Annual Regatta: Bike ride and BBQ, Summer ball and Family Day

Dear member,

 

It is now less than 2 weeks to the Annual regatta!

 

Friday 9th August: Bike ride and BBQ. Start: 7pm at the yacht club with a 3 mile routs along the riverbank to Stannah before returning to the yacht club. The BBQ will be up and running from 7.30 so even if you don't want to do the bike ride come down and enjoy good food, cheap booze and stunning views!

 

Saturday 10th August: Summer Ball. Tickets are £12.50 a head for a 2 course buffet and dancing to DJ Lee. Dress code is smart casual and there is no formal seating plans but we do need to sell tickets in advance so I know how many to cater for! Tickets available NOW! Just email me, text or call. I just need the names of the people in your party and you can either pay in advance or on the door on the night.

 

Sunday 11th August. Family Day. Following the success of last years family day we have decided to do it again! There will be a BBQ, bouncy castle and a Children's entertainer. The racing starts at 1250 and the fun day will start at 1pm. Come down and bring your friends and family.

 

Also in the news...

 

Check out my blog for updates from the cruising captain and the powerboat section (copy the following address into your search bar) :
http://yachtclubkitchen.blogspot.co.uk/

 

If you are setting out on a voyage, whatever the vessel, please let me share the knowledge!

 

See you soon

Dan

Cruising members activities from Ian Gartside

Trinculo, Barrie Abbot-Hull’s Voyager thirty eight, left its winter mud berth as usual at the beginning of the season and sailed straight to Douglas were he took up residence in the Marina pending his departure Southwards towards the Channel Islands. Now retired, Barrie spends his summer cruising using Douglas as a starting point and, in recent years, Trinculo has been seen in Brittany, Ireland, Milford Haven and the South Coast, the Clyde and the West Coast of Scotland and the Hebrides. He invites friends to join him for various parts of the summer and returns to lay up for the winter around October.

Ian Gartside started his season by sailing his newly acquired Westerly Merlin, Lady Jane, from Losiemouth in the Murray Firth home to the River Wyre at the beginning of May. Sadly the good weather had not quite decided to set in so the voyage via the Caledonian and Crinnan Canals turned out to be a cold one.

The Westerly Fulmar Tortola, now owned by Russ Tabiner, was re-engined over the winter and finally made its voyage to Strangford Lough via the Isle of Man. Despite Russ’s tenacity and determination to keep his old engine running, previous attempts to satisfy his yearning to visit Strangford had been foiled by the aforementioned engine’s equal determination to prevent him from getting there.

John and Jim Preston’s Westerly Fulmar, Helvelyn, made its usual passage to Douglas for TT week and was made available to family and friends to enjoy. She is now based in Whitehaven for the rest of the season. John and Jim have done a fine job of refitting Helvelyn  to include a new Bukh engine and an almost total refurbishment of her gear and fitments. She is a ex sailing school yacht but has now been brought back to top condition

John, Ian and Russ are planning a trip in August to the Isle of Man during Manx Grand Pris and if anyone is interested you are welcome to join us. We can’t guarantee the weather but the craak will be good wherever we end up. 

Round Ireland Powerboat and RIB challenge

There are a couple of boats from the club competing in a Round Ireland Challenge, a mammoth 1000 mile expedition (especially as Terry Newton is doing it in a RIB only a little bit bigger than the ones the club has!!).

 

Essentially they set off from Milford Haven last Thursday and will be stopping along the way. I'm hoping for updates from Gordon as they get on...

