More musings (NOT from Anthony) from the bar . . .

The attention-grabbing headline does not, alas, Paul, refer to the main bar. Those of you who subscribe to that excellent publication 'Local Notices to Mariners' (see below) will have noticed that the configuration of the structures marking the entrance to the harbour is being radically changed.

This has been brought about for two main reasons - the increasing length of the West Pole Sands, to the South, and the destruction of the Bar Beacon by the gribble worm. Even as we speak, Chichester Harbour Conservancy is taking advantage of this spell of glorious weather to erect a new Bar Beacon and a new West Pole using an enormous pile–driver, operated by Walcon.

The new West Pole is about 0.25M south of the old structure, which makes it about 1.1M offshore. Those of you who look at web-sites will know that the sensors for that excellent weather site, Chimet, are currently housed on the present Bar Beacon. When the new West Pole structure is in place, the Chimet sensors will be re-located there.

This will cause a short break in transmissions, but the quality of the wind readings will improve. There will be less interference due to the increased distance from land (about 0.7M to about 1.1M). One of the major criteria for the choice of sites for these excellent websites was the distance from sources of interference.

Whilst on the subject of Chimet, the control station for that excellent web site is housed in the splendid new RNLI station together with the controls for those other excellent weather stations, Cambermet, Bramblemet and Sotonmet. When the temporary RNLI station was shut down, the equipment had to be moved causing only a momentary break in transmissions.

Moving on, members of HISC are cordially invited by the Lifeboat Operations Manager, Nigel Roper, to a private view of the new RNLI Station on Sunday 20 April at 13:00hrs before the Spring General Meeting at 15:00hrs.

See you there!
Peter Glasby