Dear Friends of the St Ives Jumbo Association,

Greetings to our regular and former members and a warm welcome to those who have joined us recently!

As we are all using our devices so much more as a result of the lockdown, we thought this was an ideal opportunity to switch to an online newsletter. Not only does this save costs but it allows us to produce a fuller account of our activities which we hope you’ll find a diverting and informative read.

Looe felt more like the South of France than South Cornwall for last years Lugger Regatta. The settled weather ensured a good turnout and a spirited meet up of the extended lugger-revival family (now well into its second generation) that began here 30 years ago.

The small boat class, which included three Beer luggers, was particularly well represented. The jumbo was clearly out-matched by the high-tech wizardry from Beer yet, owing to frequent wind shifts, we (the only dipping lugger in our class) were able to sail through them on occasion!

So folks, no prizes this year but at least for the last two years, the prize has gone to boats that Jonny has built.

We were the same team as last time, but this year George and Michelle joined us for the Saturday afternoon race helmed by Scott. Kerstin and Naomi Gorvin, who had worked frantically to get their recently acquired lugger 'Mispah' to the event, kindly towed us in and out of the harbour.

The jumbo William Paynter, and ‘Coffee Shop’ Mike in the punt joined Rupert and Alastair in their picarooner in a show of water-born solidarity with a lively contingent ashore who were protesting against the governments’ inaction over climate change. This green XR sail (made by Jonny from a cheap tarp and sticky tape) was more than just a banner. It enabled the picarooner to sail to windward as efficiently as the jumbo!

That evening, 6 of our members heard Manda Brookman explain the undisputed facts behind the climate emergency at the Arts Club.

Whilst the committee supports the cause of Extinction Rebellion, they have decided that it would be inappropriate for the charity to join XR for the time being.

As a break from the work in the barn, a session is also usually arranged in the Rose Lodge by the harbour where the sails and rigging are all checked over and repaired together with the summer moorings. Back at the barn, the larger servings and whippings on the rigging are coated with Stockholm Tar.

The mooring chains are also checked over at some time during the winter and, before relaunching, the winter growth of weed must be cleared from the outhaul ropes and the summer spans put back between the chains of the main moorings.

Lastly the bilge pumps have to be checked over, the buoyancy bags checked, the lifejackets serviced, the stem bands rubbed down and retreated and new anodes fitted to protect the keel bands etc from electrolytic corrosion. Then everything has to be refitted and the boats trailed back down to the harbour for launching. This is usually towards the end of April, depending on the tide and weather.

Owing to a new regime of weekend maintenance session that we introduced this winter there’s little left to do prior to launching. Once the lockdown is relaxed enough to allow working parties to recommence work, William Paynter will receive a fresh coat to her topsides and all boats need a topcoat of antifouling. Once again Hempels have donated expensive antifoul paint and the opportunity to experiment with a recent biocide-free product.

Many thanks to the twelve members who have helped out so far with this winter's work.

Jim & Scott

We are delighted to announce that the second stage of this project, which had stalled as we sought planning permission to proceed, was finally approved on 28th April. As this project has been held up since 2018, we thought you’d appreciate an explanation of our plans:

Back in 2012 we set ourselves the target of establishing a Jumbo Centre in order to ‘provide secure storage for the boats and their gear, where new jumbos maybe built offering training possibilities and a physical focus for the Association’

Eventually a site was found and a five-year lease negotiated. Early in 2016 the site was cleared, a new approach road was laid including a large area of hard-standing surrounding the barn on 3 sides. The ivy which engulfed the building was cleared, the roof structure was strengthened to take the weight of a jumbo in order to assist loading and unloading them from the trailer. A concrete floor was laid throughout. A wider gate and new double doors were hung on both the front and side elevation to improve access. By the end of Feb 2016 all our boats were safely installed in the new barn fulfilling the first stage of our stated long-term aspiration.

The second stage of our objective is to further develop the barn-site to include additional undercover storage for other traditional boats (to help meet the rental of the site), a volunteer amenity building and a compost toilet. We propose to extend the existing barn to the right (see below) with an open-fronted building of similar timber construction to create a covered area roughly to match the existing barn.

During 2018 we received a grant from Awards for All to meet the cost of completing the second stage and the preparatory ground work has since been completed.

Early indications that this proposal would not require full planning permission were recently dashed.

Following initial pre-planning advice submission, Cornwall Council decided that we would have to apply for full planning permission afterall. This would require detailed work and costly surveys, and meant that we would be unable to build the extension in the autumn of 2019 as planned.

Specifically, Cornwall Council asked for a Bat & Owl Survey and a Phase 1 land survey to be completed prior to consideration of the full planning application.

We have always intended that the site should be maintained and managed in the most appropriate and beneficial way. We are fortunate to have some keen and dedicated members who monitor our activities some of whom have already volunteered to encourage wildlife habitat around the site by planting more trees and shrubs and by providing nest boxes. So it was disappointing to have to use our limited resources on wildlife surveys however well-intended.

Nonetheless, to comply Cornwall Environment Consultants Ltd were invited to carry out the Bat & Owl Survey on our behalf. They have since confirmed that there are no nesting sites that would be affected.

One of their consultants was due to visit the site to take soil samples as part of the Phase 1 land survey in March but this was postponed owing to Covid 19…

Then, quite unexpectedly, we received full planning permission!

We are extremely indebted to Jill Block who has undertaken the lion’s share of the work behind the scenes – both fundraising and planning applications -which has enabled us to get this far.

We look forward to bringing you progress reports once work at the site resumes.