FASTER SAILING
Are you shifting gears on the racecourse?
SPECIAL OLYMPIC GAMES
Sailing for everyone was the order of the day
WHITSUNDAY DREAMTIME
Phillip and Janette Connard head north to relax
A TOWERING PRESENCE What really happens upstairs at BYC?
GOING SOLO
Silke Weber finds solo sailing a little different
Editorial: Commodore Phillip Connard
What’s in a name?
Vice Commodore Bruce Fraser Rear Commodore Will Sharp Secretary Silke Weber Treasurer Charmaine Smith
AILORS OF AUSTRALIA. IT’S TIME WE DISCUSSED THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE NAME OF OUR SPORT VERSUS THE NAME OF OUR PEAK REPRESENTATIVE BODY. OUR SPORT IS SAILING. OUR PEAK BODY IS YACHTING AUSTRALIA. DOES THIS SOUND ODD?
Membership Susan Sharp
Committee Paul Hardie - Peter Sharp Thomas Ruether - Connor Gallagher Geoff Perkins - Sarah McKinna
Learn to Sail Peter Sharp - Paul Hardie Thomas Ruether - Lachlan Sharp Ian McHugh - Bruce Fraser - Peter Kemp Phillip Connard - Conor Gallagher
Contact Email: silke@beaumarisyc.com Post: PO Box 16, Black Rock Vic 3193 Phone: 03 9589 6222
www.beaumarisyc.com www.facebook.com/beaumarisyc www.youtube.com/beaumarisyc Past issues of The Reef: www.issuu.com/beaumarisyc
The Reef Editor Will Sharp Email: will@beaumarisyc.com Phone: (03) 8819 0672
Contributors Phillip Connard, Peter Sharp, Mun Chin, Justine Walden, Janette Connard, Mike Kenyon, Silke Weber, Lauren Kemp, Sarah McKinna, Peter Kemp
Front Cover Tasar AUS2928 Funny As - Michael Brown Beaumaris Yacht Club, Vic. (Photo: W. Sharp, November 2014)
Yachting Australia develops the plans and policies which guide sailing, represents sailing to the Federal Government, represents Australian sailing on the international stage, supports clubs, provides education opportunities, and so on. The references to the sport itself on the Yachting Australia website all refer to ‘sailing’. Our sport is widely known as sailing, both in Australia and overseas (including our international peak body, ISAF – the International Sailing Federation). Why then, when the accepted name of a sport is sailing and when the literature of that sport’s peak body refers to the sport as sailing, is that very body named Yachting Australia?
about barriers to becoming involved in sailing which are applicable here. The first is that sailing has a poor public image. Primarily, non-sailors see sailing as exclusive and inaccessible.
‘Yacht’ is a word which refers to a specific type of boat. Usually something big, weighs several tonnes, requires mooring in a marina and is often painted white. Not to mention very expensive.
The second finding was that people generally perceive sailing to be very expensive.
The Reef has nothing against those who sail yachts (or keel boats, big boats or any of the other names they have in the sailor’s lexicon). Yachts are simply another aspect of a niche-laden sport. Yacht sailors are no different from those who sail Moths, Minnows or Tasars – their boats are just bigger. A body which is charged with directing and guiding a sport should not be named after a single aspect of that sport. For example, how would sailors react if their peak body was called ‘Catamarans Australia’? The same representative and policy functions may occur, however nobody could deny that the very name was quietly excluding a significant proportion of the participants. This is before we even consider newcomers to sailing. In 2011 Yachting Australia commissioned sports market research company Gemba to conduct an in-depth analysis of the perceived barriers to sailing – both for existing sailors and potential sailors in the wider community. The report contained two key findings
If the very name of the sport’s peak body (and incidentally the first online contact point for many people who wish to become involved in sailing) refers to large, expensive boats which are generally only seen moored in gated marinas which are accessible only through exclusive clubs, then what image are we projecting to the wider population? It certainly isn’t an affordable, inclusive one. The Reef believes that in the interests of the sport as a whole, Yachting Australia should be rebranded as ‘Sailing Australia’ and the various state bodies as ‘Sailing Victoria’, ‘Sailing Queensland’ and so on. Using the term ‘sailing’ in the name of the peak body presents a more complete picture of our sport and presents a more cohesive, inclusive and accessible image to the wider public. While some people may still have images of big white boats and blue blazers when they hear the term ‘sailing’, the number of these people will be significantly smaller than those who have the image conjured up by the term ‘yachting’. It’s time for Yachting Australia to make a relatively small and inexpensive change in order to represent our sport in its entirety. Sailing Australia. It’s got a ring to it.
Commodore PHILLIP CONNARD discusses some of the highlights of the season so far.
ELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF “The Reef” for the 2014 – 2015 season. I would like to thank Will Sharp for putting this great publication together. It is something that I and many other club members look forward to reading so we can learn more about sailing and what other people in the club are getting up to. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Silke Weber for the new club web site which is now fully operational and to Sarah McKinna for getting the skipper and crew match-up program together for a second year now accessible though the web site too. Members of the Club may not know that a long serving member of our Race Management team is missing from the Tower. After many years Pam
Sharp is taking a break from duties in the Tower – I thank her for all her assistance over the years - we miss her and hope to see her back soon. New sailors in the Club Learn to Sail programs have now spent their first practical sessions out on the water – it was fantastic to see so many boats and so many enthusiastic faces. For new sailors there is a whole new sailing language to master - halyard, sheet, tiller and so on as well as learning to rig the boats. Do not be disheartened if it all seems foreign and everyone else seems to know what to do – invariably they are feeling just like you. Please ask any club member for any advice – no question is too silly. You will find it will come together slowly over the season. I confess it was not until my second season that I learnt to tie a bowline. Additionally, if any new sailor has the opportunity to sail in an afternoon race or crew on a Rescue Boat then I encourage you to do so, don't be shy as you will learn a lot. The Club was fortunate to receive a grant from the Australian Sports Foundation “Giving 4 Grassroots” program earlier this year for the purpose of increasing and retaining youth and junior membership. There were three aspects addressed within the grant which is being rolled out this season. The first aspect was to increase social connectivity and enjoyment by enrolling with a friend. The junior or youth sailors will both receive vouchers for gloves or booties. The second aspect was to involve parents and families through a come and try day. The third was to have visible pathways for progression by funding scholarships for racing training and transition to racing days. Scholarship recipients will receive sailing gear and be given free professional racing coaching. This will happen towards the end of the season. In the New Year, there are two upcoming events being held at Beaumaris. A Tackers program run by Yachting Victoria is being held from 12 to 16 January 2015. Please contact me if you would like to assist or wish to enrol anyone. Soon afterwards, on 1 February 2015, the 3193 Sailing Cup sponsored by Beaumaris Community Bank is being held at Beaumaris. It will be a large event with boats from both Black Rock and Beaumaris Yacht Clubs participating. The fleet will be big and we would like a good turnout of Beaumaris boats to try to win the cup for Beaumaris. Looking forward to seeing you on the water!
December 14 End of year break up function and children’s Christmas party
January 12 - 16 Summer Tackers program
February 1 3193 Sailing Cup Championship Race 4 (Kevin Peterson Trophy)
March 1 Championship Series Race 5 (Sharp Trophy)
March 7 - 9 Labour Day Weekend Class championships (No BYC sailing)
April 3 - 6 Easter Weekend (No BYC sailing)
April 12 Championship Series Race 6 (Roger Fagan Trophy)
April 26 Closing Regatta
Rear Commodore WILL SHARP on what’s happened and what’s coming up on the water in 2014-15
TWILIGHT SAILING ELCOME TO THE 2014-15 SAILING season at Beaumaris Yacht Club! There has been a lot of action on the sailing front - here are the highlights and important issues:
Race Management 2014-14 has thrown up early challenges for the Race Management team. In August we said goodbye to Chris Perkins who has moved to Hayman Island for work. Chris was an integral part of the BYC Race Management team and over the past few seasons has had an almost flawless attendance record, skippering a Rescue Boat virtually every Sunday. He has been (gently) reminded that if he happens to be on holidays in Melbourne one summer Sunday we expect him to be spending that day on a Rescue Boat…. We also farewelled Pam Sharp from the Tower in September. Pam has been a mainstay of the BYC Tower team for several decades but has had to step down to take care of her husband Les. Pam’s skill, experience and wit will be sorely missed from the Tower. Pam and Chris, if you are reading this then you know our door is always open and your seat/steering wheel is always available should you return. The Club is always on the lookout for keen people to join our Race Management team. If you are interested in becoming involved in some capacity then I encourage you to contact a member of the committee.
New Optimists Earlier this year the Club was successful in its application to VicHealth for a grant to purchase another two second hand OziOpti Optimist dinghies from the Yachting Victoria Boatshed. The Club hopes to secure a third round of funding in 2015 which will facilitate the purchase of two more Optimists, bringing our total to six. A fleet of six Optimists is a prerequisite to regis-
ter as a Tackers training centre which BYC plans to do by the end of 2015. The additional Optimists have also allowed the retirement of three BYC Minnows. This will reduce the maintenance load on the Club and their sale has helped to offset the cost of building two new Optimist trolleys which are useful to move the significantly heavier Optimists on the beach.
Green Fleet The Club has begun work to implement a Green Fleet program in 2015. The plan is to run the Green Fleet program once a month in the second half of the season. This program aims to further increase the skills of both our existing junior sailors as well as those who participate in the Tackers summer program in January. The aim is to expand on this next season. The exact details are still being finalised so watch you email inbox for more information in the coming weeks.
3193 Sailing Cup Proudly sponsored by Beaumaris Community Bank Branch, the 3193 Sailing Cup is now in its second year and it’s coming to BYC on February 1, 2015. This is an inter-club event between Beaumaris Yacht Club and Black Rock Yacht Club. The event was a great success last year at BRYC when it was run in conjunction with the RS class traveller’s series. Approximately sixty boats competed in a handicap race with the 3193 Cup being awarded to BRYC for the greatest number of boats in the top ten, as decided by yardstick. Our own Peter and Lauren Kemp in Bebop were the fastest boat on the day, beating every other boat on the course on corrected time. This year we hope to see a strong fleet from BRYC to support this relatively new local event. There are trophies galore so spread the word and let’s make this a success for sailing in the local community.
Trolley Storage Finally, a short health and safety message from your committee. Many of you will have noticed the recent rise in the number of large A-frame trolleys, mainly used for Pacers. While a practical storage solution has yet to be determined, can the owners of these trolleys who do not currently store them on/under their boats please take care when returning them to the storage area after use. All trolleys should be stored in such a way as to not present a hazard to those moving past them or those who are trying to access their boats or gear. This includes not storing trolleys in walkways or near the entry door under the stairs. We all have a responsibility to keep the area tidy and safe for others. See you on the beach!
