August 2024 Newsletter

Dear Gweek Classic Boatyard Community,

We hope you are enjoying the summer months and that you are managing to enjoy some days out in between the showers!

Maria and I have had a busy few months as our daughter Jade got married – we had an amazing day and we’re very proud of Jade and her new husband Matt.  A wonderful day was enjoyed by all.

I would like to thank Mark for all his hard work when we took on Gweek Classic Boatyard back in 2017; he assisted me from the very beginning and was an important part of developing the yard to what it is today.  Mark is now focusing on his own work within the medical sector and we wish him well in the future.

The yard has continued to be busy over the last few months; we have still had boats being lifted to carry out maintenance and the holiday lets continue to be worked on. We have had a busy first season in The Old Counting House and we are excited to get the other holiday lets up and running. We know we are very lucky to have such a beautiful spot on the Helford with much to offer someone wanting a unique holiday.

We are approaching our lift out season for the 2024/2025 storage season and with this in mind we have attached our updated price list (linked at the bottom of this email; you can also find it on the website here). We have a waitlist for new customers and we are looking forward to welcoming new and old customers back to the yard.

Please ensure you read the emails sent from the office regarding your crane out and storage season to ensure you are up to date on any new house rules. All boats being lifted will need to have provided an up to date insurance document to the office.

We would like to thank you all for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you over the upcoming winter season.

Kind regards,

Malcolm and Maria

January 2024 Newsletter

Dear Gweek Classic Boatyard Community,

Happy New Year to you all.

It is great the days are getting longer and we can look forward to getting out onto the river. We have been extremely busy this year and we have been very pleased to welcome some new boats and their owners as well as all our returning customers.  It has been lovely to see the yard so full and we certainly have some larger boats here this winter. 

The contractors on the yard including the shipwrights, painters, boat builders, engineers and GRP specialists have all been extremely busy. Please let the office know if there are any repairs or work you need completed; we would be happy to assist in organising this for you.  There are also many contractors who often visit the yard if the specialist work required is not done by the resident contractors on site.

We are happy to antifoul your boat for you; this can be done up to 5 weeks prior to launch. It will need to be arranged with the office to ensure we can complete the work before our crane to water season commences.  We are offering a 10% discount on Hempel antifoul and will include a tray, tape and roller head for free (offer can be redeemed whether we are painting your boat or not). We are able to service your seacocks, recharge any batteries or get top sides jet washed ready for launch – please email the office on info@gweekquay.co.uk to get organised.

Please remember to get in touch with the office to book in your crane to water date.  If required we can organise to deliver your boat if you are unable to be here. We can also escort you to the mooring if you would like assistance down the river. As per previous years the boats with the biggest drafts will get first refusal on the larger tides to ensure we have enough water for them to get down the river.

We would also like to remind anyone who has a contractor working on their boat that the office must have been supplied the appropriate documents and they must have signed our contractor handbook before work can commence.  We will ask for a copy of your Public Liability Insurance alongside Method Statements and Risk Assessments for the work that is going to be carried out.  If you have any contractors who are carrying out any work on your boat who have not provided these documents, please ensure they contact the office on info@gweekquay.co.uk to ensure all paperwork is in place so work can continue.  If these have not been provided contractors will be asked to stop their work until all relevant documentation is in place.

As per our terms and conditions a copy of your boat insurance is required in the office so please ensure a copy is sent to info@gweekquay.co.uk – please do call if you are not sure if we have your up to date certificate on 01325 221657 and we will be happy to look in the file for you.

We would like to thank everyone for their continued support and we hope 2024 treats you well.

Many thanks,

The Gweek Classic Boatyard Team

November 2023 Newsletter

Dear Gweek Classic Boatyard Community,

We are aware of storm Ciaran due on Thursday 2nd November – for your safety as well as the safety of the staff we would like to kindly request for customers to stay off the yard for the day.  We will be on hand to check your boats during the day and will be in contact if there are any issues. This will allow the staff to solely concentrate on the yard.

A misty morning at the boatyard, taken by Hannah Maltwood

In the midst of a busy winter craning season, there are a few things I would like to update you all on. This winter we have had an influx of extra boats, partly due to the issues with the Falmouth Boat Yard travel hoist. The team has worked hard to accommodate as many boats as possible, and we look forward to welcoming all our clients to the yard, both new and familiar. We have had to be very flexible this year with some changes to lifting schedules after a series of storms, as well as the exceptionally high water over the last week. The weather we are now expecting on Wednesday and Thursday has further compressed the programme. A big thank you must go to the yard team and the office for doing all that they can to meet customer needs. We would also like to thank Hannah who has expertly stepped in while other members have been away.

Can I remind everyone of the following: 

• Please remove sails and dodgers. Please also lower spray hoods so the boats offer minimum resistance to the wind.

