A Timeless Cornish Gem set on The Helford River

The bar and restaurant is now open inside but still subject to covid rules. It will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm.  Outside tables are on a first-come basis and dependent on good weather, inside with a full menu but you need to reserve a table.  Please can everyone bring a mobile phone so that they can register on the NHS app.  
We have had a few issues with our website and PNYC emails due to changes made by our service provider. We are in the process of getting this sorted. If you are having problems with our emails, please call and leave a message – 01326 340065.

Friday 28th was the first time the bar was open outside.  And we had some 60 people enjoying the beautiful late afternoon sun.  PN looked at it’s best with the tide in, the spring flowers in bloom and the lovely buzz of lots of people enjoying a drink and a bite to eat. Really great to see. Can I just ask that you do make sure to abide by the social distancing rules – it’s not for much longer hopefully. 

Apologies that the roof for the outside seating area has not been fitted yet. Will get that done asap.  

Steve and a very small team have now removed 18 out of 28 identified wrecks at Anna Maria Creek. They have recently been granted a 3 year licence to remove as many wrecks as they can from The Helford River.  To give you some idea of the scale of the job, The Duchy estimate that there are some 12,000 abandoned boats on their 380 miles of waterline. Amazingly there is nowhere that properly recycles fibre glass in Cornwall and Devon – for instance, it can be broken up and used in roadbuilding. Those that claim to recycle it seem to be sending it to landfill after a bit of research.    

Volunteers needed to sift through 8 large bags of rubbish that is being brought to Gweek from Anna Maria Creek – date provisionally Wednesday 16th June in Gweek.  It can be a messy job but very necessary and useful!  Email admin@pnyc.co.uk to put your name down to help.
And a volunteer is needed to manage the online donations to COS.  Monica and Steve are looking for someone who can log the donations, thank donors and reply to questions from donors. If you might be interested email admin@pnyc.co.uk and we’ll pass you on to COS.

We just wanted to let everyone know that after a valiant fight with Motor Neurone disease, John Ford died on 17th April. He is buried in Constantine Church. Our thoughts are with his wife Teresa, their three lovely children Hannah, Ed and Ellie and the whole Ford family. John loved The Helford and was looking forward to spending more and more time down here after a long and successful career in the Far East.  We will miss his energy, enthusiasm and love of life.  

Just to clarify the situation with regards to who should and shouldn’t be boat members:  As an adult, if you have or you use a boat at PNYC, then you should be a member of the club.  It is not one membership per boat.  So if a number of people share the use of the boat, everyone should be members rather than just one adult. Equally, if you own a boat and your partner never (or rarely) uses the boat, then membership is not required for the partner. We are one of the cheapest – if not the cheapest – sailing club in the UK and we do use the membership money for improving the club.  

Two doves – Megan and Harry – have taken up rather permanent residence of the dovecot. Permanent because they are made out of resin. 

I was joined by a Robin yesterday. 

The new season is almost upon us.  Let’s hope that we have a much better one than last year. People are welcome to put their boats on their Summer moorings from Thursday 1st April but please just remember your social distancing.  

Seawide Services are coming back to finish the moorings on 29th or 30th of March – so, like the 7th Cavalry, just in time. All Winter Mooring boats need to be off the moorings by 31st March – if you have a problem please contact me at admin@pnyc.co.uk  We will try to lay out the beach on 31st March but this depends on when the last of the yachts have gone and the state of the tide – we need a low tide to do it.  So it might be done on 1st April. If you find a boat in your space on the pontoon, put your boat in an empty space and let me know asap and we’ll sort it out. If your beach mooring isn’t available, leave your boat on the visitor spaces on the pontoon (by the slip or up past the clubhouse) and again just let me know. It will all work out in the end !

We have restored power to the beach wall.  There are now two caravan sockets (large three pin sockets) and two standard 3 pin sockets.  A light is coming. 

Thanks to all those who have renewed their membership.  We couldn’t improve the club without your kind help. If you’re reading this and haven’t signed up for another year you can download a membership form here pnyc.co.uk/members/ , scan or photo it and email it back to PNYC.  Or for ease, you can just email me, admin@pync.co.uk, and say that your details are the same as last year, make payment online and I will do the rest. 
PNYC Ltd, Lloyds Bank, Sort 30-80-48, Acc 51425568

I am colour blind.  It’s not that bad.  Blues and purples; reds and browns; and it doesn’t hurt.  But occassionaly there are some dodgy clothing decisions. I have ordered some new signs for the club and on arrival PNYC navy blue appears to be purple and PNYC red has gone brown.  Not worried about the brown lettering as it was a sign asking people not to put their dog poo in our bins but to use the dog bin that we have provided right next to our bins.  So colour appropriate.  But the other signs are now a medley of navy blue and purple.  I am waiting until Colour Blindness becomes the next issue (after gender and race etc) when finally we will be allowed to identify any colour as any colour we like !!

I am sorry to say that Pete Witham, the owner of the lovely fishing boat, Faith, on the pontoon, died on Monday after a fight with cancer. You might remember him working on his boat with a woolly hat on, a cigarette and a smile. He was a lovely character with a mischievous sense of humour and our thoughts go to Sue and his whole family.  We will miss him. 

Work is well underway to improve the outside areas at the front of the club. It’s been beautifully rendered by Lawrence Kay (I would recommend him) and once dry will be painted white.

Meanwhile I have followed Peter Goad’s design and added more posts over the outside eating area so that we can put a roof on it and make a covered seating area. Much to my surprise, it’s come out quite well. Mostly straight and actually very solid. Peter, I hope you approve. A new resin and stone floor will be added to the seating area and the area outside the front door.  This will be finished for the opening up of the Bar and Restaurant on Friday 16th April. 

In the next couple of weeks Tony and Mike Comyn will be re-concreting the path from the slipway to beach moorings 1-5, replacing the cracked and irregular surface.  Sorry for any inconvenience caused.  

Continuing my work as a slightly haphazard DIYer (probably with emphasis on the ‘hazard’), I have to report that while installing some insulation in the big corrugated shed, I managed to angle-grind my way through the mains supply.  Amazingly, and much to the electrician’s surprise, there was no large bang or, more to the point, electric shock. So now we have a new join in the electrics. I have been re-using the old planking from the pontoons to line the inside of the shed on top of some cellutex insulation panels.  

Work on the path beside the slipway leading on to the beach wall has been completed replacing the old, cracked surface that was there – thanks Tony, Pete and Mike.   

