September 2017 Edition

SEPTEMBER 2017

INAUGURAL YOUTH REGATTA DRAGON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WASZP GAMES 2017

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: WARREN DREW

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2017

Maritimo C50’

$754,900

This twin shaft drive vessel is powered by the upgraded 715Hp Caterpillar diesels and provides a top speed exceeding 30 knots whilst comfotable cruising at 25 knots. Digital controls and both bow and stern thrusters make handling a breeze coupled with Simrad touchscreen electronics for your navigation.

Jamie Dodd

Sea Pro 27’

0418 819 181

0402 905 911

Grady White

$54,900

0418 819 181 Jamie Dodd

0418 819 181

Offers

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE VESSEL. Completely reconstructed with the best of everything including new 1001Hp Caterpillar engines that have recorded only 257 hours of local use and supported by twin generators for all onboard systems. This iconic high performace design is highly sought after.

Jamie Dodd

$79,500 Caribbean 45’

Get in quick as these twin rig, walk around’s are hot property. The Sea Pro is one of our favourite traier boats for their exceptional performance and smart looks. The large deep V on the 27 allows the boat to tackle rough conditions with ease and the large Carolina flare keeps the boat nice and dry.

Jake Flintoff

Precision 17m

Jamie Dodd

NEWS FROM OUR FLAG OFFICERS Dean McAullay – Commodore Gary McNally – Vice Commodore Luke Paterson – Rear Commodore Sail Evan Moore – Rear Commodore Juniors Lloyd Clark – Rear Commodore Power

The Grady White name is one of the most respected in the world for their quality of construction and sea-keeping abilities and this example is perfect for the conditions here in the West. This very capable vessel will comfortably get you and the family to the islands for memorable day trips.

$299,900 Meridian 38’1

The Caribbean 45’ is a large volume cruiser produced here in Australia by one of the countries best manufacturers to the highest standards in the world.

Renowned for their sea keeping abilities and perfect for our conditions here in WA with a massive 128 square feet of cockpit and accomodation for up to 10

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$194,500

The Meridian 381 Flybridge cruiser is a great intermediate level vessel for those looking at stepping into the big boat market. She is very easy to handle due to its twin Cummins 6BT diesel engines which provide ample amounts of torque for manoevering around the pens. Two Cabins with air-conditioning.

0418 819 181 Jamie Dodd

0418 819 181

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SAILING THE WINDRUSH WILDFIRE John Fitzhardinge

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2017 CONTENDER WORLDS Simon Barwood

41 THE PARMELIA’S BALL

13 2017 MIRROR WORLDS

Simon Barwood

42 #RFBYCGOESABROAD

Susan Ghent

18 CRUISING IN COMPANY

Zac Armanasco

46 MEMBERSHIP – NEW CLUB MEMBERS 48 THE BOSUN’S LOCKER

Nathan Stronach

20 WASZP GAMES 2017

Tristan Brown

49 ASTERN

Basil Twine

28 RFBYC DRAGONS ON A MISSION

Jennie Fitzhardinge 34 YOUTH REGATTA

Susan Ghent

$114,900

Original two owner vessel with the present owner purchasing the vessel with only 100 hours use in 2006 and carrying out regular servicing since inclusing manififolds every five years. If you have done your research then you know how important comprehensive servicing is along with regular use and care.

Adam Scahill

Sunseeker 34’

0419 847 439

$119,900

With only two owners since new, this 2001 Sunseeker 34’ Superhawk has completed only 436 hours on the twin Volvo diesels and the Onan 5Kva generator has done only 155 hours. The interior is luxurious and provides overnight accomodation for four with a seperate bathroom and functional galley.

Jamie Dodd

0418 819 181

Sunrunner 37’

$89,900 Mikleson 50’

Designed and built in Australia, the Sunrunner brand is known for its durability and high quality. This 2002 example has just been out of the water and had a full antifoul and prop speed ready for the new season. The 3700 suits families who are looking for a fast comfortable boat to get over to the islands for extended stays in comfort.

Jake Flintoff

Riviera 34’

$79,500 Wellcraft 222

This 1987 Riviera 34’ Flybridge cruiser offers loads of accomodation for memorable family getaways with two cabins and a spacious saloon providing three double beds and two singles. You can take this vessel anywhere as it was re-powered in 2005 with twin electronic Volvo Diesels. Only 300 Hours.

Adam Scahill

0419 847 439

0418 819 181

$109,900

This 22’ Center Console is everything you need to experience great fishing and raises the bar for versatile, comfortable off-shore exploring. Family days out are catered for with a toilet compartment and optional seating packages. Priced from $109,900 with 200Hp four stroke outboard. 6.71m registration.

Jamie Dodd

50 TRAVEL GRANTS 51 VALE: KEITH BARRY CLIFFORD

Basil Twine 52 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

$479,900

This highly desirable American vessel was sourced through a group of international brokers as the Mikelson brand is covenated by serius off-shore fisherman and can be hard to find let alone convince the owner to sell. Specifically imported into Australia for game fishing and extended family cruising including several Abrolhos Island trips.

0402 905 911 Jamie Dodd

38 MID-WEEK SAILING

Brian Cain

10 BLUE WATER SEASON OPENER

Brent Fowler

24 NEPTUNE RACING

Adam Negri

Mustang 38’

Pete Bowman, Jeremy Shellabear and Jennie Fitzhardinge going around the top mark, Cascais Portugal, page 28.

CLUB STAFF Chief Executive Officer Accountant Communications Yachting Operations Mgr Sailing Administrator Yachting Operations Assistant Dinghy/Junior Club Power Administrator Membership Accounts Assistant Administration Assistant Bosun Receptionist

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Paul Bayliss Catherine Ramsey Deb Hanrahan Debbie Blaauw Sharon Skinner Jenn Suffield Casey Walsh Susan Ghent Karen Ozkara Zoe Rostron Nathan Stronach Pauline Rhodes

FLAG OFFICERS Dean McAullay - commodore@rfbyc.asn.au Gary McNally - vicecommodore@rfbyc.asn.au Luke Paterson - rearcommsail@rfbyc.asn.au Evan Moore - rearcommjuniors@rfbyc.asn.au Lloyd Clark - rearcommpower@rfbyc.asn.au GROUNDS STAFF Timothy Donahue, Laurie Martin, Shane Ramsey, Joel Sheppard PUBLICATION Registered by Australia Post Publication No 63312300018 To contribute or advertise in the next issue send your copy by Friday 6 November 2017 to pr@rfbyc.asn.au

CONTACT US Keane’s Point, Peppermint Grove Western Australia T +61 8 9286 8200 www.rfbyc.asn.au rfbyc@rfbyc.asn.au

We value our members’ opinions. Feel free to send any comments, suggestions and feedback to rfbyc@rfbyc.asn.au

www.rfbyc.asn.au

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

DEAN McAULLAY COMMODORE

Our 122nd Opening Day will be held on Saturday 21 October 2017, an enjoyable celebration for members and guests as we showcase the activities of RFBYC and open the summer season. In the spring quarter we will thank our valued volunteers with the annual Volunteers Sundowner and welcome the return of Twilight Sailing.

See you at the Club.

rfbyc.asn.au Club Activities Keep an eye on our weekly member email Gybe Sheet, distributed on Thursday afternoons. There you will find out what’s happening at the Club whether it be a social activity, on-water event, New Members’ Night, handy information seminar or just some interesting news about your Club and fellow members. Make sure you have a read to stay in the know and not miss out on some great opportunities.

Volunteers Our Club welcome’s volunteers and we are very lucky to have an excellent pool of dedicated and enthusiastic members who are always keen to get involved. RFBYC volunteers are appreciated and whether lending a hand on the water or ashore, they enjoy the roles, new skills gained and camaraderie that goes along with it. If you or a fellow member is interested in finding out more, visit the ‘participate’ tab on the Club website for more information.

Summer Sailing The summer season is just about here. Following Opening Day our summer sailing will be in full swing with regular keelboat racing on Saturday afternoons and the ever popular Mid-Week Racing on Thursday afternoon’s. Social sailors will enjoy Twilight Sailing on Wednesday’s, a great opportunity to bring your friends along for a float followed by a nice evening at the Clubhouse.

Crewing on Yachts RFBYC’s Crew Experience Program is aimed at matching yacht owners with crew members interested in participating in racing. Find the information on the Club website under the tabs, ‘participate – crewing’, view on the main noticeboard or get in touch with the Club.

Membership Enquiries Membership enquiry packs are available from reception or at the main noticeboard pigeon holes. You can also find all of the information including our benefits of membership table and handy question & answer sheet on the Club website under the tab ‘participate’.

Contact the Membership Coordinator (Susan) with any questions.

Our Club relies on the support of membership to continue to provide a wonderful facility and lots of great activities. Please encourage others to respect our Club by becoming a member.

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A

CTIVITY AT THE CLUB CONTINUES no matter the time of the year. The Annual General Meeting was held in July and I take this opportunity to thank the membership for the support and encouragement that I have

received as your Commodore during the past twelve months. In particular, I congratulate the other Flag Officers who were also re-elected into their roles.

There was some movement in General Committee with Hamish Beck, Gordon Blaauw and Grant Alderson stepping down, with Adam Hancock, Ian Clyne and Peter Chalmer being elected onto Committee along with Tony Packer who re-elected.

Hamish, Gordon and Grant have been long-standing members of Committee and continue to volunteer their time and efforts in other aspects of Club life. I would like to acknowledge these three and all those who volunteer to ensure that our Club continues to move forward in providing for members and their activities.

Thank you.

Membership of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club is a privilege. To become a member you must be nominated by your peers and a process is followed to ensure expectations are met on both sides with the admission of any new member. It follows, that all members should aim to foster the goodwill and comradery that our Club is renowned for. Our Club’s reputation is paramount in

everything we do and I am very proud to say that our members are very good at ensuring that reputation is upheld and enhanced at every opportunity.

I would ask that from time to time, members take a moment to reflect on their conduct to ensure that at all times the manner in which you go about your activities, both on the water and off, is in keeping with the ideals and expectations of our Club. Whilst competition on the water and high-spirits in the bar, whether linked or not, can lead to excitability, there is no excuse for poor standards of behaviour and I’m keen to ensure that the reputation of this great Club is upheld in everything we do. No excuses.

You may have noticed that the works on the Gentlemen’s toilets in the main Clubhouse are well advanced. The repairs and upgrades to the underlying structure have been addressed successfully and we are expecting the refurbishment will be completed in the next few weeks.

Observant members will have noticed the temporary flag poles in place of the old wooden mast. Routine inspections earlier in the year revealed significant

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rot in the old flag pole, a replacement was commissioned and should be ready to be installed over the next few weeks. I’m sure it will serve us well over decades to come.

Another item of works to be addressed shortly will be a new boundary fence.

The old mesh fence has deteriorated to the point that gaping holes once covered over by vegetation could be relied upon no more to maintain an effective secure boundary. The new fence will be a more contemporary fabricated style of fencing which will, apart from being secure, be more visually pleasing than the older version.

Our Power Boat season has now drawn to a close and despite several cancellations due to poor weather, participation levels have been excellent with many visiting boats joining our members for the various events in the season.

Sailing activities have also seen good numbers in both keelboats and dinghies. The Sailing Institute programme has been very successful with the numbers and content of the courses conducted. We can be very pleased with the outcome of this initiative.

Opening Day this year takes place on Saturday, 21 October and I’m sure will once again be a wonderful occasion to celebrate a summer of on-water activities combining the Junior/Dinghy Season opening, power boat raft up and St Ayles Skiff rowing. But, it’s not just a day for on water action. All members are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the day. It’s the premier day in our calendar and it will be good!

I wanted to make a special mention of one of our staff members. Just recently, Australian Sailing (formerly Yachting Australia) conducted its annual Western Australian conference. Our Club was asked to make a presentation to the group on the topic of female participation in sailing which was delivered by Jenn Suffield from our Yachting Operations team. The manner of delivery and the content covered by Jenn was reported to be of the highest order and the Club has received numerous positive comments in this respect.

It’s time to dust off the cobwebs and get ready for the fabulous season ahead.

I look forward to seeing you around the Club.

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GARY McNALLY VICE COMMODORE

LUKE PATERSON REAR COMMODORE SAIL

PENING DAY for the 2017-18 Sailing Season is nearly upon us with Christmas not far away. A reminder that it is members’ privilege to be able to hold their work place Christmas function at the Club.

