Update on Colwyn Bay club.

Update on Colwyn Bay club.

Been in contact with Ray Benson over the last few days, the older members will remember him as being one of our old members until he emigrated to Wales and put his expertise into the committee of the Colwyn Bay Model Boat Club.

As some of you have been to their Open Days over the years, but you perhaps will not have known that they are eventually going to lose their present lake, but are going to move to the Bigger lake in the park!,

Here it the latest news from Ray.

Our lake in Eirias park (the new one) will be officially opened at 6pm on May 10th. We still have the existing lake fòr another 12 months. This lake is ideal for yachts because there is no trees near. When completed later this year it will have seating all around and is still free to sail on, no restrictions but cars to be on free car park, access via the prom. The lake is equipped with an underwater ultrasonic device to kill weeds! All paid for by landfill grants thanks to our Secretary, Alan.

Send you some pics when opened.

All the best  Ray Benson.

I for one will be going down for the day soon to check it out. No doubt have an Ice Cream on the front as well!

Duckie.

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Meanwhile back at our lake this week has seen a couple of new boats on the scene.

This Banana Boat, the Fyffes Special?.

And this nice trimaran 

Perhaps not so nice!, but has a handy helper to run round to rescue it.

There was John Goddard, who told me a friend had given him four Marines from a charity shop, so of course John just had to build them a fast patrol boat, and as you all know Johns boats are FAST. 

Here is his "Hydra" which you will all have seen but its still a nice boat to watch and always creates a lot of interest, Johns reckons it's 35 years old! and still running great.

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Next Events

2000     11th May          Wednesday       Club night              Clubhouse   

1500     14^th May        Saturday         Club 500 Racing           Landing Stage

1100     22nd May          Sunday          Steering Comp             Landing stage

2000     25^th    May     Wednesday      Club night           Clubhouse

1500     28^th    May        Saturday      Time Trials                     Landing Stage

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A garden is a thing of beauty and a job forever!.

Did you hear about the two Mexican fire-fighting brothers?.

They were called Hose A and Hose B.

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Haydock Show weekend, Home and Away.

23rd August 2014.
 Not able to attend the Haydock Show, I went down to the lake today and met one of our newer members John Jones (and his Grandson) sailing his new Fire boat, completely scratchbuilt and all the white metal fitting remodelled in brass, 850 motor and 20 Amp ESC, working lights and folding mast!.

                           

Later on in the afternoon met up with my old mate Lawrence, we were at one time Commodore and Vice Commodore and have always got on very well since our time doing that.

We both happened to have our Fiesta's there and had a good sail together until the cool wind got to our old bones and we retired to the Cafe for a hot drink!.

A nice pleasant afternoon and had a chat with a couple of potential Members!.

At Haydock Show  

The Haydock show was well attended and by the looks on the photos sent by our roving reporter Bob Abell everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

 A general view.

Howard and Trevor, just out of focus I think thats Geoff

Bob Dunkerley

John, Alan and Lawrence.

Also there with their own stand was Paul Thomason and Bob Abell, advertising Pauls plans and Bob's builds of same all in the name of charity!.

Fund raising posters, all on the Model Boats magazine Forum, just in case you haven't seen it before.

 Both seem to be enjoying the occasion, meeting with friends from the club and friends from off the MB Forum corresponded with but perhaps this was the first time in person

Left to right is "The Long build", "Kimmo and Wife" and lastly "The Invisible Man",
nice to put a face to a name isn't it!. All meeting Bob and Paul for the first time and viewing their efforts in the wood so to speak.

Well thats all for now, unless someone sends me more pictures of the event,in which case I will do an update, watch this space!.

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Next Event

2000hrs 27^th  August  Wednesday  Club night               Clubhouse
                                                         Venetian Sail/BBQ     

Club 500 racing and Tug Anteo video

Over the weekend, I've had the internet connection go down and after a check-up I discovered that the wall socket was to blame, so it was a trip to B&Q to buy a new socket, only needed the front section really but never mind it got the house phone working again, but still not the internet!.
After further examination found the lights on the router box not working, so was it the box or the cable?, so on Sunday at Son John's for dinner we tried another cable and it worked!, so can only think it was the transformer plug on the end that had given up the ghost, so on returning home connected up again and my system was working again, its been hell without it and as people always say I talk with my hands you can imagine how I've felt!.
Still all's well now and  for a treat for you Andy Wagstaff sent me these two video's a couple of days ago of his boats with a remote camera fitted to them, the first to a Club 500 boat and at the end of the video it looks like John Goddard is driving it!.