 

The Rib is called Topcat a 7.5m Scorpion with a 200HP Mariner Optimax, the whole rig  is 13years old but has been recently restored & modified over the winter. I've been doing the final preps for the Challenge. It's been hectic as I've had two Ribs to prepare!  The second one was my 25yr old Delta 5.5m which was in a bit of a sorry state. One month before we set off and Terry Newton decided he wanted to do it in a smaller vessel than his Phantom as it would be more of a Challenge! ! And also use a bit less fuel. It's now got a brand new 90HP Mariner Opti with hydraulic steering new electronics, long range fuel tanks, an additional seat for his team mate Alan McAdams & repairs to tubes and trailer. The engine has now done about 16hrs & runs like a dream obviously Terry would like it to be a lot faster! But it's a good sea boat and should easily cope with Irish sea and Atlantic, if they look after it!

We leave for Milford Haven marina this Thursday & I can't wait to get started after all the hours of preparation.

Regards

 

Gordon

New members night, bistro, Hooper and regatta

Hi all,

 

We have a busy month ahead of us at the yacht club culminating in our Annual Regatta from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th August.

 

Thursday this week is new members night and an opportunity for them to meet existing members of the club so feel free to come on down. The event starts at 7pm with a BBQ, the bar will be open and there is an evening race on too. With the weather like this it will be a fantastic night.

 

 

This months bistro night is on Friday 26th and with 57 attending the last one, I'm expecting another busy one. As ever the menu will be finalised nearer the time but here is what we cooked last time: Starters: Garlic Mushrooms, Pea soup with mint cream, Goats cheese on crustini with rhubarb and horseradish chutney and black pudding on mustard mash with caramelised apple. Mains: Flaked poached salmon with Penne al Pomodoro e Vodka (fresh pasta with a tomato and vodka sauce), Spring lamb shepherds pie, beef bourgignon with dauphinoise potatoes, roast chicken breast with parmesan and polenta crust and pan fried mackerel with rhubarb. Desserts: Individual chocolate fondue, London Syllabub, Strawberry panna cota and Forrest fruit crumble with cream. If any of that takes your fancy come and join us for the next one.

 

Thursday 1st August is Hooper night with live music from Ian and guests. This is a laid back night with a light bite menu available or just pop in for a drink and listen to some great music that you request.

 

Friday 9th August - Regatta kicks off with the usual bike ride and BBQ. The route was well received last year so will remain the same. Start at the yacht club at 7 travelling down the river path to Stannah and up to the pub in Thornton for a pit stop before returning back to the club via Thornton Lodge if you wish.

 

Saturday 10th August - Sailing starts at 1250 and the Summer Ball (dress code to be confirmed) will start at 7pm. The menu for this is also to be decided but there is a band booked so get your dancing shoes on. Tickets will be on sale shortly.

 

Sunday 11th August - Sailing starts at 1330 and this will be a family day with bouncy castle, a children's entertainer and BBQ.

 

Below is an update on Liz and Brian's cruise to Norfolk (maybe) via the north of Scotland with a mention of Tinker Bob who is heading to Shetland. If you are heading off we would love to hear from you and your journey!

 

 

Hi Dan, another instalment at last.
After leaving Luing we went to Oban to get a new alternator , but that's another story! We had a good sail tacking up the Sound of Mull, sitting out the ebb and the night in Ardtornish Bay, a surprisingly good anchorage. Tobermory came next, together with a string of depressions bringing gales. We pottered found Loch Sunart for a few days (otters in Salen) before we had a window to sail round Ardnamurchan Point, tucking ourselves up in Rum for another gale to go through! -Nice place to be stuck though, and saw our first Golden Eagles. 

After a couple of nights on Rum, we crossed the short distance to Canna in a SW5-7, very exciting, especially when a big Calmac ferry went by and added its wake to the mix. One more wet and windy day in Canna, a beautiful island, and the high pressure caught up with us at last. We crossed the (swelly!) Hebridean Sea to Barra, anchoring in Castle Bay. Fog was then the problem but we found the beautiful west coast, of the white beaches and azure seas, in sunshine. What bliss!

Once we were refreshed and restocked, we sailed north to beautiful Eriskay, and had some good walking and fantastic views, especially when the mist lay over the other islands like a fluffy blanket. Now we are at Loch Boisdale on South Uist, and will work our way up to Lewis to coincide with a traditional music festivel, before turning for home.