O

AS

Whether it is a cocktail party or a formal occasion our catering staff are available to assist in planning the perfect gathering. Contact Kaidy Raag on 9286 8222 for further information.

The Club’s newly formed gardening group “Friends of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club” had its inaugural meeting on the 10 August.

The group currently consists of three members, Paul Reiffer who holds a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture), Kristie Frean and Sue Deany, both keen gardeners. The group will be assisting our head gardener Tim Donohue in planning our future gardening needs as well as working in the garden. To become part of this group contact Debbie Hanrahan at the Club on 9286 8200.

The Gentlemen’s toilet refurbishment is progressing to schedule and should be completed by the end of September.

The Sailing Institute wrapped up its winter program with a match racing regatta on 2 and 3 September 2017.

We extend our sincere thanks to all of the sailors, coaches, volunteers and supporters that made this year’s on and off-water program a great success. The Sailing Institute sailors are privileged to have access to such talented coaches and volunteers.

There are plenty of other ongoing Sailing Institute initiatives. If you are interested, please get in touch with our on-water team.

There has been good support and positive responses from members for the Tribute Nights and Theme Dinners held over the last three months. Based on member feedback we will be making some adjustments to enhance members enjoyment.

The annual RFBYC and RPYC Combined Mess Night was held at the Club on the 1 September with all tickets sold out two weeks prior. It was extremely pleasing to see so many young members in the 18-35 age group attending with their guests and supporting a fine tradition that has developed. I would recommend booking early next year to avoid disappointment. During September we also held a Father’s Day lunch and the Johnny Cash Tribute Night.

There are numerous upand-coming events, save the date for: Oktoberfest, 7 October; Opening Day, 21 October; Quarterdeck Lunches,

first Friday of each month; Sumer Sunday Session Series which commences in November; Christmas Function and New Year’s Eve Party. For more information on these and other up-and-coming events keep an eye on the “Front of House” and “Gybe Sheet” e-newsletters.

The Membership Committee has introduced a formal recognition for junior sailors becoming members of our Club. It is envisaged that there will be two presentations during the season with all Club members welcome to attend. These new “Junior Membership Days” will be held at the Junior/Dinghy Club after sailing during the summer season. Keep an eye on “Gybe Sheet” e-newsletter for further information.

We see this as an important step in “belonging” to our Club.

WE HEAD TOWARD the new season it is timely to reflect on what’s been a busy and rewarding winter for our sailors.

SAILING INSTITUTE

OFFSHORE AND KEELBOATS

Peter Hickson’s M3 kicked off its 2017/2018 offshore campaign with some great results – a 3rd place in the IRC Racing Division at Hamilton Island Race Week, and a 5th over the line in

NORTHERN SUMMER REGATTAS

Our sailors have competed in a range of fleet racing and match racing regattas in the northern summer.

While there is too many to mention in this article, some notable mentions include Zac Littlewood’s 3rd place at the Laser Radial Worlds, Cam Owen and

Suzzi Ghent’s win in the Hobie World Cat 2017 regatta, David Gilmour and Joel Turner’s win in the 49er class at Kiel Week and 2nd at the Europeans, Neptune Racing’s hard fought 2nd place at Match Cup Russia, Simon Barwood’s 3rd place in the Mirror worlds, Alpha Racing’s 1st at the O M International Ledro Match Race and 3rd at Detroit Cup, Rome Featherstone’s 1st at the International 420 French National Championships, Jenna Everett’s 3rd (Under 13yrs) and 1st female at the O’pen BIC World Championships and Annabelle Davies and Madison Woodward’s 1st females at the 29er US National & World Championships.

SUMMER IS COMING!

While the sailing season is just around the corner, we have one more race day in our Frostbite Series on

17 September 2017. This race day will incorporate “Barts Bash” (an annual fundraising event promoted by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation). Check out our website for more details.

I’m very pleased to report that a number of members have “Waszp’s” (a one design foiling dinghy) that are on route to the Club, with a fleet to be on the water in the 2017/18 season. If you want to learn more about the Wazsp, get in touch with our on-water team.

See you on the water.

EVAN MOORE REAR COMMODORE JUNIORS

Kristie Frean, Sue Deany, Vice Commodore Gary McNally, Paul Reiffer

AS

THE SUMMER SAILING SEASON approaches I would like to extend an invitation to all members to volunteer some time at our Club.

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and you might even enjoy the camaraderie of the people involved. We always need volunteers for dinghy racing which can range from helping on the start boat, mark laying, or even baking cakes for the canteen.

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the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race (where a strong southerly conspired against what was looking like an IRC win for M3).

We were very well represented at “Hammo” this year, with many of our regular midweek sailors escaping winter and enjoying some great sailing conditions in the racing and cruising divisions.

A little closer to home, Joss won Division 1 (on IRC and YAH) in FSC’s Valmadre Series.

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Our Dinghy Winter Series recently concluded with magnificent weather. We had 122 sailors on 94 boats entered into the series with many visiting from other clubs. I would like to thank our Race Officer, John Taylor and his team of volunteers

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for their efforts throughout winter.

Some of our dinghy sailors have been enjoying a successful summer of sailing in the Northern Hemisphere.

Congratulations to Zac Littlewood who finished in an impressive 3rd place at the 5

John Fitzhardinge Laser Radial World Championship held in Medemblik in the Netherlands and 2nd Under 17 and 10th overall in the Laser Radial Youth World Championships. The O’pen BIC World Championships were held in Arco Lago Di Garda, Italy with great performances by Will Drew who finished 10th in the U17 Division and Jenna Everett finishing 1st Female and 3rd overall in the Under 13 Division. Simon and Tyson Barwood placed 3rd in the Mirror World Champi-

onships held in the UK. And finally, congratulations to Annabelle Davies and Madison Woodward who placed 1st female team and 18th overall at the 29er World Championships in the USA. Hobie World Cat Championship Sylt, Germany 8 – 13 August; Cam Owen and Susan Ghent – 1st Yachting Committee held a special forum recently to discuss future pathways in yachting. Special guests at this forum included former America’s Cup sailors who

gave us an insight into the current trends in sailing.

Foiling was highlighted as an important area of development within the sport. I am pleased to report that we expect to have five foiling Waszps sailing from our club this summer. These are an exciting class of boat that will bring foiling to our regular club racing program.

The 2017 ICR will take place over the weekend of 25th and 26th November.

This premier dinghy regatta will be bigger than ever with

an expanded range of classes. Get your entry in now and don’t forget we need a big army of volunteers to make it all happen.

Our Opening Day is planned for Saturday, 21st October 2017. The dinghy fleet will participate in a sail past prior to morning racing. I invite all our dinghy sailors to attend the Opening Ceremony at the senior club before enjoying the fun activities planned on the dinghy lawn.

LLOYD CLARK REAR COMMODORE POWER

WE

ARE HEADING TOWARDS the end of this year’s power boat season with closing day just around the corner.

Whilst we have had a run of unprecedented bad weather conditions, resulting in the cancellation of one time trial event and the deferral of two others, participation numbers have been strong. It’s also been great to see so many of our regular time trailers competing each week for their spot on the podium as well as the enthusiasm from season new comer Tim Cummins and Ken Stevenson on Havana. Well done to former Rear Commodore Hamish Beck and Cameron Cox on Queste, Bunn Lynn and Peter Wisbey on Endless Summer, Geoff Wells and Diane Clark on Xindi and Khaled and Sarah Hejleh on Stramash for their consistent performance in representing RFBYC at the State Teams Events.

The Power boat embroidered Gill shirts have arrived and look great. I’m sure you’ll catch a glimpse of Casey Walsh wearing one around the club! If you hav6

en’t already put your name down for one, they cost just $60 and can be ordered at reception. Limited stock.

Vice Patron’s Day was a great success with 23 boats competing. A big thanks to CYC for their strong support with 9 boats competing.

Congratulations to David and Andrew Jordan on Breakaway for their winning performance.

Closing day this year will be held on Saturday, 16 September. The day will commence with the John Cowen Memorial Trophy time trial at 2:00pm followed by canopies and drinks in the Athol Hobbs Room for Closing day presentations. Hopefully we will see you out on the water for the last time trial event for the year and a celebrative drink afterwards.

A date has now been set for the inaugural Spring Feast. This event will be held on Friday 13 October and will commence with a

drink at the main bar before departing by boat for a cruise up river for dinner in a private dining room at the Raffles Hotel. We already have a number of members who have kindly offered up their boats for the evening including Vice Commodore Gary McNally who is talking about firing up the Sunseeker!! Dinner will include a three course meal for $75/ head. Numbers are limited so I’d recommend you book early to avoid disappointment. I like to thank committee members Elise Manners and Andrew Jordan in advance for arranging this event. This is sure to be a great night.

Finally in closing, I’d like to say a special thanks to all the volunteers and members who have braved the wintery conditions for checkpoint roster and start boat duties.

Your involvement is very much appreciated by all involved.

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SAILING THE WINDRUSH WILDFIRE THE FIRST OF THE SPORTS BOAT

THE

WINDRUSH WILDFIRE, a ground breaking boat in their day, was undoubtedly the first Sports Boat – now very popular and of course much more advanced with asymmetrical’s, prodders and trapezes.

The Windrush Wildfire was designed by Richard MacFarlane at Windrush yachts. 23’ long with a cabin at each end of the cockpit, with 2 bunks in each, bulkhead in the middle, and no toilet – just bucket and chuck it. Centreboard through the self-bailing cockpit, which also went through a lead keelson bolted onto the bottom of the hull.

Certainly a memorable day’s sailing. Beth brought the trailer up to Geraldton and we had a nice trip home too, after sailing a few schooners around the bar at GYC. We went to Rotto with the kids on our Wildfire. At Rotto, we just anchored off the beach in Geordie Bay.

OCEAN SAILING

We sailed a night race at Mandurah in the ’80’s, which had a large fleet of trailer yachts racing, finishing second fastest.

Richard MacFarlane beat us by about 20 yards, also on a Wildfire.

The race started and finished just up stream from the old traffic bridge, down through the Stick’s channel to the South end of the Harvey Estuary, back to the Stick’s Channel, to the Mouth of the Murray River, then to the finish line. It was a full moon in Spring, and it was the start of an equinoctial front, and I have great recollections of flying up the Estuary on a shy run from the Sticks Channel to the mouth of the Murray River where the second last mark was at about 2 in the morning, kite up and easing everything away and pulling away to get her flying as we got

This image is probably mid ’80’s, when we joined the return ocean race from Port Denison to Geraldton in our Windrush Wildfire Bushfire—with the Geraldton Yacht Club yachts—a lovely 3/4 run for 40 miles with a fresh Southerly, gybe at the outer bouy on the passage into Geraldton, race up the passage still with the kite up, then a few hundred yards work to the finish off at GYC. Asymmetrical on a pole would have been good - kept up with the 45 footers anyway.

I was on the stick, and Dad (who was about 75 at the time) was on the mainsheet pumping her onto the waves, Jennie &Tim (probably 12-14) are just fwd of him. My memory is not too good but I think Graham Hancock may have been up forward.

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NIGHT RACING WITH AN EQUINOCTIAL FRONT

25-30 knot gusts of Nor Wester rain squalls which we could see coming across the water in the moonlight, with Richard’s stern light just ahead urging us on. JB was on the main in that race too.

We just failed to catch Richard on the work back to the finish.

Wet and cold, fortunately one of the guys had the foresight to lay in a carton of something called Rum Porto, which we drained to get warm.

THE WINDRUSH AT PORT DENISON

Dongara Marine were the northern agents for Windrush and we sold a lot of Windrush 14’s as they were the go-to class for old dinghy sailors, a very competitive mob who mostly sailed with wives or kids as crew. Boats came from Carnarvon, Geraldton and the metro area, even Cervantes for a while.

We had up to 60 boats at our regatta on the January long weekend in the ’80’s, with the GYC yachts also racing down on the Saturday, recovering on Sunday and racing home on Monday.

We still sail Windrush 14’s at Port Denison Yacht Club. I do the starts and rescue boat now – the rest is too athletic for me at 77!

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Simon Barwood

2017 CONTENDER WORLDS SØNDERBORG DENMARK JULY 17 - 21

THE

2017 CONTENDER WORLD Championships was held in the centuries old seaside town of Sønderborg in Denmark, close to the German border.

Australia was represented by ten boats in the fleet of 107 including two Western Australian representatives and RFBYC members Adam Linton and myself.

