Tidings Magazine - September 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

OUR OCEAN CHAMPIONS LASER TRAINING DURING COVID-19 M-32 EUROPEANS

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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2020 2

NEWS FROM OUR FLAG OFFICERS Robert Parker – Commodore Peter Chalmer – Vice Commodore Ian Burvill – Rear Commodore Sail Scott Monro – Rear Commodore Juniors Elise Manners – Rear Commodore Power

25 11 A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER

Zoe Thomson 13 M32 EUROPEANS, LAKE GARDA 2020

Sam Gilmour 15 LASER TRAINING ON THE EAST COAST

Zac Littlewood 16 JOSS OCEAN CHAMPIONS

Susan Ghent 22 THE RELAUNCHING OF HAZE

Susan Parker

Joss took the major offshore trophies for the 2019–2020 season. See page 16 for the whole story.

Cover and above shot are by Lindsay Preece, winner of the Australian Sailing WA ‘Sports Promotion of the Year’ award. Nominated by RFBYC on behalf of the sailing community. Congratulations Lindsay, you are an asset to the sport of sailing in Western Australia.

33 DRAGON CLASS RECOLLECTIONS

Tony Manford 41 YOUNG ADULT MEMBERS’ WELCOME 42 MEMBERSHIP – NEW CLUB MEMBERS

25 MATILDA

Graham Stafford

44 THE BOSUN’S LOCKER

Nathan Stronach

29 SAILORS IN FOCUS, BEN DURHAM

45 ASTERN – FROM THE ARCHIVES

Basil Twine

31 DRAGON CLASS: A PRELUDE

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

Paul Bayliss Catherine Ramsey Deb Hanrahan Debbie Blaauw Sharon Skinner Shelley White Chelsea Hall Susan Ghent Zoe Rostron Nathan Stronach Nic Gaunt Lex Kuster Antony Botello Kaidy Raag Abbie Lawrence

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

48 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FLAG OFFICERS Robert Parker - commodore@rfbyc.asn.au Peter Chalmer - vicecommodore@rfbyc.asn.au Ian Burvill - rearcommsail@rfbyc.asn.au Scott Monro - rearcommjuniors@rfbyc.asn.au Elise Manners - rearcommpower@rfbyc.asn.au HONORARY TREASURER Mark Caddy PUBLICATION Registered by Australia Post Publication No 63312300018 To contribute or advertise in the next issue send your copy by Friday 13 November 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

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ROBERT PARKER COMMODORE

IT

GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE to pen this Tidings article, my first as Commodore. I thank members for their support in electing me at the Annual General Meeting on 28 July 2020.

I intend to carry on the good work on all previous Flag Officers, General and sub-committees and will give every effort to ensure the Club continues to thrive and prosper, despite the pandemic and ongoing economic conditions.

I congratulate and welcome all ongoing and newly elected Flag Officers and other members of General and sub-committees.

They have all committed at a time when good governance and sound decision making are critical to the Club’s sustainability.

Our Flag Officers and General Committee (GC) members, for 2020-21 are as follows: FLAG OFFICERS (IN ADDITION TO MYSELF) & HONORARY TREASURER

• Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer • Rear Commodore – Sail Ian Burvill • Rear Commodore – Power Elise Manners • Rear Commodore – Juniors Scott Monro • Honorary Treasurer Mark Caddy

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• Tim Cummins • Nick Gray • Kim Laurence • David Lynn • Tony Packer • Luke Paterson • John Standley We are in great shape in all key yardsticks, including financial, membership, participation and socially.

Nonetheless, we must be vigilant and proactive in all these areas. I am confident that the relevant sub-committees are aware of their mandates and will provide GC with good guidance.

We have several major capital projects underway at present, or are imminent, and I provide a brief update as follows: C JETTY & START BOX – APPROX. $1.5M

At time of writing the deck panels have been placed and the Start Box is due for placement by late September. Despite several delays, and approved cost increases, this project has achieved its aim. The quality of construction will ensure a long life for one of the most exposed areas of the marina. By the time you are reading this, I hope the Race Management Team has settled in and pens have been re-occupied.

FUEL TANK RELOCATION – APPROX. $300K

A Master Plan was drawn up in 2018, partially to assist planning for the Junior & Dinghy Facility redevelopment (see later), and one element of this provided for the existing fuel storage and delivery system to be relocated to an area within the tender storage adjacent to the shipwrights sheds. At time of writing, works had commenced with trenching alongside the shipwrights through to the northern lower rigging lawn area.

This section of the work is intended to be complete (ie the trenching and laying of pipework) prior to Sailing Opening Day on 17 October.

The work will then be in abeyance until the longlead time delivery of the fuel tank itself in late November 2020. The existing system will continue to be in use throughout. Disruption to fuel availability should be minimal with only hookup and commissioning required at that time.

This project will leave the Club with a compliant, modern and safe system with member card access and greater efficiency and accuracy of fuel sales and usage recording.

MAIN WHARF – WESTERN END – APPROX. $1.6M

Deterioration of the western end of the main wharf has been noted and monitored for several years.

Planning was underway in late June 2020 to proceed with remediation works but these have since been deferred until late April 2021 (end of summer sailing season). Further technical surveys have shown the wharf to be functional, albeit with practical and modest changes to jinker movements and crane usage. At time of writing, a tender package had been provided to prospective parties and initial assessment of responses completed by Capital Works and Maintenance Committee.

Costs, processes and timing were within expectations of CWC and we are confident a suitable contractor will be appointed prior to the end of this calendar year.

JUNIOR & DINGHY FACILITY REDEVELOPMENT – APPROX. $3M

This project is in 2 parts, a) Fundraising and b) Development Fundraising – back in 2018 a small group of members and supporters of this project formed the

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view that funding of this project could be substantially achieved by member donations. A fundraising group was established consisting of: • Rear Commodore Juniors (then), Barbara-Dene Jones • Tony Packer – General Committee & Capital Works and Maintenance Committee • Fiona Webster • Fiona Meiklejohn • Myself – as Vice Commodore We engaged the services of a professional fundraising consultant and, as a team, commenced a targeted, structured, professional program of approaching members seeking donations. Our target at the time was $2.5M, although full costings had yet to be known.

At time of writing gross funds raised amount to $2.45M! As detailed below, recent costings indicate a total project cost in excess of $3M. I have continued as Chair of the fundraising group and we are confident of closing the gap on that higher figure.

I wish to personally thank all of the fundraising group members who have done an amazing job, in difficult times, and have

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shown great respect to all members approached for support.

Of course, I also thank all those members who have donated to date.

Further, and appropriate recognition will of course be forthcoming upon completion of the build aspect of this project.

Development – through several member workshops, GC and sub-committee deliberations, a final design and location was identified and adopted by General Committee. Members have had comprehensive exposure to this design and location, and strong support continues to be shown.

At time of writing a full tender package has been distributed to several identified contractors with responses pending early October 2020. Subject to a suitable tenderer being identified, works are planned to commence early 2021. It is likely that completion will not be until early 2022. It is important to note that the existing facility will be largely functional throughout. Some shed storage access will be lost but planning and management of this is well underway.

Whilst every effort is being made to minimize inconvenience to members, it is inevitable with such a program of works, that some issues will arise. I ask all members to be flexible, respectful to contractors, staff and other members throughout this extended period.

The culmination of these various projects will set the Club up for decades in the relevant areas. We are fortunate to be able to fund and provide this infrastructure to current and future members.

I was delighted to attend the Power Section Closing event recently and I congratulate them on the running of a very successful season.

At time of writing, Summer Season Opening Day is imminent. Our Grounds Staff, under Bosun Nathan Stronach have, again, prepared the Clubhouse and grounds to an immaculate condition (despite ongoing capital works and the tragic demise and pending removal of our entry pinetree). With our fortunate COVID-19 situation in WA, we are blessed to be able to hold a full day of events, and hopefully that will continue through the

season. I am confident that spring weather and pent up demand for social opportunities will have given us a wonderful day.

On a personal note, I have dropped a bit of cycling time and converted that to St Ayles rowing. This wonderful group continues to have consistent turnups on Tuesday, Thursdays, Sundays and in between – often with both Dotsie and Ripple fully crewed. A large contingent, including myself and my wife Tracey will be in Augusta on the September long weekend to support the local group with the launch of their two brand new St Ayles Skiffs.

