run for berth holders by berth holders
Members’
Newsletter E
dition No. 107
May 2006
First Berth-holders AGM in the new Yacht Club HQ
The luxurious surroundings of the new Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club was the setting for the annual general meeting of the Sovereign Harbour Berth-holders Association. Members were, for the first time, greeted with complimentary coffee/tea and biscuits which was provided by the association and this helped establish a friendly atmosphere in which a convivial meeting took place.
Chairman for the last two years, Brian Stiff, noted before standing down, that the last year had been a busy one for the association.
A wide variety of issues including car parking, security and new facilities had been discussed at length with Sovereign Harbour Management as had individual members concerns. These comments and concerns were positively dealt with.
Elections saw some familiar faces continuing in post whilst others ‘changed hats’. There were also some new volunteers taking post and these were warmly welcomed.
New chairman, Sue Sydney, said that her priorities for the coming year were to carry out the association’s business efficiently and effectively, learn more about the marina’s staff and systems and continue to support and develop the events, activities and links that have become established. Some new ideas from members will also be evaluated.
The officers and committee wish all berth-holders an enjoyable summer season afloat.
Page 1
Flag Etiquette?
Several books cover the subject of when and where you should fly flags on board but I have yet to find one that deals satisfactorily with the rules concerning wearing dentures whilst flying the Red Ensign. My interest in this subject was stimulated when I was serving my time as an apprentice with the Eagle Oil and Shipping Company in the 1950’s. There were only twenty ships in the fleet, and as they tramped all over the world, it was unusual for two of them to meet at sea. However, whenever we learnt that another Eagle Oil vessel was going to pass nearby various preparations had to be made to make the most of the event. Courses would be adjusted so that we would pass within hailing distance of each other, a cleanish Ensign would be rigged on the flagpole aft and the Chief Engineer would be persuaded to produce enough of his precious steam to enable the whistle to emit more than a wet snuffle at the appropriate time.
On one ship I sailed on the Master discarded all his clothing once we got into to lower latitudes and he only wore his dentures at mealtimes and when meeting shore officials. So when another Eagle Oil ship hove into sight my duties were to rig the Ensign and then go and collect the Captain’s uniform jacket (but no trousers), uniform cap and his dentures. He would then stand on the bridge with his lower half concealed by a bulwark whilst I proceeded aft ready to dip our Ensign in salute as the other ship passed by. When the signal was given from the bridge the Ensign would be dipped and our partly clothed Captain, resplendent with gleaming dentures would give a smartish salute accompanied by wet blasts from the whistle. We welcomed these events as they gave a bit of interest to an otherwise dull passage but whether the rules concerning dentures and flags had been breached remains my concern to this day.
Robert Page
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!Ron Pringle (H49) e-mailed me to see if anyone could give him any help in finding the derivation of the name of his boat, Caracyl. Ron has had a try on Google but without success. Can anyone help?
Unusual Fishy Visitor
D
ave
and Fred, two of our keen boat anglers and owners of Shamrock in the
West harbour were making
one of their regular trips to check on the boat when they noticed in
the water an unusual looking fish. On closer examination it was
identified as a lumpsucker.
The lumpsucker has the ventral fins modified to form a suction disc. Their skin is scaleless and there is no swimbladder. The dorsal fin is situated far back behind a distinct dorsal ridge and the skin of the body is covered with small bony denticles and longitudinal rows of large bony thorns. The females have a taller dorsal ridge and smaller pectoral fins than the males. Males measure up to 30cms with a maximum of 50cms in the females. They live on hard stony ground in depths of between 20 and 200 metres. In February to May they collect in pairs in shallow coastal waters where the females each lay some 200,000 yellowish red eggs which later become greenish. The eggs are guarded by the male until they hatch into tadpole shaped young fish 6-7mm long. These spend the summer in the seaweed zone and move into deeper water at the beginning of the winter. Lump suckers feed on crustaceans, small fishes and comb–jellies.
