RFBYC March Edition Tidings Magazine

MARCH 2020

YOUNG GUNS ON THE ETCHELLS PRINCE PHILIP CUP DRAGON RACING IN HOBART MIA IN MELBOURNE LASER CHAMPIONSHIPS

PHOTOGRAPHY © GEORGE VASKOVICS

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CONTENTS MARCH 2020 BOA TS HO WS

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NEWS FROM OUR FLAG OFFICERS Gary McNally – Commodore Robert Parker – Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer – Rear Commodore Sail Barbara-Dene Jones – Rear Commodore Juniors Mark Tremain – Rear Commodore Power

Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show: May 21 – May 24 Sydney International Boat Show: July 30 – August 3 Book your tickets to one or both of these fantastic boat shows with Oceaneer Marine.

If you have never been to a destination boat show or

haven’t attended in a while, we highly recommend it! These boat shows are a rare opportunity to see the current offerings from local and international

manufacturers, with a huge range of vessels on display.

Be sure to ask us about boat show tickets, accommodation and events.

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Alistair Young’s youth team won the inaugural Etchells Youth State Champion Trophy. Read all about it on pg 11.

11 ETCHELLS WA YOUTH TEAM

Martin Webster & Adele Jackson

35 BUNBURY AND RETURN OCEAN RACE

Susan Ghent

15 RFBYC VOLUNTEERS

39 OPTIMIST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

17 IS THAT MY BOAT?

John Standley

41 AUSTRALIAN & OPEN OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIP

Alex Molyneux

18 THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

Ron Fletcher

43 OPTIMIST NATIONALS

Isla Molyneux

21 THE OPIUM PIPE

Basil Twine

44 MEMBERSHIP – NEW CLUB MEMBERS

23 DRAGON RACING IN HOBART

John Moncrieff

A SELECTION OF THE LINE-UP AVA IL

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27 COUTA BOATS IN SORRENTO, VIC

Jim Wilshire & Robert Parker 29 NATIONAL 125 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

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CLUB STAFF Chief Executive Officer Accountant Communications Yachting Operations Mgr Sailing Administrator Training Centre Principal Dinghy/Junior Sailing Administrator Power Administrator Membership/Offshore Administrator Accounts Bosun Receptionist Operations Manager Bar Manager Restaurant Manager Events/Weddings

49 TRAVEL GRANTS 50 THE BOSUN’S LOCKER

Nathan Stronach 51 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESULTS 52 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

33 LASER 4.7

Mia Lovelady Custom M78 Adventure

46 ASTERN

Basil Twine

Paul Bayliss Catherine Ramsey Deb Hanrahan Debbie Blaauw Sharon Skinner Shelley White Chelsea Hall Casey Walsh Susan Ghent Zoe Rostron Nathan Stronach Pauline Rhodes Nic Gaunt Lex Kuster Antony Botello Natalie Neal Kaidy Raag

GROUNDS STAFF Timothy Donohue, Laurie Martin, Shane Ramsey, Joel Sheppard

FLAG OFFICERS Gary McNally - commodore@rfbyc.asn.au Robert Parker - vicecommodore@rfbyc.asn.au Peter Chalmer - rearcommsail@rfbyc.asn.au Barbara-Dene Jones- rearcommjuniors@rfbyc.asn.au Mark Tremain - rearcommpower@rfbyc.asn.au HONORARY TREASURER Kim Laurence PUBLICATION Registered by Australia Post Publication No 63312300018 To contribute or advertise in the next issue send your copy by Friday 8 May 2020 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

GARY MCNALLY COMMODORE

As the end of the summer season nears, we reflect on the exciting times we have had at the Club over the past few months. On the water we have followed our members competing in championship events, hosted class state titles and our blue water yacht race. Ashore there’s been a vibrant social scene at the Club and plenty of reasons to enjoy the beautiful grounds and Clubhouse with friends and family.

See you at the Club.

rfbyc.asn.au Fish Friendly Congratulations to all members of the Club and the Grounds Department from the staff team for achieving reaccreditation of the Clean Marina Level 3 and Fish Friendly accreditation. Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club is listed as an accredited International Clean Marina. This programme encourages environmental compliance and the use of best practises for marinas. The focus is to assist marina’s and their patrons with their endeavours to protect inland and coastal waterways. An important ongoing achievement for the Club.

We welcome new applications for membership Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club is a member Club and we are accepting applications for membership. You don’t need to be a sailor to enjoy this wonderful location and friendly community. There is plenty to do and many opportunities to get involved. Please encourage those who regularly use the club and participate in activities to become a member. Leaflets are available in the entrance foyer and at the main noticeboard. Information can be viewed on the Club website under the tab ‘participate’ or visit the Club to request an information pack.

Contact the Membership Coordinator (Susan) with any questions.

Try sailing The RFBYC Training Centre runs all year round and offers many ways to learn to sail or increase your skills. There are courses for all ages.

You can learn in a dinghy (off the beach) or on a keelboat (from the marina). For those who have already learnt the ropes, we have a Crew Experience Program to connect new crew members with a team.

Contact the Training Centre Principal (Shelley) for more information.

What’s On Keep an eye on our weekly member emails, Gybe Sheet is distributed on Thursday afternoons and Front of House on Wednesday’s. 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. There is also a calendar on the Club website.

Social Media RFBYC is actively using social media to share news. Follow the Club on Facebook and Instagram. The Club handles are listed below and there are links from the rfbyc.asn.au website.

Facebook @RoyalFreshwaterBayYachtClub Instagram @rfbyc 2

THE

CAREFREE DAYS OF enjoying our wonderful Club and watersports are quickly becoming a distant memory. As you know the Covid-19 virus has affected all aspects of our Club, details of which I have outlined in my four previous bulletins regarding this.

The Club has only three main sources of revenue, these being Hospitality, Marina and Membership Subscriptions. The forced closure of our hospitality function will have a significant effect on our cash flow which has resulted in us having the unenviable task of reducing costs and formulating numerous budget forecasts. This task has been spearheaded by the Hon. Treasurer and me, with the wider Flag Officer group also having input.

We are also mindful that we have an extremely talented and dedicated on-water team, hospitality team, grounds staff and administration staff that will be required when things get back to normal.

Whilst we have had some cancellations of functions, the majority at this stage have simply postponed their events to a later date.

Taking all of this into consideration we have implemented the following measures for the next eight weeks to be reviewed in four or earlier if deemed fit.

• All shifts for casual staff have ceased.

• Office and On-Water staff working hours have been reduced and they are taking

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their annual leave entitlements where appropriate.

• The grounds and maintenance team will continue the ongoing repairs and maintenance of the Marina, Clubhouse and grounds.

They will be working reduced hours and taking annual leave entitlements as well. In the midst of this upheaval, this is a time of opportunity for outstanding long-term repairs and maintenance to our Clubhouse and kitchen areas.

• In our hospitality team also, we are keen to retain our key staff. They also will be working reduced hours and taking annual leave entitlements. Once all areas of their operations and maintenance in the catering areas are complete, they will join our grounds team along with adding extra security around the Marina and grounds. Regrettably however, some staff have been stood down, taking annual leave entitlements then leave without pay.

The C-Jetty redevelopment project is progressing as scheduled with work planned to commence late April. This project cannot be deferred for a number of reasons.

We are still seeking approvals and final design

for the replacement of the western end of the wharf.

This is an integral part of our operations. It is anticipated that construction will commence in July however we may have the ability to extend the life of the wharf if required. This is not the preferred option as it would impact on the upcoming sailing season.

All Sub-Committee meetings have been placed on hold however they will resume electronically in April.

The Club is in a relatively strong financial position.

Membership subscriptions will be applied to accounts

in April as usual. If you have any concerns regarding your ability to pay at that time please contact the Club Accountant. Additionally, the current house support period has been extended to October.

Looking forward, look after your family and friends and keep smiling. One thing for sure is the Club will see our way through this turbulent time and we will have a fantastic party to celebrate the commencement of sailing again in due course.

If you have any concerns, please give me a call.

We are a community that respects and shares the same values and with your support we will navigate our way through these uncertain times.

The image below demonstrates this better than any words I can say. Unknown junior sailor.

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ROBERT PARKER VICE COMMODORE

PETER CHALMER REAR COMMODORE SAIL

AS

THE SEASON draws to a close, we continue to ensure that off-water activities are frequent and varied. With world health events now having an impact here in WA, we are closely monitoring our food and health management processes. We will make every endeavour to ensure members continue to have access to normal Club activities.

HOUSE AND SOCIAL

Recent House activities have included: • Quarterdeck Lunch 6 December • St Ayles Group Breakfast 15 December • New Year’s Eve 31 December • Quarterdeck Lunch 7 February • New Members’ Night 7 February • Ballet & Ballads by the Bay – 14 February • RFBYC History Walk 20 February • Sunday Summer Session 23 February • Quarterdeck Lunch 6 March • New Members’ Night 6 March • Dorkestra Performance 8 March • Monday Quiz Night 16 March As indicated above, hardly a week goes by that we don’t have an event or function for members enjoyment. The Club has of course been very busy with weddings, Christmas events and a very busy Bowline restaurant.

The Monday Quiz Night held on 16 March will be the last for several months.

I encourage members to attend a Junior/Dinghy Quiz

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Night to be held on Friday, 19 June. Proceeds to form part of the redevelopment fundraising effort.

I was fortunate to have attended the Couta Nationals in Sorrento, Victoria over the Christmas/ New Year period as part of our member Jim Wilshire’s campaign. I took the opportunity to understand aspects of their club management such as community access to club facilities, on-water participant registration and mooring transfer services.

Some of these services maybe of relevance to our operations.

My wife Tracey and I had the pleasure of billeting two umpires from the Warren Jones Regatta. One was international, from Germany and the other from Sydney.

I encourage members who have space at home (empty-nesters!) to give thought to volunteering in this way.

It was very rewarding and both umpires were highly appreciative of a home stay.

I remind members that dogs are not permitted on the Club grounds. This is for the safety and health of members and guests.

MEMBERSHIP

ARCHIVES GROUP

Since last edition, we have held two New Members’ nights. The first was on 7 February at which we introduced 20 new members. This was one of our biggest lists for some time!

The evening was exceptionally well-hosted by firsttime host, Elise Manners.

Our guest speaker was Jennie Fitzhardinge and we were all in awe of her vast sailing history. Jennie made all new members welcome, regardless of their sailing or other interests in the Club.

Our most recent New Members’ Night was Friday, 6 March 2020 at which 13 new members were introduced by host Jenny Spearman. This was also Jenny’s first time hosting the evening, and she did a wonderful job. Several older members commented on how well-spoken Jenny was. Many thanks also to my sister, Susan Parker, for providing the new members with her “Old Salt” speech and wise guidance on what it means to be a member of the Club.

Interview numbers continue to be strong and total membership numbers (2,072 at end of February) have now returned to 2017 levels.

The Archives Group continue to meet every Tuesday morning and to receive memorabilia and other records for assessment and recording/storage.

Group members are continuing to build the master list of members names as well as a master list of vessels (power and sail).

These are lengthy processes and require access to many sources of historical information. I encourage members, particularly those with earlier generations who were members, to retain any photos, articles, etc that may be of use to the archives when we have the master database in place. I thank the current volunteers and will continue to reward them with coffee and home cooked cakes (courtesy of Mrs Vice Commodore, Tracey)!

In closing I hope all members and families are safe throughout the current world health issue. The Club, under guidance of the Commodore, is doing all it can to ensure well-being of staff, members, guests and suppliers.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

LET

ME START THIS TIDINGS by wishing Dirk van der Struyf well following his resignation from Sailing Committee. His respected experience and opinions have been valuable in shaping our sailing.

You will have noted the Amendments to our sailing instructions and start times created by the necessary works to C Jetty. I recognise and sincerely thank our Yachting Operations staff and volunteer Race Management Teams for their management and co-operative spirit in adapting to this temporary change. The support and willingness of all our sailors to adapt to the changes in our courses and schedules is also noted and appreciated.

The annual Friday Night Race will grow in popularity following easing of the equipment necessary for Cat 7 Plus category. Of the 14 boats racing, the five Couta Boats all finished their course but Div I and II did not fare so well when the breeze died during the beautiful warm evening.

Four boats did not finish the 3hr 30min race for several reasons, the most popular being running aground and the most tragic was a boat timing out 50m short of the finish line. Each one made for a great story in the bar afterwards.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Looking forward, our successful Women’s Keelboat Training Program is culminating in the Women’s Keelboat State Championships in March. With up to 30 women participating in the program, which was coached by our Senior Coach Grant Alderson assisted by Chelsea Hall, the Club will enter Developing, Youth and Open Teams in the Championship.

The next month is busy with State Championships for the Dragons, Couta Boats, the Flying 15 Regatta and the Inter-Club Championship in early April.

Of note in the last few months were: • Geographe Bay Race Week – Stand Aside 1st Div 1 • Bunbury and Return Ocean Race – whilst Indian, Joss and Cannonball all had various podium places, the best was Joss with a Div 1 IRC first place.

