15 April 2012Launch Day 2012
Launching 12 boats in quick succession then stepping the same number of masts, Sandy's usual expertise as crane driver once again took us through the annual boat launch without mishap. The sun shone brightly for most of the day with a light but cool breeze (to ensure we kept our jackets buttoned up) making ideal conditions for this annual event.
Refreshments were on hand for those that needed them - Dave Morris is seen here tucking into something almost too big for him! - and there was a chilli-packed soup that brought tears to the eyes but was just what was needed to keep the blood flowing.
Many thanks to all the helpers, tractor-drivers and rope handlers for making the day go smoothly.
08 April 2012Whisky Tasting Evening
The 
peaty aromas of 'Longrow' malt whisky and the powerful flavours of 'Springbank' are still drifting around the Clubhouse as evidence of a merry Club gathering last night. Frank McHardy treated us to a detailed but nevertheless a very entertaining explanation of how the whisky is made both today and in the past, how it makes its long journey from the grain to the bottle, as well as letting us sample some of these powerful spirits.
To temper our pallets, and to ensure we were still capable of making our way safely home at the end of the night, cheese, biscuits and fruit was conjured up and presented by Linsday McHardy ending a delightful evening.
Many thanks to them both for their efforts.
04 April 2012The Royal Hotel opens
 Plot Your Course for The Royal Hotel in Campbeltown Harbour 55’ 25.90N, 05’ 32.56W  The Royal Hotel, a long-faded beauty that for years has sat mostly empty at the head of Campbeltown Harbour will reopen its doors on 12 May 2012. This historic and newly restored hotel, just steps away from Campbeltown Marina at the southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula, will cater to the sailing community with a full range of services including dining options at both the Harbourview Grille and Black Sheep Pub; private shower and laundry service; sumptuous provisions and food hampers; free Wi-Fi; and complimentary weather reports and tide tables.
“The revived Royal Hotel will not only add more street life to the town’s historic crossroads but will also become a destination for sailors cruising the world renowned waters of western Scotland and Northern Ireland,” said Marc Wexler, Project Executive for Southworth Development LLC. “We recognized that there needed to be services in Campbeltown for sailors and we are confident The Royal Hotel on Campbeltown Harbour will meet those needs.”
Reservations for The Royal Hotel can be made by calling +44 (0) 1586 810000 or by e-mail at reservations@machdunes.com. Staff is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. |
03 April 2012Use of Red diesel
HMRC Announcement on the use of Red Diesel in Private Pleasure Craft
On 21st February, the HMRC issued draft legislation to take effect from 1st April, 2012, which HMRC describes as follows:-
“The measure provides that red diesel for use as fuel for propelling private pleasure craft can only be used in UK waters. All purchasers of red diesel for use as fuel for propelling private pleasure craft will be required to sign a declaration to that effect. All purchasers will be made aware that if they travel outside UK waters they will be subject to the restrictions and prohibitions of other Member States”.
The background to this is that the European Commission has challenged the UK practice of allowing the use of red diesel to propel private pleasure craft despite the condition that full duty is paid. This proposed legislation is an attempt to reduce the likelihood of such litigation. As it stands, this measure should have no impact on members sailing in UK waters only, but it will be prejudicial to those members wishing to sail outside of UK waters, and creates considerable practical problems.
UPDATE
For the very latest on this issue here is a link to an interview with the RYA's Gus Lewis which clearly explains the present postion.
20 February 2012Save Clyde Coastguard!
In December 2010 the UK Government announced modernisation consultation proposals for HM Coastguard. At that time the intention was to reduce the UK's eighteen Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres to just two centres which would operate 24hrs per day. These centres (MOC's) would be supported by only five sub centres that would only be operational throughout "daylight hours only".(See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12007031).
The present Coastguard Station that serves our area is at Greenock where it leases space from the Ministry of Defence. These buildings are due to close in December 2012 (although the MOCs will not be fully operational until 2013 or 2014) but the Government is also to close Coastguard centres at Forth, Great Yarmouth, Liverpool, Thames, Swansea, Brixham, Portland and Solent by 31 March 2015.
Various campaigns have been running since the announcement was first made (the poster on the right may be familiar to many) urging the Government to reconsider this move and time is clearly now running out. It may be impossible to know for sure what the effect of the Greenock closure will have on us but it is easy to see that any incident that relies heavily upon local knowledge of our area is likely to be compromised when the nearest centre is so far away.