Australian’s Mark Bulka (Vic) and Jason Beebe (Qld) were respectively first and second at the previous Worlds, the title being the second for Bulka who won at the last Australian Worlds on Lake Macquarie NSW in 2014.

The Danish Nationals was the pre-Worlds warmup regatta and Beebe and Bulka were again dominant, with Beebe managing to reverse the order this time to finish in first, two points ahead of Bulka. So the stage was set for an exciting regatta to be contested over 10 races on 5 days from July 17 to 21.

I didn’t compete in the preWorlds arriving the day before Worlds measurement to unload my hideous Italian tricolor green, white and red hulled charter boat courtesy of Luca Bonezzi. The following day I sailed in the practice race in a nice 15-20kt breeze while most other Australians took an extra day to recover.

The Bonezzi setup is different to the John Cassidy fitout on my Windrush with the main issues being a short centreboard pivoted further aft, no deck grip where I was used to having it and loose control lines getting in a tangle. I began to fiddle with centreboard rake, a critical adjustment on the Contender, learned to look where I was putting my feet and shortened some of the control lines.

Races 1 & 2 were sailed in 12-18kts, I finished 37th in Race 1 after losing 20 places from a capsize tacking onto the star-

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board layline, getting my feet tangled in control lines. Took the wrong side up the first beat in Race 2 to finish 29th. Adam lost his mainsheet bridle in Race 2.

Bulka and Beebe were 1 and 2 respectively after the first day’s racing.

Sign in before racing meant collecting a GPS tracker, it was then possible to watch the racing live on the TracTrac app or replay them later. This was a great use of technology and enabled assessment of one’s own race and also that of the leaders.

Day 2 was lost due to no wind, however a succession of AP over numeral flags kept us waiting at the yacht club until the PRO finally gave up after 7 hours. With daylight until 9.30pm there was the opportunity to wait longer but abandonment was a good call as no wind arrived.

Day 3 saw three races to catch up with the schedule in apparently rare conditions – sunny and windy – building from 1015kts to 15-20kts over the day.

One German said it was the best sailing day since Kiel week in 2009! Despite being deceptively warm on shore it was still ‘wear all you’ve got’ on the water.

I had a bad start to Race 3 but worked my way back up to 42nd. Then while having my best race in Race 4 in the top 20 when the main halyard broke after the last bottom mark rounding. After a DNF and some temporary repairs ashore I made it back to the start area in time for Race 5 finishing 24th.

Adam also had a difficult day with a collision at the top mark in Race 3 that holed his boat and sent him back to shore half

full of water recoding a DNF and two DNCs for the day as he made repairs.

Day 4 was heavily overcast with lighter winds and some rain in the last of the three races sailed. I had my best result, a 12th in Race 6 after finally finding an upwind groove. Being caught on the wrong side of a big shift in Race 7 resulted in a 21st. In Race 8 pumping had been switched off after the first reach but many of the fleet didn’t understand the signals so handing out Rule 42 infringements from a RIB just after the gybe mark was like shooting fish in a barrel for the jury. I finished 23rd while the leaders struggled in the light and shifty conditions. Bulka recorded a 60th and Beebe a 22nd, however after four straight wins and sitting 8 points clear of Bulka the title was now the Queenslanders to lose. It had been a long day, over 7 hours on the water.

The final day brought light winds again, Race 9 got underway in 4-8kts. I had a magnificent second beat crossing almost the entire fleet on port and finished 4th. A great result to end the regatta, promoting me to 22nd overall. Time ran out to start race 10 in the dying breeze and the fleet ‘voted with their feet’ and began heading to shore half an hour before the abandonment signal was officially given.

Both leaders dropped their last two races so Australia had a new World Champion in Jason Beebe however Bulka reminded him that it was “only for six months” as the next Contender World Championships are to be held at his home club – McCrae – in Victoria in January 2018.

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Brent Fowler

2017 LAND ROVER SYDNEY TO GOLD COAST BLUE WATER SEASON OPENER

THE

L AND ROVER SYDNEY TO GOLD COAST RACE is the traditional season opener for the prestigious Blue Water point score.

With an unseasonal forecast of 5-25 knots from the NNW to NNE the 32nd edition of the race was shaping up to be a complicated and tactical 384nm match race. It meant a long upwind slog for the 57-boat fleet with a strong southerly change expected sometime Tuesday which would be of benefit for the smaller, slower boats, something we prayed would not eventuate or at least come late.

RFBYC’s TP52 “M3-Mulberry Racing”, owned by Peter Hickson and skippered by Brent Fowler was one of seven TP52’s in the race. Rating at a low 1.348 on IRC indicated we should finish somewhere mid pack in our class for the line honours race, but aiming for the top of the table on corrected time.

Navigation was to be the key, keeping out of the warm Southerly flowing EAC (east Australian current) and looking for northerly tidal flow elevators and geographical wind shifts at the same time, linking in with the daily 70 degree left/right oscillations. It was a race that kept the navigator and skipper constantly on their toes with the ever-changing conditions and was both mentally and physically draining.

During the first five hours, we kept Ichi Ban honest trading tacks up the coast. Unfortunately, we got one shift wrong and by midnight our competition had 10

extended to an 8nm lead, which although we still had them on IRC and ORCi corrected time it was a bit demoralizing.

Day 2 saw the team bounce back with some good decisions in the process dropping Sydney to Hobart winner Quest/Balance as well as the identically rated Fifty-Two Hundred and KOA. A small win with many more miles to sail but a huge boost to morale.

The breeze remained constant with the odd increase to 18 knots with a slight offshore route paying as we passed the mid north coast.

We kept chipping away at Celestial and RKO, both newer generation TP52’s with much higher ratings. At the same time, the Ichi Ban gap was starting to shrink.

The team was kept in strong spirits making small but powerful gains, whilst still on the J2 and full main, the same sail combination we have been using for the entire 200nm sailed.

Mark “Wheels” Wheeler,12m guru and “Leisure Suit Larry” Jameson kept the team entertained with great war stories of IOR, Bondy, Syd Fisher and other heroic offshore sailing stalwarts whilst general tales of post-race hijinks!

Going into the final day the forecast had increased, with the promise of a solid 25 knots on the nose it didn’t disappoint.

Around Ballina the breeze built

and RKO and Celestial opted for a headsail change to a J3 and a reef in the main. Knowing our sail inventory and the very punchy/steep chop, the team called for sticking with the J2 and full main. Even though we were overpowered, it kept the bow entering the waves just high of 90 degrees and we could maintain our lane and gauge up to the RKO and Celestial who had begun to lose height with a smaller sail plan.

Hard on the gear and the team, but rewarding sailing.

Our biggest gains came around Byron Bay. We played the shifts well and always tried to be the first boat to intersect the coast at the start of each bay, giving us a great geographical left hander while the others were still on starboard knocking into the coast. At this stage, we had put in a 1st reef to preserve the boat in 27 knots for a few hours. Our only incident was hooking the leeward runner over the head of the mainsail as we shook out the reef. This meant a heave too lower the main and take the runners forward before re-hoisting. We lost about a half nm and were quite disappointed we had let it happen, but that’s boat racing.

From Byron Bay to Tweed Heads it was follow the leader a drag race inside some reefs and around coastal islands, knowing M3’s strengths and weaknesses, all that was required to maintain

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the Div 1 IRC and ORCi lead, (and overall at that time) was to stay in touch and not split with our two nearest competitors.

This seemed very simple until Snapper Rocks. The Gold Coast breeze had shut down to a 5-9 knot northerly with bumpy seas and a breeze line that came through in “waves” favouring RKO and Celestial further up the track. Still leading all handicap results and situated 7th on Line Honours we had some tough decisions to make. The routing said to step offshore for more breeze, but the competition had gone left to the beach.

After some in-depth discussions, and a quick look at the coastal observations, we were convinced an offshore course would pay big dividends….and it did! We sailed into a constant 9-11 knots on a slow right

rotation that brought us to the layline and to the finish quicker, but we still had to pick it perfectly. The closer to the shore we got, the softer it got and it was challenging work to step back out. By this time, the team had been awake for about 18 hours, everyone knew we needed the maximum righting moment and 100% concentration to gain on RKO and Celestial. It had become a race, within a race.

Ichi Ban had finished but were only 4nm ahead. A result we were proud of as the final cross became clear, we had inched in front of our two-faster rated TP52 competitors, jumping to 5th over the line and claiming 1st in IRC Div 1 and ORCi Div1.

We had a solid lead in the overall standings until the southerly shift that was forecast pushed through a few

hours earlier than expected to shake up our overall standings.

Disappointingly for all of us, we dropped back to 4th overall, but still retained our divisional wins against a very strong fleet of well sailed TP52’s.

The best you can hope for is a solid divisional result and if the weather system allows, the overall result may come your way. After a 3rd overall last year, 1st in Division and 4th overall this year, and 3rd in IRC Div1 in the overall CYCA, Bluewater series the team knows we have the tools and the talent to get the results we are chasing this year.

We would like to thank our racing partners, Spices group, Quantum Sails, Blue Hawke and Taskers who have all contributed to the solid results we aim to build on this year’s Blue water series.

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Photo by Cleo Barnham

Simon Barwood

2017 MIRROR WORLDS RFBYC IN THIRD PLACE

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UMMER IN CORNWALL is a bit different to Western Australia. There’s a lot of daylight, but not much heat and an abundance of what the locals call ‘liquid sunshine’.

It’s rare to have a day when you can positively definitely say it won’t rain at some point.

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We didn’t mind if it was cold, or wet as long as the wind blew.

And blow it did, every day of the British Mirror Nationals and Mirror World Championship hosted by the small volunteer run Restronguet Yacht Club.

Due to an ongoing dispute with an adjacent land owner access to the yacht club for vehicles and boats was via the ‘beach’, a stretch of pebble, rock and seaweed between one metre and one hundred metres wide depending on the tide. Despite the five metre tidal range there was surprisingly little influence of the current on the course, running at a peak of less than one knot.

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I had secured premium accommodation two years in advance, a comfortable ten bed house on the waterfront 50m walk to the yacht club. It was a glorious luxury to be able to wait for the signal flags to be raised, dress at the house and walk to the yacht club ready to sail. Similarly walking home in full sailing gear into our own bathroom after each day’s racing was perfect.

The Australian team comprised seven boats, four from NSW, three from WA including Tyson and myself as sole RFBYC representatives. All Australian’s chartered boats, we had three brand new Winder Mirrors delivered to the house the day after

arrival. After waiting for the tide to subside we could drag our trolley along the ‘beach’ to the yacht club for measurement.

The British Nationals was our ‘pre-Worlds’ warmup regatta and comprised an ambitious program of ten races over three days for the 50 boat fleet. Our main competition was previous National Champion in various classes Dave Wade sailing with his 11 year old daughter Imogen.

The UK Mirror fleet has recently followed the Australian trend of more parent-child teams alongside the traditional teenagers sailing together.

Dave and Imogen sailed very consistently with all top 3 finishes including four straight bullets 13

2017 MIRROR WORLDS RFBYC IN THIRD PLACE

Maritimo Flybridge Models:

in Races 3-6. We started poorly with a 14th but then had all top 3 finishes. On the last day we needed to beat Dave in all three races to win but only managed that twice ending up with 4 wins for a close second place overall by one point.

The racing area on Carrick Roads is a protected estuary about the size of Melville Water.

The whole pre-Worlds regatta had been sailed in a westerly onshore flow that tended to back toward the south and increase in pressure later in the day.

Wind speeds were between 1015kts in the morning building to 20-25kts on reasonably flat water, except when the breeze was from the south when a small swell rolled in allowing surfing downwind. From the west and southwest the breeze passed over a headland creating oscillations. From the south it was more steady in direction.

There were substantial pressure differences across the course as gusts swept across and if the windward mark was set close under the headland it was very gusty and shifty at the top of the course.

The schedule was for 12 races over five days. Three races were sailed the first day as the forecast 14

was for storms mid-week. Conditions were the best so far with no rain and intermittent sunshine and a moderate 6-15kts.

This wind range really suited Dave and Imogen who won the first two races, but were OCS in the second. Father and son Cullen and Rowan Hughes from NSW had missed the pre-Worlds but it didn’t show as they ended the day with 2-1-1 to lead us 5-2-2.

Three more races on Day 2, we sailed consistently with 4-3-4 but Dave and Imogen recorded 2-1-5 and dropped their OCS while Cullen and Rowan scored 1-4-2 to hold the lead from the Brits by 5pts with us in third a further 3pts behind.

