Etherow Model Boat club: 2014

Sunday, 28 December 2014

Frostbite Sail 2014

Frostbite Sail 2014.

Another good event this week, as always we had our annual Frostbite Sail the day after Boxing Day.

We had a very good turn out and despite the weather it didn't stop the sailors getting their boats out and on the water, which surprisingly wasn't frozen over, which it had been earlier in the week.

Ken launching one of his beautiful lifeboats.

As you can see it was quite misty and chilly.

Seems to be affecting the jaws on a couple of members!.

You know what they say, we are just big boys and their toys, just the prices that get dearer.

Something frozen here?.

Martin, John and Ben, one of our younger members, though dressed for the occasion.

Nice to see the ladies present too

Young Ben's boat with a camera mounted on it, perhaps will get a couple of video's on YouTube in the future?.

Couple of nice models sailing

Colin and Donald, the Russian section?.

I was informed that a couple of the boats on the "For Sale" section had been sold, so that part of the website is doing well, I even sold one of my "For future Projects" to Donald so that will keep him busy during the winter months.

In the clubhouse there was the usual hot soup rolls and mince pies!, Thanks once again to Mike in the background there!.

John here seems surprised that Alan the Commodore remembered to give him his award, he was poorly on the awards night,

Not on my Watch said Alan!.

A picture will be added to the awards tab at the top to complete the section, well done John.

There you have it a nice end to a very good club year.

All the best to you all and a Happy New Year.

Monday, 22 December 2014

No boats today, 20014.

At the lake today it was wet and windy so didn't expect any sailors there, so instead of boats, here is a look round the park for those of you who never get past the landing stage on most days!.

As you follow the centre path round the lake you come across the badger sett and there is still plenty of digging going on there.

Then on the way back to the Cafe there are these trees that seem to defy gravity and it's always a mystery how they stay up with the high winds we have had the past few weeks

Nearly back to the Cafe for a nice warm drink and perhaps a low cholesterol bacon buttie.

Still a few people about at the Cafe, mostly regulars, and the kids are off school of course!.

Have you ever noticed the weather vane on top of the Cafe, or are you normally too interested with the food!.

I think that you have all noticed the two swans and their admirer, the Egyptian goose, nicknamed King Tut by Bob the Builder!.

Sorry about the lack of boats but the swans look a bit like yachts in the wind don't they!.

King Tut chasing off another rival.

He's happy now!.

So there you have it, no boats but as I said earlier gives you a look round the park even if you only come to sail usually!, and if you are a non member it gives you a taste of our venue doesn't it.

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Last event.

Saturday, 1100hrs 27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.

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Monday, 15 December 2014

Reflections on 2014.

Over the past year we have visited quite a few shows and events and shown the flag round the country, so that we are well known now and I think that there is no doubt where Etherow Model Boat Club is situated.

We have had a lot of publicity through the Model Boats magazine with Bob Abell's boat's that he has been building to Paul Thomason's plan's and had thousands of views and comments there.

Bob and Paul at Haydock Show.

The current project of Paul's plans and Bob's build.

A Gentleman's Vintage Cruiser, which Bob has called "Lady Joyce"

to see the complete build click here.

Another view of Haydock Show, club stand

John, Alan and Lawrence

But there again I'm getting in front of myself firstly there was the Ellesmere Model Boat Show, where we had a small stand as it was a late cancellation and I'm glad to see we will be having a stand there next year!.

We had a stand at Colwyn Bay Show and a very good day was had by all that attended with their boats, and met up with people which we had only perhaps contacted over the internet in the past

Gordon in the background there, but only in the picture, done an excellent job over the past year and already getting set for next year.

We had a re-visit to Lyme Park this year, not many club's have the chance to sail on the lake of a stately home, here is John Senior and George Barratt on the top lake, with his semi scratchbuilt Narra Boat, for which he received First prize in this years awards!.

Me, at the lower lake with some of the Abell boats, and very able they were too on the day.

We had a second visit to Poynton Show this year and Exhibition Secretary Gordon say's the organiser's were so please they want us back next year and with 20 tables instead of this years 10, can't be bad !.

Le Comm Alan with one of our newer members John Jones, who this year received First prize Scratchbuild trophy in his first year with us.

On the home front, we had two Quiz and Hot Pot suppers, a nice Venetian night with BBQ and the bar open as usual!.
Thanks to John Davis for his job there every club night.

Dave Lee's Lifeboat, nicely lit up, that would look very good to you in real life coming towards you in your capsized boat wouldn't it.

There were quite a few good talks given by members during the year and here is Geoff giving a talk on his magical boxes to add to your boats innards to make it perform in ways you would never imagine, nice one Geoff.

On the landing stage there was plenty going on this year with a new edging going on the front of the landing.

Tricky bit here!

The completed job with the Hodgson Patent duck and goose deterrent, which you will have noticed is working very well and though some of the ducks are limboing under the strings the geese are staying off, result an almost duck and goose poo free deck!.

We had a new port for docking the boats added to the equipment this year thanks to Garth, complete with detailed plan for fitting on the day used

Another addition to the equipment was a motor for the rescue boat.

Here is Dave Lee giving it it's sea trials

Towards the back end of the year we had a shipping container delivered to use as storage instead of the downstairs storage which was just an accident waiting to happen really wasn't it.

Though it's green at the moment it has to be painted Conker Brown to match the yacht one at the side of it, council rules I think, still we have had a donation of the paint and electrical equipment to install lighting from various members to which there has been thanks given in a previous post.

And No there will not be heating installed in case anyone thinks they can squat in it if their wife/partner get's fed up with the dust and muck from boat building! and throws them out.

