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Starting on Friday 1st March 2019 survey works will be carried out along the River Crouch, Dengie Flats/Ray Sand and the River Blackwater.

On the Crouch the survey extends from Brandy Hole Reach in the West to the Buxey Sand in the East. On the Blackwater the survey extends from Osea island in the West to Colne Bar in the East.

The survey will be carried out by PLA Survey Vessel “MAPLIN” which will deploy subsurface towed equipment up to 200m astern of the vessel which will be marked with a tail buoy. When carrying out the survey the PLA Survey vessel will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre and will display lights and shapes in accordance with the international Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (as amended) Rule 27 b. The vessels will maintain a listening watch on the appropriate port VHF working channel throughout the working period.

All vessels are required to proceed with caution past the survey vessel when work is underway and at all times when advised by Crouch Harbour Authority.

Survey work is due to be completed by 10th March 2019 but this may be extended as a result of prolonged periods of unsuitable weather or other operational requirements.

This notice will be cancelled on completion of the surveys.

Congratulations to our cadets and their generous parents for this fantastic fundraising effort for the Andrew Simpson Foundation. This press release  has just been posted on the Bart's Bash Facebook Page

Bart's Bash

10 January at 14:37 · 

⭐️ Great way to start 2019 ⭐️

A huge thank you to BSC Cadets for raising an amazing £400 for Bart’s Bash, your support for the Foundation is truly appreciated and we hope that you and the sailors had a great day at the pre Bart’s Bash training.

The money was raised by 39 cadets from the Blackwater Sailing Club in Essex, who took part in a river race training day. There were a variety of different boats out on the water including Optimists, Toppers, Lasers, Fevas and BSC Quests. The training was aimed at getting the cadets ready to race in Bart's Bash, but unfortunately their event had to be cancelled due to the forecast of stormy weather and force 6 gusts!

Their generous donation helps us to deliver on our mission of increasing participation in sailing and improving the lives of young people through the delivery of 5 key charitable activities.

Thank you again for your continued support!

#sailonbart   Bart's Bash Facebook

On Sunday 13^th January a new record number of almost 50 members turned up to help at our third work party. The near gale force cold wind didn’t deter members who swarmed all over the site making it look more like the set from ‘Ground Force’ than a sailing club. Loads of jobs got done, fences mended, trees pruned, roots removed, more engine storage racks built in the members workshop, bulbs planted and a skip full of rubbish cleared including old windsurfers and boards to mention just a few. The hunt for brambles continued, but they are now getting much harder to find!

A big thank you to Julie for organising us all and to Kathryn and her team in the galley for keeping us fed and watered. They provided an excellent lunch for the 41 members still there of jacket potato and beans with apple cake and custard to follow. Despite the hard graft, the work parties are really good social occasions, the happy atmosphere makes you feel better, although exhausted, by the end of the day. Thank you to all those who gave up their Sunday and came along to work together to get so much done. Our next work party is on Sunday 17^th February. Put it in your diary now – what a great way to get fit for the rapidly approaching sailing season.

Photos © Nigel Butler

During December, members enjoyed a number of Christmas events at the Club. On Thursday 13^th December 77 members sat down to a delicious traditional Christmas lunch cooked by Bridget. This was followed by entertainment by our very own Blackwater Ensemble with many carols to sing along to.

Not to be outdone, the following day the Friday Sailors staged their annual 'Santa sail' on the Lake with festively decorated boats and members in fancy dress. Even our newest Members entered into the spirit. The only thing that marred the day was the behaviour of Santa’s reindeer. They looked very smart for about three minutes but then tried to eat each other’s antlers. To calm them down, the Grinch took Santa and his reindeer round the lake in a Quest. The lake sail was followed by the inevitable everyone brings a dish Christmas buffet extravaganza. Sailors and the excited spectators tucked in and swapped recipes. Someone did suggest the new Friday Sailors motto should be "never knowingly underfed!" Then an unexpected VERY special visitor arrived to distribute the secret Santa presents amidst much hilarity and every participant was rewarded with their very own 'I saw Santa at Friday Sailing BSC' sticker. Even the Vice Commodore got to sit on Santa’s lap and get a sticker. Did he get what he hoped for from Santa?

