Tidal Diamond 927

• Ebb & Flow
• Useful Links
• Diary Dates

Ebb & Flow

A low news Tidal Diamond this week, I can’t think what is happening to cause that! I thought the Diary Dates below may be useful however. It may also be worth noting that slightly beyond the Diary Dates we have the Icicle Series starting on 13th January. Quite a long way beyond that we have the 75th Anniversary Tudor Regatta provisionally planned for 7th September. Before both of those I will also emphasise the AGM on 7th January at 1400hrs.

As ever, feel free to drop me an email at this address, it is always nice to hear from members. Any ideas of things to include in the Tidal Diamonds always most welcome.

Let’s be careful out there.

Paul Tansom
Tidal Diamond Editor
tidal_diamonds

Useful Links

• WebCollect: dinghies for more details.

Tidal Diamond 926

• Social Update
• Datchet Flyer Report
• Ebb & Flow
• Useful Links
• Diary Dates

Social Update

I would just like to say a huge thank you to those of you that attended the Christmas party on Saturday. The SSAC joined with Tudor members to party, and it was lovely to see so many people enjoying themselves and looking fabulous in their party attire.

A huge thank you to the bar staff, John, Paul and Ben, the volunteers Chloe, Melissa and Crazy Rich, and of course to the awesome social committee, Denise, Alison, Linda, Dawn and Joanna who created an amazing Christmas buffet, catering for over 90 people.

You may get another chance to hear the wonderful band at the Tudor’s 75th anniversary regatta next year.

My best wishes to you all for a healthy and happy Christmas.

Sue Elson
Social Secretary
socialsec

Datchet Flyer Report

E is for Elin, F is for Fergus, O is for MG!

Selden SailJuice Datchet Flyer weekend, 9-10 December

I fancied a bit of a challenge this winter and signed up for my first taste of big fleet action to mix it up (from afar!) with some of the country’s best dinghy sailors. I’d been watching the forecast from 10 days out (9kts from the NE) and gradually saw the isobars tightening as the week went on. So much so that I switched my entry from the 10.4m2 Blaze sail to the 8.8m2 Fire sail and what a good decision that turned out to be…

So, at 0615 on a very wet and windy Saturday morning, I hitched up my dinghy to the van, fighting to keep the compound gate from blowing shut onto my precious cargo, and hightailed it north up the A3 in the driving rain to Datchet Sailing Club near Heathrow. I was the first to arrive (just as the gate was being unlocked, in fact) and rigged up the boat, also in the rain, registered, picked up my GPS tracker and got ready to launch.

(https://enter.sailracer.org/eventsites/content.asp?id=50500&eventid=225490&templ=)

gives a great report of the weekend and I would agree with the “heinous conditions” part! The reservoir water level was full and we were now elevated up into the full wrath of the biggest gusts – the wind did indeed follow Windguru’s predictions almost to the knot. At one point, I thought “this wind deserves a name”, and I later discovered Met Éireann agreed. Storm Elin said hello on Saturday and her little brother, Fergus, visited on Sunday.

My priorities for Race 1 were:

1. to avoid infringing any person or rule. In fact, I was “heinously” fouled myself by a port tack RS300 as I approached the finish line and was too shocked to protest

2. to minimise my gybes. Easy – downwind tacking all the way!

3. not to tip in. For once, this was successful, even in the increasing gusts!

4. to sail the correct course – I wasn’t the only one to miss the gate, marked by a tiny blue buoy!

3 out of 4 wasn’t bad…

As we waited for Race 2 to begin, we were virtually all knocked over by the squall mentioned in the report and many decided now was the appropriate time to head ashore. Still not endowed with much sailing sense, I lined up with about a third of the original starters and got ready for some all-out survival “racing”. Upwind was fine (mucho sail flogging), downwind was properly scary, so much so that it took me 5 attempts (with 3 capsizes) to get round the bottom left buoy of the trapezoid!!! The race was understandably shortened and I was unsure if I’d actually finished…sooooo…I carried on trying to finish a course I had actually already completed. Eventually, after the boat and I were physically picked up and flung over sideways, despite my fully-hiked-out position and the sail just flapping, and the subsequent lengthy swim in the cold water, I noticed that I was the last dinghy out and then took another 30 minutes trying to get downwind to the landing area, not an easy task.

