The marina have reported that the scheduled lock maintenance to replace the seals in the seaward gate has been successfully completed. The locks will return to service on April 1st. They also forecast that in everyone’s excitement to get back out on the water, the lock may be busy so please book ahead.
With the lock re-opening, this means the next race, Spring 3, will run as planned on Saturday 5th April.
Look forward to seeing everyone out on the water – and with some sunny weather too!
PYSC and PCC members converged on the Nailsea Masonic Centre on Saturday 6th March for a historic night – the first time the clubs have shared an event in nearly 70 years!
Thanking the PYSC team for inviting PCC to the event, Commodore Nick Duppa-Miller gave a short speech in which he outlined a number of things the club shared such as the joint use of the Newcombe Bouy (sometimes at the same time!) together with the use of VHF channel M1 on race day which always makes for an interesting start sequence.
After the 3 course dinner, and before the dancing started, came the PCC awards for non-racing prizes which were presented as follows:
| Services to the Club | Mark Lewis (awarded posthumously) |
| Furthest Cruise | Stuart Phipps, Segeta |
| Longest Single Handed Cruise | Jerry Dillon, Rosetta |
| Bristol Channel Cruising Cup | Margaret & Rodney Deacon, Tesalah |
| Best Newcomer | Bob Goulding |
| Best Log | Tim Pearson, Molia |
| Outstanding Seamanship | Crews of Assassin, Ctrl-J, Hero and Scrumpy-J for the passage to Cork and avoiding the bad weather! |
Congratulations to all the winners and if you missed out on the fun, next year’s event has already been booked for Saturday 7th February so mark your diaries!
Big thanks to the PYSC team for all the organization and also to Julia Filer on the PCC side.
In a remarkable twist of good luck, the racing fleet’s last race of the King Road series landed on a gap in the weather meaning the fleet enjoyed brisk winds and blue skies as they took to the water for a fine day’s racing.
Heading for Newcombe as the first mark, followed by Cockburn on a fast spinnaker run before hardening up to round Denny Island, the fleet then headed back to Cockburn before crossing the finish line between the club racing mark and Portbury Dock Outer.
With close quarter racing around the final mark between Assassin and Ctrl-J, the race provided fun racing before crews retired to C pontoon for the annual racing prize giving.
As ever, if you have any pictures taken of the fleet on the water, please send them in so we can update the rest of the club about the racing activities.
As the season starts up again, don’t forget that our weekly club nights at the Sirens Calling from 20h30 are the perfect place to discuss upcoming plans. Members are also reminded of the upcoming AGM on the 12th March too.
The end of the Kind Road series means it’s time for the annual Racing Fleet prize giving!
And the last race of the King Road series didn’t disappoint. With a perfect sailing breeze under bright blue skies, the fleet enjoyed the first sunny race of the year.
The gap in the never ending winter storms and grey gloom was also seized upon to host this year’s prize giving al fresco on C pontoon at Portishead Marina.
Prizes were awarded to Hero, Assassin, Scrumpy J, Blue Lobster and Ctrl-J who scooped a number of the series wins. Congratulations to all the crews on another year’s tight racing. For all the results, head over to the club racing page.
The next race will be Spring 3 on 3rd April. This is due to the scheduled Portishead Marina lock closures from 3rd to 28th March which means we’re unable to run Spring 1 and Spring 2 unless the scheduled works finish sooner than planned. Please keep an eye on the racing WhatsApp as if we can run the races, we will.
The non-racing club prizes will be presented at the forthcoming dinner dance, jointly hosted this year with PYSC. For more details, visit our dedicated page here.
The club’s annual general meeting, which all members are encourage to attend, will this year take place at Portishead Bowling Club on Wednesday 12th March 2025 at 20h00.
AGENDA
AGM will be formally closed
Following the AGM after a short break a period of half hour will be set aside for a general discussion of matters raised from the floor.
Notices
This notice of AGM together with additional information has been emailed to all members. if you didn’t receive it, please email the Club Secretary.
