We are sailing, well almost...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 04 Nov 2008, 17:59

From today's EN:

Grants blow wind into sails of Porty water sports club

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 16 Mar 2009, 14:00

Following a bit of jiggery-pokery with the staging of the fence, we (the committee) are pleased to announce that the fence for the Portobello Sailing & Kayaking Club has been commissioned and should be installed by early May. This first phase will fence the front and sides of the patch of land and only once we have raised more money will we fence the back side along the Straiton Place flats. This depends on the success of our fund raining activities.

We hope to have a website up and running in the not too distant future which we will use for news etc.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 16 Mar 2009, 15:15

I was just about to ask how it was all going.
One of my neighbours had heard a rumour that the club was not going ahead with its plans.
Mind you she also thought planning permission had not been granted.

Can I ask if you plan to have security lights?

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 16 Mar 2009, 15:47

Yes we are going ahead. No plans for lights.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 16 Mar 2009, 17:59

I'll let the neighbour know.

I'm glad thast there will not be any lights as we have bedrooms at the back there.

I'll be interested to see the fencing.
Personally I'll be glad of anything that stops unattended dogs jumping over the wall into our backgreen

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 16 Mar 2009, 18:07

Useful, thanks. Until we get the fence up against the back wall we had better have a no dogs policy. We will also soon be applying for planning permission for a shed which will have joint use as home for a rescue boat and for all the stuff that a sailing club will need. It will also have changing facilities inside to offer sailors and kayakers some privacy as they clamber in and out of wetsuits.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 16 Mar 2009, 19:38

I thought the changing facilities were to be inside the cafe area.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 16 Mar 2009, 21:09

There was a shed in the boat yard in the application, but a decision on that was reserved so a detailed application would be required.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 16 Mar 2009, 21:19

Jonathan, it's great to see you posting again and hope you are well on the road to recovery. Don't know about your sailing club, but the cafe certainly seems to be doing well. The Prom has been crying out for something like this for years.

And credit too for seeing the value in keeping folk updated via the forum and taking onboard the views of neighbours.

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 17 Mar 2009, 11:10

Thanks Bob. Doing much better thanks. Cafe is fine unless it rains, when the prom is deserted - same for everybody I expect.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 18 Mar 2009, 15:40

Is there going to be a ramp for wheelchair access into the cafe? I've been unable to get in so far.

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 18 Mar 2009, 15:56

There is a side entrance on Bath Street with an internal ramp. Since the internal floor is around a foot higher than the prom we were obliged to do this; good for wheelchairs and for buggies.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 18 Mar 2009, 16:06

Great! Wish I'd noticed that when hanging around the front door!

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 20 Mar 2009, 17:23

Between now and early May there will be some considerable activity on the future dinghy park. Firstly, the land will be cleared of the bushes and many of the rather tatty shrubs etc. The tress will remain. The grass will remain.

Next we will be digging a trench along the front length of the land (anyone with a space is welcome to join in) into which we will be sinking new curb stones. This will enable us to move the leading edge of the grassy space forward by around 1.8m. ie we will be enclosing some of that long recess into the dinghy park and moving the benches forward.

Once these works are complete the fence will be installed along the front and side of the plot. after which time we will start work restoring the land with planting, sewing grass etc.

All this is costing quite a few bob and whilst we have raised some money from grants etc we are in need of a great deal more. I have a letter explaining what we are doing in detail and the funding we need and if anybody would like a copy please send me a private message with your email address and I can send it to you. Many thanks.

slvrpe · Post by **slvrpe** » 01 Apr 2009, 15:58

Jonathan Bendit wrote:Between now and early May there will be some considerable activity on the future dinghy park. Firstly, the land will be cleared of the bushes and many of the rather tatty shrubs etc. The tress will remain. The grass will remain.

Hi Jonathan, Thought you said the trees were to remain, nearly half of the trees have been cut down today!!! Are there plans to replace these?

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 01 Apr 2009, 16:05

According to Scott Thompson who is the Council manager who looks after all the green sites/ parks etc in this area and who's contractors are doing the clearance work, the only trees coming out are dead ones. If live ones are being felled then it is a mistake and I will talk to Scott and see what con be done about replacing them.

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 01 Apr 2009, 16:30

I have just talked to Scott Thompson. He said that apart from the dead ones, there was one tree that was taken out that, with hindsight he might not have done since it was not as sick as he thought. However he said it would be no problem to put some trees back, (new trees) though now is not the time as it should be done at the back of Autumn - Novemberish. I shall endeavor to contact him about this later on in the year.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 01 Apr 2009, 18:34

It was amazing just how much rubbish was uncovered once the vegetation was removed.

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 01 Apr 2009, 18:48

Clear up starts shortly.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 01 Apr 2009, 20:36

Bob Jefferson wrote:It was amazing just how much rubbish was uncovered once the vegetation was removed.

quite

Nice to meet you tonight Jonathan

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 01 Apr 2009, 21:12

You too!

Bob Jefferson wrote:It was amazing just how much rubbish was uncovered once the vegetation was removed.

37 bags of rubbish collected until bad light stopped play. I will try to persuade the council to remove them.

DG · Post by DG » 04 Apr 2009, 11:05

Hi everyone!