• Jess Match Cup – eight teams participated in a competitive regatta that gained Conor Nicholas (SoPYC) a place in the Warren Jones Regatta.

• Warren Jones Regatta – the 12 entries included 6 very talented teams from overseas and provided spectacular match racing with incisive live commentary in Perth Waters. The Club was represented by 3 teams skippered by Will Boulden, Ethan Prieto-Low and Marcello Torre. Harry Price (AUS) sailed a great final to win from Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL). RFBYC teams finished in 4th, 6th and 12th.

• Dragon National Championships – Sandy Anderson, Caroline Gibson and John Moncrieff finished 3rd.

• Sharpie National Championships – Peter Chappell, Peter Nicholas and Luke Payne finished 1st.

• Etchells State Championships – Michael Manford, Nick Gray and Dean McAullay 2nd; Peter Ahern, Gordon Blaauw and Sean Gregory 3rd; Alistair Young, Tom Blaauw, Conor Nicholas and and Charlie Toyn 1st youth team.

I look forward to seeing you at the Club.

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BARBARA-DENE JONES REAR COMMODORE JUNIORS

THE

BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY in February was a huge success.

There were over 100 dinghy sailors on the day, with presentations held on the top lawn. Many dinghy families were able to stay on and enjoy the Club facilities and get to know our Club a little more.

Particularly pleasing was the participation of about 30 sailors in green fleet.

These fabulous young dinghy sailors all completed their Tackers courses during the summer holidays and are now keen to pursue sailing at our Club.

Many of the donors for our new Dinghy facility also joined us at the Back to School Party to celebrate the success of the fundraising and catch up on the progress of the development. Our Junior Committee were fantastic, thanking each of the donors personally for their support.

The fundraising is continuing in earnest to ensure we are ready to start building as soon as the approvals are all finalised.

More than 50 RFBYC sailors competed in World, National and State Championships over the summer months. Congratulations to everyone who participated.

Results are elsewhere in Tidings. A special thank you to all the parents who enable their Junior members to participate in events away from our Club.

Without your support our

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Club could not be as well represented.

While our sailing successes are acknowledged elsewhere, I would like to make a special mention of our Junior Captain, Mia Lovelady. Mia won Sail Melbourne and placed 1st Under 18 female at the Australian Championships in the Laser 4.7 Class. A fantastic effort. Congratulations Mia. Our special thanks to Optimist Fleet Captain Scott Munro. His enthusiastic support has seen the Optimist fleet build to its highest level in many years. 14 Optimist sailors headed to Victoria for the Nationals.

Five of our Optimist sailors have been selected as Australian representatives: • Zen Salisbury and Jasper Stay – Australian Optimist Development Squad – Thailand.

• James Ferguson and Sam Williams – Asian Championships – Sri Lanka.

• Sasha Munro - Australian Optimist Girls team – Los Angeles The State Optimist Championships, held at RFBYC, had an incredi-

ble 36 members compete across three fleets. For the first time the green fleet were incorporated into the States. What a fantastic experience for all our new sailors.

The RFBYC Sailing Institute encourages and supports our developing and high-performance match racing sailors. 23 members participated in match racing training over December and January. Thanks to coaches Lachy Gilmour and Mark Spearman. There are now three major regattas in Perth for youth match racing, Jess Match Cup, Colin Mullins and Warren Jones.

We are proud to say that RFBYC members represent the greatest participation at these sailing events, either individually or as part of other teams.

We had lots of exciting plans for the winter months, which of course are now all on hold. Our on-water team are all still working hard preparing for next season. We are looking forward to lots of fun activities when we can welcome you all back to our fantastic Club.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

MARK TREMAIN REAR COMMODORE POWER

THE

2020 POWER YACHT time trialling season is almost upon us. As a warm up to the season, the invitational Twilight Time Trial was held on Friday the 14 February. This was once again a great success and the Club was positively buzzing with the ‘Ballads and Ballet by the Bay’ as well as Valentine’s dinner in the Bowline Restaurant.

The conditions were balmy and beautiful with light winds. There were around 20 competitors participating from SoPYC, RPYC, CYC, and PFS as well as our own Club being well represented. The results were as follows: 3RD #254 XINDI GEOFF WELLS/ DIANNE CLARKE

2ND #103 MAGGIE MAY RICHARD COURT/ CHAS MILNER

Unfortunately, due to concerns around coronavirus, this year’s Camp Quality has had to be postponed. This event was to be run on the 29 March.

Hopefully we will be able to reschedule this later in the year. We had 250 people registered for this event and is always a very special and fun day out for all who attend.

This year Power Yacht Opening Day is being held on Saturday 2 May. Please save the date in your diaries as it is always a great day

to mark the being of the new time trialling season.

The format for the day will involve the usual sail past, short time trial, and raft up on the main wharf for presentations and a dock party with entertainment etc.

Nominations are open so please keep an eye out for the online nomination forms. We would love to see as many boats out there as possible regularly competing both old and new. If you are new to time trialling I’m sure many of

the existing regular competitors would be only too pleased to help out. We would also kindly ask all power yacht owners who are not registering for the time trials to nominate to assist with the checkpoint rosters. It really is a great way to spend time on your boat on the river over the winter period and provides terrific opportunities to socialise with your fellow members.

See you all out in the water.

TIE FOR 1ST #286 SIRIUS DAVID GROUCUTT/ DON TREGONNING

#552 MAHNA MAHNA GIVENCHY LANGER/ PAUL SPENCER

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D E N

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P T S O P

P T S O P

O

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Etchells THE

WA

youth Martin Webster Adele Jackson

above: Alistair Young, Conor Nicholas, Tom Blaauw and Charlie Toyn

T

TEAM

he Etchells is widely regarded as a premier International one design fleet that attracts sailors from all pedestals of the sport, ranging from America’s Cup and Olympians to highly competitive Corinthian sailors. Although the fleet has a strong foundation, attracting youth competitors will be key to securing the fleet’s future. Australia, the UK and USA have been embarking on a process to build and support youth teams to compete at top level regattas, including the upcoming World Championships off Fremantle in November 2020.

W

e’d like to introduce you to one of the two Etchells WA Youth Teams of Alistair, Connor, Tom and Charlie.

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PHOTOGRAPHY © GEORGE VASKOVICS

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Make no mistake, this is an elite youth team. Alistair, Conor and Tom have won a variety of World and National titles between them in fleets ranging from Lasers to 420s and Nacras. Charlie, a young up and coming Optimist Gold Fleet sailor is also an important part of the team. Their calibre was proven by their performance in the recent Etchells State Championships, rocketing out of the gate to take the first win of the state titles and leave the fleet chomping at the bit. They also secured a third and fourth place and finished sixth overall, firmly positioning themselves as a serious competitor in the fleet. And in true dinghy sailing style, the four of them achieved this result without a compass on board!

At the end of the regatta, Highlander was quoted as saying: “It was fantastic to see Monkeyfist get a bullet. Much of the fleet did get a bit of a shock when witnessing the skills of both youth teams throughout the regatta. They sailed their boats very quickly around the racetrack and were a force to be reckoned with off the line and tactically.”

Alistair Young’s youth team went on to win the inaugural Etchells Youth State Champion Trophy with tight competition from Mark Whittington’s team, another highly talented youth team supported by Mark Crier of Royal Perth Yacht Club.

Whittington’s team also competed

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they are also a beneficiary of Monkeyfist who provides them with team sailing gear. RFBYC Coach Grant Alderson also provides valuable coaching for the team as they prepare for the Etchells Worlds 2020.

The moral of this story is an old one but none the less true. It takes a village to raise a child. These young sailing stars would perhaps not have tried the Etchells class or even be enjoying the level of success seen in the recent State Championships. Nor would they even be a contender for competing in an event like the Worlds without the support offered through the Fleet’s Youth Program. And this trend is being adopted by fleets around the World, working hard to ensure that the International Etchells Class continues to survive and thrive.

When we spoke to team Monkeyfist about their success, the skipper Alistair Young said “We really appreciate the support of the fleet to make this experience possible. Everyone on the team was blown away by how close and competitive the fleet is, the high quality of racing and how one mistake can lose you eight places providing a real test in decision making and boat handling. Not many fleets provide this level of racing which provides a real drawcard for youth sailors.”

strongly, finishing one place behind Monkeyfist with a second, fourth and two fifth places.

B

y the way of background, the Etchells Swan River Fleet decided to launch the opportunity for youth teams to enter the fleet back in August 2019, with several WA applications presented for consideration.

Alistair Young’s team won the right to represent the fleet which provides funding for the team’s entry to regattas and association fees.

The Youth Team is also supported

by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and Fremantle Sailing Club for hardstanding and Alistair Murchison, Andy Fethers and Martin Webster provide a competitive boat and sails for the team. As the boat’s name suggests,

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www.rfbyc.asn.au

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Y

outh sailors currently represent 30% of the fleet which is a testament to the success of our Yacht Club’s youth training programs.

The fleet is thriving with many highly experienced racers under 30 including Mia Lovelady, Kaiella Taylor, Emelia Horne, Shelley White, Zoe Thomson, Harmon McAullay, Ethan McAullay, Mark Whittington, Richard Maher, Ryan Donaldson, Chris Smith, Ethan Prieto-Low as well as the Monkeyfist youth team of Alistair Young, Tom Blaauw, Conor Nicholas and Charlie Toyn.

The Etchells Swan River Fleet is working hard to ensure both youth teams have the support to compete in the World Championships later this year.

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RFBYC VOLUNTEERS WARREN JONES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH REGATTA

H

ELD IN THE WATERS IN front of the City of Perth in January, the annual Swan River Sailing event is highly regarded on the international youth match racing calendar.

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and Royal Perth Yacht Club take turns to lead the hosting of this prestigious regatta and 2020 was RFBYC’s year.

Over 30 club members were involved as on water volunteers.

Their roles included race management team, safety boats, umpiring,

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media boat and skippering our club vessels. The team put in an amazing effort, especially with the additional challenge of having the race area away from the Club.

They took several big challenges in their stride through the week-long event, ran an excellent series and had a lot of fun too. It was wonder-

ful to see the smiles on their faces each day and understand what a rewarding experience it was for them.

RFBYC volunteers are greatly appreciated. There are many ways to get involved a volunteer at the Club, visit the website rfbyc.asn.au and use the tab ‘Participate’ for more information.

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Need it done now?

Let us do it, the WRIGHT WAY.

IF YOUR PAINT IS FADING, SEE US FOR A GREAT FINISH. WE DO ALL ROUND PAINTING. AURORA BLUES, SHOWN FRESHLY PAINTED WITH NEW GO-FAST STRIPES & ANTI FOULING, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE HIGH STANDARD OF FINISH WE DELIVER HERE AT FRESHWATER BAY SHIPWRIGHTS.

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Contact Wes or Leon on 0413 443 322

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A fundraising event for the Junior Redevelopment Project

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? Q U I Z ? ? ? ? ?

A great night of entertainment ? for the whole family ?

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night 1

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D E N

FridayST19 June ion e uct l nt A ailab Sile rs av se a e t h t Pla o purc ining t D e l ual Cas vailab a

PO

PO

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club - Roland Smith Ballroom Tables of 8 | Quiz Master Geof Parry from Channel Seven

$20 per person includes door prizes and ‘Heads and Tails’ Starts at 7.00pm

RFBYC | 1 Hobbs Place, Peppermint Grove | P 9286 8200 | www.rfbyc.asn.au

FOR SALE

2007 MELGES 24 SPORTS BOAT

$37,000 NEGOTIABLE

ON HARDSTAND AT RFBYC. • CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING BOAT • EXCELLENT CONDITION

CONTACT: ANDY, 0438 991 611

FOR SALE ‘YAMU’ SPARKMAN & STEPHENS36 (SOLD AS PRESTIGE34)

$58,000 ONO A reason why so many sailors choose the legendary S&S design to circumnavigate the globe is their reputation for seagoing capabilities.

• ‘YAMU’ is a classic, highly capable blue water cruising yacht.

• Nothing to spend. $’000 spent on recent upgrades to accommodation, standing rigging, mechanical and electrical.

• Currently berthed at RFBYC. Rotto mooring use can be arranged.

boat?

John Standley

my W

is

THAT

hilst walking our dog along the river at Minim Cove on a Wednesday evening in February I looked over to East Fremantle and saw a boat motoring down river towards Fremantle.

I thought, ‘That looks like my boat’.

To be precise it is an old centre console we share with the Blaauw family. Usually we keep each other informed when the boat is being used and I though it a bit strange that I had not had a call or text from anyone.

A quick call to Gordon, who was at the time driving to the Club for the twilight race, followed by a call to Tom who was still at work merely added to the mystery. On arriving at the Club, Gordon checked the pen – no boat!

My next call was to the Water Police. They provided an excellent service and after the usual few questions like: ‘Are you sure it is your boat?’

