It is with profound sadness that we have to report that Mike Briers died on Tuesday 11th August in Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Mike became ill only four weeks ago with an aggressive brain tumour. His loss to his family, friends and the Ribble Cruising Club is impossible to overstate and Lytham has lost an extraordinary gentleman. He was active at the church, Music Society, Civic Society and other good causes, where with his infectious energy made so many lives richer.
Mike and Michele joined the club with their very young family Sarah and Daniel in 1979. For over 40 years Mike was been among the most active of members on and off the water.
He cruised and raced dinghies, trailer-sailers, quarter and half ton cruiser/racers and the International 12 metre Sceptre which gave Mike unparalleled experience, pleasure, and considerable success on the Ribble, Windermere, Scotland and as far as the Azores.
Mike was a Trustee, Commodore in 1985, Hon Secretary for 16 years and long-time speaker finder for the most successful Last Tuesday Talks. Most recently active on the RYA Northwest Regional committee with special interest in environmental and cruising matters. At the RCC August Main Committee meeting he was voted an Honorary Member.
The funeral arrangements will be notified in due course although they will inevitably be on a restricted format due to the Coronavirus.
Michele has asked for time to adjust and has the support of Sarah and Daniel and her grand children Jessica, Liam and Edward who are in our thoughts at this time of great loss.
David H Miller
Trustee
12th August 2020
Captain Barnacle
Aug052020
August Newsletter -The club is making a gradual return to dinghy sailing on the sea from the clubhouse
I do hope that you are well and managing to enjoy the summer. It is great to have seen an increase in the number of boats on the river and to have enjoyed some un-official social events at the dock.
The recent continued easing of restrictions by HM Government from the end of July has meant that the main committee has again reviewed the club’s response in terms of getting back to sailing.
The Government has assessed that outdoor activities can be further increased, and some indoor facilities have opened if they can be made sufficiently Covid-19 Secure. Additionally, the RYA has published more guidance stating that all forms of sailing are now possible providing that social distancing is maintained.
However, we are still only allowed to gather outdoors in a mixed group of up to six, with social distancing.
Whilst we can gather in small groups the preparation and launching of our dinghies and crewing of safety boats continues to provide a challenge requiring individuals to sometimes operate closer than 2m apart albeit for limited periods.
The Main Committee has reviewed the latest guidance and considers that it is now possible to move to a gradual increase in the number of club supported dinghy sailing events.
To this end the club is planning a number of dinghy sailing days on the estuary in August when a safety boat will be on the water.
The sailing days are initially for the benefit of members with their own dinghies, but a limited number of club boats will in the future be available for hire (booked and paid in advance) from John Gallagher. Numbers of people in the dinghy tanks are strictly limited (and thus the numbers on the water) in line with the government guidance noted above and therefore there will be a need for members to book onto these sailing days. Please do not just turn up and expect to sail, you may not even be allowed into the dinghy tank!
The days will be as the ‘Club Sailing (TBC)’ days and times as in the handbook.
The dock remains open for personal sailing (subject to government distancing regulations)
The Clubhouse will remain closed
A Safe Operating Procedure has been produced by the Sailing Committee and it will be incumbent on every participant, for their own protection, to act in accordance with its requirements. A copy of this document will be posted on the website , on Facebook and will be sent to anyone booking onto a sailing day.
If you would like to sail, or help, on one of these days, please book in at Captainhoratiobarnacle@gmail.com. As part of the club’s self-help ethos participants will also be expected at some point to take a duty at OOD and on the Safety Boat for which a rota will be compiled.
Meanwhile the Main Committee continues to review HM Government’s advice as it is issued. There is a planned re-opening date for the clubhouse (yet to be published) and a number of clubhouse-based activities are planned for the Autumn, but much will depend to some extent on the relaxation of social distancing.
Many may know that Mike Briers is presently not well, many will also be aware of how Mike has worked tirelessly over many years (since 1978 in fact) in several club roles most recently as the Hon Secretary and as a Trustee. Mike’s illness has meant that unfortunately he has decided to resign his role as both Trustee and Hon Secretary. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike on behalf of all the club’s members for the time and enthusiasm which he has put into his various roles at the club. This of course leaves us with a huge hole to fill and we are therefore seeking an individual to fill the role of Hon Secretary. If you have an interest or know of someone (they need not necessarily even be a member) who may like to take on this primarily administrative role, please get in touch with a member of the Main Committee. We all wish Mike a speedy recovery.
In the meantime, please keep safe and socially distance.
Dear Member,
I am pleased to say that there has been some recent sailing, predominantly in cruisers by club members although it has to be said that following the early good signs the recent weather hasn’t been particularly conducive.
The recent continued easing of restrictions by HM Government from the 4th July has meant that the main committee has again reviewed the club’s response in terms of getting back to sailing.
The Government has assessed that outdoor activities can be increased but indoor sports venues/facilities cannot be made sufficiently Covid-19 Secure and should remain closed. Additionally, the RYA has published additional guidance stating that limited cruiser and dinghy sailing is possible providing that social distancing is maintained.
We are now allowed to gather outdoors in a mixed group of up to six, but still with social distancing.
Whilst we can gather in small groups the preparation and launching of our dinghies and crewing of safety boats will inevitably require individuals to operate closer than 2m apart and whilst one meter plus mitigation is allowable the committee do not consider that the required mitigation requirements are practical for sailing purposes.
