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If you are a regular visitor to Parkstone Yacht Club you may have noticed the Club's “Roll of Honour”. The latest addition to the list is our chairman Andy Osman. Andy now sails in the “Masters” class as he reached the big 50 earlier this year. A very happy belated birthday from us all. On the weekend of Poole Afloat he gave his apologies for being unable to help out and went to the UK Finn Masters Championship held at Warsash. At this meeting he became 1 st Grandmaster. Many congratulations Andy. Further up the “Roll of Honour” he has another mention as British Moth Boat National Champion.
The AGM will be held on Wednesday 4th October at Parkstone Yacht Club. Details are included with this newsletter. Rob Stevens, the new chief executive of the BMF will be joining us and is looking forward to meeting members.
Thousands of visitors flocked to our 2 nd annual watersports and boating event, Poole Afloat, sponsored by Rockley Holiday Park, in June to enjoy a free two-day extravaganza by the sea which brought together a spectacular showcase of celebrity style yachts and motor-cruisers, a military vessel, marine equipment and watersports gear, with ‘Try A Boat' sessions, as well as a programme of free family entertainment including nautical-themed face painting and traditional sea shanties.
More than 500 people took to the water with boating professionals for free trips around Poole Harbour in a variety of craft such as RIBs, sailing yachts, dinghies and kayaks to learn about watersports and watercraft. Visitors also had the opportunity to climb aboard a World War II motor gunboat, the operational RNLI Poole lifeboat and HM Coastguard boat, plus luxury motor yachts provided by Princess and Sunseeker Sales Group.
New additions this year included a junior boat handling skills competition which enabled youngsters to take control of a 16ft boat with a qualified instructor, and power-kiting taster sessions. Crowds also had the opportunity to participate in the interactive RNLI ‘Get Your Kit On' exercise, which required competitors to race against the clock and get dressed in the full RNLI crew kit in the quickest time possible. There was also the opportunity to watch dinghy boat building demonstrations provided by the Traditional Wooden Boat Section of Poole Yacht Club.
James Sydenham said: “ Poole 's biggest free boating and watersports event has, yet again, been a huge success. Thousands of people attended during the weekend and our ‘Try-A-Boat' sessions to get people afloat were fully booked on both days. The positive feedback from both visitors and exhibitors to the event has been overwhelming and we look forward to Poole Afloat 2007!”
Grateful thanks are sent to all those who helped from BMF Wessex.
The Marine Skills Centre continues to provide facilities to the marine industry for training, corporate use and apprenticeships. The prospectus is continually growing to a point where we can now offer over twenty five short courses and five apprentice programmes catering to a wide spectrum of the marine industry. The range of courses on offer vary from one day RYA to the more in-depth MCA and specialist options using some of the most up to date equipment and systems available, delivered by highly experienced and qualified instructors.
As a result of feedback from the industry we have found that the following courses are in particular demand:
• 2 day GRP and gel coat repair course
• RYA & MCA Diesel engine courses – 2 and 5 days respectively
• MIG /TIG welding – A weekly evening course over 10 weeks
• 2 day introduction to boat electrics
• ISPS courses - all levels
• 4 day First Aid at work
• 1 Day IOSH Working Safely
• 4 day IOSH Managing Safely
For more information on these and any of the other courses run here at the Marine Skills Centre, or if you are a trainer looking for premises to conduct training, then call Steve Potter, the Centre Manager 01202 606520 or visit our website at www.marineskills.co.uk/poole
Those employers looking at possibly taking on apprentices, we host training for some 120 marine apprentices in engineering, electrical and boat building. Please call Alison Tilley on 01202 606523 or visit www.dorsetapprentices.co.uk
There is to be a new Foundation Degree in Marine Leisure Management starting at Weymouth College this September. The course is designed for students who wish to combine their recreational interests with a marine leisure/tourism career and will provide a direct route to the final year of an honours degree course. The new Foundation Degree will equip students with a range of essential and transferable skills that employees in the Marine and Maritime sector require and can lead to a wide range of careers: charter and flotilla management, marina management, retail, brokerage, event management, leisure tourism and marketing. Development of practical skills on the water is also an essential part of this course. Further enquiries to: Roz Osborne, Weymouth College , Cranford Avenue , Weymouth , Dorset , Tel: 01305 764733, E mail; roz_osborn@weymouth.ac.uks
Following on from 2005’s highly successful gathering, this year’s Forum will take place on the 7th November, once again at Regents College London. The forum is open to all those with an interest in UK maritime matters. It will offer a chance to network with other members of the maritime sector, find out the latest on the Sea Vision UK project and discuss the future of the campaign. The presentations and topics for discussion are currently being finalised, and a full programme will be available shortly. If this is of interest then please pencil the date into your diaries.
Following last year's public enquiry and much controversy the go ahead has been given for the new Twin Sails bridge. The Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander, has given the Borough of Poole everything it wanted in the Transport and Works Act to provide a new bridge and kick-start a major regeneration programme with £1 billion benefits to the town.
Therefore, providing the Government honours its funding commitment it means that Poole can now go ahead and build the second harbour crossing.
Work could begin in April 2008 and 20 months later cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles could be crossing the Back Water Channel on a brand new link.
The Government has allocated £14.4m funding towards the £34m scheme, developers will contribute the remainder for the road network and the Council is spending £6m on preparatory work.
A project has been underway this year to revise and update the Aquatic Management Plan for Poole Harbour . The draft plan and consultation document can be downloaded at www.pooleharbouraqmp.co.uk . Consultation closes on 1 st September and the new plan should be published in December.
The BMF Wessex website is reaching a good audience now. From 279 hits in January it reached a high of 6432 in June for Poole Afloat. You can view the website at www.bmfwessex.co.uk
There will be a regional Conference by The South West UK Brussels office on the future European Maritime Policy taking place in Weymouth on 3 & 4 October 2006 . For further information on this free event go to http://www.southwestukbrusselsoffice.com/news.first.htm.
Allures Yachting is a dynamic young French boat builders, designing and manufacturing sea-going yachts. Due to spectacular expansion, Allures Yachting would like to identify a UK company to join the network of distributors already established in Germany , Italy and the Netherlands . The company founder, Xavier Desmarest will attend the Southampton Boat Show (from 15-18 September), presenting any potential distribution partner with a valuable business opportunity. The yachts are known in France for their safety, performance and comfort. They are built with an aluminum hull and structure and composite super structure. Allures Yachts currently manufacture three models ranging in size from 40' - 51'. You can find out more company information at www.allures-yachting.com .
Companies with an interest in pursuing an enquiry should contact Marine South West in the first instance: enquiries@marine-south-west.org.uk
Sea Vision has been approached by the BBC Coast production team to make suggestions for a new programme on the English Channel and the Channel Islands . Topics range from historical, archaeological, geographical and geological all the way to more contemporary issues. If you have any exciting suggestions do send them to Sea Vision and they will try to get them included in the upcoming programme. Contact Matt McKay Communications Manager Tel: 020 7417 2888 www.british-shipping.org
If you have articles for the next newsletter please send to Celia Sharpe at wessex@britishmarine.co.uk .
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