South West Branch
“The branch that serves you from Poole to Mid Wales”
Please feel free to roam the South West Branch pages and find out what is available to all our members. South West events are open to all MOA members and you are welcome to bring guests and friends from other club and associations.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact any of our branch officers – click “Branch and Port Officers” in the box above, find who you want to talk to and you will receive a quick response.
Who are we?
The South West Branch is one of the 6 Branches and 3 Chapters of the Moody Owners Association. For a more detailed description of the Branch and its objectives and services to members, please click on the “Who are we” menu under “More Info” on the menu items above.
Latest News
Rally reports from last season are here. At our AGM on 3/4 February, a provisional list of rallies for the year was agreed. This can be seen below and will be updated as the rallies develop. A draft minutes of the meeting is in preparation and will be posted when available.
This year’s programme will be managed our team consisting of captain, Tony Wildig, secretary Peter Roberts and treasurer Keith Bunker (who has remained in post for a further year).
One of the ideas coming for the AGM, was a desire to share each other’s cruising plans to help planning of the “cruise in company” see below, or to facilitate members to recognise such an opportunity with others. If you would like to have published in brief form, any plans you would like to share, please send them to John.Oldham@moodyowners.org
One recently shared is from David Somers, who is cruising to the Channel Islands (Alderney or Guernsey) starting from Plymouth on July 3rd and leaving Salcome on 4th July. Anyone wishing to join David should contact him on david.somers@talk21.com
Pantaenius Plymouth Rally
Proposed Schedule of Events All times are Local
Tuesday 7th August 2018
Yachts arrive during the day and afternoon at Sutton Harbour, our chosen berthing for this years Rally. You may recall there is a lock to this marina and it is open during the day on Tuesday 7th August for “Freeflow” between 12:08 and 16:54. Please call the marina on VHF CH.12 or 01752-204732 if you wish to enter outside these times.
Afternoon and Evening
A pontoon party will be held on the veranda adjacent to the Sutton Harbour Marina Office from 18:30 onwards. You will be presented with a Rally information pack on arrival. The rest of the evening is free but if you are dining out it is recommended that you make a reservation with your chosen Restaurant.
Wednesday 8th August 2018
Morning and Afternoon
The plan for today is to visit Morwellham Quay (https://www.morwellham-quay.co.uk) Morwellham Quay is a historical port in Devon on the upper reaches of the Tamar River, south of Gunnislake. The port had its peak in the Victorian era and now runs as a tourist attraction and museum. Between the slate-fronted former harbour master’s house and the Ship Inn are the iron rails (1817) on slate sett ‘sleepers’ that linked the canal incline with the old copper ore quays. There is the opportunity to travel on the historic railway and to experience the story of mining deep underground.
The cost of this excursion is yet to be confirmed and will depend on the numbers wishing to attend. The public retail price is about £11 entry to the site and a further £4.50 for the train. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead and are charged £1 for entry. Morwellham Quay has easy wheelchair access to the toilets and reception. Please note that due to the nature of the site there are some uneven pathways, steps and slopes.
Transport to and from the Quay will be by private coach picking up from the Sutton Harbour Marina at 12:00 and dropping back off again at the Marina at about 17:00.
Evening – Fireworks Competition – First Night
This evening we have not arranged for a set meal prior to the Fireworks but suggest again that you make a reservation at a restaurant of your choice prior to arriving in Plymouth. The Plymouth Area will be very busy with the Fireworks Competition attracting many visitors, therefore booking a restaurant is essential.
Thursday 9th August 2018
Morning and Afternoon
You are free to arrange your own amusement during the day.
Evening – Group visit to Princess Yachts followed by Rally Dinner and the Fireworks Competition
A private coach will collect the group from Sutton Harbour Marina at 16:30 for the visit to Princess Yachts in Plymouth. The home of Princess Yachts is, as some of you will know, closely associated with Moody Yachts and indeed some of Princess’s current employees came from Moody. The coach will collect the group from Princess at about 19:00 for onward travel to the Waterfront Pub/Restaurant (19:30 for 20:00) for the rally dinner (dress code – come as you are – warm!) The Fireworks usually start at about 21:15 and once the show is over you will be walking back to the Marina which will take about 30 minutes depending on where and how many times you stop along the way.
Friday 10th August 2018
End of Rally – Yachts Depart
The constraints for this rally, so far –
- Group Size is 30 maximum for the visits to Morwellham and Princess Yachts.
- Appropriate clothing and flat shoes should be worn, particularly for the Morwellham Tour as the ground is uneven and there are some steps and slopes.
- Attendees berthed in other marinas will have to find their own way to Sutton Harbour to meet the coaches.
Please will you indicate your intention to attend this rally and the arranged visits with the number of guests you will have, by email to Graham Marsh on asiuk1@icloud.com . Graham has very kindly offered to run this rally and has been responsible for making all the arrangements to date.
Fowey Rally
A great first rally of the season with 15 boats in glorious bank holiday weather. Click here or go to the reports page to “read all about it”.
Cruise in Company from Plymouth
This rally turned out to be a cruise to Falmouth with ten boats. Click here or go to the reports page to read Tony’s account.
Falmouth Rally September 14-16
The rally will be centred on the River Fal, with berthing arranged on the pontoon at Turnaware Bar just south of the King Harry Ferry. The cost of berthing has been arranged at £12 per boat per night if books of 10 x 1-night tickets are purchased.