‘Yes, it certainly looks like it.’

‘Are you sure it is not in the pen?’

‘Yes.’

‘What is its registration number?’

‘AR 640,’ (do you know yours?)

‘Where is it kept?’

‘In a pen at RFBYC.’ ‘Has anyone been given permission to use it?’

‘No.’ ‘Are you sure it has been taken; we don’t get many boats taken from RFBYC?’ ‘Well it’s not in the pen!’

Did I want the people arrested?

‘Maybe – but when you find them please check first. It may be an innocent mistake.’

W

hile this was going on, he had a colleague talking to Fremantle Port and I was told: ‘Yes it is just passing the port control tower. We will pop out and have a look.’

Now we have had a similar issue before and we are berthed next to the Moore boat which is often used by the Club for regattas and someone boarded our boat instead so I rang the Club and found that Andrew McMillan had chartered the Moore

boat for the Rottnest Swim at the weekend. A call to him and he said yes, he was using the Moore boat and Fred was out familiarising himself with the boat for the weekend.

My response was, ‘Well you had better call them as they are about to be arrested, they have taken the wrong boat!’

The call was made as the police boat was alongside. A slow speed chase with lights and sirens found them just outside the heads.

First question to a surprised Fred: ‘Have you stolen this boat?’

‘No.’ Police call me and ask if I know an Andrew McMillan?

‘Yes,’ (I might have missed a trick here!)

T

he boat was returned to the pen and many tales were told over a few beers that

night.

Excellent and good-humoured service from the Water Police.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

Make sure the keys to the boat next door do not fit your boat!

David Mills: 0413 189 903 • downstream@iinet.net.au

www.rfbyc.asn.au

17

Ron Fletcher

HUNTfor the

RED October T

here was no Hollywood in the tour of the Cold War Era Submarine HMAS Ovens, that a group of our members experienced recently when they accompanied member Ron Fletcher for an interesting walk through the now decommissioned Oberon Class conventional submarine.

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on volunteers as a part-time submarine guide at the Fremantle Maritime Museum.

Following some recent prompting from a group of regulars of the monthly Quarterdeck Lunch, Ron made arrangements to take the group on a personal tour through the submarine which is permanently displayed on the adjacent slipway to the museum.

The experience was as every bit real, as Ron guided the group through the five compartments, explaining the torpedo and guided missile operations, the methodology of escape, the claustrophobic but “comfortable” living quarters, the small compact galley that fed 64 crew members, the intricate operation of the control room encom-

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passing weapons system, sonar, navigation, helming, ballast control, periscope arrangements and other operational features.

Ablutions caused a bit of chatter with the group as Ron explained the shower routine of once per week and 90 seconds actual water use.

It was agreed that at least everyone would smell the same!

The tour also encompassed the engine room and motor room where Ron explained the diesel electric configuration following which the walk-through terminated in the aft ends.

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his intrepid group of members were united in their view that submarine life is unique and Ron’s description along with the on-board experience gave them a deeper understanding and respect for those men and women that go to sea in submarines and contribute to our country’s security and defence.

The group hastily disembarked, took in some fresh air and made course for the Club and a wellearned Quarterdeck lunch.

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The cover you want to have but hope not to use!

GRANT ALDERSON 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

AUS18129 / 1218

HELLO BRIDGE PLAYERS! ARE YOU A BRIDGE CARD PLAYER INTERESTED IN PLAYING AT RFBYC? The Club has a small group of guys who play ‘Rubber Bridge’ fortnightly, on Friday afternoons between 1.30 and 4.30 pm, with a coffee break and drinks afterwards – a friendly and pleasant format. Rubber Bridge can be played very competitively by a group of four and is a good alternative to ‘Duplicate Bridge’ which is the format played at Bridge Clubs, by large groups. The differences are mainly in scoring.

The RFBYC’s Bridge group is currently looking for a couple of additional members, so if you’re interested and a reasonably capable Bridge player, please email or phone Club member Albert Koenig at koenigaa@tpg.com.au or on 0417 982 939.

If you become part of the group there is no commitment to play every fortnight, as members nominate when they are available to play.

ED

ON

Sydney · pantaenius.com.au

PIPE Basil Twine

Unit 2/ 23 Carrington Street Nedlands 6009

TP S PO

THE

(CUP, THAT IS)

Mobile: 0412 944 909 Email: grant.alderson@gmail.com

Call Manfred Speicher (RFBYC member) on 0416 018 407 to find out more.

OPIUM HELP WANTED PLEASE

A

n esteemed member of the Etchells 22 Association Swan River group was the late Bill Steele: a fine fellow, keen sailor and member of many yacht clubs including – RPYC, RFBYC, at least one in UK and I think he also had connections with Hong Kong. Now Bill always held Paul Reiffer of RFBYC and one-time President of the Swan River Etchells group, responsible for losing the ‘Opium Pipe Trophy’.

Paul had no idea what happened to the trophy but did have a nagging feeling he had seen something with a title like that. What was the ‘Opium Pipe Trophy’?

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ecently John Baron-Hay, Past Commodore of RFBYC and now Vice Patron, former Etchells 22 sailor, was prevailed upon to make an Oral History recording as it related to RFBYC and so on. During this he made mention of the ‘Opium Pipe Trophy’ and how someone was dopey enough to try and bring the thing into Australia in their luggage. He said they were stopped by

the Australian Customs who, taken somewhat aback by finding a “drug implement” promptly confiscated it, melted it down and gave the courier the resultant silver. What a terrible story!

Now; it seems this was a bit of a tragedy because the ‘Opium Pipe Trophy’ was a real Opium Pipe beautifully made from silver and ivory. It was a work of art! Had it been properly packed and accompanied with a “Deed of Gift” or some other documentation it may well have survived.

But such a sinful item, probably still with traces of opium in it, really was too good a target for our customs police to pass up.

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eing somewhat shocked and horrified I needed to know more about this catastrophe so I contacted Ron Packer, Past Commodore of RFBYC, now Vice Patron, and former Etchells 22 sailor. Ron said his understanding was that it all took place after a three-way team’s regatta in Hong Kong which included Royal Hong Kong YC, Royal Prince Alfred

YC from Pittwater in NSW and the Swan River fleet comprised of RPYC and RFBYC. Ron reckons that the Pittwater mob were the culprits and that after some weeping and wringing of hands they had somehow replaced the trophy.

Now, like Paul Reiffer I had a nagging feeling that I had seen something with the words Opium Pipe on it in our collection of silverware.

On mentioning this to Paul Bayliss, our esteemed Chief Exec Officer, he went searching in a cabinet in our Aubrey Sherwood Room and returned triumphantly holding a large silver ice bucket inscribed ‘OPIUM PIPE ASHES TROPHY’.

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ne feels the heat as one picks it up as it has all the indications that it should actually live perpetually in Hong Kong.

The help we now require is in returning this quietly to Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club where it belongs.

Do we have a volunteer?

To determine if our insurance products are right for you please access our PDS from our website.

AFSL 410502 - ABN 95148013085

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21

John Moncrieff

DRAGON RACING IN HOBART PRINCE PHILIP CUP Bavaria 50’

$294,900

Delivered new to Martin Box Marine in 2007, This large volume cruiser is a rare find in this condition.

Sailed only on the Swan River socially, “Box of Tricks” presents in immaculate condition and is an ideal blank canvas for a capable offshore cruising yacht or to continue twilighting and entertaining on the river.

Jake Flintoff

Swarbrick S97’

0402 905 911

$34,900

Ready for the summer sailing season, “Second Wind” (Ex DNA) is arguably the best maintained S97 in the state thanks to her current owners lust for yachting.

A complete new Titanium sail wardrobe was ordered from UK Sailmakers Fremantle including a fully battened mainsail.

Jake Flintoff

0402 905 911

Maritimo 52’

$789,900

This extremely well equipped 2006 Maritimo 52’ has a very long list of extras suitable for extended coastal cruising and rewarding family getaways. On delivery to WA the cockpit BBQ station was relocated further aft and a hydraulic swim platform added to create a much larger area for fishing and entertaining. This task was carried out by experienced shipwrights.

Adam Scahill

Riviera 445’

0419 847 439

$749,900

The Riviera 445 SUV is an evolution of the sports cruiser design with an uncluttered Teak cockpit similar to a sports fishing cruiser. Ideal for the Australian way of boating with plenty of space for a serious day out fishing or setting up a table and chairs for a leisurely lunch in one of the bays.

Jamie Dodd

0418 819 181

Bavaria 44’

$149,000

The highly sought after shoal draft Bavaria 44’s don’t often become available. This example boasts a four cabin layout and is capable of sleeping eight so it is ideal for two families. Furling mainsail and genoa makes this boat easy to sail single handed and a bow thruster allows for easy docking.

Jake Flintoff

0402 905 911

Powercat 56’

$689,900

This Schionning designed Powercat 56’ was constructed by Power Play in 2007 and has proved itself as a capable expedition vessel with a top end crossing including the Kimberly Region under its belt along with several voyages to the Abrolhos Islands and Shark Bay. Powered by twin Volvo D6

Jamie Dodd

0418 819 181

Maritimo 48’

$678,900

‘Agitator’ was delivered new to Western Australia in December 2006 and is in excellent condition and very well maintained. The Maritimo 48 is a very versatile model and covers the whole spectrum of WA boating from a family orientated local vessel (the walk around decks are so safe and easy for the young family) to a full long range cruising vessel.

Trevor Parkins

0412 448 717

Riviera M430

$239,500

Jake Flintoff

0402 905 911

The king of sports cruisers, the Riviera M430 is the ultimate fast sports cruiser. Optioned with the later model Volvo Penta D6 diesels, this boat will cruise effortlessly and comfortably at 25 knots and sprint to over 35 knots due to her sleek hull shape. Built for entertaining, the cockpit houses a large helm seat.

Azuree 33’

$149,900

John water jet cleaning at 7am the morning of the Ted Albert series

The Azuree 33FC is a beautiful and roomy fast cruiser with a light satin beach wood interior for a bright and open feel. The 33FC carries its beam all the way aft allowing for a large cockpit for racing or entertaining with an uncluttered deck. A pull up table comes up from the deck to create the perfect entertainer.

Jake Flintoff

0402 905 911

Wellcraft 182

$59,900

This fantastic family runabout is the perfect entry level Wellcraft for simply enjoying our waterways with friends and family. Easy to tow and launch with a standard family sedan, this 18’ open boat offers plenty of deck space and seating and also has a toilet onboard. Ideal for family days crabbing.

Jamie Dodd

Riviera 48’

0418 819 181

$799,500

Visually impressive at first glance, the Riviera 48 Offshore Express has more flare in the bow, higher topsides for greater freeboard and a vastly dryer ride than other comparable vessels. With the running angle increased by four degrees over the standard G2 hull, the Express rides with its head held high on its aft sections and is surefooted. 2009 Model.

Adam Scahill

Radar RIB 11.3m

0419 847 439

$79,900

This 2012 Radar RIB is a seriously capable off-shore performer with a deep-V hull design that slices through the conditions regardless of the forecast. The twin 300Hp Suzuki four stroke outboards have done only 250 hours since new and provide economic cruising at 28 knots and will sprint to over 50 knots.

Jamie Dodd

0418 819 181

WE

TRAVELLED TO THE ROYAL YACHT CLUB of Tasmania at Sandy Bay in Hobart to compete in the Prince Philip Cup Australasian Championship for Dragon Class Yachts (the PPC) over January 4–11 on the Derwent Estuary.

Our team consisted of Sandy Anderson (helm), John Moncrieff (main and general attempt-to-fix-it man), Caroline Gibson (genoa) and Garry Sarre (genoa and team photographer). We were the only four-person crew of the 11 competing in the regatta and were very happy that all of our weight limit targets were met, with us coming in 6 kgs under the 285 kg maximum total allowed.

Two other crews were also competing for RFBYC: Ray and Karen Chatfield with Peter Massee (AUS201 Aquilla); and Robert Campbell, Robert Alpe (from NSW) and Brad Stout (AUS228 Mirage). This was Sandy

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and John’s 4th visit to Hobart for the PPC starting way back in 2008 (with current JESS match-racing skipper Ethan Prieto-Low on board).

The refurbishment on Sandy’s Tasmanian-based Dragon, Plum Crazy, had not been completed by the time we arrived in Hobart and we spent a couple of days trying to work out what other boat could be available for the regatta. There was a bit of to-ing and fro-ing before our team and the Chatfield team finalised their craft.

As it turned out, local boat Riga was made available for us. This was a reasonable compromise as

all of us, other than Garry, had sailed in Riga previously; notably for Sandy and John, two years ago in the Prince Philip Cup on the Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria out of Metung Yacht Club (where we got a 4th overall and, incidentally, Robert Campbell was 2nd). However, it took a brief warm up sail with Robert and his team, in their brand-new chartered boat, Mirage, to see that we had a bit of tuning and fiddling to do if we were going to feature anywhere near the top end of the results board.

