Club Newsletters

A reminder that on Wednesday March 15th, Chris Winzar, Salcombe Lifeboat Cox’n will give a talk on his work.  Be in the Regal Pub, 7pm for 7.30 in the ground floor meeting room.
Dave Halsall, proprietor of Singing Paddles, has paddled  canoes on waters around the world and will give an illustrated talk about his adventures on April 19th at the Regal, 7pm for 7.30

On May 24th., National Coastwatch Institution, Prawle Point, will host a visit to their lookout by KEBC members.  The visit will start at 1730 and we will be shown their display room and the lookout in small groups.  The visit needs to be finished by 1945, so it is probably wise to have arrived before 1900.  Please give me some idea of your ETA if it’s after 1830.  As sunset is not until about 2130 this should be a pleasant summers’ evening out, perhaps followed by some refreshment in East Prawle.

Some members wanting to take part in the power boat cruise to Dartmouth on Friday 23rd. June have already booked their places, I believe 6 boats are presently confirmed.  If you have spare space for more crew, if you don’t have a boat but are willing to crew or if you have a boat and haven’t yet booked,  please contact the organiser, Ian Slade on 07789 727253 or sladeian@icloud.com

Your committee met on March 6th. At this time we have 166 paid up members; 34 resigned or didn’t make payment while we gained 15 new members.  The Club’s financial situation remains sound.

Funding for Kids on the Water when we, in conjunction with S.Pool Boat Club, take primary school children afloat in canoes provided by Singing Paddles, is in place and is shared by the two clubs.  The KEBC contribution comes from charitable donations, raffles, Tide Table profits, etc. and not from your subscriptions while the organiser, primarily Linda Lee, gives her time without payment.

The Boatwatch schedule for the 2023 season has been circulated, there are still a few gaps so, if you would like to join the scheme, please contact Steve on boatwatch@kebc.co.uk  he will be pleased to hear from you.

Preparations for the 2023 Kingsbridge Show are in hand as early applications for space attract a discount.  This year’s event is on September 2nd and we will be calling for volunteers to man the stand.

The future of the mooring pontoons off Rivermaid Boatyard was discussed but we decided that KEBC should not become involved.

Assistant Harbour Master Phil Goodhead sent us the following:

Picking up from some points raised at the AGM.

Newbridge slipway: works have been planned to the slipway via a contractor.

CCTV options in general will be looked at following a revision to our security arrangements, as discussed, particular mention of Newbridge Boatpark noted.

Signage review will take place, we will look at the necessity of a ‘no bare feet’ sign on the Newbridge sea wall following the works on the slipway.

SHDC wall maintenance: meetings have taken place about the Kingsbridge Basin wall and it is in the process of being audited.

Slipway ladder: we will look at options to replace the ladder in conjunction with SHDC. Noted as currently awkward due to sharp edges and the rungs lying against the sea wall.

SHDC Car park developments:  Conversations have already been had with regard to not restricting access to the slipway, and the potential for development to restrict turning options. This should be evident/commented upon in any applications.

We will also change the resident berth gate lock codes at the end of March following the repositioning of Newbridge boats. Kingsbridge pontoon resident berth allocations will be emailed the new code, that should not be shared with anyone that does not have a relevant and direct association with a vessel.

Now that we have had a good couple of days in the mud at Kingsbridge the southern end access gate and pontoon sections seem to have settled and are much improved. Inevitably there is some raise and fall but with much less twisting and drying angle. We are still monitoringthe berths as some boats are now sitting higher than previously in comparison to the pontoons and fingers. Should the club note anything of concern please let us know. We have also made an attempt to divert the Washabrook outfall from washing straight into this section of the pontoon, it might change but at present it is intersecting the main stream at an angle further south, this will still affect the pontoon but hopefully have less negative an affect.