Books can be shared between boats and used as desired (normal cost £15 per night).
Friday evening – A pontoon party will be held at 4 pm on Friday 14th.
Saturday morning – A trip by dinghy is suggested to Trelissick Gardens (NT). This is approximately 150 metres by dinghy. (charges for non members apply)
Saturday evening – dinner has been arranged at the 13th century ‘Pandora Inn’ on the waterside at Restronguet passage at 7.30 pm. (It is tidal so we cannot arrive earlier) It is approximately 4.6 kilometres from the pontoon so a water taxi has been arranged to collect us at 7 pm and take us back when required. The cost of the taxi will be a maximum of £10 per head dependent upon numbers.
Sunday morning – coffee and social on the pontoon
Members are, of course, welcome to join us for any part of the rally and extend their stay if they wish. To aid the organisation, please advise Len of your berthing requirements and whether you will attend the dinner. If you have particular requests or requirements, we will try to accommodate them.
Further information on nearby harbours and facilities (by boat or dinghy)
- Mylor Yacht Harbour – marina, chandlery, yacht club, restaurant – 4.5 km
- Malpas – The Heron Inn – 4.5 km
- Falmouth – Town, shops, pubs, restaurants, marinas, museums, art gallery, Royal Cornwall Yacht club – 9 km
- South West Coast Path – scenic coastal path accessible from most beaches and rivers.
Hereford boat less rally
MOA SW October Boat-less Rally to Hereford 13th and 14th October 2018
We are pleased to announce that this event is being organised by Bob Keys. Bob and Ruth are active members from South Wales and the Bristol Channel. We, the committee, are hoping to see more fellow members from across the South West get together at this venue! Although this advice might seem very early the arrangements are well advanced as you will read below. We do encourage you to commit as soon as possible to the rooms to ensure they are held for us. We reproduce the advice from Bob Keys below:
Saturday 13th October
The Venue:
Three Counties Hotel
Belmont Road
Hereford
HR2 7BP
Please contact Michelle Standell to make a reservation on her direct telephone line: 01432 376552.
Michelle will allocate the rooms. Please mention the Moody Owners Association group booking to obtain our discounted rate of £46 per person bed and breakfast this is payable directly to the hotel.
The hotel room bookings are to be made with the hotel as soon as possible, with advice to Bob Keys (bob.keys@icloud.com) for his records.
Plan to arrive at the hotel and check in between 12.00 to 12.30 hrs. Park outside your room and then take the bus to Hereford Cathedral from the bus stop 100 yards away. The buses depart every 15 minutes and the group tour starts at 13.30. The tour normally lasts about 50 minutes. After the Cathedral tour we have arranged a group entrance to the Mappa Mundi exhibition and the Chained Library, again the suggested tour length is about 50 minutes. We will all assemble afterwards in the historic College Hall for a Herefordshire Cream Tea.
Cathedral tour costs £5 per adult, Mappa Mundi exhibition costs £5 per adult, and Cream Tea is £7.50 per adult, all to be paid in advance.
The evening meal will be held at the hotel in a private room. The cost will be £38 per person payable to the MOA and will include wine. The menu for your choices and a final update of arrangements will be sent out closer to the event in August.
It is hoped that The Old Gaffers Association, Bristol Channel Area, will be able to arrange for an after-dinner speaker on the topic of “The Bristol Channel”.
Sunday 14th October
The Venue:
The Hereford Waterworks Museum,
Broomy Hill,
Hereford HR4 0LJ
Assemble at the Museum at 11.30 hrs for a tour conducted by some of their volunteers. There is plenty of parking available. This group tour has been specially arranged for us to start half an hour before the museum is officially open to the public. The exhibits will be started up “in steam” by about 1300 hrs. We can then wander around the Sterling Engine exhibits and talk to the individual enthusiasts. The tour lasts about 45 minutes. Admission is £5 per person and they charge just £1 extra per person for the guides, taking groups of 10.
Rally ends.
Check List for you:
- Book Hotel Now!
- Advise Bob Keys you are joining the Rally – bob.keys@icloud.com
Further contact emails: Tony Wildig – Captain – tonywildig@hotmail.com – Peter Roberts – Branch Secretary – petergroberts@gmail.com
Bristol SW branch AGM
The MOA SW AGM will be held to coincide with the MOA National AGM, with separate meetings but common events and visits. Check back here to see information about this rally as the planning develops
Events to come in 2018
You can now order a range of leisurewear such as rugby shirts, polos etc, in addition to waterproof crew bags with the SW logo and
your boat name embroidered* on them direct from the Kitz UK site. If you look at the master catalogue of Kitz UK and see other items that you would think we should add to the bespoke list, please contact John.Oldham@moodyowners.org
* Transfers rather than embroidery will be used on crew bags to preserve waterproof nature of bags
Please note that Kitz UK is an external company and apart from providing this leisure ware, has no relationship to the MOA
| Date | Event | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 7-10 August 2018 | Pantaenius Plymouth Rally for the National Fireworks Competition | Peter Roberts |
| 15-16 September 2018 | Falmouth/Malpas - note changed dates | Len Cheshire* |
| October 13/14 | Hereford 'boat-less' rally | Bob Keys |
| 23-24 February 2019 | Bristol - MOA SW AGM | SW Committee |
Note * in table above indicates Port Officer