This is a great example of the community outreach and engagement that our Club can provide.

Finally, to the myriad of volunteers in the Club, I thank you for your amazing ongoing support. Be it manning a BBQ, umpiring a sailing event or doing some gardening, it all culminates in a Club of connected, committed and engaged members. This truly makes the fabric of our Club.

Best wishes to all for a full and rewarding summer season.

Note – future articles will not be this long!

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PETER CHALMER VICE COMMODORE

I Any combination of nominees would have created a team that is dedicated to the Club and is capable of continuing the great work and success created by those preceding us. My thanks also to the previous Commodore and Vice Commodore for their wisdom and hard work which has left the Club in an enviable place.

I look forward to working with new members of Membership and House Committees and thank previous committee members for their involvement and contribution to the Club. I also look forward to working alongside Suzzi Ghent and Debbie Hanrahan as the respective committee coordinators.

• Membership Committee now consists of Jenny Spearman, Elise Manners, John Walsh, Grant Alderson and Mark Tremain.

• Members of the new House Committee are Fiona Webster, Lynn Schlichthaerle, Barbara-Dene Jones, Kim Laurence and Tom Lovelady.

Whilst we may be operating under largely reduced COVID-19 restrictions, these members are an important asset in assuring a positive path forward.

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WISH TO START THIS ARTICLE by thanking the AGM for their support and the election of the new Officers of the Club.

HOUSE & SOCIAL

This part of the Club is where members and staff interact more closely than other areas. I would draw members’ attention to our Code of Conduct which is available on the website.

It relates to the respectful interaction and behaviour between all persons at the Club, including staff, members’ guests and visitors.

Under Club rules, members are responsible not only for their own behaviour but also that of their guests.

If you find yourself, or a guest, in a situation requiring resolution, address your concern to a Manager and seek an amicable resolution at the time. If not achievable, the next recourse is to address your comments to the CEO. It is important and very rewarding to note that we are seeing ongoing increases in restaurant and bar usage as well as events.

Larger function bookings over the winter have been relatively slow on the uptake and is most likely reflective of current COVID-19 uncertainties.

The Commodore’s Cocktail party this year was at maximum capacity and was a great night celebrating the change of guardian-

ship for the Club. Recent Theme Dinners, Quarterdeck lunches and New Members nights are very successful and are booked to our allowable COVID-19 capacities. Bowline dining is performing strongly and is reflective of members enjoyment of their Club.

Upcoming events such as Mess Night and the Melbourne Cup are currently progressing in compliance with Government COVID19 restrictions and may not be the same as last year but will, no doubt, be ones to be remembered.

Opening Day on Saturday, 17 October is a fantastic opportunity to relax after a tough time since March and kick back and enjoy the vibrancy and spectacle of the Club. I’m sure our bosun, Nathan, and his Maintenance Team will be flat out delivering the Club and grounds at their finest on that day.

MEMBERSHIP

Much has been discussed recently about the importance of increased membership. The previous Committee has worked hard on strategic planning for Membership and I will continue within their framework. There are many

suggestions to examine and it will be a busy time for this Committee. At the moment we are evaluating baseline data before putting forward resolutions to General Committee.

Membership numbers in the last months have reflected reductions that are in line with expectations but are duly noted and continually monitored. Flexible payment options put in place earlier have been well received and we are in the favourable position this month of having our largest number of new member interviews for the last few years.

At our recent New Youth Transition Night 23 members transitioned to Ordinary membership and our last New Member Night saw 15 members introduced. A great night was had by all at these nights with and the Bowline at capacity after the presentations.

I encourage all members to come down for these nights to welcome our new members to the Club.

I look forward to seeing you around our Club.

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IAN BURVILL REAR COMMODORE SAIL

A

FTER THE AGM ON 28 JULY, I took over from Peter Chalmer as Rear Commodore Sail. Peter has held this position for four out of the past six years and has displayed outstanding leadership. I wish him well in his new role as Vice Commodore.

I look forward to working with the many people who make sailing happen at RFBYC: staff, volunteers, boat owners and sailors.

Following easement of lockdown restrictions, midweek and frostbite sailing has resumed in earnest. The delayed keelboat champions’ presentations for the Club’s summer season were held on 26 July and were well attended. Our spacious Roland Smith Room and balconies enabled us to hold this function within mandated density limits.

On 31 July, RFBYC hosted the Farrawa Cup Series presentations. Congratulations to RFBYC member, Ian Clyne, and his crew on Joss, who won the series in IRC Division 1. This capped off an outstanding offshore season for the Joss team, which also won the prestigious Siska trophy as WA offshore champions for 2019–2020.

RFBYC has pooled resources with Fremantle Sailing Club, Hillarys Yacht Club and Royal Perth Yacht Club to form Ocean Racing

WA (ORWA) to coordinate and standardise their offshore events. This should make it easier for yacht owners. It will also bring about efficiencies for clubs, which will still retain their organising authority status and responsibilities.

Travel restrictions have caused the Club, class associations and partner clubs to delay World Championships for the Etchells and Flying Fifteens by one year.

Along with the Contender World Championships, we will be hosting three

Worlds over the 2021–2022 summer. Volunteer recruitment and training has been ramped up in anticipation of these events.

Yacht owners, please remember to nominate for the summer season and ensure that your safety audits are completed prior to Sailing Opening Day on 17 October. Safe sailing for 2020–2021.

Coutta boat Madeleine undergoing a once-in-20years’ overhaul, mostly done by partners in the boat and their sons whose employment was impacted by COVID-19. Jim Wiltshire

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SCOTT MONRO REAR COMMODORE JUNIORS

I

AM DELIGHTED WITH MY recent election to Rear Commodore Juniors and look forward to the opportunity to work with staff, coaches, members, parents and volunteers to ensure all our junior sailors have a wonderful experience both on and off the water.

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It is certainly a very exciting time for the Dinghy Club which will experience significant change with the Club House Redevelopment scheduled to proceed early next year. It is one of my goals as Rear Commodore to capitalise on this redevelopment by continuing to promote junior sailing at the Club, strengthen current participation rates and foster a popular junior sailing hub that will retain youth and produce many world class sailors in the years to come.

A huge thank-you to immediate past Rear Commodore Barbara-Dene Jones for her leadership and commitment to the Dinghy Club over the last 2 years. Amongst many other achievements, Barbara-Dene has been a driving force on the fund raising for the Dinghy Club House Redevelopment, introduced the Back to School Party and always encouraged junior members, parents and volunteers to participate and be part of the greater RFBYC sailing community.

The Dinghy winter series was ‘bookended’ by two wonderful days of competition. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions in June witnessed a huge turnout

of sailors competing in the first race day in Freshwater Bay with dinghy numbers exceeding 70. Almost similar numbers turned up for the final race day in August.

Unfortunately, as is often the case in winter, racing was abandoned for many of the other race days due to poor weather conditions. A total of 7 races were completed over the course of the series. A special mention to our most improved sailors for the winter series – Sophia Charly (Optimist), Thomas Cooper (Optimist) and Elise Moore (Laser 4.7).

It is now apparent that the National Championships for all dinghy fleets scheduled for this summer have been cancelled or suspended until the following year. It is a big disappointment for our junior sailors who were preparing and looking forward to National competition here in our own State. But rest assured the Dinghy Club will roll out training programmes and competition to ensure our junior sailors remain competitive over the summer, despite the absence of National competition. The Dinghy Club is expecting significant participation and sailing activity this summer as a consequence of the travel restrictions and the

likelihood that most sailors will remain in Perth.

Our training centre continues to be recognised

by Australian Sailing for the very high levels of participation in the sailing programmes offered by this Club. When compared to other yacht clubs in Australia, our training centre ranked 2nd in Discover Sailing, 2nd in Tackers, 1st in OutThere Sailing, 5th In Dinghy and 8th in the Keelboat training programs for the 12 month period ending June 2020. These impressive participation rates are testimony to the hard work and commitment of our Training Centre Principal, Shelley White and Dinghy Administrator, Chelsea Hall, and the numerous instructors who have worked tirelessly over this period to train and coach our enthusiastic sailors.

Lastly and very importantly, I wish to acknowledge on behalf of the junior members the special membership awarded to Geoff Brown. It is a very deserving award in recognition of the outstanding service and support that Geoff has given to the Club over the many years in his capacity as volunteer and Race Officer.

