March highlights…
The club has been a hive of activity in March…
Move More Exercise Class
Kath reports tjhat the current group are looking to move on the next level. Kath will be puttting information out shortly about the next group of classes.
Monthly Dip / Swim and Easter Sunday extra dip…
Kinga really got in to the dipping this month, supporting two dips… Great crowd, thank you for supporting the beach club. We look forward to many more… I don’t think Len Dog was convinced!
Start of Season Party
Great evening, some nail biting table football games, a variety of foods, Indian, Thai and Cheesy Chips where on the menu. Good fun to get the season off on a high.
Club working parties
Thanks to all members that took part in the work party and the Tuesday club for their work on the flooring by the toilets and the rebuilding of the garden veranda. We are starting to look good for summer. Dave Hall. Thank you Dave for the hot dogs and bacon butties.
The first ShakaSup Social / BackYard Record Fair
It would really help the clubs google reach if everyone who visits the club leave us a Google Review. Only takes a mo and would be much appreciated. Adam.
Janine Pinion – New Brighton Green Party – “Had an exceptionally interesting afternoon looking round the old West Cheshire Sailing Club, with founder Adam Crouch and director Adrian Pattinson. The extent of the facility the CIC has developed and the beneficial reach to the public, independent businesses, tourism and health is eye-opening and impressive. Wirral Green Party”
Wallasey Beach CIC Facebook post 14 March 2024
Membership Notices
The plans to extend the opening hours at the club where covered in the February 2024 Newsletter.
The staffing of this has had a good response I understand, however if you are interested we need people who are available to cover some or all of these hours on a flexible rota’d basis and will be paying £12 an hour on a freelance basis.
Any questions, feel free to message me. Adrian Patterson club@wallaseybeach.org.uk
New membership portal
https://wallaseybeach.clubforce.com/products/membership
We have a new updated and easier to use membership portal 🙂
All memberships will now start from the 1st of April. For all people who have signed up previously. When you come to renew, the system will be prorata for your membership to run until the 31st of March. You will then renew each year on the 1st of April.
All storage fees are to be paid in full on the 1st April each year.
Full details in the February 2024 Newsletter.
What’s on at Wallasey Beach CIC?
Weekly Socials
Every Tuesday 10am – 1pm – DIY and Social Club
Your Club needs you. Join our volunteers every Tuesday to help maintain and improve our club.
Lots of tea and biscuits are provided.
Exciting News! Next Sunday we’re BACK and thrilled to announce the Wallasey Food Fair and Makers Market will now be held in conjunction with West Cheshire Sailing Club, nestled along Coastal Dr, Wallasey CH45 3PZ. Indulge in delicious culinary delights from local vendors and discover unique handmade crafts from talented artisans. It’s an event you won’t want to miss! Save the date, our first market will be the 7th of April 9:30am -1:00pm and come hungry for a feast of flavors and a treasure trove of handmade treasures. See you there! Wallasey Food Fair and Makers Market FB Post.
Saturday 13th April – Saturday Social & Quiz
Club will open at 6pm, for quiz at 7pm. £2 per person prizes and raffle on the night.
Bring your own food or order in on the night.
Sunday 21st April – Monthly Dip / Swim. High tide is 10:27am.
Dates for your Diary…
Saturday 4th May 2024 – Dave Hall – Work Retirement Party – Open to all members
Sunday 11th May – Sailing will commence again on Sunday 11th May and will continue on every second Sunday till October.
Insert your suggestion here?
We want to know what social events you would like to see going forward…..
Cruise Report from Chris Woodworth
Has this winter seemed like we’ve had more than our fair share of rain? Trying to find a decent day that we could “thread the eye” was near impossible! Then mid March gave the window of opportunity to get onto the water and make an attempt.
The sailing plan was to launch out off Dove Point Meols, heading towards Leasowe Lighthouse then turn to port and out to deeper water. Once over East Hoyle Bank make a heading towards Hilbre, round the Island, through the gap between Hilbre and Middle eye and then back to Meols.
For circumnavigating Hilbre Island, we need a sufficiently high spring tide to allow safe water depth between the islands at HW, this circumnavigation is only suitable for craft with small draft. If arriving too late at Hilbre then any attempt would have to be abandoned as the window of opportunity would be missed. Given the big tide, our window to pass between Hilbre and Middle Eye was probably about HW+/-1h, i.e. 2h, so plenty of time on this occassion. Wind direction and wind speed are also critical factors, and careful attention to forecasting is needed before setting sail and in deciding if the attempt will go ahead.
John has named this cruise “Threading the eye” as the cruise takes those involved in a partial loop which allows for passage between Hilbre and Middle eye. Hilbre is tidal, and at low water can be accessed on foot, well worth doing when visiting the area, but always check the tides 😉
On the day the Met Office Inshore Waters forecast was F4-6, but that covers a big area up to the Mull of Galloway! In Liverpool Bay the forecast was F4-5 S/SW we decided to put a reef in the mainsail at the slipway. A thought came to mind… “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” – William Arthur Ward.
Hilbre HW was at 13.38 with a 9.6m tide, so we had plenty of time to take on this cruise. Feb 2023 was the last time that we did this cruise and it took just over 2hrs in my Comet Versa.
As soon as we had enough water to float we launched. John from Hoylake sailing club was at the helm to the island. On this occasion we were sailing towards Leasowe against a strong flood, filling the ballast tank as we went along. Near the Leasowe lighthouse we turned to port and set a heading into deeper water to cross the East Hoyle Bank.
Onward to Hilbre Swash, which is the main channel into the Dee on the Wirral side. It was quite choppy for this stretch but enjoyable and my Core Sound 17 MK3 (named Skye), a Cat Ketch built in 2019, coped with the conditions. At a mile or so out we could see a Cormorant fishing for its lunch in the rough sea, what an impressive creature. Hilbre was getting closer and we continued to push on whilst keeping a close eye on the time.
With perfect wind direction for this particular cruise only tacking a few times, we arrived at the NW point of the island a few minutes after HW. Thereafter we swapped over and I was to take the helm on the return to Meols. I positioned Skye ready for passage between Hilbre and Middle Eye. What a beautiful sight with birds crowded on the rocks and shoreline on both islands. We’re so lucky we people who enjoy watersports, to be able to see such sights, I always enjoy the views at sea and looking towards land.
On the return passage we passed Red Rocks to starboard , careful to avoid the outcrop of rocks (locally known as Bird Island) positioned a short distance out from the headland to port. The people waving from the rocks were clearly visible and the cameras were out recording this unusual view of a sailboat so close to land.
Then a nice beam reach, in flatter waters, towards Hoylake Lifeboat Station but sailing the boat slightly out to sea for deeper water. This part of our cruise was so pleasant with good speed. It probably took half the time on the return journey compared to the outbound! Once past the RNLI station it was a gentle turn inshore across the top of Hoylake beach, reaching the slipway again by approx HW+1h.
An excellent few hours sailing and well worth trying if you can join us in the future.
Watersports Shop, Kitesurfing & Wingfoiling lessons
Check out our inhouse watersports shop provided by Northern Kites. Items can be bought online at www.northernkites.co.uk or members can pop into the container shop located in the Watersports yard (Open when the wind is blowing onshore from April)
As always, please keep up to date and active on the socials and you never know we may spotlight some posts in future newsletters.