So – Easter has been and gone and the space at Skippool begins to grow as one by one, the yachts that have been over-wintering take the slipway and head off for their summer berths.
The atmosphere has been great over the past month – helped of course by the warm sunny weather, as the final touches have been put to winter re-fit schedules. A real sense of anticipation is in the air at the prospect of a new season waiting for us – with its hopes and dreams of sailing in following breezes beneath clear skies, of sunsets in peaceful anchorages and of friendships waiting to be made.
Several boats took advantage of the Easter weather to make the first pilgrimage over to Piel and around to Glasson Dock which was the venue for the Lancaster Maritime Festival this year and by all accounts this was a splendid weekend with more shanties being sung than one could shake a stick at.
Serene leaves her winter berth today and heads initially for Conwy although there are plans for her to sail in Scottish waters in high summer. She really looks a picture and so much care and attention has gone into her winter refit.
Abeth too heads north – again blooming after months of painstaking care and she goes with all good wishes for fair winds and a safe return.
Kintail is already back on her berth ‘up the creek’ resplendent with new genoa furling gear and looks eager to be putting Wyre Light astern.
Genesis has had the full wax treatment this winter, prior to her survey – through which she breezed, it always seems a shame to antifoul such a clean bottom – but better that than an infestation of the wee beasties!
So – the first of the planned mini- cruises is almost upon us.
Sadly the tides are not kind in terms of being able to get back up the river after Monday 7th May – so that may involve a few evenings in the marina.
It would be good to have a brief skippers meeting in the Clubhouse on the previous Tuesday Evening (1st May) but if that is not possible then we can meet on the water on Saturday 5th – I will be pottering around in the area of Knott End jetty (not the slip) from about 13:00 hrs and will of course be listening on VHF channel 16. We might consider a working channel that we could adopt for the weekend but lets see what sort of traffic there is before deciding.
The plan – which has been written before – is to sail over to Piel on the Saturday and weather permitting we will have a barbeque. So – the disposable ones are excellent and if we bring our own food then we can just muck in and get the job done. At the time of writing – the Pub is closed, so we will need to take our own lemonade. The Claymore Punch will be being served and I’ve had a few mildly alcoholic evenings coming up with the ultimate recipe – but I think it will all have been worth it!
Naturally we shall have some sport whilst on the Island – so it isn’t too late to start to hone your bodies to their finest pitches of athleticism.
On the Sunday we will have a leisurely sail – I’m ordering 15 knots of breeze from the North West – over to the mouth of the Lune and then on and up to Glasson where we can moor overnight in the bottom basin. I’m letting the harbourmaster there know of our intended arrival in advance.
After a peaceful evening soaking up the local culture we will progress back down to Wyre Light and then on up to Fleetwood.
It would help to get a feel for numbers and I’d appreciate it if you’d contact me or turn up to the meeting on May 1st
Yours in Yachting
John
Hon Cruising Secretary.