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ELISE MANNERS REAR COMMODORE POWER

IT

IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I have been bestowed the honour of becoming your next Rear Commodore Power.

I am very much looking forward to this role and representing the interests of the power yacht fraternity over the next two years.

Firstly, thank you to outgoing Rear Commodore Mark Tremain for his tireless leadership over the last two years and for serving on the Power Committee for the last six years. He leaves me with very large shoes to fill.

Also, thank you to the outgoing committee for their service and hard work over the past couple of years. I look forward to welcoming some new faces onto the committee and hearing some fresh ideas on ways to build on Mark’s successes and increase participation.

Well, what a tumultuous start to the Time Trialling season we had, moreover, what an unprecedented year it has been! As previously mentioned by Mark in last quarters Tidings, our scheduled Power opening day of 2nd May was postponed due to COVID-19.

Thankfully, we were able to start the season on June 13 and have had a packed calendar since then. We have seen good numbers

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competing in our weekly club time trials as well as having RFBYC well represented at the CPYC State Heats and other prestigious events held by our kindred clubs around our beautiful river.

On Saturday, 8 August the John Cowen Memorial Trophy Time Trial was held.

Congratulations to Tim Cummins and Ken Stevenson on Havana on their win with just 3 points lost!

Thank you to Bev Cowen and family for continuing to donate this trophy.

The 63rd JM Zeffert Memorial Time Trial, competing for the coveted Kylie Cup, was held on Sunday 30 August under near perfect skies. We had a total of 57 boats competing with 219 people enjoying the ‘pig on a spit’ lunch afterwards. Congratulations to Khaled Hejleh and Sarah Clarke on Stramash, winners of the Kylie Cup with 5 points lost. This was certainly a hard-fought win!

Power Closing day was held on Saturday, 19 September with presentations in the Athol Hobbs Room from 4:00pm. Congratulations to all place getters, most notably Tim Cummins and Ken Stevenson on Havana for taking out the Club Championship with a total score of 111 points. Close runner up was Geoff Wells and Diane Clarke on Xindi with 93 points and the most improved skipper for the season was Mike Kay on Moby. A big congratulations to all! It was definitely a close season that could have gone one of many ways!

The 124th Sailing Opening day will be held on Saturday, 17 October. I encourage all power yacht owners to participate in the raft up and sail past. Further information on this will be available in due course.

A special mention goes to our volunteers, most importantly our regular start boat attendants, Brian Cain, Arthur Wells and Mark

Donati, without whom our weekly events would not be possible. Thank you! Also, a big thank you to Sharon Skinner for taking on the power administration role under difficult circumstances and doing a fabulous job!

Finally, I encourage all members, power and sail alike, to give time trialling a go. It is a fabulous way to run your boats over the winter months as well as a fantastic opportunity to socialise with your fellow members in the Club afterwards. If you would like further information on how to get involved, please don’t hesitate to ask!

I look forward to serving this great Club over the coming two years and I very much look forward to seeing you out on the water!

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Spring is here, the winter season has concluded and we are ready to start the summer sailing season.

After an uncertain start to the winter, our Power Section enjoyed a good season on the water while our off-thebeach and keelboat fleets managed some great winter series race days too.

The Club has been buzzing with many members around to enjoy the winter at home. Social events such as the themed dinners on weeknights, wine dinners and membership welcome functions have been well attended and loads of fun.

We have held three membership welcome functions since the last edition and are preparing for another at the end of October. The young adult welcome evening was very popular. It was fabulous to see twenty-three of our 18 to 25 members who’ve come through Junior membership, continuing to enjoy the Club with friends and family.

It’s been a bumper end to the winter season with a high number of membership applications. It is very exciting to be welcoming so many wonderful new people to our Club community.

See you at our 124th Opening Day celebrations!

rfbyc.asn.au We welcome new applications for membership It’s an exciting time at the Club, our community is alive with activity. There are lots of things happening on Keane’s Point with upgrades in the marina and around the grounds. We have plenty of space to go around and invite new applications for membership. Visit the membership section of the Club website or get in touch with our Membership Coordinator, Suzzi, for assistance.

John Chapman - SailsOnSwan

Thank you for introducing your friends A huge thank you to the members who have been introducing their friends to the Club and assisting them with the process of becoming members.

Congratulations On the topic of exciting projects, we would like to congratulate our team of volunteers helping to raise funds for the Junior / Dinghy Facility Redevelopment Project.

Their successes mean the project is going ahead full steam. It is wonderful that there has been such generosity in donations from members and friends of the Club, every bit helps. Our off-the-beach area is going to be amazing. The new buildings and layout of the area is sure to continue the success of our Training Centre, numbers participating in fun sailing, club racing and other activities as well as excellence achieved in competitive sailing by our members.

Technology We’re getting ready for an upgrade to our digital services for members and a modern new look for our online presence. Stay tuned for the rollout of these new services.

124th Opening Day On Saturday, 17 October we open the summer sailing season with a big day at the club, showcasing our activities and socialising together. Off-the-beach class racing and training, St Ayles Skiff rowing, keelboat racing and a sail past with our power section. The day includes our official opening ceremony and plenty of fun ashore for all ages. A day not to be missed - please join us.

Sarah Ware - Indian Sailing Team

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Zoe Thomson

A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER LASER RADIAL TRAINING 2020

T

HE 2020 SAILING SEASON WILL go down in history as one of the most extraordinary that’s for sure. My year started in Melbourne where the bushfires resulted in smoke so thick that some days on the race course you could not see the top mark and races had to be cancelled. well as racing each other! Our goal initially was to search for bigger swell venues and as much sunshine as possible. In reality a COVID-19 free environment also became a key factor.

Working with the Laser Radial national coach Tristan Brown and Olympic gold medallist Tom Burton there has been plenty to gain by returning to the basics of sail boat racing. As anyone who sails or has sailed a Laser in the past would know, there is a never ending amount of fitness and hiking to be done (fun!).

The first 2 weeks were spent in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Some days we were greeted with too much swell and close out waves across the harbour mouth so we couldn’t actually go sailing. Other days we lined up against more whales and dolphins than Lasers, quite a change compared to the Swan River and winter easterlies. But such glamorous sailing conditions!

Next we dashed further up the coast to the Queensland border with the majority of the Australian Sailing Team to continue training in what is a very mild winter!

We spent two weeks training and exploring the surroundings of Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron before heading further north again to Mooloolaba for another block of training.

We had such a lot of fun and a really productive two months given that we were supposed to be racing across Europe.

I am currently completing my 14 days’ isolation, safe in WA and looking forward to the fast approaching summer season. Which is also set to be a little different with the majority of big events cancelled, but what a great time to jump in as many different classes as possible and race with friends in local events and club racing!

See you on the water.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Following the World’s, the Laser Radial squad looked to a European summer season and the work began. Training on Sydney harbour in February the Ruby Princess sailed passed, docking at Circular Quay.

It was the beginning of what was to be a rapid escalation of the global spread of COVID-19.

Just one week later all of the European events were rightfully cancelled and our Western Australian ‘lockdown’ began. Lucky to catch the tail end of summer, I was able to surf and sail with my brother and keep up fitness in my home gym.

After escaping up north for some warm weather, COVID-19 started to calm down so we made plans to come together on the East Coast to train…just as we began to gather in Sydney, things went from bad to worse in Melbourne.

And so our adventures of the past two months began as we raced up the coast against border closures and the spread of COVID-19 as

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PHOTOGRAPHY © OLIVER HARTAS

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Sam Gilmour

M32 EUROPEANS LAKE GARDA, 2020

W

ITH EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES slowly opening up to each other, the opportunity came up to join a team for the European M32 championships held in Lake Garda, 4–6 September – it’s a unique venue with one of the best breezes for sailing you could find.

I was lucky enough to be given approval to leave Australia to reunite with my girlfriend, in Gothenburg, Sweden last month. Being in Sweden following the COVID-19 outbreak has been an interesting experience and certainly brings a new perspective on the pandemic.

Travelling out of WA’s tight borders was certainly a nervy experience – but after arriving in Stockholm, it was obvious the approach was very different.

Anyhow, after checking the European COVID-19 border restrictions numerous times, I headed off from Sweden to get back into some racing.

I was joining a Swiss flagged entry, ‘Black Star Sailing Team’, with a Swiss helmsman and three other crew from New Zealand.