And how indeed does one land on a concrete lee shore in F7 gusts? Seemingly by getting 4 burly sailors still in wetsuits physically to pick up the boat and dump it onto its trailer, sail fully rigged and all! Help which was gratefully accepted, but then my halyard got jammed, the sail ripped itself free and, once finally retrieved, the wind had one more trick up its sleeve and decided a special gust was reserved hilariously to tip the boat complete with launching trolley up and onto the aforementioned concrete – great!

The Sunday dawned clear and still but the Heathrow forecast still 15kts gusting 25 in its forecast. Into my cold, damp wetsuit and all ready for day two. LITERALLY as I hoisted my sail, the wind machine was turned on and then yesterday’s postponed handicap Race 3 was underway at 1030; this time, I only managed 2 out of my 4 priorities. Once again, I was blatantly fouled by yet another port tacker (“you should have shouted “starboard” earlier” – really!?!) who didn’t then perform a penalty and I spotted/remembered the gate for lap two, but an ill-advised gybe-in-a-lull-that-wasn’t-a-lull led to the first swim (of several) of the day.

By now, my legs, arms and hands were getting a tad fatigued…but it was time for the Pursuit Race, just as the wind settled into its forecast range. 22 minutes of pre-start mooching about counting up the minutes behind the Topper didn’t help the tiredness levels, then off we went, K1s, Aero 7s and me. Big circuits of the reservoir followed over the next hour and 18 minutes with much flogging upwind, a 70%-successful gybe rate (100% swimming off the failed ones!), Musto Skiffs, RS 800s and foiling Wazps all zooming past, sort of in control, and then another case of “have I finished?” but a much easier recovery to shore this time in the now-southerly wind.

Then it was time to pack up, leave the boat in the compound with kind permission for a couple of days…and fly a plane to Kuwait through the night, as you do!

Overall, an “interesting” experience, literally a baptism of Fire (sail) and despite numerous dents, bashes and bruises added to my person, the kit stood up to the onslaught remarkably well – good job, Mr Hartley. I’ve certainly gained confidence in the boat’s ability to handle the rough stuff, even if I haven’t in my own – but I’m now ready to protest anyone who crosses my bow (on port!). Numpties beware!

Rupert Rhodes

Ebb & Flow

As a follow up from last week’s Final Straw Foundation piece, I have been told that they are collecting the tubs from sweets, and there are likely to be a good number of those around at this time of year. The Facebook short video can be seen at:

https://fb.watch/oWFPqcQ-xq/

or the text is below.

CAN YOU HELP? Following on from our exciting announcement about our new Education Station project, we now need your help!

Since it’s Christmas, most of us have tubs full of sweets (or maybe not so full ) ready to be enjoyed. If you have some, we’d love to take them off your hands in the New Year, once they’re empty of course!

We will take the Education Station to schools and organisations, teaching people how to grind the tubs down, which will turn them into little flakes, ready to be moulded into fabulous, new, sustainable, reusable items such as plant pots, carabiners and coasters.

We will share more details on collection points after Christmas, but please do keep them by for us if you can. Thank you again for your support – The Final Straw Team x

Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund

Merry Christmas

As ever, feel free to drop me an email at this address, it is always nice to hear from members. Any ideas of things to include in the Tidal Diamonds always most welcome.

Let’s be careful out there.

Paul Tansom
Tidal Diamond Editor
tidal_diamonds

Useful Links

• WebCollect: dinghies for more details.

Tidal Diamond 925

• Social Update
• Commodore’s Update
• Ebb & Flow
• Useful Links
• Diary Dates

Social Update

Tudor Christmas Party – 16th December

Let’s celebrate Christmas at Tudor! Enjoy an evening of eating, drinking, laughter and dancing to the sounds of a live band.

Christmas buffet provided. Ticket only event, only a few tickets left.

