This is the latest version of this year’s sailing calendar. Most items are now confirmed but there may still be minor changes before publication in the handbook.
Sarah Robertson, RFYC Sailing Secretary
Crusing Log
Written by The commended cruising log from 2011 prizegiving.
The winning log of Janette Wight Hardy follows shortly.
EML winter berthing
EML_Winter_berthing_2011-2012_Application
The Edinburgh Marina Ltd
INVITATION TO OVER-WINTER ON THE PONTOON 2011/2012
FCYC and RFYC boat owners and non members (preference being given to members) are invited to apply for a laying up berth on the pontoons for the winter season – from Saturday 22 October 2010for FCYC, and from Thursday 27 October 2011for RFYC – until the day after the respective club lift-ins in Spring 2012. (By tradition club members may stay overnight free on the night before their club lift-out, and the night after their respective lift-in.) Please note the conditions for berthing on the pontoons for this winter period:
CHARGES: Full winter season: £59 per metre for members and £70 per metre for non members (rounded up to nearest half metre of overall length, including bowsprits and other appendages) for the full winter season from one of the above lift-out dates, up to the day after your club’s lift-in date next Spring. This payment may be split into two equal instalments.
Part winter season: £29.50/35.00 per metre (rounded up to nearest half metre of overall length) will cover either the period (or any part of that period) starting 16 or 27 October 2011, up to 31 December 2011, or from 1 January 2012 until the day after your club lift-in date in Spring 2012.
PAYMENT: Should you wish to pay for the full winter season in two equal instalments, your application must be accompanied by two cheques made out to The Edinburgh Marina Ltd – one dated16 October 2011 and a second cheque dated31 December 2011. If you are pre-paying for a half winter season only, send one cheque dated either 16 October or31 December 2011. Please note the Company does not undertake to accept an application and reserves the right to decline without stating the reason.
INSURANCE: Original Insurance cover note confirming adequate 3rd party cover for over-wintering while berthed on the pontoon must accompany your application form. You may need to contact your insurance company beforehand, to ensure that your vessel is properly covered for the period and precise location.
MOORING: All vessels wintering on the pontoon must be correctly moored. A minimum of 4 mooring ropes will be required – at least one bow and one stern rope, and one fore and one aft spring. They must be adequate and in good condition with “snubbers” fitted to the fore and aft ropes. In the event of strong demand for over-wintering space, boats may require to be rafted up on the inner (west) side, each boat with its own lines to the pontoons.
Before laying up your boat please check that your application has been accepted, and contact the Pontoon Managers, so that the optimum placings can be arranged.
FACILITIES: The water supply to the pontoons will be turned off from November 2011 to mid March 2012 to prevent frost damage. Should you need water, please speak to one of the Managers who will arrange for a temporary supply. The waste bin at the top of the gangway must not be used for unduly large or special items, e.g. old batteries, waste oil, etc which owners must remove from site.
DINGHIES & TENDERS:
Any dinghies or tenders must be on board and tied down. They must not be left afloat, nor tied to the pontoon, nor stored on the pontoons which must be kept clear.
DREDGING/OTHER WORKS:
Should dredging of the pontoon area or other works be carried out by the company and/or Forth Ports prior to lift-in in Spring 2012, you may be required to vacate your pontoon berth while this is being done, without compensation. The club providing your summer mooring in Granton has agreed to make winter swinging moorings available without charge to those who wish to use them during any such operations.
SEND REQUEST FOR APPLICATION FORM OR COMPLETED APPLICATION + PAYMENT TO: The Edinburgh Marina Company Ltd, c/o RFYC, Middle Pier, Granton, Edinburgh EH15 1HF
RFYC Events and Cadet News
Saturday 10th Spetember was the last cadet event and there was great fun for all in blustery conditions for racing in Toppers followed by a BBQ. Well done to all cadets receiving certificates and to Simon and Susan for their hard work all season in running the training.
Change over time
On Sunday 4th September 2011 the senior cadets of the club sailed to Newhaven for their end of season picnic. Lewis Smith and Robyn Dougall sailed Toppers whilst Emma Palmer and Emily Robertson sailed a 420. Safety cover was supplied by Ben MacDowell in Croft-na-caber together with Ken Dougall and Chris Howden in Zodiac One. Shore control VHF was handled by Emma’s mum from the clubhouse. A good days sail was had by all with the Toppers frequently trying to clean residual mud of their sails by doing dry capsizes! The ribs practiced engine trim, 360 reverse turns and emergency stops. Chris had his usual goody bag full of all types of “food” – a kind of aquatic mobile tuckshop – full marks to him. I am pleased to say that both the fishing and sailing communities lived harmoniously together during our short visit; the way it should be of course! A great time was had by all and we got back to the club just in time to put the boats away grab a bite to eat and watch the Fireworks display from various vantage points. Newhaven seems to be a fast becoming the cadets destination of choice for an easy and safe day out and we look forward to visiting again in 2012.