They are taken as an incidental catch in fixed nets and are marketed as fresh, smoked or salted. The watery gelatinous flesh is no longer in demand. However some one thousand tons are landed annually in Denmark where the roes are treated with salt and other substances including a black dye and then marketed as a kind of caviar.
It is highly likely that the specimen seen by Dave and Fred was either a disorientated individual that had made it’s way through the locks and into the harbour or more likely brought in as a bi catch of the nearby professional fishermen.
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘It’s in A1 condition’ but where did it come from?
It was used by the Lloyd’s Register of Shipping when they awarded a certificate for the highest level of seaworthiness to a vessel. The letter refers to the hull condition and the numeral refers to the ground tackle (anchors etc). So to be A1 means to be of the best quality.
Page 3
Coxswain’s Corner
So what has been going on at the Lifeboat Station during the winter months? This is one of the questions I regularly get asked during this time of year, so where do I start?
The station Lifeboat, The Royal Thames 12-36, has been away since October 2005 for her three yearly refit. She was completely stripped and rebuilt at Green Marine in Lymington. Wednesday 15th March 2006, which turned out to be a very pleasant day with little or no wind, saw myself and four crew members travel down to Lymington and bringing The Royal Thames back by sea and put her back on service at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne. While our Lifeboat was away, we had two relief Lifeboats on station. One we had to collect from Suffolk Yacht Haven near Ipswich. The weather was not so kind to us on this two day passage, which included an overnight stop in Ramsgate. The second day saw us punching back to Eastbourne against a force 8 south westerly gale. The other relief boat was then taken down to Lymington for her refit.
Crew training plays a major part in the winter months. This includes routine Sunday morning exercises afloat, also working with the Coastguard tug, The Anglian Monarch, Coastguard helicopter, India Juliet and flank station, Newhaven Lifeboat. Wednesday nights are spent in the boathouse teaching all the basic skills that are needed for the new members of the crew, so they can progress with their competence based training assessments which also have taken place with R.N.L.I area assessors.
Operationally, this year has seen the All Weather Lifeboat launched eight times and the Inshore Lifeboat launched once, which is surprisingly quiet, but with Easter and the school holidays upon us, I am sure that will soon change! Callouts, so far this year, have all been routine with six of them being mechanical failure, one aground and one false alarm, with good intent, to a canoeist.
Last year R.N.L.I callout statistics show the Eastbourne Lifeboats Station was the second busiest Station in the south east and the All Weather Lifeboat the busiest, so your support in what ever way possible is always very much appreciated so that we can continue to assist mariners off the Eastbourne coast.
Monday 27th March saw the new experimental Lifeboat 12-85 visit Sovereign Harbour so that the Lifeboat crew could see what type of boat is
Page 4
Cont’d
being built and tested to replace the Mersey class Lifeboat that we have on station. The experimental Lifeboat is two metres longer and has two 500hp Caterpillar engines that will give a speed of 25 knots compared to the present 15 knots. The propulsion system is water jets, compared to the present propeller and rudder so should be interesting!
As the better weather approaches, I am sure more and more of you will venture out to sea on your Boats, so enjoy yourselves but be safe.
Mark Sawyer, Coxswain, Eastbourne lifeboat
42 lifejackets were checked on Saturday 25th March. The Eastbourne RNLI Water Safety Team gave their time to help members understand how their lifejackets work and what to keep an eye on. Interestingly two of the jackets would not have worked had they been called upon as the gas cylinders had worked loose. In addition, in others, some cylinders had just started to corrode. The main body of some of the lifejackets had started to develop cracking in the fabric folds whilst on one jacket the stitching had started to come unravelled.
The event is also worked in such a way that those attending are shown how to carry out the checking process themselves.
Our thanks go to Terry Colbran and his team for the time they freely gave to the Association. The team also carries out FREE Sea Safety checks on all types of boats. Members who have experienced a ‘Sea Check’ tell of its value. Why not contact Terry on 01323 724214 to arrange one or find out more?