When we last heard from Tinker Bob he was in the Skye area, having had to acquire a new dinghy after losing his in a gale. He was then heading our way, but we haven't found him yet!

Best wishes. Elizabeth and Brian on Avocet.

 

See you all soon.

Happy sailing.

TONIGHT! Live and Exclusive… And 1 way to spend a weekend on the water:

THIS JUST IN:

Andy Airnes has a Level 2 powerboat course running this weekend which was fully booked. However, 10 people have dropped out so there are spaces available. That’s this weekend: 8^th and 9^th June starting at 9am. The course costs £80 for members or £160 for non-members, please email (amairnes@aol.com) or call (07801716477) Andy to reserve a place or for more info.

 

Hi all,

Hope everyone is enjoying this good weather? Long range forecast shows it lasting well into next week with just patches of rain on Monday.

 

TONIGHT!

For one night (this month) only!

LIVE and EXCLUSIVE:

Ian Hooper and Guests

Bar open from 7. Free Entry.

Come and enjoy the view with reassuringly inexpensive booze.

 

The last couple of weeks we have seen a number of boats from the club set sail throughout the British Isles. A small contingent have gone to watch the TT, some have headed north to Oban and beyond and one is heading to the Scilly isles. We may even have a couple of boats setting off for Shetland today / tomorrow. Good luck in you adventures and see you all safely back soon.

Friday 28^th June is Bistro night. My monthly restaurant style night bringing you a choice of 4 starters, 4 mains and 4 desserts with a varying menu for each one, utilising fresh seasonal produce all for just £15. Reservations are required so drop me a line if you are interested.

Thursday 4^th July is Hooper night.

Thursday 18^th July is new member’s night. The BBQ will be going and there is an evening race starting at 1900 so come down and enjoy a drink or two.

Happy sailing and see you all soon.

Thanks

Dan

Coaching day, Bistro, bank holiday and more

Hi all,

Well it's been a busy month so apologies for the lack of mails. It seems as if the last bank holiday was only 2 weeks ago and now we have another on the horizon!

There is a radio course being held at the club tomorrow, if you are not on it and wish to do the course please contact Andy Airnes as soon as possible as the yacht club may not be doing anymore of the radio courses.

Friday 24th May - Start the bank holiday with a cosy bistro night. The menu is yet to be finalised but is looking something like:
Starters:
In season pea soup with mint cream,
In season asparagus with hollandaise (so popular last month it's back whilst still in season),
Goats cheese crustini
And the ever popular garlic mushrooms
Mains:
In season spring lamb shepherd's pie
Fresh vodka pasta with poached salmon
Another 2 mains yet to be decided
Desserts:
Individual sherry trifle with fresh raspberries
Baked vanilla cheesecake (promise not to drop it this month)
Another 2 desserts to be decided.

Saturday 25th - Coaching day. These are proving very popular with 1 to 1 coaching where possible on skills like: Upwind sailing and boat handling. Even if you just want to get out on the water with someone there just in case then come on down.

Sunday 26th and Monday 27th - Sailing is scheduled for both days with the race starting at 1130 on Sunday. The tides will be high so there should be some good sailing out on the river.

Thursday 6th June - Hooper night. The usual monthly live music night with Ian taking requests for your favourite songs.

That's about it for now.

See you soon.
Dan

What's on...

Hi all,

As the Summer is upon us activity at the yacht club is increasing.

This Friday is Bistro night and there are still a few places left so give me a call to book a table.

This Saturday there is a second Coaching day, an opportunity for all to take to the water, either in their own boats, or in yacht club boats to practise their skills and pick up a few tips if required.

Also on Saturday the RNLI will be visiting us to conduct free safety equipment checks and to offer advise to anyone wanting to know more about staying safe on the river or at sea.