Two 13 year old cadets Robyn Dougall and Lewis Smith took part in the annual Commodores Rally to Aberdour, the first time cadets have joined the Royal Forth Yacht Club rally in a decade or two. They took around 1 hour 25mins to complete the 4.2 mile journey in blistering sun, the hottest day this season, beating some yachts in the process. Twenty boats of all sizes took part and Kenny Mackenzie led the way from start to finish sailing single handed in his yacht Hoodlum. The H boat Varrich hoisted her spinnaker and flew it from before the start right to the finish line in magnificent splendour, gaining them a prize in the process. The prizegiving on the pier saw everything from Smarties to wine being presented to the lucky winners.Barbeques were lit and many a feast devoured whilst the sound of bagpipes rang through the air courtesy of George Brown, Rob Cowie and Pete Hall. The Commodore Fiona Brown presided over a day that will be hard for the next Commodore to upstage, the tricky bit I believe is getting the sun to shine solidly from start to finish!
Report and photos thanks to K Dougall
Royal Forth Yacht Club cadets Emily Robertson and Lewis Smith are probably the first to have sailed to Newhaven Harbour for a picnic this year!! Rescue support was supplied by Chris Howden, assisted by Ken Dougall
Royal Forth Yacht Club cadet Robyn Dougall came 4th in the RYA Honda Rib
Challenge 2011 in the senior group. She was 2 seconds behind 3rd place and
there was 16 seconds between her and the competitor behind her. The competition was staged at Port Edgar on Saturday 11th June.
The winner came from Largs and was runner up in the British finals 2 years ago. Robyn, the youngest competitor, was the highest ranking girl in the competition with 4 of the top 5 being boys.
Congratulations to cadet member Jamie Calder who has qualified for the five boat team to represent Team GBR at the Optimist World Championships in New Zealand. He is only the fourth Scottish sailor to achieve this and the youngest at 12!
Helgoland & Keil Race
Following the visit of over 30 huge, beautiful, German yachts for the Helgoland to Granton Race the return race to Kiel set off on Sunday 19th, a fine site and Club member Susan Peakman is aboard Helena – 
You can track the yachts racing to back to Kiel here
http://www.nordseewoche.de/index_246-RaceTracking.html
for photographs – Duncan Hall: www.northernskyimages.co.uk
Liz Tulloch: www.clikpic.com/lizpics
2011 Orkney Race
THANK YOU to all who helped raise money for St Columba's Hospice by sponsoring Peak Flow
The 3rd Orkney race started on Thursday 9th June with a good spinnaker run out the Forth and most around North Carr before
0200hrs Friday. Sonja from ASC retired on Friday morning and continued to Kirkwall under engine. Peak Flow retired off Arbroath, arriving Kirkwall Saturday evening. (photos here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/28692597@N04/sets/72157626999067018/)
A light wind meant a long, and sometimes slow spinnaker reach/run up the east coast to just south of Peterhead. Erin retired late afternoon and then set off for Stornaway! That left three boats, Moonstruck, Summer Thyme and Smithereen to fight it out for the trophies. The wind turned to the north in the early hours of Saturday and the three were within two miles of each other at Rattray Head. Smithereen chose to sail offshore as the tide was turning early Saturday morning. This
paid off and she was soon at least five miles ahead and was still lead boat at Wick around 1800hrs. Moonstruck had just about caught up at this time and it was soon apparent that either boat could get line honours.
The wind was still from the north and there followed a tacking battle to just south of Copinsay where Moonstruck pulled away. As a result of a foul tide, Smithereen spent many hours tacking towards the finish.
They estimate that they put in almost two dozen tacks in the last ten miles.
Moonstruck was first to finish followed by Smithereen and Summer Thyme.
The final results showed that Smithereen was first overall with Summer Thyme second.
The Prizegving was held on Monday evening in Orkney Sailing Club who provided an excellent buffet and a warm welcome as usual.
Racing news 22nd May
May22
2011
Written by sarahrobertson
2011
Written by sarahrobertson
The results for the races held so far are now posted in the Downloads section.
It has been a breezy start to the season and turn-outs have been mixed as a result. Only dinghies sailed in the Opening Regatta, the Jubilee Cup was cancelled on 14th May and only one boat sailed in the first Saturday Series race. There was a good turnout for our first evening points race however. Hopefully the weather will have abated in time for our next race on Wednesday (25th May).
Some of you have noticed the race sign-in book in the club house entrance. Although this isn’t compulsory in the sailing instructions I am hoping that it will help me to find out WHO is racing and also it will inform race officers whether or not anyone is intending to race. I would therefore appreciate it if you would use it.