The twilight sailing series is back on in February 2015. Every Thursday evening from 6pm, the sailing is casual, the mood is light and the bar will be open. Come on down for a mid week burn!
NEW BYC MERCH New season BYC polos are available to order with new colours and logos on offer. Contact Will Sharp for ordering info.
OTB Marine Official supplier to Yachting Victoria, OTB Marine is a specialist dinghy, skiff and SUP supplier stocking all manner of gear and equipment from the big names in sailing. Head on down and check them out! Showroom: 6/347 Bay Rd Cheltenham Phone: (03) 9917 2554 www.otbmarine.com.au
ISAF iPhone App Want to know the Racing Rules but don’t want to lug a blue book around? Get the new smartphone ISAF RRS app. Just 99c in the App Store, have the Racing Rules at your fingertips. Great for settling arguments and discussions quickly. Study the rules anywhere to know just where that boundary is and how far you can push it.
Shipmate iPhone App At a regatta and cant find a chandlery? Get your hands on a Shipmate directory which lists all the chandleries and marine services in Victoria. They also have a great free iPhone app out so you have access to the entire directory wherever you are. Visit www.shipmate.com.au for more information.
Ten-time Australian Champion and seventeentime Victorian Champion PETER SHARP talks about shifting gears on the race course. IMPLY PUT, CHANGING GEARS IS ALL ABOUT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO RIG AND SAIL SETTINGS AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE. As we know the environment that we sail in from one day to the next will almost never be constant. Wind speed and direction, gust intensity and duration, wave height and length (and direction relative to wind), currents, fresh water vs salt water and so on. To make things more challenging, even within the time it takes to complete a single leg of a race course, wind and wave conditions will have been constantly changing. The challenge for the sailor is to accept and understand these changes and to be able to make appropriate onshore settings and on-water adjustments so that boat speed is optimised at all times. For example when setting the boat (double handed) up for upwind sailing the following settings broadly apply:
JIB LIGHT 0-10 knots
MAIN
CREW
Loose sheets and minimal luff tension Combination of vang and sheet tension to Forward as far as possible without increasing to firm at upper end of range.
May need to widen sheeting angle in lower range or sloppy wave conditions.
Looser in sloppy wave conditions. Forestay firm.
stall top leech tell-tale then back off until streaming.
Boom close to centreline of boat. Minimal cunningham. Flat sail in lower range (induce mast bend
shipping water over the bow (or digging the bow in too far if the boat has a fuller entry).
and tight outhaul) tending to full sail at upper end of range.
Minimum tension for full length batten(s)
MODERATE 10-15 knots
Firm sheeting to ensure luff tell-tales
Combination of vang and sheet tension to Forward as far as possible while
all stream and break in unison and leach tell-tale streaming.
Firm luff tension. Forestay tight.
stall top leech tell-tale then back off until streaming.
Boom close to centreline of boat. Cunningham tight enough to maintain
maintaining good trim.
Hiking/trapezing in upper end of wind range.
maximum camber position.
Control mast bend (chock, lowers) and tension outhaul to optimise lower depth of sail.
Moderate to firm tension for full length battens.
STRONG 15-20+ knots
Firm sheeting to ensure luff tell-tales all stream and break in unison and leach tell-tale streaming.
Firm to tight luff tension (remove wrinkles).
Tight vang. Mainsheet tension sufficient to maintain correct heel.
Tight cunningham - very tight in upper
Forestay very tight to minimise sag.
maintaining good trim.
Hiking/trapezing throughout wind range.
range to open upper leech and depower sail.
May need to widen sheeting angle in upper range to compensate for wider boom angle.
Forward as much as possible while
Tight outhaul in upper range to flatten and depower lower section of sail.
Firm tension for full length battens.
These are just general pointers to start the tuning process for your boat. There will be differences:
Within the same class depending on sails (age, cut, sailmaker), mast section, hull shape, crew weight etc. Between classes (single hander, cat rig, high performance etc) Between crews depending on the way they sail, experience and skill level The finer points for settings end up being very individual and can only be determined through constant sailing and testing. This table is just a guide to help you develop your own settings for different conditions. Good luck!
Learn to Sail The Adult and Junior programs are in full swing with both groups progressing well. Adverse weather has relegated some sessions to brief dashes onto the beach between rain bands but in general the weather has cooperated. To those in the programs: if an opportunity arises to sail in an afternoon race with an experienced skipper or assist on a Rescue Boat, grab it with both hands as you will learn a lot just being out on the water. We look forward to seeing you all back on the beach in mid-January when the air is warmer, that days are longer and the winds calmer (sometimes).
New Website Ongoing issues with the BYC website last season made building a new website for 2014-15 a priority for the committee during the winter. BYC has decided to utilise the website package developed by Yachting Australia for this purpose. The website is constantly being updated with new features and content appearing regularly. Big thanks to Silke Weber for taking the time to build the site, virtually from scratch. An important feature of the new site is the Crew Match forum where sailors can organise skippers, crews or boats for clubs sailing.
Skills Acquisition During the winter months several members attended training sessions to further their skill sets in various Race Management and Learn to Sail roles. Conor Gallagher completed his Assistant Instructor qualification, Charmaine Smith and Pam Sharp attended the Club Race Officer course, Dan Redman is now a qualified Tackers Instructor and Geoff Perkins, Chris Perkins and Will Sharp completed their Safety Boat Operator qualifications. BYC is committed to providing ongoing training and support for our volunteers. If you are interested in completing Race Management or Learn to Sail training please contact a member of the committee.