Thursday 2nd May is the monthly Hooper Trio night. This is a laid back evening of music, table service and a light bite menu. Try the MVF sharing platter, enough for 2 to share.

Saturday 11th May is open day so all help is welcomed to take people out on the water, or just come down to chat and let people know what the yacht club is all about.

Friday Bistro menu:

Starters:£4.00
Watercress Soup

Homemade seasonal soup served with crusty bread

Garlic Mushrooms

A mix of wild and button mushrooms in a cream sauce served with crusty bread

Goats Cheese Salad

Served withcrustini and horseradish and rhubarb chutney

Grilled Asparagus withhollandaise
Mains: £9.00

Sirloin Steak with green peppercorn sauce

Served with mash potatoes and leafy green salad

Shepherd’s Pie

Served with seasonal greens.

Fisherman’s Pie

A combination of haddock, smoked haddock, salmon and prawns fresh from the dock this morning. Served with seasonal greens.

Marinated Chicken with minted broad beans and peas

Dessert:£4.00

Melting chocolate pudding

Pimms Jelly

London Syllabub

Baked Vanilla Cheesecake

See you all soon.

Dan

Round Britain talk, Easter openings, Hooper night and Joint Club Commodore's night

Hi all,

Wow! What a lot going on over the next month.

Tuesday 26th: Tomorrow night the yacht club is hosting a talk by Keith Tomlinson who sailed round Britain in a Hanse 345. The bar opens at 1900 with the talk starting at 1930. Hotpot will be served at the interval and the talk is open to members, visiting yachtsman and guests.

There is dinghy sailing over the 4 days of Easter:

Opening times:

Friday race start: 1110, kitchen open from 0930. Bar open from 1200 till 1500

Saturday race start: 1150, kitchen open from 1000. Bar open from 1200 till 1500 (clocks go forward)

Sunday race start: 1330, kitchen and bar open from 1200 till 1700

Monday race start: 1420, kitchen and bar open from 1200 till 1730

Thursday 4th: Ian Hooper returns for another acoustic session. Numbers are really starting to ramp up now and expecting over 60 to this night. If you've not experienced this yet then if you go to my website: www.dancingfishevents.co.uk and there is a video on the "What's on" page. I already have 20 booked in for this so to ensure a table (if required) let me know.

Sunday 7th: As a one off special I'll be doing a roast beef lunch with all the trimmings. Send me an email to book a table so I know how many to cater for.

Saturday 13th: Coaching Day. High tide is at 1338 and this will comprise of supervised sailing (ie there will be a rescue boat out on patrol) and if you want any tips on sailing then experienced sailors will be on hand.

Saturday 13th: Joint Club New Commodore's night with Fleetwood Harbour Yacht Club. There will be a simple supper of pie and peas and live music performed by the party band "The Solid States".

Forthcoming events through the summer:

Friday 26th Bistro night

Saturday 27th: Coaching day

May 2nd: Hooper Night

May 6th: Cruising day with safety equipment testing, diesel engine chat (by Stephen Griffiths from James Troop and Co who service and supply parts for Volvo Penta, Perkins and DEUTZ) please let me know the number of Volvo Penta engines out there who might be interested, and possible boat jumble.

May 11th: Open day

May 24th: Bistro night

May 25th Coaching day

June 6th: Hooper Night

June 28th: Bistro Night

July 4th: Hooper Night

July 18th: Evening race and New members night

July 26th: Bistro Night

August 1st: Hooper Night

August 9th / 10th / 11th: Regatta

August 16th: Bistro (brought forward a week due to Bank holiday)

August 24th Dash Bash

August 25th: 2nd Annual Dash

A few dates for your diary there and I'm sure there will be more events to be arranged.

Hope to see you all soon.

