You may be aware that the club has refurbished and improved the slipway at the wharf to allow larger boats to dry out, or 'neap out', for under-the-waterline chores.

If you wish to neap out for extended work then we suggest you do so at the end of a set of spring tides to give space for those who just want to anti-foul or change anodes etc between tides!

You then have the time between springs, or we can move you about to allow access if you need even longer!

You must notify any member of the moorings committee prior to using any of our growing set of facilities. This avoids agro and disappointment for another member who may have taken time from work!!!!

Welcome to our website!

To find the Clubhouse, use BS23 4XU on Google maps - it's near enough (at the moment.) If you've visited to look at our membership options and costs, please navigate to the Membership page. If you are looking for that handy little diagram on laying a mooring, navigate to Mooring Information.

Founded in 1933, the club aims to serve all Weston Bay's wind and water users, be that as a sailor, windsurfer, canoeist, land sailor, jet skier, kite flyer or whatever it is you want to do. We also have a social section for those who prefer the indoors!

This year sees two extraordinary events at the club. Andy Press is planning an around the world non-stop challenge to celebrate the dream of the 1968 Golden Globe race, while Andy Carnegie is sailing around Britain with the Navigators of Faith venture.

In the recently refurbished Clubhouse we have changing rooms with hot showers, as well as our bar and lounge and fully equipped kitchen - or galley if you prefer.

We offer very cost effective mooring space along the River Axe for approximately 100 yachts. We don't think there can be many places to operate a boat from in the UK that are as cheap as our facilities. We also have a training room for holding our RYA approved courses.

We really hope you'll find a home for yourself as well as your boat at our club - we're looking forward to meeting you! You are most welcome to visit us on any Friday night from around 20:00, to sample our bar, meet the inmates, and have a chat with us about the club.

Meanwhile, please feel free to browse our site to find about the club, as well as some useful information about the local conditions.

Andy's Dream

To sail non-stop solo around the world in honour of the 9 people who first attempted it 50 years ago with the Golden Globe race, and to raise awareness of these people and hopefully inspire others to chase their own dreams.

GoldenGlobeRaceRoute

You can help Andy by visiting https://fundly.com/crazy-sailing-challenge

News ...

3rd October 2018

Current Position - 38 44.70n 24 01.67w

Sleep is a bit of a problem for Andy at the moment as both sea and wind are moving around a lot so as he settles it all shifts and he is broadsided again. Shore crew are waiting for a message to say he is in signal range of Sao Miguel hopefully less than 12hours for that. More news to follow when hopefully he is safely back in port.

 

2nd October 2018

Current Position - 39 48.56n 22 42.60w

Hdg 240 4Kn

Not much sleep, Andy isn't used to the roll when running and cross seas and waves crashing over the beam an uneasy passage at the moment. Although the conditions are improving and the speed is good. He is hoping to make it back to Ponta Delgada (205Nm) Thursday lunch time-ish. He will keep an eye on his mobile and ring shore crew as soon as he is able...watch this space and keep sending your best wishes to Andy. Shore crew out.

 

1st October 2018

Current Position - 40 44.00n 21 33.13w

(1830hrs) Andy is unsure what he should do with the wind an ENE at force 6 and 4m high waves he is not having much fun. With the poor weather his communications link is unstable so it took him 4hrs to get a weather update. He has decided that the Scillies is beyond his reach at the moment and with the current weather forecast the Azores is most favorable although Porto or similar in Portugal may be possible.

Addendum

(1910hrs) Porto is a bust. Andy thinks his only viable option is back to the Azores, 260Nm and a heading of 230 works well with the waves and he should be able topick up some speed. He will get waves breaking over the stern so boards are in for the foreseeable future.

Addendum

Andy's latest 2104hrs, -

Surfs uyp dude. The long board is the realm of the pro i believe. I have a very long board. Hdg 225 at 4Kn, 5Kn + when surfing. Heavily reefed, hope to shake out in the morning. Sorry going to miss the AGM but a long trip back.

Stay safe mate.

 

30th September 2018

Current Position - 41 19.15n 21 57.01w

FrustratinglyAndy is going nowhere and getting there fast, his speed has dropped right down as the wind is  a north easterly but blowing a force 7. Very rough but sleeping.