Another of Andy's boat's taken on the big lake as the Club 500 racing was being held on our lake and no fishermen on the big lake

Thanks to Andy for sharing his video's with us!.

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Another point of interest to look into is a project that our Bob Abell and another chap Paul T, on Model Boat magazine forum are doing, Paul T has designed a boat "Ellie" that will be Abell to have different superstructures on the same hull and when built to the required standard the plans will be Abell to be sold and the money to go to a charity.
Click here to take you to the website.

Well that's all for now folks and as it's thundering and lightening don't fancy getting another bolt up my socket, at least I'm back up and working again.

Quiz night 24th July 2013.

Hi Folks, just got news of another addition to the diary program, as follows

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Hi Peter, It was suggested to have a short quiz on the second club night meetings, we are having our first quiz on the 24th July.

The quiz is a Kriss Kross quiz with hidden boat names in the quiz, there will be a 5 question Blockbuster quiz, all very easy.

Could you please mention the quiz on your great web page.

 Many thanks .    Philip Laxton.

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Many thanks for that Philip, will add it on to the diary listing as well, as this post will be pushed down after the next post.

Son John mentioned on our Facebook page about the new Instagram section on the left hand side of the post's, I am now able to take pictures at the lake on the day's I'm there and upload them direct to the website whilst still there, I started with a few old pictures at home to make sure it was working and get everything right before I went to the lake. Everything works well but the short video's you can add on didn't work as I tried to take it with my IPhone camera as normal  instead of the Instagram App camera section so that didn't work but I've been practicing and got it right for next trip to the lake. 

It is just something else to look out for, so keep your eyes open to see if your boat appears there, there are all sorts of sections on Instagram, but our's is the first one listed on Model Boats and there are quite a few viewers already, more advertising for our club from round the world!.

Also there are a large number of video's on YouTube I've added, just search YouTube for "Etherow" and it will take you there!.

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That's it folks until next time.

Bank Holiday Sunday 2013

Well in the previous post I did say that Pepe and I would be going to the Dog show but in the end decided that he isn't too happy with a load of other dogs round him!.

So it was off early to the lake to see the Raft Racing and just managed to get a place near the Cafe as everyone else was after a place near the main event on the big lake.

But there was no places up there, as you can see the spaces near the landing stage were all taken over by stalls of every description, the weather was great for a change as you can see in this shot. 

Whilst having the usual bacon buttie and coffee, noticed that some of our guys had got there earlier than me (I) and were already sailing on a beautifully sunlit lake.

One of the models on the day

And a guard dog was required with all the strangers around!.

On to the Raft Race.

Quite a lot of ladies in this event 

Look at the crowds here

"The George" pub has some nice advertising on this one

The BBQ going well in the back ground, if its not the Yacht club is in trouble

Didn't fight my way though these crowds so all my pix's taken with the zoom from our landing stage

Might as well get in on the advertising as well!.

And I always thought the Fire Brigade was into Heath and Safety!, not so for this vehicle parked across the path.

Hope this gives you a flavour of the event on the day, another nice day at the lake for those who braved the crowds, hopefully they had Long arms and Short pockets, for these two great charities,

The Christie Charity and the Fire Fighters Charity.

 The bar and BBQ where certainly doing a roaring trade when I left at 1-00Pm to go for my Sunday dinner to John's.

That's all for to-day folks, perhaps more to-morrow after my trip there again if its a nice day again, you can always do the housework when it's raining can't you!.

Bank Holiday Saturday, 25th May 2013

After a terrible Friday start to the Bank Holiday, the change in the weather to-day was amazing and everyone was out in their summer best.

                       At the landing stage to-day there was Henry Hollis and his friend Andy Wagstaff.

Henry had his Monsoon yacht out and Andy had this nice Tug out that I've posted still pictures of in the past, but it had to be a video to see it at it's best and I had the chance to do that to-day.

Henry's son and daughter-in-law paid Henry a surprise visit to-day and brought his grandson, I think he was more interested in Pepe than the boats though.

Start em young hey!!.

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And I thought the Heron never moved all day, but there he goes not very far but at least he moved!.