I will continue having meetings from time to time with SHA Officers to discuss any matters of mutual interest.
The following has been received from Steve, our Boatwatch coordinator, subsequent to the committee meeting:

Steve Arblaster, our Boatwatch Coordinator is also Chair of the Cornelius Fund. 

The Cornelius Fund helps those with housing needs in the Kingsbridge area that are unable to afford the initial costs of rental accommodation.The fund’s main source of income is our shop in Mill Street, Kingsbridge

Would you have a few hours a week to help us run the shop? Or, if you have any related management skills, might like to join the committee. In one or two years time we may need someone with the experience and aptitude to apply for grant aid from local authorities and places such as the National Lottery.If so, please email us thecorneliusfund@gmail.com”

Thanks,
Steve

Hope to see you all next Wednesday,
Tony Watson

Your committee met on December 12th, the following is a summary.

Membership.  Members are paying their subs for 2023 steadily, thank you.  The unpaid, volunteer officers concerned would appreciate prompt payment from all of us to assist them in their tasks.

Boatwatch.  The Boatwatch coordinator would like more volunteers to carry out patrols during the summer,  Any members who would like to join this scheme (which is at the core of our existence) please contact him through

boatwatch@kebc.co.uk  A pre-season meeting of leaders will be arranged.

Christmas Dinner is scheduled for this evening (Dec. 14th) at the Cottage Hotel and 42 members have booked their places.  Please remember to bring cash for the raffle which has prizes such as dinner at 2 restaurants in Kingsbridge.  Many of us will be staying the night.

Officers.  Our Vice Chair is standing down at the 2023 AGM for work reasons and our secretary is handing the position back to her predecessor.  Thus we need a new Vice Chair.  As I intend retiring in 2024 anybody volunteering would, ideally, be willing to take the Chair from the 2024 AGM.  I would love to hear from anybody willing to consider taking on the role, please contact me at

chairman@kebc.co.uk to discuss.

Calendar.  On November 16th 40 members gathered in the Regal meeting room to hear Scratch (Bill Hitchen) talk about his life.  He brought his book ‘A Salcombe Boy‘ to the meeeting and one more copy will be a raffle prize this evening.  He has had an almost unbelievable career working on ships, boats and oil rigs of all shapes and sizes and his talk had his audience spellbound.  An extremely enjoyable evening.  Next is the Christmas Dinner tonight, then wine tasting at the Regal takes place on January 18th.

Training.  Andy Thomson has published details of training courses which will be available in 2023,  The booking deadline is January 31st. details below.

KEBC winter courses and workshops

Once again KEBC is pleased to offer well proven winter workshops and courses to our members. They are run by the Devon School of Navigation and club members benefit from preferential rates.

This year we’ll be covering two topics – VHF and local navigation. Non club members are welcome but we do ask that you either join our club or pay an extra £10 per half day session. Ring Andy for more information.

Booking deadline – we need to know numbers no later than January 31st 2023 to be able to confirm the room bookings. All YOU need to do is ring or email Andy

andy@thethomsons.info or 01548 581288 and place a provisional booking.

Background

Andy Thomson will be organising and teaching the programme. He’s been training KEBC members for many years and has always received good feedback from his students. The Devon School of Navigation (www.devnav.co.uk) is his RYA Training Centre and he mainly teaches three of the RYA’s shorebased courses (Day Skipper, Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean).

He also teaches the VHF Short Range Certificate (SRC) theory course and is an RYA SRC examiner. He was ill for much of 2022 and had to cancel last year’s course programme. Hopefully he is now recovered and he is looking forward to teaching again.

Email Andy (andy@thethomsons.info) or phone him (01548 581288) to discuss or book your requirements. Alternatively, there’s a brief ‘response form’ on page 3 for you to use.

VHF Short Range Certificate (SRC)

Someone on your boat must hold an SRC to use marine VHF radio legally. There are two parts to gaining your SRC – a theory section followed by a practical exam. You can complete the theory either via the RYA’s online course or in the classroom. Both approaches work well, and have their pros and cons. The cost is likely to range between about £60 and £80 per person for this part of the SRC, with the online course the slightly cheaper option. Most people these days opt for the online course and then book their exam with Andy..