• As mentioned above, the yard experienced very high water over the last few days which did breach the yard. Due to this if you had anything under your boat, there is a chance it may now be in a slightly different location. 

• Please do not tie covers onto the boat stands.

• Please speak to the office regarding electrical hook up. We have had some customers remove other boats' connectors to plug in, and this can cause untold problems, so please do be mindful.

• Please bring your own ladders and ensure they are safely tied on.

Electricity

The multi-year contract we have had for electricity has now come to an end and with that in mind you can expect to see a price increase in coming weeks. Our finance manager Kelly has done an amazing job in negotiating the price and managing to time it right to get the best deal. The price will be rising from 26p per KWH to 34p per KWH on the 11th of November. At one point earlier in the year we were looking at £1.00 per KWH. 

Cafe

The café has now reopened under new management. It has been very well received, and serves lovely coffee and cakes as well as breakfast and lunch, so please do drop in.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our wonderful customers for their flexibility, and indeed, for choosing to bring their boats to us here in Gweek. We appreciate you selecting our yard and will continue to strive to exceed your expectations.

Many thanks,

Mark Aichroth
Partner, Gweek Classic Boatyard

July 2023 Newsletter

Dear Gweek Classic Boatyard Community,

As I write this letter on a rainy weekend I look back to the lovely weather of June and hope that August improves and we can enjoy more sailing adventures.

Image credit: Allan Smith

The early summer was full of activity with Andrew Massey Boats and Susie Ferris completing a long-term restoration of Sai See, a 1960 Sparkman and Stephens Finisterre 42ft yacht. Ben Harris Boats won the “New Sailing Boats” category in the Classic Boat awards for their gaff rigged cutter Constance. Ben along with his team raced three of his boats at the Falmouth Classics. 

Much of our shed space is currently being used to restore many different classic yachts. Since we took over the yard in in 2017 there are more classic restoration projects on the yard than ever. We have increased the number of undercover areas we have, which is allowing for more and more projects to take place; we look forward to welcoming more projects in the future.

On the engineering side Andrew Cox tested the new Cox Powertrain 300hp diesel outboards on a fast round Britain test in Magellan Delta. He achieved fast cruising speeds while managing excellent diesel fuel economy. Andrew is now the area dealer for the range of Solé diesel engines and has installed these engines into several boats here at the yard where they are proving very popular. His workshop and team have proved a great professional addition to Gweek Classic Boatyard.

Duncan Skingley has started to work on a one-off classic masthead sloop built in 1965 which was designed by Knud Reimers amongst many other projects.  James Pardoe has continued the restoration of the Deben 4 tonner.

Little Mint, the last surviving 1913 Brixham trawler, is nearing the end of its long restoration and will be coming out of the shed to have its mast fitted. We are so excited for John Shepherd who has stuck with this labour of love ever since we arrived at the yard. It is so good to see the yard such a hive of activity, including the holiday lets building projects advancing.  

Unsurprisingly with the volatile economy we need to increase our charges: we have worked hard to only be increasing by 6% and this will come into effect from September this year. We are still committed to offering greater flexibility for boat owners and remain competitively priced. Please see our price list at the bottom of this email (you can also view it on our website). This year has been a perfect storm of costs rising in every aspect and I hope we will see some relief as inflation starts to fall.  We have benefitted from a cheaper electricity contract which runs out in November and so we will be increasing charges per unit of electricity from then. This will be less than feared but we will see some increase that will be confirmed in the next month or so.

We have enjoyed supporting the Falmouth Classics again this year and it was wonderful to see so many boats that come to Gweek out on the water. The tall ships are back in Falmouth for the first time in 9 years this August, which promises to be a wonderful spectacle and we hope to get out on the water and see this prestigious event with you all. 

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the office to confirm your slot for the autumn – all returning customers are reminded to confirm by the end of July to guarantee your spot.  When you are ready to book your crane ashore date we will be happy to get you booked in the calendar if you have not already done so. We look forward to welcoming you all back to the yard this autumn and in the mean time wish you an enjoyable summer.

Kind regards,

Malcolm and Mark

February Newsletter

Dear Gweek Classic Boatyard Community,

As we move into spring we are starting to see some warmth in the February sun and this makes us look forward to the 2023 boating season. The yard seems full to bursting; we are extremely pleased to have a few hundred metres more of boat length in the yard this season, beating our previous record. 

DRONE PHOTO OF GWEEK CLASSIC BOATYARD BY ALLAN LEE

During the recent months we have built two new sheds for boats undercover, built new yard toilets, improved drainage and worked hard on the infrastructure that provides electricity to the yard. The yard team have been updating their training, servicing our equipment and getting customers' boats prepped for the spring craning season.