We have a Shrimper on the pontoon that a member is looking to sell.  £5,950 or nearest offer.  For full details contact Tom on 07798 824435 or admin@pnyc.co.uk

Along with a friend from up-country, Tim Hunt, we have put new decking down on two more pontoons.  We even had enough sun yesterday for T-shirts.  The anti slip strips are to follow once it stops raining!  There are a couple of cleats missing because we had to cut the bolts off.  These will be put back asap.  The old decking is being used to re-line the inside of the corrugated shed.  I proudly showed off my work to my daughter Nancy yesterday – I have lined the walls and ceiling with insulation panels and have started to put the old decking on top of that.  

All she said was:  “Wow Dad.  You’ve put everything in jam jars.”  Not quite what I was expecting!

We were sad to learn of the death of David Burke in Port Navas last week. This followed on from a period in hospital at the start of this year. David was a charming and joyful man and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts go to Jane and the whole family. There is more about David on the PN website www.portnavas.com

Port Navas, alongside Constantine and Mawnan Smith, have put together a Volunteers List to provide assistance to PN residents who might need help.  

If you need help yourself details are on the Port Navas website: portnavas.com/ and for Constantine: constantinecornwall.com/

The new Government guidelines regarding essential travel preclude us from progressing with the Friday Feast takeaway that we were planning for this week.

We will instigate this scheme if and when we can. I imagine this will be a possibility before we are allowed to open fully again.

I have been looking into the history of the Seventh Cavalry. At the time of General Custer, infamous for the Battle of the Little Bighorn River, he had been up against Native Indians called Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, White Bull, Hump and Chief Gall amongst others.
We could perhaps invent a game whereby these names are applied to our illustrious leaders or if anyone can come up with other suggestions!

We will let you know when it is safe to come to us, hopefully not too long!

Please keep safe out there, look out for each other and keep your distance!

Mike & Nigel

Our kids have been told that they will not be returning to school until September….!  This is going to create some interesting moments in The Ellemann household.  Martha’s A-levels, end of school, summer jobs, working in a school in Zambia and then travelling have gone out of the window.  So the girls have been dying their hair (and bits of Finn’s) to compensate.  Great response to a crisis. Change your looks!  

Dear All
We hope that you all ok.  This is such an unprecedented event – unless perhaps you listened to Bill Gates in 2015:

We are constantly looking at Government Sites for advice – Maritime Service, Coast Guard and other Helford River sites.  At the moment all the advice is as follows:

• Keep your distance
• No large groups – ie just solo or couples – only family groups together
• Wash your hands
• No unnecessary travel except for one daily exercise
• The Club is closed to all visiting boats and the Bar and Restaurant is closed for the foreseeable future

That said, if individuals or families want to get out on the water for a short time to exercise and they are not travelling significant distances then the moorings are there. Just please use your discretion and be respectful to the people in Port Navas and along Quay Road.  The beach will be ready on Monday for moorings.  And the pontoon and trots are ready.  

In the next few months we will be doing some work on our club tender, The UG (Uncle Giles).  Phil Clarke has very kindly repaired the oars.  She could do with a good clean, a lick of paint and some Danish Oil.   We are also putting three kayak racks down on the pontoons below the clubhouse to allow three big kayaks to be stored closer to the water.  And finally we shall be painting the two doors for the engine store and adjacent storeroom.

We have a new flag to replace the rather shredded one currently flying.  We have decided to fly the new flag when the Covid 19 restrictions are lifted.  

We’re very sad to report the untimely passing of Alan Gardner. Many in Port Navas will know Alan as the always cheerful and generous former owner of Port Navas Yacht Club. Sandra, Alan’s wife, has said that their years owning PNYC and getting to know all the members were some of the happiest years of their family life. Sandra has loved the Helford since childhood, and Alan grew to love it so much, never more content than when pottering about in his little boat and having a pint of Doom Bar or enjoying a meal and a few glasses of wine with friends!  When they came to sell the Club, although they had a number of offers, they were determined to sell it to someone local who understood, and would carry on, their care of the Club without trying to turn it into something else. And so they sold to Giles. 

A keen and passionate golfer, Alan was interested in everything and everybody. He spent the last active week of his life in Port Navas before he showed signs of being unwell and he and Sandra had to cut their stay short. He collapsed 24 hours after they got home; spent the next three weeks in hospital, and was never able to return home. 

Our thoughts go out to Sandra who is having to cope with both loss and self isolation due to Coronavirus. Alan will be cremated on 24th April with only Sandra, Jamie and Kerry present.  The flag at the Club has been flying at half mast since we heard the news.

(Thanks to portnavas.com)

We hope that you and your families are all coping with the current situation. Ant and I feel very lucky to be living in this beautiful place, especially at this time. Fingers crossed, we believe that we still might enjoy some part of the season as the Government amends its restrictions in the coming months.  

In the meantime we should focus on the positive; the great job that is being done by the health service and care home staff; emergency services; supermarket staff; and delivery drivers. And also on the amazing stories of people helping both neighbours and strangers.  There should be no place for finger-pointers and those that simply want to criticise. This is almost unprecedented and, as such, everyone is having to make the best of things as the emergency unfolds.  Let’s all be kind to each other at this time. And enjoy the sun, the primroses and bluebells. 

If anyone in our immediate area needs shopping or medical supplies to be picked up, do call or send an email – 01326 340525 or admin@pnyc.co.uk.  We can help and we have an under-used, willing 18 year old driver in Martha!  Carnon Downs Garden Centre (01872 863058) are doing a brilliant phone and collect service – you order and pay by phone and then you can collect your items from the car park.  

Does anyone claim this inflatable?  It’s been on the wall of the shed for almost year with no name. I have put a notice on it but no-one has called. If I hear nothing by return, I have a buyer who will make a contribution to HRCST.   

The UG (Uncle Giles) is getting some well deserved TLC.  Phil Clark is very kindly making a new hatch cover for the forward deck and she is going to get a wash, a good internal paint and some danish oil on the woodwork.  To do this work I will put her on the slip for a few days. Please use the navy blue Anarth that we will put on Pontoon No.1 as a tender.

All the moorings are ready for use and have been since 1st April.  However, on the pontoon there are a couple of boats that are on the wrong berths because owners have not been able to move them from Winter moorings out onto their moorings on The Helford. When you want to get your boat onto its place on the pontoon can you let me know in advance and I will make sure that your berth is free. If you arrive and a boat is in your berth, can you moor up in an empty space, let me know and I will immediately move boats so that you are on your rightful berth. 

The beach moorings are all laid out and ready for use, as are the trot and swing moorings.  I have had a sudden flurry of interest from new boat owners looking for a mooring so if you have not returned a mooring application form and paid, please let me know what you would like to do for the rest of the season.

I removed a number of beach running lines over the winter so I will hang these at the appropriate points one the beach wall.  Please can I ask that all beach moorings use sinking running lines, ensure that the line runs from bow to stern (and not off to one side) and that owners put buckets over their propellers when left.  