The practical exam is separate and takes about an hour and a half. The RYA currently charge £60 per person which is payable direct to them. There is no extra charge payable to the examiner.

Ring (01548 581288) or email Andy (andy@thethomsons.info) and he’ll be happy to talk you through the options, give you more information on costs and timescales and help you decide on the best way forward for you.

KEBC Workshops

Club workshops are classroom based and do not lead to an RYA qualification. Their aim is to help you earn more about some of the key topics that affect our boating in a reasonably relaxed and ‘fun’environment.

A ‘half day’ is roughly three hours teaching (plus time for a tea / coffee break) and most people prefer morning sessions, though Andy is happy to schedule afternoon or

evening sessions on request. We limit class sizes to a maximum of six people. December 2022. The prices below include handouts, refreshments and room hire.

“Practical VHF”

Mobile phones are better than nothing but, at sea, VHF radio is, by far, the better way to handle an emergency.

This workshop addresses a widespread problem – namely that people don’t use their marine radios enough or even at all. They become deskilled and this workshop aims to help by giving its attendees radio practice. If you have regular crew who you think would benefit from knowing basic VHF procedures then why not sign them up as well?

This workshop builds PRACTICAL skills by using real marine VHF radios with realistic scenarios. It is suitable for beginners and more advanced users and is an enjoyable way to reinforce / build your knowledge just before the next boating season starts.

• Duration: One half day
• Cost per person: £30
• Provisional date 15th March 2023. 09:30 to 13:00.

“Know your waters”

Here’s a chance to understand more about navigating in our local waters, both inside and outside Salcombe Harbour. You’ll work with real local charts and tidal information and end up by planning a passage to Dartmouth and back. Once again we are planning it just before the season starts.

The price includes the loan of charts and navigating instruments. This workshop is suitable for both beginners and people with some navigation experience.

• Duration: Two half days
• Cost per person: £60
• Date: 8th and 9th March 2023 2022. 09:30 to 13:00 both days.

Notes

1. Teaching location. We use the John Wesley Room at Stokenham Parish Hall. It is ideal for our purposes and has ample free parking nearby and at the hall. The cost of using this facility is built into the prices shown above.
2. We have to take Covid precautions and comply with all legal and RYA training requirements in force at the time of the course or workshop.
3. To attend any KEBC or Devon School of Navigation classroom training you must be fully vaccinated with all recommended supplementary jabs.
4. Prices are correct at December 2022. We may have to pass on any external price increases imposed on us.
5. Minimum attendance on a course or workshop is two people. It is perfectly possible to run them for one person but the charge will be as though there are two people.
6. Dates are provisional at this stage.
7. Bookings and refunds. We will confirm all bookings we receive. Approximately one month before a course or workshop is due to run we will send you an invoice. Payment (by card, cash, cheque or bank transfer) is then due. YOU can cancel your attendance and receive a full refund of any money you have paid until two weeks before the scheduled date. In the event that WE have to cancel a course for any reason then we will refund all the money you have paid. That is the full extent of our liability to you’

KEBC’s 2023 Winter courses and workshops
To Andy Thomson
My details

Name, address, contact phone or email number

Please sign me / us up

For the Practical VHF / Know your waters (delete as appropriate) on the scheduled date and time.

You’ll receive an acknowledgement from Andy once he receives this form.
Names:
1.

2.

3.

Please contact me.

I am interested in an SRC course / KEBC workshop and would like to speak to Andy to get more

information about the workshop / course or discuss options and dates

Your name and date
Final step

If you printed this page and manually completed it then send it to: Mr. A Thomson, Hedges, Kiln

Lane, Stokenham, Devon TQ7 2SQ.

If you electronically completed it just email this page or the whole document to andy@thethomsons.info

Happy Christmas,

Tony Watson