The shipwrights are a hive of activity. Andrew Massey and Duncan Skingley have some really important restorations underway and are bringing more and more boats to the yard. Ben Harris has a new boat under construction. Ben Harris' recent build Constance has been nominated in the new build category for the Classic Boat Magazine awards. If you'd like to support this fantastic local project you can vote for Constance on the Classic Boat website here; it takes less than a minute and you can vote for just one category. James Pardoe is doing a full restoration on the Deben 4 Tonner Sara and we look forward to seeing her relaunched in May. James has availability from June for undercover restorations and work; please speak to the office if you wish to contact him.

Many of you have already booked your slots for craning back in: if you have not, please speak to Louise and we will try to meet your date requirements. I know everyone wants the maximum water possible under their keel but the big tides will be prioritised for the deep draft boats. If you want your boat cleaned and prepared and put straight on the mooring please let us know, we will be happy to assist.

We can also help with the antifouling of your boat. If you would like us to assist please email info@gweekquay.co.uk and we will get you programmed into our schedule. We also have an offer on at the moment: if you are antifouling and buy a minimum of a 2.5Ltr tin of antifoul we will include a roll of tape, a roller and a tray. Likewise, if you need any products through the chandlery please speak to Louise and we can place them on board or have them ready for you to collect from the office.

Regarding launch dates, please do pop into the office for your coffee voucher at the café when your boat is due to launch. We would also like to welcome you back next year (sorry to wish the season away!). We already have a waiting list for the 2023/2024 season – with this in mind we are asking all existing customers to let us know by the end of July if you wish to take up your space again. This will guarantee your spot – we will then release spots to the new boats on the waiting list.

The holiday lets are progressing and after a long journey we plan to be open this year. Keep your eyes peeled for up to date information coming soon.

Best wishes for a happy sailing season.

Malcolm and Mark

August Newsletter

Dear all,

I hope you have enjoyed your boats this summer. We certainly have enjoyed the weather and made progress with a replacement shed and the new toilet and shower blocks along with the holiday lets. We completed test drilling for the new pontoons so hopefully this will advance the project. Customers will be pleased to hear that we are improving the electrical infrastructure so that we can meet the increased demand of more boats wanting a winter hook up. Our brokerage has had another record year and I must thank the efforts of the team in making this successful.

Please do get in touch if you would like undercover storage for your boat this year; we now have more availability but this is increasingly popular and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Please ensure you call the office to book in as soon as possible if you have a deep draft so we can meet your ideal dates. These are filling up fast but larger draft boats will take priority on the bigger tides.   

Once you arrive with us for winter storage please remember to remove sails, dodgers, and lower spray hoods so that the boats are ready for any potential winter storms. If you would like us to assist then please do let the office know and we can programme this in. If you have any work that you would like us to carry out then do get in touch with the office via email to info@gweekquay.co.uk – we can then book this in for the winter period or assist with finding a contractor to carry out the work once our crane season has finished.

Please remember you will need to have a ladder to access your boat as we are not able to provide these due to insurance. You will also need to provide a cable to use the electric if so required (please speak to the office if you need to confirm which type of cable needs to be purchased). Electric can be topped up at the office via a card. The office staff will be issuing you with an email prior to your arrival with the house rules and a reminder of all the things you will need to know for your boat's stay at the yard.

We are using September to get all our equipment ready and fully serviced for the craning season. Our new crane is performing well, and staff training is ongoing.

I am often asked what the mission and vision of the boatyard is. I would like to think we offer great value for the service we perform, combined with great customer service. We realise we may have over 200 boats on the yard, but a customer only has one and that is theirs. We also realise that inflation is hitting all aspects of the business from wages to diesel and electricity. We are taking a responsible approach and where possible minimising impact on our customers.

We very much look forward to seeing you later in the year and welcoming you to Gweek, either as a returning customer or as a first time visitor.  Please do not hesitate to get in touch if there are any questions or issues; I would rather know so that these can be addressed.

Kind regards,

Mark Aichroth

Gaff Rigged Cutter Constance Build by Ben Harris Finished and Launched

This month saw the completion and launch of Constance, a 34ft gaff rigged cutter build by shipwright Ben Harris, who has his workshop here at Gweek Classic Boatyard.

Ben Harris and his team have been working on this project at the yard since the autumn of 2019.

Constance’s shape was inspired by the lines of the Falmouth Quay Punt Curlew, with the design developed in collaboration with naval architect Jack Gifford.

Fair winds and happy sailing to owner Simon Wisker.

We're Hiring: General Builder

We’re looking for an experienced multi-skilled general builder for a holiday lets redevelopment project and other ongoing building works based within our busy boatyard. Ideally you will have a background in carpentry, as well as general experience in other areas of building.

