July 2008: Barge Update
If you read the Blog back in January, you will have seen that the 'GD replacement' team, were looking at a barge in Lowestoft. Well... we are proud to say that after getting plans drawn up, and planning permission approved, we are now the proud owners of 'M.O.D. Barge 1020' (what a catchy name!) this is REALLY fantastic news, so please praise God for this incredibe opportinuty for the next phase of CYE's life.

Later on in this summer, we will be going to tender with various boat yards for the fitting out costs. The Barge project will soon get its own page on this website, for you to keep up to date with progress. Shown here are some photos showing the barge as it was at purchase, and as it was when the team visited it on July 10th, after the superstructue and deck had been cut off. Soon, an adjusted deck and completely different superstructure will be built, before the fit out.

May 2008: Latest CYE News out now
The Sprig edition of CYE's Masthead is out now, giving updates on the new Ship Project, and other news from the centre. If you aren't on the mailing list, just click here to download a copy.

February 2008: Safety boat launch
One of the first events of this year is the Powerboat level 2 & Safety Boat course. Having spent a lot of the winter being repainted in the field, it was time for the Bellus (our diesel launch) to be put back on the water. Not and easy task when there has to be high enough water to float it off its trailer whilst keeping the trailers axle and more importantly our new centre car as dry as possible! Certain members of the team dry suited up and the rest just pushed from land, but we managed to get it floating and running smoothly one day before the course started.

February 2008: New Kayaks
February saw the arrival of the new fleet of instructor Kayaks. The Dagger GT's were bought with funds raised by Matt Winfield & James Thompson by doing the DW (Devises to Westminster) kayak Marathon. They completed the 125 mile race in just over 24 hours. The new fleet consists of 10 boats for varying size people, and even Matt himself can fit in them! Power was so delighted by their arrival he gave them a big big hug!

January 2008: Look.. its a HUGE Barge!
If you didn't know, the ship is coming to the end of it's useful life, and a team are looking for a replacement. They have just returned from a 2nd viewing of an ex-MOD barge in Lowestoft. Our £60,000 offer has been accepted, and we have also had a good report back from its survey (just like buying a house really!) Now we need support, both prayerful and financial to get the project going. Click here to read the special report.

December 2007: School Assemblies
Well, for all those of you who think that we do nothing at the centre in the winter, here's a picture to prove otherwise. (just because you're not here, we don't just sit around looking at the boats!) On top of all the maintenance that goes on, in the weeks leading up to Christmas we do a lot of Christmas School Assemblies, getting the Christmas story across to many children, in a thought provoking and memorable way.

November 2007: Christian Outdoor Centres
13th-15th of November saw 10 staff members heading to Carroty Wood in Tunbridge, Kent for 3 days of fun and fellowship with other Christian outdoor centre staff (they call this a conference!) Time was spent doing activities, in worship and teaching, small groups and lots of time to catch up with old friends and making new ones (they call this networking!) All had a good time, and many welcomed the opportunity to take a break from day to day work at the end of what has been a busy season for the staff. 

November 2007: CYE DVD !
We now have newly edited short DVD of CYE activities. It is an interim production editing some past footage with a sound track and contact information. We plan to use it to help youth groups book the centre or promote their weekends. It can also be used for promotion at churches. Have a look in the video section and show your friends. We have commissioned LBC Productions to make a new DVD during next summer, so if you are here you could be a star!

November 2007: EQUIP Leadership Training Weekend Report- by Chris Gath
Previous CYE experiences were, to be frank, nothing to this weekend. Past times have been good, learning sailing, seeing friends and with God along the way too. This weekend was completely different. There were a lot of tasks (all fun if not challenging) but the main aspect was on glorifying God through leading, in any form. This weekend is a must for all those thinking of any form of leadership, be it at church, at work or in youth group. Good fun, good food and a good fount of knowledge which I have no doubts will help us all in our path with God. (Chris Gath)

November 2007: Helping out the neighbours
CYE staff spent the day at Cobnor House (the one just past the centre, towards the headland) and joining some other locals with the Cobnor Estate manager Mike Bulpit, they did some tidying up... cutting down lots of brambles, trees and wotnot. (yes they thought giving them very large, sharp cutting tools was a good idea!)