Summer Tackers Program On 12 January 2015 our Summer Tackers program starts again. This is a week-long Tackers 1 and 2 program which is run externally by the Yachting Victorian Boatshed. BYC supports the Boatshed by providing Instructors and assistants as well as onshore support. If you would like to enrol your child in the course or assist during the week then please contact Dan Redman or a member of the committee.
Displays As is the norm, the Club ran two promotional displays at the Beaumaris Concourse shopping centre in October and early November to promote our Discover Sailing Day and our Learn to Sail programs. These, along with our local signage, were instrumental in attracting potential sailors to BYC on 9 November for our Discover Sailing Day. As this wasn’t the advertised National day, we were relying purely on our own efforts to get the word out about DSD at BYC. All our hard work paid off too, with a constant stream of people coming to BYC to see what sailing is all about. Thank you to those who took the time to help out at the displays promoting BYC in the local community.
N NOVEMBER 9, BYC HOSTED OUR ANNUAL Discover Sailing Day. Discover Sailing Day is a day where clubs around the country open their doors to anyone and everyone who wants to find out more about our sport and get involved in the action. As usual the BYC community rose to the challenge and put on a wellorganised, smooth operation showcasing sailing to the residents of bayside and beyond. While November 9 wasn’t the official nationwide Discover Sailing Date (that was October 26 – October is historically a pretty ordinary month for weather in Melbourne), we were on track to beat last year’s ninety two people who went for a sail before the rapidly building southerly put paid to our plans. Eleven Pacers and a Taser were on high rotation all morning and early afternoon – taking a total of sixty eight people for a sail before the cancellation of sailing just after 2pm. It was a fantastic day with a great atmosphere around the club, with plenty of smiles to show we were hitting the mark. Well done to all our members who pulled together to make this day such a success, and thank you to those who took the time to try their hand at sailing. We hope you love this sport as much as we do.
Editor’s Note: A second Discover Sailing Day is scheduled for Sunday 11 January, 2015. This second DSD was primarily organised for the sailing clubs on the Mornington Peninsula so that they can make the best of the summer crowds. BYC also will be running a second DSD on January 11, however not on the scale of the November day and will only be running during the morning.
FACTS AND STATS: GENERAL NUMBERS
AGE BREAKDOWN
Total particpants: 68 Proportion male: 52% Proportion female: 48%
0-10 years: 11-20 years: 21-30 years: 31-40 years: 41-50 years: 50+ years:
MARKETING Participants heard about us from: A friend: 34% Local signage: 34% From a website: 4% Something else: 28%
26% 23% 4% 15% 26% 6%
GEOGRAPHY Proportion local: 78% Proportion not local: 22%
Part of the worldwide Special Olympic movement, the 2014 Australian MUN CHIN, JUSTINE WALDEN and
ILOT TO RESCUE 3. PLEASE MOVE TO the wing mark." Oh crap. Where is the wing mark? I am manning a rescue dinghy at the Special Olympics sailing event held at Albert Park Lake. Meanwhile, Janette found herself appointed as Dockmaster (what is that??) while Justine was entering the race results into the Albert Park Yacht Club computers. All the other volunteers for this event were from APYC while we three proudly represented BYC (as a result of a fine pitch from Jonathan!) The Special Olympics started in 1960s by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and it is now an international movement to provide sports training and competition in a variety of Olympictype sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The National Special Olympics was held in Melbourne on 20 - 25 October involving over 1000 athletes competing in sixteen events, including sailing. Sailing involves four distinct levels. Level I is where the special athlete manages the headsail in a double handed boat. Level II is where the special athlete helms in a double handed boat. Level IV involves two special athletes in a double handed boat and Level V where the special athlete competes solo. The boats used are Hansa class 303 and 2.3. There were six races in the series, all operating under normal racing rules. Winners could be selected to represent Australia at the world event in the United States.
Photos top to bottom: Mun, Janette and Justine hanging out on the APYC balcony; Hansa 2.3 and 303 dinghies rigged and ready to go on the PAYC lawn; Competitors pushing upwind in the Hansa 303.
Special What? Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competition to nearly 4.2 million athletes in more than 170 countries. Competitions are held every day across the world – from the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific – including the Special Olympics World Games which are held every two years. Special Olympics has two main goals: To provide sporting opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities To promote greater understanding and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities
Special Olympics were held in Melbourne over five days in late October. JANETTE CONNARD were in the thick of it. The weather was great - warm and windy, as the special athletes geared up and rigged their boats. On the first day we stood aside and let them do their thing but at the second day, we stepped in with more assistance after a request from the athletes. Thus it required understanding when to help and when to step back and let them manage their own gear. There were teams from WA, NSW, Queensland, SA and Victoria, all wearing their very smart state uniforms. The competition was keen with coaches sometimes getting...er...let’s say enthusiastic. However the races were conducted with great sportsmanship and camaraderie. One representative from Victoria, Sarah was a real character, chatting with everyone and teasing her teammate who is also her younger (but much bigger and protective) brother. She came in second in Level 2 sailing. The final day of sailing was overcast but still windy. And then suddenly it was over. Results were announced. As with other Olympics, some athletes were jumping with joy, shouting "No 1! No 1!" while others were disappointed. The presentation ceremony recognised everyone involved in the event and the courage and special abilities of the athletes. Janette, Justine and I ran around helping the athletes and the club to pack away their gear. It was quite an experience for us - seeing the excitement and joy of the participants fully enjoying the sport and competition of sailing.