The Royal Sovereign Light Tower (part one)
Guarding the Royal Sovereign Shoals in position 50°43´.45 N, 00°26´.09 E stands the Royal Sovereign Light Tower.
This structure proved to be the first of its kind in the world for whilst other lights had been built using a telescopic leg method, none at the time of construction, had included a large cabin or helicopter platform. A telescopically built lighthouse is in operation on the Kish Bank off the East Coast of Ireland and similar structures can be found in Scandinavian waters.
The consulting engineers for this ambitious project were Sir William Halcrow and Partners and the main contractors were Christiani and Nelson Limited. The initial estimated cost was £600,000. The tower had to be designed not only to withstand the force of wind and waves but also to ensure that the construction time at sea was kept to a minimum.
In the early stages, a feasibility study was undertaken by the consulting engineers to determine the practicability of the scheme and to develop a satisfactory and economical design. An assessment of likely waves and their attendant forces was made from information supplied by the National Institute of Oceanography. Hydraulic test were made on scale models to determine the resulting forces on different types of construction. At this stage a preliminary survey of the sea bed was made to find an area in a satisfactory position from the navigational point of view and at a depth neither too great to render the structure excessively expensive nor too shallow to make construction and boat handling too difficult.
From this survey a suitable site was chosen and then surveyed in greater detail. Samples were taken of the top layers of the sea bed and tested for composition and mechanical strength. The design of the structure was developed in co-operation with the contractor after it was shown from preliminary tenders that the tower could be
Page 6
built most economically from reinforced concrete. The plans were to take the tower to sea in two stages. The first stage comprising the caisson (base) and tower and the second stage comprising cabins, engine room, helicopter landing pad and light tower.
Christiani Nielsen had considerable expertise in pre-cast concrete caisson construction and were the main contractors for the previously mentioned Kish Bank Lighthouse where the telescopic principle was employed.
At the Kish Bank the sea bed was leveled before the structure was placed in position and this required a considerable amount of diving work whereas at the Royal Sovereign site new methods were to be deployed on a relatively unprepared sea bed.
The shape of the structure had also been determined as a result of the intention that it was to be floated from its construction berth to the site. The base of the structure, measuring 102 feet square, is a hollow cellular reinforced concrete box, partly pre-stressed to reduce weight. This was to be towed to the site where, with the aid of buoyancy tanks, it would be carefully flooded and gently lowered to the sea bed. The underside of the base was profiled with a number of tooth shaped edges to bite into the sea bed to give extra stability.
The tower is of reinforced concrete, 21 feet in diameter and 2 feet 8 inches thick and that part of it below the landing stage is pre-stressed as a means of simplifying construction. The cabin, 62 feet square, is also made of reinforced concrete but the small tower carrying the lantern is made of steel. This part of the structure was to be floated out to the site on a pontoon and fixed in position over the telescopic tower which when jacked up to its final position would be 115 feet above sea level.
A
berth was excavated at Newhaven and building work began in April
1967. It was hoped that the completed tower would be brought into
commission in early 1970.
Part two in the next newsletter
Page 7
W
hat’s
been going on?
Since the last news letter the Officers and committee have worked on many items. Below are listed the main topics :
-
The road to the boat park has finally had some repair work done. Unfortunately the material used was very fine and this has settled somewhat. We are all agreed that we will keep an eye on the situation in case further remedial work needs to be carried out.
-
Completion of the walkways from the car parks is moving along at a pace. New lighting is being installed and all should be open for the busy period ahead.
-
Waterproofing to the ceiling in the underground car park should mean lime solution is no longer able to drip through.
-
A feasibility study for the future use of the Outer harbour is now in progress and takes us one step nearer to better use of this area.
