Your Safety at Sea

Recently, one of our staff mentioned they did not know the difference between a Lifejacket & a Buoyancy Aid. One can see many people setting off from the adjacent marina without any form of safety equipment, frequently in boarding dinghies (that account for a number of drownings). In the past month four people have drowned because they were not wearing the correct equipment.

Whilst I am not officially qualified to give advice on the subject, anyone indulging in any form of water activity should bear in mind that a Buoyancy Aid will keep you afloat but will NOT keep your head above water if you are injured or weakened by hypothermia.

A Lifejacket will provide buoyancy behind the head – to keep it above water – and in many cases be fitted with a crotch strap to prevent the jacket riding up.

There are numerous websites that give the buoyancy ratings of all the better known aids, and H M Coastguard or the RNLI Sea Safety Organisation will always give advice.

Ahoy There Sailor

by Mike Pennell, (NMMC Resident Poet)

In summer, Yachting Volunteers
put boats out on the buoys;
while we endure the Waterfront
they play with pricey toys!!

They have no shame or conscience,
they really just don’t care
if those back home are desperate
& DMs tear their hair!!

We dash around shorthanded
while they Haul Yards Aback –
(why haven’t they gone metric -
when they’re measuring their Tack?)

They lay about on varnished decks
consuming gin and beer –
They really don’t consider
that we’re struggling back here.

But now its winter lay-up time,
the boats are brought ashore,
our shifts are swelled by numbers -
rosters full of names galore.

They come in with a rolling gait,
tell tales of foreign shores -
(but where they’ve really spent their time –
is anchored off St. Mawes!!)

It’s just as well they have come back
(although they get abused) –
for I depart for three weeks soon -
It’s months since I last cruised !!

Party Conference Time

by Mike Pennell (NMMC Poet Laureate)

There’s going to be a meeting
for all the Volunteers –
Let’s hope the Staff can cope with us
and aren’t reduced to tears!!

We’ll listen to Our Leader –
in silence – bated breath;
All should pay attention -
(You doze on pain of death).

Then comes the time for questions
(you can almost see staff quail)
Ten left-wing Grumpies raise their hands
and the platform party pale.

“Can’t we?” “May we?” “Should we?”
“But surely we could try”
“A shorter shift on Waterfront?” –
(a thrill you can’t deny!!)

It’s no good moaning later
when you’ve had a chance to speak -
not just gripes, but some suggestions
to help our working week.

The things a Volunteer must do
for free tea & a cake!!
So rally round, it’s ONCE a year -
and come, for goodness sake!!!

Falmouth Oyster Festival 2012

What a fantastic turn out on the opening of the Oyster Festival. The marquee was full of people visiting the various stands and the musical entertainment gave a great lift to the start of the event. I spotted our keen volunteer Colin distributing the NMMC leaflets on the event square engaged in his usual 'chat up' with two attractive young ladies who were also promoting their 'enterprise'.

by Clive Mathison

Dress Code

They’ve given me a new blue shirt
for eight years Volunteering,
no longer with two ragged cuffs –
a much more tidy feeling.

When I started all those years ago
I asked about the rig -
for scruffy when on public show
would be quite “infra dig”.

A trip to M and S ensued,
Dark trousers purchased there –
plus shoes & socks in darkest black -
that’s what I had to wear.

The collar’s turned on my first shirt,
but cuffs defeated me;
(The issue fleece can hide them,
so the visitors can’t see).

But now a further problem -
as the years are passing by,
the shoes are getting tatty
however hard I try.

The right one has a nasty split
(though only worn on shift) –
so should I buy a new pair?
and give morale a lift.

New shoes could outlast me –
when this Oldie is retired,
but no one has yet told me
when I’ll be “Time Expired”

Mike Pennell (NMMC Poet Laureate)