Fast Facts There are nearly 4.2 million Special Olympics athletes worldwide 226 Special Olympics Programs are run worldwide More than 170 countries around the world 32 sports feature globally in the Special Olympics 44,000 competitions annually 805,000 volunteers worldwide 250,000 coaches around the world
Melbourne 2014 900 athletes and officials and approximately 800 volunteers Official sports: aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, sailing, soccer, softball, tennis, and tenpin bowling Demonstration sports: cricket and table tennis Exhibition events: Young Athlete Program, Youth Activation Program - Australian Rules Football, netball
Brief History In the early 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver (yes, one of the Kennedys – sister to JFK in fact) founded Camp Shriver: a day camp providing sporting activities for children with intellectual disabilities. Mrs Kennedy Shriver had a vision - greater sporting and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities – and worked with the Kennedy Foundation and members of the Chicago Park District to nationalise the Special Olympics movement. In 1968, more than 1000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from the US and Canada attended the first International Special Olympics Summer Games, held in Soldier Field, Chicago. The International Olympic Committee officially endorsed and recognised the Special Olympics in 1988. The inaugural Special Olympics Australian National Games took place in 1986, with athletes competing in six sports in Launceston, Tasmania.
EING IN OUR EARLY FIFTIES, Phillip and I decided it was time to cross a few items off our bucket list. But which one first? Walking barefoot across Siberia? Climbing Mount Everest (North Face, no oxygen)? Camel ride across the Sahara? Bare- boat cruise in the Whitsundays with our good friends Karen and Koos? We thought it wise to start with the most challenging, so the Whitsundays it had to be. Preparation is vital for such a dangerous undertaking, so Phillip, smarting from his rejection by one charter company due to his lack of keel boat sailing experience, enrolled himself and Koos, in a keel boat sailing course at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. I, of course, knew all about keel boats already,
having crewed in a couple of races on “Children of Phoenix”, based in Williamstown. (It's for sale, by the way.) Whitsunday Escape at Airlie Beach was the company willing to exchange our dollars for the risk of their 41 foot Bavaria yacht for a few nights, albeit with a very sizeable bond. We opted for having an experienced skipper on board for the first half day, not wanting to forgo the bond, should something go wrong (not that it would, of course!) Phillip thought it best to order provisions from Whitsunday Provisioning, recommended by the charter company. “Not bad”, I commented on seeing a sample menu, “but I think there are too few desserts.” I sat up until 5am trying to devise something better, only to realise that it could all be done for us at a similar price. We decided to leave it to
the experts. Packing was another topic of contention. Should we “glam up” a la Cote d’Azur or go casual a l'Australien? We compromised. Karen and Koos packed large cases of smart new resort gear while Phillip and I dressed like a couple of castaways. The night before we left, Phillip, perhaps overcome by the responsibilities of being designated skipper, decided to delegate. “Janette, you will be navigator. Karen can be on radio. Koos can help me tack. You can be look- out if someone falls overboard,” (but what if I went overboard?) That sort of thing. A little more notice would have been nice. I lost another night's sleep giving myself a crash course in coastal navigation. Our boat's name was Y-Knot. She was very pretty and had a kitchen, three bedrooms and two toilets – just like a house, really.
Oops, I meant a galley, three cabins and two heads. Being particularly good friends, each couple offered the best cabin to the other. Unfortunately, Phillip and I lost the argument and got stuck with the more spacious and airy cabin. “The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed...” but the company skipper was impressed by our competence in handling the vessel. “If you can sail in this, I have every confidence you'll be fine,” he assured us. “Spend tonight at Nara Inlet; it's protected from the wind”. Koos and I dropped the anchor at Daydream Island, hardly bashing it against the side at all (the bond, the bond.) Phillip ferried the skipper to shore and returned in the dinghy, which doubled as our life raft. It was only then that I noticed the strange skin tone Phillip, Karen and Koos had developed, particularly about their faces. They had acquired a greenish mustard tan, not at all like my sunburned arms and face. Only that evening did they regain normal complexions. We anchored at Nara Inlet, along with every other charter boat in the southern hemisphere. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful spot. We were pleased; no, proud. We had sailed well, navigating easily by line of sight, enjoyed an enormous, delicious dinner and made plans for the morrow. I read out loud from a guide book on the various deadly sea creatures indigenous to the Whitsunday reefs and advised the others to wear socks with booties when walking in water. “If you cut yourself on an oyster shell, it says you will have complications”, I warned. We fell asleep to gentle lapping of calm water against the hull, dreaming of adventures to come. I awoke to the sound of heavy breathing coming from outside our cabin. Surely they wouldn't...? Not with us just across the galley? I was right, they hadn't. Koos had turned on the diesel engine to recharge the batteries, which had made Karen ill. In fact, she had fainted, bruising her back as she fell. She came to quickly but was evidently nauseous. We decided she should spend a few hours on dry land, so ferried her, some pillows, blankets and a picnic, to the island. This was more like it! I had been waiting for an Enid Blyton style adventure all along and here was our chance. I wasted no time at all steering the little outboard back and forth with gear. So enthusiastic was I, that forgetting my own stern instructions from the night before, I gashed my foot on something under the water. Even better! Now we were in a life or death situation, even though we hadn't managed to find a smuggler's cave as the Famous Five would have. Anne had not cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast (although these were supplied in our provisions); nor had Dick or Julian fetched fresh eggs and milk from the local farmer; it wasn't even Kirrin Island but it was still pretty good. By mid-afternoon, with Karen still extremely unwell, we decided