Dan

Friday 22nd March - Bistro Night

Hi all,

Well I don't think I've finalised a menu this early. Almost 24 hours in advance. It helps that I visited the Dewlay Cheese shop in Garstang and got some great inspiration! We have a full house tomorrow with 39 diners attending. There are now 4 choices from each course for £15 for 3 courses plus coffee, I'll make the most popular 2 from each course regulars on the menu with 2 specials each month.

Starters:
Cheese on toast. Dewlay goats cheese toasted and served with a rhubarb and horseradish chutney. I had this for lunch today and the goats cheese was amazing.
Soup of the day. This will be homemade roast tomato and red pepper with a good dose of roasted garlic and served with artisan bread.
Homemade smoked mackerel pate. There are no fresh mussels available on the dock tomorrow so going to make a luxurious pate instead.
Garlic mushrooms. A mix of wild and button mushrooms in a white wine and cream sauce and served with a good sized slice of bread to soak up all those juices.

Mains:
Steak, egg and chips. Sirloin minute steak served with a fried duck egg and triple cooked goose fat chips.
Fish pie. A mix of haddock, smoked haddock, salmon and prawns and coated in creamy mash potato. Served with seasonal greens
Lamb Shank. Slow braised lamb cooked in a sumptuous red wine sauce and served on a bed of mash with seasonal greens.
Chicken en papillote. Chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and fresh herbs, cooked in a paper bag to lock in the flavour.

Desserts:
Selection of 4 Dewlay Lancashire Cheeses: Garstang blue, Smoked Lancashire, Crumbly Lancs and Special reserve Lancs. Went up to the shop in Garstang to buy these hope they get your vote to feature every month!
Melting chocolate fondant.
Syrup sponge and custard
Hot cross bun bread and butter pudding. This went down so well last time it is making a return, and it is nearly Easter.


If you want to come along then just let me know, reservations being taken NOW.

See you all soon.
Dan

Bistro night or "Pop up" Restaurant

Hi all,

Well it appears that pop-up restaurants are sweeping the nation and the new thing in dining out. "What are they?" I hear you shout. Well they are restaurant nights in places you didn't expect, exactly like my bistro nights. These are where restaurateurs try out new dishes in one-off specials.

I'd like to think I pioneered this philosophy but I've only been doing them a little over the year so can't take credit.

My bistro nights have evolved slightly, I've increased the cost to make the menu more flexible and increase the options available. They will now cost £15 per head for 3 homemade courses plus fresh coffee (or tea) and you will be able to choose from 4 starters, 4 mains and 4 desserts.

However, 2 from each course will become staples on the menu and it is up to you to choose! There will be voting cards at the next bistro night on Friday 22nd so you can decide what appears each month. The choices will be from every course I've made not just from this months.

The menu for Friday is not yet finalised but at present I have in mind:
Starter:
Soup of some kind
Garlic Mushrooms - a mix of wild and domesticated mushrooms with a bit of "fish flair" making these the most popular starter I have ever done.
Moules a la creme - if I can get some good ones. Served with crusty bread

Mains:
Steak, egg and chips: Sirloin minute steak with a fried duck egg and homemade chunky goose fat chips, may even triple cook them! There is no doubt about it, I will triple cook them.
Fish pie
SPECIAL: I challenged the team to come up with a dish and we will be serving: Barney's Stuffed Chicken en papillotte. This will be a succulent chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella, fresh herbs and lemon cooked and served in a "bag".

Desserts:
Melting chocolate pudding,
We have to see a return of the Hot cross bun bread and butter pudding
Selection of Lancashire Dewlay cheeses direct from their shop in Garstang.

Places are restricted to 40 and their are a few seats left so give me a call / email / text to book.

See you soon.
Dan

Rules, training and crew available

 

Hi all,

Welcome to March and what a wonderful week it has been, let's hope spring and summer are similar, although it is going to be a bit colder over the weekend. There are sailing courses taking place over the weekend so the rescue boats will be out if anyone is interested in sailing their own boat but prefers to do so with supervision.

