“Cobnor Activities Centre was established in 1979 and continues to offer a range of courses to give young people in the local area the opportunity to experience challenging outdoor activities, both water and land based,” explains Mark Murray-Brown, Centre Manager. “But we are receiving an increasing number of enquiries from businesses and organisations in the South of England looking to offer their staff ‘something different’ in the way of team-building, with an ever-diminishing budget. We realise that we are perfectly positioned to meet this increase in demand and we are able to offer a tailor-made day in an idyllic setting. Cobnor can offer groups, ranging from 8 to 100 people, a team-building experience that is affordable and fun as well as achieving the desired purpose of getting teams to work more effectively together.”

Companies and organisations work with the instructors at Cobnor to plan their bespoke day around a variety of activities, which could include: sailing, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, archery, low ropes, orienteering and raft building. There is also optional on-site catering and a residential block. Cobnor is served by good road and rail links to London, Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex.

After attending a corporate activities day last year, Vanessa Aquilina, a teacher from Bosham Primary School, said: “We had a fantastic corporate day at Cobnor. What a wonderful programme you put together for us! It was extremely well organised, and the lunch on the beach was superb. What a great way to spend a day … and team build with your colleagues at the same time.”

Should you wish to find out more about our team-building activities or make a booking, please call us on: 01243 572791 or email: sail@cobnor.com.

Sport England’s Chairman, Richard Lewis, handed over the cheque to Centre Manager Mark Murray-Brown (pictured left) who is going to put the fund towards a new safety boat.

In an interview with the Chichester Observer Mark said: “The funding was much needed.

“We have a wide range of young people at the centre and we are upgrading the facilities for them. This includes showers and toilets.

“Hopefully the work will be completed by Easter. We haven’t got quite enough safety cover to do all the range of boat activities so we are getting a five-and-a-half metre RIB.”

Cobnor Activities Centre was just one of 71 sports groups in the South East to benefit from the £135m Places People Play National Lottery-funded legacy programme to make the Olympics part of our local communities this year.

Mr Murray-Brown said: “We are looking forward to the Olympics.

“There are some positive schemes which include a day in July where everyone is encouraged to go afloat.

“We have a programme to involve adults with sailing and we will be starting up a range of programmes from Easter for mountain biking, climbing, canoeing and sailing.”

Sport England’s chairman Richard Lewis said: “For hundreds of clubs and tens of thousands of people, 2012 will be the year their local sports facilities got better.

“We’ve had unprecedented demand for this fund, which has really hit the mark with sports clubs in the southeast. It shows we’re offering the sporting legacy that people want.”

We’re really looking forward to the improvements and the arrival of the new powerboat, which will give a boost to our safety boat fleet and make learning to sail at Cobnor an even better experience.

Chichester Creative Network presents Christmas Arts & Crafts at Cobnor on Saturday 10th December, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm and there will be Christmas Creativity and Festive Fun for all the Family, including:

• Local Arts & Crafts from: The Apuldram Centre Crafts, DillyWorm Crafts, Versartile, Buttons & Bows, Emma’s Interiors, Retro Rascal & more
• Chichester Harbour boat rides with the Cobnor Elves
• Acoustic Christmas tunes from the Cobnor Carollers
• Seasonal readings from a trio of local poets
• Readings & book signings from children’s author Penelope Bush (Alice in Time & Diary of a Lottery Winner’s Daughter)
• Hand, Foot & Shoulder Massages with Lesley Brown Clinical Aromatherapy
• Sizzling sausages, warming homemade soup, mulled wine & mince pies from the Cobnor Friends

This event is organised by Katy Lassetter on behalf of Chichester Creative Network to encourage and celebrate local creativity. The event will also to help raise money for the Cobnor Friends who will be selling homemade refreshments that will warm your cockles and dusting off their song sheets to entertain you with Christmas carols. We’ll also be holding a raffle and the kind people from www.etoyszone.co.uk and Lesley Brown Clinical Aromatherapy are donating prizes. We hope to see you all there, supporting the community.

What’s more we’re running a competition on Spirit FM all next week and giving away a place on one of our week-long Summer Camps worth £330!

The Camps run across two weeks in the Summer Holidays and are for 8 to 13 year olds who wish to experience time away under canvas with the opportunity to try a range of activities including: sailing, canoeing, archery, climbing, raft building and orienteering on the South Downs. More details and dates can be found in our 2012 programme which is available to download here.

The lucky winner will be presented with their prize at the Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair so this really is going to be quite an occasion!