Y-Not approaching Nara Inlet on Hook Island to return to Airlie Beach. This would also give us an opportunity to pick up more disinfectant and some waterproof bandages as by now, Koos also had a bleeding foot. Koos carried a day pack overflowing with provisions for the day, back towards the dinghy. As he clambered over rocks with the incoming tide washing over his feet, I suddenly yelled, “Don't move!” Of course, he turned around. “Don't move!” As he turned again, a glass perched precariously in the side pocket of the pack clattered onto the rocks.... Miraculously, it didn't break! We would keep our bond! We must have been in a hurry, as the three of us managed to sail the boat at its maximum speed on the return journey to the marina. Poor Karen sat on deck uncomplaining but barely able to speak. She was much happier the next morning, though, having spent the night on terra- firma in a luxurious hotel with sea views. Phillip and I stayed in Y Knot at the marina. The next day, Karen stayed ashore and the rest of us had a fun day trip. As we shared dinner that night, we realised that there was a problem with the provisions. We would never manage to eat them all. The following day, Karen joined us for an overnight trip to Pearl Bay, a pretty spot marred only by the race for moorings by the million or so boats arriving at a similar time to us. A grotesquely large multi-story motor boat anchored not far from us. Phillip and Koos figured it must belong to a certain casino-owning tycoon on holidays with his new swimsuit model girlfriend. The couple must have sensed their interest as they were nowhere to be seen, even with Koos' binoculars. For our last day's sail, the wind picked up again but by now we had all developed our sea legs and were coping just fine. Karen helmed for a good length of time. Clearly, the diesel fumes had caused most of her problems, not the actual sailing! Apart from a rapidly developing head cold, she was well. After an enjoyable lunch above deck, I went below deck to tidy away some glasses, when Y-Knot suddenly lurched to starboard. I was flung head over heels across the galley and landed on my neck on a padded seat. A glass launched itself from my hand into the cupboards above my head and smashed into millions of shards, covering the fabric seats, the floor and some built in shelving. It was one of those times you need a few seconds to work out whether you have broken your neck. Thankfully, I was unharmed but we now held serious doubts about our bond, especially as I had also broken the coffee plunger earlier. That night in the marina, we borrowed a vacuum cleaner before enjoying the last feast of our adventure : pates, cheeses and biscuits, BBQ'd meats, fresh vegies, and exotic fresh fruits (we think that's what they were); alas we still had left-overs aplenty including untouched frozen fish and lots of other goodies. This story does have a happy ending, though. We donated the leftover food to the charter company, we got started on our bucket list and we got to keep our bond!
Nara Inlet on Hook Island
BYC Tower maestro MIKE KENYON offers an insight as to what happens on the top floor of the clubhouse COUPLE OF YEARS AGO (MAYBE IT WAS THREE OR FOUR) I was at the Club on a Sunday with not a lot to do and no boat to sail, so found myself in the Tower lending a hand to Pam Sharp who needed some extra resources on the day. Well, you know how it goes in volunteer-run organisations, I am still up there on most Sundays but, unfortunately, Pam isn’t. Pam has been the mainstay in the Tower for more years than I can remember but, unfortunately for the Club and much to her own disappointment, she has had to retire to stay home and look after her husband, Les. We all wish her well with that and maybe we will see her back in the Tower one day. In the meantime we have been fortunate to acquire the services of Charmaine Smith on most Sundays. It’s the same story: down at the Club with nothing special to do other than watch hubby Rod (aka “Rocket”) sail around with another woman, was invited upstairs to see what happens in the Tower and was soon “signed-up”. Charmaine has recently completed the Yachting Australia Race Management course, has spent an afternoon out on Mulloka with Rod and Leslie McCubbin to gain an appreciation of what actually happens on the water, and is now a real asset and a “certified” (her word!) member of the Tower Team.
On busy days we ideally need three or four people in the Tower to keep proper track of boats, watch for entrants in difficulty, record lap times and finish times as well as keeping an eye on the weather etc. Importantly, a pool of Tower-capable people also provides flexibility on days when one of us can’t be there. So I was overjoyed on the recent Discover Sailing Day to be approached by prospective new member, Michael, and current member, Sally, with offers of help. By the time you read this we expect to have a Tower Team of up to four looking after you intrepid sailors while you battle the elements and try to beat “that other guy”. My job doesn’t finish after dim sims and a drink though. As soon as I can manage it (Sunday night or Monday if possible) I enter the race competitors’ details and finish times into Top Yacht on my computer at home. Top Yacht is race management software that has been developed by our own Rod McCubbin and is used very widely as a commercial product by many yacht clubs around Australia. In case you haven’t noticed, the results are posted in printed form on the Club notice board and in electronic form on the BYC web site, and I encourage you to look at and analyse them.