Following Boris’ recent announcements, as from Wednesday 13th May, people are free to travel by car to the Club and use their boats provided that:

• They do so alone or are a family group living together
• And that everyone maintains social distancing of 2 metres

According to the RYA website, from Wednesday 13th May “unlimited outdoor activity will be permitted in England and this will include all forms of boating”. Gweek and Mylor Boatyards are now open and will start putting boats into the water from tomorrow. We have been open to locals throughout but from Wednesday we are open to boat owners travelling by car. Just be mindful of keeping your distance in the small car park.  

The Bar and Restaurant remains closed but Mike and Nigel are running a Saturday night take-away service, taking orders from Tuesday. You should have got an email about this. Contact mike@pnyc.co.uk if you want more information.

The current changes are certainly welcome but it can be that subject to the R Number, the season could be further interrupted.  We naturally hope that this doesn’t happen. So I guess we just go step-by-step and see what happens as the Summer Season unfolds.  

One member looking for a small sailing dinghy to learn how to sail.  
One member looking for a dory type boat – 13 to 16 ft.  
And one member looking for a Shrimper 19ft or Cape Cutter 19ft or something similar.

The parking is reserved for people on the pontoon (who pay a premium), the holiday lets and for the bar and restaurant customers.  Please please can you park in the village before going out on the water. Kayak, paddle board and dinghy owners might turn up when there is one inch of water, find an empty car park and think it’s fine just to leave their cars in the car park.  But half an hour later when there is 2 ft of water, the other boat owners arrive and have no-where to park and unload.  Telling people not to park is my LEAST FAVOURITE thing (along with finding dog poo bags put in our bins rather than the dog loo which is just opposite the bins).  

We got a call from George’s son Russell on Wednesday to sadly let us know that, after quite a long illness, George died on Tuesday surrounded by his family.  It was not Covid related.

George was a charming, smiling Scouser who absolutely loved the Helford and all things boating. The picture here encapsulates this kind man. Our thoughts go to Doreen and the whole family.

Russell has sent us a few words about George:

It’s with sadness I would like to inform you and all the boating crews of Port Navas YC that George Bibby, a face many have seen around the Helford River since 1979 has passed away. He had battled cancer for a few years but lost the fight. George quietly slipped his mooring and headed off on his final voyage late on Tuesday 19^th May at home Devington Court Falmouth.

George’s log books recording the years spent on the Helford River and Falmouth Bay areas tell many a story of his dreams and passion for the sea coming true. He started off on the Helford owning a Kingfisher 22 “Rattler” then a 30Ft Catalac “Prowler” which some locals referred to as an aircraft carrier!! moored just off Port Navas Quay. On Retirement he moved to the dark side of boating and bought Motor boats “Helford Picket”,  “Celtic Eagle” and finally “Picket”.

Both George and Doreen his wife spent many a winter evening in the yacht Club with new and Old friends, Plenty of banter with locals and Grockles! He was a proud holder of the YC Sailing Cup for a number of years in the early 80s and many races would have been crewed by his friends and family. He loved the Sea and all those around it. In his last years he joined the Nare Point Coast Watch team and still kept an eye on his passion.

Many younger Sailors may  remember George as “Skip” from the years he gave to running the local Constantine Sea Scouts (now Helford Scouts).

From the family I would like to thank all the boating community he knew and loved for the friendships and memories you gave George over the years. He will be missed by many but remembered by all. 

Russ Bibby

The pontoon and beach are completely full and for the first time since we took over, the trot moorings are full as well.  Please be aware that there are pick up lines between Trots 1 to 8 and 9 to 15.  We have put floats on all the lines to show you that they are there. Don’t get your engine caught up! The channel between Trots 10 and 11 is open and has no lines – just in front of Mivvy, the black MkII Shrimper.

The unclaimed inflatable on the wall of the shed has been claimed.  And the Cornish Shrimper, Crevette, on the pontoon has been sold.  

It’s been a frantic first week or so since the restrictions on boating were lifted. It’s been wonderful to see lots of people on their boats, kayaks and paddle boards enjoying the water and the amazing weather we have had.   Please remember to keep your social distance from other people at the club. There seems to be huge differences between what people think of as 2 metres – I might be guilty of that myself.  Here are a few pictures of the activity:

We have decided to serve twin markets as we go on to the next exciting stage of lockdown lottery. There are a good number of you who are tentative about going out to dine and there are some who cannot wait. We have therefore decided that we will continue to do a weekly takeaway, initially on Thursdays, and we will open a restricted restaurant on Fridays and Saturdays. These are temporary arrangements which may change at any time.

The menu for the takeaway will now be published on Monday morning and orders will be taken from 8am. A similar menu, with a few tweaks will then be used in the restaurant over the weekend.

I am afraid there are certain rules and regulations that must be adhered to by both us and you in order to safeguard both us, our staff and you, the customers.

There are 5 tables available to book in the restaurant and three tables available to book outside.

In the restaurant we can take three tables of two people only alongside the window with partitioning between them. There is a further table at the far end of the room and a table in the bar area which can accommodate up to a maximum of 6 people from a maximum of two households. Only diners with a reservation will be admitted to the inside areas.

The three tables outside can seat a maximum of 6 people from numerous households. 

At all times, at all tables, both food and drink can only be ordered through a member of staff, and payment will be taken at the table, not in the bar.

In addition to these tables there are two small seating areas accessed from either end of the site which can be used by drinkers.

In order to maintain social distancing of two metres there will be markings laid on the ground outside. Within the building we can reduce this to one metre+ through mitigation. Staff will wear face coverings to protect themselves and you at this closer level.

There will be hand sanitising stations at each of the toilets and inside the restaurant entrance. Everybody must use them.

We cannot allow any congregating in pinch points at the site, so please use common sense and listen to any instructions from staff members regarding your safety.

We are told by Government, albeit with scant detail, that we will be required to take and keep personal data from all customers. There will be no slackening of this requirement and failure to comply will result in a refusal of service. Sorry! Members must bring their membership cards with them please.

Finally, in the unlikely event that we should experience inclement weather, tables booked outside may be subject to cancellation at short notice. Shelter cannot be taken inside.

We will endeavour to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Many thanks for your continued support. For reservations please call the restaurant on 01326 340065 or Nigel’s mobile 07779712457.

