Event News 2011

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Event News 2011

Middle Back Cricket Match & Exploration Saturday 1 October Commodore, John Bradbury writes: In eight years I have never come up river to Stoke Gabriel at low tide. After all I do draw 3 feet ! So it was with care and some trepidation that I followed the channels up from Noss, past Flat Owers, Blackness and Pighole up to Middle Back. About 1.5 hrs before low water (0.3m) I did a recce of the area between the sandbank and the channel, finding about 3ft of water, so I buoyed up at the creek entrance and had lunch, waiting for slack water to dinghy over to the cricket pitch.Meanwhile three boats came up from down river and disgorged about 12-15 souls. By the time the Commodore's wife and I had got over to Middle Back a game was well under way, and having introduced ourselves and mentioned Christine's cake and banana bread a tea break was proposed ! Following liquid fortifications provided by the visitors we all reformed into two teams of about six aside (mainly visitors, but a sprinkling of locals), each batsman or batswoman receiving a maximum of six balls. The rules had a "make it up as you go" flavour, but a great deal of hilarity, skill (especially among the lady bowlers !), and effort resulted in a nail biting 24 runs all draw, the final equalising run being achieved by the youngest visitor.Once again in 2011 the event was blessed with fabulous weather, and although the incoming tide did its best to steal some vessels, the mud discovered by those approaching from the south rather than the east, was easily washed away.I also noticed with interest that the area between Middle Back and the deep channel was very wide and shallow near low tide. So much so that some hardy souls were wading up and down searching for last week's lost Pico tiller. All in all it was a fun filled afternoon, thoroughly to be recommended, most informative on low water navigation, and for me the first cricket match in about 50 years !! More photos.	Cricket match underway
Three new RS Feva's join the SGBA fleet Sunday 25 September Kim Connabeer & Barry Jobson report: Thanks to a combination of the recent sponsored pentathlon by SGBA teenagers, matching funding from the club and a substantial grant from Sport England, Stoke Gabriel Boating Association is proud to announce the acquisition of not one but three brand new RS Feva dinghies to extend the club’s sail training programme. The RS Feva is an exciting performance boat designed for teenagers or parent/child combinations. The new boats have now been delivered and were launched for the first time at last Sunday’s fun sailing at the end of the Swallows and Amazons event. The club already has a group of junior Feva sailors who have learned to sail the boats at RDYC and DRYSA over the last couple of years. This new flotilla will not only allow some of them to continue their race training but will be used to coach each successive group of graduates from the junior sailing course; keeping junior sailors involved with the club whilst also giving them the chance to travel to compete. Plus adding a bit of excitement to Thursday race nights! Immediate plans for the boats include taking three selected SGBA pairs to Royal Torbay Yacht Club to take part in winter training through the South-West Class Squad. Next spring there will be a race training series for recent graduates of the club’s junior sailing course. Adults after that! See the photos. Please note that for the time being the RS Fevas are only to be used by approved sailors at club events.	The new Feva's all rigged
SGBA Regatta & Official Opening of "Neil's Steps" Sunday 4 September This year's regatta was particularly busy with many sailors joining us from our more competitive neighbours at Dittisham Sailing Club. The Gaff, Pico and open dinghy classes, as well as the rowing races were all well fought. Following the sailing and rowing races, and an excellent BBQ, members joined together to officially open our new quarry steps. The new steps will enable everyone to access the dinghy park and store at all stages of the tide. In recognition of the many hours of hard physical work and dedication to the project, the SGBA have named these steps after their driving force, former Commodore Neil Millward. Thank you to everyone who made today a great success; the race committee boat, rescue boats, rowing team and the BBQ crew. See photos. Race winners: Lugs - Anthony Showell Old Gaffers - James Barrett Picos - Charlie and Albert Gillmore Toppers - Emily Mortimore Other Dinghies (handicapped) - Mike Bennett Men's Rowers - Peter Dingley-Brown Women's Rowers - Manny Austin Veterans' Rowers - Sheila Adams Under 16 Rowers - Rowan Hawkes Under 12 Rowers - Ben Hopper	Regatta winners 2011
Mill Pool Challenge Sunday 31 July Mill Pool Challenge is the SGBA's event for Stoke Gabriel Carnival, and this year's event was as wet and wild as we have come to expect. Pallet running out into the middle of Mill Pool, rowing races around buoys, dunking stool, walking on water balls and a duck race all added up to a fun but wet afternoon at the Mill Pool. Harry won the pallet run with a startling 8 second run. Jonno won the men's rowing race and Sarah the women's, with Jamie bringing home the children's rowing title. Special thanks to Charlie Gillmore for organising the whole afternoon and to the legion of helpers. See more photos.	Grace running the pallets