The final event of the year was Christmas cheer where members enjoyed lashings of mulled wine, mince pies and sausage rolls to get them in the mood for Christmas.

Many thanks to the social committee and the Friday sailors for all their hard work making Christmas at the club such a happy and enjoyable time.

Pictures (c) Nigel Butler and the Friday Sailors

 On Sunday 2^nd December a record number of more than 35 members turned up to help at our second winter work party. The overnight rain cleared over to leave a pleasant and dry day which enabled us to get lots done. Repairs to the ramp were completed, tree stumps pulled out, brambles removed, sheds cleared out and the dinghy trailer part was emptied, strimmed, reorganised and left beautifully tidy.

 A number of trailers which appeared redundant or abandoned were dragged from the undergrowth and put by the fence to the left of the double gates as you enter the site by footpath. Please would members check if theirs is among them – if not claimed, they will be disposed of or offered to a museum in the new year.

A big thank you to Julie for organising us all and to Kathryn and her team in the galley for keeping us fed and watered. There was a happy, friendly atmosphere at the club as everyone worked together to get so much done. Thank you to all those who gave up their Sunday and came along to help. Our next work party is on Sunday 13^th January. Put it in your diary now – what a great way to work off those excesses over Christmas.  

Photos © Nigel Butler

We are very proud and honoured to have been chosen as the East Region finalist for the prestigious Club of the Year 2019 award. The RYA and Yachts & Yachting have again joined forces to recognise outstanding achievement of sailing clubs across the UK through the Club of the Year Awards.  The 11 finalists now go through to the public vote with the overall successful club selected by RYA members, Yachts & Yachting readers and the panel. The Club of the year will be announced at the RYA Dinghy show on Saturday 2^nd March. We hope that our members and friends will agree that our selection recognises all the hard work by so many of you, our members, who freely volunteer your time to make our club so successful and such a great place to be. Special thanks go to our Publicity Officer, Chris Brown, who worked closely with the flags team to submit the application. We hope you may consider voting for your club and would be grateful if you could spare a few moments and follow the link to cast your vote.

Vote for Club of the Year 2019

Thank you

On Saturday 17^th November 110 members and their guests packed into the Lion House function suite at the Lion Inn, Boreham for our first black-tie Laying up Supper for four years. Everyone looked very smart in their finery and there was a great atmosphere as guests arrived and enjoyed a pre-dinner drink.

After a nautical grace from the Rear Commodore, everyone settled down to enjoy a delicious three course meal with friendly and efficient service from the house.  During coffee, the Muhlhauser Trophy was presented to Sir Julian Berney Bt. for his log of cruises to and around the Canaries. Julian then gave a short talk about the significance of George Muhlhauser and his yacht ‘Amaryllis’ which we fortunate to have a model of at the club. After this, the raffle was drawn. Thanks to the generosity of members, we had some amazing prizes which were divided into five goodie bags for the winners.

Without further ado, DJ John entertained us with his mix of music and the dance floor was quickly full of people showing off their moves. The Friday Sailors were obviously having “The Time of their Life” and after an impressive attempt to drink the bar dry sampling every shot in the house, they took to the floor. Sadly, their attempt to recreate the iconic lift from ‘Dirty Dancing’ didn’t quite come off. Not to be deterred, they dragged everyone still sitting to their feet and formed probably the longest conga ever seen at the Lion House. This wound its way around the premises for some time and then the dancing continued late into the night.

 All in all, a great time was had by all and evidence that there is still demand for a black-tie annual event if the venue is right. Many thanks to The Lion House and to Sue Sheppard and her team for organising a most enjoyable event.