Mike & Nigel

Nare Point opened again on 25th May providing a watch keeping service 7 days a week from 09.00 to 17.00 covering the mouth of The Helford, Falmouth Bay and the Coastal Path. The 66 volunteer watch-keepers are now operating a full service inspite of having reduced volunteers and having to create a single-person watch rota due to Covid.  A large part of their funding comes from raising money from collection boxes, supermarket collections, grants from regattas etc – all of which have been effected by the impact of Covid.  In responce, NCI have set up their Nare Point 50-50 Club.  You can buy tickets and/or set up a standing order to support the NCI and in return there is a regular draw where 50% of the money raised can be won back in the form of three prizes.  For more details see www.nare.point.nci.org.uk 

At the end of June there was a “tense” rescue situation as Simon and Charlotte Boote were forced to head back to the landing pontoon after engine failure.  Turned out the pipe inside the fuel tank had fallen off, preventing any fuel from getting to the engine. 15 tools later, the offending vessel (the fuel tank) was back on the vessel (their dory) and off they went. It was very exciting for a moment. Thought I would have to rescue Ancasta Boats’ owner from his own boat !!!

The trot and swing moorings have been serviced by Seawide Services. We have removed trots 1 & 2 to give more room to the boats on the pontoon by the Clubhouse and have replaced them with two new swing moorings. Not before time, we have also added boards and fenders to the landing pontoon and the pontoons alongside the slip (see photo below). These will stop smaller boats getting stuck under the pontoon.  I will be doing the same on the visitor pontoon section at the far end of the clubhouse. We are also widening the four thin fingers from two boards to three boards. Done one, three more to go. The club tender is next for a makeover (although I also have urgent plans for a Covid Haircut as soon as I can get an appointment).

We have more new boats than ever before – at least under our stewardship.  So welcome to the crews of Jeanie, Obi, Auriel, Idler, Seaskate Fourteenn Crevette, Coburg, Scruffy, Sea Spray, Wagtail and a number of un-named boats.

The moorings are full, the holiday cottages are all booked in the village and from this week the Bar and Restaurant is open from Friday and Saturday for the season from 4pm, while the take away service will run every Thursday – see below for more details.

Not everyone has the same perspective on Covid so it is only fair that we all respect the social distancing rules and that we are polite and tolerant with each other. Instead of bunting The Club will be shortly be dressed in Covid related signs.   

We have purchased a green marker (in place) and a red marker (to be placed) to make the channel to the Yacht Club more obvious.  We have also added Max 6 Knots To Ferryboat just to re-emphasise the speed limits on the river. I think I ordered one size too big!  When I measured it out it seemed to be the right width but I was not counting for the overall circumference and ended up with much bigger buoys than expected!  

The last two “thin” fingers have been widened to three planks.  I was hoping to get this finished early on in the season, so am delighted that it has finally been done as we draw towards the end of the season.  Almost “drectly”.  
For the observant amongst you, you might have noticed that there are three types of planking on the pontoon.  Very Old.  Very New And Sturdy.  And Quite New But Thin. The QNBT planking was suggested as a better alternative by our wood suppliers.  But because it is thinner, it has turned out not to be so robust. I have made a number of plinths out of this QNBT planking on which I have put cleats and rings. But now it is starting to split.  So I will be replacing all of this with VNAS planking plinths.  You live and learn. 

We have increased our kayak storage from one to six this summer with the addition of racks on the pontoon but we don’t plan to have any more because we want kids to still be able to crab between the wall and the pontoons.  

Mike and John, staying in The Lower Deck, have honed their skills as mullet fishermen and have landed lots before putting them back in the water.  The heaviest was 4lbs.  The trick, apparently, is to have some bread bags hanging off the pontoon and then once they arrive, to use a small pellet of bread on a small hook. So there you go…

Sadly we have learnt that a number of outboards have been stolen from the Ferryboat beach this morning (September 9th).  They were cut off with bolt cutters. It was apparently done very early in the morning.  All we can do it just keep our eyes out for any suspicious activity. Very sad. 

We have decided to change the membership fee for next year, increasing it to £25 for the year. This reflects the fact that, at £15, it costs almost £2 a year in postage just to send out application forms and then membership cards to each member.  I hope that this is acceptable.  Mooring prices will not change for 2021 with the exception of charges for kayaks, paddleboards and inflatables which will be tweaked.  
We have also made the decision to change the structure of memberships slightly for 2021.  There will now be three kinds of membership:   

• Mooring Members (ie people who pay to moor their boats with us) will pay £25 to become members.  You must be a member to keep a boat at The Club. They may, in addition, launch kayaks, paddle boards and other small boats as part of the their membership for no charge.  There will also be a Mooring Members rate for storing kayaks, paddle boards and inflatables to reflect the fact that they are already paying mooring fees.

At the moment, people can join the club for £15 for the year and then launch as much as they want.  This has led to an increase in traffic and parking.  So we are making the following changes:

• Social Members will also pay £25 per adult in 2021 but as social members, they will not be permitted to launch kayaks, paddle boards and small boats from the slipway.  
• Launching Members will be allowed to launch small craft as much as they want.  They can unload and load in the car park but must park in the village before going out on the water.  They will be charged £175 for the whole of the Summer Season or £125 for August to end of October. For Winter the charge will be £125.

Our aim is a) to reduce the traffic to the club of people just wanting to launch small craft b) charging them properly if they do want to do this.  The public slip in the village, of course, remains a free alternative.  

With 3 weeks left of the Summer Season, just a gentle reminder to all boat owners that moorings need to be cleared by 31st October. However, if you want to extend your stay, we can offer the cheapest Winter moorings on The Helford!  

We have some pontoon spaces for the Winter and have done away with the minimum size of 17ft for the Winter.  It’s £28.50 per foot or part thereof on the pontoon for five months – 1st November to 31st March 2021.  The trot and swing moorings are £18 per foot and the beach is £15 per foot.  We have two new 30ft + boats wintering on the beach this year in addition to the yachts of Geoff Dandy and Pete Osman so I’ll need to ask those on the beach not staying for the Winter to take their boats off by Saturday 31st October.  

If you fancy a winter mooring and making the best of those lovely Winter and early Spring days on the comparatively empty Helford, drop us an email – admin@pnyc.co.uk   Equally, we are happy to discuss “early starts” if people want to put their boats on the pontoon or on a mooring in February/March (this would be a monthly fee based on our Winter Rates). 

For the first time since we took over, we have a waiting list for the pontoons, the beach and the trots for next summer.  If you know you want the same mooring next year, or you know that you don’t, then I would really appreciate an email. The same moorings are yours again if you want them. The price, with the exception of kayaks and paddle boards, is the same as 2019 and 2020.  

As per the last newsletter, membership for next year will be £25.  Many thanks to those few members who have commented about this and said it is fine. Gawd bless ye. Equally we have luckily had no gasps of horror to the announcement and it’s too late for those now! We are sourcing recycled, cardboard membership cards for 2021 and exploring a way for people to fill in and submit membership forms entirely online, preferably directly via the website.