Riverside BBQ with the Totnes Boating Association Saturday 11 June Commodore John Bradbury reports: In spite of poor forecasts esrlier in the week, the prognosis improved as the week wore on and Saturday 11th turned out to be an excellent day. The TBA had invited the SGBA to join them at Ashprington point at noon, and with a high tide at about 3pm it was just right to anchor up close to shore and paddle the few feet to the bank. I was pleasantly surprised to find the river bottom a good (gravel) holding ground for our anchor, and "Meri-Go" did not shift a jot over the four hours we were stationed opposite Duncannon. There was even a gravel beach, and if I had found it sooner my dinghy would not have got so muddy! Totnes members had got a good log fire going by the time we arrived, and since our portable (Sainsbury's) barby was only useful for adding fuel to the logs and when dismantled a good base for the bangers and burgers, we eventually got a good meal, thanks to the Commodore's good lady! While the cooking was going on the Commodore demonstrated his rowing skills by going over to Duncannon point to transport two unnamed members across the Dart, as their transport had become "unable".Having thus worked up a good appetite, the Commodore and his Lady consumed a very summery repast and a welcome glass of chilled wine. Nine members of the SGBA were present, and a good mingling with our hosts followed the meal. Meanwhile, all the children enjoyed football and other games, never seeming to tire!Returning to Noss on a falling tide, we reflected that it had been an excellent day out, and with an awful day's weather predicted (accurately!) for the next day, we felt we had been very lucky.	BBQ at Ashprington Point
Junior Sailing Course 21, 22, 28, 29 & 30 May 2011 Day 1: The Junior Sailing Course 2011 got off to a fantastic start on Saturday 21 May. Thirty-eight keen children aged 8-11 enjoyed their first day's sailing in perfect training conditions, enough wind to get up and moving but not too much. All the beginners got a chance to helm and tack the Picos, whilst the more experienced sailors really enjoyed the good winds as they got reaquainted with sailing in the RS Fevas and Toppers. Day 2: Day 2 began with serious dinghy sailor wind. All the dinghies were reefed in and courses set to protect the beginners from the strong winds. At Mill Point the Pirates went out on their own for the first time in Bugs, whilst others got fast joy rides across the river in RS Visions and Picos. The session ended with capsize drill for everyone - although it was a little late for our early dippers! Down at Sandridge the more experienced sailors had great fun learning what the wind can throw at them, with almost everyone capsizing at some point. More fun next weekend folks! Day 3: Our second weekend looks like another blustery one. On Saturday the Mill Point Pirates blasted across the river in Pico relay races, got more single-handed experience in the Bugs and practiced their paddling (and swimming) in the final race of the day. Down river at Sandridge yet more capsizing, racing and fun in the Fevas and Toppers. Day 4: The morning drizzle, cleared off in the afternoon and the wind began to calm a little, giving another great day of sailing. The Mill Point Pirate went on an expedition to the other side of the river, sailing Bugs two-up with Picos and the Visions. Once on the other side hot chocolate warmed them before the journey home. Then the pirates raided the treasure from the evil instructor pirates on their base on the other side of the creek, returning with a treasure chest of sweets and chocolates. Day 5: Our final day was one of consoladating skills learnt and really enjoying those new found skills. All the Mill Point Pirates got out single-handedly on Bugs or Picos, as well as many having one-to-one tuition on Picos or Fevers. Races off Mill Point brought the sailing to an end before the Sandridge Sailors, and our families joined us for the BBQ and Presentations. Thanks to everyone who helped; instructors, rescue boat crews and helpers. And an especially big thank you to Kim for bringing it all together. See all the photos.	Junior Sailing Week 2011
Tuckenhay Canoe Races Sunday, 15 May 2011 Thomas lead another strong team of SGBA members to the Tuckenhay Canoe Races on a sunny May afternoon. Unfortuately, despite winning all their races and winning with good times, the Stoke Up team were unable to match recent year's trophy wins, this year coming home empty handed. After much debate it was concluded that they raced as well as they ever had, it is just that the other teams are getting better! Thanks to Thomas, David, Phillip, Charlie, Dan, Ian H, Ian B, Stewart, Matt, Neil, Liam, Simon and James for putting up a strong fight and represented Stoke so valiantly. More Photos.	Stoke Up romping home in their second race