Surely you won’t pass up the opportunity to have a special seasonal trip on the Cobnor Chairboat with Centre manager Mark dressed as Father Christmas and all of your favourite outdoor activities instructors dressed as elves, will you? See you on 10^th December and remember to bring some pennies, it’s for a great cause.

Please email this flyer to your friends and family here: Xmas Craft Fair Flyer- download

Why not send them to Cobnor Activities Centre for some outdoor activities fun…

As our Summer Camps and Multi-Activity Weeks were a huge success once again this summer we thought we’d offer all of you outdoor activity fans something to get your teeth into this October Half Term. Not only are we introducing Daily Activities Week but we’re also offering a special Seal Watching Trip and Cream Tea. Are you hungry for it?

Daily Activities Week

We’re introducing a Daily Activities Week and this comprises different activities as taster sessions, from sailing to mountain biking, every weekday throughout Half Term. These new Daily Activities will run from Monday 24^th October until Friday 28^th October, 9.30-16.00. The programme is open to 10-16 year olds and each Activity Day is just £38 per person. You can book just one day or all five, the choice is yours.

The programme for the week is as follows:

Monday
AM: Climbing and Archery
PM: Mountain Biking

Tuesday

AM: Low Ropes and Raft Build
PM: Canoeing to Bosham

Wednesday

AM: Mountain biking and Archery
PM: Bosun Sailing

Thursday

AM: Climbing and Raft Building
PM: Sea Kayaking

Friday

AM: Orienteering and Archery
PM: Mountain Biking

Please not that appropriate safety equipment is provided for all activities but you will need to bring sensible footwear and clothing appropriate to conditions.

Seal Watching Trip

Age Range: 8 onwards

Times: Monday 24^th October, 13:00 to 16:00 (approximate return)

Come and join us for the afternoon starting with a delicious cream tea in the surroundings of Chichester Harbour at 13.00 before boarding the Cobnor Chairboat at 14:00 to set sail, in search of our Harbour Seals.  There are currently 23-25 seals living in the Solent and they regularly visit Chichester Harbour, with 18 being the most recorded at any one time. We will visit the areas where they are sighted most and hopefully enjoy some fantastic views of these wonderful creatures. The boat will return to Cobnor at around 16:00.

Please note that spray top and bottoms are available, if required and lifejackets will be provided.

To book a place during our Daily Activities Week or for on the Seal Watching Trip please call: 01243 572791 or email: Sail@Cobnor.com.

Twenty three pupils visited Cobnor Monday to Wednesday. On their first day they did some problem solving, Pico sailing and canoeing. Day two involved a day sail around Chichester Harbour, where the children gained more of an opportunity to focus on their sailing skills.

On the third day 23 more pupils arrived and joined their school mates. All the children enjoyed a fun-packed day of mountain biking skills, climbing, archery and low ropes. At the end of Wednesday the first group of pupils returned home and the second group to arrive stayed at Cobnor for the rest of the week, receiving the same outdoor education as the group that attended Monday and Tuesday.

It seems that the children from Swiss Gardens Primary had a wonderful time at Cobnor Activities Centre this year and they sent us lots of lovely letters to show their appreciation. Here is a small selection for you to see:

Dear Amy, Mike, Paul, Andy, Adam, Ollie, Bryn, Brian, Nick, Jackie, Roy, Beverly and Toby,

Thank you for giving me a fantastic time. It was hilarious when we were on the low ropes and the mountain biking. It was fun at Cobnor; I’ll come again with my family.

Yours Sincerely,

Robbie William Hatcher

Dear Cobnor Instructors,

I’m from Swiss Gardens Primary School and I loved my three enjoyable days at Cobnor. At first I was a bit worried of capsizing and some of the sailing but once I jumped in the water it was actually the best bit. I just wanted to say thank you to Amy, Mike, Paul, Andy, Ollie, Nick and Toby.

Love Claudia

Dear Paul,

Thanks you for our spiffing three days. Thanks for guiding us on the big sail. We sailed through some fierce waves and we almost went vertical! The way back was a little bit calmer at least; we got back quicker. Cobnor has helped me improve my maturity and it’s helped me have fun!

Love from Will xxx

Dear Mike,

Thank you for doing the big sail with me, and thank you for doing some big waves on the normal sail. And thank you for everything else like the low ropes and every other thing. Thank you very much Mike.