Day 3 saw more liquid sunshine with persistent rain all day but the forecast 25-35kts never arrived enabling three races to be completed in 10-15kts building to 15-20kts. We continued to be consistent scoring 3-3 then finally a win in Race 9.

Dave and Imogen used up their second drop in Race 8 with a 14, putting us back in second overall but Cullen and Rowan were in the box seat with another great day scoring 1-2-2. With three races to go and dropping a 4th and a 2nd the New South

Welshmen looked safe barring a disaster.

The breeze finally filled in to our preferred 20-25kt range for Day 4. We had led all the way round in Race 10 but were caught by a gust after the gybe mark and while dropping the spinnaker the sheet ended up around the end of the boom.

We then capsized trying to free it and a ninth as the result.

Another boat handling error resulting in a penalty turn for touching a mark in Race 11 took us from first to sixth, we fought our way back to third but Dave and Imogen had won both races to Cullen and Rowans two seconds. It was a frustrating day of what could have been. We were the fastest boat in the breeze but failed to make the most of our opportunities. On the positive our position on the podium was secure but we weren’t really in a position to challenge for second place.

Meanwhile Cullen and Rowan had won the regatta with two races to spare and Australia had it’s first Mirror World Champion in 26 years, a great result leading into the Sydney Worlds in 2018/19 where we will have another crack.

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GRANT ALDERSON

121ST OPENING DAY

DAVID CAPOZZALO 0421 910 851 ASSHE CRAVEN 0420 922 512

Saturday 21 October 2017 Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club Sailing Opening Day, incorporating keelboat, dinghy, and junior racing.

Junior and dinghy racing will take place in the morning, keelboat racing in the afternoon.

Live entertainment and activities for the children.

Bring the whole family for a fun day.

���� wine sponsor – supplying all wine for the RFBYC Melbourne Cup

ALL LEVELS OF COACHING YACHT RIGGING & SPLICING BOAT MAINTENANCE & DETAILING YACHT FITOUTS & MANAGEMENT HARDWARE SERVICING MAST & BOOM SUPPLY & MAINTENANCE RACE PREPARATION & TUNING BALUSTRADE / TRELLIS WIRES WORKSHOP & ONSITE MOBILE SERVICES DEALER FOR PINNELL & BAX SAILS More Than 25 Years Professional Experience Flying 15 World Champion Paralympic Coach

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Mobile: 0412 944 909 Email: grant.alderson@gmail.com Unit 2/ 23 Carrington Street Nedlands 6009

BOOKINGS on 9286 8200 or email rfbyc@rfbyc.asn.au

Zac Armanasco

Bunbury Cruise

CRUISING IN COMPANY

THE

BUNBURY CRUISE IS an annual event hosted by the Fremantle Sailing Club. The cruise is held over three to four weeks in February and March by which time the southerly summer winds have moderated. It’s called the Bunbury Cruise because Bunbury is the primary stopover point. However, the cruise ends in Quindalup with occasional sails further south. The cruise captain for 2017 was Rob Morales from FSC and we thank him for his organisation and leadership.

This year a smaller fleet of eight yachts took part with Libertus and Volare representing our Club. Along the way we caught

18

up with other cruisers, some of whom were past members of the Bunbury Cruise catching up with old acquaintances. The cruise combined a mixture of anchoring, use of local moorings and marina stays at Mandurah and the Port Geographe Marina.

The fleet’s official stopover points included Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton and Quindalup. At these locations we

were hosted by the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing, Koombana Bay, Geographe Bay and Dunsborough clubs who opened their facilities for us and made us very welcome.

On occasion, cruisers may stop at locations such as Garden Island, Rockingham, Warnbro Sound and different spots in Geographe Bay. Rottnest is always a popular spot for those wanting to

extend their sojourn beyond the official cruise.

Two nights were spent at the Port Geographe Marina where we were hosted by Dennis and Kitty Gee. They are part of the southern cruising community who open up their house to the fleet and some local cruisers for an annual cruisers gathering. An event enjoyed by all giving us the opportunity to catch up with old friends.

At this time of the year the southerlies have settled down

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and the winds are kind to cruising boats and their crews. With the exception of a strong easterly which called for a reefed main and jib (but made for a quick, flat water sail in the lee of Garden Island) on the first day of the cruise and a wrong footed wind delaying our departure from Quindalup the winds were mostly mild. Motor saying was called for on more than one occasion.

An end of cruise dinner was held at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club. The

following day saw yachts heading home, going south again or stopping over In Warnbro Sound, Rockingham or Garden Island to extend their time on the water.

While it is called Cruising in Company, the cruise is really about meeting at the different stopovers to a weather flexible timetable. It is about getting out there, enjoying the water and your boat, socialising and sharing experiences.

We encourage other cruisers from RFBYC to join us next year.

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Tristan Brown

waszpI GAMES 2017

The Waszp was created early last year and at the time the concept of the boat really appealed to me. I had been following the Moth’s latest developments and admired their foiling ability over the years however this seemed to come with the constant battle to stay relevant through equipment.

Consequently when the Waszp started gaining momentum late last year I was sold on the idea (now 450 boats worldwide in over 30 different countries).

remember sitting at my desk in my accommodation whilst coaching Finn Alexander and Zoe Thomson at the ISAF Youth Worlds in New Zealand last December when I decided to bite the bullet and order a boat. I did so without any real consultation with anyone and also some small underlying doubt as to whether I was heading down the right path!

A week later upon returning to Australia I flew from Sydney to Melbourne drove the Ute to the Waszp factory down in Melbourne and put the boat in its fibreglass box on the roof and off I went!

Unfortunately for me I was unable to sail the boat for nearly a month until I had finished my Laser coaching at the Nationals in Adelaide in December/January.

Upon returning back to Sydney I decided to start unpacking the boat and trying to understand how it all pieced together. It was like a large IKEA project with numbered bags with each of the parts in it and various written instructions and videos to watch to assemble a foiling boat for the first time.

O

nce the boat had been put together it was time to get the thing wet. I had brought it down to Middle Harbour Yacht Club so that I could be ready to launch it when I next got some spare time after work however this moment came much sooner than I had anticipated with Rio Gold Medallist Tom Burton egging me on to take the Waszp for a spin in my lunch break.

I eventually caved in after much time stressing about the wind being too strong for my maiden voyage with one proviso – he launch and retrieve the boat so I don’t damage

IMAGES © MARTINA ORSINI

20

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21

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it on the first go! To which he agreed and I went out in the RIB and tried to take note of the way he was sailing the boat.

E

ventually I got my chance to have a go and I still remember sailing along on port and the boat lifting out of the water for the first time. All of a sudden it became so peaceful and the boat speed increased dramatically as there was now no hull causing drag in the water. The only problem was I now had to try and sail downwind, which I basically wasn’t capable of on my first attempt.

After several sessions early on in the Waszp I begun to feel more comfortable in the boat and was loving the idea of foiling around everywhere. Then came the next challenge of foiling gybes. After many hours trying, I learnt the need to be cat like through the boat and to move far earlier through the boat than I had ever experienced before.

These skills became honed over time and are still being improved today.

The next challenge was to try and do some racing so I entered the Victorian Waszp State Champioships at Black Rock Yacht Club at the beginning of April. I put my boat in the NB Sailsports van which Tom Brewer drove down for me and flew down for the weekend of racing.

Racing sure has a way of humbling you and 25knots plus steep waves in an unfamiliar new foiling boat sure was a challenge. Upwind seemed to be ok, however, downwind in waves was borderline impossible with the

22

foil regularly boosting out through the top of a wave, ventilating and resulting in me being sucked back down to earth with bone breaking nose dives! Post racing it was nice to hear during everyone’s debriefs that there was a technique to be learnt to be able to handle the waves a bit better. I managed to end up 2nd overall in this regatta out of the 10 boats competing.

A

fter this weekend I decided to make another bold call, to enter the Waszp Games (Worlds) on Lake Garda in August.

Again at the time I felt nowhere near ready for this type of level of competition, but it was being held in my long term dream sailing location so I had to try and make it happen!

Fortunately the regatta fell perfectly between the coaching duties I had already planned at the 4.7 Worlds (Belgium) and Radial Youth Worlds (Netherlands).

I also tried doing a warm up event, Sail Brisbane at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in July but this proved to be a bit of a farce with literally no wind for the entirety of the regatta so I drove home early.

I

spent 14 hours getting a flight from Belgium to Milan, followed by a bus, train, bus then a taxi to finally end up at my accommodation but boy was it worth it. The stunning cliffs and scenery were everything I had imagined and even better the water was fresh minus the salt. Perfect for a refreshing swim whenever it got too hot. I hired a moped as

my form of transport on land and enjoyed exploring the tunnels that carved their way through the mountains surrounding the lake.

I chartered a boat directly from the regatta organisers and thoroughly enjoyed these practice days on the water.

As has been the case with the boats there were some small teething issues with breakages etc but Gus and the Waszp team were nothing but helpful in getting these sorted out as soon as possible.

Now came the racing. What a sight! 54 Waszps all with the same equipment, sailor against sailor foiling their way around the racecourse on the picturesque setting of Lake Garda.

My own performance was surprising at first with somehow managing to round the top mark in the first race in second! This was short lived as my struggles tended to be with my downwind boat handling and strategy/tactical decisions.

I continued to chip away throughout the event to eventually finish 7th overall which I was happy with. I had also learnt a great deal about the boats and how to race them.

At an owners meeting prior to the last day much to my pleasure it was announced that the next Waszp Games will be held in Perth on the Swan River (likely to be in January 2019).

So what are you waiting for everyone... it’s time to order your boat and start the foiling journey too :)

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NEPTUNE RACING

F

OLLOWING A FEW months break from the M32’s, the team was fully geared up and ready to head to Europe to complete a few months of competing at a mixture of events, including the M32 fleet racing series Gothenburg (Sweden) and Risør (Norway), in addition to Match Cup Sweden and Match Cup Russia.

The team consisted of our now core team of Sam Gilmour, Adam Negri, Justin Wong and Mark Spearman.

ACT 1: GOTHENBURG

The M32 Series, Act 1: Gothenburg was event #1 for Neptune Racing. The M32 series was a change different to the norm for what the team normally race in, being a fleet racing format.

Held mid June, inside a shipping channel (similar size to Fremantle Port) centre of Goth24

enburg, which posed extremely tough sailing with 8 boats on a start line with a course width of just over 200 meters making it very intense and tricky. The event aims to do around 7-8 races daily and great opportunity to get to do some intense, close racing in short period of time.

After a quick fly in and some days of boat preparation it was straight into racing. The tight course restrictions and an upwind start (not common in

catamarans) made it very tricky sailing – something the team strives to master.

With three days of this racing the excitement to see what results we could put together.

It was a tough few days, in terms of results, finishing towards the back of the fleet, but the lessons we took away were vital in our preparation for the upcoming events, including Match Cup Sweden.

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The style of racing is certainly unique, and definitely open to any-one – it would be so cool to see some other Australians take on some of the M32 racing around the world.

A week off in Sweden gave us a chance to acclimatise to the conditions (following the chaotic schedule leading to the Gothenburg event) and set up some training sessions at a nearby venue.

It was a struggle with the weather – either too much or too little wind. For sure, being on the M32 is something we aren’t able to do enough of, and it gives the team the opportunity to learn new lessons every time we hit the water.

Up next, the world had their eyes on Match Cup Sweden held out of Marstrand a venue that provides an amazing natural amphitheatre between fjords, creating some spectacular racing.

The team felt very strong going into the event, but were halted (again) on the first day by extremely high wind exceeding the racing limit and breaking the 30 knot mark! Teams were itching to get out but had to wait until day two to race.

As with all World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) events there is a fleet racing component and after a shaky start the team pieced some good results togeth-

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er to finish 3rd spot in our group, a result we were happy with as it progressed us to the Super 16 round.

We found ourselves facing Yann Guichard and Spindrift Racing, and we were looking forward to the rematch after Match Cup Australia (trying to get a little bit of revenge).

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be; despite leading every race we lost the series and ended our Match Cup Sweden short. There was a hugely disappointing reality having put in a huge amount of work up to then.

The takeaways from there were enormous and it highlighted some areas that need improving.

In the weeks we had a chance to unwind, racing in the M32 World Championship, amongst other teams. Mark Spearman raced and finished 3rd in the Corinthian division, whilst Sam Gilmour was fortunate enough to win the event with the ChinaOne Ningbo squad – a team that has dominated the series in 2017.