Our plans for the Club include:

• More painting outside and inside.
• Restoring the cast iron street light.  (Does anyone know where it came from?) 
• Installing a larger and more effective drain to run across the entrance to the club that can catch water and gravel and dirt. Due to be put in place in October.
• Putting in two security/web cameras and linking one to the website so that you can see the river. 
• And in the Spring, building an outside, covered area with a long bar table and bar stools (we bought 20 bar stools just before covid hit) running along the whole back wall of the clubhouse, parallel with the pontoon. 

The membership fees help enormously in getting these things done and Ant and I are really grateful for your kind support of The Club.  

Along with the approach to winter, we will be having a clear out of the engine store in November.  Can you make sure that everything you have in there is named?  Anything un-named will be photographed and shown in the next newsletter and, if unclaimed, will be disposed of.    

For those of you who love Julia Bradbury, I can report that you missed her last Sunday wearing a wetsuit and paddle boarding in the creek!  She was recording a short segment on paddle boarding for her next series of Best Walks With A View for ITV.

15ft Boston Whaler Dauntless with 50 cc Yamaha Outboard – 1998
A cracking boat for the Helford. Includes a trailer.  The boat is currently on the pontoon.  Contact admin@pnyc.co.uk for more details.  £7,850.

This week a local groundworks company installed a new drain across the entrance to the club in the hope that we can stop the continual flow of water and soil into the car park.  I cannot recommend them more highly so if you have any need for groundworks contact Edd Jeffery – info@greenstonecornwall.co.uk.

They also sorted out the leaking mess of pipes on the corrugated shed so we now have one tap for the hose pipe and a separate tap for everything else.  We look like the back of an old American fire truck.  Now I just need to paint the shed and the doors……

With the help of my very old – as in long term – friend, Tim’ll Fix It, we have re-decked three more pontoons and I am in the process of adding non-slip strips down the middle. It all looks pretty good until you get to the bend in the pontoon and then you find the much older decking.  So if you want to hop and skip along the pontoon to your boat, can you limit yourself to doing that on the new section!  

Finally, the oversized red channel marker is now in place alongside its green friend. Thanks to Anna McLaren for her lovely photo.  

We are now pretty much set for the Winter with Summer boats out and Winter boats in.  We are delighted to welcome two lovely wooden yachts onto the beach – Wanderer II which was built in 1901 and Mystery which was built by the current owner’s dad.  

If you are at a loss for things to do, how about a bit of varnishing?  Mike North’s gleaming tender is an example to us all. Particularly me.

The membership for next year is £25 per adult. You can download an application form from the website.  For ease, you can fill it out and take a picture/scan of the form and just email the picture to admin@pnyc.co.uk. We will then print out the form and send you membership cards. If you are paying online the details are:  PNYC Ltd, 30-80-48, 51425568, Lloyds Bank
Please could you make sure that you include your name as a reference when paying so I know where the money has come from and ideally let me know that you have paid online.   
We have introduced a Launching Membership for those who want to regularly launch small craft from the slipway or pontoon (ie paddle boards or kayaks). We have introduced this following a sharp rise in the number of people wanting to use paddle boards and kayaks. There is a public slip in the village which can be used for this purpose.

This year, with your kind support, we intend to do the following:  

• Improve the outside seating areas at the club.  
• Install some kind of webcam so that you can log on and see live pictures of the pontoon and water by the club.  
• Replace the broken electrical sockets on the beach wall
• Repair and repaint the black iron lamp post by the entrance
• Re-varnish the table tops inside the club – sorry for the delay Mike and Nigel!
• And paint everything again.  It’s all looking quite green.

We will be in touch with boat owners early January about Summer 2021. We were completely full this Summer and have a waiting list for pontoon spaces and a small waiting list for beach moorings for the coming season. If you know you don’t want your mooring again, I would be grateful if you could let me know (admin@pnyc.co.uk) so that we can address the waiting lists.  The mooring fees remain the same as 2019 and 2020 for all moorings with the exception of kayaks and inflatable dinghies.  

It’s been an interesting year for PNYC and especially challenging for Nigel and Mike. Ant and I would like to thank them on all our behalves for keeping the bar and restaurant open during these challenging times and we hope that next year will be easier.  As of yesterday they have had to cancel their New Year’s Eve feast due to us going into Tier 3 which is a great shame.  We also had to cancel a lot of holiday bookings, both in the Spring, then in November and now over Christmas and New Year.  But PNYC will be here in all its glory for 2021.

Dear all, we hope that you have had a lovely Christmas given the circumstances and we wish you all health, happiness and company for 2021. Roll on the vaccines and getting back to normal for one and all !  

I can report that The Helford was beautiful on Christmas Day with the sun shining (see picture above) after what seemed like two weeks of constant rain. Grebe Beach had a steady flow of people coming down to enjoy the view and congratulations to all of the crazy people who swam. I can include our three kids, Elsa, Flora and Angus (their cousins) and my sister-in-law Vicky in that list. Ant and I chickened out.  

Our thoughts are with Will Beattie, Jo and his family.  Will has been seriously ill (not covid) prior to Christmas.  We wish him a full recovery. 

Every mooring has been spoken for.  Thanks to those members that have returned forms and an even bigger thanks to those that have paid !  Please can I ask that all forms and payment for the Summer are in by 1st March at the latest to secure your mooring for another season.  We have a waiting list of people looking for moorings. If you haven’t had an email from me about moorings, check your junk mail and then check in with me – everyone should have received at least one email about summer moorings.  admin@pnyc.co.uk

We have two members looking for small tenders.  One is looking specifically for an Anarth or Regatta.  

There is another new member who is looking for a 20-22 ft fishing boat.
And finally, does anyone have a small inflatable they want to sell to a third member?

Thanks to all those who have so kindly joined for 2021. Your kind support is much appreciated. If you haven’t yet joined but would like to, you can download a membership form here:  http://pnyc.co.uk/members/

If you were a member last year you can just email admin@pnyc.co.uk saying you want to join and that your details are the same and I will fill out the form on your behalf.  
£25 per adult and the bank details are:
Port Navas Yacht Club Ltd
Lloyds 
30-80-48
51425568
We have used up all our membership cards and am awaiting new cards which are 100% recycled and 100% recyclable.  Once these are in, we will send out membership cards to those waiting for them. Thanks to member Jon Calvin Thomas who’s company have helped – http://lighthouseprinting.co.uk

With Seawide Services we are replacing all the trots and swing moorings this year. While the timing might be better, this investment has been on the cards for a couple of years as the lifespan of the existing stones was coming to an end.  

