Report about Bluegreen Algae in Llangorse Lake
“You may have seen reports about Bluegreen Algae in Llangorse lake in the media. Recently, following sightings of a Bluegreen Algae bloom near the public jetty, tests have been done on behalf of Radnorshire Environmental Health. The results show that the level of Bluegreen algae is one third (6,900 cells/ml) of the WHO/EA hazard warning level (20,000 cells/ml). So whilst no hazard warning has been issued by NRW/EA, we have been advised to avoid “immersive activities“. Sailing is not usually an Immersive activity but capsizes are possible and contact with the lake water is inevitable. The situation is being kept under review.
Bluegreen algae secrete a toxin that can cause skin rashes and can damage the liver and nervous system. It can cause nausea and vomiting. The scum that forms on the surface is particularly harmful and sometimes fatal to smaller mammals such as dogs.
Therefore we are issuing the following advice: –
1) Avoid capsize – no capsize drills please; sail well within your capability. If you do accidentally capsize – avoid ingesting the lake water. It would be wise to shower as soon after capsize as possible and change into dry clothes. Avoid touching wet kit until it has been washed.
2) Don’t lick your fingers or wipe your face whilst afloat. Don’t put dinghy sheets in your mouth.
3) Wash hands after returning ashore before doing anything else, especially before eating food.
4) Dogs: – Make sure any dog brought to site is on a lead (club rule) and does not drink any lake water. It may be better to avoid bringing dogs at all because the site is flooded now and it might be difficult to stop them drinking.
5) Report any sightings of algal blooms to any member of Exec on site or to club email.
6) Children are particularly at risk and must avoid water contact.
7) Canoeing is no longer permitted from LSC site as it involves constant water contact from the paddle (immersive), and it has been banned at the public slipway too.
To members of Llangorse Sailing Club. Ref Lake levels high
This is warning to all members of LSC that the lake is extremely high today, about a foot higher than the quayside. As a result, part of the site up to the fifteens is quite waterlogged. So, sailing and racing can go ahead but members should be aware of the more hazardous conditions with the jetties and quayside being well covered by the lake. Members would be discouraged to bring their boats down to the site till the level has subsided and the site dried back.
Be especially carefully when launching and recovering boats.
Pictures on 2nd May 2021
Date…20th April 2021
Members and prospective visitors to the club can find our Covid 19 guidelines HERE!
Welcome
Find out more about the Club in this introduction – and those interested in sailing with us are welcome to visit the site to see our facilities and meet us! Drop us a line to the email address below and we will nominate a member of our Executive Committee to greet you.
Renewal documents have been emailed to all 2020 and 2019 members. Please check your Inbox and Junk mailbox.
Safe Fun Learning
A Club of about 200 members, easily accessed from the village of Llangorse, 6 miles east of Brecon. The Lake is Wales’ second largest inland water-body, at around 400 acres it provides a perfect safe and picturesque site for dinghy sailing. The Club has developed into an accessible asset for the sport of sailing for the community since its founding in 1952.
We’re a dinghy sailing club commanding high standards of racing, training, coaching and recreational sailing – at low cost to attract all parts of our community – south Wales and neighbouring parts of England. Last year we were able to continue sailing under our Covid 19 measures. Following our regular annual hibernation period, we look forward to our 2021 season starting in March. We’re planning a programme of activity including Club racing, instruction for beginners and further coaching for others – above all, we look forward to seeing more young people on the water again.
For further general information about the Club, you can contact us here
Our Executive Committee team can be found here
You can find out about Membership of the Club here & New Members Information here – including parent or guardianship membership for adults who may not wish to sail – to enable young people to be active members.
Our credentials
Llangorse Sailing Club is affiliated to our sport’s National Governing Body, the RYA (Royal Yachting Association). We are an RYA Recognised Training Centre – which means we provide instruction in sailing and power-boat handling meeting the RYA’s high standards. Training achieved is delivered by RYA fully-qualified instructors from the club; the qualifications gained here are valid worldwide. You can find out more about TRAINING at Llangorse Sailing Club Here .Including ACTIVITY DAYS& FAMILY WEEK In 2015 we won a RYA Cymru Club of the Year award – and we were a runner-up in the UK-wide equivalent.
We are a non-profit making community sports club. The Club owns its site and sailing facilities. Llangorse sailing Club is managed by a team of committed volunteers including the Training Principal and instruction team. We work together with SportsWales and via several grants this arm of the Welsh Government has joined us in investing in improvements in our site and facilities.
The Club has hosted racing events for various sailing fleets – and we welcome visiting competitors. This includes events for young people such as the RYA Welsh National Youth Championships. We look forward to recommencing this programme according to Welsh Government Covid 19 guidelines.
Organised sailing for children is managed using suitable sailing craft meeting RYA standards under qualified supervision at an appropriate ratio of safety-cover. The Club team includes a Safety Policy officer and a (separate) Welfare Officer.
Many of our members are recreational sailors and we are fortunate that under the terms of our arrangement with the Lake owner, sailors can launch at any time within our active season (normally March to November). Balanced with this freedom lies the responsibility for their own and others’ safety and, of course, responsibility for the environment.
Sited within the Brecon Beacons National Park, our Club site is adjacent to a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Club is committed to sustaining our special environment, we value and enjoy our environment and play an active part in the immediate and long-term sustainability of the lake as a vital natural resource.
Site, Clubhouse and our Facilities
The Club site is large enough for berthing members’ boats in proscribed spaces. Members can park their car on-site – although space can be limited when popular events take place. Members can access the site and buildings at any time during our annual sailing system.
Our clubhouse was renewed in 2015. It consists a large indoor meeting / hospitality area, a galley accessible to all and a training room. Adjacent to the clubhouse are our changing rooms. Members can access these at any time. Our buildings also include storage facilities for training boats, safety-boats and other equipment.
The Club manages a fleet of safety boats, a large event management boat, a fleet of Comet Trio training sailboats, and a fleet of small sailing boats suitable for training and coaching young people. The Club does enable recent-trainees to consolidate their learning in our training boats. Members sail their own boats for racing and recreational sailing.
Access to the Lake is made via two launch-and-recovery areas into a safe creek, and a substantial jetty projecting into the main part of the Lake. A manual winch is available for recovering heavy boats on our slipway.
Safety boat cover is always provided when organised children’s sailing is taking place and during organised racing.
Membership and playing an active part in the Club
Everything we do is carried out by committed and enthusiastic volunteers. For this reason we make our membership fees as low as possible – but we do ask members to offer some time in helping us man safety-boats, run racing or other events. This is fun, of course! It’s what we do – it helps new members feel welcomed and valued and – above-all – it makes us gel!