Photos © Nigel Butler

We are proud to support the Royal British Legion 2018 poppy appeal to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World war.

Local RBL supporter Shaun Morgan has stationed 'George' the WW1 Silhouette Sailor at the entrance to the club and Heybridge Basin to help raise awareness for the RBL centenary poppy appeal. Shaun served as Lance Cpl 103/104Bn REME until he was medically discharged from the British Army with spine injuries. It is particularly fitting that his son who is in the Royal Signals, put our RBL statue in place.

The club was well established with a membership of over 100 when war broke out in 1914. At this time, many members volunteered for active service and some were never to return. During this period of Remembrance, please remember all those who served, sacrificed and changed our world. In particular, please join us in saying ‘Thank you’ to all those from Maldon, Heybridge and the sailing community on the river Blackwater who gave so much.

We hope you will give your generous support to the 2018 Poppy Appeal.

Photo of George © Shaun Morgan

On Thursday 18^th October 53 members sat down to enjoy a delicious lunch in celebration of Horatio Lord Nelson’s famous victory at Cape Trafalgar in 1805. Don Baines introduced the proceedings and following the Trafalgar Grace by the Rear Commodore, diners enjoyed a broadside of beef with mushrooms in red wine, Emma’s Yorkshire puddings, creamy mash, cheesy leaks, carrots and peas. This was followed by Trafalgar jam roly poly pudding with custard.

The Commodore then gave an entertaining talk about the colourful life of Emma, Lady Hamilton before she met Horatio in Naples in 1793 and the powerful bond that developed between the two after they first met. Former Commodore, Anthony Sinclair, proposed the toast to the Immortal memory of Horatio Lord Nelson, and to all those who fell with him and guests then “Spliced the Mainbrace!” with Lady Hamilton’s nip – a tot of spiced rum. Tea, coffee and slow matches followed to round off what was a most enjoyable occasion. Many thanks to Marilyn Sinclair and her team for continuing to provide these popular lunches at the club. 

Photos by Nigel Butler  

On Sunday 7^th October a cool force 3-4 NNW wind and autumn sunshine greeted the 39 dinghies and cruisers competing in our last all in race of the season, the Dyer Cup. Race Officer George set a long line extending south from Osea Road and achieved a remarkably orderly start for the down wind broad reach port tack start. The committee boat end was very busy, but others opted for a clear wind start towards Osea. Spinnakers quickly appeared allowing the faster boats to pull clear of the closely bunched slower boats. A gybe around Doctor and then a close fetch to South Doubles and hard on the wind to Hilly Pool. Bear away for a run down to Nipper and a final gybe for the beat back to the club line. The first boat home was the Spitfire in 39 minutes but a brilliantly sailed race by Marnie and Ellie in their Feva gave them an impressive victory over some of the club’s finest helms. Second, and winning the Fendick Cup was Terry Crook in a blaze.        

This was a very closely contested race with only 4 minutes on corrected time between the first 21 boats. This wasn’t a day for the cruisers though, first home was Joe Leary and Breezy in 30^th place overall but winning the Copsey Cup for first cruiser.

A short Dyer cup course was set for younger cadets in toppers and optimists.

It was particularly fitting that the prizes were presented by 90 year old Peter Wilson, our oldest honorary cadet member who had made a special trip to the club for this event.

Marnie Aers and Ellie Shelter presented with the Dyer Cup by Peter

Results:

Dyer Cup:

1^st Marnie Aers and Ellie Shelter – RS Feva

2^nd Terry Crook – Blaze (Fendick Cup)

3^rd Phil Newman and Lester Apthorp – K6

Short Dyer Cup:

1^st Jessica Taylor – Topper

2^nd Stanley Johnson – Optimist

3^rd Jess Welch – Optimist

For the full results click Dyer Cup Results

Photos © Zoe Nelson and Kate Stewart