Dutyman – there are a number of vacant slots in the duty rota. Please volunteer before we volunteer you!
regards, Sarah Robertson (Sailing Secretary)
2011 Talisker RS Elite Nationals
RS Elite Championships – Final Results
more at:
Duncan Hall: (Photos http://www.northernskyimages.co.uk/photos.aspx?&pf=1f50)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28692597@N04/sets/72157627124304571/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gallery-ecosse/
Photos soon at:
Liz Tulloch: www.clikpic.com/lizpics
Talisker RS Elite Nationals 2011 at the Royal Forth Yacht Club 21 – 24 July
Day 4
21-24 July 2011
By RS Sailing 24 Jul 2011
After a short delay while the wind settled and the tension built the fleet got away with the Brown’s in Aeolus (in the points driving seat) and Wadhams in RSsailing.com lying second dragging out to the left while the Maclean’s in Elixir lying in third got buried on the line and were forced to tack right for air. At the top mark three of the top five overall led round nose to tail, with John McDowell in Sea Breezes in front, Aeolus second and RSsailing.com third, all coming in from the left in the best pressure therefore choosing to go right at the top of the run.
Further back the pack included Simon Brien’s Kin team (the fifth boat in the hunt) and the Maclean’s who had rounded in 15th with their home championship hopes looking very shaky. This group gybed, fed into breeze and gave the leaders a fight to get back across. By the bottom gate More T Vicar had taken the lead with Sea Breezes, Aeolus and RSsailing all losing places while Kin and Elixir were gaining all the time.
On the second beat Kin was onto a charge and motored into the lead – RSsailing overtook the Browns and Elixir pulled right up to 7th and back into the hunt by the second windward mark. By now smoke was coming out of the calculators. On the final run Aeolus, still in control felt their grip on the trophy slip as a band of pressure above them saw a line of boats, including Elixir, roll over them.
At the final bottom gate Kin led, with several boats between them and the other contenders and had done all they could. RSsailing rounded one place in front of Elixir with Aeolus on their tail and still in a winning position. These positions meant Aeolus was safe and Elixir and RSsailing were tied on points with Elixir lying second overall on countback, so RS elected to let the others tack away and bang left to roll the dice in a last ditch attempt. When they converged close to the line Elixir and Aeolus had called it right crossing ahead in 5th and 6th with RSsailing dropping to 7th on the line.
So, after a fantastic finale to an absolutely nerve wracking championship Aeolus deservedly lifted the trophy with Elixir climbing to second and Kin’s win coupled with RSsailing’s last losing gamble put them level on points with Kin taking third overall on countback.
No-one involved will quickly forget this race or this Championship which was so well run afloat, in incredibly difficult conditions, and so hospitably hosted ashore by the Royal Forth YC, with much appreciated input from Talisker whisky.
Top 6 results
1st GBR33 Aeolus, Jono, Lynette and David Brown 21pts
2nd 11 Elixir, Shaun, Donald and Ian Maclean 24pts
3rd IRL 61 Kin, Simon Brien, David Gomes, Roger Chamberlain 27pts
4th GBR55 RSsailing.com, Martin and Amanda Wadhams, Paul Fisk, 27pts
5th IRL50 Sea Breezes, John McDowell, Derek Craig Trevor D’Arcy 33pts
6th Momentary Papse, John Patterson, David Kelso, Stephen 43pts
Royal Forth 3 Island RIB Rally
Aug24
2010
Written by kendougall
2010
Written by kendougall
The first Royal Forth 3 Island Rib Rally took place on Sunday 23rd August. The forecast of rain all day and wind strengths reaching force 7 made a few boats have second thoughts. However three Ribs were there on the pontoon ready to go and take up the challenge. Unfortunately due to an unhealthy mix of lack of dredging and the lowest tide of the year (0.1metre) one of the Ribs never made it from the pontoon. She sat there on her own private mud bank looking splendid surveying the mudflats and the clubhouse in the distance. The other two Ribs left the harbour at 10.00 hrs and headed out into the drizzle only for the club Rib to stage its own go slow. The engine lost all top end power and simply refused to propel the Rib onto a plane. Fuel tanks were changed, oil inspected, engine cover removed but the lack of power persisted. So it was deemed prudent to return to Granton, all of half a mile away, and restart the Rally with the one remaining Rib!
READ MORE »
Pemva’s return to Granton
Aug24
2010
Written by kendougall
2010
Written by kendougall
Pemva’s Return to Granton
It was Saturday 21st August 2010 at 09.45hrs and the crew of 6 assembled in the main concourse of Waverly station. We boarded the 10.05hrs train to Alnmouth a journey of one hour. We monitored the sea state as we sped down the coast knowing for every mile we sped south by train we would sail back over the next two days. A large taxi was waiting to take us straight to Amble Marina where Pemva was moored following her 8 month refit. Nick Spurr’s Amble Boat Company was next door and we went to see Nick to get the keys and to sample some of his ice cream. Nick had turned his chandlery into an ice cream parlour called Spurreli’s which was due to open in four days time. We all tucked into a variety of exotic ice creams wished him well with his venture and headed for Pemva.