I look forward to seeing you all on the dance floor!

https://webcollect.org.uk/tudorsc/event/tudor-christmas-party

Sue Elson
Social Secretary
socialsec

Commodore’s Update

Compound Drainage

The drainage and surface in the central part of the compound is much improved thanks to the work recently carried out. As previously communicated, this was Phase 1 of the work. We will be undertaking further work along the East fence to improve the surface under the dinghies during the coming year.

Chain

If anybody has spare top-chain, please leave it in the small compound as we can use this to replace worn out chain on the slipway.

Cruisers – reminders

• Jet washing may only be carried out up until 31 December.
• Ensure all ladders are locked underneath your boat, or removed from the compound.
• Tenders must be kept underneath your boat – please do not encroach onto the pathways.
• Ensure that no oil/diesel is allowed to escape into the compound.

Recent Flooding

The recent flooding caused by the drainage issues to the north of the compound was likely contaminated with effluent. If you are using or cleaning your boat over winter, do take care – wash hands and consider using disinfectant.

Colin Thorpe
Commodore
commodore

Ebb & Flow

An item that may be of interest on the work of the Final Straw Foundation can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/100068437748235/posts/pfbid02q88hDBiEES13G3GAVDDnjtC42N1SJrsFxiBVNQG9p7ADFQ3cbPC4QRhF6bpJJNdcl/

Given that the link is to Facebook, which not everyone has (although it can actually be read if you close the prompt to login) I will include the text (I couldn’t find the news on their website unfortunately, and I’m confident they won’t mind):

National Lottery Funding Award!

We are very excited to announce that we secured an award from The National Lottery Community Fund that will fund our brand new project, Final Straw Foundation’s Education Station!

The Education Station is an education and engagement project that directly reduces plastic waste in the local area, creates new products and raises awareness of plastic pollution and how plastics are linked to climate change.

The idea is simple – local people come together to reuse plastic waste that has been collected from beach cleans and public collection points which are then sorted, shredded and moulded into new reusable products!

Thank you to everyone who plays the National Lottery, you helped fund this exciting initiative that will directly benefit our local area.

As ever, feel free to drop me an email at this address, it is always nice to hear from members. Any ideas of things to include in the Tidal Diamonds always most welcome.

Let’s be careful out there.

Paul Tansom
Tidal Diamond Editor
tidal_diamonds

Useful Links

• WebCollect: dinghies for more details.

Tidal Diamond 924

• Ebb & Flow
• Useful Links
• Diary Dates

Ebb & Flow

It is the time of year when water based activities become thinner on the ground. For cruiser owners there’s plenty to do ashore, and although we have had a bit of a chilly spell, it is often warmer than it is after Christmas (I usually note this whilst regretting not making more use of the warmer time!). Cruisers wise it is worth noting that jet washing needs to be done before the end of December.

Water based activities are by no means non existent. There is the Frostbite series at the moment and the Icicle series coming up in the new year. The ever hardy rowers show no signs of stopping, and if you join the Paddlers WhatsApp group you will find some activity there as well. In which case this link from the RYA is worth taking a look at, not that Cold Water Shock is purely a winter based concern, the temperature difference in summer can still be a shock.

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/safety/look-after-yourself/cold-water-shock

Another useful link is this one on the RNLI website on checking and maintaining your life jacket. Something worth doing ready for next season.

https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2020/april/how-to-check-and-maintain-your-lifejacket

Tudor events wise there is Tudor Christmas Party on the 16th December. Tickets available at:

https://webcollect.org.uk/tudorsc/event/tudor-christmas-party

I’ll round off this short Tidal Diamod with something for your Christmas Shopping, and a reminder that you can sign up for Easy Fundrasing and raise some money for the club at the same time, details here:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/tudorsailingclub/

As ever, feel free to drop me an email at this address, it is always nice to hear from members. Any ideas of things to include in the Tidal Diamonds always most welcome.

Let’s be careful out there.

Paul Tansom
Tidal Diamond Editor
tidal_diamonds

Useful Links

• WebCollect: dinghies for more details.