The warm-up Ted Albert Memorial Series was held over three 23

below left: Simulation of John in the back tank trying to sort the broken port runner, but without the heeling and rocking.

races with mixed results for Riga; getting the feeling of the boat and the conditions on the estuary, where currents and tides can add important ingredients to the racing. The right seemed to be where most of the locals were heading, although series favourite Karabos IX was generally slightly more towards the middle of the right. We tended to be more to the left and this showed in our results but we were pretty happy with the way the boat was going.

The PPC started in ideal conditions with the southeaster blowing about 10–15 knots with some heavier puffs, especially later in the day. The right generally paid again but there was enough further left to get Riga around the course of the two races completed with two 3rds. This put us in 2nd overall, a position we would hold for most of the regatta. The second days’ racing again started in ideal conditions for Dragons and we repeated our previous position, with another 3rd. Each of our 3rds were behind Karabos IX but with different boats in 2nd each 24

below right: Close racing in race 3 after an hour, not far behind Nick Roger’s Karabos IX and Rob Campbell’s Mirage (photo taken by Garry on our boat).

race, including the Aquilla in Race 1, and Mirage in Race 3. However, Karabos IX was starting to take a stranglehold on the Cup. Things started to get a bit interesting for Riga in Race 4. A good start and again we headed slightly more left than the rest of the fleet.

Our tack onto port and I let out the rather expressive comment “bother” (or words to that effect!). The dyneema of our port runner had broken. It was go and open the rear bulkhead and a tight squeeze into the compartment under the stern deck to see if it was possible to fix the situation. All sailors are required to wear PFDs on the Derwent giving me much more bulk than was appreciated. The odd thought flittered through my head about what could be the outcome if something happened while I was basically stuck inside that location. The runner situation was not fixable but it was an urgent call from Sandy saying ”get out of there we need to tack to avoid another boat” that precipitated a sort-of hasty exit back into the

below: John Moncrieff, Caroline Gibson, Sandy Anderson and Garry Sarre very happy with the podium finish.

fresh air and a quick tack. My next exclamation was “Oh, there is the top mark and we are leading”! You readers are not the only ones who immediately suggested that I should sail the rest of the regatta inside the rear bulkhead compartment!

We lead around the top mark from Aquilla and Karabos IX and were still leading at the end of the first (of three) spinnaker runs. By this time the winds had picked up and were gusting over 20 knots. This is when the next issue confronted us, in the form of a bad spinnaker drop and, to our horror, the pointy-end of a Dragon protruding through our beautiful and fast red kite! No spare on board … we shouldn’t be making those mistakes. This put us back to about 8th with no port runner and now no kite for the remainder of the race. Tonnes of backstay on port and goose-winging the genoa downwind. We were going really well on starboard but could not point on port, and, of course were a bit slow downwind. However, through good management and a few issues

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on other boats, we clawed our way back to get a 6th to maintain our 2nd position overall.

A reserve day with beautiful sailing conditions followed the next day but the race committee had decreed that we were going to try and get three races in on the following day with an early start, as the forecast for later that day and the next (and final) day of the regatta was for gale-force winds. By the time we started the next race, the winds were 18-20 knots with some of those well known Derwent Estuary bullets hitting the fleet as the winds sped alternate sides of the upwind mountain and onto the course. We were caught out on the right in the northerly breeze this time, when the left was generally more favoured, but managed to drag ourselves up to a 5th after being further back in the fleet during the race. Not many of the boats flew a kite on the last run (other than brave Ray, Karen and Peter on Aquilla and Hugh Howard and his crew on Tarakona … that was exciting to watch even from some distance as they intermittently went from out of control to speeding down the course).

We were now 3rd overall on a count back with Wicked getting 2nds in three races in a row, corresponding to our worst races.

Meanwhile Karabos IX continued their winning ways and had the series won.

The final day of racing was full of contrasts. The first start was in drifter conditions with things looking good for Riga and Mirage who were in the 180-degree change and wafts of breeze while the rest of the fleet bobbed around in not much at all.

However, the race had to be called off with that sort of wind change on the first leg. The westerly had really come in by the time we got away again. We were hit with 20–30+ knot gusts with large and sudden

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changes soon after the start. At one stage we were taking water over the side and it took a panicked freeing of the leeward runner and dump of the main to keep us afloat. The top three boats got away from the rest of the fleet and led by quite a big margin at the first mark with Wicked leading and Riga in 4th.

We had some work to do. As this appeared likely to be the final race of the regatta, Wicked had to keep us further back than 2nd and beat us to grab the second spot overall. We clawed our way back towards the leaders on the next very changeable leg upwind and were in striking distance of 3rd by the top mark.

We were hit by some very strong bullets on the downwind and were very happy with the decision not to fly a kite. We watched as the winds descended towards the lead two boats, who had their kites up. The rooster-tails were quite visible as they sped down the course. Karabos IX bent her mast with the force of these winds. A radio call abandoning the race was put out but, with

all the wind noise on board, Riga (and Aquilla alongside) did not hear it and went back onto the wind at the bottom mark. It was survival conditions for about 5–10 minutes as sails blew inside out while both of us tried to maintain some forward momentum to keep under sort-of control. We later heard that the start boat had a reading of 65 knots during this time. It was too dangerous, nothing like I have ever experienced out on the water, and we took the sensible decision to retire limping back to the club marina as the conditions began to improve somewhat.

We have many stories to tell after surviving that race.

A 3rd overall was a good result but the winners were dominant. It’s a great place to sail on the Derwent Estuary and provides much excitement.

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Jim Wilshire Robert Parker

COUTA BOAT COMPETING IN SORRENTO, VIC

S

OUTHERLY RF2008 COMPETED IN THE Mercedes Benz Mornington Couta Boat Nationals Championship which falls between Christmas and New Year and hosted by the Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club. The championship is followed by the South Channel passage race, the KPMG Couta Boat Classic, and Gant Portsea Cup, the latter being the premier event.

It is a busy schedule, not helped by being held at peak season in a very popular holiday town, plus you need a minimum of six sailors to turn up and all get along together.

The logistics was a breeze compared to the sailing, our crew was largely made up of Eclipse crew, most of them friends from sailing Pelicans at RFBYC and primary school, including Vice Commodore Rob Parker.

We learnt there is a huge home ground advantage; the starts were fierce, the line was short and the tides were racing. Sailing with a new crew and a boat that wasn’t prepared cost us dearly. We had nine starts for the 4 races, which was frustrating, but useful practice.

The top boats not only had local knowledge but most sailed 9 up, big blokes, all on the rail.

We improved over the week as the boat was progressively sorted and everyone got used to sailing together. We almost got some brilliant starts and thought we had outsailed the fleet until the wind and tides came into play and we finished up about mid fleet with a 7th our best result.

The South Channel Race was a mid-week passage race sailed in perfect sailing conditions and we chose to invite the girls (ie spouses, to be clear) on one of the best sails we have enjoyed 11 up.

The KPMG Couta Classic was not held out of respect to the bushfire situation, then the following day it was gusting to 40 knots for the Portsea Cup, so it looked like a lot of effort only to miss out on the two big events.

Luckily Sunday’s forecast was good and we got away on the first start in light winds and a slack tide.

Little did we know slack water is only for 7.5 minutes either side the change and it’s like a plug was pulled. We were first boat reaching down above the top mark looking really good until the tide caught us and took us sideways like an elevator going down, it took Southerly two more attempts before we rounded in 5th place which we held to the finish for a 2nd on handicap.

It must be beginner’s luck as Southerly has been first to the Portsea top mark two years running and 4th & 5th over the line. We should quit whilst we are ahead, but that’s not our long-term plan whilst we can still get a crew together and enjoy sailing former fishing boats on some great waterways.

The friendship and hospitality that has been extended to us has been fantastic and turning up and having fun has kept us wanting to return plus it’s a very modest adventure compared to ocean racing or international competition.

PHOTOGRAPHY THIS PAGE © ALEX MCKINNON 2019

www.rfbyc.asn.au

27

Simon Barwood

NATIONAL 125 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

T

HE FIRST CHALLENGE FOR Tyson and I attending our first ever National 125 Australian Championship (the 43rd for the class) was getting to Port Lincoln, South Australia.

We were due to leave early on Boxing Day but back burning following bushfires near Norseman saw the roads closed on Christmas Day. I put a call into DFES and was reassured the roads would be open in the morning and we woke to good news and were on our way.

After the anxious start we enjoyed an uneventful trip across the Nullabor, our fifth time. We were grateful that the venue was the closest we had been to for an interstate regatta.

Only two and a half days drive to reach Port Lincoln at the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.

We arrived early enough on December 27 to unload the boat and get through registration and measurement ahead of the two practice races scheduled for 14:00 the next day. Daylight savings is a bit nuts with the sun not setting until 8.30pm.

The racecourse was on Boston Bay, a lovely bit of water divided by a long jetty (similar to Busselton or Esperance) running North – South with Port Lincoln Yacht Club situated on the western side. When there’s any east in the breeze the racecourse is around the far side of jetty. We launched in a feeble but consistent south easterly breeze 45 minutes before our start time with almost all the fleet underestimated the time it would take to sail around – nearly an hour! The stragglers got towed and the first warning signal sounded at 14:25.

The start line was heavily biased to the pin, we lined Under Pressure up on port tack only to have

28

the local father and son team Peter and Caleb Henderson on Carnivore slip in front of us on the gun.

WA’s best hope to take a National Championship for the first time in 20 years were Ryan Sherburn and Ella Coxall on the newest boat in the fleet Rush. They started on port just to leeward and were ahead of Carnivore with Under Pressure behind and to windward. Tyson is the youngest and smallest crew in the fleet, at just 38kg he is literally half the size of some. There was a younger and smaller sailor, Lana Oakley at just 9 years old helming The Feelgood Shift Of Summer with her Dad crew as Queensland’s sole representative. Tyson can get on the wire in anything over 6 knots so we know it’s light when he’s sitting in the boat which he did for almost all the practice race. The positions at the start were maintained over the hour-long race and the RO sensibly decided not to run a second.

The first day of racing was abandoned due to strong winds, gusting over 30 knots so we turned up early on Day Two, New Year’s Eve, for a resail of Race 1 in a lovely 12-18kts.

We were in second for most of the race until the last 300m of the beat to the finish when we got caught in a hole in the middle of the course and boats from either side crossed ahead and we slipped to fifth.

After an early lunch break the breeze had filled in to 15-22kts. We briefly led the second race after two sailing the tight bottom reach while the lead boat had to drop their kite and beat back up to the mark but we were well overpowered upwind 29

Wrong zoom factor?

NATIONAL 125 AUS17262 / 1218

CONTINUED

and finished with a 3rd and 6th putting us in fourth overall after 3 races. Rush was leading with three bullets followed by WA breeze specialists Scott Fallows and Tom Ainge (one of the crew’s twice Tyson’s weight and my height!) on This Is It with Carnivore in third.

New Year’s Day was a lay day and we had a lovely time on the beach at the spectacular Coffin Bay National Park, bumping into a few other National 125 sailors on our travels.

The program for Day Three was again altered to accommodate a resail or Race 2 in the morning followed by Races 5 & 6. We excelled in the light to moderate conditions with Tyson often being the only crew on the wire and finished the day with three seconds moving us up to second place overall behind the unstoppable Rush that had now all but won the title with six wins from as many races. The locals on Carnivore scored all thirds and rounded out the top three.

Racing was again re-scheduled for the morning on Day 4 as a strong southerly change was expected in the afternoon. Until then conditions were treacherous with a feeble and shifty northerly and sweltering 40-degree heat. We waited on shore under AP for hours until the PRO bravely started a race and then persisted despite very inconsistent pressure and 60-degree shifts. Rush proved up to the chal-

lenge finishing first, securing the National title and timing most of the fleet out. Only seven boats recorded a result, unfortunately Under Pressure wasn’t one of them. Using our first drop for today’s race saw us slip to third.

With two races left to complete the series on the final day we sailed in the morning again this time in cool conditions, only 18 degrees, but in a lovely 15–20kt south easterly. Legible shifts saw us make some strategic gains despite being overpowered upwind. We flew the spinnaker on most reaches but weren’t fast enough to keep up with the big boys in the breeze. Rush won both races, of course, displaying great sportsmanship sailing when they didn’t need to. This Is It scored two seconds to move them into third place and Carnivore’s pair of thirds was just enough to get them second overall. Our fifth and sixth places saw us slip back to fourth overall which we were very happy with having no expectations coming into the regatta.

That was the end of the sailing but not the story as the bushfires breaking containment lines now meant the Eyre Highway closed at the border so we faced an extended stay in Port Lincoln. We flew Tyson back to Perth so he could join his Water Polo team on their trip to the Brisbane Nationals and Donna and I waited. The next day it was announced the border would re-

open within 48 hours so we packed up and drove 11 hours/900km to Border Town to arrive just in time to attend a Police briefing where the assembled hordes of unwashed truckies and weary travellers were told fresh ignitions near Balladonia meant the roads would definitely not reopen tomorrow as planned.

