PWSTS Forum for Old Boys, Family and Friends

The Merchant Navy Association Boat Club (MNABC)



At the Council Meeting of the Association on 5th April the above design for a pennant for the MNABC (Merchant Navy Association Boat Club) was approved. It is expected that this pennant will be available to members of the Boat Club from the slop chest later in the year.

Interested Association Members (boat users or those with an interest in boats) should register their interest with the National Secretary, Tim Brant at mna.national@virgin.net, call him on 01472 851130 or mail Clive Marsh on clive_heathmarsh@hotmail.co.uk.  We will then be able to keep you abreast of developments.  

So far we have interested members who are spread across our islands with a wide variety of craft including several Bermudan rigged yachts, a canal boat, a yawl, a lugger and several fishing boats. There are also members who simply have an ongoing interest in boats and are sensible enough not to actually own one! These are located in the Scottish Isles, inland waterways, Norfolk Broads, South Coast and Channel Isles.

An inaugural meeting will be held as soon as we have enough members in one place and this is looking like Rye Harbour. The purpose of the meeting is simply to kick things off and get a small group of volunteers so that the work does not entirely fall on the shoulders of our National Secretary. This is keeping a list of members, writing news letters, arranging events and the usual things associated with a club. It will be interesting to see how far things go but my feeling is that over the years the Boat Club will become an active part of the Association. Interestingly a number of non members (ex MN) have expressed an interest so the Boat Club could be a useful source of new members. For now keep registering your interests so that we can get the numbers up.

My own interest in boats started at the London Nautical School where I sailed dinghies and rowed. Since then I have owned about 30 small craft ranging from racing dinghies to comfortable cruising yachts and beamy fishing boats. In fact I find that my boats are getting beamier as I get older. Most of my boating now is on the South Coast where I run several traditional style sail boats. I write the odd article for the yachting press and Iâm sure our editor would like any contributions of your boating experiences.

Clive Marsh

Clive has arranged for the Rye Harbour Sailing Club to host the inaugural meeting of  the proposed MNABC (Merchant Navy Association Boat Club) at 7pm on Tuesday 8th July 2008.