ACT 2: RISØR

A few more days off then back into it, meeting in Oslo, Norway to compete at the M32 Series Act 2: Risør, a beautiful summer town located 2 hours south west of Oslo.

A picturesque backdrop of the town on a very tight course made for some spectacular racing AND what seemed like the whole town coming down to watch, even in the bucketing rain! It made for a great regatta.

The three-day event saw racing against some very tough opponents and although we had moments with multiple race wins, we couldn’t piece consistency together, missing out on the podium.

Again it provided us with more time in the boats as our focus shifted to the last event for our tour, Match Cup Russia. We were lucky enough to have the support from old RFBYC friends KC and Wenche Agerup - who knew a beautiful family we were able to stay with and call home for the week.

ACT 3: ST. PETERSBURG

Next, the team found the slowest plane to St. Petersburg (thanks to a 7 hour delay!), where we were greeted with the news that the event village was moved for the first three days due to no other reason than President Putin holding a naval ceremony within our race course!

The first two days – qualifying fleet racing, and after a shaky start the team came home strong, winning the last two races and placing us third for 25

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our group. A few things really clicked during these races, and the team built off the confidence of it all.

After a shift back to the original venue, right in the heart of St Petersburg, match racing got underway.

We raced Red Bull Youth America’s Cup Skipper Michael Edegran and in some shifty conditions dispatched him 2-0 and progressed to the quarterfinals.

Here, we found someone who had been proving to be our arch nemesis (for lack of a better term) Yann Guichard and Spindrift Racing. After losing in both Match Cup Australia and Match Cup Sweden the team wanted this one so badly. After dropping the first race to Guichard the team came back strong, win26

ning three races straight in some of our finest sailing. We were through to the semi-finals.

We were thrilled at the challenge that laid ahead for us from there, racing against long time training partners and great friends Redline Racing. We knew this would be one of the toughest races before we even went out, indicative of the trainings against each other.

Eventually, with the scores level at 2-2, we got the best of him, after a big mistake on the start line. It was finals time and we were stoked to be there.

It wasn’t to be from there though. China One out sailed us as some unforced errors crept into our racing, their class shone through, it was a 0-3 score line in the final.

Overall, second place at Match Cup Russia was a great achievement and to see the leaps and bounds we made over the trip was immensely satisfying.

Now our focus is on Match Cup USA, held in Chicago late September, then the WMRT finals in China at the end of October!

The team is very proud to represent Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, and are so thankful for all the support we receive to race with the world’s best.

ON ANOTHER NOTE

World Sailing rankings have placed Neptune Racing as the World Number One Match Racers. For the team, we’re so happy to have achieved that as we look forward to bigger and better things in the coming months.

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Our locally based team has been caring for residents in the area for over 15 years. You can rely on us to provide the care you deserve.

Let’s talk Contact Nita Peploe or Jenny Jones to discuss how we can support you to live well at home.

(08) 6260 5950 or 0400 872 109 phc@oryxcommunities.com www.oryxcommunities.com

27

RFBYC DRAGONS Jennie Fitzhardinge

IMAGES © ELENA RAZINA

IMAGE © NEUZA AIRES PEREIRA

on a mission for the

W

hen seven teams from the one club travel 15,000km to compete in a World Championship, it has to be more than something in the water.

Our reasons for going to Cascais, Portugal, for the Dragon World Championship were threefold: for most of us it was to gain experience in a World Championship fleet; to drum up enthusiasm and entries for our Dragon World Championships in Fremantle in January 2019; and to see what does and doesn’t work from an organisational point of view.

Our efforts in getting seven teams and two boats didn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated with the RFBYC contingent being the second largest group from one yacht club—only the hosts Clube Naval de Cascais surpassed us—and the third largest national contingent.

28

Every time someone complimented us on coming so far, it was an opportunity to encourage them to come to Fremantle in 2019 and to tell them a little of what we have planned.

Leading these efforts onshore was ‘Chef de Mission’ John Longley striding the docks in his Fremantle 2019 team shirt and cap, and IDA measurer Peter Hay who met every competitor while measuring the sails.

O

n the water, Dragonfly skippered by Willy Packer and crewed by Julian Harding and Denis Cullity, spearheaded the Australian effort. Dragonfly had won the Corinthian (no professionals on board) and Masters (everyone over 50, or combined age of 165) at the La Rochelle Worlds in 2015, and they were on a mission to improve

top left : Brad Stout checking out just how close it can get on a mark rounding. Saphira helmed

by Ian Malley and crewed by Matt Zimmerman and Brad Stout, was shipped over from Australia for the event, as much to encourage the Europeans to do the same for our Worlds in 2019. Saphira was 6th of the 7 RFBYC teams. lower left: Trish Ford’s team of Graeme Fardon and David Hay were often duking it out with Sandy Anderson and her team. They were the fifth of the RFBYC teams. above right: when 285kg maximum crew weight just doesn’t feel like enough. Portuguese boat Lady Tati on their way to 11th overall. opposite page, top left: John Longley was our Chef de Mission with the role of spruiking the Fremantle 2019 Dragon Worlds to individuals and en masse. He did a great job!

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS above, centre: JWAIDA secretary Peter Massee getting the word out about Fremantle 2019. above, right: Ray and Karen Chatfield with crew Peter Massee shipped their boat to Cascais, along with gear for the rest of the fleet. They placed 54th and third of the RFBYC boats. right: how to hike like a World Champion. Andy Beadsworth and crew Ali Tezdiker and Simon Fry on their way to the 2017 title. far right: Team Aeolus surfing in the first day of racing.

their 6th place. Unfortunately, this was not their regatta. Their best race was a sixth and three other top 30 finishes put them in 26th. There is no official category for combined Corinthian and Masters, but in a fleet dominated by professionals and champions in various disciplines, I believe it is worth noting that they were the first C&M team.

The other RFBYC teams in order of finishing were: AUS 109 Team Aeolus/Pinta, Peter Bowman, Jennie Fitzhardinge and Jeremy Shellabear (2nd C&M); AUS 201 Wizzadry, Ray and Karen Chatfield and Peter Massee, (3rd C&M); AUS 210 Eizh, Sandy Anderson, John Moncrieff,

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Stephan Eyssautier and at 11-yearsold, the youngest competitor in the fleet, Albert Eyssautier; AUS 223, Hombre, Trish Ford, Graeme Fardon and David Hay; AUS 221 Saphira, Ian Malley, Brad Stout and Matt Zimmerman; AUS 198 Whim, Rob Hammond, Anthony Yates and Arthur Phillips. Three teams got top 20 finishes: Dragonfly (6th, 17th), Aeolus (14th, 21st) and Whim (20th).

The World Championship title was decided in the final race with Provezza (TUR 1212) sailed by professional helmsman Andy Beadsworth and crewed by Ali Tezdiker and Simon Fry, snatching the championship from two potential winners

in Annapurna (RUS 27) skippered

by Anatoly Loginov finishing second and British legend Lawrie Smith sailing Alfie (GBR 815) with his talented young Portuguese crew in third place. The Corinthian Trophy winner was Benjamin Morgen sailing Rosie (13th overall) and Masters Trophy winner was Stephan Link sailing Desert Holly (17th).

I

n terms of World championship experience, it is a privilege to sail against Olympic, round the world racers, America’s Cup sailors and a whole bunch of people who are lucky enough to be paid to go sailing year round. Of the 70 boats in the 29

right: Stephan Eyssautier, John Moncrieff and Sandy Anderson

right: Cascais below left to right: 1. Many of the women who competed.

2. John Longley modelling the Fremantle 2019 cap, RFBYC shirt and the daily serve of pastel de nata.

3. Despite the wet and wild conditions 11-year-old Alberto Eyssautier looked as energetic when he came in as when he went out. Can we bottle that?

left 1. Sandy and crew 2. Sandy Anderson, John Moncrieff and Stephan Eyssautier introduced 11-year-old Alberto Eyssautier to world championship sailing on this regatta.

Eizh was the fourth RFBYC team.

3. Willy Packer, Julian Harding and Denis Cullity celebrate their excellent sixth place in race 7. Overall, the Dragonfly team were the fastest Aussies, they were fifth Corinthians (all amateur crew) and third in the Masters category. It is worth noting that they were the first combined C&M team as the regatta was very much dominated by professional crews.

below left: Last one. Rob Hammond, Arthur Phillips, Anthony Yates had a fantastic start to the regatta with a 20th, but struggled in subsequent races with breakages and finished last of the RFBYC yachts.

below right: Ian Malley, Brad Stout and Matt Zimmerman brought Saphira all the way from Down Under. It looks like she wanted to get back there!

fleet, only 24 were Corinthian. Many boats either had four lighter crew, or a couple of man mountains on board to make the maximum crew weight of 285kg.

The Worlds schedule was punishing with two races a day for a total of 10 races planned. In the end only eight races were sailed as we had an unofficial lay day on the fourth day because it was too windy for the offshore course and too light and shifty 30

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www.rfbyc.asn.au

for the inshore course. It was a relief to all but the most hardened professionals.

C

ascais is in the lee of the 500m-high Sintra Mountains, which meant that to get a 2.4nm course in, we had to sail 3nm out to sea. The course was set so that the start was still protected, but the top mark was no longer in the lee of anything, giving a wind range of 18

knots at the start/bottom mark and 25 knots plus at the top mark/finish. Add a rolling 1.5-2m Atlantic swell, 32 knot gusts, and the top mark roundings were often more about getting around safely than protecting position. Even so, on one race 40 boats went around the bottom mark in less than two minutes.

Breakages took their toll with Whim retiring with two races to go.

Aeolus/Pinta also had to retire from 31

top: When Jennie Fitzhardinge went in the water on a rock and rolling downwind run, Klaas Ebeling, Alex Plath and skipper Christian Einfeldt of Team Strait Dealer pulled her out. below: Meanwhile, her crew mates had their own problems with continuous spinnaker sheets and halyard and retrieval lines making it very hard to get the kite down.

a race after I got rolled overboard as I was going up to the foredeck to gybe the kite. I was almost immediately picked up by a German crew who had seen me go over. Even so, the Germans had lost sight of me as they were dropping their kite, and it was only when I yelled out that they saw me again. Their seamanship and sportsmanship meant that we made new friends and a promise that we would look after them from when they arrive to when they leave Fremantle in 2019! I was transferred to a rib, then back to our boat, but by then our race was over.

Many of the European teams had spent multiple winters competing in the Cascais winter series to acclimatise. We reassured ourselves that in summer the conditions wouldn’t be as rough as the winter series’ photographs seemed to indicate. It wasn’t 32

until after the regatta that a local professional sailor told me: “I hate sailing in Cascais in June, it’s too windy.

It’s much better in winter.”!

The onshore aspects of the Worlds were handled very well. Cascais is a beautiful seaside holiday town and the yacht club crew were super friendly and organised. Clube Naval de Cascais had sponsorship from Hendricks gin, so after each day’s racing we were easing our sore muscles with veritable buckets of gin! They also provided food and a chance to get to know our fellow competitors.

The RFBYC teams really stood out as we had royal blue, yellow and white t-shirts promoting Fremantle 2019 and about 250 caps to give away. As the regatta went on, we saw more and more blue caps on non-Aussie boats. We also sponsored

a race and had John Longley and the Australian Ambassador to Portugal, Mr Peter Rayner present the prizes.

We were constantly told, “We have so much respect for you coming all this way!” to which the best reply was, “We wanted to show you that it is possible and that we are looking forward to welcoming you in Fremantle in 2019.”

Within the Australian team we had many conversations about what, from an organisational point of view, was worth repeating and what we would do differently. Getting a gin sponsor is a definite must!

Finally thank you to RFBYC for providing travel grants and the excellent coaching from Grant Alderson, Lachy Gilmour and Sam Gilmour in the lead up to the event.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

TIE YOUR BOAT UP AT OUR JETTIES! POWER AND WATER FREE OF CHARGE!

33

REGATTA wraps up a great winter

Susan Ghent

of match racing training at RFBYC in WA

R

OYAL FRESHWATER BAY YACHT CLUB held the inaugural Sailing Institute Match Racing Regatta to wrap up a fantastic winter of training for the youth sailors.

Thirty-three sailors from the RFBYC Sailing Institute Winter Squads made up six teams to compete in BW8 keelboats over the weekend of 2 and 3 September. In moderate winds on 34

Saturday three flights were held.