Large fleets and foul weather can present some challenging (and stressful) occasions for the onshore Race Management team
For example, analysis of the Championship Series results provides a very interesting insight into the relative competitiveness of sailors in the different classes of yacht sailing at BYC. Championship Races are run with a single start and all classes sailing the same number of laps around the same course. The finish times are then adjusted (by Top Yacht) according to the class “yardstick” (a measure of a yacht’s potential speed as issued by Yachting Australia) to take account of the different performance of each class – what I think of as a “normalisation” process. I was particularly interested to see the outcome of Championship Race 1 where the first four places (on normalised time) were taken by four different classes – Pacer, Taser, Javelin and Impulse – and in a fairly narrow time window. This indicates that the lead competitors in each class are sailing their boats to about the same high level of skill. Enjoy the sailing but don’t forget to sign-on, preferably in a legible hand, and sign-off to indicate that you have returned safely to the beach.
On behalf of the Tower Team: Charmaine, Sally, Michael and me.
Weird and wonderful bits and pieces from the strange world of sailing
Unearthed from the National Library of Australia archives, these photos show a glimpse of BYC from the mid to late 20th century.
HE TREND AT THE MOMENT IS TO HAVE EVERY boat on foils. America’s Cup AC72s, Moths, A Classes and even Lasers. Many classes which haven't madly embraced foils have instead had intrepid members of their sailing fraternities load their boats up with prototype asymmetric spinnakers. Some, like the many skiff classes, some large catamarans and Melbourne’s own Pacer Pursuit have been successful with their experiments. And then there are these two. A Heron and an Optimist. With asymmetric spinnakers. While anyone can see that these were never going to work, they deserve points for having a go.
This undated stereograph shows the clubhouse before any of the numerous extensions had been commenced. It was likely taken in the mid to late 1950s.
Asymmetric Optimist. What more can you say? Taken 04-09-1968, this photo has the inscription “Sea wall breached and concrete ramp constructed without Council or PPA consent. (Consent given to BYC by MMBW)”
A non-spinnaker class, there is only one thing a gaffrigged Heron needs. And apparently that’s an asymmetric spinnaker. In this boat’s case, a beach trolley wouldn't go astray either.
This circa 1980s photo shows the club before the 1993 fire which destroyed the canteen and Tower. The club was rebuilt soon after with a few small improvements.
VER THE WINTER MONTHS the Committee got together for a couple of formal strategic planning sessions. We started the sessions reviewing an excellent and very ambitious draft plan prepared by Will Sharp some time ago.
BYC Women and Girls in Sailing representative SARAH MCKINNA explains the WGiS program and how it ties in with BYC.
The range of topics under consideration was broad and included:
Membership/promotion Coming up with new ideas to promote the
club and encourage membership
Participation Focusing on ways to encourage all members, friends and family to come to the club and get involved
Learn to sail programs Continuing and improving our current training programs
Succession planning Identifying key roles and activities and planning to ensure BYC has a long and positive future
a key source of information for members and prospective members
Social media strategy Expanding BYC’s communication channels through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Knowledge management Managing critical information relating to the operation of the club
Canteen and bar Maintaining and developing this important
program was initiated by the Yachting Victoria Women and Girls In Sailing Committee (WGISC) in 2012. The group are working towards the following:
Increase female membership of, and participation in, clubs – from sailing to race management to leadership and management Encourage girls to take up and continue in the sport through support of Green Fleet, training camps, school sailing and regattas Promote female off the beach and keelboat sailing with new initiatives for Learn to Sail courses targeted at females Set up a WGIS club representative network.
The program aligns with Yachting Victoria’s mission "to have more people participating more successfully, and enjoying boating and sailing at our member organisations' through:
Website Getting the BYC website up and running as
HE WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SAILING
Providing input and assistance with the Vic Health Women and Girls in Sailing program Assisting with educating the sailing community in regards to awareness for sexual harassment, anti-discrimination, violence against women Eliminating barriers to entry to the sport Supporting Pilot projects such as Green Fleet sailing and Introduction to Keelboat courses
YV to develop a sense of shared objectives across the clubs and other stakeholders for the best interests of the sport Sharing ‘best practice’ across clubs, classes and those that deliver the sport.
On the weekend of November 8 and 9, The Inaugural Sarah Blanck Perpetual Trophy Regatta was held at Westernport Yacht Club. The Regatta is aimed at women and girls in Lasers and Sabres at all levels of sailing, from beginners to elite. BYC’s Silke Weber headed down to Balnarring Beach with her Sabre and participated in a full weekend of sailing and came home exhausted but reported that it was an excellent learning experience as well as it being great fun. It would be wonderful to get more BYC women and girls at the Regatta next year. Last year BYC was successful in obtaining an Australian Sports Commission Grant for Women that BYC women and girls were able to put to good use for activities such as: Assistant Instructor training; powerboat handling; race officer training; and radio operator training. We would like to apply for the grant in coming years and welcome all ideas about how we might use a grant such as this to increase the participation of girls and women sailing at Beaumaris. For more information, catch one of the following members at the club or by email: Sarah McKinna (sarah@beaumarisyc.com)
Participation programs and initiatives
Silke Weber (silke@beaumarisyc.com) Janette Connard (janette@beaumarisyc.com)
Identifying ‘Female Club Contacts’ as a contact for women new to the sport and women currently in the sport
www.womenandgirlsinsailing.com.au or head to the Women and Girls in Sailing (WGIS) Facebook page.
club resource
Marine Education Science and Community Centre Development (MESAC) Ensuring BYC’s interests are considered in any future development The BYC Committee is in the process of finalising a draft of the Beaumaris Yacht Club Strategic Plan 2014-2019. We will be circulating a copy to all members and will be keen to receive comments and ideas. Anyone who would like to be involved or responsible for activities arising from the strategic plan will be warmly welcomed. - Sarah McKinna
Left: Sailors at the inaugural Sarah Blanck Regatta, held at Westernport YC in early November 2014.
