*CYC Club trip: 20/07/13 - Uphill

[Matt]

20/07/13 (Saturday) to 21/07/13 (Sunday)

We did a CYC trip to Uphill about 2 years ago which was fab. We moored up next to the massive beach which runs along Weston Super Mare. The small pontoon allows for a few small boats to raft up together.

There is a nice bub 'The Dolphin' within a few minutes walk and a longer walk brings you out into the bright lights of Weston and the pubs, clubs and restaurants.

More details will be posted nearer the time.

Matt

[Matt]

Tide times Cardiff

Saturday

Time Height

05:02..... 10.8 HW
11:13....... 2.5 LW
17:40..... 11.3 HW
23:52....... 2.0 LW

Sunday

Time Height

06:13..... 11.4 HW
12:30....... 1.9 LW
18:45..... 11.9 HW

The plan is to lock out at 14.30 - 15.00 on the Saturday (3 hours before HW) so that we can get up the river and tie up in plenty of time. We can check out the local pubs of Uphill or sample the delights of Weston. On the Sunday we have most of the day to do some shopping or sit on the sand with a BBQ depending on the weather? I would imagine we would leave around 17.00 (or about 2 hours before HW).

VHF communication will be on channel 77.

Let me know who is interested on this trip even if you are thinking about it so that I can let Uphill Yacht Club know how many boats to expect. I'll start the ball rolling by putting myself down .

Possible boats attending trip:

Ocean Factor
Volition
Enigma
Dolphin
Coracle
Preceptor





Kind regards

Matt

[sheila]

We might be interested Volition

[Wyndsong ( aka Kazzas1234)]

Wyndsong hoping to be there!!

[phil chivers]

Penwith Belle is interested. Phil Chivers

[Deleted]

Enigma is interested too if Mrs P can get away from committee duties!

[Deleted]

Dolphin is also interested in coming, will confirm next week.
Can confirm that we are coming, where and what time will we meet on Saturday?

[Matt]

I've contacted the Commodore of Weston Bay YC who has asked that I ring him with numbers a few days before. So if people can keep me posted as to whether they can or can't go that would be grand.

Matt

[Matt]

I was talking to the vice commodore of Weston bay yacht club who said that due to erosion of the banks only 4 boat can safely tie up to the pontoon. If any more they will try to accommodate boat on the moorings. It's therefore essential that skippers let me know by Wednesday at the latest if they are coming or not. Wbyc will be opening their bar for us when we get there.

[Romantica]

Matt,
Coracle hopes to be in attendance - will confirm on Thursday.
;D ;D

[sheila]

Yep, Volition is coming

[Deleted]

Enigma ready to set sail for Uphill

[phil chivers]

Can confirm Penwith Belle but have no tender if on a mooring.

[sheila]

Preceptor also coming

[Deleted]

Dolphin may go for a slightly earlier lock out

[Matt]

I've had an email back from Tony, the Vice Commodore of the club who says:

Hi Matt,
The situation is that the soft mud around the pontoon has been eroded away so that when the water level drops back holes are left into which the boats are likely to fall over. It may be possible to carefully raft two lots of 3 boats together but they will need to be actively settled as the water recedes. Suggest your crews will need to decide whether they wish to take the risk. We can provide some advice when you arrive on Saturday.
The only other option is to raft up with boats on the moorings but that will restrict access to when the water is in and will require dinghies/ tenders.
Let me know what u think!
Apologies for the state of the river but have been hard hit by the winter rains this year.
We look forward to your visit and will open up the bar for a couple of hours on Saturday eve.
Fair winds
T
I was also chatting to another chap who moors his boat at WBYC who says that 4 boats are comfortable but 6 boats rafted up maybe fine as long as we are careful. He suggests we try and get the fin keels next to the pontoon as they dig in better that the bilge keels along the bank. He says that we will have to lengthen our lines as the tide goes down so that the boats do not topple onto each other. Another thing I learnt when going before is to ensure that boats are staggered a little to avoid the masts clashing together if they do tip.

I obviously have to point out that there is only provision for 3 boats to be rafted up on 2 pontoons (so 6 boats in total) and if there are any more it presents a problem. I had a text from Karen on Wyndsong who can't make it. So 6 have confirmed at the moment with Coracle also a possibility but Steve hasn't come back to me yet.

Therefore there is a risk if you do attend this event that you may not be able to get in to moor up. It would be dangerous to have 4 rafted up on the same section and the advice is not to do it. It is of course up to each skipper when making decisions and safety must be your foremost concern.

Matt

[phil chivers]

Hi Matt - as I would be single-handling my Colvic beastie and have no tender I shall cry off this trip, under the circumstances. Phil

[Matt]

Thanks for letting us know Phil. Catch you another time.

Matt

[Romantica]

Matt,
Sorry I spoke to you last night (Thursday )with regards the trip arrangements and thought I told you Coracle would be going. Albeit I might lock out a little earlier than what you said in your posting. As I could be on my own - my crew are feeling the heat.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I won't be taking my tender as it wouldn't be worth it for one night on my own
Hopefully meet up on route
Cheers
Steve d.

[Matt]

That's fine Steve. As Wyndsong and Penwith Belle have now pulled out it makes 6 boats in total going. Perfect number. Its a pity that the Uphill pontoons can't accommodate more boats as its such a lovely spot.

I don't suppose you know Phil from Penwith Belle? I'm guessing he would be up for crewing today if you have his number and are short today.

See you later !

Matt

[Romantica]

Matt,
Thanks for organising a great trip - perfect Company, weather & sailing conditions.

Can you also Thank Rhian your new crew member for hospitality's. Huge difference in healthy food standards - from the food us blokes took.

Good food, good company and good sailing what more could you have done

Cheers
Steve D

[Matt]

Great trip and great company. We even made it onto the WBYC facebook page!

www.facebook.com/WestonBayYachtClub?ref=stream

[Matt]

A great weekend with good company and amazing weather.

Some photos of the trip:



The beautiful river Axe, home of the Weston Bay Yacht Club.



Crew for the trip - Keith and Rhian.



Stuck in the mud at low water.


Nice sail over with a good wind. As there was not much room on the pontoons a few of the other boats decided to go to Burnham and not chance the disappointment of not being able to stop at Uphill. Due to the restrictions on how many can raft up its probably not the best place to do a club trip in hindsight and will probably not suggest it as a club trip again but as its such a lovely place I would highly recommend it if there are just a handful going over.

Boats that rafted up for the night were Ocean Factor (CYC), Dolphin (CYC), Jazzical (CBYC), River Rambler (CYC), Coracle (CYC), Catamaran (CBYC).

On the Saturday we had a few drinks at the Weston Bay Yacht Club who kindly opened their club for us and then had a meal on the boat. Excellent hospitality and advice on how to stay upright on the mud!

On Sunday we took a long hot stroll into Uphill, and was joined by uncle Steve from Coracle and got some provisions, had lunch and then another long walk along Weston beach to the new Whetherspoons there where they were having a cider festival so we decided to try a number of the different drinks with daft names none of which I can remember. After a walk back we had another fantastic meal cooked by Rhian and a great sail back. This weekend was the end of that month of non stop sunshine we had so T shirts, sunglasses and shorts for the trip back.

Matt