It was the first event for the team, so expectations weren’t high for us, however the team had a huge breadth of experience so anything was possible. Being the same class as what was used in the World Match Racing Tour for the last few years, we knew fairly well what to expect and had a good time back on the water.

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We arrived into Riva del Garda in time for a few days training and felt confident going into the first of three days of racing – there were 7 teams on the line, so it was a good turn out!

The great thing about Garda is the reliability of the wind. Like the Fremantle Doctor, the afternoon breeze starts building in the early afternoon – and could get fairly fruity as the day went on. Unlike Perth’s sea-breeze, it was a go right course, get as close to the towering cliffs on the side of the lake, and tack for the top mark.

We knew this well, and made the most of our opportunities, managing to win the first 5 races of the regatta and going out to a nice lead early on.

The M32 class run reaching starts, which is pretty unique for one-design sailing, and one of the reasons that teams love the racing – it’s always close coming into mark 1 and you’re bound to see fireworks at some point.

Day two we saw a closer results sheet, as teams began to push harder, and the leaderboard closed up between the top 3. We were still in

the lead but needed to sail well on the final day to close it out.

It was good to see fellow RFBYC member Peter Nicholas, who is looking more Swedish every time I see him, out on the course coaching a competitor – team GAC-Blixsem.

Fortunately, Pete is a devout Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club member.

On the final day of racing, we managed to put together one final solid push in racing. We closed the regatta out with a race to spare and were crowned European Champions in the M32!

Such an awesome time getting back to racing, and with a new team it was refreshing to be on a race course once again.

The M32 is a great class to jump into and for Black Star, we chartered a boat directly from race organisers. A fun, high speed one-design class, it’s certainly one that I would recommend to anyone interested in catamaran racing.

For now, I am back in Sweden, but looking forward to be back out racing when the opportunity comes.

Wishing everybody back in Perth all the best, and stay safe.

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LASER TRAINING ON THE EAST COAST

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URING THE PAST FEW MONTHS I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in various training camps with the Australian Laser team over here on the East Coast.

We have trained in locations such as Coffs Harbour, Brisbane, Mooloolaba and Noosa.

Coffs Harbour provided very open water conditions with big swell and lots of wildlife. The amount of wildlife that I saw in the 4 weeks out of Coffs, is the most I’ve ever seen. Sharks, turtles, dolphins and whales were a daily appearance when training just out of the yacht club. After the camp in Coffs Harbour, the borders to Queensland opened so I was allowed to travel up to Noosa for the week off, before heading to Brisbane for a week on water. The Laser Team works on a two week on water, two weeks off water schedule, so in the ‘time off’ I’ve been lucky enough to keep training under my regular laser coach, Ryan Palk who lives in Noosa. The next camp was with the team in Mooloolaba, which

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was one of the best places I’ve ever sailed. Open water, big waves, sunshine and sometimes sea breezes (even in winter). I sailed quite well here in this camp and was fortunate enough to have nine other laser sailors to race against. The following week, I had a few days of sailing out of Noosa which again was such a beautiful place to sail and provided a few challenges with waves breaking on the entrance to the ocean as you leave the ‘Noosa bar’. The third camp was planned for Yeppoon, but due to Queensland borders closing, it was held in Coffs Harbour, NSW. I’m currently mid-way through this camp and enjoying the last few on water sessions before coming home and self-isolating for two weeks.

With no competitions planned until September 2021, the next few months will be interesting as to how much laser sailing I do, especially as I won’t be going back to the east coast while borders remain closed.

I’m looking forward to the challenge of keeping training at home at an intense level while also creating a fun training environment to sail in. It’s definitely the time to develop other aspects of my sailing and I look forward to doing more offshore sailing and kitesurfing/foiling in my down time at home.

I really appreciate the support from RFBYC, especially during my 3 month training block over here in NSW/QLD.

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OCEAN CHAMPIONS Susan Ghent

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N O

ur Club has a long history with offshore racing and our teams continue to perform well. It is fantastic to see RFBYC represented in the sport, by a handful of boats that love the challenge and are determined to take on the ocean.

One of those teams is Ian Clyne’s Joss. At 40 foot long, the J122 racer cruiser is an excellent all rounder and has the ability to perform well on the race course. The crew planned out their season of racing, put some big goals in place and made a commitment to race out the entire season to the best of their ability.

Joss didn’t just perform consistently, the team had a terrific year on the water in 2019–2020 and took out all of the major offshore trophies for the season.

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he Siska Trophy is Western Australia’s premier offshore prize. Historically awarded to the best performing yacht in the Blue Water Series of four to six races, for the 2019–2020 season the series was a mix of the Blue Water and Short Haul events, presenting an increased challenge for the teams. They needed to sail consistently in the four long distance overnight events and eight coastal day races to be the overall champion.

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Joss secures her place on the Siska Trophy and Farrawa Cup to complete a brilliant year offshore.

JOSS WAS CROWNED: OCEAN RACING WA SISKA TROPHY WINNER

OVERALL COMBINED ON IRC. RFBYC FARRAWA CUP TROPHY WINNER

OVERALL COMBINED ON IRC. RFBYC 43RD FARRAWA CUP SERIES DIVISION ONE WINNER

IRC IN DIVISIONS. OCEAN RACING WA BLUE WATER SERIES DIVISION ONE WINNER

IRC AND PHS IN DIVISIONS. OCEAN RACING WA OFFSHORE SERIES DIVISION ONE WINNER

IRC AND PHS IN DIVISIONS FSC SUCCESS CUP SERIES WINNER

IRC AND PHS FSC CAPTAIN STIRLING CUP SERIES WINNER

IRC AND PHS VALMADRE CUP, FSC WINTER SERIES DIVISION ONE WINNER

IRC

18 EXCEPT WHERE NOTED IMAGES ARE BY LINDSAY PREECE

IMAGE BY SUSAN GHENT

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hat a fantastic year for the team on Joss. RFBYC is very proud of their achievements in ocean racing and are pleased that Joss continues to represent the Club.

Owner Ian Clyne commented that “the challenges of racing offshore are considerable, the rewards both personally and as a crew are an enormous sense of achievement and satisfaction irrespective of the results.

Joss is an extremely competitive IRC performance cruiser, we are proud to be racing offshore representing RFBYC. Our clean sweep of all Div 1 IRC Series in the 2019/20 season, was a fantastic result albeit extremely humbling. We invite young sail-

ors from our Club to join us in our 2020/21 quest for the Ocean Racing WA awards.”

During the 2019–2020 season, Joss won the 72nd Bunbury and Return Ocean Race in Division One IRC but they did not take the overall win. This is one honour board that Ian and his team will have their eye on for the 2020–2021 season. They are off to a good start with a win overall in the first race of the year, FSC’s Foundation Race – George Law Memorial in windy and challenging conditions.

All the best to Ian Clyne’s Joss for another excellent year on the ocean.

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eam RFBYC Offshore Racing also includes Dan Cannon’s Farr 1104 Cannonball and Craig Carter’s Carkeek 47 Indian.

Both teams have committed to the Ocean Racing WA season of races.

The Club currently holds the WA IRC State Championship titles in both Division One and Division Two. We hope to see the current champions Peter Chappell’s The Cadillac and Ken Stevenson’s Problem Child out to defend the 2020–2021 event which will again be part of the Rockingham Race Regatta (28 & 29 November 2020). The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club event involves our power and sailing fleets for a great weekend away in Rockingham.

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z

Haze the relaunching of the TUMLAREN

Susan Parker

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n July 2020 Steve Ward and Leonie Rochford relaunched the classic yacht Haze after a number of years out of the water and a period of 12 months of rewarding work in undertaking her restoration.

Haze was built in 1938 by G Hudson of Nedlands for owner ‘Tubby’ Masel (Massell) at a cost of £350.

She was the first of the subsequently popular light displacement Marconi rigged yachts on the Swan River.

The history of Haze reads as a who’s who of Western Australian yacht racing between the late 30’s and the early 70’s as ownership and helming passed between members of RPYC, CYC and RFBYC.

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with thanks to the Royal Perth Yacht Club Archivist.

