Every year eight million tonnes of plastics are being poured into our oceans. It affects over 600 different species of sealife with at least 1 million seabirds dying each year. There is now so much of it that an area the size of France has formed in the Pacific Ocean. And by 2050, there’ll be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
Andy Giles and Jane Paulson on their Bavaria 33 Cruiser ‘Stiletto’ are making a leisurely cruise to island of Ikaria in the Eastern Aegean – Andy’s roots. Jane posted this tribute on her blog at the end of May.
Andy Giles and Jane Paulson have embarked on their long-awaited ‘Slow Boat to the Med’ big adventure with their Bavaria 33 Cruiser ‘Stiletto’. They crossed the Channel on 15 April 2017 and their final destination is the island of Ikaria in the Eastern Aegean – Andy’s roots.
We’ll be updating this page soon. In the meantime jump to their blog for the latest news! www.sailblogs.com/member/stiletto
Yarmouth Harbour have established some new features for visiting yatchsmen over the winter months:
Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth have issued the following important notice about changes to the Small Boat Channel at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour.
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth, that following the widening and re-orientation of the Portsmouth Approach Channel, as depicted on the newly published Admiralty Chart 2625 (2 March 2017), further adjustments have been made to the positioning of the Small Boat Channel that runs between 4 Bar Buoy (50 46.97N 001 06.48W) and Ballast Pile (50 47.62N 001 06.83W). This notice supersedes LNTM 23/17 (Small Boat Channel Re-alignment) and should be read in conjunction with the regulations contained in General Direction 7/10 (Portsmouth Harbour Entrance – Approach Channel, Small Boat Channel, Swashway and Inner Swashway).
LOBSTER POTS AND SMALL CRAFT SAFETY – TIME TO CHANGE THE RULES!
The Cruising Association (CA) have sponsored a Government petition to change the rules regarding lobster pots and small craft safety.
“We believe that the current, voluntary, arrangements and guidance have not been adequate and that the number of call-outs, by the RNLI and coastguard, to small craft disabled by fouled propellers and rudders shows the significance of the problem.
We hope that all stakeholders will work together, with DEFRA, to find a solution, particularly one that is cheap and practical for our fishermen.”
At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament. Deadline is 10 October 2017. Click here to sign the petition.
Many thanks to Roger for bringing this to our attention.
For our Club Night on Wednesday 28 June we have arranged something a bit special for the Oxted Offshore Ladies and to celebrate the summer solstice. OK – it’s a week late, but it will still be a long and hopefully balmy night!
We’ve all got bits of sailing paraphernalia cluttering up the cupboards – from training books, sailing novels and duplicate charts to unused thermal hats, a spare head torch or that Musto polo that never did fit properly!
Boat insurance specialists MS Amlin have launched a competition to find the most interesting and creative boat names out there. The winners, selected on a monthly basis, will be awarded Southampton Boat Show tickets.
We think that Degree of Latitude may be a strong contender? Someone want to nominate it?
Classic Sailing have published a 58-page guide to Tall Ships and Tall Ship Races which is free to download and includes:
There’s also a section on How to Spot Wildlife at Sea and a calendar of 2017 Tall Ship Races. A really good read if Tall Ships float your boat!!
Download a copy here:
