The Telescope

The newsletter of the S.C.G.S.C.

Volume 3, Issue 2 March, 2004
A Note for your Diary
Formal notification of the annual General Meeting of the SCGSC will issue from the Committee shortly, however an un-named editorial source has indicated that the Committee plan to hold this event on Tuesday the 27th of April 2004. Un-confirmed reports further suggest that the AGM may be held at a waterside location in the lower harbour where the new club vessel “Explorer” will be “open to the public” by invitation only!.

All members are encouraged to attend this meeting which will account for the club activities in 2003. More importantly for us who want to get on the water the programme will launch the activity calendar for 2004.

FURTHER INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

Explorer due in Cork Harbour
Explorer is presently ashore in the boatyard in Ardrossan, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. She will be re-launched shortly and will leave Scotland on the 14th of April for Cork Harbour. That journey will take about 5 days, weather conditions permitting. For those that would like to follow the progress of this trip, daily reports will be available on 087 2834104. Possible stops will be Bangor, Carlingford, Dublin, Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East, Helvick Head. There will NOT be a stop in Dungarvan (M.L. Please note! Dungarvan can be accessed by bus with a free travel pass).




Buoys won't be boys
I was on board Hope and Glory, a Sigma 36 belonging to Britannia Sailing School, and halfway through my Coastal Skipper practical course. We had left Yarmouth, heading towards Portsmouth. It was a bright, crisp, late autumn day with hazy sunshine.

After entering Portsmouth the skipper decided that with the remaining daylight we should press on to Port Solent to the top of the harbour. With a fair wind, we ran up and dusk fell. Time passed and in the half light I was struggling to pick out the marks and lit buoys. I had just reached the prime of my life, having passed 40 the previous year, and in the pub that night I decided that I must go and see an optician to get my eyes sorted. Getting back to the office on Monday morning I duly made the appointment for that afternoon, turned up and had my vision thoroughly checked.

After the examination the optician said that my vision needed correction and asked me: 'What made you think you needed glasses?' I replied, without thinking: 'I'm having trouble picking up buoys after dark'.

==========

This is the actual radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995.

Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.

Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.

Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again - divert your course.

Canadians: No, I say again you divert your course.

Americans: This is the Aircraft Carrier US LINCOLN, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied by three Destroyers, three Cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you change your course 15 degrees north or counter measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call!!
News Snippets
Congratulations: to Newly Appointed Garda Sergt. John Murphy. For those of you missing what’s on the grape vine be advised that John Murphy of the Communications Division, and an esteemed member of SCGSC, has been promoted Sergeant and transferred to Portlaoise. John we are glad to hear that you will continue to sail with us. Congratulations on your appointment and we wish you a good 10.4 old buddy
 
Best wishes: John Riordan, appointed to the staff at Cork Airport. John belated best wishes to you on your appointment. We understand that the element of free travel associated with your job should not be considered a perk.
 
Dan Murphy and Eddie O’Sullivan: Best wishes lads from all the Committee on your appointment to the SCGSC Court of Auditors. Dan, an old hand at sniffing out fraud is joined by an eager beginner in Eddie.
 
Bon Voyage to Pat Fleming: (See above) Pat was recently seen with a load of travel information about Brazil.
 
Paul Hogan: Paul has accepted the position of Bookings Officer, contact Paul if you wish join or initiate a cruises.
 
Newsletter Editor: The vacancy for an Editor for the newsletter is still vacant. Surely somebody can commit for a 6 month period. Call Dermot O’Mahony

Sailing Programme 2004
The details of the sailing programme for 2004 will be announced at the AGM later in April.

Already the Committee is putting together plans for a number of sailing days and short cruises. Possible events could be day trips in Cork Harbour, day trips and overnights to Kinsale and 3 to 4 day cruises to the Isles Scilly and places West. Details of these cruises will be announced early in the year to allow you to plan to join in. Especially welcome will be new members and those who have not been active in the sailing programme during the last few years.

EXPLORER will not sail in the Cork Week Regatta. However it is intended that she will be available to take members and families to view the action during these races. Watch this space and the web for further information on this exciting event

Normal day sailing activities will continue this year. To access up to date information on these and other activities please visit the Club Website http://www.swra.ie/oasis.

Paul Hogan has accepted the appointment of Bookings Officer. Day sailing as usual can be booked on the web as shown above or with Paul at 086 8169740 or phogan@indigo.ie

To use the day sail booking section of the web, when asked for a username/password please insert for username “gardasc” and for password “oasis” note that the username password is case sensitive. I suggest that you familiarise yourself with the website so that you can use it to best effect.

Cruise and overnight sailing cannot be booked on the web site. Contact Paul directly for these activities.

The web will also carry archive material submitted by members. Special interest areas such as: “The Ships Log Section”, needs fresh material. How about something from recent times!

Refresher Training For Skippers
A refresher and familiarisation course for all skippers is being organised at present. The purpose of this 2 module course is to familiarise all skippers with the equipment on EXPLORER. This new yacht is of considerably a higher specification than OASIS.

Additionally the committee feel that a navigation refresher course in the area of passage planning, passage plotting, tidal streams, etc, would be of benefit to all skippers.

In the interest of safety it is compulsory that all skippers attend these courses. Those who intend to do their skippers practical exam this year are also welcome. Course details will be published shortly

Should you wish to input to the content of the course please contact Eoghan Allen.

Finally
Harry Topham is organising a group to do a skippers course. For further information contact Harry directly
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