Welcome aboard the website of the Potteries Model Boat Club.
Here you can find information about the Club along with
news items, an events calendar, membership & contact details.
Plus an extensive photo gallery of member's models.
Message from our chairman:
The water level in the boating lake at Westport has now dropped to a point where our 65 class yachts can’t be launched and recovered without the risk of a boat running aground. We have already fitted ‘short’ fins to these yachts so that the draft is no more than 9 1/2” (22 cm) but there are rocks and bits of concrete on the bottom of the lake, so even the ducks and swans are standing on some of these. Added to that, the buoys are now no longer being pulled upright by the rope going to weights on the lake bottom, so it is possible to catch those with the yacht's fin. As a result of this, our yacht racing is suspended until the water level rises again.
We have, very fortunately, been offered a lifeline at Rudyard Lake Sailing Club. They have their own problems with very low water to the point that they cannot launch their rescue boats, so the club have had to suspend their weekend dinghy racing programme. As a result, we have been offered the chance to sail there on Sunday, 24th August and again on the 31st August. This will allow us to complete the July monthly 65 Class racing, which had already been postponed due to a conflict with Tunstall Carnival and the August monthly racing. Hopefully, we will be able to race as normal at Westport in September. All PMBC members who have taken part in this race series so far this year have been emailed to make them aware of the change.
PMBC would like to formally thank RLSC for offering us this opportunity to continue with our racing schedule and maybe we can work together in the future if the opportunity arises.
Simon Cornes.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
"Following an incident in 2024 involving a fast electric model boat where control was lost resulting in the boat leaving the water the Committee of Potteries Model Boat Club reviewed the evidence and came to the conclusion that, for the safety of Club Members and the general public it would be mandatory that any and all fast electric boats - or scale model boats which were capable of significant speeds - operated by Club Members would be fitted with a Fail Safe device. The intention of a Fail Safe is that, if the receiver loses its radio signal the throttle is immediately closed and, ideally, the rudder moved over so that the model circles.
A Fail Safe can be an integral part of a speed controller or it can be part of the transmitter so Club members should establish if their radio equipment incudes a Fail Safe and ensure that it is set to operate if it is an optional function of the transmitter. If it is not operating then the model boat should not be sailed until such a time as a Fail Safe is operating.
Hereafter, before a Club member puts his/her boat onto the water they should check that the Fail Safe is operating properly. This should be checked at the beginning of every sailing session, whether it is normal sailing day or a Club race day.
The Committee will monitor the effectiveness of this requirement and, if necessary, it may be modified. Any member who fails to check that a Fail Safe is operating as required and who subsequently has an accident as result of an inoperative Fail Safe may find that the Club’s liability insurance does not cover them personally if they are found to be liable at law.
Simon Cornes, Chairman
Potteries Model Boat Club"
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The club meets at Westport Lake, Westport Lake Road, Tunstall, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 4RZ. Drive down the road to car park and the boats are sailed on the small lake to the left.
