RYC News

For anyone interested in current information concerning the Rothesay Yacht Club please visit:

http://rycnews.blogspot.com/

Otherwise please enjoy an archive of our 2006/2007 Breakwater Project blog.

Regards,
Greg

Done

So that is it. Next stop, Launch 2007!

Thanks to everyone who visited this Blog and for all those who gave feedback. And a especially big thanks to Bruce Tennant for his regular contribution of photo's.

According to Hugh's report on Sunday evening, everything is complete as per the contract. We still have many tasks to do such as installing the zinc anodes on the sheet pile, installing the mast stepper on the new base, building and installing the new gangway for the launch pad area, preparing additional electrical boxes for the new docks, installing the pump-out station, pounding over 100 pilings, launching the docks, including new ones, and then installing the services everyone expects. WOW! That is quite a list and no doubt there are other things to do.

Needless to say, this all cannot be done by two, or even 10, people. We are a volunteer club and to have a timely launch, with berths ready to go for the warm weather, we will all have to work together.

The budget for 2007 has been completed, the fixture card will be available soon and John Boyd starts in two weeks. Please consider how you would like to participate and then contact the appropriate director. To see a list of the directors and their contact information, click HERE.

Thanks again for visiting, and have a Great Summer!

Greg

Photo's Bruce

Update

We walked down to the Breakwater last evening. It is very nice that the weather has warmed up enough to comfortably get out in the evening. Now with the later sunsets, we will be able to work on our boats longer. I find sailors get a little fidgety when things start to melt and the snow disappears off the boat covers. I know, they are forecasting snow on Thursday, but I guy can dream!?! If you haven't made it down to the project lately you probably haven't seen all the cement that has been poured over the past couple of weeks. And by the looks of it much of it will never be seen again. I am speaking of the sheet pile support blocks that are tied with a long metal rod to the back of the sheet pile. The are substantial. Once they are buried, they will be out of sight. The one large cement block that will be seen for a long time is the foundation for the gangway. There was an interesting phenomenon we saw last evening. The 80% of the ice in the inner harbour was covered with water - probably 6 or 8 inches. It must have been run-off as it was muddy coloured. It was flowing across the ice near 'A' dock and running into a crack in the ice beside the wharf. When I get an update from the Breakwater Committee, I will post it here. From a major construction point of view things are starting to wind down. We will see more detail work being done. If anyone has any interesting photo's, please don't hesitate to send them to me.

Launching Pad

The Sheet Pile has been driven into place, never to move again! They have anchored it back to a huge concrete block that has been poured in place. You will see the tie rods that stretch from the sheet pile, back about 25 feet, to the block. It will all be buried soon. We won't see the concrete block. This is where the boats will be launched, the mast stepper will be installed, and the gangway down to the floating docks (dock "C" maybe?) will be attached.

Bruce provided the photo's. The dates they were taken can be see superimposed on each picture. In this post it goes from newest to oldest.


Pouring Cement. They insulated it after they were done. It generates enough heat that is sets properly as long as it is insulated.


The vertical green pipe is for the mast stepper.




The sheet pile looks nice and straight in this shot


Some finishing touches.


The sheet pile was very ragged across the top edge before they cut it level.

Sheet Pile

As you will see from the photo's, there are some big changes happening now. According to Hugh Scarth, the Sheet Pile could be done this week, weather and equipment permitting. Bruce provided the photo's and included a note that the I-beams that can be seen in the photo's are there on a temporary basis. They are being used to provide support for the scaffolding and will be removed as the sheet-pile will be self supporting. If anyone has any other info, please pass it on.

Looks like our own version of 'Big Sky Country'

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is more of a

Pile vibrator!?! The combination of vibration and

weight cause the sheet pile to gradually sink into

the soil.

First Pile

North-South face

This is a good photo as it shows the 'face' of the

dock where boats will be launched in the spring.

The 'face' is to the left of the gentlemen in the red

coveralls and stretches up towards the club. The
orientation of this section is north-south.

In this photo they have turned the corner to begin

the east-west portion of the sheet pile. This section

will be where a new gangplank will eventually

be installed to the docks, running parallel, and

attached, to the breakwater.

Bi-Law Committee Update (And Breakwater Pictures)

Bi-Law Committee Update

The Bi-Law committee met for the 3rd time last evening. It was nice that we were able to get the 5 committee members all together! Our next meeting is scheduled for March 25. Everyone seems to feel we are making positive progress on the review, and to quote George: "My initial thoughts were that this was going to be a laborious task of going through a bunch of 'legaleze' but I've found the discussions to be excellent, with full input from everyone." If the work to date is any indication, the Board and membership will see positive results from the effort put into the process by the committee.


Breakwater...

Any of you who has been down to the wharf will have seen a lot more activity. Irving Equipment has set-up to begin installing the sheet pile.

I understand from Bruce (who provided the photo's) that it was really blowing down there - and as many of us know, that is nearly a 10 mile stretch of open ice - not much to slow it down!

Hey, what happened to Long Island - I know it's out there somewhere! I wouldn't be surprised if they saw
a couple of ice shacks scooting by...