The container has since been fitted out with shelving thanks to Alan the Comm and Mike the man, then it was like any other storage , filled and full before the end of the day.

At this point I would like to thank; Son John for his support in the upkeep of this site and Bob The Abell for his proofreading of each post, so I don't stand out as an illiterate.
Example;
Bob was un-abell to get to the Awards night so I stood in for him and said photograph me and we will change heads tomorrow, don't know if members knew what I was talking about, but you can see here.

See what I mean about it!.
Thanks to Bob and John for their support, ( I will wear it always).

We had another good event with the Club Christmas dinner held at the same venue as last year, The Hare and Hounds at Werneth Low. Another good DO and plenty of raffle prizes again.

Only the Frostbite sale on the 27th now, hopefully the lake won't be frozen over, we've been lucky the last couple of years, cold but not freezing!.

To all our members and followers.

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Last event.

Saturday, 1100hrs 27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.

Thursday, 11 December 2014

AGM 2014

A good night was had by all at the AGM 2014, with lots of members present and the bar doing a good trade, though these days it's mostly soft drinks unless you can get someone to taxi you there and back!.

The Commodore before handing over the proceedings to the various committee members thanked all the people who had donated equipment, trophies and their time to help the club over the past year!.

There was the usual large number of raffle prizes and everyone was glad to see the electronic counter in use, so there was no shouts of "Shake up the Bag".

The treasurer gave his report stating that even though we had got a new storage Container and motor for the rescue boat and various other things during the year we were still in the black to the point that the club funds for the coming year would stay the same as this year, and the year before that!, so that was good news for everyone!.

The Exhibition Secretary who has done a great job this year gave his report and stated that we had another new venue for the coming year ( see 2015 Diary in Tab at top of site) also the venue at Poynton were so happy this year, they wanted us back and wanted 20 tables next year!, so Gordon asked for more of the members to support these events to publish the club and generate more new members perhaps.

There is a couple of new positions on the committee this year see the Committee tab at the top.

A surprise for the Social Secretary was to be given a Lifetime membership for his untiring work for the club over many years. He hadn't known about it, so it was nice to see the surprise on his face!

Mike the Man.

There on the night!

See the "Awards Tab 2014 at the top of the web to see the winners of the various sections this year and pictures of the members in case you don't recognize them or their names.

Clever and talented people all of them.

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Last event.

Saturday, 1100hrs 27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.

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Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

to all our members and readers.

Follower on the landing Stage!.

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Tuesday, 9 December 2014

Wild and windy at Etherow

Today at the Lake it was wild and windy though it didn't put off the hardy crowd that usually get there on a Tuesday, though some of them did spend a bit longer in the cafe lingering over their bacon butties.

I had mine put in a box and Pepe and I sat in the car watching the sailors struggling with the wind.

I'm still on track with my cholestrol as long as I don't have anything else to eat until a week on Friday!.

One of the regular ladies that come to the lakeside Cafe most days was showing me the headlines of the local paper, think it was the "Tameside Trumpet" where it was stated that the next few weeks were going to be really bad with temperatures going down to -9 Degrees!, never mind sit in front of the fire and watch the Tuesday sailors battling the wind today!

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After Fred answered the phone yet again he said to his young wife.

"Thats funny, we must have a number similar to the Weather Bureau, that's the third bloke to ring and ask if the coast was clear!.

It rained Cats and Dogs, Poodles everywhere!

It was so cold the local flasher was spotted describing himself to a group of ladies.

It was as cold as a barmaids heart!.

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Monday, 8 December 2014

Poynton Model Show 6/7th Dec 2014.

Poynton Model Show 6/7^th Dec.

Word is definitely spreading about this new local show from last year. Originally aimed at the model railway enthusiast it has now enlarged itself to include both model aircraft and boats where we have a major presence. This year we had a ten table display plus setting up tables for four swimming pool sessions over the two days, with another secondary display area on the Saturday.

In addition we were asked to have another area showing boat construction and Geoff Garside did a sterling job with the new compressed foam medium (he almost finished the boat over the weekend) with a great deal of interest being shown from the public (not to mention our own members). Well done Geoff – I understand that he has ‘volunteered’ to give a talk at the club in the New Year.

Saturday was an interesting start, with sub-zero temperatures and much breaking into cars to actually get to the Leisure Centre at Poynton. After setting up we waited for the doors to open whilst preparing some boats to sail in the swimming pool later. I did get some well-deserved stick for failing to mention before the show that bacon ‘sarnies’ and lunch were provided as I returned from the canteen with a juicy mouthful of bacon – sorry guys – I will try harder next year.

Roy Cragg and Andy Quick put on a great display of warships which were really appreciated by the public, and it was eye-opening to note their breadth of naval knowledge when talking to other ex-naval guys. I certainly know where to go for answers to queries about ‘grey’ boats when I have a problem now.

The usual stalwarts brought along some really impressive general boats and submarines, our Commodore Alan, Ken Pheasey, George Barrett, Mike Street, Andy Glen,and John Jones. Even young Ben made an appearance on the Sunday and enjoyed a sail in the pool. If I missed anyone out I apologise but it was a bit hectic, sincere thanks to everyone who gave up their weekend to help out.

All in all a great weekend which hopefully produced a new member or two and waved the Etherow flag, which after all is what it really is all about (plus we had a laugh or two). We must be doing something right as they want us back next year with twice the space (20 tables plus!) so we will have more room to show off our skills and put up a proper display with floodlights and more detail.

Gordon Longworth – Exhibition Sec.