If you have any comments, queries or questions for any HBSA members, email them to me at mrmaudsley@gmail.com and I will add them below within 24 hours. Similarly, if you have any matters of interest or wish to contribute to the site in any way, please do let me know.
Message board
Please contact the site and pass on any photos or videos of activities around the area. They can be published anonymously if they are particularly embarassing. If you wish to contribute in any other way, please let me know.
There is a lot of work involved in maintaining the Lockside and canal banks, especially during the spring and summer months. if you would like to help out in any way, for example with painting, gardening or maintenance, then please speak to either Colin Edmond or Martin Maudsley. Even a few hours here and there will make an enormous difference.
HBSA members may use the canal for rowing boats throughout the year. There are limited storage facilities for small rowing boats by the rack near the shower block. HBSA member boats must be clearly marked and only kept in this area. Boats kept in the water will be sunk removed. You have been warned!
The weather is improving ,the wind is dropping,the sun is coming out and pigs are flying.Now is the time to tone up for the summer,HBSA can offer you a program of controlled exercise on the picturesque Blackwater.Falling in the river and bobbing up and down for about an hour can result in losing inches off your waist due to hypothermia! Alternatively all you need to do to join in the following rowing activities is fill in your membership form and disclaimer, if you have not already done so, and be on the HBSA pontoon at the appropriate time.
I will send out reminders before each row and there will be a program of all events on this website.
Saturday 25Th July
Regatta. www.heybridgebasinregatta.co.uk
August
A spontaneous mid-week,early morning,evening,weekend event depending on the weather ,holidays and time available.
Saturday 12Th September
16.30 late afternoon leisurely row to Queens Head ,Maldon for a drink and snack .
Saturday 10Th October
15.30 Final row around Northey in the fog if last year is anything to go by !
Last Saturday and Sunday the first stage of fitting the new lid to the pontoon was started. The hammerhead was the first part to be completed. The next stage will go down on the next convenient weekend.
This new material is very expensive, it is yours, you paid for it, although it has a lengthy life span it needs to be looked after. If you need to take dinghies on it please carry or trolley them, the surface of this new material is non-slip, if you drag your dinghy it will grind the bottom out of it before you get to the other end!! Beware, it doesn't like knees either!!
If you need to plaster mud on the pontoon for whatever reason please wash it off, as you are aware Blackwater Mud has incredible travelling properties, especially the underside of footwear and sailing gear. So be fair to yourselves as well as other users.
I will keep you up to date with the progress of this work.
Please make sure that you check your dinghy runners and that they are suitably protected from damage to other members dinghies.
We have negotiated a deal with MDC to have 'DINGHY ONLY' swinging moorings in the HBSA controlled area, If anyone is interested in this offer please contact me, if there is enough takers we can move forward with this facility.
Please don't forget to register you dinghy for storage of Canal Company property asap as a big clean up of the area is underway with unclaimed / unregistered dinghies being removed. I now have stickers for your dinghies when you return your form.
Thanks
Derek Fox
Moorings Officer
Heybridge Basin Triathlon
The exciting event planned for Saturday 6 June (HW 12.44) will be soon upon
us and this will be the new Heybridge Basin Triathlon. It will be a
fun/family event - for anyone in the village to participate - not just
sailors or HBSA members. The Triathlon will be sailing / rowing / running
with no handicaps followed by a picnic, and the emphasis is definitely on
FUN.
Here are the details:-
A team consists of (1) HBSA registered yacht (2) a rowing boat and (3) a
runner. You don't have to have all three to take part, as we will 'join up
the dots' nearer the time - there will no doubt be rowers who don't have a
yacht, and runners who don't have a boat etc. Just let us know as soon
as possible, and the latest BY Friday 5th June by email to Nigel Lucas
vnl@aol.com what team(s) you have or how you wish to take part. Nigel
will then let you know your team 'colour-code' so you will need to wear
something of that colour, e.g. t-shirts, arm band, cumberband, big knickers
, face painting - whatever takes your fancy.
Or, just turn up on the day by 10 am please so we can finalise teams. We
are also looking for spotters and helpers on the day.
Here are the course and timings:-
Yachts
10 min gun at 11.20
5 min gun at 11.25
Start at 11.30 - HBSA jetty
To Hillypool Std, Herring Point Std, Hillypool Std and
finish HBSA line observing all channel marks.
Rowing
Handover as team member yacht crosses the HBSA line
Row to yellow buoy nearest to the crane blocks
Return to HBSA jetty
Runner
Handover at HBSA jetty
Run to Hillypool chair
Return to HBSA jetty and burst your (colour coded) balloon
Teams so far are Clint Swann, Nigel Lucas, Jill Doubtfire.