Tidal Diamond 923

• Commodore’s Notes
• Club Development Planning for 2024
• Tudor Talks
• PARCS Collection Box and QR Code
• The Tudor Monster was spotted last weekend again in Essex
• Ebb & Flow
• Useful Links
• Diary Dates

Commodore’s Notes

Compound
It’s pleasing to see the improvement in drainage of the main compound, and the good effect that the aggregate has made. We’re planning to do some work next summer to further improve the surface under the dinghies along the East fence. Thank you to all who helped with this work.

Chain needed
If any cruiser owners have old top chain that they don’t need, please leave this by the Bosuns tender in the small compound. We can use it to replace chain down the slipway.

Colin Thorpe
Commodore
commodore

Club Development Planning for 2024

Thank you to everyone that completed the club development questions for me at the end of the Sailing Committee survey that Hannah sent out.

Colin and I are in the process of summarising your feedback and putting together some thoughts and plans for the executive committee to consider before we send it back out to you. Our aim is to have a 2024 plan for you by the AGM.

Jane Dare
Rear Commodore
rearcommodore

Tudor Talks

One item loud and clear from the development survey is that you enjoy the talks we hold at Tudor. I’m delighted about that as it’s always a great opportunity to bring everyone together and share knowledge.

We’ve already got a program of evening talks in planning for next year from our sailing committee, social committee, and external speakers. You’ll hear more about them soon. From the popular Knotty Night to Safety on the Water. From Looking after your mooring to Rigging a dinghy. Bird Aware Solent, Cold Water Swimming, Final Straw Foundation, Turning the Tide, Contacting the coastguard, First aid ….the list is long. You’ll see there’s plenty to refresh the experienced and help the less experienced.

As always, this couldn’t happen without all of you. So a big thank you in advance to the sailing and social committee for making this happen. If any of you want to be involved sharing your experience and skills as part of the Tudor Talks team please let me know. Sharing your knowledge with other members is what makes Tudor mighty.

To help you keep up with what’s on when…look out for the new ‘Tudor Talks’ banner on ads and information on WhatsApp, social media, the social calendar, and around the club.

Jane Dare
Rear Commodore
rearcommodore

PARCS Collection Box and QR Code

Thank you all who have been in swapping jumpers. I notice we’ve also now got a rather lovely wetsuit on offer. Not sure the sort of parties you lot go to!

You’ll also notice there is now a sign about PARCS on the rail with a QR code for any small donations you’d like to make. There is also a collection bucket behind the bar for any loose change. PARCS is a local Portsmouth charity providing free specialist counselling and psychotherapy for people who have experienced sexual and/or domestic abuse.

There is no charge for the Christmas jumper swap and any contribution you wish to make to PARCS is both voluntary and appreciated.

Jane Dare
Rear Commodore
rearcommodore

The Tudor Monster was spotted again last weekend in Essex

The Tudor Monster was first spotted at the Seaford Regatta in September this year when Tudor Rowers combined crews with Rowhedge Rowing Club and won a large proportion of trophies. Following this Tudor were invited to form joint crews with Rowhedge in an Essex based fixed seat winter rowing series which takes place every other Sunday between September and March.

Last Sunday saw a group of Tudor Rowers travel to Mersea Island, in Essex where they crewed Harkers Yard Gigs in a number of short sprint races. Whilst the Tudor Monster did not bring back any trophies on this occasion they performed well in the bar afterwards where they worked hard networking with their new found friends in Essex.

Watch this space for more reported sightings of the Tudor Monster!

Ebb & Flow

To round of this week’s Tidal Diamond I’m simply going to give a shout out to the Social Committee who I ran into hard at work this evening at the club making it look festive.

As ever, feel free to drop me an email at this address, it is always nice to hear from members. Any ideas of things to include in the Tidal Diamonds always most welcome.

Let’s be careful out there.

Paul Tansom
Tidal Diamond Editor
tidal_diamonds

Useful Links

• WebCollect: dinghies for more details.

Tidal Diamond 922

• Social Update
  
• Staying Safe
• End of Season Get Together and Awards Evening
• Ebb & Flow
• Useful Links
• Diary Dates

Social Update

Christmas Carols – 2nd December

Get into the Christmas spirit, enjoy a mince pie and sing along to the band. 5.30 start.