Tuesday night is rules night which had to be re0schedlued from earlier in the year. The talk starts at 1930 and the bar will be open from 7 for you to get a pre-talk drink. A hotpot supper will be served at the first interval.

Thursday night is Hooper Night with the acoustic trio back for more of your musical favourites. It is free entry and open to all members and their guests so why not pop in for a quick drink or stay for the evening?

I've started to compile a list of people who are looking to sail so if you are short on crew, let me know and I'll pass on their details.

Short but sweet this week, hope to see you all soon whether out on the water or in the bar.

Thanks

Dan

Racing rules, bistro, prizes and space heaters!

Hi all,

There is a lot going on over the next couple of weeks starting with a rules presentation night tomorrow. The bar will be open from 7.00 and the talk starts at 7.30 with hotpot supper (served with red cabbage and mushy peas for £3) available at the interval.

Friday sees my monthly bistro night and there are a couple of places left if you wish to join us. I've not finalised the menu yet but, with a nod to Burns night, will include, (starters) garlic mushrooms, Scottish smoked salmon with horseradish cream, another starter to be decided. (Mains) Fish pie, traditional lamb hotpot with braised red cabbage and Haggis served with neeps and tatties. (Desert) McYummy Surprise (all I will say is there is chocolate, whisky and cream in it), and two more deserts to be decided.

Saturday 2nd Feb hosts the Annual Prize giving night and tickets are selling fast. With numbers restricted to 70 send me an email, or drop me a line as Mr Swannie will be away. Tickets are £15 a head for a 3 course meal and dance to DJ Lee MacGregor.

Thursday 7^th February 2013: Live music night with Ian Hooper and friends with a light bite menu and table service so come on down and bring your friends! Table reservation recommended. Especially for this one as it’s my wife’s 30^th on the Friday. Come and help us celebrate!

Finally, does anyone out there have a gas powered space heater I could borrow / buy? The club is baltic at the moment and a quick blast from a space heater is what's required!

 

Thanks and see you soon.

Dan

Happy New Year, What's on and things in planning for the yacht club

Hi all,

There is lots planned for the forthcoming year, something for everyone at the yacht club. For example we have "Coaching Days" planned for Saturdays where there will be safety boat cover and experienced sailors can help you get on the water. We have the second keel boat "Dash For Cash" over August BH with a top prize of £1000 CASH! RYA Power boat, safety boat, sailing and marine radio courses. As well as my monthly Thursday live music nights and Friday bistro nights.

Next week there is a rules presentation. So come down and find out what's changed. The bar will be open from 7.30 with the talk starting at 8. I will also be serving a supper of hotpot at the half time interlude.

It is a little over 2 weeks to this year's Annual Prize Giving and tickets are selling fast. With numbers restricted to 70 send me an email, or drop me a line as Mr Swannie will be away. Tickets are £15 a head for a 3 course meal and dance to DJ Lee MacGregor.

On April 6th Andy Airnes is running a RYA marine radio course from 9 till 4. There are more details attached and to book on the course contact Andy.

Peter Jackson (Dinghy Captain) has asked me to distribute the dinghy sailing program for next year. This also provides information on tide times, heights and YC social functions throughout the year so is a handy spreadsheet to have ahead of the handbook coming out.

What else is on:

Friday 25^th Jan: Bistro Night

This is a monthly “restaurant” type night with a limited choice of 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts for £12.50. Places are limited to 30 and each one sells out so book early to avoid disappointment.

Thursday 7^th February 2013: Live music night with Ian Hooper and friends.

The first Thursday in each month Ian Hooper and friends will be performing for us (you may remember Frank Flynn from the yacht club socials of old). There will be a light bite menu and table service so come on down and bring your friends! Table reservation recommended. Especially for this one as it’s my wife’s 30^th on the Friday. Come and help us celebrate!

Friday 22^nd Feb: Bistro Night

See you all soon.

Thanks

Dan