Thirty four people attended the inaugural meeting of the NW Cruiser Forum at the Mount Hotel, Orrell on Wednesday 9 March 2016. Points of concern/interest expressed included:
Flare disposal continues to prove a problem (is the Crosby service still available and for how long?). The use of electronic communications, including electronic flares, seems a good solution. However, for those who race, the RYA Rules still require flares to be carried. An electronic flare appears to be an excellent a locator, continuing to provide a light signal for many hours. The Odeo led flare was recommended as providing a morse SOS signal and at a cost of about £100..
(GM to seek further info)
The function of the NW Triage group was explained and the following discussions threw up a few potential local concerns. It was stressed that the Triage should be used both for advising clubs of possible local issues and for clubs to advise the Triage of problems they were encountering. The discussion led to a number of clubs voicing their concerns relating to the cost of licences and insurance required before the laying of marks could be undertaken. (GM to raise the matter at the CNP)
It was noted that there were concerns over proposed dredging at Ribble CC, a believed threat to the slip at Knott End and possible tidal lagoons in the Solway and Wyre estuaries.
Wind Farms in the Irish Sea produced a very robust debate, everyone feeling that the region has a very poor deal. The vast number of turbines between the Isle of Man and northern marinas produce a sea of red at night; extremely difficult to distinguish between the different fields. Perhaps the turbines become assets if some of them were turned into “light houses” with distinctive lights. It was thought that this suggestion had already been made but there had been an objection from the Civil Aviation Authority. It was then suggested that distinguishing lights could be sited further down the masts with light deflectors thus avoiding upward glare. This was thought an excellent solution. (GM to take suggestion to the CNP)
Notices to Mariners were discussed briefly, but no great concerns were identified. However, it was suggested that a chart of the Irish Sea showing wind farms, tidal power schemes, MCZs, SPAs would be helpful.
It was noted that much useful information on many of the matters of concern (wind farms, tidal lagoons, flares, licence fees) was available on the RYA website (see “information and Advice”- “current issues”.
Several participants took the opportunity to advertise forthcoming talks in the region, and a plea was made for volunteer skippers for a Sadler 25 Guillemot taking scouts etc out of Liverpool Marina.
It was agreed that the meeting had been useful and appeared worth repeating in a similar format at around 6 month intervals. We weill be looking, as promised at the possibility of some thing similar in the north of the region.
Best regards
Geoff Meggitt, Vice Chairman RYA Northwest geoff.meggitt@gmail.com
Tony Halliwell, Coastal Navigation Panel Representative halliwell@waitrose.com
with thanks to Louise for the notes