With the sailing season upon us and our events programme underway, it’s time to update members on what’s been happening with Eagle and changes within the club. These are of particular importance for existing or aspiring skippers.

Eagle and our Skippers
We are adding a new section about ‘Club Skippers Tickets’ to the website members area. Currently work in progress, however once it is complete it will contain necessary information and answer most questions about being a Club Skipper;

  • Definitions and competencies expected for each of our skippers tickets.
  • Skippers Ticket classifications.
  • Permitted sail area as defined within Boat Insurance Policy.
  • Club assessment process & procedure.

How to arrange an assessment.
We’ve been listening to skippers and members feedback, considering ways on how best the club can make it easier to upgrade tickets or sail beyond the confines of the Solent. BREXIT, Customs and Immigration changes have implications for skippers planning foreign passages, and foreign governments are muting changes to EU Policies that could limit Eagles ability to enter foreign waters without the necessary modifications. We continue to watch this space for further developments.

Eagle is still in great shape thanks to the efforts of the Boson and crew of volunteers, however, age, and wear and tear is taking a toll, mechanical breakdowns are becoming more frequent and costlier to repair. Many problems can be attributed to the Covid lockdowns limiting access to Eagle for routine and preventative maintenance activities. Particularly evident last season, engine component failures, corrosion, battery problems and the battery management system caused Eagle to be out of commission for days or weeks at a time.

Eagle’s location and sailing area enforcement
Last season, we trialled the effectiveness of a Telemetric tracker installed on Eagle to broadcast Eagle’s location in the event of the yacht being taken illegally or to assist in breakdown recovery away from home berth. With the tracker constantly transmitting data, the management software logs additional information, such as engine status, current position, course, speed etc and will send email alerts whenever Eagle leaves or returns to home berth or crosses virtual boundaries – defined as club skippers ticket A/B/C sailing areas.

Skippers tickets undergoing change
As a consequence of the above and to ensure Eagle’s charterers continue to have the necessary seamanship skills, skippers tickets and club assessments are being reviewed and amended accordingly with greater attention and emphasis on the management of Eagle, engine, electronics, rigging etc.

Changes to our skippers tickets
Since SESC’s incorporation, the only requirement to skipper a club yacht was successful qualification to one of our 3 skipper standards C, B and A tickets.  Having been in place for over 20 years, this change is to update club tickets making them more relevant for today’s conditions.

The new skippers ticket classifications are: C, B, B+Endorsement, A, and A+Endorsement.

Definitions of the new skippers tickets

C ticket
Permitted sailing area within the Solent “inland waters” defined by boundaries to the eastern Solent between Bembridge entrance and the Church Spire West Wittering, and to the western end of the Solent, between Fort Albert and Hurst Point, sailing in daylight hours only.

B ticket
Permitted sailing area defined as the Solent “inland waters” eastern boundary between Bembridge entrance and the Church Spire West Wittering, and to the west, north of line between Needles Channel Bridge Buoy and Old Harry Rocks Studland Bay, sailing in daylight hours only.

B+Endorsement
The same sailing area defined within the B ticket, including both day and night sailing.

Redefined A ticket
Restricted to UK territorial waters only, including tidal, coastal and inland waters as specified within the club’s boat insurance policy, permitted for both day and night sailing.

A+Endorsement
Restricted only to sailing areas specified within the club’s boat insurance policy.

Current Insurance policy (as of March 2023), sailing limits are confirmed as:

  • UK inland and coastal waters including Ireland.
  • Continental waters between Brest and the River Elbe. This includes all tidal, coastal and inland waters between Brest and Elbe.
  • Not permitted to sail further north of latitude 61 degrees north, further east than longitude 10 degrees east, further south than latitude 48 degrees 10 mins north and further west than longitude 12 degrees west

What does this mean for our existing or new club skippers?

  • For new skipper assessments, this change is implemented with immediate effect.
  • Returning skippers who have been inactive in excess of 3 years are expected to refresh/update their knowledge of Eagle by attending club refresher event(s) before chartering.
  • For existing ‘active’ skippers, the implications are slightly different depending on the currently held skippers ticket.

