Newsletter - January 2024
Published 14:11 on 2 Jan 2024
2023 has been a great year for sailing events in our local area and further afield. We enjoyed the spectacle of the tall ships in August and the beautiful classic yachts in the Richard Mille Cup race in June. A large number of Shrimpers took to local waters for their International Shrimper Week in June, and in July the St Mawes One Designs celebrated their centenary in style. It has also been wonderful to see so many youngsters out on the river under the watchful eye of the Junior Sail Training team.
In November, Nigel Sharp stood down after 5 years as Chair of Port of Falmouth Sailing Association, handing over to Gaye Slater. PoFSA organises Falmouth Sailing Week, manages village regattas racing, and organises maintenance, sponsorship and positioning / anchoring the yellow racing marks in Carrick Roads and the bay. We are very grateful to all the volunteers who work on behalf of all 6 clubs in the local area.
New for 2024 we have been offered free use of the Hidden Cinema at St Mawes Hotel for 1 evening per month usually the last Monday. I am very grateful to Janice Young for volunteering to organise the Club film nights. See below for our first event. If you would like to request any particular film please contact Janice on janicey7@gmail.com
I wish you all the very best for 2024 whether ashore or on the water.
Diana Lockwood,
St Mawes Sailing Club Social Secretary, socialsec@stmawessailing.co.uk
From the General Committee: We have been made aware of an application to the Marine Management Organisation for the establishment of two seaweed farms in Gerrans Bay. Please see below the message from Cllr Julian German that was posted on Roseland Online:
There are two live planning applications for 110 hectares in Gerrans Bay. This is through the Marine Management Organisation rather than Cornwall Council.
The applications are for two seaweed farms of 55 hectares [each], combined this is the size of 176 full size football pitches (at 0.62hecatres). There will be navigation lights on the corners of the site and the infrastructure will include 9,400 floats. The application is for use of the site for 50 years.
These are the facts of the applications as I understand them. I wanted to make you aware so that you can consider the applications for yourself.
You can find the application on the website marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk On the front page, you click on public register, next, click on view register. On this page, in case reference put MLA/2023/00370 or MLA/2023/00371 - there are two separate applications, so both need to be responded to individually - and press search.
Please take this opportunity to give your views. The deadline for responses is 11th January
You will need to enable pop ups on your device when responding to MMO. If you have an iphone or ipad this can be done by going to the settings icon, then safari and clicking on the left hand side of the block pop up button. This will enable pop up windows to appear when you next go to the website.
We understand that local inshore fishing boat owners are concerned about access to their traditional fishing grounds in the bay, and that there are concerns about the impact on Portscatho Regatta events. Equally, some welcome the carbon capture potential of seaweed farms.
There are a number of informative posts on the Gerrans & Portscatho Livin the Dream Facebook page and some points about factual accuracy and the likely impact of the seaweed farm are on the Save Gerrans Bay Facebook page.
December Events:
28th to 30th December 1700 to 1930 hrs: St Just Festival of Light at St Just Church with carols, mulled wine and mince pies in the Church. This year the event coincides with high tides in St Just Creek. The reflections will make the festive lights doubly glorious. Entry is free, but donations in support of church maintenance are welcomed.
New Years Eve: The Club bar will be open from 1800 hrs to 0100 for members and guests to bring in the new year.
January Events:
Thursday 25th January: Supper from 1830 hrs, talk at 2000 hrs. We are extremely fortunate that Martin Brockman, Lifeboat Heritage and Education Officer at Penlee, has been able to find time in his busy schedule to come to St Mawes SC. The name Brockman will be for ever associated with the Penlee lifeboat disaster on 19th December 1981 when Martins father Nigel was one of the 8 crew of the Solomon Browne lifeboat who were lost at sea while trying to rescue crew and passengers from the Union Star. Martins talk will be held on the Upper Deck and relayed to the lower bar level in the Club. There will be a cash collection for the RNLI
Monday 29th January, 2000 hrs at Hidden Cinema, St Mawes Hotel. StMSC first Film Night: The Man Who Knew Infinity. 2015 film starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons, about an exceptionally gifted young mathematician who writes to a Cambridge professor and the friendship that ensues. Run time 108 mins
Admission free, but please book your ticket online by following the link below
To Book your place Click Here
Tuesday 30th January Book Group meeting 1815 hrs. For further information please email Diana, socialsec@stmawessailing.co.uk
Dates for your diary:
Thursday 8th February: Supper and talk TBC
Thursday 15th February: Talk by Rupert Kirkwood, The Lone Kayaker. Rupert has travelled over 31,000 miles by kayak mostly in Devon and Cornwall, since taking early retirement. He he has captured some beautiful and astonishing wildlife photographs and is particularly interested in cetaceans.
Last updated 14:05 on 30 January 2024