Donna and I had a Bali trip booked for our 30th wedding anniversary, already postponed from last year after the death of my mother.

She has spent a few anniversaries alone on the beach, or in a day spa, while I’ve been sailing so I really needed to get her to Bali hence the decision to drive back to Port Lincoln and fly home to make our connection. Thanks to the generosity of a local sailing family we stored our car, boat and caravan in their farm shed which provided peace of mind until I flew back to Port Lincoln and drove car, boat and caravan finally arriving home nearly four weeks after we left.

There are two postscripts to this saga, the first is a happy one having learned that our Mirror friends Alex and Charlotte O’Beirne are also now the proud owners of a National 125, the second at Freshie. The second is not so happy, the day after arriving home I dropped the boat trailer on my left foot fracturing the fifth metatarsal and am confined to a moon boot for the next four weeks.

Located Brisbane

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68 Hatteras Convertible Sport Fish Call Manfred Speicher (RFBYC member) on 0416 018 407 to find out more.

Located Fremantle

Whether hobby skipper or boat owner, we all benefit from the advantages of GPS navigation when on the water. But power outages are by no means the only pitfalls when it comes to operating plotters, tablets etc.

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Precision 17 Lic Charter

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90 Expedition Motor Yacht with Submersible

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30

91 Expedition Vessel

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Mia Lovelady

LASER 4.7 MELBOURNE SUMMER OF SAILING

I

HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED from Melbourne Summer of Sailing where I competed in 3 regattas over the month of January 2020 – the 2020 Australian Laser Championships, 2020 Australian Youth Championships, and 2020 Oceania Laser Championships / 2020 Sail Melbourne International.

2020 AUSTRALIAN LASER CHAMPIONSHIPS, SANDRINGHAM YACHT CLUB

First up was 2020 Australian Laser Championships at Sandringham Yacht Club. There were a total of 274 competitors across the Laser Standard, Radial and 4.7 classes including a high quality 80 4.7 sailors from many countries including Great Britain, Russia, Japan, Fiji, Singapore and China.

Over the week we were faced with an array of conditions from smoke hazes to cold temperatures to hot sunny days and sea breezes. Out of the 6 days of scheduled racing, one day was cancelled due to unsuitable wind conditions, two days of racing we faced the challenge of smoke caused by the devastating bushfires in the Gippsland area, and the other 3 days were quite cold but presented suitable wind. The key to success in a mix of conditions was endurance just to keep pushing when the races were long.

Although I was up against some amazing sailors, I didn’t let it get to me because at the end of the day it is about performance and endurance. As Sandringham is much like Fremantle, I felt very comfortable sailing in the wavy conditions which meant I had an advantage over some sailors who usually don’t sail in wavy waters. When a race wasn’t 32

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going my way there was a million things going through my head, but I had to keep telling myself ‘stick to your processes’ which allowed me to avoid risking anything and losing more. I finished 2nd Female overall and 1st placed U18 Female champion.

2020 AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS, SORRENTO SAILING COUTA BOAT CLUB

A quick turn around and travel down the Mornington Peninsula for the 2020 Australian Youth Championships at Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club.

Well, the weather gods were not playing nicely, and we ended up only getting 2 out of 4 days of racing due to the extreme smoke haze and lack of wind which meant we completed 5 out of 10 races and therefore didn’t receive a drop. Day 1 presented winds ranging from 20-25kn and cold temperatures.

This was a real test for me to see if I could handle it being quite small for a Laser 4.7. Day 2 however presented a medium strength breeze of 10-15kn all day. We completed 3 races, 2 of those I was pretty happy with and then in the 3rd one, I capsized on the upwind which cost me 40 spots. Due to my score in the last race on day 2 I didn’t finish as high as I wanted to, but it was an amazing experience and I learned a lot.

2020 OCEANIA LASER CHAMPIONSHIPS / 2020 SAIL MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL

Back to Sandringham Yacht Club for the 2020 Oceania Laser Championship/2020 Sail Melbourne International.

Day 1 started with a building southerly breeze, and steep waves.

The RC made the decision to send only the Radials and the Standards out.

Day 2 was a better Melbourne day with 3 races completed, and I finished the day with 3 firsts (nice feeling!).

Day 3 had forecast a storm to come through in the afternoon, it did mean we only got 1 race in.

Day 4 felt like Déjà Vu as our racing was cancelled once again although the Radials and Standards managed to get a few more races onto their scorecard. On to the final day it didn’t look promising due to a lack of wind. The RC sent us out to wait around before we got sent back in to wait for wind. After a delay back on shore we ended up getting 1 race to finish up the regatta with a total of 5 races for the 4.7 fleet. Although we didn’t get all the planned racing, I still ended up 1st taking out the Oceania Laser Championship Open and Female section.

I would like to thank RFBYC and my supporters for their continuing support.

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Susan Ghent

main image: overall first for Division 2 boat Crush

BUNBURY AND RETURN OCEAN RACE

inset: organisers brought the yachts in close to the beach for the start opposite: an exciting first leg off Port Beach

R

ACE SPECTATORS and beachgoers enjoying Valentine’s Day in North Fremantle were treated to a display of offshore yachts racing close to the shore – the start of the 72nd Bunbury and Return Ocean Race. Seventeen yachts got underway on Friday evening in a moderate southerly wind.

Organisers, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club brought the start line and first leg to a Day Buoy in close to the beach and encouraged race fans to head down and watch the action.

Two yachts, Argo and Al Fresco, were too eager at the start and had to return after being called over the line early. They would have plenty of time to make up this ground over the 170 nautical mile race south to Bunbury and return. The forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology had the winds turning to the north and reducing in strength through the evening and staying from that di-

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rection until the Saturday afternoon seabreezes along the WA coast. It would be a matter of good strategy as well as a bit of luck with the timing for teams hoping to do well in the overall corrected time results.

After an exciting first leg off Port Beach in North Fremantle, the fleet headed west towards Rottnest Island in a moderate southerly wind before making the turn to head south to Bunbury. The faster yachts had a frustrating evening falling into areas of less pressure where the smaller yachts would pick up the rotating wind from behind and catch up to them. At times Phil Somerville-Ry-

an’s S&S 34 Huckleberry, at the tail of the fleet, was travelling faster than Craig Carter’s Carkeek 47, Indian, at the front. An entertaining night for the teams of different sizes racing closely alongside each other.

Indian was first to the mark boat in Bunbury, arriving at 0734 on Saturday morning. Phil and Danielle from Koombana Bay Sailing Club were waiting on station on their yacht Courtesan. An hour later Weapon of Choice sailed into the bay in a light northerly wind; the blue spinnaker flying on Mark Nagle’s Fred Barrett 35 was quickly packed away and they turned to 35

this page: first place for Division 1, third overall, Joss

BUNBURY AND RETURN OCEAN RACE CONTINUED

follow Indian out to sea. Ian Clyne’s Joss, a J 122 had sailed well through the night and was the next boat to Bunbury at around 0900, ahead of CheckMate (Geoff Bishop’s Summit King 40) and Obsession (MAT 1245 owned by Paul and Ceris Arns) – the three led the charge of ten boats rounding within the next hour.

Within that pack were several Division Two teams. The owner/skipper of Crush (Sunfast 3600) David Davenport commented “In the middle of the night, most of the yachts were being forced in towards Mandurah in the dying breeze.

Our crew did a great job keeping Crush moving in the light winds and keeping us out to sea and west of the Bouvard Reefs. This strategy worked well for us and had us nicely ahead of our rivals Atomic Blonde and the new Kraken, we rounded in Bunbury in touch with the faster boats in the fleet.”

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From the turning point in Bunbury, teams had to decide whether to head out to sea or hug the coast for the northbound leg, anticipating a southerly change later in the day.

The front of the pack sailed to the west and it was Simon Torvaldsen’s JPK 10.80 Atomic Blonde with Mike Finn at the helm who broke the trend. Bill Henson’s Circa (C&C 115) and the Double Handed team, Todd Giraudo and Dubbo White, on Kraken (Jeanneau Sunfast 3300) followed in along the coast and these teams made some big gains.

The rest of the day would be a race for the smaller boats. The wind soon turned south and the fleet came charging up the coast, the faster yachts had been sailing to windward early on and covered a lot more distance in the race.

Many teams in the 72nd Bunbury and Return Ocean Race were also preparing for the Fremantle to Bali Race. From the yacht Obsession, Ceris Arns commented that this was

the best race to Bunbury so far for their team. The weather was good and the racing was close, they really enjoyed it. Racing with a different mainsail for the event, this was a good opportunity for the team to make their final preparations and test equipment for the 1440 nautical mile race to Bali in May. Back with the Division 2 boat Crush, David and his team were out to sea with the Division 1 yachts who had also considered the change to the seabreeze direction would arrive to them sooner. They watched Atomic Blonde and Kraken running up the shore inside Bouvard Reefs and figured they had lost their advantage. Setting their A3, Crush started to pull them back a bit. The wind turned further behind and increased to a steady 18 knots and Crush changed to an S2 sail.

It was an exciting race to watch on the race tracker for supporters ashore. At Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, there was a group

www.rfbyc.asn.au

opposite: Division 2 boat Cannonball in 4th place

closely watching the overall results, cheering for their mate Ken Stevenson in the team on Crush. Ken is the grandson of G.K Stevenson who launched the graceful Sunset class yacht Maid Marion in the 1940’s.

She was the fastest yacht in the very first race from Fremantle to Bunbury in 1948 with Keith Stevenson at the helm and Merv Finn as navigator.

The following year the Bunbury and Return Ocean Race began. Keith Stevenson’s Maid Marion placed first overall in the race and she was the fastest too taking 37 hours and 24 minutes, a lot longer than the modern fleet.

At the finish it was Craig Carter’s Indian across the line in fastest place taking 22 hours and 52 minutes, five hours longer than the current race record held by the team from the 2016 event. While it was a slower race for all of the bigger yachts, the fleet was a lot closer together this year. The last boat to finish was

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Huckleberry, coming in just before midnight on Saturday after 30 hours and 17 minutes. Phil and team were the winners of the 2019 race overall on IRC but this year she came in 6th overall and a very close 2nd on PHS handicap to Clodagh Irwin’s French Kiss from Division 1.

Overall on IRC corrected time Division 2 boats took six of the top seven placings including the Double Handed team of Cannonball, a Farr 1104 in 4th position. Dan and Josh are relatively new on the WA offshore scene but recently contested the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on another yacht.

Crush was the winner with Kraken only seconds behind. Ian Clyne’s Joss placed third and was ecstatic to place first in Division 1, the team were very pleased with their race coming in ahead of CheckMate, Weapon of Choice then John Rayner’s BW 36 Al Fresco on corrected time.

Commenting on their win in the 72nd Bunbury and Return Ocean Race, skipper David Davenport said “We were wrapped to win overall, the first such win for Crush. We started racing offshore last year in the 2019 Halls Head race so it was great to finish off our first full year offshore with our first win overall. It’s been a fun adventure and a very steep learning curve and the help and support we have had from everyone has been amazing.”

For race results, race replay with YB Tracking, images and other information please visit the event page on the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club website.

The presentation evening will be held as part of the 43rd Farrawa Cup Series Presentation Evening on Friday 1 May.

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OPTIMIST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WAIODA 2020

Sasha Munro, 1st Place Girl Open Fleet

T

HE WAIODA 2020 Optimist State Championship was hosted by RFBYC on 29 February and 1 March. There were 63 competitors – 23 Open Fleet, 21 Intermediate Fleet and 19 Green Fleet sailors. The sponsors were Gill/Marine Plus who provided a ‘WAIODA 2020 Optimist State Championship’ cap for each of the Open Fleet and Intermediate Fleet sailors.

A ‘WAIODA’ cap was given to each of the Green Fleet sailors. The RFBYC Commodore Gary McNally gave the official welcome to all sailors, parents, volunteers and guests.

Initial conditions on Saturday were light to moderate, with the first race sailed in 5 knots of breeze.

The conditions slowly strengthened throughout the day. On Sunday, the conditions were considerably windier with the final race sailed in 25 knots of breeze. Over the course of the regatta, eight races

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were sailed by the Open Fleet and seven races by Intermediate Fleet.

The Green Fleet participated in their own mini-series competition, which included teams racing, in calmer waters just outside the Junior Clubhouse.

The presentation dinner was held in the main function room at the RFBYC Club House. There were 120 attendees. After dinner, Hillarys Yacht Club Coach Chris Kelly presented a brief summary of the history and function of WAIO-

DA on behalf of the WAIODA life members. Coach Grant Alderson then gave a speech on the success of Team WA at the recent Australian Championship in Melbourne and introduced each of the 10 WA Optimist sailors that have been selected in the Australian Optimist Sailing and Development Teams, which includes six sailors from RFBYC. Fleet Captain Scott Monro facilitated the acknowledgements to the sponsors, RFBYC management and volunteers and briefly promoted the 39

Alex Molyneux

OPTIMIST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WAIODA 2020

2020 MUSTO AUSTRALIAN AND OPEN OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIPS

CONTINUED left: Team RFBYC

next Australian Optimist Championship to be held at Fremantle Sailing Club on 10 – 17 January 2021. The trophy presentations were officiated by the RFBYC Vice-Commodore, Robert Parker. The 2020 State Champion Aaron Teo also gave a brief speech, acknowledging his fellow sailors, RFBYC, the volunteers and his parents.