See the wind blowing the snow across the
road in front of the club!?!

Breakwater Update

Busy time of year! Thank you to Bruce for finding some interesting photo's of the project (see the previous post for these photo's).


Here is the latest from Hugh Scarth:

• Anchor Blocks are being installed. 5 of the 7 have been completed
• Sheet Pile is going to begin soon
• They do not work in temperatures below -20C due to risk of damage to equipment
• There will be installed a 12" vertical pipe for the mast stepper prior to back filling around the Sheet Pile
• The mast stepper will need to be re engineered to work with the new base and it is expected that a stay system will be used to support it. The good news is due to the location of the stepper, the guy wires should not be in the way.

I noticed some activity down at the site today. It was quite a shock to see a crane on the wharf - Last time I saw that there were boats too - but not today. I think they are getting prepared to begin the installation of the Sheet Pile (but I will confirm that).

Crane on site - Feb 15

Progress as of Feb 12. The end 1/3 of the breakwater is at
the final height and will extend, at this height, to the where
the pavement ends at the road.

Bruces Photo's

Photo Update - From Bruce Tennant

Not much news to report but thanks to Bruce for braving the cold to bring us some up-to-date pictures.

We have an RYC Board meeting scheduled for Sunday evening and there will be an update on the project provided at that time. I will pass on what I learn, via the Blog, early next week.

So the Shubenacadie Sam didn't see his shadow. I know sailors aren't superstitious so we don't need to worry about that anyway. Environment Canada did announce last week that the temperature was going to be colder in February, and "average" for the period February to April, so I guess that means March and/or April will be warmer than usual. Now, I took a look at Environment Canada's web site and they indicate they are right with their 3 month forecast between 45% and 50% of the time. I have also heard that the Groundhog is right around 40% to 50% of the time. Hmmm?!?


Looking at Kennebecasis & Mather Islands and the
Kingston Peninsula off across the ice.
Nice photo Bruce! The clouds don't seem real.


You can see one of the forms for the concrete pad
to the right of the worker


Behind the machine; that should be the finished
height. Wow, pretty impressive!


That should cut down on the waves and the wind.


What is the old saying? "Measure twice, cut once!"

Concrete Pad Installation

There is some real work being done on the breakwater now. Have a look at some of the photo's provided by Bruce today. They are working on the concrete pads that will be used to eventually attach the floating docks to. Keep in mind that installing docks along the full length of the breakwater is another phase of the project. The plan this year is to install a few docks that will be temporarily used for loading and unloading. Of course, circumstances change so...stay tuned.

In the photo's below we see them working on the second of 7 pads. The light base has already been poured.


Ever so slightly, you can see the bales of hay at the
end of the breakwater. They are there to insulate the Pad
that has been installed as the foundation for the
breakwater navigation light


A form for the concrete pad. Note the rebar in the box.
It is there for future attachment points


Pouring concrete out here is a multi-step process


Once the concrete hardens, the excavator will place
armour stone around the blocks to further secure
them within the breakwater structure

Progress Comparison & J24's

As you can see from the picture below, we've had to expand the scope of the photo's to include the end of the breakwater.

Oops! Thought I had left enough room when I started

taking pictures

Continued work with the Armour Stone

(click for a more detailed picture)

On a totally different note... I was at Poley yesterday (what a beautiful winter day) and ran into some old friends from the Shediac Bay Yacht Club - Jamie Storey and Paul Poirier. Some of you who sail on the RYC Cruise may remember Jamie. His family have been long-time sailors in Shediac and he has been a guest of Phil Pugsley at various times on various cruises. Paul is an old neighbour of ours from Grand Digue and sails a beautiful Tartan 3500, including taking a run with his wife, three kids and their dog, to the Magdalen Islands last summer. Jamie and Paul proudly told me that Shediac will be hosting the J24 Canadian Nationals this summer (August 3rd thru the 5th.) That should be some exciting racing! (Link to the web site)

Does anyone know if there are any teams or crew from the Saint John area headed to Shediac for this event? If so, post a comment or send an e-mail and I'll put their names on the Blog (and any other pertinent information - boat name, photo, etc.)

Photo Update - From Bruce Tennant

A quick post of the lastest photo's from Bruce. As usual, you can click on the photo to make them larger.

The Bitter End - Armour Rock Begins

So we've reached the 'Bitter End'! Not, in the BVI's I'm afraid, but the end of the breakwater. This should be a time of celebration! Now the delicate work begins of placing each and every stone in place as they work their way back.

Thanks for the photo's. How thick is the ice, Bruce?

So, should it be Armor or Armour? Can anyone help with that?

And in case you missed it, there was a Breakwater Committee update on Jan 18. (Click to Link)


Better adjust your waypoints for those foggy trips back
from Scouts Beach. Grey Rocks, Grey Fog, Grey Goose
- a recipe for disaster!


They have brought in the heavy equipment. Nice angle
of the photos, Bruce. That's a long walk out there!


Wanted: Man with a delicate touch!


I understand they built the pyramid's by hand. Judging
by the water temperature, that would explain why there
are no pyramid's on the Kennebecasis.