Subject: Polution
France is a very beautiful country -
complete lack of road courtesy especially with parking and secondly an unbelievably archaic beaurocratic system going back to the 19th century.
France has to ask itself "why were there more pedestrians killed in one city (Lyon) last year than in the whole of UK." If they bothered to ask me I
could easily tell them the answer! There is a French presidential election this year and when I left last October Nicolas Sarkosi had a clear lead. Now he has lost ground and is neck and neck with other contestants. Why?? Because he has introduced into his campaign a promise to make the French respect the law. That's a definite election loser in France. So why am I writing this dribble. Because France during my 5 month absence has done something abslolutely fantastic to my mind. THE MAIN SUPERMARKETS HAVE STOPPED ISSUING POLY BAGS. If you have ever sailed the eastern Mediterranian (Israeli coast) you will
know what I mean. The sea surface is difficult to distinguish from the polythene. Dangerous for yacht propellers but more importantly a life threatening hazard to the fish. Its not necessarily the fault of the Israelis because prevailing winds and currents will ensure pollution from anywhere in the Med will finish up there. The Med is non tidal and therefore is not flushed twice a day like beaches open to the ocean. When I arrived in the Med in 1998 I learned that if all pollution could be stopped instantly it would take 80 years to clean up. Don't be fooled by places like Corsica and Sardinia were crystal clear seas allow you to see the sea bed at 30 metres. There is a lot of chemical pollution which is crystal clear!!
So lets hope that other countries can follow the French example and cut out the polythene
bags. Its not a problem in the under-
Arthur.
A letter from our roaming overseas member Arthur Robins who was an active club member
for many a year. He started the Plymouth Sailing school with his wife Janet and when
she died he sold the business and bought and fitted out a boat and has sailed the
world ever since. Periodically he sends us e-
Plym Yacht Club
NEWS and HOT GOSSIP
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See what the sound looks like before you leave home. Have you looked at the webcam situated on top of our start box and its associated weather data. You can find it by going to www.thebiginter.net Well worth a look.
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Havoc on the high seas.
Travelling back from Fowey on Monday 27th August 2007 I (Port Star) heard a Pan Pan from sailing vessel Havoc via Brixham coastguard, the Pan Pan due to engine failure and no wind.
Position given by Brixham as off Rame Head. As I was off Looe Island I was to far away to offer assistance. A couple of other vessels responded but were unable to find him. I worked out his position from his Lat and Long and found that his position was in the middle of Whitsand Bay, about a mile away from myself. I contacted Brixham to inform them that I had sighted Havoc and would assist him and take him under tow. Arabesque contacted me by radio to say that he would standby both vessels to assist if nessesary while under tow. I towed Havoc back to the river Plym to a trot mooring. Arabesque and I then contacted Brixham to confirm safe arrival. Two weeks later Sunday 9th September I meet up with Havoc in Fowey who came aboard Port Star for drinks, along with Paloma and Solitude who were rafted alongside. We then discovered that Jerry and Angie of Havoc were also members of the Plym Yacht Club and a good night was had by all.
