The site for the barbeque has recently been inspected by one of the Committee and much to her (and my) horror, despite getting permission from the landowner, the essential jetty has been largely removed, leaving us no way to get ashore.

In this case we have no option but to cancel the outing this coming weekend, 25th July. I am very sorry about this everyone, but we do not seem to be having much luck with the season.

Next attempt Sunday 12 September from the slipway starting 11.00, just up to the Black Rabbit and keep your fingers crossed.

Chris Waite
ABC Chairman

Well, cold beer and a picnic, I suppose and we even had that. The trip up to Bury went very well with two boats under sail and oar – Yes we can – and an escort with an outboard, who assumed the duty of Press Launch; photos attached. Sailing the Arun does require that you are easily able to lower your rig while afloat and there are areas under the trees and chalk cliffs where the oars have to come out, but it also shows that the internal combustion engine is not mandatory and the peace without it is sublime. So much so that a horse in the field up by Amberley Bridge was quite taken aback and spent several minutes rubbing his eyes in disbelief and scampering nervously about.

There used to be a ferry at Bury and we were able to take advantage of the steps there to tie up and climb up onto the manicured green, gathering around a bench on top of the dyke, for a real Edwardian picnic, minus the jackets, ties, flounces and boaters of course; got to get the sail and oar bit right first.

The return trip also went reasonably well with a couple of caveats. The tide does leave the slipway quite early and boats have to be lifted up over the drop at the end – it’s a somewhat muddy business. Oh and don’t leave you car parked in the field if there is any chance that you’ll be back after six o’clock, otherwise you’ll have to go and collect it the next morning…

Like I did!

Chris Waite
Chairman Arundel Boat Club

Don’t forget the next shot is Greatham Bridge and return, with barbeques in tow, starting from the slip at 11.00 on Sunday 25th July.

Yet we’ll persevere.  Looking rather more carefully at the tides, It has been decided to bring the ‘Bury Bash’ picnic trip forward to 13th June 2010.  10.00 for an 11.00 start from our Arundel slip; bring your own picnic.  High tide being a couple of hours earlier allows more flexibility with the return time.  That would leave the 12th September 2010 date for a desultory drift up to the Black Rabbit.

There have been some enquiries in regard to more powerful boats joining the club, giving the committee something to ponder and the answer goes like this – We have a moral if not actual obligation to protect the access track and the ramp itself.  Further we have a similar obligation to care for the ecologically sensitive conservation area of which the river forms a central part.  It is unfortunate that deep-V hulls create their most disturbing wash on the half-plane which is round about the speed limit on this stretch of the river.  To this end, we are limiting not only the length (5 metres overall on the trailer) and weight (250 kilograms with the trailer), but also the engine size to a maximum of 15 Horse Power.

Put 13th June 2010 in your diary and we’ll hope to see you then.

Chris Waite (Chairman)

The slipway close upstream from the Arundel Boatyard has kindly been provided in its entirety, by The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk as a gesture to the local community; the land and the structure belong to the Norfolk Estate.

They have asked the Arundel Boat Club to oversee its use. This engenders a number of responsibilities, some of which are financial, particularly rent, maintenance and insurance. At this early stage it is impossible to know how popular this project will prove and what problems may ensue from its use, so members are asked to bear with the ABC Committee while we make every attempt to ensure a prime facility at the most reasonable cost. The accounts will be available to discuss with any member having a query.

The Committee has opted for an annual ‘Slipway Supplement’, to be £20 (twenty pounds) this year, in addition to the normal membership fee, to allow access to the facility. Having signed to agree comprehension and acceptance of the points set out herein and on payment of the fee, members will be provided with the combination to the locked gate at the head of the ramp. This combination will be changed every year, or with a new combination to those entitled if there is a breach of security.

a. There is no associated entitlement to park a car, (or incidentally, to use the town quay pontoon).
b. Motor vehicles should not be used on the path, approaches, or ramp.
c. The maximum weight of a boat with trailer should not exceed 250 kg.
d. The maximum length of a boat with trailer should not exceed 6 metres.