Taster Day 2011 Sunday, 8 May 2011 Beautiful sunshine, high tides and a good wind got this year's sailing season off to a great start. The brave and the good (Poppy and Jamie!) took immediately to the water with gusto, whilst those ashore looked on with admiration. Slowly we all got our sea legs in one way or another, taking the club sailing and rowing dinghies, the rescue boat and kayaks out for a spin. The strong wind against tide meant a few people had an unscheduled early dip in the river, but everyone came in thrilled to be back on the water. Particular thanks to Barry and Alan for rescue boating and to Liam for taking some of our new members for a joy ride in one of the Picos. More photos	Liam taking George for a joy ride
Slipway cleaning 5 April 2011 Neil Millward and Roger Stobbard put the new power washer to good use today, cleaning the slipway ready for the new season. The power washer made light work of removing the seaweed and barnicles from the slipway. The power washer is available to members to borrow from the club house locker rooms. Thanks to Neil and Roger for organising the clean up.	Roger hard at work on the slipway
Annual General Meeting Thursday, 24 March 2011 Members filled the Club House for this year’s AGM and pre-season social on the evening of Thursday 24 March. Commodore Neil Millward, Treasurer Mike Pankhurst, Membership Secretary Sheila Adams and Sailing Secretary Barry Jobson gave a full annual report of the SGBA’s activities over the last year, including a successful Junior Sailing Week, Swallows and Amazons, Sunday Sailings and social events throughout the year culminating in our wonderful 40th Birthday celebrations in the Village Hall in November. Neil highlighted the grants received from the National Lottery and Devon County Council for the construction of the new wooden Quarry Steps which is currently underway. He also spoke of the designation of Stoke Gabriel as a secondary port and the publication of our own tide timetables as being personal highlights of the year. After three busy years as Commodore and eight increasingly hectic years as Membership Secretary, both Neil and Sheila stepped down from these roles. Neil will remain on the committee as Vice-Commodore, but Sheila is retiring to focus on other interests – although she assures us that she will still be at social events on and off the water. SGBA members thanked Neil and Sheila for their dedication over the years. Nominations for new Committee were received and approved. Members welcomed John Bradbury as the new Commodore after several years on the Committee. John explained his priorities for the coming years were to build on the fleet of dinghies for young and old, and expand and update the facilities for all members.	Commodore John Bradbury CBE and his wife Christine.
Work on the new Quarry Steps progresses Friday, 11 March 2011 Neil Millward writes: Initial work by our contractors on the quarry face revealed some very large tree roots that threatened the integrity of the rock face, if not now then in years to come. The trees have now been felled and the roots removed where possible. Rock pins and reinforced concrete (hidden behind stone facings) will secure the rock face. When that has been completed construction of the two timber towers will begin. Watch the progress.	Scaffolding up, ready for the construction of the steps to begin
Mud stomp & Foreshore Clearance Sunday, 6 March 2011 Twenty or so members donned their wellies, waders and wetsuits in the pursuit of a mud free creek, or at least a less muddy end to the dinghy pontoon. For two hours they worked their way along the channel pulling more and more mud away from the mud bank into the fast running channel of water gushing out of the sluice gate. And their efforts appear to have paid off as Sue Mortimer explained “when we started, the channel near the end of the pontoon was just a few meters across; we managed to widened to near eight meters which will make a massive difference to members with dinghies on the pontoon and those who use the club motorboat.” The mud stomp was followed by the annual foreshore clearance, tidying rubbish all the way along to Mill Point. Thank you to everyone who helped out, let the summer boating season commence! See more photos.	Anthony, Tim, Sue and Kim knee deep in the mud
The Beautiful River Dart Thursday, 3 February 2011 Andrew Dean writes: Members and friends of SGBA enjoyed an evening of music, pictures and history at a packed Village Hall on 3rd February. Historian John Risdon and musician Steve Banks provided a fascinating mixture of facts, images and music, interwoven especially for this event. The theme was The Beautiful Dart. The evening’s narrative spanned stories of the Jawbones chain across the estuary in the 14th century; the looting of a Portuguese treasure ship in the time of Drake; bored squaddies of World War II carving their names into trees at Greenway just a few days before the Normandy landings and the Baltic timber trade to Totnes. An ability to curse foreigners was confirmed in a most satisfactory way when a musical enactment of the battle of Blackpool Sands in 1404 enabled French speakers in the audience to abuse the English, while the latter (on the other side of the hall) described movingly the inadequacies of French culture and their inability to identify their ancestors. The evening left all touched by sentimental violin tunes, moody photographs, intriguing historical facts and a sense of how lucky we are to live where we do. A very happy evening, which was a joint enterprise with the Friends of Stoke Gabriel Church, with whom the proceeds will be shared.