Just trying to catch up with things on the forum having not visited it for some time

. Anyway, hope you're all well and GREAT to hear about this beach facility. Wonderful news and exactly what Porty needs. I've also been into the cafe a few times now. Really lovely and the cakes are great. I also love the East Lothian organic chocolate they sell. I've bought this before online for Christmas, etc. Good to have a local supplier (although maybe too tempting

).
DG

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 04 Apr 2009, 17:01

Thanks for the plug DG. Chocolates are indeed made in East Lothian by a German Mathematics Doctor. You should check out her Easter Eggs too. Don't be afraid of chocolate, it is one of life's truly great pleasures.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 04 Apr 2009, 17:11

Welcome back DG, especially bearing news of a source of choccy!! Is it the Chocolate Tree stuff?

[Sorry to go off topic in Porty Matters but (a) choccy is important and (b) it's a great ad for the cafe for Jonathan!!]

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 04 Apr 2009, 17:58

Enough about Chocolate! Back to matters of sailing please.

Next Saturday morning we need VOLUNTEERS to help dig a trench on our patch of land, in so doing, saving us from hiring a digger (£400).

If you are fit and able, have a spade and an hour or two to spare please would you come down to the sailing compound next to The Beach House at 10am. If you drop me an email to tell me you can come it would help.

Thanks

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 04 Apr 2009, 18:24

Oh! and we can offer free scones and coffee for any body willing to dig.

However what we also badly need is money.

In fact we need to raise around £1,500 before the middle of May. We have already raised around £850 which leaves a mere £650.

In the immediate term we have to pay for some ground works to prepare the land for the fence.

We need 5 bags of gravel which will cost £172.50 or £34.50 per bag.

We need 45 bags of cement which will cost £207 or £4.60 per bag

We need 40 curb stones which will cost £181.70 or £4.54 per stone

We need 40 metres of temporary fencing at £4.85 per metre.

Please – we need your help, no matter how small. Send us a fiver and we can buy a bag of cement! Send us two and we can get a curb stone as well. If you are feeling flushed (as if!) £35 will afford a bag of gravel.

As I said in the earlier post, if you have a spade and are willing to dig then you will help save us the need to hire a digger.

Here is the address if you want to send a cheque.

Portobello Sailing & Kayaking Club
55/2 Bath Street
Edinburgh
EH15 1HE

You could also pay money direct from the bank, but will have to contact me privately for the details. The value of any donation will be deducted from your first club membership - if you would like to join.

Whatever you decide please tell us who you are - providing your name and email address and phone number if possible.

Thanks so much.

The Committe (Jonathan Bendit, Ian Coldwell and John Kinsley)

DG · Post by DG » 04 Apr 2009, 18:34

Welcome back DG, especially bearing news of a source of choccy!! Is it the Chocolate Tree stuff?

Sorry - last thing about chocolate before we leave it to the digging. Hi, Poppy! Thanks for the 'welcome back'. And, yes, it's that very chocolate.
DG

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 05 Apr 2009, 23:20

Jonathan Bendit wrote:In fact we need to raise around £1,500 before the middle of May. We have already raised around £850 which leaves a mere £650.

A mere £650. £650 is a lot of money, especially if you havnt got it, and in this case you dont seem to have it since you are begging for it.

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 06 Apr 2009, 09:04

Indeed Beachbum you got it in one. Of course its a lot of money (I was being ironic) If the club had the money already we would't be asking for it.

The point in this case is that I hoped that if lots of people gave a small amount we would raise the sum by receiving lots of small gifts from interested members of the community.

If you are not interested in what we are doing, we would not expect to receive anything. If you are someone who might benefit from and can see the value of what we are doing than you might feel a small contribution to get us off the ground would be a worthwhile thing to do.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 Apr 2009, 11:35

Good luck with the fundraising Jonathan. I'm sure I can spare something towards a bit of gravel. Are you sure, however, that it is safe for you to put the account and address details up in public? I seem to recall Jeremy Clarkson getting stung when doing the same

Clarkson stung after bank prank

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 06 Apr 2009, 11:41

Thanks for that Marya. I too was under the impression that it was safe to reveal bank details. I have now edited the post.

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 23 Apr 2009, 12:39

On the weekends of the 24th and 30th May Portobello Sailing and Kayaking Club will be hosting the RYA's Sailing in the City who will be providing sailing taster sessions for any child aged 8-14.

The folowing link http://sailporty.org.uk/wp-content/uplo ... -form1.doc takes you to the booking form on our new and developing web site.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 23 Apr 2009, 14:02

That sounds like great progress. I'm up for fundraising via buying raffle tickets or a boat club ceildih/ race night/ auction or summat rather than making donations and I know my neighbours are too!

Will there be a chance for adults to have a wee shot on the water on the inaugural weekend? Will there be access for wheelchairs? (for the kids' course too)

Jonathan Bendit · Post by **Jonathan Bendit** » 23 Apr 2009, 15:14

Rapunzell - thanks for your thoughts I will look and see what we can do. I have a feeling we have to be registered with someone to sell raffle tickets which maybe difficult to arrange in the timeframe. We will look at other ideas.

Re adults having a shot on the water- the short answer just now is: no - at least not at the present planning stage. The RYA's Sailing in the City is strictly for kids aged 8-14 as their insurance disallows them to offer sailing to those older or younger. I will consider what else could be arranged for adults.

Re wheelchair access - we will host the event in the dinghy park so there is just the curb to mount up into the park, though we may have got rid of that by that stage....

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 23 Apr 2009, 17:23

A logo would be good and I would be happy to use it to link from the front page of Portobello Online to your website. I'm not an artist by any means so this is just an idea to get you started.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

We are sailing, well almost...

Some progress at last

Lights

Dogs

Wheelchair access to the cafe.

Land works on the land that will become the dinghy park

Re: Land works on the land that will become the dinghy park

Trees

Sailing in the City. Sailing for kids aged 8-14