Family and friends are welcome. There is no charge, but please book so you don’t miss out on the mince pies or get onto Santa’s naughty list!.

https://webcollect.org.uk/tudorsc/event/christmas-carols-1

Tudor Christmas Party – 16th December

Let’s celebrate Christmas at Tudor! Enjoy an evening of eating, drinking, laughter and dancing to the sounds of a live band.

Christmas buffet provided. Ticket only event.

https://webcollect.org.uk/tudorsc/event/tudor-christmas-party

Sue Elson
Social Secretary
socialsec

Staying Safe

All,

I hope you all had a good season on the water, and as the year comes to an end I wanted to share some reflections on safety.

Keeping things safe and tidy

Please continue to help keep the clubhouse and compound tidy, by doing your bit to stop any of your own equipment being a trip hazard (eg dinghy trailers, cradles, or craft sticking out). Also if you spot anything you can’t easily put right (trip hazards, items blocking fire exits etc) then please contact me or one of the Exec so we can get someone to address the concern.

Staying afloat!

A reminder that you’re safer on the water if you wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Also, regularly check your lifejackets are operational (for example, check that the cylinder is still in date and has a firing cartridge). It’s also worth inflating them to make sure they don’t leak. Here’s a good video on how to carry out lifejacket checks: https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2020/april/how-to-check-and-maintain-your-lifejacket.

Because of the importance of this the Club now has a Byelaw which requires everyone under the age of 18 who goes afloat to wear a suitable lifejacket or buoyancy aid.

Watch out – dredger about

Please continue to keep an eye on the dredger, particularly around high water when it’s most likely to be on the move. Keep your distance and don’t lose sight of the dredger’s bridge – if you can’t see the bridge you’re probably too close and they probably can’t see you! We will be sharing our programme of 2024 key events on the water (such as our Regatta days) with the HM and Kendalls so they are aware that the channel could be busier than usual.

Checking your mooring

For those of you who have a club mooring, please take care when you do your essential winter checks. Make sure the weather conditions are suitable for you to use your dinghy, check it has a bung, your engine works, and that you have oars and rollocks as a back up. It’s worth trying to buddy up with someone to make the job easier.

Finally, please continue to report any incidents or near misses. The attached document tells you how to do this.

All the best,

Rob Waring
Vice Commodore
vicecommodore

End of Season Get Together and Awards Evening

Great evening last week at Tudor with the club room full of members celebrating the achievements of the 2023 season. For those that could not attend the special awards were as follows:

• Terry Fleming Memorial Trophy – presented to Maggie Hodge for her world record row around the UK.
• Specsavers Trophy – presented to Mark Swallow for reading the course wrong and losing places in the race as a result.
• Tudor Rose Bowl – presented to Hannah Barnes for her service to the club efforts with women on the water
• Flounder Trophy – awarded to Alex Ford for his start of season antics, Here is his account of the “Shakedown sail didn’t happen as the keel was stuck (no surprise but still annoying), so motored to the sands. Sorted the keel out then restarted my brand new engine (3rd trip, had been perfect up to that moment and it started and ran up to just above idle but any higher revs than that it stuttered and cut out. Checked the fuel system and no joy, tried running it from its inbuilt tank to no avail. Motored back to the new mooring, went to take the engine off and dropped my keys in full run of tide. Took me 20 mins to find them floating for freedom towards the Solent. Eventually removed the engine, got to the slip and realised my Tudor keys were on the boat still. Went and got them Then got 3/4 up the slip and heard a pop as one of my tender tyres blew out. I think it’s time to go back to bed, and potentially stay there”.

A big thank you to everyone who made the evening possible.

Photos will be published on the TSC website in the next few days.

Hannah Barnes
Dinghy Captain
dinghies

Ebb & Flow

Two Tudor items this week:

Firstly a reminder that we have the Christmas Jumper swap running. The rail is now in the club room and open for business.

Secondly, a request for old, but not too rusty, anchor chain. This will be used to replace the broken slipway chains.