The WAIODA 2020 State Championship was a huge success. The planning, organisation, race management and catering by RFBYC was exemplary. Most notably, 19 young girls competed in the State Championship. This high participation rate is testimony to the success of the ‘Girls Who Sail’ events and the recent focus to encourage more

girls to sail at the Junior Club at RFBYC. Also, the inclusion of the Green Fleet programme to the State Championship was enthusiastically embraced by the youngest of our sailors, all of whom enjoyed their first experiences of competitive sailing.

back row (left to right): Sam Williams, Rohan Dean, Zen Salisbury, Jasper Stay, James Ferguson, Ben Graham (not a RFBYC member) front row: Rebecca Best, Isla Molyneux, Alex Molyneux, Charlie Stay, Sasha Monro, Jonas Moeller, Ben Pearson absent: Grant Alderson, Romë Featherstone (coaches)

THE

RESULTS

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OPEN CHAMPION

AARON TEO

SOPYC

STATE CHAMPION

AARON TEO

SOPYC

2ND PLACE OPEN FLEET

SAM WILLIAMS

HYC / RFBYC

3RD PLACE OPEN FLEET

ADAM HINDMARSH

RPYC

1ST PLACE GIRL OPEN FLEET

SASHA MONRO

RFBYC

2ND PLACE GIRL OPEN FLEET

SIAN VITALES-JONES

RPYC / HYC

3RD PLACE GIRL OPEN FLEET

ELLA RICHARDSON

SOPYC

1ST PLACE INTERMEDIATE FLEET

LUCAS BRANS

RFBYC

2ND PLACE INTERMEDIATE FLEET

ALEX PITT

RFBYC

3RD PLACE INTERMEDIATE FLEET

FINLEY SYMONDS

FSC

1ST PLACE GIRL INTERMEDIATE FLEET

REBECCA BEST

RPYC / RFBYC

2ND PLACE GIRL INTERMEDIATE FLEET

ISLA MOLYNEUX

RFBYC

3RD PLACE GIRL INTERMEDIATE FLEET

VALERIE VAN DER HOEK

RFBYC

1ST PLACE 10-YEAR-OLD AND YOUNGER

MURRAY DUTHIE

SOPYC

1ST PLACE 11-YEAR-OLD

NOAH KARANTONIS

SOPYC

1ST PLACE 12-YEAR-OLD

JASPER STAY

RFBYC

www.rfbyc.asn.au

2020 MUSTO AUSTRALIAN AND Open Optimist Championships, hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, was a fantastic experience that I will never forget, for reasons other than it being my first nationals.

Although my results could have been better, the bonds and friendships I made with the other members of team RFBYC and the wider WA contingent made a much more enjoyable experience than if I had been sailing by myself – even if I had won.

Guided by coaches Grant Alderson and Romë Featherstone, we embarked on a two-day reconnaissance/training program to discover all the perks of our new venue. One we discovered very quickly, much to the annoyance of Grant and Romë were showers that had almost unlimited hot water, which meant many of us spent unnecessary time in the changerooms, delaying debriefs and therefore the time that the coaches could go home. Other perks were that we had two hoses to wash down two hundred plus Optimists, making for long queues at pack up time. The final perks were having to cross the main shipping channel, which was frequently filled with container ships heading in to the Port of Melbourne further up the Yarra, in order to get out to the course. At the end of training, after numerous rabbit starts and upwind/ downwind drills, team WA got an

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opportunity to race against the NSW team in slightly challenging 15–20 knot conditions. We all learnt the importance of planning downwind, as a NSW sailor came round the top mark 20th and finished 1st in the race, gaining a 20 metre lead on the downwind.

Thursday 2nd of January was the Australian National Optimist Teams Racing Championships, and RFBYC were well represented in the WA teams, with James Ferguson, Sam Williams and Rohan Dean featuring in Team 1 and Zen Salisbury in Team 2. These teams saw challenging 5–10 knot conditions, where it was hard to read the wind on the water as the course was very close to the shore and swirling around many jetties and buildings. Unfortunately, both teams were knocked out after their first two races, much to the disappointment of their coach, Grant. Open fleet sailors who did not qualify for teams racing and the Intermediate sailors went out for another short training session with Romë.

Tuesday 3rd of January saw the invitation race, which was sailed in 10–15 knot breezes in poor visibility as smoke from the bushfires

in the east of Victoria was blown into Melbourne. At one stage, you could not see the top mark from the start line. Congratulations to Sam Williams (Open) who finished 4th in his invitation race. That night was the Official Opening Ceremony, and I would like to thank RYCV for suppling such an awesome DJ. Unfortunately, I was unable to stay.

On the 4th, Championship racing began with a single race in challenging 25–30kt conditions. Many sailors were unprepared for these conditions, as when we went out the wind was only 5 knots, and it built very quickly during the start sequence of the second Open flight. an Open Fleet Start

The second day of racing was a mere 12˚C. And it was supposed to be summer! I found it warmer to get changed first and rig my boat in sailing gear, as we had come com41

Isla Molyneux

2020 MUSTO AUSTRALIAN AND OPEN OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUED pletely unprepared for this weather and had only our team hoodies as warm weather clothing. We completed three races over the day in moderate breezes of 10–15 knots.

The third day of championship racing was also cold, at around 15˚C. However, the wind had dropped off and we had a light breeze of 5–10 knots, but this did not fill in until late in the afternoon, and we were kept in by poor air quality and low winds until 3pm.

We sailed two races and did not come in until 6pm. Like the practice race, visibility was poor and it was sometimes hard to see the next mark. However, enough smoke had been blown off by the wind for the Race Committee to declare that visibility was high enough for racing. That night we had a team WA dinner at the Steampacket Inn in Williamstown, which was a great social experience for the whole team.

Tuesday 7th January was our lay day. Everyone was well rested heading into the finals series that started the next day. RFBYC sailors James Ferguson, Sam Williams and Rohan Dean were placed in the

Gold flight while Zen Salisbury, Jasper Stay, Sasha Monro and I were sorted into Silver. We completed 3 races in medium winds of 10–15 knots that built up to approximately 20 knots during the second and third races.

On the final day of racing, we were held in by lack of wind, but headed out once the wind filled in at around 12:30pm in order to complete the final two races of the regatta. Sailing in a moderate 8–12 knot breeze, many RFBYC sailors had very good race scores. Upon returning to shore, we quickly repacked the container with boats before heading off to the park for the closing ceremony. After some speeches by the president of AIODA and the commodore of RYCV, we turned over to the presentations.

Congratulations to RFBYC members who were awarded prizes: Charlie Stay, who placed 3rd overall in Intermediate Fleet and Isla Molyneux, who finished 3rd Girl in Intermediate. Other notable results for RFBYC sailors include Sam Williams qualifying for the Australian team at the Asian Optimist Championships, by placing 15th Australian

2020 OPTIMIST NATIONALS REPORT Thank you Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club for giving me the travel grant. The Nationals was a really good experience for me and I hope that next year I will do even better than this year!

Team WA

2020 Optimist Nationals Report

By Isla Molyneux

Team WA training

Team WA had to do lots of training to get ready for the racing. We did rabbit starts, racing with a top mark and using the start line as a gate. We did some long up-winds and down-winds to practice our speed. We also joined up with Team NSW for a couple of races.

Thank you to Grant and Romë for coaching me and helping me to do better in heavier winds than I am used to!

Day 5 At the start of race day 5 it was 5-10 knots. It was really light so I was sitting inside the boat and I was only just moving to the top mark. I scored 56 in the first race and 51 in the second race.

I hope that in the future I will be able to coach kids using my experiences. I am really proud of all the WA competitors and look forward to seeing all of them in 2021 at FREO. BRING ON 2021 NATIONALS AT FREO!!!!!!

Opening Ceremony

and 23rd overall, Jonas Moeller, who placed 5th in Intermediate Fleet and Rebecca Best, who finished 4th Girl in Intermediate Fleet.

I would like to thank the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and AIODA for putting on such a great regatta.

Thank you to regatta sponsors Musto, North Sails, Aussie Boat Sales, Hobsons Bay City Council, the Victorian State Government and Parks Victoria, the regatta would not have happened without the assistance of these organisations. Thank you to Grant and Romë for coaching us on the water, to RFBYC and HYC for providing RIBs, to RFBYC for funding part of my trip through a travel grant, to all members of Team WA for fostering such a great culture and last, and definitely most importantly to my parents, for enabling me to go to this fabulous event.

This is team WA doing their procession at the opening ceremony. The WA flag is on a sprit because we did not have a pole. Rebecca Best and I got to hold the black swans because last year the boys used them as footballs!

Day 1

Day 4 On the fourth day of racing it was 5-10 knots in the first race and built to 15-20 knots for the second and third races. I went out wearing bathers, two rashies, a full-body wetsuit, a spray jacket and, of course, booties because it was so cold!

At the start of the race day it was blowing a nice 5-10 knots so we all started sailing inside the boat. Then we finished going upwind and we were going on a reach and it was starting to pick up, so we were sailing as fast as we could to be first to the mark that would be sending us on a down-wind. It was quite windy by then and when we went around the bottom mark it was 27 knots, gusting 32 knots, so we should not have been out there. I came 26th out of 76 people who started racing.

Day Day2 2

Day Day3 3 Day Day 3 of 3 of thethe regatta regatta was was really really light light at at thethe start start and and wewe were were held held onshore onshore until until 3pm.

3pm.When When wewe gotgot sent sent outout wewe sailed sailed two two races races in in 5- 5th th th th 1010 knots knots and and I came I came 1919 in in thethe first first race race and and 2929 in in thethe second. second.

That That night night wewe went went toto a pub a pub forfor a Team a Team WA WA dinner dinner and and wewe allall talked talked about about how how wewe had had been been going going and and where where wewe wanted wanted toto place. place.

Day Day 2 of 2 of thethe regatta regatta was was 10-15 10-15 knots knots and and thethe weather weather was was cold cold and and wet. wet.What What I mean I mean byby cold cold is is 1212 degrees degrees soso I was I was wearing wearing bathers, bathers, 2 rashies, 2 rashies, a thermal a thermal and and mymy full-body full-body wetsuit, wetsuit, spray spray jacket, jacket, lifelife jacket jacket and and a muff a muff and and I I was was notnot hot, hot, only only warm! warm! rd rd in in thethe first first race race and and I came I came 2323 th in th in 1010 thethe second second race. race.

MyMy friend friend Rebecca Rebecca Best Best and and I were I were very very cold cold after after ourour nice nice wet wet day day outout onon thethe water. water.

SoSo wewe decided decided toto have have a nice a nice hothot shower shower and and a sausage a sausage sizzle sizzle that that one one of of thethe WA WA dads dads cooked. cooked.

Yummy!!

Yummy!!

My results were: 1st race: 53 2nd race: 25 3rd race: 11

Team WA training

Team WA had to do lots of training to get ready for the racing. We Day 4 did rabbit starts, racing with a top mark and using the start line as a gate. We did some long up-winds and down-winds to practice our speed.OnWe also joinedday up with Team NSW for5-10 a couple of races. the fourth of racing it was knots in the first

Desalintor servicing available now - all makes

Closing Ceremony At the closing ceremony I had a very big surprise when they called my name, for 3rd girl! After the closing ceremony one of the mums got a tub of chips from the fish and chip shop to celebrate!

race and built to 15-20 knots for the second and third races. I went out wearing bathers, two rashies, a full-body wetsuit, a spray jacket and, of course, booties because it was so cold!

Day 5

At the start of race day 5 it Day 1 was 5-10 knots. It was really light so I was sitting inside and was race day it was blowing a nice 5-10 Atthe theboat start ofI the onlyknots just moving thestarted top so wetoall sailing inside the boat. Then we mark. I scored 56 in the finished going upwind and we were going on a reach and first race and 51 in the it was second race.starting to pick up, so we were sailing as fast as we

could to be first to the mark that would be sending us on a down-wind. It was quite windy by then and when we went around the bottom mark it was 27 knots, gusting 32 knots, so we should not have been out there. I came 26th out of 76 people who started racing.

Thank you Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club for giving me the travel grant. The Nationals was a really good experience for me and I hope that next year I will do even better than this year!

2020 Op B

Thank you to Grant and Romë for coaching me and helping me to do better in heavier winds than I am used to!

I hope that in the future I will be able to coach kids using my experiences. I am really proud of all the WA competitors and look forward to seeing all of them in 2021 at FREO. BRING ON 2021 NATIONALS AT FREO!!!!!!