Hopefully the following will answer many of these questions:
Skippers who currently hold:

  • ‘C’ ticket – there is no fundamental change.
  • Skippers upgrading from a C ticket, or potentially new club skippers – can opt for either a B+Endorsement or a B ticket assessment. Both of these giving the increased sailing area to the west of the Solent.
  • Pre 2023 B ticket – original/legacy skippers B tickets are regraded as a B+Endorsement having previously been assessed/awarded night sailing competency.
  • Upgrading to B+Endorsement – is qualified by night sailing assessment and demonstration of Eagle’s mechanical/electrical/electronic systems.
  • All pre 2023 season A Skipper tickets – original/legacy A Skippers are reclassified as the new A ticket restricted sailing in UK territorial waters only, day and night sailing.
  • ‘A’ only ticket is for historical skipper classification and is not an optional interim-step for skippers upgrading from C, B or B+Endorsement tickets or available to new members/aspiring skippers and will ultimately phased out over time.
  • ‘A’ Skippers wanting to sail beyond UK territorial waters are required to re-qualify with a partial A+Endorsement assessment. This partial assessment is effectively demonstrating competency in the use of Eagle’s electronics, operation and maintenance/servicing of Eagle’s equipment, essential engine maintenance/regular checks, club procedures etc. Familiarity with UK and Foreign Customs and Immigration formalities.
  • A+Endorsement – The new Club standard for all skippers wanting to upgrade beyond B+Endorsement.

In reality these changes will impact few skippers whilst providing greater benefits to the club and it’s members, along with bringing safety and maintenance of Eagle to the fore.

Why make changes now?
Long overdue and no better time like the present. An ideal opportunity to re-enforce the club ethos and ensure skippers remain relevant whilst promoting Safety at Sea.

Getting back on the water
Like many of our land-locked members these past years, skippers and crew need a moment to get their ‘sailing heads’ together before slipping warps. With that in mind, several club refresher events were introduced to help build confidence and refresh knowledge of Eagle.  In proving successful similar events will be considered for future programmes.

All skippers and crews, especially those who haven’t set foot on Eagle for a while are strongly encouraged to participate, sail Eagle, meet other skippers and refresh their seamanship skills. Introduced at a nominal £10 per person per day, similar ad-hoc & short notice events can be arranged given sufficient demand. Cheaper than a pie and a pint down the local, I highly recommend a fun day on the water!

Turning to the committee – officer changes
The last few years have seen highs, lows and challenging times for the club, the committee and the officers continued to work tirelessly behind the scenes, having performed admirably I am very grateful to each. For the club to continue and thrive the committee must also adapt and change, so I’m very pleased to announce with immediate effect:

  • Richard Foulkes, taking on the newly created position as Club Training Officer along with everything that entails. He has been a member of the committee for many years in various roles. A very knowledgeable and enthusiastic sailor/instructor Richard will consolidate a much needed position.
  • Christine de Quincey, is welcomed as our latest member of the committee. Chrissi takes on a composite role assisting and consolidating the Events and charter bookings operations under the direction of our Treasurer.

And finally, the Commodore
I took the helm a decade ago, not the easiest passage and never my intention to remain this long – regardless of one’s best intentions the universe had other plans! So as I step back, I am really pleased to announce Vernon Bush taking over as our next Club Commodore. Vern has been a long serving member/active SESC skipper, a valued committee member and an essential part of Boson’s maintenance crew. In safe and capable hands, he is the ideal person to guide us through SESC’s next chapter.

What’s next for me? –  I’ll be supporting from the side-lines and remain an active member of the committee, maintenance team, club activities crew and likely helping Richard with Skippers tickets, training, and assessments.

In passing the baton, I’d just like to express my gratitude to the officers and committee for their time and support. To our members, I look forward to meeting many of you again onboard Eagle. And, if I can help or simply looking for an extra crew member and a bottle washer please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Safe sailing
Andy
Commodore SESC (2012 – spring 2023)