Abject Apologies from Pugwash and his Paltry Publications!
Pugwash had planned to publish newsletters after each cruise and keep you Penguins up to date with plans for 2018 - I can only apologise as we have had a fraught time of it since Easter.
Firstly - some sad news - many of you will remember Miles Browne, a real character and if you have sailed with him - you will never forget! Sadly, he passed away in June this year. Miles was one of the great characters of the club and many will remember his dry wit and numerous escapades. He farmed in the Border region of Scotland and could be relied upon to supply his boats with copious quantities of potatoes and other vegetables. His last cruise with Penguin was June 2016 for the Highland Circuit where, much to Miles’ chagrin, we didn’t make it round Cape Wrath to the Orkneys, because of persistent, strong NE winds. Miles desperately wanted to complete the circuit. Sorry we didn’t make it for you Miles; it would have been a fitting final cruise. You will be sorely missed.
You may remember in the last newsletter (it was that far back though!) that Helen Gould was asking for crew for her Nicholson 32 in late May. Well, fellow Penguin Rachel Belk took her up on the offer…Rachel flew to Stornoway. Had the most amazing two and a half weeks - sailed to Orkney, then the Faroe Islands, decided they didn't have a long enough weather window to get to the east coast of Iceland, and further by some 200 miles round the north as Helen had to leave Becca Boo (the yacht!) in a safe harbour whilst she went home for a fortnight for family stuff. So they sailed back to Shetland where they managed to overlap with the Penguins as they delivered the charter boat back to Lerwick at the end of their fortnight Shetland-Orkney cruise.
Cruises 2017 - “strewn with incident ”!
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| Young Penguins | Scotland Easter | Fair Isle |
The recent Penguin committee meeting received reports of all three cruises (pics above) undertaken this year. For all the gory details - you’ll have to attend the Annual General Meeting! Which reminds me - put the date in your diary and try to make it! The date is 20th January (2018) and will be held at our usual haunt of Colwall Village Hall - the Whiffeldy Band have been booked. The date is too near Burn’s Night for us to ignore the great bard so - a themed Burn’s Night Supper is planned, with plenty of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties!! (see attached invite) Wearing tartan is obligatory!!
Cruises 2018 - “work in progress !”
Cunning plans were discussed and devious plots hatched for next year - a whole host of ideas were put forward at the committee meeting - currently, Eastern Denmark proposed for 2 weeks (19th May - 2nd June) - Commodore James Raby would like to hear from you if you are interested This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and The Azores probably for a week in late July (cost approx. £490), are being mooted. For the moment, let the secretary Marian, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Jane, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. know ASAP, if you are interested in the Azores trip. We have also enquired of a classic yacht that cruises the West coast of Scotland and the outlying islands, Wylde Swan, during the summer and the offers of 4, 5 and 7 day cruises are on the cards!
Firm plans to date are for the traditional Easter Cruise - Isle of Skye Yachts have chartered us three yachts at the moment (more if there is a rush of applicants!) for Saturday 7th April for the week. Proposed cost is £400 per berth to include all food, excepting an optional pre-cruise meal at Inchree Lodge (Fort William) which is planned for the Friday night before setting off. John Marriott is the cruise organiser and any application (very soon to appear on the web-site!) should be mailed to him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Full details and application forms for all 2018 cruises will be available in annual mail out, so look out for these or on the web site.
Younger Members - The committee have also instructed me to make all Penguins aware - we do offer subsidised/ sponsored places for those (younger) sailors. They're intended for youngsters in full-time education who are interested in joining the Easter cruise. Any interested youngsters should contact Marian or any nominees by current Penguins of a worthy recipient of such an opportunity - please let the secretary know. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are also very proud that one our younger members Rosie Creber has been selected for the Round the World Clipper Race and as a Club it would be great to support her in every way. To start she has initiated some great bags for sale (see separate attachment). She will also be giving a short presentation at the AGM and fund-raising generally, looking for sponsorship with social media feedback (details to follow).
Committee - Other items discussed at the committee meeting related to reviews of the risk assessment policy to ensure that late changes are adequately assessed and documented. Membership and the treasurer’s report were discussed - all very healthy, and a “derustification” initiative was aired - await the AGM for more detail!!! Lastly, I will not steal the Commodore’s thunder, but changes are afoot within the committee. We welcomed Charles Howell and Andy Davey as new committee members this year, and their first committee meeting was in October where the first challenge was to find where Underfall Yard was in Bristol’s Cumberland Basin . . .
So, Pugwash is signing off now - keep an eye on the penguin.org website for news of the forthcoming cruises. Once again, our annual report / mail out will be following very soon, with firm cruise details for 2018.
I hope to see you all at the AGM in January!
(wearing your tartan of course!!)