MARINE ACADEMY REPORT

Training activity has hit high gear since our season started in late August. With nearly all courses well or fully booked we are busy training both sail and powerboat skills and knowledge on a regular basis. Many of this season’s customers are newcomers to the Club which gives us a great opportunity for them to see and understand the benefits we provide to members over such a large range of services and offerings. With recent high profile media coverage of search and rescue activities it has been heartening to see many brushing up on their safety skills. With the recent Safety Sunday sold out we are hoping to schedule another one later in the season.

I must also take this opportunity to acknowledge the huge contribution of Hugh Longbottom to the Marine Academy both as an Instructor and as the Boating Operations Officer, responsible for keeping our training fleet ready for action. Hugh retired at the end of October and will be spending much more time cruising on his own yacht, Vagabond. We wish him well and thank him for all he has done. With Hugh’s retirement we welcome Guy Wogan-Provo to the role as Boating Operations Officer. Guy is one of a current group of members studying towards becoming an Instructor and with his background in boat maintenance we look forward to his role in keeping the wheels turning with Southern Investigator and CYC 3.

David Royle Marine Academy Principal

Guy Wogan-Provo

Safety Sunday

Invictus Pathways Sailing Program

The Marine Academy recently ran the second Setting a New Course program for veterans and serving members of the Defence Forces in partnership with the Invictus Pathways Program. The program has been made possible by the generous support of Northrup Grumman and the Marine Academy looks forward to growing our rewarding partnership with Invictus and its people. Here are three stories from the recent program.

STUART CURWOOD - I have wanted to learn to sail for a long time but for various reasons it just never happened. Thankfully I came across the Invictus Pathways Program Sailing courses sponsored by Northrup Grumman and wonderfully supported by the CYCSA.

I left the Air Force in 2018 and whilst I have been fortunate to move to a fulfilling job, my personal life and mental health had been suffering for some time. 2020 dealt more blows and the isolation of COVID had been a blessing at the start, but by August I was really missing the mates and companionship of the military. Thankfully I saw the post on Facebook by Mark Reidy from the Invictus Pathways Program about the learn to sail program which sounded like a great way to learn to sail as well as meet some new people and get me out of my bubble.

How was it - in a word AWESOME!!! Our instructor, Hugh Longbottom, was fantastic and the weekend intro course just whetted my appetite for the three-day live aboard. Whilst the weather didn’t play ball for the three-day trip across the gulf to Port Vincent (something I’m now even keener to do) it did confirm my enjoyment of sailing.

My aim is now to go through a series of courses (Navigation, Radio, Skipper) and eventually own my own boat to live aboard for a time. Short term I am enjoying getting out in the Twilight Series (when I can) and make some connections to (hopefully) get a few longer cruises in as cruising is my desire more than racing.

I thank the team at the CYCSA. It has been great to learn and I am really enjoying my time on the water!