Rotary “ Kids on the Water ” Day Out this year is on Friday 18th May . Chris Lane appeals to members to join in .
For more than 20 years the Rotary Club has organised a special day out for children with learning difficulties from schools in the local area .
This experience is much valued by the young people and depends on volunteers taking 3-4 children with a carer / teacher to East Head and back on their boats .
Over 100 boats from all over Chichester Harbour make up the fleet and skippers are requested to sign up for the trip as soon as possible so that the organisers know how many children can come along on the day .
There are usually more children than boat places so do consider joining if you can . I have been part of this amazing event for many years and consider it a highlight of my
boating season – even if it only lasts about five hours in total ( normally 0930 – 1430 ).
The teachers tell us that the impact on these special young people is enormous and there is something rather wonderful to watch a young person who may struggle at the school desk take up a tiller or wheel and instantly get the message !
If you can manage the date – May 18th – and have a motor or sailing boat over 20ft in length please sign up for this trip by contacting :
► John Presdee , Hon Sec the Sussex Rotary Fleet
► e-mail : kidsonthewater @ outlook . com
► Mobile : 07889 729432
Hope to see you on May 18th – the sun will surely be shining too !
Harbour Day Cruise – Sunday May 13th . By Chris Lane
HW 11.05 . Freeflow 0930-12.45 . LW 16.24 . Cruise Briefing 0900 in the Club for those interested .
We all have our favourite destinations – Newtown Creek , Bembridge , Newton Ferrers , Dartmouth and many others across the Channel . However I wonder if we sometimes overlook what ’ s right here at home around Chichester Harbour . Furthermore some of us have boats which are better suited to shorter inshore trips than for longer overnight expeditions .
So , here ’ s a cruise for everyone who loves our home waters whatever the size or type of craft they go afloat in ! The plan , subject to reasonable weather , is to take a gentle cruise around the Harbour from Chichester to Emsworth and back .
We will muster off the northern end of the Marina Channel at 10.00 , then proceed towards Itchenor and East Head . At this point the faster motor boats may wish to peel off and go for a blast out of the Harbour and back to blow away the cobwebs . The remainder will continue in a more gentle fashion up the Emsworth Channel with the possibility of seeing the seals on the way .
Arriving at the top of the Emsworth Channel we have some options for a lunch stopover – either to anchor at the side of the Fairway or to raft up to the Visitor Pontoon in the middle of the Emsworth Creek subject to space available . There will be no shore leave for crew unless skippers wish to take a short stay at Northney Marina !
With LW at 16.24 the return might begin at1600 aiming to arrive back at Chichester around 17.30 on the start of the flood in good time for an early evening cocktail in the Club Bar .
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