TWENTY BOATS FROM 18 DIFFERENT BSAC clubs recently took to the Straits for the annual Menai Boat Run , raising £ 1,350 for the Beaumaris Lifeboat .

Started back in 2007 by East Cheshire SAC as a way of checking out their RIBs before the start of the main diving season , the Menai Boat Run has grown into a hugely popular annual event .

This year ’ s run organised by Chester SAC included BSAC clubs from not just the North West but as far afield as Leicestershire , Bradford and Doncaster . The flotilla of RIBs started the 26-mile round trip from Dinas Boat Yard in Felinheli

just North of Caernarvon before taking in the Menai Strait and Puffin Island off Anglesey .

Following the Menai Boat Run tradition , the 2023 event then made a pitstop for 100 servings of fish and chips in Beaumaris before presenting a cheque to the RNLI crew at the town ’ s lifeboat station . The run concluded with an RNLI escort back along the Strait , finishing back at the start .

BSAC ’ s new Northwest Regional Coach and Menai Boat Run ‘ newbie ’, Stephen Dorricott said a great day was had by all .

“ A big thanks to Dave Parry ( Chester BSAC ) and his members for arranging the day - many hours of planning and preparation go into organising this event and keeping everyone safe .

“ Thank you also to all the clubs who participated this year : Alpha Divers , Bradford , Chester , Flint , Golden Lion , Hartford , Merseyside , Neston , Octopus Divers , Roundhill ( Leicestershire ), Southport , Shrewsbury , Trafford , Vale Royal , Wrexham , WAPSAC , West Lancs , Weston .

“ We all had a great day ‘ playing ’ on the boats , and there was great satisfaction for what was achieved .”

PHOTOS : TIM WALTERS / THE FOTO GUYS

Outgoing Council member Rachael Brown considers the cycles of university clubs

I AM CURRENTLY SEEING OUT MY term as a member of the BSAC Council , a role I ’ ve loved , and which comes to an end at our AGM in May . There ’ s a wealth of volunteers willing to get involved this year and we ’ re in the middle of an exciting period of change in organisational strategy and delivery . I hope the upward trajectory of member numbers will continue for many years to come and that the new Council recruits are brimming with skills to help us manage that process . Long live BSAC !

I am , however , well aware of the recent change in weather and feeling increasingly keen to get back out on , and in , the water . As a member of a university branch of BSAC , there are always some trainees to teach and failing that , some newly qualified divers to lead . The UK offers so many great opportunities for getting your kit wet and I hope to explore some of the dive sites that I know ( and some that I don ’ t ) before the end of the summer .

I ’ m also planning to join a trip abroad later in the year , now that international travel is a little easier to manage . Knowing my luck with timing , this will become possible just as the academic cycle starts and our club is once again flooded with new members . Long live university diving clubs !

I ’ d like to wish every member of BSAC and all our volunteers a Happy 70th Birthday ! BSAC could not have become what it has , were it not for your generosity in giving your time and expertise to the next generation of divers , managers and leaders . You make our club what it is , and I look forward to seeing some of you in the water soon .