Jet Racing, helmed by Aaron de Longville (15) were unbeaten on Day One with three wins. They were followed by Marcello Torre (15) and Nick Syme (20), both

with two. At 20, Nick is one of the older sailors in the Match Racing Squad and he was out to help some of the younger ones.

His team made up of 12-15 year olds Jamie Bougher, Joshua

www.rfbyc.asn.au

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WARREN DREW

YOUTH

YOUTH REGATTA

O’Dea, Toby Webster, Jameel Willson-Imamdin, Alistair Watters and Zachary Sprunt, the young sailors rotating turns on the boat.

This was the first unassisted match racing regatta for all teams and a challenging first day for the sailors. They soon realised how diligent they must

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be in gathering information and communicating within their team, without forgetting to keep an eye on their opponent.

Day Two delivered moderate wind and flat water in Freshwater Bay. The race management team set up right in front of the Clubhouse, great viewing for parents and supporters ashore.

A group briefing was held by the coaches who provided feedback from the first day and some valuable advice prior to racing. The RFBYC Sailing Institute sailors are very lucky to have support from a large pool of talented coaches. For the regatta they had Ben Durham – four America’s Cup cam-

above: Larrakin and Sailpower fight it out for the two top places

35

right from top: first place, Jet Racing – left to right: Ben Hutcherson, Caylim Vause, Nathan Stacey, Hugh Kilpatrick, Aaron de Longville.

second place, Intrepid Racing – left to right: Grayson Downs, Jonathon Everett, Rohin Kehal, Will Drew, Brock Pitcher

ROUND ROBIN 1

paigns and currently competing on the RC44 and TP52 Super Series circuits; Mark Lovelady – many years as an international match racing helm and successful sailor in several keelboat classes; and Sam Gilmour – current WMRT Tour card holder and highly successful on the match racing circuit. The coaches followed each match and advised teams between flights, ensuring the sailors were gaining the most from the regatta experience. When not racing, sailors joined their coaches to closely watch their peers racing and listen to the umpire calls.

A full round robin was completed. Jet Racing, skippered by Aaron de Longville with Ben Hutcherson, Nathan Stacey, Caylim Vause and Hugh Kilpatrick led with 4 wins, only beaten by Luke Dobrich’s (15) Harwired Racing team. Second place was split on a count back by Will Drew (14) beating Marcello Torre in their match.

The finals were first to three wins. For 5th and 6th place, Grant Box took the helm with his team Cullen Binet, Thomas Ostergaard, Bailey Ireland and Ben Lane. They sailed against Luke Dobrich and crew, Tom Hodge, Andrew Buchan, Murray Buchan and Kai Colman 36

who won the first three races to keep 5th position. Box’s team certainly made them work hard for it though, coming out in front in most pre-start situations.

It was a tough round for 3rd and 4th between Nick Syme and Marcello Torre. Marcello’s team had been training together throughout the winter and it showed, with his crew of Liam Pabbruwe, Oliver Pabbruwe, Raffael Torre and Bruce McKinnon sailing well to take three wins.

Two young teams lined up to contest the top two places. Aaron de Longville (15) and Will Drew (14) on the helm. Will’s team had the youngest combined age in the event with his crew Jonathon Everett (14), Brock Pitcher (14), Rohin Kehal (16) and Grayson Downs (14). Two wins to Aaron’s Jet Racing but Will’s Intrepid Racing didn’t give up. They fought back with a win in the third match to stretch out the finals.

With Jet Racing leading 2-1, many close moves and lead changes took place and in a deciding move a luffing incident sent Intrepid Racing into a broach with Jet Racing sailing away to claim the win.

Head coach of the RFBYC Sailing Institute, Ben Durham commented after the event “The level of the sailors was really good for their age and the amount of experience they’ve had. With more time we will see some real talent coming out of this group. They controlled the boats well and improved a lot with their match racing over the weekend. It’s such a steep learning curve. I was impressed to see that pretty much all of the sailors wanted to keep racing, they had learnt so much they were excited and just wanted to keep going”.

The two day match racing event was well run by a team of volunteers who had been involved in the WMRT Match Cup Australia earlier in the year at RFBYC. The team, led by Race Officer John Taylor were very pleased to see that their efforts for the sport have encouraged the next generation of young match racing talent. RFBYC Sailing Institute sailors are inspired by their older peers with many local Perth sailors currently competing internationally both on the WMRT circuit and in international match racing competition.

More information at rfbyc.asn.au

www.rfbyc.asn.au

W

above: the teams just wanted to keep going.

hit eb ait La (D rra ob kin ric ( h) Vit Dr al ew Sta ) tist Sa ics ilp ow (T e Ho r (d orre) ok eL ed (Br ongv Pri ille un vat / ) ee r (S Box) ym e)

above: our fabulous volunteers from left to right – Ian Burvill, John Anderson, Paul Ostergaard, Deb Henderson, Rob Hubbard, John Taylor

third place – Torre

SCORE

POSITION

Whitebait (Dobrich)

0

0

1

1

0

2

5

Larrakin (Drew)

1

1

0

1

0

3

2

Vital Statistics (Torre)

1

0

0

1

1

3

3

Sailpower (de Longville)

0

1

1

1

1

4

1

Hooked (Brun/Box)

0

0

0

0

1

1

6

Privateer (Syme)

1

1

0

0

0

2

4

1

2

3

4

W

OVERALL PLACE

Sailpower (de Longville)

1

1

0

1

3

1

Larrakin (Drew)

0

0

1

0

1

2

Vital Statistics (Torre)

1

1

1

3

3

Privateer (Syme)

0

0

0

0

4

Whitebait (Dobrich)

1

1

1

3

5

Hooked (Brun/Box)

0

0

0

0

6

FINAL SERIES

fourth place – Syme

fifth place – Hardwired Racing

1ST/2ND

3RD/4TH sixth place – Brun/Box

5TH/6TH

37

Brian Cain

MID-WEEK SAILING

THE weekly

2017 MID-WEEK AUTUMN/WINTER SERIES has continued through Autumn, Winter and into the Spring. This series is of twenty-five race days, of which seventeen races count for the consistencies.

The popularity of the weekly Thursday races continues with around thirty starters on most days with few exceptions when the weather is extreme, however there is a reasonable group of twenty or so who never miss a Thursday.

There is a good gathering of sailors and crew in the bar after racing for the 1800 presentation and raffle drawing all made possible by our worthy sponsors 300 Acres During the Autumn/Winter Series some new events have be included to spice up the Winter, the first of those was the Inaugural running of the Vice Patrons’ Charter Day Perpetual Trophy on the 8th June, this event will be scheduled in future Winter seasons on the second Thursday in June.

During the presentation on the Vice Patrons’ Charter Day, Commodore Dean McAullay gave an excellent address to the assembled Vice Patrons, sailors and crews outlining the events during the historical time of the instigation by Roland Smith 38

toward the granting of the Royal Charter.

Roland Smith was the Commodore of (FBYC then RFBYC) from 1932 – 1935 (and latterly 1940 - 1942) • During those years the Club had around 100 members, 29 yachts and 48 power boats, Bar revenue was around 500 pounds per year • Roland Smith was responsible for several major developments at the Club in the 1930’s including the successful application for a liquor licence. Moving of the Club into current location at Keane’s Point, Appointment of a Managing Secretary and the Application for Royal Charter.

• Royal Charter was granted on 13 June 1934 by King George V (fifth) of England.

• There was a diplomatic incident surrounding the granting of the Royal Charter. RPYC became aware of the application and the desire in some quarters to change our name to the Royal Western Australian Yacht Club.

This caused considerable consternation with RP and protests

were made to the Governor of WA, the Governor General of Australia and the Agent General in London. In addition, RPYC changed their letterhead to include the words “of Western Australia”.

During the Commodore’s presentation and with an expansion of the above historical notes this brought some mirthful animation from the assembled.

A copy of the Royal Charter document was displayed in the bar for all to peruse.

The Vice Patrons’ Charter Day Trophy as for other special day perpetual trophies is a handicap event raced by the combined “A” & “B” keelboat fleets as out lined in the Sailing handbook.

The Winner of the inaugural Vice Patrons’ Charter Day Trophy was Ballistic skippered by Adam Parslow.

The 17th of August saw the running of the inaugural Flag Officers Winter Cup. This trophy is for a combined “A” & “B” Mid-Week Jib and Main fleets and is sailed in conjunction with the normal Mid-Week all fleets

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weekly consistency races, these weekly races are supported by our usual much appreciated sponsors 300 Acres For the inaugural sailing for this new perpetual trophy there was 20 starting boats which considering that quite number of our usual mid-week sailors were away interstate flying the Club’s flag all be it admirably, it was considered a good turn up.

The Flag Officers Winter Cup was sailed in a steady 10 knot North West breeze, the rain mostly held off however the wind was a touch chilly and the sailors were pleased to get into the warmth of the bar afterwards.

The usual camaraderie was evident with the attendance of the Flag Officers, and with the announcement of the results from Airlie Beach Race Week

by Commodore Dean McAullay creating an appreciative buzz of applause throughout the bar.

The Perpetual Flag Officers Winter Cup, which will be sailed on the third Thursday of August every coming year, was won this year by most regular and popu-

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lar “B” Fleet sailor David Meager sailing his Ben Lexcen Lars Erikson yacht Spirit of Olympia. The Cup, which you can’t drink out of, was presented to David and his crew members by Commodore Dean McAullay.

The 2017/2018 Spring Summer Mid-Week Series commences with Race Day 1 on 19 October 2017.

A coming major event scheduled for the 2017/2018 Spring Summer Series on Thursday 2nd November 2017 is the annual Anniversary Race for Combined Fleets A and B for a Gold Half Sovereign. Make sure that you have registered for the coming season, your registration is for the year to October 2018, that

is it includes the Winter Season of 2018.

Mid-Week Courses, during the Winter your Mid-Week Race Management has made some course changes giving race management a wider scope when selecting a course of the day particularly when restricted use of Melville Water comes into play.

The course changes although not major do give consideration of course length, congestion and course shortening all being more suitable for today’s boats and numbers participating. The course changes apply from the start of the 2017/2018 Spring Summer Series and are includes in the 2017/2018 Sailing Handbook.

above: Flag Officers Winter Cup presentation below: Flag Officers Winter Cup winners Ballistic

39

OPENING DAY MATCH FOR THE PARMELIA’S BALL

A

FTER A LAPSE OF MORE THAN 100 YEARS, Opening Day 2017 will again include a test of oarsmanship – in the gender neutral sense! The Dragon and Couta fleets

will nominate representative crews to contest a match race in the Club’s four oared St Ayles Skiffs for the right to become the Holder of Record of ‘The Parmelia’s Ball’ – an iron cannon ball thought to have been jettisoned from the Barque Parmelia when aground at the entrance to Cockburn Sound, 2 June 1829, delivering the first settlers to the colony!

Donated by Life Member John Walsh in terms of a deed of gift worded in a style reminiscent of

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the language of the Deed of Gift for the America’s Cup, ‘The Parmelia’s Ball’ is now a perpetual challenge trophy for Opening Day inter-fleet racing in the St Ayles Skiffs.

The winner of the inaugural race in October 2017 will become the first Holder of Record.

In subsequent years it is open to any Club fleet (including the power boat fleet) to nominate as the challenger of Record to contest the next Opening Day match.

Should two or more fleets nominate crews then elimination races will be conducted prior to the forthcoming Opening Day to determine the Challenger to the Holder of Record.

The inaugural Match will likely take place prior to the Opening Ceremony at a time and over a course determined by the Club.

Needless to say this will be a test of skill, strength, endurance and will!

May the best crew win!

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Susan Ghent left: Neptune Racing on stage

#RFBYCGOESABROAD

far left: Mirsky Racing Team

WE

WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE the many members who travelled overseas this Winter, with some great results achieved.