We managed to remove all but four stones whose eyebolts parted. These stones can now have new eyebolts put on them and then be re-used.  The suction of the mud was truly amazing and it took some careful pulling to get them out of the mud.  The next step will be to drop a single length of very heavy chain from Trot 1 to Trot 15.  The chain will be linked to three of the biggest granite stones, one at each end and a third at the “turning” point of the chain where it bends round.  We can then fit the 15 riser chains and buoys at any point along the large chain, rather than having the riser chains fixed to the location of each stone.  This will allow us the flexibility to choose the widths of the trots from time to time. We also removed a number unsightly old car tyres which had been used as markers for the stone.  We’ll use some of the recovered granite stones to replace the swing moorings which have tyres filled with concrete.  

As many of you may know, last year John Ford was diagnosed with motor neurone disease after a period of ill health.  Fran, Pie, Finn and Euan are raising money for charity.  Fran writes:

My 57 year old brother was diagnosed in March last year with this cruel disease.  Since then he has lost weight, become progressively weaker and is now struggling to walk and talk.

 We have been inspired by Kevin Sinfield running 7 marathons in 7 days for his team mate Rob Burrow, and want to raise as much money as we can for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, who have been helping us deal with this terrible progressive disease.  

As a family we are going to travel the total distance of 7 miles for each of the 7 days, either by walking or Kayaking. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Here’s a link to Fran’s Just Giving Page:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/frances-ford-dungavel

Julia Bradbury was in the creek and on The Helford as part of her ITV Series – Julia Bradbury; Cornwall & Devon Walks which you can find here https://www.itv.com/hub/cornwall-and-devon-walks-with-julia-bradbury/10a0852

Julia spent most of her paddle board time doing circles around Brian Spargo’s boat and just so you know, if and when he comes to sell her, that fact will be included when calculating the price…… !

Thanks to the membership, we have committed to tidying up the front of the clubhouse and the outside eating area – see above. The plaster work on this side of the building is in a pretty poor state, as is the combined granite, concrete, tarmac and mud medley on the ground by the entrance. To that end, the front of the clubhouse will be stripped back to the block work and re-rendered next week.  And we will be re-surfacing the area by the front door of the club with a resin-stone chip surface and making sure that it drains more efficiently.  Finally we’ll re-surface the outside eating area with resin and stone chips, lowering the wall so you can actually look out over the water when seated and adding a roof to give it a little more protection. This should – fingers crossed – all be done in time for opening up the bar and restaurant in the week starting 12th April.  

And finally, we have bought new sockets and a power unit and will be restoring power and lighting to the beach wall drekly! 

I sent an email round to chase some outstanding mooring payments AND/OR mooring paperwork and thank you to those who have responded. We need both.  Apologies for any confusion caused when I said that members could renew by just letting me know the details were the same.  This was just for membership, not for moorings as well.  With the mooring applications you need to sign Page 2 which states you have insurance.  We need this to make our insurance effective.   
Still a few people who either haven’t paid or haven’t sent in the paperwork.  I want to stop sending chasing emails and start painting the club!  

Seawide Services have laid down half the new trot ground chain and will return before the end of the month to finish the job. This has been a long planned exercise.  We are laying down a continuous single heavy-duty ground chain attached to three reclaimed granite blocks, one in the middle and one either end. This then allows us to move the riser chains around a bit to create trot spaces to suit the boats mooring along it.  

We are delighted to announce that on behalf of all the members of PNYC, we have become a patron to Clean Ocean Sailing for the next three years. COS (Clean Ocean Sailing) is a small organisation based on board a 1908 Danish sailing ship, Annette, which is moored at Gweek – see above. Run by Steve and Monika (Steve on the left of the group shot and Monika kneeling down with their son, Simon), this local organisation is committed to cleaning up and recycling rubbish found on The Helford, The Fal and our local beaches, including The Scillies.  They are a passionate team who work with volunteers to get things done and to make a difference. Any support we can give is much appreciated. COS has recently appeared on a number of TV shows including but not limited to Spotlight !

Visit our new Clean Ocean Sailing page. Or you can find out more at: cleanoceansailing.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/cleanoceansailing/

This will be opening for outside service in the week of 12th April subject to Government restrictions and the inside service should be opening up in the week of 17th May all being well. Nigel and Mike will be in touch nearer the time to confirm the details.  But the Thursday Takeaway continues – see http://pnyc.co.uk/restaurant-and-bar/

We have undertaken some work on the wall in the bar area in an attempt to kill the draft monster that lurked in the corner.  Having peeled away the thin garden cladding we have re-wired the interesting collection of wires that we found (a professional electrician not me!), put in insulation, sprayed insulation foam liberally around and then fixed pine boards re-cycled from The Old Kiln and which match the front of the bar itself.  

I bought a second hand mitre saw on Ebay for the job.  It arrived with instructions from the vendor to put the new blade included in the box onto the saw. This I duly did, with the front label logically at the front of the saw and I then started cutting the pine boards. It worked but created huge clouds of smoke and a terrible noise. Not great. I thought I’d bought a pup. Until a kind passer-by pointed out that I had the blade on backwards. But what a difference it made. It was like a hot knife through already melted butter.  I absolutely love my new second hand electric saw.

Nigel has kindly pointed out that the brass screws are quite shiny at the moment but, like all of us, they will dim with age!  
   
We have also replaced the two radiators in the dinning room.  

We had a great evening on 14th November when nine teams of four competed in our second Quiz and Curry Night, this time in aid of The Village Hall.  The competition was ferocious, some of the marking was fiendish and there was little to choose between the teams.  In fact, we went to a tie break between Normal For Norfolk and Drinkmore. With everything hanging on a final question, the two captains were summoned forward, each eagerly holding onto one handle on our silver winner’s trophy (which you can just about make out in the picture above).  “How many times does the UK fit into the State of Texas?”  One team was out by 100% and another by over 300%.  The champions, Drinkmore (D Haigh, N Winters, C Adamson and G Lumb) were duly crowned.  In between, we had a fabulous medley of vegetarian curries courtesy of Mike and Nigel kept the liquid refreshment going.  Thanks to everyone taking part.  The next quiz will be in February/March in aid of the Port Navas Regatta.

The Committee is looking for some new volunteers to help organise next year’s regatta which in on Saturday 1st August 2020.  This fabulous event, which is over 100 years old, relies on people from the community helping.  As well as creating a fantastic day out, it also raises money for a number of charities ranging from Falmouth RNLI and The Cornish Air Ambulance, to some smaller local charities such as The Constatnine Silver Band, HRCST and WILD (Young Parents Project).  Broadly speaking the regatta activities break down into waterside races; the games; and catering (ie cakes, tea, coffee and the bbq).  There is also getting the site ready and clearing up afterwards.  All of these require organising by the committee and help from volunteers.  As well as more volunteers in general, we are looking for a new chairman, a new secretary and someone to run the cake and tea stall.  The intention is to hold an open meeting in The Village Hall at 6pm on Monday 27th January where interested people could gather to hear more about what is needed to keep this great event going.  If you are interested then please let me know at admin@pnyc.co.uk

The picture above is of the 1921 Regatta Committee as opposed to the current 2019 Committee.  Just in case you were wondering….