Call AJW for: - SHIPWRIGHT -CATHODIC BONDING (08) 9418 4402 ajwshipwright.com.au

Opening Ceremony This is team WA doing their procession at the opening ceremony. The WA flag is on a sprit because we did not have results were: a pole.My Rebecca Best and race: 1sthold I got to the53 black nd race: 25 swans2because last year rd the boys race:them 11 as 3 used footballs!

Closing Ceremony At the closing ceremony I had a very big surprise when they called my name, for 3rd girl! After the closing ceremony one of the mums got a tub of chips from the fish and chip shop to celebrate!

-WATER MAKERS -SURVEYS

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MEMBERSHIP NEW CLUB MEMBERS

MEMBERSHIP NEW CLUB MEMBERS

above: February New Members’ Night – MC Elise Manners with guest speaker Jennie Fitzhardinge below: March New Members’ Night – guest speaker Susie Parker and MC Jenny Spearman

ORDINARY

Member Grant O’Shaughnessy Stewart Harrison Aaron Young Sean Houthuysen Mark Kennedy Claire Johnston Mark Rees David Galvin Alex Markovic Dale Peterson Neil Warburton Steven Thorpe

Proposer Seconder Robyn Johnston Barry Johnston Peter Chalmer Gerry McGann Paul Burnham Michael Manford Bernard Hockings Scott Bevis Michael Finn Patricia Ford John Black Robert Black Richard Timms Evan Moore Peter Barblett David Yu Remi Van Baaren Marc Kessels Ross Norgard Chris Wiggins Geoffrey Wood Robert Parker Dan Fisher Richard Williams

ASSOCIATE

Member Lee Rowland Beth Fannon Liesl Brogan Elizabeth Black Leonie Bunning Alexandrea Thompson Vanessa Galvin Valerie Markovic Elyn Houthuysen Annette Robson Rebecca Warburton Nolene Healy

Proposer Seconder Greg Poland Colin Weston Will Boulden Peter Chalmer John McKay Dirk van der Struyf Robert Black Geoff Black Robert Bunning Cameron Shephard Peter Smith Peter Thompson Peter Barblett David Yu Remi Van Baaren Marc Kessels Bernard Hockings Scott Bevis Perry Robson Tony Jack Geoffrey Wood Robert Parker Colin Weston Greg Poland

RECIPROCAL

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.

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.

Member Proposer Seconder Richard Sherwood Ross Norgard Peter Fairweather JUNIOR MEMBERS

Member Nicholas Glauser-Edwards Conor Brogan Charlie Bydder Sarah Atkinson Olivia Payne Oliver Anderson Juliette Van Der Hoek Charles O’Toole

Member Member Max Caine Sebastian Caine Jack Murphy Stuart Cutbush Mackenzie Hector Charles Verheggen Harley Galvin Jesse Ives Archie Amann Hugo Oakley Maciej Tarasewicz Matt Van Wyk Leon Stanton Wojtek Tarasewicz

• 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.

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45

Basil Twine

ASTERN SUBMARINE DECK GUN

ASTERN GERMAN RAIDERS ENEMY ACTIVITY IN INDIAN OCEAN AND PACIFIC IN WW2

W

ITH REFERENCE TO THE SUBMARINE DECK GUN on the top lawn at the club. I was asked recently by an active Club Member about the Dutch Submarine KXI which was towed up river and stripped at the Peppermint Grove Jetty adjacent to the club in 1945.

right: the Dutch Submarine KXI

What had spurred the enquiry was that one of his friends had maintained that there were several submarines brought through the bridges and moored up-river.

I could assure him that the KXI was the one and only and is the largest warship to venture through the bridges. However, the query did motivate me to re-visit this very interesting subject which has an important place in the history of RFBYC. ALLIED SUBMARINES

The Fremantle Maritime Museum has a metal plate fixed to a wall with the names of all the allied submarines based at Fremantle during WW2 – It lists 125 US, 31 British and 11 Dutch – Total 167.

Note: While these ships were based at Fremantle their role included keeping our coastline safe by patrolling so they were not all here at the same time. They were re-supplied, repaired and serviced at Fremantle and their crews spent R&R leave here. Lt Commander Roland Smith (Commodore RFBYC 193346

35 and again 1940-42) and who was Officer Commanding HMAS Leeuwin II based at RFBYC played a valuable part, not just as unit commander but also in liaison with the US Navy maintenance force in Fremantle.

Later some submarines and services were relocated to Albany which also facilitated easier access to the Southern Ocean and south coast of Australia. Of those 167 submarines there are at least 11 still “On Patrol”. That is to say they didn’t return.

ROYAL NETHERLANDS NAVY SUBMARINE KXI

The KXI was launched in 1926 and based in Batavia (Jakarta) as part of the Dutch naval force there to protect Dutch Colonial interests.

In 1942 it managed to escape the advancing Japanese and headed to Trincomalee in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) carrying some VIPs and vital documents. It was then employed in training of naval personnel in ASDIC (submarine detection equipment). Ultimately it made its way

to Fremantle to re-join the other submarines from Djakarta. However, the vessel was then old and frequently out of service with mechanical breakdown so the decision was made to de-commission and sell it for scrap. Part of this stripping for scrap was carried out at the Peppermint Grove Jetty adjacent to RFBYC. During this process it was found there may have been some sabotage involved with some of the lubricating oil lines blocked with cotton waste. The RFBYC co-operated with and assisted the contractor employed by the scrap dealer and in appreciation was given the 105mm deck gun which we have displayed on our top lawn. The Club was as usual, short of cash and actually wanted the anchor chain which could have been sold for smelting down but the contractor was pretty smart and also aware of this so gave us the gun instead.

There is however another story here which surrounds the activity of enemy forces in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

For a long time, I was mystified that the HMAS Sydney was sunk by a German vessel when I thought our principle threat was from Japan. I thought German ships were involved in the Atlantic and North Sea. But this battle took place on 19 Nov 1941 about a month before Japan attacked Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941 and war came to the Pacific.

The answer lies in a memorandum written by Grossadmiral Karl Donitz dated 1 Sept 1939 which stated: “The only possibility of bringing England to her knees with the naval forces of Germany is to attack her supply lines and sea communications”. Australia as a Dominion was shipping large quantities of food, clothing, armaments and ammunition to England and that had to be stopped.

THE RAIDERS

To help achieve this Grossadmiral Donitz commissioned a fleet of “Hilfkreuzers “(abbreviated to HSK).

There were at least 8 of these ships all around 8000 tons; formerly passenger or merchant vessels selected for their potential conversion as raiders. They were altered, refitted, re-equipped, re-named and armed.

They were ingeniously disguised to look like merchant ships but with panels in the sides which could be folded down to bring their armament into use.

Their crew of up to 400 men were mostly qualified tradesmen commanded by older officers often with WW1 experience but considered too old for command of the new fleet of battleships. These crewmen were well trained and skilled in their naval role. Morale was a challenge as they were away often without shore leave for 18 months to 2 years. So, this was alleviated by the use of deck games, films and an alcohol ration.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

The ships were required to carry up to 300 sea mines and were fitted with 6 or 8 x 150mm deck cannon, torpedo tubes and smaller machine guns and anti-aircraft cannon. They generally carried 1 or 2 seaplanes which could be launched by catapult and recovered from the water by crane. Typically, these aircraft had a crew of 2 and were armed with 20mm cannon in the wings, machine guns both forward and rear. They also carried 100kg bombs with a top speed of around 310 km/h and a range of around 1100km.

Of these ships the HSK Kormoran is best known by Australians but there were also; Pinguin, Orion, Komet, Michel, Atlantis, Thor, Widder, Kulmerland and others.

Their area of operation was primarily the Indian Ocean but included the Southern Ocean and (Western) South Pacific where their role was basically to disrupt any allied shipping by sinking merchant vessels to deprive England of the vital necessities being shipped. They laid sea mines around several Australian and New Zealand ports including Albany. The Kormoran attempted to mine the approaches to Fremantle but was scared off by the shore Battery at Rottnest Island. At least 6 of these Raiders were known to have been at times close to the coast of Western Australia.

TACTICS

When encountering a likely prey, they would force it to “heave to”, send a boarding party to evaluate the cargo, resupply their own ship and take the crew aboard before sinking it. On some occasions they placed a “prize crew” aboard to take their capture to a friendly port.

A further role was to resupply their own ships and U Boats in the area with food, fuel, torpedoes and ammunition. Any captured crew were transferred to another ship returning to Germany or Japan.

TIMING

It is important to point out that Germany, Italy and Japan signed the Axis alliance in 1940 but had actually been building up to it from the mid-1930s. This fleet was being created during the late 1930s and was ready to begin operating in the Indian Ocean from September 3rd 1939. Small support bases were arranged in various Japanese controlled harbours and were used during the 26 months prior to Japan entering the war.

GERMAN SUBMARINES – THE U BOATS

Early in WW2 German U Boats were active in the Indian Ocean as well as the Atlantic with attacks on allied ships from the Persian Gulf to Mauritius. Much of their re-supply was from the Raider fleet vessels which were obtaining supplies from 47

ASTERN GERMAN RAIDERS & THANKS

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 December 2019 – February 2020:

continued from page 47 their allied victims. As German losses built in the Atlantic more U Boats were re-deployed to the Far East so that numbers operating in waters closer to Australia actually increased. Grossadmiral Donitz developed a plan of co-operation between the Kriegsmarine and the Imperial Japanese Navy whereby there was an exchange of personnel and a sharing of technical and military data. Permission was also granted to set up a small base for a U Boat Flotilla – the “Monsungruppe” or Monsoon Group in Penang. Some servicing was also carried out at other ports such as Batavia. However, difficulties were experienced by the German crews in coping with the tropical climate and the fine MAN diesel engines were suffering from poor quality fuel and lubricants.

CONCLUSION

Between 3 September 1939­ (beginning of the war with Germany) and 7 December 1941 (Japan’s entry into war with USA)—for 27 months—Germany had war ships (Raiders and U Boats) operating in the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean and South Western Pacific. All around Australia and New Zealand sinking our ships, laying sea mines in our sea lanes and around our harbours – and this was with the support of Japan who had been our ally during WW1. Australia did not have submarines so the presence of the US, British and Dutch here was of untold importance.

The personnel of the Naval Auxiliary Patrol including HMAS Leeuwin II included many veterans from WW1. Some like Roland Smith, had served with the Army and suffered

wounds in France. They volunteered again and with their small boats played a valuable part in the protection of our coastlines. We non-combatants were told very little of the seriousness of the threat until many years later.

THANKS TO:

Geoff Gosling for several books for the Club library. They are all adding to our historical records.

Chris Bowman for copies of his two books which are now available for sale in the office: the first of these is a novel centred on the Caribbean where Chris spent many years, and the second is his partial autobiography. Both are fascinating reading.

below: Roland Smith entertaining American Naval Officers.

48

TRAVEL GRANTS INFORMATION

www.rfbyc.asn.au

APPLICANTS

BOAT/TEAM

EVENT NAME

AMOUNT

ALDERSON, GRANT

JUGGERNAUT

WASZP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

ANDERSON, SANDY

PLUM CRAZY

DRAGON PRINCE PHILLIP CUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

ARMSTRONG, BRENN

2 DESBICABLE

OPEN SKIFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

BRENZ-VERCA, ADAM

SWAN RIVER SAILING TEAM

HARDY CUP

$300.00

BRETT, ADAM

VESZPA

WASZP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

CAMERON, ALASDAIR

BOOM

OPEN SKIFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

CAMERON, ANGUS

SPLISH SPLASH

OPEN SKIFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

CAWLEY, ANDREW

DEVILS HAIRCUT

505 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

DEMPSEY, ANDREW

AURUM

AUSTRALIAN LASER ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS SAIL MELBOURNE – LASER CLASS

$500.00

ELMS, GEORGE

TURBO

29ER YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

EVERETT, JENNA

SHIRLEY

29ER YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 29ER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

$400.00

EVERETT, JONATHON

MERLIN

29ER YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 29ER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

$400.00

GIBSON, CAROLINE

BLUE MARLIN

DRAGON PRINCE PHILLIP CUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

GILMOUR, LACHY

49ER – AUS91

49ER OCEANIC CHAMPIONSHIP 49ER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

$600.00

GREGORY, SEAN

RIPSNORTER

WASZP INTERNATIONAL GAMES

$450.00

HENNESSY, GENEVIEVE

LUNA

29ER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

$300.00

HENNESSY, ROSALIE

A LITTLE UPSET

29ER YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 29ER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

$400.00

LOVELADY, MIA

LASER – MIAMI

AUSTRALIAN LASER CHAMPIONSHIPS AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS – LASER CLASS SAIL MELBOURNE – LASER CLASS

$500.00

MONCRIEFF, JOHN

BLUE MARLIN

DRAGON PRINCE PHILLIP CUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

MURCHISON, ALISTAIR

BANDWAGON

WASZP INTERNATIONAL GAMES

$450.00

QUINLIVAN, LAURA

A LITTLE UPSET

29ER YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 29ER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

$400.00

TAYLOR, KAIELLA

HIGHLANDER

ETCHELL AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

VAN DE VEIRE, ERIK

OPEN SKIFF

AUSTRALIAN OPEN SKIFF CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

WHITAKER, RICHARD

BALANCE

CONTENDER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

$300.00

www.rfbyc.asn.au

49

Nathan Stronach

THE BOSUN’S LOCKER AROUND THE GROUNDS

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESULTS NATIONALS RESULTS

I

HOPE YOU ALL HAD AN ENJOYABLE festive season and managed to get out and enjoy our beautiful aquatic environment. Prior to writing this, I have been preparing for the Club’s Environmental Audit for the re-accreditation of our Clean Marina and Fish Friendly Certifications.