Sovereign Marina were hoping to install a small trial waiting pontoon which has been ordered. Unfortunately the dredger was unable to work in all areas so there may not be enough water for the lifeboat and the pontoon. We will continue to work with the staff to see if this problem can be resolved
-
Discussion
about changes to the yacht racing start line is well
underway. All parties are agreed this will improve things in the
entrance as the proposed new line will be further west.
-
A trial touch screen system giving weather and other information should soon be installed in the central harbour facilities block. We are trying to arrange for this to include a web cam view of the main channel and entrance. If successful this will be extended to the other harbours.
-
Following enquires about improvements to the electric card system it has been decided to go with status quo. The cost of updating the system was very expensive. If you don’t have the knack and have trouble with a bending card return it to the office. If you still have trouble inserting the replacement, ask a member of staff for help.
Page 8
-
The Association has been working with the management to ensure that enough car parking will remain in the immediate area of the west harbour. They have made representation to the council about the recent planning application to try and ensure that the underground system being proposed, which should be safer, is open to all classes of vehicles and available only to berth holders.
Health and Safety issues
-
If your pontoon is very slippery please let the office know. Unfortunately the pontoon washing programme has got a little behind due to problems associated with building work and priority will be given to any that pose a health and safety risk.
-
The Marina has recently installed upgraded lock programming. This is more automatic than in the past when lock keepers had the option of pausing a lock closure. This is now not possible. Please note this warning from the Marina Manager.
BOATS SHOULD NOT PROCEED AGAINST RED LIGHTS AS THERE IS NO WAY OF STOPPING THE LOCKS CLOSING.
Do you know? ? ? ? ? ?
At a recent committee meeting the word ‘stabett’ came into the discussion. Do you know what a ‘stabett’ is and if so can you confirm the correct spelling?
(Answer in the next newsletter, I hope!)
Addition to berth-holders discount list
Yacht and powercraft surveyor Rupert Smith has offered a 20% discount to Sovereign Harbour Berth-holders, for surveys on mono hulls during the months of December, January and February.
He can be contacted on 01323 898782 and/or 07931565798
The SHBHA current discount list is available on-line (www.shbha.co.uk)
Page 9
Following a puzzle for the younger members in the last edition it is now the turn of the adults! Exercise the little grey cells with this nautical crossword. Answers in the next edition
Page 10
The Gourmet Galley Recipe No.2
Several people tried, and enjoyed, last edition’s recipe. John from Serendipity even experimented with alternative types of fish. What a chef!
This time we have a practically complete meal- not very gastronomic but filling and child’s play to prepare.
Potato St. George
Ingredients
6 potatoes 6 eggs
One packet of white sauce
Salt and pepper Chopped parsley
Cook the potatoes in boiling water (adding salt if you’re not a health freak!). Hard boil the eggs. Prepare the white sauce according to the instructions on the packet.
Cut the hot peeled potatoes into pieces (at this time of year you may not need to peel the season’s new potatoes!), shell the hard boiled eggs and cut into quarters.
In a deep serving dish (or bowl) place alternate layers of potatoes slices and egg quarters
Cover with the sauce
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve
As a variation or addition you can incorporate half a cup of chopped ham and/or melt into the sauce some grated cheese. Alternatively you could sprinkle cheese on top and pop it under the grill until brown.
Why
not follow this meal with an Irish Coffee? To do this, place
a metal teaspoon in a whisky glass. Pour 1 measure
of whisky into the glass and add 3 tsp. sugar. Fill the
glass ¾ full with hot black coffee. Stir well until the sugar
is dissolved. Now carefully pour, over the back of the spoon, some
very thick cream which should form a layer over the coffee. To be on
the safe side don’t drink and steer!
Do you know of something easy/delicious to prepare? Send us your recipe.
Page 11
Frequently Asked Questions
SHBHA are currently working with Sovereign Harbour to create a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ booklet to hand out to newcomers. What did you want to know when you first came into the marina? We are hoping every group of users will contribute. Send your ideas to the Chairman.