Yours Sincerely,

Reece Way-Hooker

Dear Cobnor Instructors,

Thank you very much for making our trip worthwhile.  After the first night we got up at 5.00 am in the morning in my room, we were so excited. If we stuck all of you together you would be a superhero! Saving the world from boredom! I think Cobnor man would look like this (See image below).

Thanks again,

Rosie xxx

P.S. please thank Jackie for the food, it was yum.

Dear Cobnor instructors,

Thank you for showing us how to do things like archery, mountain biking, low ropes, the spider web, human knot, sailing and much more. Thanks for feeding us Jackie.

I would also like to give a special thanks to Nick because our coach was late so he entertained us and played games with us for a whole hour.

Love from Molly

Dear Instructors,

Thank you for inviting us to Cobnor and Jackie I really love the food and I love cottage pie that was lovely. I love doing sailing and you teaching us how to do sailing.

Thank you for the lovely room. The bed was comfy. Thank you for all the activities and I want to stay there forever.

My favourite bit was sailing and rock climbing, low ropes, archery and canoeing.

Yours sincerely

Seran

Dear Andy,

You may not remember me. I was only there for the day. Wednesday was amazing. I’m writing to you because you helped me get to the top of the rock climbing wall. I’ve never got to the top of a rock climbing wall before. I can’t put it in to words how I felt when I looked down from the top.

THANK YOU

From Charlotte

This annual event is organised to raise money for Cobnor Activities Centre, Christian Youth Enterprises and the Racecourse Sanctuary. Combining live music with outdoor activities, Cobstock has taken place at Cobnor for the past three years and has proved a great fundraising success as well as a huge hit with guests.

The action began on Friday afternoon as campers arrived and set up ready for the weekend ahead. After booking places on the activities they most wanted to experience, from both land-based and water-based, Friday evening offered a range of music from local bands and a fantastic festival vibe. Guests had the choice of staying on the campsite, staying in Cobnor Activities Centre’s log cabins or staying on CYE’s T.S Resolute.

Saturday Cobstockers rose early to make the most of the day’s activities. This year guests of all ages and abilities could choose from the following:

• Bosun sailing
• Wayfarer sailing
• Archery
• Rock climbing and abseiling
• Kayaking
• Open canoeing
• Chichester Harbour tour on the Cobnor Chairboat

Outdoor activities ran throughout Saturday, despite the somewhat blustery conditions. The wind meant that the sailing instructors, kayaking instructors and safety boat team had to work harder than usual and they sought out sheltered parts of the harbour to make it easier on guests where possible. The conditions certainly made things that little bit more interesting out on the water and even lead to an exciting capsize rescue mission – don’t fear, no one was harmed, it was all taken in the stride of our brave adventurers!

The live music began at 13.00 and played until midnight and the bar was open this whole time, offering adults such delights as Chucklehead Cider. The kids didn’t miss out though as they could indulge in locally made organic ice cream from Caroline’s Dairy, offering delicious flavours such as lemon meringue, mint choc chip and rhubarb – yum!

Here’s what just one happy Cobstocker had to say: “Fantastic activities, so well planned and executed can’t wait for next year.” Nicola Gouldstone, St Margaret’s, Twickenham.  

Have you got anything you’d like to say about the live music and outdoor activities at this year’s Cobstock 3? Please leave a comment below, we love to hear your feedback.

Cobnor Activities Centre would like to say a big thank you to all involved in organising Cobstock 3, to all those volunteers that made sure the weekend ran smoothly and to all of you that bought tickets! 

The event, which begins in August, is the longest of its kind at 40,000 miles. The fleet, made up of 68ft racing yachts, will stop at 15 ports around the world before arriving back in the UK in July 2012.

This is the only global ocean race open to all, regardless of, nationality, background and sailing ability. It was established by the legendary Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who became the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 1969.

This is Olly’s fifth year with the Clipper Race. He joined the training team after working at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and with disadvantaged young people through the Cirdan Sailing Trust. Olly has been involved in training Clipper crew members for the past two years and decided it was about time he lead a crew through the world’s this epic adventure.

He is joining an elite team of international sailors, appointed as a result of a rigorous selection process and said of the news:

“I couldn’t believe it to begin with – it’s a massive opportunity so I was absolutely delighted.”

Olly was introduced to sailing by his father when he was a boy. You too could start sailing today with Cobnor Activities Centre and aim for achievements such as this. It’s not too late to get involved with sailing, power boating, kayaking or canoeing, whatever your age or ability.  

Starting from next week we have RYA sailing evening courses for beginners and improvers. We also have loads more courses, camps and sessions available, find out more here: http://www.cobnor.com/scheduled-courses/.