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uring the 30’s and 40’s she was raced on the Swan River by G Throssel (RFBYC) and G Townsend (RFBYC). Tubby Masel (CYC) sold Haze to Keith Stevenson (RFBYC and CYC) around 1945. Subsequently she was passed to Ron Moran, who sold her to John Wittenoom where she was noted on the RPYC register in 1947. She was trucked by Wittenoom to the Princess Royal Yacht Club in the early 50’s and then returned to the register of the Royal Freshwater Bay Club under the ownership of Steve Craig in 1953. In 1956 Merv Finn purchased her from Craig and she was then back on the RPYC register. It appears

that J (James/Jim) Grainger from RPYC owned her in the mid-60s, then RR Anderson and WT Chamberlain (also RPYC) in the late 60’s.

In the early 70’s SJ Pontaque was the RPYC registered owner of Haze.

Haze has been cited as winning “every ocean race in WA in her heyday”. As early as her first season in 1939 she raced at Rottnest in the Norman Brearley Race although retired as a result of a “mishap to her jib”. She came 3rd in the LF Glaskin Race around Rottnest in 1953 under Steve Craig’s helm and had fastest time in the Shephardess Cup, also around Rottnest.

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The beautifully restored Haze on relaunch July 2020

Haze has a lifelong association with RFBYC and is one of the few remaining locally built classic wooden yachts of the early 20th century.

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t was her performance, or mere entry, in ocean races that impressed many an old salt and astounds even more of the current racing fraternity. This 27’ canoe stern sloop, with long keel and transom hung rudder has a cockpit with barely room for the helmsman. The interior accommodation is very spartan but surprisingly once provided full length berths on port and starboard and a v-berth, sufficient for a weary ocean racing crew to nap.

It was a grueling 30knot sou’westerly Bunbury Race in 1955 when Steve Craig helmed Haze passed seven withdrawals before sunset. It is reported that she may have been the only yacht to finish in this or a similar bad weather ocean race. In 1956 Merv Finn commenced a remarkable ocean racing campaign sailing Haze to a first place in the Gordon Craig Memorial Race, she took second place in the Bunbury Race and

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won the Naturalist Race having once again weathered 70mph winds. Finn sailed Haze to first place in the inaugural SS Arcadia Trophy in 1959 and in that same year completed the Bunbury Return Race in 46hours and 53 minutes.

In 1960 her ocean racing record under Merv’s helmsmanship stood at 1st, 2nd, 2nd and 3rd for the previous four Naturalist Races and 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the previous six Bunbury races. In 1961 she completed a marathon Naturalist Race of 54 hours, arriving home last, 16 hours after the line honours Panamuna.

Haze’s performance reflected her Tumlaren pedigree. Designed by the Scandinavian Knud Reimers, 600 are believed to have been built with the first in 1933. Five had been launched in Australia by the end of 1937. They are found all over the world having been registered in 24 countries. In

Australia they became a one design racing class and were adapted to locally available wood types. There are a number still racing as a fleet at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. The design has been feted as years ahead of its time. According to renowned yachtsman Uffa Fox the Tumlaren “was once the most advanced type of cruiser in the world”.

We are privileged to have Haze back in Freshwater Bay and on the RFBYC Yacht Register having been beautifully restored by member Steve Ward – another great testament to his boat building craftsmanship. left: S Craig, crew W Johnson and A Keogh.

Finishing 2nd HCP, fastest time 1st, Shephardess Cup C.Y.C. (Rottnest) 1953. photo - The Grove Library

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MATI 24

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ILDA Graham Stafford

is a Norwalk Island Sharpie 23 (7m) designed by Bruce Kirby – a naval architect who also designed the Laser, the Sonar Olympic class yachts, and America Cup yachts for Canada.

K

irby originally designed a Norwalk Island Sharpie 26 (8m) for his own use to sail on Chesapeake Bay, Delaware, USA. There are now a range of these boats from 5.5m to 13m designs which are distributed by Robert Ayliffe via his Straydog BoatWorks, Mt. Barker, South Australia.

The Norwalk Island Sharpie (NIS) are based on the traditional Chesapeake flat bottomed work boats for fishing in the relatively shallow Bay and also worked in the Carolinas.

They have swing centre board and

lifting rudder to allow them to work the shallows if required. The design is also quite seaworthy as shown

by Commodore Ralph Munroe in his extensive ocean cruises in his 28’ sharpie Egret in the late 1800’s which popularised the sharpie design for recreational boating in the USA. The technique in a storm is to raise both the centreboard and rudder with a drogue, and let the boat be taken along with breaking waves.

The NIS’s will self-right up to 140˚ heel. This technique was proven by Robert Ayliffe when enduring cross-

ing of Bass Straight in Charlie Fisher (an NIS 23) where he encountered a 60 knot gale. They sailed from Port Welshpool in Victoria to Hobart in Tasmania without any problems.

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he maximum waterline beam is 2/3 the maximum deck beam which make the boat a ‘bit tippy’ initially but stiffens up once the boat heels a bit which also lets the leeward chine to cut through the waves. The boat is ketch rigged with two unstayed masts with three reefs in the mainsail and one in the

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mizzen. The boat is very simple to sail. The current red sails are 30 years old and their shape shows their age however we have new one being made to suit new more flexible carbon fibre masts, again currently being made.

Matilda was built by David Nelson, a master craftsman, in Adelaide in 1991. Matilda was taken on a road trip to the Kimberley’s in 1993

(see story on following page). The only other history of the boat I know of is it was sold into NSW and then bought by Peter Kovesi a member of Mounts Bay Yacht Club from whom I bought the boat. While built of timber it has been completely encased in fibre glass. The current masts are of tapered aluminium. The hull is emerald green and the original red sails.

My 19-year-old grandson, Alexander Bootsma, and myself are having great fun learning to sail Matilda (RF30) on Thursday afternoons and in the Frostbite Series.

Following are precis of two articles: Matilda’s cruise in the Kimberley’s via a road trip from Adelaide; and Charlie Fisher’s voyage from Port Welshpool, Victoria to Hobart, Tasmania.

left upper: Matilda

middle: reefing lines lead back to the cockpit

left lower: rudder box and tiller

CHARLIE FISHER’S BASS STRAIT ADVENTURE

right: winch and rope clutches for halyard and mast raising line

From the article ‘Charlie Fisher’s Bass Strait Adventure’ in Australian Amateur Boatbuilder (n.d; p19-29) by Robert Ayliffe with Ian Phillips.

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he voyage completed by sister ship Charlie Fisher from Port Welshpool in Melbourne to Hobart in Tasmania and back again goes to show the versatility and grunt of the 23’ Norwalk Island Sharpies.

With Matilda’s Kimberley voyage in mind, and many months of preparation, Robert Ayliffe set off on the return crossing of the Bass Strait.

He recounts the yacht being extremely competent for her size and like David Nelson, Robert encountered building seas, strong winds and immense satisfaction once the voyage was complete.

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left: the moment of the first 17.5 knots right: arriving in Hobart

THE ULTIMATE DREAM CRUISING THE KIMBERLEYS 1993

Adapted from the article ‘The Ultimate Dream’ published in Cruising Helmsman July 1994, pp 29-33 by David Nelson.

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fter years spent dreaming of building my own forty-foot cruising yacht I found myself taking a liking to Rob Ayliffe’s 23’ Norwalk Islands Sharpie that I saw at the Adelaide Boat Show in 1992.

There was something very beautiful about a simple, functional, and effective design. Only a year later I had purchased materials from Duck Flat Wooden Boats and completed building my boat Matilda named by my 2 ½ year old son. The boat had to be capable to explore the shallowest bay, dry out upright between tides, was a safe and fast coastal cruiser in good weather, but more importantly a yacht I could handle single handed.

Matilda was fitted out for extended cruising with our sights set on the Kimberley dream. Julian Trudinger and I left Adelaide on a rainy winter’s morning heading north to Wyndham. We hoped to explore the upper reaches of the Berkley River. After three long days of driving through shiny gibber deserts, red sand dunes and ghost gums we arrived at our destination and spent the day at a caravan park getting organised for the trip ahead.

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ith much help from the Marine and Harbour staff in Wyndham we launched, filled our tanks with good quality town water and set off from Wyndham jetty forty-five nautical miles down the Cambridge Gulf to Lacrosse Island and open ocean where we endured various narrow sections with turbulence and strong currents.

Matilda sailed on at five to six knots completely unaffected and making up ten knots over land. On our journey we visited Turtle Bay, Lacrosse Island, Revelley Island, Casuarina Creek, and Berkley River. At these locations we encountered the pink eyes of large crocodiles in the morning, ravenous seas two to three metres high, one-hundred-metrehigh orange sandstone cliffs dropping seaward, exquisite turquoise water and mangroves crackling with life.