Well it's the Raft race run by the yacht club to-morrow, but Pepe and I will be going to the Manchester  Dog's Home Show at Debdale Park before going to Son John's for Sunday Dinner.

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When the guy's wife said she was going to change the baby, he said "Well get a quieter one"!!.

That's all folk's

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2nd -3th March, Busy club weekend, Ellesmere

This past weekend some of us went to Ellesmere Model boat show and others to the show at Event City in Manchester, what a dull world it would be if we all thought the same hey.

Bob Abell and I travelled to Ellesmere in my car, and had a nice breakfast on the way!.

Whilst there we met other members and though we didn't have a stand there this year, we were surprised how many people remembered us from last year with the Great Eastern.

People of note we met were Laurie and Jackie White of Model Slipway, Jackie remarked on the number of views on John Teal's views of his "Maggie M" on Model Boat mayhem site 5000+.

Laurie and Jackie now semi-retired don't do the shows any more but it was nice to see them still in circulation at Ellesmere.

Another person we chatted to was this chap!

That's Neil Howard Pritchard on the left, retired kit designer and modeller, with Charlie Smith clutching his purchases and yours truly in the Tilly hat, yes Tilly hat not silly hat Bob

I was surprised to hear that Neil has our Website on his PC favourites and my own blog "One man and his dog" as well, we must be doing something right!.

An ex member of our club Ray Benson and his better half was there with their club in full swing as usual 

"The Colwyn Bay Model Boat Club".

Although Ray has now moved to Wales he has always kept an interest in our club and always made us very welcome and looked after us at their yearly "Mayors regatta" (as I try to do at our Do's he attends,) I hope a few more of our members make the effort to go to Colwyn Bay this year as it's a great show!.

I took lot's of pictures there, too many to put here, but if you look at the tab's at the top you will see Ellesmere 2013 click on tab or

Click here for Ellesmere pictures

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For another report off Bob check out his thread here

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I am waiting for someone to send me a report of Event City but from what I heard at the lake yesterday it was another success, with plenty of people there but not many traders!.

Let's face it with Mountfleet burning down and Graupner in financial trouble, it could be the scratch-builders who are the only modellers left, still the Chinese might buy Graupner hey, them seem to be buying everything else.
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Back to the lake, yesterday saw the start of the 2013 Fiesta racing and as usual Dave was on the ball and sent me the results of the first race day as follows.

Fiesta Report 3/3/13

Hi to all

We had ten races in all, weather Ok, but not much wind as per.

Six turned up to race.

The first races were only round Bouys 5, 3and 1 then finish, for the last five

Races we did the full course as the wind got better.

Trevor came  1^st, Bob and Terry joint 2^nd, David 4^th, George 5^th, Harry 6^th.

See you all next month.

David Lee. 

Hope you all had a good weekend and I think the club has been well represented all round.

Bye for now folk's

Model boat on unmanned Atlantic crossing challenge

As I'm always looking for items for the website Son John thought this one would be good for you all!.
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-20516205

A toy boat is to attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

A retired NATO scientist will this week set the boat off on the voyage, which he hopes will be the first unmanned trip across the Atlantic.

Robin Lovelock has spent four years developing the miniature vessel, which he believes can survive the 6,000 mile journey.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the Snoopy Sloop is only 4ft long, weighs just 30lbs and is held together in parts by bathroom light cord.

65-year-old Lovelock built the boat in the games room of his house in Sunninghill, Berkshire.

He made the whole thing from off-the-shelf parts scoured from the internet at a cost of less than £450 ($720).

Lovelock said: "I got hooked about four years ago, I didn't even play with model boats when I was a boy. I sometimes tinker on the boat in the lounge, but am usually banished to the games room by my wife."

Lovelock and his team are hoping that wind power and a solar-powered computer and GPS system will navigate the boat all the way to the finish line. 

Watch some footage of the Snoopy Sloop below:

Anyone else fancy a try if this attempt fails?, but seriously this guy will hopefully succeed, he's certainly put in a lot of time and effort and that "Jack" on the mast will look great coming in to land in the good old US of A won't it!.

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Another Eureka moment for you 

From John Teal.

This first picture suggests the madness of glazing before spray painting, but its actually the product of a Eureka moment. Glazing that slots in without gluing, hence it can be removed.

