Tony Diment offers the following important notices for participants in the 2008 Yachting Monthly Biscay Triangle Event

 
The demands on berthing at Torquay Marina will be extremely high during the period of the Biscay Triangle Rally and the Marina Manager (Colin Jefferies) has asked if it would be possible for Rally participants to notify him of their expected arrival times at the marina in order that he may ensure the efficient allocation of berths. Mindful of the vagaries of weather, Colin realises that to give a precise time is not practical and therefore all that he has requested is the day of your expected arrival and whether you are likely to arrive morning, afternoon or evening. Please notify your ETA at Torquay to c.jefferies@mdlmarinas.co.uk or by telephone at: 01803 200210 as soon as your plans are known (remember your ETA may always be amended once your trip is underway).
 
REGISTRATION

One of the first things for everyone to do after arrival in Torquay will be to visit the Royal Torbay Yacht Club in order to complete registration. The Committee Room (just inside and to the right of the main entrance door) will be open from 1.00pm on Sunday 20th July and then again on Monday morning from 9.00am. Please bring your yacht documentation ( ICC,VAT receipts,Ship's Registration document, EHIC etc) and details of any Iridium telephone numbers and personal mobile telephones with you. Please also remember that everyone aboard your yachts will need a valid passport.

There will be a charge for the Departure Dinner to be held on Monday evening in the Yacht Club although the wine for the evening is kindly provided by the Torbay Development Council. It will greatly help us if payment for the dinner could be made at the time of Registration. I am pleased to be able to inform everyone that the cost of the coach trip to Santiago de Compostella on Monday 28th July and the tapas and drinks at the RCNC La Coruna on Sunday 27th will be complimentary.

SAFETY DISCUSSIONS
 
As time for the safety discussions aboard each yacht is always at a premium Richard Bolt and Peter Seymour would like to commence the discussions from 9.00am Sunday morning for those yachts that will have already arrived. Please remember that these discussions are designed to help on safety issues and are not intended to catch anyone out. Rather than simply a `safety check' of equipment, they take the form of a talk through of the actions to be taken given certain safety situations. As an example, crews will be asked to describe the procedures in place on their yacht for routine gas safety, use of fire appliances, man overboard and the routine for wearing safety equipment and provisions for night sailing. During the discussions we hope to be able to give some personal ideas for improving safety aboard which are intended to be constructive and helpful so that maximum benefit will be gained from the visits.

I wish everyone fair winds and a great rally...
 
Tony Diment