As ever, feel free to drop me an email at this address, it is always nice to hear from members. Any ideas of things to include in the Tidal Diamonds always most welcome.

Let’s be careful out there.

Paul Tansom
Tidal Diamond Editor
tidal_diamonds

Useful Links

• WebCollect: dinghies for more details.

Tidal Diamond 921

• Saving Christmas Jumpers from Landfill
  
• End of Season Get Together and Prizegiving
  
• End of Season Survey Needs Your Input
• Ebb & Flow
• Useful Links
• Diary Dates

Saving Christmas Jumpers from Landfill

I’ve pinched this great idea from the Final Straw Foundation and submitted Tudor as joining in.

A report by Hubbub in 2019 showed that a third of adults buy a new Christmas jumper every year. An astonishing 65 million Christmas jumpers are reported to be forgotten or unloved at the back of UK wardrobes, and hundreds of thousands of them end up in our waste streams. So, how do we combat this enormous amount of festive fashion waste? We swap.

It’s really simple and won’t cost a penny.

Look out for a clothes rail in the clubroom towards the end of November.

If you have a Christmas Jumper you no longer want, (adult and child sizes) please hang it on the rail. You’ll need to bring a hanger to put it on and it needs to be clean and in good wearable condition. Just Christmas jumpers please. While you’re there, take a look and if you see one you like, feel free to take it. For those of us old enough to remember it’s like Noel’s Multi Coloured Swap Shop. SSAC and ASC will be joining in.

After Christmas you’ll have a final opportunity to take anything you want before I take them for on-cycling / re-homing.

Looking forward to seeing all your crimes against fashion. There’s no PLANetB.

Jane Dare
Rear Commodore
rearcommodore

End of Season Get Together & Prizegiving – Friday 17th November

All members are cordially invited to celebrate the end of the season this Friday, the evening will also include the annual prizegiving ceremony.

If you have not been before the event will celebrate the on the water successes (and blunders) from 2023, including the famous Flounder Trophy. Prizes will be awarded for dinghy racing, cruiser racing, rowing, plus some other celebratory trophies.

We really hope that you are able to join us for this celebration; tickets are available via webcollect and are only £6. There will also be a raffle.

If you would like to just come to the prize giving please book a ‘no food’ ticket:

Tudor Sailing Club: Tudor Presentation Evening (webcollect.org.uk)

We would love to see the club full and encourage members and guests to attend either for the whole evening or just the prizegiving.

Hannah Barnes
Dinghy Captain
dinghies

Reminder – end of season survey needs your input!

The aim of this survey is to assist the sailing committee in making key decisions for next years calendar, plus there are some additional questions to guide the update of the club development plan.

Please read the whole survey as it covers all on the water activities.

The survey is anonymous and is to be used for the purpose of creating the new calendar, all responses are confidential.

Click here to complete the survey

Hannah Barnes
Dinghy Captain
dinghies

Weather Station Update

The weather station has been offline for a while now after if was damaged during a storm earlier in the year. Repairs are almost complete and when there is suitable weather window it will be returned to the pole on the club roof.

Hannah Barnes
Dinghy Captain
dinghies

Ebb & Flow

Three quick RYA links that may be of interest for new members, or a timely reminder for the more seasoned ones.

Firstly, “Do you know your COLREGS?”, basically the Highway Code of the sea. Find out more at: https://www.rya.org.uk/blog/do-you-know-your-colreg.

Next, and perhaps more related to the time of year, “Winterising your boat engine”. Find out more at: https://www.rya.org.uk/blog/winterising-your-engine.

Finally, and relevant summer and winter, “Are you gas aware?”, a short piece on gas safety (all be it more focused on gas use, which isn’t relevant to boats in the compound). Find out more at: https://www.rya.org.uk/blog/are-you-gas-aware.

As ever, feel free to drop me an email at this address, it is always nice to hear from members. Any ideas of things to include in the Tidal Diamonds always most welcome.

Let’s be careful out there.

Paul Tansom
Tidal Diamond Editor
tidal_diamonds

Useful Links

• WebCollect: dinghies for more details.