General works and skills include:

• Carpentry

• Stone and blockwork

• Rendering

• Internal fit-outs

• A strong knowledge and significant work experience of general building

• Understanding architects’ plans and being able to work to milestones without supervision is essential

• A strong eye for detail and quality

• Must have own tools

• Must be reliable, polite, with good timekeeping.

Good rates of pay offered.

Hours

Full-time PAYE

How to apply

Please apply with a cover letter to info@gweekquay.co.uk.

Some reference maybe required.

We're Hiring: Senior Yard & Sales Administrator

Gweek Classic Boatyard (“GCB”) is recruiting a new employee to help with its continued growth. This employee is replacing a valued colleague who has gone on to develop his career. Before we tell you about this role, we would like to tell you about us and our criteria in finding the right person.

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Our success over the past four and a half years has been due to having great people and great teamwork. We are a company that can only be as good as the people within it, and we focus on finding the best we can. We refuse to compromise on finding the best people.  We love people with personality; we value those that are quirky, smart and the have the ability to generate ongoing business and want talented and nice people.  

We are in these roles together and GCB expects every employee to solve and deliver their part of the enterprise. We celebrate collaboration and teamwork.

If any of this relates to you and you have the skills below we would be really interested to talk to you; we are happy to train the right person.

Position Available: Senior Yard  and Sales Administrator

Job Highlights

• Plant Driving, including Forklifts, Telehandlers, Negative Lift Forks

• Craning/Lifting Banksman

• Chocking & Shoring of boats on the hard

• Minor Jobs on Clients Yachts

• Yard Maintenance & General yard duties

• Yacht Deliveries, Boat Handling, Passage Plans, Risk Assessments

• Running Constance pleasure boat cruises, (Victorian wooden electric 50ft boat)

• Brokerage – Updates, New Listings, Enquiries, Complete Sales, Brokerage Administration

• New Client Interactions, Writing Quotes & Invoices, Gaining Trust, Reassuring & Building the Client Base

• Customer Facing, Confidence & Brand Ambassador

• Leading Customer Relations and sales

• Coordinator for Client Yacht Jobs – Organising 3rd Party Contractors– General Client Experience Management

• Chandlery Stocking, Client Orders & Ordering Items for Internal/External Jobs

• General Office Duties, including some Saturdays

Please apply with a CV and cover letter to info@gweekquay.co.uk. If you have any questions, you can contact the office on 01326 221657.

This is a full-time position with competitive salary and company benefits. Closing date 11th February.

January Newsletter

Dear Boatyard Community,

It is good to look back at an amazing year and look to the future in 2022. The boatyard has the most boats in it we have ever seen and this year we probably turned away over 15 boats as we could not fit them in. We have seen more and more exciting projects taking place with Ben Harris and Constance and Peter Martin completing his Cornish pilot gig project. Andrew Massey has brought back to life the Laurent Giles, a major project that restored what I thought was unrestorable. Duncan Skingley and Susie Ferris continue to wow with their work and renovation projects. The smaller projects are too many to list and I have been delighted with the results of copper coating, repairs and overall maintenance. We are increasingly prioritising customers' work lists and professionalising how these get completed and checked.

People

At the start of this year David Furness left us to join the Coastguard. We are sad to see Dave go as he has brought so much to the yard, with his can-do attitude and infectious sense of humour. Come rain or shine Dave would always welcome a boat coming up as a long lost friend. We will really miss him. However, Dave has moved on for the right reasons and was keen to develop his career and we always support that.

Luke Jones also has moved on. Luke had been with us for 4 years and was keen to develop his remote access business. We will really miss Luke’s professionalism and calm demeanour. Both Dave and Luke have agreed to help out on an as needed basis and luckily their current jobs allow for that flexibility.

Sean Lynott joined in August and has had a baptism of fire at the yard. We now have a new crane and Sean has shown remarkable capability getting the boats in quickly and effectively. Sean has really settled in well to his role as yard manager. It is challenging working for Malcolm and I and taking over from someone like Luke. However, Sean has brought his own style and competence to the role and I am delighted with progress on the yard overall.

Justin Sinclair has now finished his apprenticeship at the yard and is a fully-fledged yard hand. His enthusiasm, capability and general helpfulness has been clear for all to see.

Alex Tuttiett has joined as a new apprentice and is bringing a fabulous level of competence and capability. He has been tasked as part of his apprenticeship to develop the chandlery therefore please let us know any suggestions and what you would like the chandlery to stock.

The office is working well with Kelly, Louise and Gemma. Louise is the lynchpin in day-to-day tasks and has taken on more and more responsibility. If Louise does not know about it don’t assume it will happen!