The Ladies loo has had a complete make-over and all that remains is to find the brass “Ladies” sign that I carefully put away in the shed for future use and which is proving increasingly difficult to find.  The unisex loo will now revert back to Men Only.

The Regatta was by all accounts a great success with lovely weather, very competitive racing (I believe there were 18 kayaks racing in one event) the beer tent was drunk dry and Brian Roper gave away the prizes with smiles all around.  Thanks to all those who came and to all those who helped make this another success. There is a huge group of people who provide their time and skills to make it work.
Next year the Regatta is Saturday 1st August from 3pm.

From Friday morning to the end of Sunday we are predicted high winds up to 46 mph with gusts at greater speeds.  We are well protected being out of the Helford River but nevertheless it might be worth checking moorings today to make sure that everything is in good condition.  I will be going down during the weekend just to check on a daily basis.  And please take this high wind warning into consideration when planning any trips on the water over this weekend.
https://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/Helford

It is with huge pride that we would like to congratulate the whole crew of Black Dog for coming first in The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 2019 IRC National Championships.  Flying their PNYC burgee, this was the first time this amateur Cornish team entered these Championships, taking on mostly professional or semi-professional crews.

“We haven’t sailed that much this year, so when we came up we said we’d be aiming for the top five and we’d be delighted by top three in our class. To win overall is incredible!” said Stuart Sawyer, his Black Dog also securing the Performance 40 prize.  “After we won Dartmouth Royal Regatta last year we thought we had to come here to see how we’d do…”
Well, first overall did very nicely!  Well done Black Dog.

For more information:
https://www.rorc.org/news/news-2011/irc-nationals-first-timer-takes-top-prize

The Ladies Loo should be back up and working by the end of today I am told by the builders, ending our brief foray into a unisex environment.  A number of people have requested that the ladies be re-opened, including Ant, and so this has been undertaken.  I will need to change the signage on my return but we can now offer two loos once more. At the same time, we have also filled in the large void that we found between the ladies loo and the inside wall of the club, hopefully getting rid of the draught that lived in that corner of the room.  Finally, you may have noticed that we have removed the old wooden decking outside the front door and replaced that with a granite paving stone.  A hand rail will be added shortly, if indeed it has not already been done.

We have one beach mooring, one swing mooring and 6 trot moorings available.  But all the pontoon spaces have now been taken. The trot and swing moorings have been serviced by Seawide Services.

The lure of a drink after work proved too much so the crew parked up on the landing pontoon and they all adjourned to the bar.  Unfortunately the tide went out while they were inside and their boat ended up squashing the lifebelt holder.

Peter and Margaret Goad, much loved and long standing managers of The Club, have sent us a picture of their boat Andante proudly flying the PNYC burgee on The Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.  This joins a burgee from Guernsey from Daniel and Vicky Williams and a lost-at-sea burgee found off Penzance and returned to Rebecca of Helford.  Keep these pictures coming it please!

Ant and I attended the launch of the HRCST facilities at Travassack Lake last month.  It was a great turnout on an overcast day.  We were really impressed with the lake. Although an old quarry, it feels much more like a sheltered lake with a pretty island in the middle and wooded banks all around.  The Trust also had on show the plans for the accommodation units and the teaching facilities which were really much more impressive and ambitious than we had imagined.  We now totally understand why this facility offers things that simply cannot be provided for on The Helford.  More details can be found on their website and we would encourage you all to go online and have a look – hrcst.org.uk

There have been two undramatic rescues so far this season.  Steve and Mel pulled in The Boulton’s after engine failure a few weeks ago.  And yesterday, Martha and Friends were rescued by mum and dad from The Helford after another engine failure.  Hard to blame Martha since it was our faulty engine over heating…

Last year we installed a number of stainless steel shackles on eyebolts so that people could tie up their dogs.  To our horror and disappointment we have noticed that all five shackles that where outside have been nicked.  I can’t decide if I prefer the thought that it was just one person helping themselves to all five or whether there were a number of light fingered buggers who helped themselves over time.  Ho hum.  We will be replacing the shackles with fixed ring-bolts.

Huge apologies to members and neighbours for the inconvenience caused by the extended works and the shear number of vehicles clogging up Quay Road.  We had hoped to be finished by now and are pulling out all the stops to get the work finished.

Building work on the Old Kiln should be finished within the next 6-7 weeks.  It will be available for week long lets from July.  The house has two big double bedrooms, one smaller twin bedroom, three bathrooms and a massive open plan living room/dinning room/kitchen room plus a lovely garden that gets the afternoon and evening sun.  Details are available on Airbnb but we can offer a 10% discount through direct booking with Tom and Antonia: 01326 340525.

A new book on the colourful history of the Helford has been penned by one of PNYC’s very own members, Christian Boulton.  Due to be published in May, Five Million Tides is described by Sir Tim Rice in his forward as having been written with “skill, panache, enthusiasm and authenticity”.

Very different in tone to the wonderful History of Port Navas by Peggy Shepherd, the book will no doubt appeal to resident and visitor alike – especially as the author believes that the Helford was one of the most important waterways in Britain during prehistory.  There is also a chapter dedicated to the river’s association with “villainous seafarers” and another to early Christianity.  Unsurprisingly, Port Navas and its various settlements get plenty of mentions too.

Five Million Tides: A Biography fo the Helford River is now available to pre-order online and PNYC will have a few copies available for sale once released.

Much to Ant’s satisfaction, we are going to re-decorate and then re-open the ladies loo by April – slightly hedging my bets by not saying whether the beginning or the end of April.  Interestingly it has not just been the ladies asking for their own loo.  Apparently a number of gentlemen don’t like enjoying the facilities only to find a lady patiently waiting outside wondering whether the seat has been put down!  

We are also going to tidy up the area immediately in front of the clubhouse by the entrance, including replacing the decking steps with a large piece of granite from The Old Kiln to create a new door step into the club. 

And as reported in earlier newsletters, we are extending the pontoon by adding one additional section onto the clubhouse end and adding on four new finger pontoons.  In addition, we will be replacing 12 of the pontoon floats – 6 at the slip end and 6 at the clubhouse end.  This is part of an ongoing 2-3 year plan of refurbishing the pontoons.  

Finally, I will be spreading paint liberally in all directions.  

It’s a glorious Boxing Day morning with the Sun shinning and blue clouds.  Ant and I hope that you all had a splendid Christmas.   

