 30-94-72; Acc. No. 01223778. 

There has been little interest shown in training courses to date, details are on the kebc web site under Training and Safety.  Andy has to arrange bookings at Stokenham and will have to make decisions in the near future.  Thus members interested need to contact Andy before next Monday, January 10th. 

We have dates for your diaries.  Club evenings are on January 19th, March 16th and April 10th with the AGM on February 16th.  All 1900 for 1930.  We are organising a wine tasting evening in the Regal Club for January 19th, full details will follow.  At present one committee member will be standing down at the AGM and we will need a replacement.  Any members, old or new, that think they would like to join a friendly bunch of people that meet roughly every other month should contact chairman@kebc.co.uk

Members’ adverts on our web site, www.kebc.co.uk  are attracting items for sale and wanted.  If you have extra gear you no longer use, or require more gadgets, visit the adverts page and add your items.

Please don’t forget that Covid has not yet left us.  If you attend club meetings indoors, masks should be worn while moving around and it would be best to take a lateral flow test before attending.  Government rules and guidelines must be followed at all times.  On the water Salcombe Harbour Authority will publish its requirements on their web site.

Hope to see many of you soon,

Tony Watson

Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club

I am pleased to be able to report that the first KEBC meeting since Covid changed our lives was a success in spite of torrential rain and flooding in Kingsbridge.  Thirtytwo of us enjoyed the presentation from Dave Halsall, with a drink and nibbles from the club.  All those present were happy to endorse the use of the Regal Club for future events.
 
The proposed increase in mooring charges for berths on the Kingsbridge pontoons was discussed briefly.  The subject will be examined at the next committee meeting on November 8th and members with comments to make are requested to email them to committee@kebc.co.uk  It is important to remember that the Kingbridge charges are being brought into line with those for the pontoons in Batson Creek and at Victoria Quay.  None of these pontoons has water or power laid on, the Kingsbridge pontoon mooring arrangements are superior to those in Salcombe and while Kingsbridge berths are available for 12 months each year, the Salcombe berths are seasonal.Your events organiser, Linda Lee, has confirmed the club activities for November and her report follows:-
 
CLUB MEETING WEDNESDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2021
 
The Regal Club, Kingsbridge at 7.00 for 7.30pm
 
Illustrated talk by Rupert Kirkwood ‘The Lone Kayaker’
 
‘ALL AT SEA ……. WATCHING WILDLIFE FROM A KAYAK’ 
 
His talk is about the amazing marine creatures that he has observed whilst clocking up over 27,000 miles of paddling around the S W England.
 
He has always had a fascination for natural history, complemented by his profession as a farm veterinary surgeon in Holsworthy, West Devon.
 
Following injury to his knees Rupert took early retirement and took to the water!
 
Showing photographs and videos of Seals, Sharks, Sunfish, Dolphins, Whales. Porpoises, Peregrines and Puffins as well as the best coastal scenery of Devon and Cornwall. 

If you are planning to attend what should be a fascinating evening, please email Linda Lee  events@kebc.co.uk just to give us a guide as to how many members to expect on the night.
 
KEBC  CHRISTMAS  DINNER  2021
Our Christmas Dinner is at The Cottage Hotel on Wednesday 15 December at 7.00 for 7.30/7.45pm (sitting down). If you wish to make up a party with other members it would be helpful if you would use  ONE  booking form with your meal choices and send in your monies together. (12 maximum)

A table plan will be available on arrival.
 
The Menu is for Three Courses and includes Coffee/Tea and Mint at a cost of £29 including a Tip
 
Wine can be ordered on the night.                    House Red, White, Rose      £21.00 per bottle.

KEBC CHRISTMAS 3 COURSE DINNER 2021 STARTERS
A.  Home-Made Soup of the Day
 Crusty Bread
B. King Prawn and Clam Risotto
C. Guinea Fowl Terrine
 Spiced Apple Chutney and Sourdough Toast
D. Fricassee of Red Lentils, Butternut Squash (vg)
 Winter Vegetables and Gorgonzola
E. Poached Pear in Red Wine (vg)
Pickled Physalis, Toasted Walnuts

