Many of you may well remember Shirley Tyler walking around Millbay beach shaking her RNLI collecting box asking for donations, most probably her spirit still does!!!

As most people will know, if for no better reason than we keep stressing it at the Merlin week briefing, Millbay is a privately owned beach – the houses that boarder the beach each own parts of it in little ‘terroirs’ – and the owners ask both our Merlin Week and Regatta Week competitors put a contribution in Shirley’s box. 

However over the years the owners have been getting more and more distressed with the numbers of boats that are using the beach without permission, in some cases the boats are left there for the whole year blocking the various slipways, becoming a serious eyesore and this is ignoring the problems of the rubbish left behind! So much so that the Millbay owners have seriously considered not allowing boats to be left there overnight.

For the past two years SYC have employed a ‘Beach Sweeper’ to clear up after the competitors during the Merlin and Regatta weeks and whilst he has been collecting full bags everyone freely admits that the refuse isn’t solely from you, the competitors!

The Millbay owners have decided that from 2008 onwards they will be zoning the boat parking on the beach and employing a Beach Warden to patrol the beach, oversee refuse collection, remind BBQers that they shouldn't be roasting their sausages on the beach and ensure ‘fair play’ for all, however this does come at a cost and they will be asking anyone who leaves a boat on the beach for a £10.00/week donation towards their costs, stickers will be issued to show that boats are ‘legal’! Any surplus will be donated to local charities.

Salcombe YC and the Salcombe Town Regatta committees have had meetings with the Millbay and Smalls beach owners and have undertaken to collect the donations with your entry fees and will be issuing the stickers on behalf of the Millbay beach owners to our Merlin and Regatta week competitors. As I think almost everyone was aware that there had been an issue regarding the continued use of Millbay and we believe that this is a very fair solution that will allow us the continued use of the beach for the next few years for your enjoyment.

I should have said that the entry forms are now available on the SYC website - follow the link to Entry Forms............................

So the extra £10 goes into the same cheque, payable to SYC?

Yes, SYC will be colleting the cash from the competitors and passing it on monthly to the MBO.

Thanks John

QUICK! SEND YOUR ENTRY FORM OFF BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!!!! 
AIEE!!!!

Blimey - my desk was groaning with the weight of the post this morning!!!!!!!!!

Don't fall for it people, it's a trap! :)