The plan was to get this off on Christmas Day but being my usual chaotic self, this was superseded by events including a much-longer-than-anticipated stay at The Trengilly Wartha Inn for a Christmas Day drink courtesy of Will and Lisa.  I now write this with a fabulous new pair of slippers – it’s a sign of a certain age when you love getting a pair of slippers!

Thank you all for your support this year and we look forward to 2019 and welcoming you all back as members and boat owners.  Our thanks to Mike and Nigel for their first year running the bar and restaurant and to Tony Ellen who keeps a daily eye on the Club and on me.  We’ll continue work on the Club with new floats for 6 pontoons, 8 new pontoon fingers and restoring the Ladies Loo, as well as slapping on more paint! 

Happy New Year to you all.

Tom and Ant

A child’s life jacket and a small pair of shoes have been left at the Club for a number of weeks. Does anyone know who they belong to? Call Tom on 01326 340525.

He didn’t have to fly.
Or twit or twoo.
Or even move.
The ONLY thing this owl had to do was frighten away the gulls. And I am afraid to say that he has been ruddy useless. As reported in the last newsletter, it took less than 20 minutes from his arrival on our boat for the first gull to join him. And now he seems to have given up!
Following further advice, I have now invested in two rubber snakes which, I am assured, will do the job. I shall report on their success in a subsequent newsletter.

It is with great sadness that we are writing about the tragic loss of Richard Winfrey who was laid to rest at Mawnan Church on Saturday. Richard was a huge character who will leave an indelible mark on this community – in Mawnan Smith, within the shooting fraternity and on The Helford as a rower, sailor and drinker. Richard was a fierce competitor at the Port Navas Regatta from an early age and I can personally attest to this, particularly in the Run And Row. He was also a fantastic commentator for a number of years. This summer he and his son Sam won a number of races and thereby added another Winfrey name (8 year old Sam) to the Presidents Cup for the overall points winner.

The service at Mawnan Smith was emotional but also very beautiful and made a huge impression. The variety of people, as well as the sheer number, is a testament to his huge character. On behalf of everyone at PNYC, we send our best wishes and thoughts to his wife Brush, his four children Harriet, Georgie, Treve and Sam and the wider family. We are poorer for his early passing.

I have noticed an increasingly bad smell on the pontoon at low tide.  This has been caused by the new treatment plant which seems to be expelling a layer of fat which you can see on the mud between the wall and pontoon.  This should NOT be happening and I have contacted the company that installed the treatment plant to get it sorted as quickly as possible.  In the meantime, we apologise for the unpleasant smell at low tide.

Teams of 4 or individuals looking for a 4 are invited to an 18 hole Texas Scramble at Budock Vean Hotel on Friday 28th September in aid of The Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust.   A pasty lunch + prizes + raffle + drinks and reshresments + a great cause.  For information and entry forms contact rowan@hrcst.org.uk or call 07555 785102

On a personal nautical front, I can confirm with great pleasure that our boat is finally working (mostly) and we have been on four trips.  The last one, over to St Mawes, ended in an alarming moment as we were getting into the water taxi.  As the weight came onto one side, suddenly the front two deck hatches in the cabin popped up and great swell of water came out of the bilges.  The immediate thought was “!!!!!!! we’re sinking!”  I admit to a moment of panic as I envisaged our new second-hand boat settling onto the St Mawes’ harbour bottom.  But rather than a Titanic sized hole, it quickly turned out to be a hose from the cooling system which had popped off and was filling up the bilges.

My second report is the total and abject failure of Oscar the Owl and his ability to scare away the gulls which have been using our boat as a loo.  Thanks to Iain McLaren for the photo which he sent me!

I was told at Macsalvors that I might have to move the owl around the boat occasionally as the seagulls get to learn that it’s not real.  Well, it took the Port Navas gulls about 20 minutes to work out that Oscar was plastic.

BRIAN SPARGO’S NEW FRIEND

On a similar note, Brian has been spotted with a new friend called Nigel – an incredibly confident gull who’s taken to sitting on the boat until he get’s a fish from Brian.  Perhaps it’s the same gull who’s become a mate of my not-scary-at-all-owl?

Thanks to Richard Butler for helping me repair the pontoon.  One of the metal connections holding a pontoon had sheared off but that has now been replaced thanks to some on-the-spot welding.

One of our burgees has very kindly been picked out of the water by a passing yachtsman, Robin Chiffers, just off Penzer Point between Mousehole and Lamorna. Robin is posting it to me at the end of his sailing trip.  Do let me know if you have lost your burgee!

Just a gentle reminder about parking.

We are, as we all know, extremely limited with the parking.  The Upper and Lower Deck flats are rented all the way through to the middle of September and they take up two spaces.  In addition, the bar and restaurant needs spaces for their customers from 3pm Tuesday through to Saturday inclusive.

At the moment, we say that pontoon and trot owners can park ONE car (including your guests) in the carpark whilst out on the water, subject to availability.
Please, please can I ask beach owners (and any pontoon and trot members that are willing to do the same!) to unload in the carpark and then park in the village before going out on the water.

I know that sometimes you can turn up just as there is enough water and the car park is empty.  But by the time the water is fully in, the car park is overflowing.
I am so sorry to hark on about this but it is an unsolvable problem.  The people who have rented the flats, and the bar and restaurant that needs customers (both members and visitors) to keep going, also rely on the few car parking spaces that we have.

Thank you.

PS  I now have an inkling of what it’s like to be a traffic warden.  Not great.

If anyone wishes to organise a private party of 12 or more for lunch (for instance if you have family down to stay), Nigel and Mike would be happy to open for you.  Don Garman recently had a private lunch for members of the National Coast Watch.

The shower is really for visiting yatchs using the visitor moorings. Unfortunately we have had two “incidents” in a week.  First someone used it to clean off their mud, probably after wading around in the creek.  Fine to do this but they left the shower in a terrible state.  And then at the beginning of this week I had to clean out the shower after someone had used it as a loo!  Unbelievable.  So now the shower will have a combination lock on it and visiting yatchs will be given the code.  Sorry but…

In the spirit of the on-going trials and tribulations of a surprise yacht club manager, let me tell you about the club burgees.  We have now sold all 20 of the hand stitched club burgees and I have ordered another 20.  Having talked to the manufacturer, he confirmed that the cost price would be the same as last year – £39.99,  But when I got the invoice it was more than that.  Turns out VAT and shipping were not included.  The actual price of the last 20 burgees, and the new batch, is £48.99.  So basically we have been paying about 20% of the cost of the last 20 burgees.  Brilliant.  To all those who have them, ENJOY !  But from now on, the full cost price will be charged – £48.99.