Photo courtesy of Onedition.

Part 3 – The Pride of Sheppy

A description of the Pride of Sheppy as she was in those early days won’t come amiss. As an old Thames barge built around 1898 flush-decked with a long cargo steal coaming with its timber hatch boards and a fore-hatch in the boughs. Aft, there was a recently built wheelhouse, which performed the twin duties of an office (mine) and contained steps leading to the aft part of the hull. The petrol-driven bilge pump was here. Moving forward, after ducking one’s head where the fuse box for all the electrics was, one entered the main living area with benches and tables ending up to starboard with the galley which was fitted out with an electric cooker, had hot and cold water, as well as a sink and cabinets for storage.  A very large fridge was aft alongside the electrics.

The sleeping areas were forward of the galley, tiny twin-berths to port for the instructors and to starboard two large cabins, one for the girls and one for the boys. And I seemed to spend rather a lot of time masking up the mini holes in the dividing bulkhead- tut, tut! Right forward was the original crew’s cabin with access to the deck above.

The original conversion was carried out by members of the Barge Sailing Club in the winter of 1963/4, in that very Arctic whether that arrived on Boxing Day and didn’t give up until late March. One can imagine what it was like having to start off by clearing all the old gravel cargo from the bilges below before even a start could be made fitting it out as living quarters for the sailing courses to come. How Ted Amos and his mixed group of helpers coped in that awful winter I shall never know. The members of Barge Sailing Club deserved the facilities that they received in later years.

My first job under instruction from a very senior member of the management committee was to fit secure railings to the gangplank, connecting the barge to the bank to aid access to the interior of the barge I cut away part of the hatchboards, a new raised sliding hatch with sensible steps leading below, I must admit I was encouraged to fit this new hatch so that it helped the unfortunate bod on that particular duty to carry an overfull Elson container from alongside the instructors’ cabins ashore to be emptied in a pit that it was my job to provide, funny thing about these pits I had to dig, some would drain away in no time, so allowing constant refilling other would fill up and stay filled up. Yet, they were almost alongside one another. Blessed be the day when a new sewage processing Oxigest plant was installed. I often wondered in later years whether the occupants of tents pitched on top of these pits were ever aware of what was below.

What’s going on at Cobnor Activities Centre today?

Interested in learning to sail? Striving to improve on your canoeing or kayaking? Want to become accomplished in archery? The Cobnor Activities 2011 programme is out now, check it out at: http://www.cobnor.com/uploads/programme.pdf.

We wanted to meet new people from the local area who work in all sectors so we sent Barry and Pete along to First Friday, Chichester, at the Ship Hotel. While there they met representatives from local security and design businesses who were interested in Cobnor Activities Centre as a venue for corporate activities days. They also met several individuals who were interested in kayaking, particularly the informal kayaking sessions held on Saturday mornings.

At First Friday the Cobnor boys met some people from The Aldingbourne Trust, who are committed to unlocking potential in people with learning difficulties, something that Cobnor Activities Centre is also passionate about.

Cobnor Activities Centre runs Opportunity Knocks every year, a mostly residential programme for people aged 14-40 with learning difficulties that includes activities such as: sailing, canoeing, rides in our Chairboat, orienteering, low ropes, local walks, fishing, circus skills, face painting, Cobnor Cabaret, art and drama workshops, cooking and a fancy dress disco.

We hope to be seeing more people from The Aldingbourne Trust at Cobnor Activities Centre in the future and we’re looking forward to the next networking event already!

Find out more about our scheduled courses and sessions here and for further details on Opportunity Knocks contact: sail@cobnor.com

Sussex Clubs for Young People had a fantastic time when kayaking at Cobnor Activities Centre and wrote us this lovely email to express their thanks:

 Dear Liz, Mark and Andy,

 Just a quick note to say thank you for a great day of kayaking at Cobnor, and especially, thank you for solving the booking problem!! That was a great relief.

 Our young people came from various groups around Sussex and they all loved the experience.

 We look forward to working with you again in the future,

 Kind regards,

 Yael Breuer

 Sussex Clubs for Young People

If you’d like to let us know how pleased you were with your outdoor activity session, whether you enjoyed sailing, kayaking, canoeing, climbing or archery, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can send us an email, comment on our blog or leave us a review on our Google Places page.

You can also keep up-to-date with what’s going on at Cobnor Activities Centre and chat to us via our Facebook and Twitter pages.