Y DRIVING INSTRUCTOR USED TO SAY, “DRIVE every car you can get your hands on, just make sure it's insured." When I started sailing, I applied the same logic and it hasn't let me down yet. Whenever I get the chance to try a new boat, be it dinghy or keel boat, I learn something new. The downside: when I tried to decide what kind of boat to buy, I struggled - I just wanted them all. In the end the promise of flexibility and learning experience made me decide on a Sabre. Single-handed, it does not need a crew (which is a mixed blessing, I now have to provide my own entertainment) and it forces me to concentrate on skippering and my own role on the boat. I went on Gumtree, found a fire engine red timber Sabre for sale and bought it. After all, red is always faster, right? Unfortunately other than the colour, the most determining factor for boat speed is still the skipper – and I had a lot to learn. I never paid a lot of attention to the main sail of the boat; I sailed by the jib and loved the spinnaker. Now the main sail is all I have and getting the most out of it is a challenge (or what my HR department likes to call a “development opportunity”). Especially tacking and gybing are very different to what I was used to. Apparently a roll-tack does not mean me rolling around in the boat?! I also can no longer move the crew around the boat to balance it, I only have myself and still have to be able to steer. Every movement counts and mistakes cannot be mitigated by a quick crew or a clever skipper. Whoever has seen me those first days on the water during light winds, trying to squeeze myself into various positions on the boat sure got a laugh out of it! But most importantly, sailing the Sabre is a lot of fun. Although hard to get going in light winds, once the wind picks up it can give the Pacers a run for their money and surfing it downwind is a joy. I certainly do not regret going solo - and if I ever do, there is always a different boat. So give it a go! The club has two Sabres for hire, take one out for an afternoon spin and find out for yourself.
Sabre Rattling The Sabre dinghy is a single handed sailboat designed by Rex Fettell in 1974. His plan was to design a forgiving, durable and accessable dinghy for sailing in the often strong winds and big seas of Pt Lonsdale. The result was the Sabre, one of the most popular nonOlympic single handed boats in Australia. While the Sabre was designed for home building from timber, most boats are now built professionally from fibreglass. However many older timber boats still feature in the top results at Sabre events.
FAST FIGURES: Length:
3.7m
Weight:
41kg
Sail Area:
6.31 m2
Crew:
1
Yardstick:
126.5
Designed:
1974
Designer:
Rex Fettell
As of mid 2014, over two thousand Sabres have been registered with the Sabre Sailing Association of Australia. State level events often attract over sixty competitors while National events attract closer to one hundred entries (in 2012 there were one hundred and thirty entries) making it one of the most popular sailing classes in Australia. The forgiving design and strict rules make the Sabre a very popular boat with both new and experienced sailors, making for close and exciting fleet racing.
www.sabre.org.au
DID YOU KNOW Technical hints and tips to improve your game from eight time Victorian and current Australian Pacer Champion, PETER KEMP RATCHET BLOCK TURNS FREELY WHEN the sheet is pulled in one direction, but does not turn in the other direction. It will also have a higher level of grip if the sheet bends around the block more. The ratchet will grip twice as much in Fig. 2 compared to Fig. 1. So consider the placement of your ratchet block in your mainsheet or spinnaker system. More grip means less effort to hold it which is particularly important as the breeze gets up.
Fig 1. While still providing grip, a
Fig 2. A 180° turn (where possi-
90° turn doesn't make full use of the block’s holding power
ble) is be the most efficient way of utilising a ratchet block.
When I was learning to sail I was taught that the wind passing through the slot between the jib and the mainsail was sped up as it squeezed through, and this helped to push a boat along (similar to a jet engine exhausting air out the back). It was only in the 1980s that aerodynamicist and yachtsman Arvel Gentry published research into what actually happens; that the air in the slot is slowed down which helps both the main and the jib and allows the boat to point higher. - PK
LAUREN KEMP gets her very own Minnow and sails it with style ADDY BOUGHT A MINNOW for Eliza and I to sail. We picked it up in May. It was very exciting. The boat then sat covered under an oversized boat cover. I couldn’t wait to start working on it! Finally work began. Daddy and I sanded lots of paint off the bottom. We filled some holes and then sanded again. At last we could start painting it. Reef blue was decided as the best colour. It was great to see the boat change colour. After a week of drying fittings and ropes were replaced. At the dinner table we all agreed the boats name would be changed from ’Spark of Light’ to ‘Sparkle’. The glittery name could finally be applied. At last the day came to launch the boat. The winds were perfect. A crowd gathered and photos were taken. Eliza and I sailed together.
Right (L-R): Lauren, Peter, Eliza and Samantha before the maiden voyage.
FOR SALE BYC POLO SHIRTS NEW SEASON STYLE CONTACT WILL SHARP (03) 8819 0672 will@beaumarisyc.com
WANTED USED PACER, SABRE, MINNOW AND OPTIMIST SAILS FOR THE BYC TRAINING FLEET. CONTACT PAUL HARDIE (03) 9583 3363
FOR SALE JAVELIN 367 ‘Spun Out’
$ 6,500 ONO
Minimum weight Good racing record CST mast Irwin sails in good condition Aluminium beach trolley Registered road trailer
Phone Rod Smith 0409 172 583