Archived Show Reports

Start of Season ¦ Paisley Festival ¦ George Square

Start of Season Show

Home Pond
16^th May, 2004

by:-   James Moir

The weather forecast was cloudy but warm, the police parked at the other side of the pond, The Loonies fae Scoonies brought their new van....

Pondside was busy, the bouncy castle was jumping, train rides, static display, hands-on boats, a raffle stall, RNLI, tea room, barbeque and a warship display - something for everyone at the Glasgow Richmond Model Boat Club start of season show!

It was the first time I have attended this show having only been a member of the club for the past 9 months. I spent most of my day at the hands-on boats. The price increase did not seem to put anyone off as there was a short queue all day and we raised a fair amount of money.

One or two of the boats are a little worse for wear (especially the one a little girl grabbed and yanked out of the water, breaking the superstructure in the process.) The new boats will be a welcome addition to the fleet.

The static display had an impressive display of warships, tugs, fishing vessels, lifeboats and passenger vessels. I do like to wander around and appreciate the quality and workmanship that has gone into building them (although one of the committee hurried me along to get back to my station.)

Unfortunately I did not get to play on the bouncy castle or the train, nor did I get to the RNLI or Scoonies stand but speaking to Andy later he had a great day and enjoyed himself very much.

The BBQ and tearoom seemed very busy and I for one appreciated the food and the service.

It was the first time I had seen the warship display. George, Stevie and Louise worked hard all morning and into the afternoon to get things ready for our entertainment. As with everything else it did not go exactly to plan but from a spectator's point of view there were only minor changes to the program due to a last minute glitch with a warship and a missing mine (and a submarine?) with the pyrotechnics.

What we were treated to by them and the guys on the radio controls was an audio visual delight brought to life by Bill's commentary. Over the past few weeks I have had a glimpse of what to expect but I was not prepared for the full impact. Perhaps I should build a grey pointy thing so that I can join in on the fun and get in the way next time! Perhaps not!

Meanwhile, there were some interesting boats in the pond in freesail. Largs MBC had a few masted scooners (no doubt someone will correct me by saying that they were square rigged sailing ships) and a viking longboat. Bugs seem to get the attention of the children with their turn of speed and a young German Shepherd that tried to jump in after one of them - luckily the owner had a good hold of the lead. The smallest boat on the water was a tug about an inch and a half long.

Visitors from as far afield as Blackpool and Iceland made for some interesting conversations.

All in all, it was hard work and made for a fun day. Next time I would like to take more time to look around and talk to visitors.

Paisley Festival

Barshaw Park
19^th June, 2004

by:-   James Moir

Another boat show, another early start! (At least it should have been early! - I would like to say that I was there before everyone else, waiting on George with the trailer, but the truth is that I turned up just in time for breakfast!!!).

Despite the bad weather forecast it was cool and overcast, a reasonably good day for sailing. This is uncommon for those of you who know Paisley as I do. Paisley is the biggest town in Scotland and probably the only town in the UK to have a Cathedral - this was the point that Paisley Tech used for many years in their argument to become a University.

The hands-on boats have seen better days and recent events meant that they took a bit of time to set up and get into the water. Roll-on the replacements!!!

After a sluggish start (we were at the quiet end of the park although the generator sought to remedy the peace and tranquillity), we soon had seven boats in the water. "Thank's", to the Parks Department for supplying a net as a boom to enclose the hands-on boats. I see the eyebrows raising at the thought of boats and nets. The wind did tend to blow them into one side and they did get a little tangled as a result. The funniest was probably when Steven managed to free the prop and at the exact same second as joy started to permeate his face the prop turned and caught again.

The static display seemed to be quite busy, especially when the queues built up awaiting a turn on the hands-on boats, though I think they could have used some more help manning the display. Many thanks to the women who made breakfast & lunch and kept the warm brown liquid flowing. Those of us who manned the hands-on boats were very grateful for the few willing (and able) to put on a set of waders and rescue the ones caught in nets.

There was some free-sailing. Hugh Gavin sailed his aircraft carrier, Jim Mackay had his lifeboat out, Eddie had his surfer (a model surfboard with a surfer on it.) and there were even a couple of yatchs from the Paisley boys. Eddie was happy to let me try his surfer. He laughed the first time I hit the plastic buoy in the water but the second time he pulled the transmitter out of my hands. Everyone else around seemed to appreciate my skills.

The rest of the park was alive with army vehicles (the queue for paintballing under the camouflage net was too long and populated by kids so I did not join it), a paramedic ambulance, pony rides, a fairground, a large number of charity tombolla stalls and a beer tent. Music was supplied by a Brass and Silver Band as well as Hospital Radio and the Radio Clyde roadshow.

All in all it was a long and quite busy day. The fact that we raised £116 and had some enjoyment into the bargain made it all worthwhile. I am sure there are memories that everyone will take away from Barshaw this year. Mine may haunt me for the rest of my days .....

Glasgow River Festival

George Square
10^th & 11^th July 2004

by:-   James Moir

Stun Exclusive

I was looking forward to the event, an unusual place for the pond and to say that you had sailed a boat in George Square. Of course the reality was, in contrast, slightly disappointing.

The event was to publicise the  Glasgow River Festival  (July 16-19th ) when the model boats will be at the Science Centre. In the square were the BBC big TV screen showing Zapcat racing and scenes of yesteryear on the Clyde, a zapcat and the Fire Brigade.

I was unable to attend on Saturday (so missed the Fire Brigade but plenty of Fire engines and Ambulances went round the square with their lights flashing on Sunday).

It was purely hands-on boats but Fred O'Brien brought the Jeannie Deans and a rowing boat and during a quiet period Steven tried his bug in the pond. That helped to bring people over to see us but it was rather quiet. My wife watched on the webcam but could see no-one sailing at the time.

Two of the new hands-on boats were in the water and they were popular because they were faster than the old ones. They had ben overhauled and for a change we had eight boats in the water (except when little fingers switched voltages on one of the new handsets). One problem with one of the new boats was that the rudder was soldered to the prop - I may be a novice but that did not sound like a good thing!

On the helper side it was "the usual suspects". Certainly the same faces to load the trailer on the Friday and to unload on Sunday evening.

I took a ribbing from Eddie for my inability to sail his 'Original Surfer Dude' at Barshaw. Apparently the handling and steering was caused by a loose rudder servo - how could that have happened??? It seemed okay the first time I hit the buoy.

Each person sees events differently. Fred came up with the headline, Liz asked for witness for divorce proceedings! George thought we should rename the club as Glasgow Richmond Model Boat Club and Bird Rescue Service.

The first was a young gull which seemed to be in some distress. George found it cowering in a doorway and brought it back before some youths exercised it with their feet. The second was brought by two passing boys. A pigeon had become entangled in some string, around both feet and its neck. After delicate surgery Liz carefully carried it back to the two boys to let them release it but as she got to them it wriggled free and flew away as fast as it could.

The gull? After a rest in a box George released it at Richmond pond. One of the swans hissed and it paddled off to relative safety. Last seen preening itself and in the presence of other gulls.

For those of you who are interested in the logistics ..... The last time we built the portable pond (Braehead) took eight of us about 3 hours. This time bales of hay were supplied but the van had to make two trips. Even then it was about 2/3 of the size it is normally. The Fire Brigade tried a few hydrants before finding one that worked but had little pressure (pray the City Chambers does not go on fire). They eventually had to use the water in the Fire engine and go to refill a couple of times. Eventually they put about 750 gallons of water in but the portable pond holds about 5,500 gallons. Just as well they did not have to fill that !!!