17 – 22

GOVERNOR’S CUP, BALBOA YACHT CLUB, USA

Alpha Racing Team – 5th (Will Boulden, Damian Garbowski, Mark Spearman); Cam Seagreen (sailing with Harry Price CYCA) – 4th Nick Deussen – 20th (Silver Fleet); Will Boulden – 10th (Bronze Fleet)

12 – 14

GOTHENBURG MATCH CUP

Mirsky Racing Team (Torvar Mirsky, Lachy Gilmour, Damian Garbowski, Cameron Seagreen)

20 – 31

MOTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, FRAGLIA VELA MALCESINE, LAKE GARDA, ITALY

16 – 20

ROLEX TP52 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, SCARLINO ITALY

Ben Durham (Gladiator) – 5th

22 – 27

420 OPEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, ATHENS, GREECE

Otto Henry (Woollarha Sailing Club) and Rome Featherstone (RFBYC) – 19th

SINGAPORE NATIONAL OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIPS

Jamie Bougher – 8th Molly Alderson – 20th Mia Lovelady – 66th

24 – 28

PUERTO PORTALS 52 SUPER SERIES SAILING WEEK, MALLORCA SPAIN

Ben Durham (Gladiator) – 8th

25 – 28

29ER USA NATIONALS, ALAMITOS BAY YACHT CLUB LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA

Annabelle Davies and Madison Woodward – 19th (Gold Fleet), 1st Womens Team Kieran Bucktin and Shannon Wright – 2nd (Silver Fleet)

26 – 28

MIRROR UK NATIONALS, RESTRONGUET SAILING CLUB, FALMOUTH UK

Simon and Tyson Barwood – 2nd

27 – 29

M32 SERIES SCANDINAVIA EVENT #2 – RISØR, NORWAY

Peter Nicholas (sailing with Team GAC Pindar) – 1st Cam Seagreen (sailing with Flux) – 3rd Neptune Racing – 5th (Sam Gilmour, Mark Spearman, Adam Negri, Justin Wong)

26 JULY – 2 AUG

LASER UNDER 21WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NIEUWPOORT, BELGIUM

Zoe Thomson -19th (Radial Women)

26 JULY – 6 AUG

29ER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, ALAMITOS BAY YACHT CLUB LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA

Annabelle Davies and Madison Woodward – 18th Overall / 1st Female Team Kieran Bucktin and Shannon Wright – 25th

27 JULY – 4 AUG

49ER/49ERFX/NACRA 17 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS KIEL, GERMANY

David Gilmour and Joel Turner (QLD) – 49er: 2nd Lachy Gilmour and Ryan Donaldson – 49er: 33rd Caitlin Elks (FSC) and Hayley Clark – 49erFX: 19th Conor Nicholas and Pip Pietromonaco – Nacra 17 (C Board): 1st

30 JULY – 5 AUG

MIRROR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, RESTRONGUET SAILING CLUB, CORNWALL UK

Simon and Tyson Barwood – 3rd

31 JULY – 5 AUG

OPEN BIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ARCO LAGO DI GARDA, TRENTINO, ITALY

Jonathon Everett – 28th (Under 17 years) Jenna Everett – 3rd (Under 13 years) & 1st female Will Drew – 10th (Under 17 years) Rosalie Hennessy – 41st (Under 17 years)

31 JULY – 6 AUG

OPTIMIST EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, PORT BOURGAS YACHT CLUB, BULGARIA

Catherine Pile – 9th (Girls Silver Fleet)

MAY

JUNE 9 – 12

9 – 17

Scoundrel – Willy Packer, Julian Harding, Denis Cullity- 25th Aeolus – Peter Bowman, Jeremy Shellabear, Jennie Fitzhardinge – 41st Wizzardry – Ray Chatfield, Peter Massee, Karen Chatfield – 54th DRAGON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, CLUBE NAVAL Linnea – Sandy Anderson, John Moncrieff, Stephan Eyssautier – 58th DE CASCAIS PORTUGAL Canewdon Witch – Trish Ford, David Hay, Graeme Fardon – 62nd Sapphira – Ian Malley, Matt Zimmerman, Brad Stout – 67th Whim – Robin Hammond, Anthony Yates, Arthur Phillips – 68th

17 – 25

KIELER WOCHE, GERMANY

David Gilmour and Joel Turner (NSW) – 49er – 1st Carrie Smith & Jaime Ryan – 470 Womens – 4th

21 – 25

PORTO CERVO 52 SUPER SERIES AUDI SAILING WEEK, SARDINIA ITALY

Ben Durham (Katusha, main trimmer) and Peter Nicholas (Artemis Racing, headsail trimmer) – 1st

25 JUNE – 2 JULY

OPTIMIST NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Jamie Bougher – 9th (178 boats)

WMRT MATCH CUP SWEDEN

Team Gilmour - 5th (David Gilmour, Joel Turner, Jakob Wilson, Luke Payne) Mirsky Racing Team – 10th (Torvar Mirsky, Lachy Gilmour, Damian Garbowski, Cam Seagreen) Neptune Racing – 13th (Sam Gilmour, Mark Spearman, Adam Negri, Justin Wong)

JULY

3–8

42

7 – 12

INTERNATIONAL 420 FRENCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, CROZON-MORGAT NAUTICAL CENTRE, FRANCE

Otto Henry (Woollarha Sailing Club) and Rome Featherstone (RFBYC) – 1st

13 – 16

M32 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, MARSTRAND, SWEDEN

Cam Seagreen (with Chris Steele CFA Sport Racing) – 3rd Sam Gilmour (with Phil Robertson China One Ningbo) – 1st

16 – 24

CONTENDER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, SØDENBORG, DENMARK

Simon Barwood – 22nd Adam Linton – 73rd

16 – 24

LASER 4.7 YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, NIEUWPOORT, BELGIUIM

Axel Fleet – 44th (Bronze) Ezra Kaye – 11th (Bronze)

www.rfbyc.asn.au

www.rfbyc.asn.au

43

AUGUST 1–5

WASZP INTERNATIONAL GAMES, CAMPIONE DEL GARDA, ITALY

Tristan Brown – 7th

1–6

WMRT MATCH CUP RUSSIA

Neptune Racing – 2nd (Sam Gilmour, Mark Spearman, Adam Negri, Justin Wong)

bottom left: Cam Seagreen at M32 Worlds

6 – 13

49ER AARHUS TEST EVENT, DENMARK

49er – David Gilmour and Joel Turner (NSW) – 3rd 49er – Lachy Gilmour and Ryan Donaldson – 13th 49erFX – Hayley Clark and Caitlin Elks (FSC) – 12th

bottom right: Mark Spearman at M32 Worlds

8 – 13

HOBIE WORLD CAT CHAMPIONSHIPS, SYLT, GERMANY

Cam Owen and Susan Ghent – 1st

10 – 13

RC44 MARSTRAND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, MARSTRAND SWEDEN

Ben Durham (Katusha) – 4th Peter Nicholas (Artemis Racing) – 6th

11 – 13

M32 SCANDANAVIAN SERIES HELSINKI, FINLAND

Cam Seagreen (with Flux) – 2nd

11 – 18

Zac Littlewood – 10th Overall, 2nd U17

centre left: Ben Durham on Katusha

LASER RADIAL YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, MEDEMBLIK NETHERLANDS

18 – 20

centre right: Alpha Racing Team, Balboa

CHICAGO GRAND SLAM CHICAGO YACHT CLUB, USA

Alpha Racing Team (Will Boulden, Andrew Briggs) – 5th Cam Seagreen (sailing with Harry Price, CYCA) – 2nd

19 – 26

LASER RADIAL MEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, MEDEMBLIK, NETHERLANDS

Zac Littlewood – 3rd

below upper middle: Jamie Bougher

19 – 26

OAKCLIFF INTERNATIONAL, OACKCLIFF SAILING CENTRE, USA

Alpha Racing Team - TBC

below lower middle: 49ers

24 – 27

DETROIT MATCH CUP, BAYVIEW YACHT CLUB, USA

Alpha Racing Team – 3rd Cam Seagreen (sailing with Harry Price, CYCA) – 1st

below right: M3 and yeahbaby

28 AUG – 2 SEPT

49ER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PORTO, PORTUGAL

49er – David Gilmour and Joel Turner (NSW) – 14th 49er – Lachy Gilmour and Ryan Donaldson – 31st 49erFX – Hayley Clark and Caitlin Elks (FSC) – 31st

this page top left: start for the Laser 4.7 top right: Contenders

far page top: JHA

below left: M3

44

www.rfbyc.asn.au

45

EVENT SEASON

MEMBERSHIP NEW CLUB MEMBERS

ROYAL FRESHWATER BAY YACHT CLUB

ORDINARY

Member Proposer Seconder Will Barker Robert Towner Michael Garland

WOW YOUR GUESTS

ASSOCIATE

Member Proposer Seconder Jenny Longley Steve Ward John Walsh Marlene Stafford Graham Stafford Ian Williams

With stunning views overlooking the bay of Keane's Point RFBYC is the perfect venue for your next event. Wow your guests with canapes & drinks on the balcony followed by a 5 star dining experience . With various rooms to choose from we can cater for any event large or small, the possibilities are endless.

RECIPROCAL

Member Proposer Seconder Andrea Geller-Schenker Phillipa Taylor Kevin Palassis JUNIOR UNDER 16

JUNIOR UNDER 16-17

Member Member Max Moltoni Rohin Kehal Harry Chandler Isla Molyneux Josh Criddle Angus Begley Ollie Towner Camilla Barbi Jonathan Foster Tom Pickering Archie Taylor Ollie Wardle

Our event coordinators will work with you to ensure your event goes off without a hitch & we have local suppliers to help create an event that will be remembered.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES CORPORATE EVENTS BIRTHDAYS

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

For membership information, please visit our website rfbyc.asn.au and use the tabs ‘Participate’ then ‘Join the Club’. The menu on the left side of the page can be used to navigate through our membership section.

Alternatively, membership enquiry packs can be collected from the main noticeboard or from reception.

Questions to our Membership Coordinator, Susan Ghent, at the Club.

WAKE'S SEMINARS

IMPORTANT DATES FOR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

Membership applications (with signature and endorsement of two Members with five+ years membership) must be submitted to the Membership Coordinator by post, deliver to the Club, or email to, membership@rfbyc.asn.au Submit completed application forms to the Club by the last Monday of the month.

General Committee reviews applications on the last Tuesday of the month.

WORKSHOPS COCKTAIL PARTIES

Ordinary membership applicants will be invited to attend an interview with the Membership Committee on the second Monday of the following month or thereafter.

Membership applications are placed on the notice board for a period of 26 days (except Juniors).

All membership applications which progress to the final stage of the membership process will be ratified

by General Committee on the last Tuesday of the month.

46

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Book your event now T: (08) 9286 8212 E: functions@rfbyc.com.au

Nathan Stronach

Basil Twine

THE BOSUN’S LOCKER AROUND THE GROUNDS

IT

ASTERN ST EDWARD’S CROWN

HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY TIME around the grounds over the winter months. One of the projects that have been completed is the first of the Floating Drive On Dry Dock

for the Club’s support vessel Bill Morris. This installation will potentially save a lot of man hours by removing the need to clean the hull on a weekly basis.

You may have noticed that this style of Dry Dock system has been growing in popularity

with quite a few members also installing them into their pens.

At this point it is important to note that there is an approvals procedure which must be followed prior to installation, as follows:

• An application must first be made to Harbor and Berthing Committee.

• On approval by Harbor and Berthing Committee the Club then needs to submit an application for the installation with the Department of Parks and Wildlife, as these Dry Dock units are considered an extension of the jetty structure and must comply with the relevant standards.

The club has yet to receive any restrictions with these applications and it this stage it is just more of a formality that must be strictly adhered to.

Environmentally, they are a great asset. These units remove the need for the vessel to be antifouled which potentially reduces the amount of fallout from self polishing antifouls and in turn helps to maintain our beautiful Swan River.

I look forward to seeing you around the grounds.

KLEENHULL SYSTEMS Cruising in Company radio yacht for 25 years, ‘Samantha’.

No Zinc anodes used on this craft for 21 years.

The propeller is always reliably clean.

Correct DC electrics are essential.

U I E\F

THE CROWN

His Majesty the King (King George V) graciously approved the use of the prefix Royal by the Freshwater Bay Yacht Club – Despatch dated 13 June 1934.

Hence, we became the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club from that date. A new flag, burgee and Club crest followed the following year.

Recently I was embarrassed when I could not answer the simple question: Which crown do we have on our RFBYC flag, burgee and crest?

So, as any good (or embarrassed) archivist should do I carried out a spot of research.

And: The short answer is the St Edward’s Crown!

The facts regarding the St Edward’s Crown are as follows: • It is one of the oldest crowns of the United Kingdom and is named after Edward the Confessor who first wore the crown of this name at Easter, Whitsun and Christmas.

• It may have incorporated elements of a crown that belonged to Alfred the Great.

• In 1066, St Edward’s crown was reputedly used at the coro-

nation of William The Conqueror and was subsequently used for the coronations of kings through to King John in 1199.