This covers a wide range of topics, including policies and procedures of which the RFBYC membership needs to also be aware of.

RFBYC aims to continually improve our Environmental Management Systems and we can only achieve this with the cooperation of all Members, contractors and staff on site.

All individuals on site must be aware of the following: LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES FEDERAL - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1994

Requires RFBYC (Members, staff and contractors) to comply its “General Environmental Duty” by ensuring that it must not carry out any activity which causes or is likely to cause environmental harm.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1986

49(3) – You must not cause pollution or allow pollution to be caused.

49A – You must not discharge or abandon, or cause or allow to be discharged or abandoned, in water or in any other place to which the public has access, any solid or liquid waste.

50 – You must not cause or allow waste to be placed in any position from which the waste could reasonably be expected to gain access to any portion of the environment and would, in so gaining access, be likely to result in pollution.

50A – You must not cause serious or material environmental harm or allow serious or material environmental harm to be caused.

50

KEY POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION CONTRACTORS ENGAGED BY MEMBERS

• Only legitimate businesses with adequate insurance cover are allowed the privilege to provide their services to our Members.

• The term “contractor” broadly defines any individual completing work for reward, whether it be a “back packer”, “university student” or any other person completing work for you.

• RFBYC requires all contractors (workers who you organise to work on your boat) to be registered with the Club, have appropriate third-party insurance and understand their Environmental and OH+S Duty of Care.

• It would be appreciated if Members could ask this question of your contractors, prior to the contractor arriving on site to complete work for you.

• RFBYC may remove your contractor from site if they do not meet the above requirements. This can be of great inconvenience to you.

• There is a list of RFBYC approved contractors on our website.

ENVIRONMENTAL FOR ALL

• All individuals on site have an “Environmental Duty of Care”.

• Only work of a minor nature is to take place on vessels in wet berths.

• Major sanding, scraping and painting are only to occur on the slip area.

• No spray painting, grinding, sanding or other activity which allows airborne particles to spread are permitted whilst in the marina,

alongside the wharf or on Club moorings.

• In-water hull scraping or any abrasive underwater process that could remove antifouling paint from the vessels hull or create a plume is prohibited.

• Any detergents used to clean boats on the river must be phosphate free, biodegradable, used minimally and are not to enter the water.

• Detergents containing ammonia, sodium hypochlorite, chlorinated solvents, petroleum distillates or any other noxious or poisonous substance should not be used.

• Any mechanical repairs and/or engine servicing is to be conducted in such a manner as to prevent any oil, waste oil products or fuels from entering the vessel’s bilge or from being spilled into the water.

• Bilge socks are to be fitted to any vessel that is fitted with a combustion engine in the marina, alongside the wharf or on Club moorings.

• No paint, thinners, kerosene, methylated spirits or other flammable liquids other than engine fuel shall be stored on board any vessel moored in the marina.

• All “Environmental Incidents” must be reported to the Bosun immediately. Ph: 0407 489 870 • All “Environmental Incidents” must be reported to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Ph: 0419 192 845 SAFETY FOR ALL

• All individuals on site have a “Duty of Care” for their personal safety and the safety of others continued on page 51

www.rfbyc.asn.au

29ER NATIONALS

KIERAN & AXEL FLEET

3RD OVERALL, 2ND AUSTRALIAN

MOTH NATIONALS

WILL BOULDEN

7TH OUT OF 121 ENTRIES WORLDS 14TH OUT OF 122 ENTRIES

HOBIE CAT 16 NATIONALS

CAM OWEN & SUSAN GHENT

1ST OVERALL OPEN DIV, 1ST OVERALL MASTER DIV

SHARPIE NATIONALS

PETER NICHOLAS, LUKE PAYNE & PETER CHAPPELL

1ST OVERALL OUT OF 52 BOATS

OPTIMIST NEWS

• ROME FEATHERSTONE, ZAC LITTLEWOOD AND GRANT ALDERSON WILL ALL TRAVEL TO COACH NATIONAL TEAMS THIS YEAR. • ZEN SALISBURY AND JASPER STAY QUALIFIED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN OPTIMIST DEVELOPMENT SQUAD – THAILAND. • JAMES FERGUSON AND SAM WILLIAMS ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS – SRI LANKA. SASHA MUNRO AUSTRALIAN OPTIMIST GIRLS TEAM IN LA. • OPTIMIST NATIONALS - 13 RFBYC MEMBERS PARTICIPATED – ROYAL YACHT CLUB OF VICTORIA.

AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

23 SAILORS REPRESENTED RFBYC

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS LASER STANDARD

MATT WEARN

2ND OVERALL

LASER RADIAL WOMEN

ZOE THOMSON

24TH OVERALL, 2ND AUSTRALIAN

LASER RADIAL MEN

ZAC LITTLEWOOD

7TH OVERALL

49ER

DAVID & LACHY GILMOUR

31ST OVERALL

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS OPTIMIST

29ER

9 SAILORS OPEN FLEET, 12 SAILORS INTERMEDIATE FLEET AND 15 SAILORS GREEN FLEET – 36 MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE REGATTA. SAMUEL WILLIAMS LUCAS BRANS ALEXANDER PITT

2ND OVERALL IN OPEN FLEET 1ST OVERALL IN INTERMEDIATE FLEET 2ND OVERALL IN INTERMEDIATE FLEET

18 SAILORS REPRESENTED RFBYC AXEL FLEET & KIERAN BUCKTIN SAM ROSE & JONO EVERETT XAVIER BATES & GEORGE ELMS

1ST OVERALL 2ND OVERALL 1ST JUNIOR

continued from page 50 • Any working platform must conform to the relevant standards.

• Safety harnesses must be worn and properly secured at heights greater than 2.4 meters.

• Safety harnesses must be worn and properly secured when working atop flybridge cruisers.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

• Hot works are not permitted within the RFBYC Marina.

• All electrical equipment must be recently tested (expires in twelve months) and tagged before being used at RFBYC. This includes your vessels shore power lead.

• Bilges will be kept clean and free from any flammable liquid.

• Engine fuel shall only be stored in a vessel’s normal tanks as used when under way.

If we all work together, we can continually improve and do the very best we can for the protection of this beautiful place, we are all lucky enough to call home.

51

CALENDAR OF EVENTS R

FO E N LI N O K ES C T E A CH UPD

04 MARCH

TWILIGHT SAILING

01 APRIL

TWILIGHT SAILING

23 MAY

25 JUNE

05 MARCH

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

02 APRIL

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

POWER TIME TRIAL CPYC STATE HEAT 1

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

24 MAY

DINGHY WINTER SERIES RACE 1 – AM

27 JUNE

07 MARCH

ETCHELLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FREMANTLE

03 APRIL – 05 APRIL

SWAN RIVER SAILING FOUNDATION 36 INTERCLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

24 MAY

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

POWER TIME TRIAL VICE PATRON’S TROPHY DAY

28 JUNE

DINGHY WINTER SERIES RACE 3 – AM

07 MARCH

KEELBOAT CLUB RACING

04 APRIL

KEELBOAT CLUB RACING

28 MAY

28 JUNE

08 MARCH

ETCHELLS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FREMANTLE

05 APRIL

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

04 JUNE

28 JUNE

08 MARCH

DINGHY CLUB RACING

05 APRIL

DINGHY CLUB RACING

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

KEELBOAT FROSTBITE SERIES RACE 3 – PM

08 MARCH

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

08 APRIL

TWILIGHT SAILING

07 JUNE

02 JULY

09 APRIL

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

11 MARCH

TWILIGHT SAILING

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

07 JUNE

LLOYD ANDERSON TIME TRIAL CYC

09 JULY

11 JUNE

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE - VICE PATRONS’ TROPHY RACE DAY

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

16 JULY

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

13 JUNE

POWER TIME TRIAL

18 JULY

14 JUNE

KEELBOAT FROSTBITE SERIES RACE 2 – AM

POWER TIME TRIAL CPYC STATE HEAT 3

19 JULY

14 JUNE

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

KEELBOAT FROSTBITE SERIES RACE 4 – AM

23 JULY

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

25 JULY

POWER TIME TRIAL

12 MARCH

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

10 APRIL – 12 APRIL

FLYING FIFTEEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (FREMANTLE)

13 MARCH

DRAGON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

12 APRIL

EASTER SUNDAY SEAFOOD BUFFET

14 MARCH

DINGHY FLEETS ADVENTURER’S CLUB

15 APRIL

TWILIGHT SAILING

14 MARCH

DRAGON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

16 APRIL

14 MARCH

KEELBOAT CLUB RACING

FINAL KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

15 MARCH

DRAGON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

15 MARCH

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

15 MARCH

52

R

FO E N LI N O K ES C T E A CH UPD

DINGHY CLUB RACING

18 APRIL

KEELBOAT AND DINGHY CLUB RACING – CLOSING DAY

18 APRIL

ROLAND SMITH OCEAN RACE

19 APRIL

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

18 MARCH

TWILIGHT SAILING

19 MARCH

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

21 MARCH

FLYING FIFTEEN PRE STATES REGATTA

25 APRIL

ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE ANZAC DAY TWILIGHT

21 MARCH

COUTA BOAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

30 APRIL

21 MARCH

KEELBOAT CLUB RACING

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

22 MARCH

FLYING FIFTEEN PRE STATES REGATTA

01 MAY

43RD FARRAWA CUP SERIES PRESENTATION EVENING

22 MARCH

COUTA BOAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

02 MAY

POWER YACHT OPENING DAY

22 MARCH

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

03 MAY

SWAN RIVER SAILING FOUNDATION 36 COLLEGE CUP

22 MARCH

DINGHY CLUB RACING

03 MAY

22 MARCH

WINE TASTING 2:00–4:00

OLD GAFFERS 23RD SWAN RIVER REGATTA

22 MARCH

SUMMER SUNDAY SESSION SERIES

07 MAY

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

25 MARCH

TWILIGHT SAILING

08 MAY

KEELBOAT CHAMPIONS PRIZE NIGHT

26 MARCH

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

14 MAY

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

28 MARCH

KEELBOAT CLUB RACING

15 MAY

DINGHY PRIZE NIGHT

16 MAY

POWER TIME TRIAL

17 MAY

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

17 MAY

KEELBOAT FROSTBITE SERIES RACE 1 (INCORP. DOC OF THE SWAN) – AM

21 MAY

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

29 MARCH

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

29 MARCH

POWER YACHT CAMP QUALITY

29 MARCH

DINGHY CLUB RACING

23 APRIL

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE & PRESENTATION FOR SUMMER SERIES

www.rfbyc.asn.au

14 JUNE

DINGHY WINTER SERIES RACE 2 – PM

18 JUNE

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

26 JULY

DINGHY WINTER SERIES RACE 4 – PM

20 JUNE

POWER TIME TRIAL CPYC STATE HEAT 2

26 JULY

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

21 JUNE

OFF THE BEACH GREEN & ORANGE FLEET TRAINING

30 JULY

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

ANZAC REMEMBRANCE DAWN SERVICE

EXCITING EVENT

DATE

ANZAC DAY – SATURDAY, 25 APRIL 2020

VENUE

ROYAL FRESHWATER BAY YACHT CLUB – UPPER LAWN ADJACENT TO THE FLAGPOLE

D

LE L E C

TIME 6.30AM (DURATION APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES. SUNRISE 6.44AM) INVITATION

MEMBERS AND GUESTS

PLEASE LET US KNOW NUMBERS – 9286 8200 OR RFBYC@RFBYC.ASN.AU

CAN

GARY MCNALLY COMMODORE

www.rfbyc.asn.au

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F R I D A Y , 8TPMOANYED2 0 2 0 POS A celebration of the Season’s endeavours and to announce the Club Champions, Consistency and Line Honours Trophy Winners.

Roland Smith Ballroom Friday 8 May 2020 commencing at 1900

$30.00 per person Price includes Welcome drink on arrival Curry Station, Pasta Station Pizzas , Ceasar Salad Station Pavlova Dessert Station

“DJ” ENTERTAINMENT Cash Bar available

Make your booking via email to sailadmin@rfbyc.asn.au