One morning in the Casuarina Creek, we motored upstream to its end – a sandstone walled amphitheatre. The water being thirty metres was too deep to anchor, I wedged rockclimber’s camming nuts in the rockfaces and secured Matilda to the amphitheatre wall. We scrambled up the cliff face, exploring a series of serene freshwater pools along the creek bed above.

above left: launching ramp at Wyndham

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above: moored in the amphitheatre, Casuarina Creek

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s the sun set that night, we set sail back to Wyndham. Later that afternoon we arrived and quickly sought out showers and a cold beer. Sailing my Norwalk Island Sharpie through such a pristine area has been an experience like no other, both a very satisfying and memorable challenge.

above right: sailing under mizzen on the Berkley River

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SAILORS IN FOCUS BEN DURHAM

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EN DURHAM HAS been a member of RFBYC for nearly 30 years, joining as a junior in 1991. As a junior, Ben sailed dinghies and has many fond memories of his days around the Junior Club.

Ben is now an experienced team performance coach and team manager. In addition, he’s been a successful professional athlete in the America’s Cup and multiple international circuits for over 20 years campaigning with Australian, US, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, British and Russian teams.

2019 was a very busy and diverse year for Ben, coaching Swiss Maxi 72 team Caol Ila; coaching Russian RC44 team Bronenosec; sailing and coaching UK TP52 team Gladiator; coaching team China on the exciting foiling SailGP circuit, ending the season in 3rd place; coaching and tactician for Hong Kong TP52 team Phoenix, winning the China Cup and; sailing with Australian team Hollywood in Phuket, winning the Kings Cup. In addition, Ben has been involved as an ambassador for the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta in Perth and supporting the RFBYC teams, whilst also supporting the RFBYC Sailing Institute with a number of networking evenings.

2020 had an exciting start with Ben reuniting with team Hollywood in Malaysia, winning the Royal Langkawi International Regatta; coaching the newly formed Spanish Sail GP team, finishing 4th in their first event in Sydney; coaching South African TP52 team Phoenix at the first Super Series event in Cape Town, finishing 2nd overall in March, prior to the impact of COVID-19.

Ben is a talented and experienced sailor and coach, and a wonderful ambassador for the Club. His coaching is at the highest level with sailors having enormous respect for the delivery of his sessions. Ben connects and engages well with

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our young sailors and has a natural ability to get the most from them.

Ben has demonstrated results in coaching, strategic planning, training & development, and organisational change. He has strong communication and presentation skills, is experienced in corporate events and team building and remains active in the community and social services.

Due to COVID-19 Ben relocated his family back to Perth in April. We look forward to seeing Ben back out on the water enjoying the beautiful sailing conditions WA has to offer.

Below is an impressive list of Ben’s sailing and coaching results over the last couple of years.

ROLEX CAPRI SAILING WEEK. CAPRI, ITALY. MAY 2019.

Maxi 72 class Caol Ila R. 1ST PLACE. COACH

SAILGP EVENT. MARSEILLE, FRANCE. SEPTEMBER 2019

China SailGP Team.

SEASON 3RD PLACE OVERALL. COACH

13TH CHINA CUP INTERNATIONAL REGATTA. SHENZHEN, CHINA. NOVEMBER 2019

IRC 0 TP52 Phoenix.

1ST PLACE. TACTICIAN/COACH

33RD PHUKET KINGS CUP REGATTA. PHUKET, THAILAND. DECEMBER 2019

IRC 0 TP52 Team Hollywood.

1ST PLACE. SAILOR

ROYAL LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL REGATTA. LANGKAWI IS, MALAYSIA. JANUARY 2020

IRC 0 TP52 Team Hollywood.

1ST PLACE. SAILOR

IRC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. COWES, UK. JULY 2019.

IRC 0 TP52 Gladiator.

1ST PLACE. SAILOR/COACH

SAILGP EVENT. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

Spain SailGp Team.

4TH PLACE. COACH

RC44 CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR. 2019 SEASON.

RC44 Bronenosec COACH

175TH NYYC ANNIVERSARY REGATTA. NEWPORT R.I, USA. JULY 2019.

IRC 1 TP52 Gladiator.

2ND PLACE. SAILOR/COACH

COWES WEEK. COWES, UK. AUGUST 2019.

IRC 0 TP52 Gladiator.

2ND PLACE. SAILOR/COACH

52 SUPER SERIES EVENT. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA. MARCH, 2020

TP52 Phoenix.

2ND PLACE. COACH

2019/2020 involved coaching at the highest level of grand prix sailing circuits including.

• Maxi 72 Class: Caol Ila, Swiss • RC44 Tour: Bronenosec, Russian • TP52 Super Series: Phoenix, South African • SailGP: China SailGP Team • SailGP: Spain SailGP Team

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2020-2021 Category 6+ Two inshore passage Four windward/leeward races hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club

2021 WA IRC State Championships Ocean Racing WA Saturday 28 November 2020, 0930 start Racing in North Cottesloe Two windward / leeward races, target time 45 mins each Dolphin Race - Cottesloe to Rockingham, stay overnight with TCYC Sunday 29 November 2020, 0930 start Racing in Cockburn Sound Two windward / leeward races, target time 45 mins each Gordon Craig Ocean Race - Rockingham to Fremantle Thursday 3 December 2020, 1830 Presentation Evening at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club In conjuction with the Rockingham Race Regatta and IRC Youth Cup Series.

Safety category 6+ (safety harnesses & lines, jackstays or clipping points and DOT requirements).

Visit the event website for spectator viewing points and race information.

rfbyc.asn.au

Geoff Totterdell

DRAGON CLASS: A PRELUDE

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he International Dragon class is most likely the largest class of one design, fixed keel boat in the World today. Its origins were from the hand of Norwegian John Anker who submitted this winning entry, his design, in a competition organised by the Royal Yacht Club of Gothenburg.

Although many of the original rules of the Class have been changed over the years, the hull form has remained unchanged since that date.

Historically the Dragon Class has been astutely managed to reconcile the desire of most boat owners to protect the traditional characteristics of the Class but also to incorporate modern sailing gear to maintain its appeal to top sailing competitors worldwide.

The first Australian boat to be built to the plans of a Dragon was in Albany and named Galatea. She did not measure within the rules of the class but raced with fleets at Royal Perth and South of Perth Yacht Clubs for many years. Notably she competed in the 1948, inaugural Bunbury Race reportedly with Ian Bessel-Brown as skipper and Athol Hobbs and John Fitzhardinge as crew.

It was in Sydney where the Dragon first sailed as a fleet in 1951.

Much of the impetus was provid-

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ed by newly arrived immigrant Eric Strain who settled in Sydney after leaving Northern Ireland. Eric had been Great Britain’s Olympic helmsman at the 1948 Torbay Olympic Games where he finished fourth. Eric became a helmsman of the 12 metre Vim which was the ‘trial horse’ for Gretel, Australia’s first ever entry in the America’s Cup in 1961.

A fleet of Dragons also formed in Melbourne where the boat builder J.J. Savage and Sons was kept busy with orders for the boats and in Tasmania where the class flourished.

The first Australian Olympic representative in the Dragon Class was Jock Sturrock in 1952 selected after trials were held on Port Philip Bay. In 1961 Jock was selected as skipper of Gretel for the America’s Cup Challenge. Many of the crew for that challenge were drawn from the Sydney Dragon fleet and Gordon Ingate, who at 94 years of age is still sailing a Dragon, was appointed

by Sir Frank Packer to manage the trial boat Vim. Significantly many helmsmen sailing for the USA in the various 12 metre Class America’s Cup events have been Dragon Class helmsmen.

In 1954, coinciding with the visit to Australia by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the trophy was presented to the Dragon Class of Australia, ‘The Prince Philip Cup’ for national championship competition.

The first Dragon arrived in WA in 1951. Leander D KA 2 then owned

by Ernie Tomlinson was built by Savage of Melbourne and raced in Division fleets at RFBYC and RPYC until a sufficient number of boats arrived to begin class racing in 1955.

The following article (overleaf) is a reflection of the Western Australian experience in the Dragon Class from its beginnings in WA until 1972 as related to me by Life Member and Dragon great, Tony Manford (deceased).

