Scottish Civil Service Cruising Club
We are starting this year with a boat-handling weekend where you can come along on either day or even both days to practice coming alongside in different conditions & directions and other marina movements. Out on the water we can work with buoys with and without engine power. If you want to come and practice any particular aspect - let us know in advance and we will try to accommodate. This will be done in conjunction with NELSC folk. If there is the demand further days can be arranged.
Foxfire has been out of the water and I understand required little attention below the waterline other than routine maintenance. There is now an anchor chain snubber in the stern locker with approx 2m of nylon rope attached to the stainless steel hook. A carpet has been fitted to the cabin floor, which it is hoped will stop food and rubbish going into the bilges and has reduced engine noise in the cabin. It is a rubber backed washable carpet so hopefully we can keep it clean. The grab bag now has, in addition to two flares and the hand held VHF radio, wire cutters for 5mm rigging wire.
Following the disappointment of Foxfire not getting to the West Coast last year it looks pretty certain it will be this year as I have a crew that have already asked to go with me and NELSC seems to have crews to take it up & back. Jim Naden is also taking a boat out of Dunstaffnage at the same time - but again he has a crew already. Nevertheless there are opportunities to sail with other folk on the West Coast.
We will have our popular Clyde Rally weekend with the Five Kingdom Sailing Club (5KSC) in August this year and so far we have 4 boats meeting up.
We also have our usual weekend sails scheduled.
The boats may be available for other weekends, or days during the week, or weeks but obviously our priority is to fill our programme first.
There will be CSSA RYA approved instructors on ‘Artful Dodger’ who can offer Day Skipper & Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster practical training/examination.
The membership fees have again been held to the same level. Booking deposits, if required, must be paid in advance. Also security deposits must be lodged if required. Security deposits are only used, to the extent necessary, if required - like an insurance excess. When sailing could you please advise skippers of any health aspects that they should be aware of.
Remember NELSC has a website at www.nelsc.org.uk which shows Foxfire’s programme and availability. It also gives a lot of information regarding the boat and has some good links to other sites.
I hope our programme offers you, and the folk you tell about the club, some enjoyable sailing. To avoid any disappointment please advise me of your berth requirements and any training interest as soon as possible.
As a reminder, the programme has been issued at this time of year and use of a boat throughout the year has to be planned ahead and this starts at the AGM considering its availability, skippers’ availability, and members’ wishes. We then have to agree the dates and set our programme. The last thing we want to do is cancel a trip. Whilst we are very lucky in the flexibility of arrangements for sails on Foxfire we must appreciate NELSC’s need to utilise its use as much as possible and we must be in a position to say to NELSC two weeks before yes we want it or no we don’t.
Unlike some activities, for the above reasons, it is essential to consider our programme and then commit in advance as early as possible – so I expect to hear from you soon!
Whilst our programme offers a number of sailing opportunities, if two or three folk wish a sail on Foxfire at another time, either at weekends or during the week then please look at the NELSC website to check availability and/or contact me and we will see if we can arrange it.
Have you looked at our own website at www.scottishcivilservicesailing.org.uk ? Take a look and keep it as a favourite. It is maintained by Bill Johnston and its purpose is to help in advertising & communication including updates on availability etc.
We aim for it to be a good advertising point and therefore everybody is encouraged to send in photos to Bill that can be used with a short description or even a short article about the trip.
As with any website, remember it is open to the public and so we will not have members details on it. There are contact details for the website but correspondence between individual members should still be by individual e-mails, by phone, or post.
Any comments on the site or its content can be sent to Bill direct or to me.
Please contact me if you want any further information. Enjoy your sailing!
Regards,
Roger Ede
Secretary
This year we continue our programme of various sailing opportunities with weekend and longer trips on the Clyde, sails on the West Coast, and our weekend rally with 5KSC folk. We are also having a boat handling weekend to master those things concerning marinas and buoys that you don’t give yourself time to do on your social sails!
Cruising Weekends:
Firth of Clyde Estimated
Costs
*Kip - Westerly Tiger 25’ £30/day
17- 18 April (Boat Handling) 1 - 3 May
15 - 16 May
10 – 11 July
4 - 5 Sept
Clyde Rally Weekend 14 - 16 August £30/day
* £15/day introductory price to potential members wishing to try sailing (first trip only – max 2 days)
Cruising Weeks:
Firth of Clyde
Largs 22 - 28 August t.b.a
Oban – Sun Odyssey 43’ 5 – 12 June t.b.a
West Coast Trip – Oban 5 – 12 June £30/day
Westerly Tiger
The Westerly Tiger is scheduled to sail from Kip on or about 27 May through the Crinan Canal returning to Kip by 18 June. This will have separate legs skippered by SCSCC & NELSC folk. We have currently scheduled the above SCSCC week out from & back to Oban. Further details available from the Secretary.
Holiday Cottage on Skye: in addition there is the opportunity to rent a cottage on Skye. The terms are weekly.
Training: There is also the opportunity for RYA practical courses through our connections with 5KSC.
There may well be other sails and we can put you in touch with other Civil Service sailing opportunities in Scottish waters. Further information regarding the Club, details of the above programme and other sailing opportunities in Scottish waters can be obtained from the club secretary Roger Ede, 11 Hillview Drive, Dumfries,
DG1 4DS. Tel: 01387 265670 (h).
We also have our own website at
www.scottishcivilservicesailing.org.uk
where there is further information.