General News

Throughout the year GCBY has hosted a film production company who are filming a documentary of Cornwall, to be aired early this year. The episode will look at craning in and out, the shipwrights’ projects on the yard and our participation in Falmouth Classics. This is good publicity for the yard, and I hope creating more interest in the classic boat movement. We'll announce the air date as soon as we have it.

Malcolm has been working very hard on getting the holiday lets built. He has been down at the yard since September and can regularly be seen working on these exciting buildings. We hope to have some open this summer and will offer beneficial rates to the GCBY community.

GCBY is approached by over 30 organisations and charities every year for funding or advertising. We try to be even-handed and look at ones where they will gain the best benefit; it is difficult but is something we take very seriously. Over the years we have supported the local sailing clubs, Helford Marine Conservation Trust, Clean Ocean Sailing, Falmouth Classics, Falmouth Week, Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust, RNLI and Gweek Christmas lights to name a few, and we will continue to support wherever we can.

Increasingly we are taking on yachts where the customers want a turnkey solution and the boats ready for them on the moorings when they are to be used. We have been involved with finding the yacht, purchasing it, and project managing significant upgrades. I see this as an opportunity for the future.

Looking forward

Malcolm and I would like to thank our valuable customers for staying with us over the past four and a half years, your support and friendship has been remarkable. We would also like to welcome new customers who have joined during the recent years, we realise you have a choice. We are working hard to improve the infrastructure on the yard – especially the electricity, which is still a work in progress so please bear with us and be assured this is our top priority. Other improvements will be the sheds, toilets, showers and a superb launderette, and there have also been upgrades to our machinery and the big blue tent.

As we progress the yard, we are increasingly asking owners to tidy up their boats and remove the items around them; we realise we may not achieve the look of a slick marina and neither do we want to. However, it is something we have to keep on top of.

Warmest wishes for the New Year,

Mark Aichroth & The Boatyard Team

We're Looking for a New Apprentice

We are looking for a new apprentice yard hand to join the team here at Gweek Classic Boatyard.

Justin Sinclair, our first apprentice, has now finished his apprenticeship and is being trained as a crane driver. Justin became a valuable and essential part of the team and we are excited to continue the success of our apprenticeship programme with the next candidate.

We will be holding an apprentice selection day on Friday 17th September. Full details of the role can be found on the Apprenticeship website, along with directions on how to apply.

Click here for more information or to apply.

Yard Update in August

Dear Boatyard Community,

I am writing to you with some updates and current news.

Luke Jones has stepped down as yard manager and is reducing his time at the boatyard as he develops the remote access business that he has been running for some time now. Luke will be missed both personally and by the wider GCBY community. His attention to detail, humour and interaction with the customers have been instrumental in building up the business. Luke will still be around to help with the craning season and to provide continuity to the many finer points of GCBY.

Luke will be replaced by Sean Lynott. Sean is a native of Kent and has had a significant career in the crane industry for Laing O'Rourke. He has managed over 60 crane teams on high profile projects such as Hinkley Point and Battersea Power Station, to name a few. He is an appointed person in charge of first aid arrangements at the yard.

His depth of knowledge will enable us to continue to lift boats safely and effectively. In addition to his crane industry credentials, Sean has helped to run a traditional boat yard on the Medway and is the owner of two large classic boats. Sean is currently orientating and taking over day-to-day management. Sean and his wife Debbie are moving to the area and currently looking for an ever elusive house to buy. Please say hello to Sean if you visit the yard.

We have had a bit of a nightmare with our crane; this has resulted in us bringing in Macsalvors cranes on a temporary basis. Our ongoing work trying to repair the crane has been rather difficult with replacement of ageing electronic circuit boards. To mitigate this and to allow for the repair to take place, we are buying a new crane that will have increased lift capacity and reach. This crane should arrive shortly and enable us to continue offering safe and cost-effective lifting. It will also increase our lift capacity and allow us to lift larger boats.

In other news, the holiday lets conversion to the long barn and customs house is continuing apace. A new power system to the yard, toilets, launderette and sewage plant have been installed improving the infrastructure and will be ready soon for activation. The Britannia shed is being upgraded and the the floor is being replaced, and a new shed by the chandlery will replace the existing one. Justin Sinclair has finished his apprenticeship and is being trained as a crane driver in the Midlands; we are now starting the selection process for a new apprentice yard hand. David has been incredibly busy with our brokerage business and the team has sold an ever-growing number of boats. David has spent the past week assisting with Falmouth Week and driving the press boat.

We have been doing some filming with a TV crew which has been great fun and very exciting - watch this space for more soon!

On more GCBY admin matters:

• Please start to think about your dates for crane out as we already have enquiries on the spring tide days.

• Undercover storage space is now full - there is a waiting list, please contact the office to discuss.