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Ph: +61 3 9521 678 Go to www.marineplus.com.au to find a local stockist

by the late Tony Manford

DRAGON CLASS RECOLLECTIONS

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HE DRAGON CLASS was launched in WA in 1951 by Ernie Tomlinson, a champion skiff and sharpie skipper who was looking for something more comfortable. Uffa Fox advised Ernie to build a dragon, rather than the 5.5 he wanted and Jack Savage in Melbourne was given the job.

Leander DKA2 arrived in Perth in time for Opening Day 1951 and with her white hull and blue Ratsey and Lapthorne sails, created enormous interest and enthusiasm for the establishment of a fleet at RFBYC. Athol Hobbs, Michael Ahern, Steve Craig, John Ahern and Alan Tomlinson were early owners in the growing fleet and the proposed holding of the Prince Philip Cup (PPC) in 1956 on Cockburn Sound was an added incentive to prospective owners.

Fleet racing started in 1955 on a course three and a half times around Freshwater Bay, but it wasn’t until Athol Hobbs retired from racing Philante and became the upriver starter that the Dragon course was moved to Melville water with races finishing at the Club finishing line.

The PPC 1956 was won by Tony Manford, Tam Thompson and Peter Jenkinson sailing Ernie Tomlinson’s Leander. The regatta was such a success in Cockburn Sound that RFBYC decided to run an annual regatta for all classes and the Sir Charles Gairdner Trophy for the Dragon State Championship was held there for many years.

Manford and crew sailed in the 1956 Olympic Trials in Melbourne in a chartered boat that sunk on the mooring two days before the first race and had to be slipped and caulked to make it seaworthy – the charter fee was waived. Graham Drane won the trials and finished fifth in the Olympics.

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Many European Dragons were for sale after the Olympics and Sam Bennett brought Red Dragon back to RPYC where it was intended to start a fleet – but that never eventuated and Red Dragon raced with the RFBYC fleet in regular Saturday races for many years.

Sir Charles Gairdner bought Barbara a Singapore entry in the PPC and Steve Parker sailed her in some close races against Michael Ahern’s Mistral. They each won three state championships in the years 19591962.

Fred Waterhouse and his Dragon Punai also remained in Perth after the cup and became a keen competitor at RFBYC where the fleet had grown to 12 boats by the late 50’s.

At RFBYC a manually operated platform slip was installed which caused so much back strain that power was very quickly added.

(That slipway was located where current start boat Tam Thompson is berthed).

Tony Manford, Bob Day and Tam Thompson bought Leander and Michael Ahern’s new Borrenson built boat Maranal from Denmark enabling Geoff Bingemann, a very keen sailor all his life, to take over Mistral.

Against all odds Ahern and Manford competed in the 1960 PPC and Olympic trials in Melbourne – their boats being the first keel boats of any type to leave W.A for interstate competition. In those early years it was very difficult for W.A Dragons to compete in the eastern states owing to the lack of regular shipping and unsealed road across Australia. Time was also a factor as most people had only two weeks annual holiday.

Mick Brooke the veteran 14’ Dinghy Champion who had been sailing Dragons for a few years won the trials for the Rome Olympics, but his boat failed to measure up on arrival in Naples and he had to sail a borrowed boat in very poor condition.

The early 1960s saw further growth in the local fleet and there

top: plaque reads Leander Winner of the National Dragon Championship 1956/64/65/67/70.

Presented by Commodore Tony Manford 1975

bottom: plaque reads Leander D KA 2 First dragon registered in W.A. 1st Place Prince Philip Cup 1956 Tony Manford, Peter Jenkinson, Tam Thompson

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DRAGON CLASS RECOLLECTIONS CONTINUED Dragon Darkie (now named Aeolus) was received by Syd Corser in 1963

was much excitement about the PPC coming to WA again to be sailed on the Swan River in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games in October 1962.

Jack Linacre arrived with his boat Lill on the way home to Melbourne from competing in European regattas and he proved to be too good for the local fleet winning the Cup from Manford by a fine margin.

The Duke of Edinburgh was in town for the Commonwealth Games and he presented his trophy at a very fine ceremony on the Club lawn hosted by Commodore Merv Finn (a photo of that occasion is mounted in the Club bar to this day.)

Syd Corser, the winner of three Australian 14’ Dinghy Championships, received his new Dragon Darkie (now named Aeolus) from Bill Barnett in 1963 and became a dedicated competitor at the national level.

Four crews went to Adelaide in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympic Trials and PPC and the Leander crew won the cup from Norm Booth, Bill Barnett and Graham Drane in fairly fresh conditions on the Larges Bay and a good fleet of 30 boats.

34

In the second week the winds were much lighter and Graham Drane won the trials from Manford and was selected for the Olympics as the crew was chosen solely on the results of the trials – PPC results were not taken into consideration.

Manford was selected as reserve skipper for the Dragon and 5.5 and Jim Hardy provided the wine for the whole team.

Graham Drane finished 5th in the Olympics, sailed at Oiso, South of Yokohama.

By the mid-sixties the RFBYC fleet has grown to about 25 boats and Jim O’Grady, a champion Sharpie and Flying Dutchman skipper joined the fleet with the first locally built boat Phantom VII but he didn’t stay for long. Jim’s crew included Phil Prosser, father of current Dragon sailors Simon and Neville.

In conjunction with great racing the WAIDA was in full swing raising money through fantastic social functions to help Dragon crews compete in the eastern states.

In Melbourne in 1965 there were 65 starters in the PPC and Leander won, after breaking a mast in the first heat when using a very full sail from Buddy Frederick’s loft in New Orleans.

The winners were honoured to be taken to Canberra to receive the Cup from The Duke of Edinburgh and Tony Manford laments that when the Duke said “As you have won the cup three times I suppose I should give it to you”, he was slow

to take up the offer of this magnificent trophy.

In 1966 the PPC was held in Hobart where Leander broke two masts. The second one in the last heat when in a winning position 300m from the finishing line.

Sir Charles Gairdner, the former Governor of WA, who had become the Governor of Tasmania was very hospitable to the WA contingent competing in the event.

1967 was a significant year in the Dragon history as it was the year John Cuneo joined the Brisbane fleet and he ventured to Perth for the PPC sailed on Cockburn Sound.

John was a very successful Sharpie sailor and noted for his dedication to the sport which ever class he was competing in.

Tony, Bob and Tam finally won the cup from John in very tight racing but it was clearly evident that John was going to apply himself very enthusiastically, confirmed in the following year by winning the Olympic trials in Botany Bay in 1968 and selection in the team for Mexico.

1968 saw Bingemann, Corser and Manford on their way to the PPC and OT in Botany Bay. Geoff Bingemann sailed brilliantly, winning two races but John Cuneo was far too good and comfortably won both series. In 1968 the Olympic Games was held in Mexico and Tony became manager of the Olympic yachting team and reserve skipper for the Dragon and 5.5.

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Dragon Allegra

Bill Northam, Dick Sargent and Pod O’Donnell won a gold medal in 5.5 metre class – Australians first gold medal in Yachting at an Olympic Games.

Between the Olympic years of 1968-1972 the only PPC attended

by WA boats was Adelaide in 1970.

Sydney and Brisbane were too difficult to get to.

Skippers Bun Lynn, Dallas Dempster, Neville Stafford, Steve Parker, Syd Corser, Tony Manford and their crews made up the strongest ever WA team.

Leander won the cup but there was an ill wind blowing, because it was known that the Dragon was going to lose Olympic status and the Soling fleet at RFBYC was gathering strength.

Nevertheless, four Dragons went to Melbourne for the PPC and Olympic Trials in January 1972 and were struck dumb by the boat speed Eric Strain and Mike Fletcher had been able to achieve with the use of the Barber Hauler and specially cut jibs. Cuneo had seen Strain racing on Sydney Harbour but WA crews were completely surprised and it took some days to get new jibs and install and understand the Barber Hauler.

Eric Strain (previously a UK Olympian) won the PPC but John Cuneo won the trial from Manford and Strain. John Cuneo went onto

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Dragon Linnea

win a gold medal at the Olympic Games held in Germany in 1972.