29th September 2018

Current Position - 41 45.64n 22 41.76w

Andy has been forced to tidy the boat as with the winds increasing he has been healed over at quite angle, in fact enough to dump everything on the cabin floor. So he has stowed his gear as he should of done in the first place. The wind is really picking up now and Andy has prepped the boat as much as he can including putting the third reef. Hopefully this batch of higher wind speed will start to drop over the next 24hrs and he should be good till next weekend. Keep safe Andy.

 

28th September 2018

Current Position - 42 00.46n 23 37.58w

Spirits are high following yet another good 24hrs even though the wind has been all over the place from northerly to south easterly and force 3 to 6 plus all back again. Andy will be putting in his first tack soon to bring him more easterly. Andy says he is feeling really good, batteries are behaving, boat is good and speed is good. Bring it home Andy.

 

27th September 2018

Current Position - 40 56.32n 23 27.90w

Hdg 040

Wind ese F4

The wind has been very variable in intensity going up and down between F4 and F1 but has steadied during the day. Andy has settled back in to life at sea although forgot he was on a boat at sea last night when he woke in the early hours to the sound of howling wind. In his words...

'Awoke in the eary hours to the sound of howling wind, feel smug as I lay safe and cosy. Where am I? On a boat. Oh, in port? No, underway. Oh. Pay close attention to movement of the boat and every little sound. Well within operational limits. Smugness returns as does sleep.'

So all well and making progress. See you all soon.

26th September 2018

Current Position - 39 57.42n 24 50.08w

Well 48hrs in and 170Nm uder his belt Andy is settle in to life at sea again. A big swell is running and cross seas are making SV Greenfingers creak but she is happy as is her Captain. Let's all wish him the best for the voyage ahead.

 

25th September 2018

Current Position - 38 54.12n 25 59.00w

Steering NNW at a steady 5kn Andy noticed the hydrovane (automatic steering gear) misbehaving. Following a quick look it became evident a pin was missing. In the morning with more light a replacement was fitted (from the spares kit) and problem solved. The wind died for a few hours during the night as it happened so the steering gear had nothing to do anyway.

Andy's body is being reminded of what sealife is like and at the moment his stomach is not enjoying the sensation.

Keep watching folks...

24th September

Current Position - 37 42.62n 25 45.99w

So the homeward bound journey begins. Andy left Ponta Delgada at 1700 GMT with clear skies and fair conditions. Motoring to get clear of the shipping and the islands shadow.

On the left leaving the pontoon.

More to follow....

24th September 2018

Current Position - Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores

Please accept the shore crews apologies for no news, although there has really been no news...until now that is.

Our intrepid Andy is at long last putting to sea again and heading home to re-group before heading off again, all being well, in 2020.

Before we sign off for today, updates will follow I promise, the sum total of written communication received from 'Our man in the Azores': -

Time flies when you are hanging upsidedown with your head in an engine compartment and a confused look on your face.  So, still:
 
Current position: Ponta Delgada Marina, Pontoon F, right at the end hoging a space reserved for boats twice as long as me.
 
A lot has happened, mostly good.  The engine is now purring like a, well a diesel engine.  Took a while to diagnose, but found there's a hole in the diaphragm in the injection pump governor.  Shore Crew were able to send out a replacement, which took a week to get here, and with a lot of swearing I was able to replace myself, which I'm rather proud of.
 
The leak in the rudder post has been a constant annoyance, nothing I've done has fixed it.  Currently the leak has been slowed and a better fix is not looking likely without taking the boat out of the water.  It's now more manageable, but will still be keeping an eye on it on the way back.
 
A whole bunch of smaller problems have also been fixed, and the boat is ready to set sail again.
 
The weather of late has been pretty awful, but what looks to be a good weather window has come up and so getting ready to cast off later today.  Looking like it's going to be a bumpy ride back, but hopefully a lot faster.
 
Planned route is pretty much direct to the Isles of Scilly, with a brief stop over there to rest up before punching up the Bristol Channel.
 

So AIS back on, SAT phone back on, oilies back on. See you soon Andy.

 

23rd August 2018

Current Position - Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores.

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