• Please remember to bring your own ladders. HSE requirements on working at height are increasingly stringent and we cannot loan our existing ladders to customers.

• Please be mindful of parking as there are now extensive plant movements on the yard.

• Please take rubbish home with you and keep the areas around your boats tidy and within your boat boundary.

• Prices will remain the same until April next year.

• Having worked with increasing numbers of customers that want their boat ready to go on the mooring and to be maintained during the season we will be offering new packages for next year to try and meet your needs.

Please note that as of 30th April 2022 we will require the space underneath customers boats to be cleared. Dinghies can be stored underneath and masts with permission. During this winter season all sails including furling genoas will need to be removed from boats. This reduces the risk to boats from high winds and the sails unravelling in the wind.

I wish you a wonderful remainder of the summer and look forward to seeing you in the autumn.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Warmest wishes,

Mark Aichroth

Other News

New Date Added for Canoe & Paddle Board Trips

Immerse Outdoors have just added a new date in August for canoe and paddle board trips along the Helford River. View available dates on the website and keep an eye out for new dates added.

GCBY Boat Owner Wins 2nd Place at Falmouth Week

Simon Thomas, a boat owner and customer of GCBY, achieved 2nd overall in Falmouth Sailing Week Q Class for his boat Tiggy Winkle. She was crewed by two fathers, Simon Thomas and Hamish Crow, with their sons Barney, 13, and Finn, 14, and daughter Molly. Here's a recap from Simon:

We had a guest crew member each day; including Vee, a novice from Helford River SC, Bahi, a nuclear scientist from Falmouth, Henry, a Taunton sixth former and Tom Appelboam, a medical student that swapped with his Dad, Andy between starts on the Friday. Andy packed 5 Cornish pasties in a dry bag and windsurfed out at breakneck speed from Gyllyngvase beach to make the switch!

The results are attributable to Hamish, a fellow 707 owner in Cardiff who was a GB squad dinghy sailor under Jim Saltonstall back in the (1980s) day and a very successful yachtsman on a variety of boats- mainly Hunters and a Sigma 38.

We are especially grateful to the weather gods for consistently good wind and to Simon and Debbie Filmer for accommodating us at short notice at Helford River Camping and being their usual friendly selves.

GCBY Joins Plastic Free Helford River

We are pleased to have joined Plastic Free Helford River as a Plastic Free Ally. PFHR are a part of the Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community Network, who are tackling avoidable single-use plastic, from the beaches all the way back to the brands and the businesses who create it. 

As a Plastic Free Ally we will:

1. Work to remove at least 3 single use plastic items from uour day to day activities

2. Commit to including our stance on single use plastic in our communications

3. Raise awareness and support plastic free initiatives in the community.

More to come soon on this.

Maid of Conway Project Completed & Testimonial

This month saw the completion of the restoration of a 1960 Wooden Classic Twin Screw Crossfield Motor Cruiser (UK Flagged and on the National Historic Ships Register) for the Selwood family. The owner was kind enough to provide us with a write up of their experience of the project and at Gweek Classic Boatyard, which you can read here.

Maid of Conway circa 2016

Maid of Conway 2017

Maid of Conway 13th June 2021

Maid of Conway 13th April 2021 (Hand Over Day)

Maid of Conway at her new berth in London June 2021

“Having bought the Maid of Conway on the 13th April 2021 we set out an ambitious plan to get her back into the water by the 14th June 2021. And with very long hours, help and advice of a lot of people that plan was achieved.

Previously The Maid of Conway had been laid up at Gweek for a very long time. So long that people had forgotten how long she had been there  for (So probably she had been out of the water between 7-10years).

The previous owners had completed the vast amount of the project but had finally run out of drive to finally complete her. So it was down to us to complete and bring her back to the high finish standard that she deserved.

With well over 900  man hours put into  the project in 2 months we would like to take this opportunity to give special thanks to:

Gweek Classic Boatyard. A big thank you to All at Gweek for their support and guidance. 

In particular to Louise for her ability to find spare items when we had tried all avenues with out success (UK shortage of International Toplac paint) and to the Yard Crew for their lively banter and a very successful launch and recovery on the 14th June. A big Well-done.

Ian Gowland-Jones (Paint Contractor). Ian came to the Project about 4 weeks before launch. With his band of Merry helpers (Issac/Steve/Ian and more) he proved that he was more than just a paint contractor. With his eye for detail and his supervision/organisational skills of getting the right people onto the project at the right time, is a true credit to his start up company. We wish him all the success for the future.

Sol Stainer (Boat Surveyor) The value of getting a  professional boat surveyor onboard (which we should have done earlier on the project) was paramount. Sol provided us with a plan of A and B actions to be taken before the boat could be launched. (Major points being the Portside Garboard, Stbdside Rudder fairing plate/ 3 x redundant through holes). All points were completed with the help of Ian Gowland-Jones team.