October 2007: New Web Site That's right we've got a brand new shiny website. But if you're on this page, reading this, you can already see that! Well, we think it looks quite nice, so thought we'd draw your attention to it. Can you see the picture? Its a website, in a website, in a website.... If you can think of anything you'd like to see on the new site, please let us know. Otherwise enjoy looking around (and make sure you look at the amusing pictures in the gallery!)

October 2007: The GREAT STORM of 1987
On the 16th of this month it's the 20th anniversary of the Great storm of 1987!! At CYE we had boats everywhere, and were canoeing around the assault course in the field! The safety boat came off its mooring and ended up at Bosham, having rolled a few times. The Gerald Daniel was fine although a bit out of position!!  This is what it looked like -->

September 2007: New Staff
Well it's that time of year, when we say goodbye to some of the team as they go on to other things (this year, to Varied places: Charles to Southampton Uni, Rachel to Uni of East Anglia, Jeremy to a job in Havant, Nathan to the Royal Marine Music Corps. and Anupa back to India!) BUT... that means some NEW people! (pictured here: Will, Sophie, Jo and Tim) read their first impressions in the current Masthead

September 2007: ANOTHER CYE wedding
LOADS of congratulations to current staff member Chris Adams, and to previous staff member Lou Thompson on the occasion of their wedding. A HUGE crowd of current and past CYE staff, volunteers, family and friends were at the fantastic day on the 1st September. We counted over 50 CYE-related people there! We wish them all the best in their new life together.

August 2007: There's no smoke with out fire
You may have heard that on the 16th August there was a fire at the cottage, in the lane on the way to CYE, where several of our staff live. Thankfully no one was home at the time, and no one was injured, although a lot of damage was done and a lot of possessions lost.
For a full "official report" of the event, click here

July 2007: Claim to fame
Chris McLeish did an Advanced Instructor Course at Thorney Island in July (at the same time there was a photographer there) Chris managed many cool poses in front of the camera, and after scouring the dinghy sailing publications for months, was thrilled to find himself the star of a double page spread in Dinghy Sailing Magazine (Nov 2007) - no less than four photos!! Check him out if you can.

March 2007: Camp Leaders Get Together
All the camp leaders (that's leaders of all the CYE camps, NOT leaders who are a bit camp) got together in March and had a great evening discussing CYE's vision for the camps, and encouraged each other with news and stories from some of the different camps that CYE runs. (Young Ents, Bravo, Alpha, Autumn, Families) It was also a really fun re-union, as generally they don't meet up with leaders working on different camps to them.

January 2007: Snow!
Not that many of you will probably have seen the sailing centre in the snow, so here's a picture of the staff team with a kayaking Snowman. It was especially a treat for staff member Anupa, who, coming from India, has never seen snow before!

December 2006: The passing of a friend
If you who have visited the centre will know we have two cats. Sadly, Snowman (the black one) passed away peacefully on the 1st December 2006. The burial service was conducted by our resident undertaker (D. Garner) in the centre grounds. At least the local wildlife will be safer now she is not prowling around the centre. Her speciality was to capture and return with a variety of animal life (some bigger than her!) and deposit the remains in the building for us all to find. One of our supporters was so moved by the event that he produced the accompanying picture as a lasting memorial to a dear departed friend.

November 2006: Bursary Fund
Hev Cheesman will be well-known to many of you (especially anyone who's ben on Summer Camp Alpha) This year she is President of the SE Society of Chartered Accountants and, as such, could nominate a charity to benefit from the President’s Dinner. She very kindly nominated the CYE Bursary Fund and at the dinner, in September, donations were received totaling £1162.17. Hev came down to the centre in November and handed over the cheque to Gavin Jones the Centre Manager