30th May - Land on Flat Holm for a Tour.

[Deleted]

Hi All
Colin and I will be about on Bloomers Saturday Hope to see you out there. We won't be locking out till about 10.00 not bothered about landing.
Weather looks good Hope you all enjoy the trip.

[ishtar]

Huw,

As I though, we won't make it I'm afraid. See you weds.

M.

[Deleted]

Hello Huw / all

just to confirm that Elaine and me are joining Wisset on 'Andrea' (a Westerly Centaur). All of us hoping to land and join the tour. what time do we need to be there at anchor / on the island ready for a tour? We do have an inflatable (oars only I think), but a lift would be much appreciated!

I'm not used t anchoring in a group - anybody got any specific ideas or plans for distances between us etc. - or is it just a case of 'we'll see'?

Cheers, see you Saturday
Peter

[sandpiper]

Tour starts at 10:00-10:30ish - they know we could be a while getting ourselves sorted and getting to shore. And if you arrive particularly late they have self guide packs, though the cost is the same - £4 per person to go ashore (please try to have correct change).

As for anchoring I guess there will be some of us using chain and rope (in various ratio's) and some on all chain so swinging circles will vary. I guess we just need some common sense and courtesy. The North East corner of the Island is geographically the best place to anchor as there is a shallow beach there and a jetty, however the wind is forecast from the East and whilst we will still probably be tide rode on the East going tide it could be choppy there??? Probably need to each decide when we get there.

Beware there are old broken supports of this jetty under water extending straight out from where the existing one is visable by about 10m, and that the jetty is not in particularly deep water - fine for dinghy's but not for deep keels. I went out on Monday over low tide (springs) to check the bottom out.

Finally can't remember if I've mentioned already - we're using VHF Ch72, and if you have a handheld VHF take it with you. Vince and myself are staying onboard to keep watch, probably on my boat (callsign Sandpiper), assuming you decide to anchor in sight of us - which as with all other decisions is totally up to the skipper.

[Deleted]

Just to say THANKYOU to Huw for organising the trip - and of course most importantly the dinghy ferry service! Not the easiest conditions to manage a dinghy full of people - WELL DONE.

Lessons learnt:
don't try to anchor / dinghy exactly at high water - very bumpy for only a short time.

Don't, as we did, anchor directly in line with the old concrete wall/slipway (a little to the south east of the jetty) - it extends right down to the low water line in large broken blocks - great for getting your anchor chain wrapped around!

And (especially for a couple of nameless and VERY LUCKY people)...More chain/warp needed to cope with the rising tide I think.

Thanks all for your company, shame about the lack of wind in the afternoon!
Cheers, Peter