A big thank you to Sol. 

Other Credits for their advice and service go to: 

Mr Cornish (Shipwright)

Mr A Cox (Marine Engineer)

Mr P Morgan (Previous Owner)

The Boatyard Cafe

RMS Boat Transport

Finally the ultimate credits go to my wonderful family, my wife Tracey and our sons Harvey and Oliver, for their dedication to the project and the hundreds of hours spent getting to the beautiful standard she is today. If anyone has any questions about the project please don’t hesitate to contact us.”

You can find out more about Maid of Conway and her adventures on Instagram and the National Historic Ships Register.

Yard Opening Plans - February 24th Update

Dear Gweek Classic Boat Yard Community,

I hope you are all well and starting to feel the early signs of Spring. Camilla and I have been busy vaccinating since January but we are now looking forward to a better season of boating. Following the announcement yesterday I thought I would update you as we have had a number of calls to the office. Government guidance and published by the RYA remains the same until 29th of March, at which point we will consider the guidance available and provide you with an update on our re-opening. This is as follows:

Can marinas open?

The Yacht Harbour Association has issued guidance to its member marinas which, whilst it does not specify the closure of marinas, advises marina operators to support Government guidance by ‘not encouraging‘ either berth holders to visit their boats, nor public access which in reality is likely to result in its members preventing berth holders from utilising their boats for exercise as well as access to boats for maintenance purposes; although marinas themselves may stay open to carry out safety checks on customers boats.

As a result, we are still closed for boat owners. We are open to tradesmen working on the boats and are working hard to prepare for the yard's re-opening. The boat yard staff are able to perform checks or do work on your boats such as cleaning or anti fouling and sea cock checks; please contact the office to arrange. Starting from the 29th of March we will begin our craning programme. If you wish we can deliver a boat to a mooring; we can do this prior to and after the 29th of March. Ian Tolchard at Helford River moorings and ourselves will keep an eye out for any boats on moorings. We will confirm closer the date of the 29th March that we will be re-opening the yard to boat owners.

We will endeavour to accommodate your requirements and offer an efficient craning in process. Please let the yard know of any requirements so we can get you off to a great start for the sailing season.

Mark Aichroth and the Boatyard Team

New National Lockdown Update (January 2021)

Dear Boat Owners,

Happy New Year to you all. Following the HM Government’s decision to restrict all non-essential travel, the boat yard will now be closed to boat owners and visitors. Contractors are still welcome to work on the yard and are asked to adhere to all social distancing guidelines.

Boatyard staff will be available and are happy to carry out checks and small tasks; requested maintenance tasks already booked in will continue.

The office will be manned so please email info@gweekquay.co.uk or phone 01326 221657 with any queries or requests to check your boat.

After the ups and downs of last year, this year holds so much promise. Let us hope that the vaccination programme allows us to put boats back in the water and enjoy boating once again uninterrupted. As always please let me know of any concerns.

Kind regards,

Mark Aichroth
07767640986
mark@gweekquay.co.uk

Yard Re-Opening 2nd December

Dear Gweek Classic Boat Yard Community,

We are pleased to announce that the boatyard will be reopening to boat owners and guests this Wednesday 2nd December.

We ask that all visitors to the boatyard adhere to social distancing guidelines when on the yard. There will be a limit of two people at a time inside the chandlery; masks must be worn while inside and hand sanitiser will be available at the door.

The Boatyard Cafe will be reopening for eat-in customers, seven days a week at the usual hours of 10 - 2pm.

Please be mindful that there are still restrictions in place, and take sensible precautions to protect those who live and work on the boatyard. We very much look forward to welcoming you back to the yard and thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.

Kind regards,

Mark Aichroth
07767640986
mark@gweekquay.co.uk

Advice from British Marine on yacht maintenance during lockdown

Dear Gweek Classic Boat Yard Community,

A quick note to share an update from British Marine regarding boat maintenance during lockdown. Having met with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on 2 November, they have released the following statement:

"Where British Marine has been able to gather some specific clarity from Government, DEFRA officials have stated they do not consider private individuals visiting their boats for maintenance or winterisation purposes as an essential activity for leaving their primary place of residence.

DEFRA has confirmed that under PART 4 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020, a member of the public can pay a business to maintain their boat on their behalf during the lockdown."

I hope this provides some clarity on the current situation - we are grateful for the understanding of all our boat owners during this time, and assure you we will welcome you back to the boatyard as soon as it is safe and permitted for us to do so.

Kind regards,

Mark Aichroth

November Lockdown Update

Dear Gweek Classic Boat Yard Community,

Following the recent lockdown announced by HM Government on the 31st of October I wish to inform you of certain measures that will be implemented going forward. These have been made in discussion with stakeholders and with the interest of boat owners, residents and the Gweek Community in mind.