From inside you can see the clear plastic and the inner frame can be slid up and out from 

a pocket constructed behind the wheel house wall.

When the glazing is slid out , cardboard can be slid in, providing the perfect mask
to allow the inside and outside of the wheel house to be sprayed different colours.

The end result showing the inner frame independently sprayed silver and slotted into the wheel house with the glazing behind it. No glue marks on what are big windows... Eureka !

Thanks for that John!.

This is part of a new series of Eureka Moments that can be found 

on the tab up at the top, or by clicking Here

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Hope you enjoyed to-day's post, don't forget its the Club auction to-night as well.

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Maggie M maiden voyage

Yesterday at the lake my son and I had the maiden voyage of his nearly finished project the fishing trawler "Maggie M"

If you would like to see his project from box to on the water you can follow it on 

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=38892.0

He had a successful launch and had a bottle of champers to celebrate the occasion, 

There was only a slight snag when the boat seemed to loose power and after it was brought in by the rescue boat it was found to have a plastic bag wrapped round the kort nozzle and prop, once that was removed it was off on the water again, had a good turn of speed and the turning circle was superb has its got a Becker Rudder as standard, not quite finished yet as John has a bit more detailing to put on so watch the link at Model Boat Mayhem.

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Terry was at the lake to-day (Sunday) with the "Beady Eye" mentioned in the last post, and what a little mover that is, could only open it up so far as the lake isn't big enough to open her up all the way, but a beautiful modelled boat and a credit to Terry's workmanship.

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Other points are that its nearly time for the coach trip to Warwick and there are still places on the coach so if you are going and haven't booked yet phone Mike Now on 0161 336 0306, you can see him at the next club meeting, if you can't make that, ( don't forget its Auction night) then you can pay on the coach, but book now!! £18!! you can't buy the petrol for that!!.

Chris has had his Knee operation and I'm sure you will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.

Weekend sailing 18th-19th August 2012

Saturday at the lake took these pictures, Nice sunny day, not much of a breeze but enough for John of RJR Blog Fame (My Boy) to try out his yachting with the Robbe Comtess'e I've handed over the captaincy of.

Tacking

Caught the duck nicely as well, the photo not the boat!

And that's two of the ladies in his life in the back ground.

Daughter Ruth (14) there into photography see her blog at

Click here

Then there was John (the dasher) Goddard with one of his fast boat and Colin Harrison struggling in the back ground with his "J" class and not much wind!.

Velda always said she didn't mind John dashing about with his fast boats because he knew what he was doing.

I had my Wyeforce tug out and it still performed well after 18months lay off.

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Sunday was a different story with the rain coming down quite heavy and the steering comp was run but not as good an occasion as usual.

I've tied the roses back in the garden, but after not being pruned last year have become a bit of a bind, catching people passing, I don't know who put them in, but passed their sell by date now, so if nobody objects I will cut them right back or even have them out when they stop flowering!.

Have sorted the woods on the front of the landing stage as well, only used cable tidies so don't know how long they will last!

So the day not an entire waste.

Well that's all folks.

Happy sailing.

Trip to Colwyn Bay Regatta

Yesterday 22nd of July 2012 saw a good turnout of Etherow members at the Colwyn Bay Mayor's Regatta.

This yearly event was bigger that ever this year, proving its popularity, with more clubs represented thought the turnout of traders was not very good. I heard a CB member talking to the raffle stall man saying the a trader had sent a gift voucher to add to the raffle prizes as he couldn't make it, at least he made an effort.

The lack of traders didn't detract from the overall show and a good time and weather was enjoyed by all, you can always tell can't you when people don't rush away after a quick look round.

Here are a few pictures from on the day.

Another version of John Teal's "Jojo"

A Maggie M

 A nice collection from the Southport stand.

The next one's are for George Barrett, Narra boat complete with riveting!

I was very interested with this version of an "Our Lass 11", which was very well detailed and I took a lot of pix's of this to copy the detailing for mine.

On the way home I stopped at Rhyl Air Show, just it time to see the acrobatics and then these fighter planes did their fly pass, in fact passed a few times, what a noise and at that speed I suppose in action you don't hear the noise cos you are already dead! 

So all in all a good day and another event where Etherow could show it's banner.

Looking forward to next year, perhaps get some tables there next time.

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Bob the Abell's report in Model Boat Magazine forum

That's all folk's
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