Meet the People
In this series of articles I will be talking to people around the marina. The set of interviews starts at the very top! Find out what Andy Garland, Operations manager had to say.
How long have you been involved with Sovereign Harbour? I started in the second year of opening in June 1994
What did you do prior to that? I studied for a degree at Warsash Nautical College on the River Hamble
What qualifications do you need for the job you do? Whilst not a pre-requisite, industry certification or chartership through the International Marina Institute is becoming more important. I am one of 200 professionally regulated and certified Marina Managers (CMM’S) in the world.
Briefly, what does your job involve? I am responsible for managing and developing one of the Europe’s largest and most exciting marina developments. I get involved in all aspects of marina expansion and operations, from attending planning and marina development meetings, dealing with marina users, residents, builders, and government agencies such as the Environment Agency and Customs and Excise. In addition to the above I can also be found doing anything from operating and maintaining the locks, to towing, lifting and pressure washing boats!
How
do you judge success? Satisfied customers
What was your proudest moment? The birth of Emily Garland, my two year old daughter
Who would you swap places with around the marina? The summer staff who greet all our visitors in the Locks, it was my first job at Sovereign Harbour and I will always remember what great fun it was.
What is the favorite part of your job? Getting out and about on boats, whether it’s our workboat, a sailing dinghy or at the bridge of a 150m trailer hopper suction dredger!
Page 12
What is the least favorite part of your job? Dealing with the sewers (and their contents) that run all around Pacific Drive.
A
part
from the problems generated by the on-going building site, what do
you find frustrating about your job? My very slow and unreliable
computer network.
What labour saving device around the marina could you not live without? The Marinas two Assistant Managers who are fantastic!
Tell
us about an occasion when your photo was in the newspaper and why? My
photo was in the paper when Sovereign Harbour was awarded its ‘Five
Gold Anchor’s’ the highest accolade for marina
facilities and services, awarded by the internationally recognized
Yacht Harbour Association.
Tell us about a day that changed your life? I was working in Lewisham, London and fairly miserable, the then Marina Manager called me and offered me the position of Lock keeper at Sovereign Harbour, I haven’t looked back since!
What would you change in your working life that would bring satisfaction to yourself and berth-holders? Am I allowed to permanently change the weather to dry and sunny, with a South Westerly breeze?
Where do you holiday? All over the UK and the world, but I do have a love of the North Coast of Cornwall and the Southern Dodecanese Islands of Greece
What are you reading at the moment? I am a bit of an erratic reader and tend to have two or three books scattered around the house and dip into whichever one I’m closest to. I’m currently reading, Spanking Watson - Kinky Friedman (very funny), Rattle Bag - Ted Hughes & Seamus Heaney and Resurrection Men - Ian Rankin.
If there was only one piece of music in your collection, what would it be? Hot Rocks – The Rolling Stones e.g. "Sympathy for the Devil", "Street fighting Man”, "Satisfaction", "Jumping Jack
P
age
13
Flash”, "Time Is On My Side", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Wild Horses" and "Let's Spend the Night Together" – See what I mean!
Which was your favourite teacher at school and why? Mrs. Day – My English and history teacher, she started a passion for reading and ancient history that remains with me today
If you had to give up all your worldly goods but one, what would it be? My credit card
If you had a choice would you….bungee jump/swim with sharks/be with tarantulas/other? Sail in the Southern Ocean for one watch, (then get teleported home to my comfy, warm and safe bed)
* I would like to express my thanks to Andy for giving up his time to answer my questions. Sue Sydney (Chairman)
Contact the editor
This magazine is produced for members of the SHBHA and we would be pleased to receive articles for inclusion in the next edition. A variety of articles will make an interesting magazine which will appeal to the ever increasing number of members.
G
et
in touch! Either by email
editor@shbha.co.uk
Or by post Roy Sydney,
75 Collington Ave,
Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 3RA
I had an e-mail from Roger Kiernan who not only motors in ‘Windrush’ but also staffs the litter patrol boat. Roger would like to mention that the marina provides excellent recycling and waste disposal facilities for just about any material that boat owners use.