2. The RIVER ARUN is FAST FLOWING, DEEP AND TIDAL – That is the stream alternates down and back up the river, varying in speed, direction and depth repeatedly over a matter of hours.

b. There is a very real DANGER OF DROWNING.
c. The Committee will not be held responsible for –
USE of the SLIPWAY, which is ENTIRELY at YOUR OWN RISK.
d. The TOWN BRIDGE is CLOSE DOWNSTREAM –
You may be swept onto it if you are not organized before casting off.

3. BEWARE of eddies on the slipway as you launch, possible slippery surfaces, particularly on the ramp itself and that the lower end of the ramp will remain incomplete until the weather is dry enough for the river to subside, providing access to extend and complete it with a concrete foot.

4. Extreme caution should be used when returning downstream toward the slip, particularly to avoid getting caught on the edge of the slip nearest river which might roll the boat over. This is not a manoeuvre for the inexperienced.
5. The whole area around the head of slipway may flood on high tides and there is nothing indicating the edge of the actual bank, where the depth will go from a few inches to several feet without warning.
6. Lock the gate before leaving on river trips as well as after recovery.
7. The committee welcomes guests, who must be escorted while using the slipway – you are asked not to give them the combination, as it is unfair to other members. Please be sure they also fully understand the dangers associated with the river and these other requirements in regard to the slipway itself. We are asking you to collect a charge of £5 per visiting boat per launch and recovery, or day, which ever is the longer. The committee has decided to set this up as an honesty policy – please pay the Treasurer, if convenient once a year, with your membership fee, but do keep a count as the Club has the financial commitments above, on your behalf.

Yes, it is currently cheaper to use the pontoon for the same purpose, if your guests can lift their boat down the gangway from the town quay… (or they could become ABC members!)

• 8. The Committee reserves the right to refuse and/or to prevent further access to those abusing the system. In this case there will be no refunds.

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Our apologies for all the rules but some people like to claim ignorance.

A great deal of energy and goodwill has gone into the provision of this slipway, its success now depends entirely on your respect for these efforts.

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This is your club.
The Committee wishes you a wonderful time “messing about in boats”.

The chairman, who admits to being an inveterate water-rat and even others on the committee are happy to help with any boating questions from how to mend a leak, to methods for attaching outboards, to working out the tides, or where to buy bits, or whole boats – one of us will have useful suggestions.

Remember, our first organized trip from the Slipway is on Sunday 2nd of May starting about 11.00, up to Amberley and back and we hope to see you there

Chris Waite
Chairman

Published: 2010/04/21 & 2010/04/22

See the Publication, Magazine & News Articles page for more!

Treasurer John launched his recently acquired pram dinghy and after a brief show of reluctance by the outboard, moved out into the stream.  A guest – yet another Chris, also made a maiden voyage having arrived with his brand new boat in the back of the car.  I don’t think he will mind me saying he is a substantial sort of oarsman and the boat a seriously diminutive punt, he made from a single sheet of ply.  Despite this he rowed unaided from Pulborough up to Pallingham and back.  It was as impossible as ever to ignore the Siren Song of the beer, emanating from the White Hart at Stopham Bridge.  Just to prove that the river really is amenable to rowing boats, I also took my skiff on the trip.

I think what I am hoping to put across is that small simple boats are the answer and you do not even have to have an engine; if you play your tides right, oars or paddles will do nicely.  While I can understand some hesitation before spring is truly sprung, it was actually a beautiful day and the river is really well behaved for one so spritely.  I hope to persuade more members to join us in future and would be happy to answer any queries you may have.  We have a slipway here at Arundel now and the rest of the summer programme will revolve around use of that facility.  The next ABC event is a return trip up to Houghton/Amberley on the Second of May, starting at 11.00 and there are likely to be spare spaces… 

Beware, you might enjoy it!

Chris Waite (Chairman)

Chris Waite recently took this photo, hopefully giving you a pretty good idea of its progress…

Members of the Arundel Boat Club will be privileged enough to use this!

So fill in a membership form now, if you want to be using it this summer!