Our guiding principal is the safety of our members, rather than what ‘could’ be done under the regulations. The upshot is that, for the month of July, the Main Committee has decided that
• The club and dock will remain open for personal sailing (subject to government distancing regulations)
• The Clubhouse will remain closed
Over the next couple of months we will continue to clean the Club in preparation for re-opening and in the meantime, I would be grateful if members could be mindful of the restrictions and understand that we are acting in the interests of our members
The main committee will continue to monitor the advice issued by HM Government and continue to review changes to the club’s sailing policy in response.
Stay safe and alert.
Andrew Walls
Commodore
Captain Barnacle
May292020
Notice to Mariners -Orsteds Wind Farm -June Update
Please be advised that the local ‘Regional Local Notice to Mariners’ concerning the forthcoming activities for ORSTEDS WIND FARMS in the Irish Sea will now be issued on a monthly basis with updates provided should there be a requirement for an addition NtM to be distributed.
This notice lists any changes to the Aids to Navigation Availability as well as any proposed Jack-up / maintenance operations in the region
Awareness items in the notice relate to the following wind farms:
Wind Farm
Abbreviation
Barrow Area and Cumbrian Coast
Barrow Offshore
BOW
West of Duddon Sands
WoDS
Walney Offshore Extensions 1 & 2
WOW 01 – WOW 02
Walney Offshore Extensions 3 & 4
WOW 03 – WOW 04
Liverpool Bay
Burbo Bank Wind Farm
BBW 01
Burbo Bank Extension
BBW 02 (EXT)
MAIN ITEMS OF INTEREST INCLUDED IN THE NtM
Introduction – Subsea Cables Information and KIS-ORCA Wind Farm Awareness Charts(Page 4)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Chartlet showing General Location of Operational Wind Farms as well as key contact details (Page 5)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Notice to Mariners Summary(Page 6)
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
BARROW (Page 7)
Turbines A01 and A07 – Navigation lights extinguished
Nothing to Report
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
BURBO 01(Page 8)
Navigation Light Extinguished Turbine BB42 – Fog Signal Inoperative Turbine BB38
Nothing to Report
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
BURBO 02 (EXT.) (Page 9)
Lighting and Marking Status
Turbine Position : A01 53°30.089’N 003°22.363’W Navigation Light Extinguished
Turbine Position : E05 53°27.871’N 003°18.323’W Navigation Light Extinguished
Turbine Position : F01 53°30.106’N 003°17.202’W Navigation Light Extinguished
Turbine Position : L05 53°27.889’N 003°12.047’W Navigation Light Extinguished
Nothing to Report
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
WALNEY 01 & 02 (Page 10 & 11)
TRANSITION PIECE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMM
Transition Piece maintenance is being undertaken on both WALNEY 1 & 2, this programme will run for a provisional 4 months.
Sequence of locations and dates are unavailable as works will be weather dependant and coordinated to ensure no conflict with routine maintenance operations.
REQUEST FOR SAFETY AREA
Mariners are requested to observe a 500m distance Safety Area around the affected Turbine(s) while works are being carried out.
The CTV “Rix Lion” (picture attached) will act as Guard Vessel during this maintenance programme with the vessel broadcasting the Turbine ID, establishment/cancellation of the safety areas and seeking contact with marine traffic approaching of nearing the areas on VHF Channel 16 and 12.
When “Rix Lion” is operating in the Wind Farm, you can assume work is being undertaken on several turbines which will have the requested Safety Areas in place.
WALNEY 01
Fog Signal Inoperative Turbine A11
TURBINE POSITION B07
Mariners are advised that due to a fault on the turbine nacelle crane there is presently a suspended load at B07, position 54 º03.23’N 003 º30.760’W
For their safety, Mariners are requested to maintain a minimum 200m from this location until the suspended load is removed, which we expect to be within 72 hours.
PLEASE READ NOTICE ON PAGE 11
WALNEY 02
Nothing to report
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
WALNEY 03 (Page 12)
Turbine Position C01 Navigation Light Extinguished
Nothing to report
WALNEY 04 (Page 12)
Nothing to report
CARDINAL BUOYS – EXTINGUISHED
North Cardinal Mark in position 54º 03.42’N 003º44.99’W Light is extinguished.
West Cardinal Mark in position 54° 06.63’N 003°55.33’W Light is extinguished
South Cardinal Mark in position 54°00.21’N 003°34.66’W Light is extinguished
……………………………………………………………………………………………
WEST of DUDDON SANDS (Page 13 & 14)
Please note that the Jack-up ‘WIND SERVER’ is now working in the sector marked as Area 3 (Pink)
Please refer to the ‘Area Identification Chartlet’ which is at the end of the Regional Notice on Page 13
It is requested that fishing and laying of gear is avoided in the whole of Area 3 (Pink) until notified that the works are complete and fishermen are requested and advised not to set any gear close to any Turbine position inAREA 3 (PINK) as identified on the Chartlet.
Information on Safety Zones and specifications of Jack-up ‘WIND SERVER’ (Page 14)
Duration dates are dependent on weather and work progress
All Navigation Aids at WoDS are fully operational
PLEASE READ THE NOTICE FOR MORE INFORMATION
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are unsure about any of the content or require any further information, also please pass this information to any of your colleagues who you think might be interested.
If you know of any fisherman who works the area and does not receive this information or anybody else who would benefit from this information please let me know.
Captain Barnacle
Captain Barnacle
Captain Barnacle
Captain Barnacle
