SCUBAHUB
Another blast up the Menai
SEVENTEEN BSAC CLUBS RECENTLY came together for the ever-popular Menai Boat Run , which this year featured a flotilla of 20 rigid inflatable boats for the 30 mileplus blast up the Strait .
A multi-club event , the Menai Boat run was originally started by East Cheshire SAC before Chester SAC took over the running of it in 2019 .
Held at the end of March , the spectacular event on Anglesey is an annual social get-together for BSAC clubs to blow away the cobwebs ahead of the informal start of diving season . It also raises much needed funds for the RNLI , with the Menai Boat Run 2024 raising a total of £ 1,450 .
The 17 BSAC clubs who took to the water for 2024 were Chester , Flint , Wirral , Hartford , Bradford , Southport , Shrewsbury , Sandwell , Vale Royal , Octopus 1900 , WAPSAC , Wrexham Seals , Potteries , Buxton , Trafford , East Cheshire and Rhosneigr . Approximately 130 members
and guests attended for the spectacle .
Launching from Dinas Boatyard at Felinheli , the RIB flotilla journeyed to Caernarfon , then back up the Menai to Beaumaris , where the boats moored up for the traditional treat of fish and chips .
After lunch , participants gathered by the Beaumaris RNLI boatshed , where Dave Parry of Chester SAC presented a cheque to Tim Bailey , Beaumaris station manager and Steve Barnard , the Helm of the Lifeboat .
With all the RIBs safely recovered , organiser Dave Parry reflected on another successful event . “ This year ’ s Menai Boat Run was a great day for everyone - and the boats had a good pre-season workout of at least 30 miles as well !” Dave added .
O ’ Three reward for Volunteer of the Year
NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR DAVID WAKELAM HAS BEEN NAMED Volunteer of the Year for 2023 in recognition of his decades of service to BSAC .
David , who belongs to Cardigan Sub-Aqua Club , now receives a £ 1,500 voucher provided by O ’ Three towards a new drysuit .
David has an impressive history of volunteering with BSAC , holding a plethora of roles over the years , from Wales Regional Coach to Instructor Trainer and Trainer / Examiner Coach . As a member of the National Diving Committee , he has also been Open Water Chief Examiner , Instructor Training Group Lead , National Instructor Chief Examiner and Technical Group Chief Instructor , a post he still holds . David has also been an active member of the Instructor Training Scheme since the mid-1990s .
" David reflected on his journey as a volunteer with BSAC "
Congratulating David , BSAC ’ s National Diving Officer , Dai Atkins said the title of Volunteer of the Year was well-deserved .
“ David ’ s dedication to training higher level Instructors and Instructor Trainers will have had a significant impact on our membership growth areas . He has also made contributions as an author and as a supporting subject matter expert ( SME ) to several of BSAC ’ s diving products .
“ David remains a committed branch member , serving to deliver diver training at grassroots level as well as communicate organisational wide standards , procedures and policies to branches and regional clubs .”
Accepting his award , David reflected on his journey as a volunteer with BSAC .
“ I took up diving in the 1970s while at university ; since then I ’ ve been a member of university , city , town clubs and now for many years a rural branch close to the sea . In all that time , while life and family swept in and out , I ’ ve moved up through diving and instructor grades , and held posts in-branch as well as regionally and nationally .
“ More importantly I ’ ve made lots of friends , continue to have great times and hope to have many more . I ’ ve learnt so much , but above all , have learnt that the more you put in , the more you get out . The same is likely true of many sports and pastimes , but none measure up to the possibilities and experiences that open up with sub-aqua .”
David Wakelam ( right ) receives his award from National Diving Officer Dai Atkins
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