November 2009

Our First Underbank Season...
Moves towards its end. 

The AGM last Thursday saw Roger Wallis take over as Commodore - Good Luck Roger. And a big thanks to Steve Tattersfield for all his efforts over the past two difficult years. There were other changes to the Committee too. Rising costs mean that Membership Fees will have to increase but there is to be a revised structure for these as well which may be a little easier to understand.

Then there was the Laying Up Supper yesterday. Those of you who were not there missed a great evening full of laughter and friendship, not to mention good food and drink.  Speaches were short, almost non-existant in fact and there were prizes galore for the season's sailing.

So now there's just the 6th December Working Party to do all those tidy up jobs then that's it 'til the Spring.  Don't forget the Winter 'Sailing' Nights, 1st, 3rd and sometimes 5th Wednesday of every month from 9:00ish onwards, Fat Cat, Alma Street, Kelham Island... Drink, talk, laugh, keep in touch. 

October 2009

One Door Opens...
We are beginning to feel well settled in at Underbank and things are running smoothly most of the time. Terrific to see more new members have joined, it really starts to feel as if all the stress and hard work of the move are bring the hoped for benefits.

There's still a lot to be done and some of it will take a long time or another big lump of money from somewhere, or maybe both. We will get there though!

...As Another Closes
Meanwhile, back at More Hall, demolition is well under way. The last report from Yorkshire Water said, "The work is progressing well, with no surprises, although we've abandoned the wood shredding idea, in favour of simply transferring the whole to skip. Notwithstanding this change to the task, it is envisaged that we'll complete on schedule and in budget."
So that's good news. The message came with a selection of photographs of the demolition process. There's a selection of them on the Gallery page. There may be more to come before long. It will be interesting to see just how close to the original they manage to return the site.

June 2009

Club Open At Last
The compound is ready to receive boats, so let's get up to Underbank and start looking like a sailing club again.
 
You can bring your boats up at any time from now on. The barrier to the area and the compound are both secured with locks which will open with the usual Club key.
 
There is a hardcore roadway within the compound, but for now, it is rather rocky as it still needs a cover of finer material. We will be spreading this ourselves, possibly starting on Sunday the 21st June. Have your wheelbarrows and shovels on standby. There is bare earth under the boats. It will be up to each individual to decide whether to leave the ground bare or to cover it with grass or chippings or something else.
 
The very first SYSC boat has been launched and sailed in near-perfect conditions. Course marker buoys are out and other jobs are well in hand. In any event, there should be sailing as well as working on the 21st, although the starts may be a bit rough and ready as we sort out how best to do things. We will be following the sailing programme for duty/ safety cover from this time. Check the Programme for your duty dates, (download link on the Home Page). There will doubtless be more jobs to be done over the next few weeks but essentially, we've arrived.
 
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Roger Wallis who has masterminded the compound construction. As he has had to leave the country for several weeks, he has delegated to his able colleagues, Eric Milner and Steve Tattersfield, who have ensured contractors were where they should be and doing what they should do, to magnificent effect. Martin Codina and Paul Hermiston have put in time to keep things going, along with Mike Greenwood. Mike has also been the mainstay of the preparatory work for the demolition of More Hall clubhouse.
 
Now we can start to have fun.

May 2009

Contractors Start on-Site
We finally have the legal agreements signed off.
Now that's done at last, work has begun on building the compound. The stump grinder has finished removing the last remnants of the trees and the JCB can begin levelling the site. It is expected to be done in about a week, then the fencing contractors are due to start on the 1st of June. All activities are a bit weather dependant (like sailing itself!) so no firm dates for the start of sailing yet but it shouldn't be much longer. There is likely to be a bit of a working party before that, when the buoys will be put out and the flagpole put up etc.

Nearly there...
The various leases with Yorkshire Water Services and Sheffield City Council are in the process of being signed off. The contractors are ready to start on the compound area. We are optimistic that we will be sailing by June. So, fingers crossed ...

5th May 2009

April 2009

So near and yet so far...
Just as so many members were getting ready to tour their boats up to Underbank comes bad news. Sheffield City Council let us know with only a few days to go, that we DO NOT have permission to sail yet. They continue to drag their heels over sorting out a lease. How can it be so difficult?

March 2009

Opening of new season at Underbank - 5th April.
The long-awaited first day of sailing on our new home water, is April 5th.
We may need to take boats for the day (see below) and bring them home again afterwards but that's a small problem! It will be great to be there and sailing again.

Delays
We are still waiting for final paperwork from Sheffield City Council. Once we have that then contractors can start work on building the boat storage area/compound. Until then, we may have to be 'Travellers.'

New-look website
The revamped site (this one) goes live.