MAIN COURSES

1. Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Sliced Ham
    Stuffing, Bread Sauce and Gravy
2. Roast Leg of Lamb
    Crushed Peas, Chantenay Carrots, Red Wine Jus
3. Pan-Fried Chicken Supreme
   Dry Pancetta, Wild Mushroom Tarragon Cream
4. Seabass Fillet with Tiger Prawn
   Chilli and Orange Broth
5. Vegetable and Chestnut Stew (vg)
   Sage and Crispy Kale
6. Vegetable Pulao (vg)
   Goan Spiced Rice with lightly Curried Vegetables
   Served with a Selection of Seasonal Vegetables and Potatoes
   
   DESSERTS
   A Trio of Home-Made Sweets

Coffee/Tea and Mint
 
It is planned to lay on a Coach from the Quay leaving at 6.45pm at a cost of £10.00 per person return.
The Cottage Hotel have offered Bed & Breakfast Accommodation at £40.00 per person (Sea View)
Book DIRECT with the Hotel.

Booking form follows below, we look forward to seeing you all soon.
 

Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club

Even on the water it is hot.  The sea breeze just about works in the Bag; it brings little relief but enjoy the summer while it lasts. 

Your committee met last week, again using the Zoom platform which I hope we can abandon soon.

Our events organiser, Linda Lee, in conjunction with the South Pool Boat Club, has introduced 122 primary school children to boating so far this year.  Singing Paddles provides the canoes, KEBC conrtibutes £600 to costs, S.Pool provides the balance and Linda does the organising.  This scheme has been running for some years and is something we can be very proud of.  Congratulations once again to Linda. 

Boatwatch has been running well with no serious incidents being reported on  the WhatsApp group.  Richard Benton established an efficient scheme which needs little or no adjustment by whoever volunteers to take over his job as Boatwatch coordinator.  Please consider putting your name forward for this role.  You don’t need to become a committee member, although it would help if you do.  Boatwatch is the core reason for the Club’s existence and is respected by the Harbour Authority and the Police.  In the meantime a big thank you to Peter Rendell for temporarily taking Richard’s place and to the members carrying out patrols.

Much discussion took place about publicity and the autumn programme with constant awareness that Covid hasn’t gone away.  Eventually we decided to put the social programme together, publicise it and cancel if necessary.  Similarly training couses, particularly VHF courses which Andy Thomson expects to be running this autumn, will be organised.  Members wishing to participate in any courses should contact Andy direct via www.devnav.co.uk  At present the Seven Stars meeting room is undergoing a refit and we will know whether it will be useable in September. 

The Members Adverts pages  on our web site are full of useful items.  Look there first if you need any kit or have stuff you want to get rid of. 

On a completely different note, we understand that Kingsbridge in Bloom is in need of waterers.  If you can help please contact Piers ( treasurer@kebc.co.uk )

I am off to water the garden and actually looking forward to a wet weekend!

Tony Watson

Asia (Joanna) Pajkowska, an old friend of mine, completed a solo, non stop, circumnavigation under sail between September 2018 and April 2019 and will be giving an illustrated talk on her experiences at 1930 on April 14th.  This will be on Zoom and invitations will be sent to all members nearer the date.  She worked in Salcombe for many years but will be talking from her home in Poland and will be well worth listening to. Go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Pajkowska or https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/sea-you-later-60-year-old-sailor-becomes-first-polish-woman-to-sail-around-the-globe-three-times-5743 for more details of this amazing sailor.

As we move into May and June we expect Covid restrictions to be further reduced so that we will be able to hold social gatherings out of doors.  As we can’t, at this stage, be really certain about this I can’t predict which events will take place, but mark May 19th and June 25th in your calendars. 

Boatwatch patrols have started and there will shortly be updated guidance notes and a calendar on the web site.  I did the first one on my bike yesterday lunchtime, nothing much going on – it was cold but youngsters were swimming at Bowcombe!!

Talking of the website, we have done some housework and tidied up some loose ends.  Members Advertisements are much easier to find: there are some bargains there – do please have a look.

The following is an invitation to members to enter the Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit, Sail for St Luke’s event, which will be held on Saturday 24^th July 2021. This is an incredibly prestigious event with prizes for local charities totalling £30,000 plus any sponsorship donations organised by the entrants. Registration is now open and continues to 19^th July. Full details can be found on: https://www.eddystonepursuit.com/ and https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/sail-for-st-lukes/   

Salcombe Harbour Authority continues to keep its website updated with Covid restrictions as they apply to Harbour users.  Please check on current conditions, using the link on the KEBC website before going afloat.  Unfortunately this virus hasn’t completely gone away yet, hopefully some sort of normality will return before the autumn, allowing us to meet in person again.

I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday.

Tony Watson