T
hese
are situated by Lock Control and in both the boatyard and boatpark.
Please use them. As the normal rubbish collectors are unable to
remove hazardous materials such as batteries, oil, oil filters etc it
is important that your contractors also use these free facilities. In
looking after the environment we are also keeping our marina and
berths clean and safe. If you have difficulty in moving heavy items
speak to marina staff who may be able to help.
Thanks go to all those who spoke, emailed or sent contributions.
Page 14
What’s in a name?
There was some interest shown in this article in the last magazine and the following contribution was received from berth-holder David Clark.
ÆLLA
Ælla (sometimes spelt Aelle) was the first King of Sussex. According to Bede’s Anglo Saxon Chronichles, he was a Saxon warlord who arrived with his three (or three of his) sons in 477. He is reputed to have landed on an island standing above the Pevensey marshes called langan eg in old English which derived from the Saxon meaning ‘long island’, and which is now Langney.
Ælla and his sons travelled west and captured the Romano-British fort at Novigamus. He put one son, Cissa, in charge of the fort and renamed it ‘Cissa’s Town’ which is today Chichester. Another son, Wlencing, captured another stronghold to which he gave his name and is now Lancing. A third son, Cymen, is not known to have given his name to a Sussex town, but was involved in 490 with the capture of the Roman Castle of Anderida which was renamed Andredescaester. The Saxons subsequently held it until 1066 when it was lost to the Normans and renamed Pevensey.
Ælla’s military exploits earned him the title of Breitwalder from the Saxon (even modern German) ‘wide forest’. He controlled the area known as South Sexana, containing the Ashdown Forest and joined with other Breitwalders to wage war against what was left of the Romano-British forces. Ælla is also known to have fought in the siege of Badon Hill (c.500) in Wiltshire in which the Saxons were pushed back by the remnants of the Romano-British forces. Some legends have it that the British commander at Badon was King Arthur, but although details of the siege have been written about, Arthur remains in the world of the legend.
I have always been fascinated by the history of Sussex and it’s place in the Anglo Saxon development of England, and when I set about choosing a name for my boat ‘Ælla’ sprang to mind immediately, especially as he may well have landed very close to where Sovereign harbour is situated. ‘Ælla’ is a Rinker Festiva that I bought at the 1995 boat show. It is purpose built for fishing and was one of 1000 built to celebrate Rinker’s 50 years of production. Graham and Trevor at Rinkers believe that is the only one that was brought into the country.
Other contributions to the next edition welcome. What about the yacht names ‘Pompette’ and ‘Libertad’? The Motorcruiser ‘Braganza’ has a name that also intrigues me. Maybe these owners will be happy to share with fellow members why their boats are so named ?
Sovereign Harbour Berth Holders Association
Officers and Committee 2006/7
Chairman Sue Sydney (WS17)
Webmaster, Sailing Club liaison officer and
Vice Chairman Nick Jordan (NW13)
Secretary Jenny Bilmes (J26)
Treasurer Rona Jordan (NW13)
Membership Secretary Doug Neve (J28)
Harbour representatives
Central Harbour Brian Stiff (F42)
North Harbour (E) Jeremy Weaver (NY19)
North Harbour (W) Pete Holland (NG11)
South Harbour Liz Loveday (SX15)
West Harbour John Lewis-Cook (WU01)
Without Portfolio John Emby (WS16)
Sandi Lewis-Cook (WU01)
Fishery Liaison Officer Currently Vacant
Newsletter Editor Roy Sydney (WS17)
Auditor Jane Twynam (WR36)
Web addresses for the officers and editor are available
on the website at www.shbha.co.uk
Dates for your diary
Eastbourne Airbourne August 17th, 18th, 19th. and 20th.
Eastbourne RNLI Regatta August 26th, 27th, and 28th.
Southampton Boat Show September 15th to 24th