Copies of the minutes of the 2024 AGM and the ‘Audited Accounts’ will circulated electronically one week prior to the meeting to members.
Members are reminded that membership renewal is due on the 1st of January each year and that only fully paid-up members will be entitled to vote at the AGM.
This year and for the first time, the club is joining forces with Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club for the annual dinner dance to reflect and celebrate on the 2024 sailing season.
This is a great opportunity for us to get dressed up, have a fabulous 2 or 3 course dinner and join in the swapping of sailing stories and celebrate those who have won prizes across the 2024 season with PYSC members.
The details are as follows:
Tickets are priced at £37 per person for three courses and £28 per person for two. Selections to be made from the following menu
Starters
Main Courses
All mains served with a selection of fresh vegetables and potatoes.
Desserts
To finish
To make your menu selections and for payment details, please complete this PYSC form noting that you’re from PCC when you add your name – i.e. John Doe – PCC. Please contact Julia Filer if you have any questions.
It’s time to lock in the dates for the 2025 season! You can find all the details over on the club racing page. The schedule includes all the key dates you need to plan your 2025 season and to assist, we’ve also added the dates for the Shanghai Cup and the Holms Race.
Continuing the theme started in 2024, and in response to member requests, we’ve included a number of dates where there are no races but the tides are favourable for crews to go out for a practice, training or just a fun sail. You’ll see these dates on the calendar as Sail Training. You’ll also see some new races such as the Rum Cup and the Portishead Regatta; more details nearer the time!
The 2025 Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and other key documents will be added to the racing page in time for the start of the new season.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact the club sailing secretary, Matt Bundell.
With member’s boats coming out of the water for winter maintenance and the temperature dropping, there’s never been a better time for a pint in a warm pub and a discussion about the sailing exploits of the season just passed, the planned maintenance ahead and all the things you’re going to do next season that there wasn’t time for this year!
From Wednesday 4th December 2024, the club’s Wednesday social venue will change to the Siren’s Calling in Portishead Marina. Providing a wide range of craft and Belgian beers together with some fine local ciders, it provides the perfect waterside watering hole for club members to socialise.
While on the subject of socials, the club will also be co-hosting a social with Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club (PYSC) on 8th March 2025. If you have any other social ideas, let us know what you’re thinking. Even better, come and do it over a pint at the Siren’s!
With the sailing season coming to an end, many members are now ashore on the Parish Wharf. With a large demand this year, it’s thanks to the space planning skills of our Parish Wharf team that has ensured everyone who required a spot has been successful.
The one thing we didn’t see coming this year was that due to Health and Safety requirements, our cradles needed to be inspected prior to any boats being stored and this is something that will need to happen on an annual basis. While this came slightly out of the blue this year, the club is already busy working to secure a discounted option for next year. In the meantime, for those already ashore, cradle inspection fees should be paid directly to the club. Contact Pete Bundell with any questions.
If you haven’t yet lifted out, please note that there is a new padlock on the Parish Wharf gate with a combination code. If you don’t have it, please contact Pete in the first instance.
Entry Information will post posted here closer to the event.
This annual race is for many a highlight of the Bristol Channel sailing calendar. The course leaves Portishead, rounds Flat Holm to port, Steep Holm to port and then returns to Portishead. Featuring a choose your own start time, it pits skippers and crews against the wind and tides of the Bristol Channel with the aim of being between the islands at slack water ready to race back on the new flood tide.
To encourage participation from all Bristol Channel Yacht Clubs, once again in 2025 will be the special prize for the ‘Top Club’.
Currently held by PCC, the amazing rose-bowl trophy will be awarded to the top club in the Holms Race. The top three results from each club will be amalgamated and the best placed club will be pronounced as the ‘Top Club’. As the BCYA said themselves, ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it!
In addition, we will be awarding a further prize to the overall IRC winner. Only boats racing under a 2025 IRC number will be eligible.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
