Random Photos
| Key Routes and Passages |
|
It was one of those days. You know what it’s like; some days just exceed expectations. Whether it was the fact that we overcame the weather (GYC 5: Weather 1) or that everyone involved seemed to be having a fantastic time, the GYC Motor Committee’s third 2011 event turned out to be an absolute stonker.
First of all, huge thanks have to go to John Frankland who allowed a booklet to be produced for GYC Motor members attending the event which used his extensive knowledge and reproduced his detailed diagrams. This document included all the marks that were needed for the proposed 'Key Routes and Passages' course , including charts, heights of tide every half hour and other really valuable information.
The event began on the Friday evening with a detailed briefing of the route and marks by Rear Commodore Motor, Robert Dodsworth ably assisted by Buz White MBE, coxswain of the St Peter Port lifeboat, who contributed with important snippets of information and provided his own tips on how to successfully navigate our local waters.
Saturday’s forecast had deteriorated from the planned F2 to F3, to F4 gusting F5 and there was a slight concern amongst some members that the event might fall foul of the weather. However, using the Committee members’ considerable knowledge and experience and after full consideration had been given to safety issues, it was decided to run the event but to consolidate the 54 members onto 10 of the larger boats available on the day.
The Friday night concluded with members enjoying a great Spanish meal at the Club, where they were able to discuss the plans for the next day and get to know the new Motor Section members that had signed up for the event. It is great to see new faces joining the Motor Section and we would encourage anyone in the Club with a boat capable of 16 knots or more to join in. We particularly welcome RIB-type boats as these often provide great support for the organised events.
 Saturday began with a much needed pre-trip full English breakfast at the GYC. The weather was decidedly undecided and some members even checked in to see if the event was to go ahead. However, all was good and the boats mustered just off the harbour breakwater at 10 am in excited anticipation of what was laying ahead. Seemingly from nowhere, the Channel Island Air Search plane buzzed the group of boats at what must have been less than 200 feet above sea level and tipped its wings as it flew back to Guernsey airport. Thanks to the Air Search team for a great start to the day and thanks to James Ridout who, having had a fairly ‘large’ night the night before, refrained from dropping anything wet and unpleasant out of the aircraft!
 And then we were off. Led by Halcyon Breeze, the boats made their own way through the Musé, Tobars and Parfonde Passages using the marks they had learned the previous evening and contained in their booklets.
We then passed inside Selle Rocque and mustered in Belvoir Bay while the one RIB in the group went to check the sea conditions at Grande Amfroque. The feedback was that it was quite rough but fundamentally safe and so the boats proceeded around Amfroque, past Cul de l'Autel and past Tautenay. The overfalls and wind against tide just past Amfroque providing a challenging beam sea for the skippers. All good practice for those times when we may get 'caught' out there in challenging conditions. The overfalls at the north of the Humps gave the opportunity for skippers to see how their boats perform in more testing conditions and all of them looked like they handled the seas beautifully.
 After heading just inside Roustel, the boats lined up Roustel on the Vale Mill and headed towards Herm, to take the inside passage (Douit du Plat Houmet) south towards Herm Harbour on the top of the tide.By this time, the sun had decided to shine on us as the boats dropped collective hooks outside the harbour. The combination of the powerboat race and the buzz from the GYC event made the day feel extra special in a way that is only possible when floating offshore on a warm sunny day. So this is why we have boats! Lunch was organised at the Mermaid and the courtyard provided the perfect sun trap to discuss the trip. There was a definite sense of euphoria, as if we had all just climbed Everest or just dodged a parking ticket in the QEII car park.
Home time seemed to come around too quickly and returning to Guernsey soon after 2pm, some of the more resilient members decided to go on to the GYC to welcome the Carey Olsen sailors back to Guernsey at the end of their race.
Unless we were very much mistaken, everyone had a good time and are now suitably equipped with their own booklets which will provide the confidence needed to do the key routes and passages on their own, perhaps even at low tide!
Rumours that the GYC Motor Committee is producing: “I survived the GYC Key Routes and Passages Trip” T-shirts have been firmly rejected by Rear Commodore Motor, Robert Dodsworth.
The final waterborne event of the GYC Motor Section’s season is a weekend in Carteret commencing on Friday 26th August. This event is likely to be a cracker and we would encourage existing and new GYC Motor Section members to come along. An e-mail will be sent to all of the names we have on our database inviting them to this event but if you haven’t been previously involved and this appeals to you, please contact Colin Le Conte who will be pleased to send you full details.
Rear Commodore (Motor) Robert (Doddy) Dodsworth and the team:
Damon Hackley
Dave Leathem
Colin Le Conte
Rob Ridout
|