1. We are maintaining the programme to bring all boats out of the water this week. From 0001 hours on the 5th of November 2020 the yard will be shut to boat owners. Please make sure that if there are tasks to be done to prepare your boat for winter, you complete them prior to this time. If you cannot do this the yard staff will be available to help you carry out any last minute tasks. We offer a check service, including electricity top up etc. Please contact the office for more information. With any boats that require to be craned after this date, owners will have a reasonable amount of time to prepare their boat for winter in the yard and take off any equipment.

2. The toilets and showers will be only available to staff and residents.

3. The office will remain open but no browsing in the chandlery. Please maintain the social distancing in place.

4. The contractors on the yard will be able to continue working on their projects and in their sheds.

5. The café will continue to offer take-away food and drink. This should be collected immediately and consumed off the yard. Café visitors are not to wander around the yard.

6. There are to be no visitors or dog walkers onto the yard.

I realise this will be frustrating to many, as boat owners may wish to use this time of lockdown to work on their boats. However, we have to think of the wider community and consider what is allowable within the spirit of the lockdown measures. 

The office phone tends to get very busy during these periods. Please email info@gweekquay.co.uk and we will respond promptly.

Kind regards,

Mark Aichroth

Theft of boats at Helford Passage

Dear Boat Owners,

Following thefts of outboards at Helford Passage last week, Helston Police have released some advice on boat security. Reduce the opportunity and reduce the likelihood of being a victim of crime by considering the following tips.

• Keep your boat secure and remove items that can be removed, or secure them.

• Mark your possessions and displaying the fact that you have taken such action will deter thieves.

• Prepare and record a list of all identification and serial numbers. You can record such information for free on www.immobilise.co.uk.

• Use padlocks that are appropriate and recommended for maritime environments.

• Consider fitting a strongbox, particularly if you travel to different ports.

• All on deck items must be readily available when the boat is in use e.g life raft but when moored, along side or at a mooring the same items become attractive to thieves. Develop a routine to secure such items before and after you set sail.

• Remember, ropes and fenders have a re-sale value and are easily stolen.

• If you use a mooring and then use a dinghy, think about how you can secure your boat before leaving it. Dinghies are a popular target for thieves as they are so easy to steal.

• Sign up to D & C Alerts. Devon and Cornwall Alert is a two-way community messaging system operated by Devon and Cornwall police. The system helps us to connect with our communities, it tells people what is happening in their area and allows them to respond directly with any information. Visit alerts.dc.police.uk to sign up.

• Call Police on the 101 non-emergency number to report a crime or suspicious behaviour. If an immediate attendance is required always call 999. For advice on non-urgent matters (not to report crimes) you can contact PCSO Julia Berry who is the local officer for Helston area. Please email helston@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk.

Problem solving at Gweek Boat Yard!

We are a month into the re-opening of the boatyard and it is great to see a return to a semblance of ‘normal’. We have enjoyed safely welcoming back our boat owners to the yard; it has been great to see familiar faces and boats being worked on.

The past month has been a very busy one for the whole GCBY team and I’d like to thank all the staff for their hard work preparing for and executing the re-opening.

During a full week of craning earlier this month, we had a problem with the crane and had to stop lifting in boats when a small electrical/hydraulic part stopped working. Although boats were not in any danger we could not continue and had to hire in a replacement crane in order to get boats in the water as planned. Mark Aichroth’s son was despatched to Wigan to get a part on Saturday and Macsalvors courtesy of Cameron Macquarrie despatched a crane within 30 minutes of receiving the call. Our crane stopping working could not have come at the worst time coinciding with the big tides and when the largest boats wanted to go into the water. Macsalvors provided cranes for Saturday and Sunday with skilled operators including Ben Longman. The problem was that we could not lift and carry with the Macsalvors crane so had to do double lifts as we transferred boats onto our trailer to move them around the yard. By Tuesday of that week, bar one boat, we managed to get them all in the water with some intensive sessions of craning. An amazing example of team work from the yard staff.

Some boats we had to escort as they were leaving on lower tides than they would have liked - a problem that will be resolved as we now have permission from the MMO to dredge the channel right down to the seal sanctuary from November onwards.

Our crane is now back up and running: we believe the problem arose due to the crane being out of use for an extended period of time during the lockdown, despite weekly starts by our skeleton staff. I want to thank all the customers that were affected for bearing with us as we went forward. A tough time but working the problem we managed to achieve everyone going in bar one, even though it may not have been at the right time.

Huge thanks to everyone in the Gweek Classic Boat Yard team, Macsalvors and most importantly our affected customers. Happy sailing.