• During the English Civil War in 1642 Oliver Cromwell, who regarded the crown as symbolic of the “detestable rule of kings”, arranged for Parliament to sell it and presumably use the proceeds to fund his exploits.

• In 1661 when the British monarchy was restored, a new St Edward’s Crown was made

by Sir Robert Vyner. This crown is 30 cm tall and weighs 2.23 kg. It is described as having four fleurs-de-lis and four crosses pattee, supporting two dipped arches topped by a monde and a cross pattee. It has a purple cap and is trimmed with ermine.

• In 1671 the dastardly scoundrel Colonel Thomas Blood briefly stole the crown from the Tower of London, flattening it with a mallet in an attempt to hide it under his clothing.

• Presumably after it was recovered it was restored and repaired with the creation of a new monde. The base was later altered from round to oval to fit William III.

• Until 1911 jewels would be hired for use in the crown and removed after the coronation.

At that time it was permanently set with 444 semi-precious stones and made smaller to fit George V. • Although it is regarded as the official coronation crown, only six monarchs have been crowned with St Edward’s Crown since it’s restoration. The queens have preferred their own smaller, lighter diamond crowns and several kings have preferred the lighter State Crown of George I or the 1838 version of the Imperial State Crown.

Generally, when the St Edward’s crown was not used to crown the monarch it was placed on the altar during the ceremony.

In 1997 we received correspondence from Royal Brighton Yacht Club in Victoria. That Club’s burgee is the same as ours and because they received their Royal Charter before RFBYC it is their contention that we must change our regalia and suggest we should use a Ducal Coronet instead of the St Edward’s Crown. I hope this typical demand from Victoria has died a natural death because we don’t intend changing anything.

KLEENHULL • RON KEMPIN • 0408 958 323 48

www.rfbyc.asn.au

www.rfbyc.asn.au

49

Basil Twine

VALE: KEITH BARRY CLIFFORD 7 JUNE 1934 – 28 MAY 2017

TRAVEL GRANTS INFORMATION RFBYC Travel Grants are awarded to assist and encourage our members to participate at national and international competitions. The funds are derived from member donations and are awarded to help offset the costs incurred when travelling away.

The following members received travel grants between June & August 2017:

50

1

ALDERSON, MOLLY

$900

17

FITZHARDINGE, JENNIE

$450

2

ANDERSON, SANDY

$450

18

FORD, TRISH

$450

3

BLAAUW, TOM

$450

19

GARBOWSKI, DAMIAN

$900

4

BOWMAN, PETER

$450

20

GHENT, SUSAN

$450

5

BUCHAN, ANDREW

$450

21

GILMOUR, LACHY

$2100

6

BUCHAN, MURRAY

$450

22

GILMOUR, SAM

$1550 $650

7

BUCKTIN, KIERAN

$650

23

LITTLEWOOD, ZAC

8

CARMICHAEL, LAURA

$450

24

MASSEE, PETER

$450

9

CHATFIELD, RAY

$450

25

MONCRIEFF, JOHN

$450

10

CLARK, HAYLEY

$1275

26

NEGRI, ADAM

$1550 $900

11

DAVIES, ANNABELLE

$650

27

SEAGREEN, CAMERON

12

DONALDSON, RYAN

$1100

28

SHELLABEAR, JEREMY

$450

13

DUESSEN, NICK

$900

29

SPEARMAN, MARK

$1925

14

EVERETT, JENNA

$450

30

STOUT, BRAD

$450

15

EVERETT, JONATHON

$450

31

SYME, NICK

$450

16

EYSSAUTIER, STEPHAN

$450

32

WRIGHT, SHANNON

$650

K

EITH CLIFFORD was one of the more memorable characters in the history of RFBYC. He was well known for his prowess as a shipwright and particularly in wooden boats.

He joined Johanssens Boatbuilders on Stirling Highway, Cottesloe as an apprentice and became the RFBYC Shipwright in 1961. He finally retired in 1994.

With his good mate Alf Robinett he was the best there was.

While some people may have thought his work expensive those who knew him recognised that a job done properly was cheap in the long run and appreciated his expertise and total honesty. I remember a sign in his workshop: “A quote is not a quote unless written and signed

by Keith Clifford.”

However an estimate was different and if the cost came out less than the “estimate” then he charged the lesser amount.

Keith was brought up in Cottesloe with schooling at Cottesloe Primary and then at Fremantle Boys. He was talented in manual arts and he loved boats so a career in boatbuilding was a natural progression. He also had a love for the game of hockey and played for Fremantle Hockey Club before transferring to the fledgling North Fremantle Club under the legendary Bob Reitze. I remember Keith at a country carnival in Pithara thundering down the left wing in a cloud of dust. He could not wear the customary studded boots on the clay fields there so he wore a pair of “Desert Boots” sliding all over the place.

As a sailor he began messing about in canoes, dinghies and so on, on the river, graduating to join the crew of Gelasma with Dr Gordon Barrett-Hill.

He sailed many ocean races in

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Gelasma, was responsible for its maintenance and on Gordon’s death eventually became the owner. That beautiful yacht is still at the Club, now maintained with tender loving care

by Mark Donati. The sight of her on Wednesday twilights with that huge Australian flag flying from the masthead will long be remembered.

Keith’s wife Maureen did not share Keith’s enthusiasm for boating but she did share his love of RFBYC and became involved with start teams, Junior Club and support for son Stephen and daughter Tracy. He was a real family man and had a great relationship with his five grandchildren. His sense of humour, empathy and his generosity displayed in many ways. Alf Robinett recalls one day when they were working on the roof of Gordon Smith’s boatshed. Keith was at the ridge and lost his grip sliding down until he splashed into the river. Alf in typical fashion called “What the --- are you doing?” To which Keith replied “Just practising for the Olympic diving.”

When Jenny and I brought the Viking 30 Longreach into the Club it was moored around to the north of the Club. Keith was a member of Harbour Berthing Committee and asked me if I wanted a pen. Of course I did but I was prepared to wait my turn. Keith said he had an ideal pen for me on F jetty but I would have to wait until he could clean the sand out to make it deep enough. “How do you do that?” I asked. “I’ll just take Little Toot around and use

the prop to blow the sand out.

The movement of your keel will maintain the depth after that.”

Apart from his family and RFBYC Keith loved and respected the water, river, ocean, whatever.

He loved exploring and on one occasion chartered a yacht in the Aegean Sea to visit a string of Greek islands – sailing single handed. He also travelled to Scotland, Western Europe, Egypt and India.

We can also thank Keith for our main start boat the Tam Thompson. That had been used as a cray-fishing boat by son Stephen in the Abrolohos and when it proved too small for the purpose was purchased by the Club. It has served us well and should continue to do so for many years.

Cheers Keith. We will remember you as a great bloke.

51

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 7 SEPTEMBER

300 ACRES MID WEEK RACE

8 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

8 SEPTEMBER

JUNIOR AGM

9 NOVEMBER

MID WEEK RACE

9 SEPTEMBER

WINE DINNER

10 NOVEMBER

IRC BIG BOAT DEMO RACE

9 SEPTEMBER

JUNIOR/DINGHY CLUB BUSY BEE

11 NOVEMBER

10 SEPTEMBER

DINGHY TEAMS RACING EVENT

49ER AND 49ERFX STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

13 SEPTEMBER

WEDNESDAY THEME DINNER PARMIGIANA

11 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT CLUB RACE

12 NOVEMBER

49ER AND 49ERFX STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

12 NOVEMBER

CLUB DINGHY RACING

15 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

16 NOVEMBER

MID WEEK RACE

18 NOVEMBER

ETCHELLS METRO SERIES RACE 5 & 6

18 NOVEMBER

DRAGON MINI SERIES 5 & 6

18 NOVEMBER

GOVERNORS CUP

19 NOVEMBER

CLUB DINGHY RACING

19 NOVEMBER

SWAN RIVER RETRO YACHT SERIES RACE 2

22 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

14 SEPTEMBER

300 ACRES MID WEEK RACE

17 SEPTEMBER

KEELBOAT FROSTBITE SERIES RACE 7 (INCORPORATING BARTS BASH) - AM START

21 SEPTEMBER

300 ACRES MID WEEK RACE

28 SEPTEMBER

300 ACRES MID WEEK RACE

5 OCTOBER

300 ACRES MID WEEK RACE

7 OCTOBER

OKTOBERFEST

12 OCTOBER

300 ACRES MID WEEK RACE

14 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT PRE SEASON COACHING DAY

15 OCTOBER

DINGHY PRE SEASON COACHING DAY

23 NOVEMBER

MID WEEK RACE

19 OCTOBER

FINAL 300 ACRES MID WEEK RACE FOR AUTUMN WINTER SERIES

24 NOVEMBER

ICR REGATTA REGISTRATION

21 OCTOBER

OPENING DAY REGATTA FLAG OFFICERS TROPHY (SPECIAL COURSES)

25 NOVEMBER

ICR REGATTA

25 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT CLUB RACE (SPECIAL COURSES)

22 OCTOBER

SWAN RIVER RETRO YACHT SERIES RACE 1

26 NOVEMBER

ICR REGATTA

29 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

25 OCTOBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

30 NOVEMBER

MID WEEK RACE

26 OCTOBER

FIRST MID WEEK RACE FOR SPRING SUMMER SERIES

2 DECEMBER

DOLPHIN RACE (ROCKINGHAM RACE WEEKEND)

28 OCTOBER

ETCHELLS METRO SERIES RACE 1 & 2

2 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT CLUB RACE

28 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT CLUB RACE

3 DECEMBER

CLUB DINGHY RACING

1 NOVEMBER

MID WEEK “ANNIVERSARY” RACE

3 DECEMBER

1 NOVEMBER

PRESENTATION FOR THE AUTUMN WINTER MID WEEK SERIES

GORDON CRAIG RACE (ROCKINGHAM RACE WEEKEND)

6 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

4 NOVEMBER

WINDWARD LEEWARD RACE DAY

7 DECEMBER

MID WEEK RACE

5 NOVEMBER

CLUB DINGHY RACING

9 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT CLUB RACE

7 NOVEMBER

RFBYC MELBOURNE CUP

10 DECEMBER

CLUB DINGHY RACING

13 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

14 DECEMBER

MID WEEK RACE

16 DECEMBER

ETCHELLS SYD CORSER REGATTA

16 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT CLUB RACE

17 DECEMBER

SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER

DINGHY FLEETS CHRISTMAS PACER CHALLENGE

17 DECEMBER

ETCHELLS SYD CORSER REGATTA

11AM – 5PM

20 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAIL

21 DECEMBER

MID WEEK RACE

31 DECEMBER

NEW YEARS EVE TWILIGHT SAIL

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www.rfbyc.asn.au

The Rottnest Festival of Sail aims to create awareness and raise funds for the Rottnest Foundation and its work in ‘Conserving the Essence of Rottnest’. Your participation in this unique sailing regatta, sailing to Rottnest and Round the Island, will contribute directly towards the Foundation’s environmental projects on the Island.

Visit: www.rottnestfoundation.org.au for more information .

SATURDAY SAILING – 7 APRIL Offshore Race for the Rottnest Island Perpetual Trophy (Category 3) Cape Vlamingh Race (Category 3) (part of the Ocean Racing WA Series and the FSC Captain Stirling Cup) Transit Race for the Rotto Ring Trophy (Category 6 and Modified Category 7 for Couta Boats) Algal Bloom Race Trophy

A WEEKEND OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 

Saturday night welcome function on Rottnest Island.  Includes Cape Vlamingh Race Presentation.  Ticketed band from 8pm at Hotel Rottnest.  Island activities on Sunday.  More information coming soon.

PROVIDED WITH COMPETITOR ENTRY 

Mooring booking in Thomson Bay on Saturday evening including landing fee for all on-board.  Moorings reserved and tagged, mooring marshals to escort.  Ferry service to and from the shore, all weekend.  One year membership of the Rottnest Foundation.  Discounts for competitors, family and friends, details coming soon.

ROTTNEST FOUNDATION TWILIGHT Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club will host the Rottnest Foundation Twilight Sail and Presentation Dinner on Wednesday 11 April 2018.

Sailing begins at 6pm. Presentation Dinner at 7:30pm. The evening includes presentation of prizes and will be held in the Roland Smith Ballroom at RFBYC.

Save the dates with your team, family and friends.

BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION NOW. Notice of Race and entry form will be available at rfbyc.asn.au from 1 October 2017.

Questions to offshore@rfbyc.asn.au