After the Olympics Tony Manford attended a meeting at the President of the International Dragon Association (IDA) Sir Gordon Smith’s home in London and proposed aluminium spars should be allowed as a clear sign to the IYRU that the Dragon was going to modernise. The proposal was defeated and the IDA was looked upon as a stagnant body when it did not fight hard enough for the Dragons Olympic status.

The IDA President of Honour King Constantine of Greece greeted Toby Manford at a cocktail party after the meeting and she was heard to say “which country did you sail for?” to which he replied, “I am right out of a country at present”; he had been ousted in a military coup (King Constantine remains the IDA President to this day).

In the early days of Dragon racing very few owners had the chance to compete overseas. Only Edis Boys, Jock Sturrock, Norm Booth, Jack Linacre and John Cuneo sailed in some European events and the experience gained lifted their standards which became the Australian standard.

Norm Booth and Bill Barnett were some of the first Australian sailors to find out that you do not sail in shorts and bare feet in European conditions.

After 1972 the class lost some of its stalwarts. Bingemann, Corser, Manford and Dempster moved to Solings and the Dragon fleet lost a lot of its momentum until glass hulls and modern rigging gave the fleet a new lease of life.

For many years commencing 1954 the Dragon Association in WA with David Cruickshank in charge was a strongly united group promoting Dragon sailing and uniting Dragon crews to such an extent that Dragon racing and social activities were a total life experience.

Fundraising was a big issue and very well supported by Dragon crews and their friends. Major events included: The Calcutta Dinner on the eve of the Melbourne Cup started and run by the WAIDA for many years.

Gambling for 300 people on the Ferry SS Perth (also known as the Merry Ferry).

The first ever path Boat Show at the Claremont Show Ground run as a commercial venture and achieving a very good profit.

RFBYC has raced Dragons for 70 years and has provided first class shore facilities and a great Club atmosphere for social occasions.

The Club has the largest fleet of modern Dragons in Australia and hundreds of Club members have enjoyed sailing in this wonderful class that is more enduring than any other class of yachts on the Swan River.

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Keelboat

Pre Season

Briefing Join Us 6.30pm

Thursday 8 October 2020

Roland Smith Room

Please RSVP to reserve your seat sailadmin@rfbyc.asn.au • • • • • • • • •

36

Meet the Race Officers and Start Teams Meet your Fleet Captains Special Regulations Equipment Audit forms Changes to the Sailing Instructions / Handbook Brief Summary of the new rules coming in to effect on 1 January Explanation on the role of the safety boat operator Correct radio etiquette Advising changes of skipper / sail number / retirements Short presentation by Dept. Transport and Interactive 30 Second Challenge. Bring along your life jacket for servicing Life jackets servicing must be booked in at time of RSVP.

Come along and be in the running to win some prizes

RFBYC | Keane’s Point, Peppermint Grove | 9286 8200 | www.rfbyc.asn.au

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Entries will Close & 2 1 Friday 4 December Notice of Race coming soon Enquiries: Ph 9286 8200 or Email juniors@rfbyc.asn.au

37

Dinghy Pre Season

Information Session Join Us

0930 - 1000 for all Fleets

SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER RFBYC Dinghy/Junior Clubhouse

r f byc • Meet our Rear Commodore Dinghy and Juniors – Scott Monro • Meet our Fleet Captains, Junior Committee, Race Officer and on water staff • Learn about changes to the Sailing Instructions/ Handbook from last season • Question and answer opportunity • Auditing opportunity immediately after the session until 1200 For further information, contact the Dinghy Administrator, Chelsea Hall at juniors@rfbyc.asn.au 38

COMPULSORY for those going to participate in the 2020 -2021 Summer Sailing Season

’ r s e r u t n e v d A Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club

Welcome to the RFBYC 2020-21 ADVENTURER’S CLUB

Join us on a series of fun sailing adventures as we sail to a a mystery location on the Swan River 08:30 – 12:00 (arrive at 08:15)

Saturday, 31 October 2020 Saturday, 14 November 2020 Saturday, 20 February 2021 Saturday, 27 March 2021

r f byc

There will be a variety of new locations and fun to be had on this years Adventures club!

Bring your friends!

Pack a few dollars for an ice cream/ snack at our destination!

Who can be an adventurer?

5 years + | Minimum Tackers 2 or Start Sailing 2 level achieved | Competent swimmer

RSVP HERE or contact Shelley & Chelsea training@rfbyc.asn.au

39

Ferngrove Wines sponsor of RFBYC Mid-Week Race Series.

Ask for our award winning wines at the Bowline Restaurant or Bar.

Or call / visit us: Winery & Cellar Door by appointment.

276 Ferngrove Road, Frankland River, Western Australia 6396 T +61(8) 9855 2378

40

YOUNG ADULT MEMBERS WELCOME TO FULL MEMBERSHIP OF RFBYC

IN

AUGUST WE HELD A welcome function for our members that have transitioned from our Junior membership category to adult membership of the Club.

Accompanied by a parent or a member friend, the young adults were introduced to our Flag Officers and fellow members.

With family and friends to enjoy the evening together, most stayed on for dinner in the Bowline.

TRANSITION FROM JUNIOR TO ADULT MEMBERSHIP

Member Lucy Alderson Jamie Bougher Lachlan Emanuel Bailey Ireland Jack Lynn James Thorpe Sophie Townes Marcello Torre

Stefan Aydon-White Andrew Buchan Callum Green Rohin Kehal Ethan Prieto-Low Emma Thorpe Callum Watson Tom Hodge

Amelia Blaauw Farrah Corrigan Andrew Henderson Amber Kibblewhite Simone Saunders Georgina Thorpe Michael Judge

41

MEMBERSHIP NEW CLUB MEMBERS

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.

• 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.

42

www.rfbyc.asn.au

MEMBERSHIP NEW CLUB MEMBERS

ORDINARY

Member Ian Bowman Fiona Webster David Millar Jonica Grayling Liam Twigger Ash Bettridge Trevor Emery Ben Emery Mark Warren David Izzard Ian Tubbs Charleigh Tubbs Daniel Roberts Robert Kirman

Proposer Seconder Ian Clyne Scott Bailey Barbara-Dene Jones Commodore Robert Parker Frank van der Worm Gary Lee Hamish Beck Peter Michael Craig Carter Ian Clarke Frank van der Worm Ken Hetherington Alan Fisher Steve McAlinden Alan Fisher Steve McAlinden Syd Lodge Howard Knight John Hannaford Mike Edwards Chris Nelson Greg Leaversuch Chris Nelson Greg Leaversuch Tom Lovelady Matt Lovelady Tim Mahony Graham Hogg

ASSOCIATE

Member Roxanne Bowman Georgie Low Eve Stavrianou Ashleigh MacDonald Penny Anderson Amanda Bryant Sue Warren Mileva Tubbs Sam Kirman

Proposer Seconder Ian Clyne Scott Bailey Craig Carter Ian Clarke Commodore Rob Parker Andrew Stavrianou Alan Fisher Steve McAlinden Bradley Stout John Low Commodore Robert Parker Michael Manford Syd Lodge Howard Knight Chris Nelson Greg Leaversuch Tim Mahony Graham Hogg

RECIPROCAL

Member Proposer Seconder Simon Carrel John Fisher Nevill Crump Larry McIntosh Ross Norgard Ian Deany JUNIOR MEMBERS

Member Lucas Page Elizabeth Perks Eloise Colvin Levi Tubbs Liv Kirman Guillaume Daoud Griffen Roberts

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Member Member Hudson Armstrong Harry Alexander Lucila Atkinson Bella Alcorn Roy Woodcock Sophie O’Brien Lyla Kirman Finn Kirman Xavier Collyer Henry McRae Max Murchison Henry Stone

43

Nathan Stronach

THE BOSUN’S LOCKER AROUND THE GROUNDS

S

TORM SURGE: on Monday, 25 June 2020, the Swan and Canning Rivers experienced a significant tidal surge. The surge measured 1.86m at the Barrack Street tide gauge and was the second highest reading from that gauge. The highest was recorded at 1.92m on 16 May 2003.

SWAN-CANNING ESTUARY MUSSEL REEF PROJECT

In July 2019, The Nature Conservancy and partners began working on a three-year project aimed at helping support the ecosystem health of the Swan-Canning Estuary through building native mussel reefs. These important habitats help restore vital

above: the RIVER GUARDIANS significant Our iconic Swan Canning Rivstorm surge erpark is showing the same signs of 1.86m!

of environmental stress as other waterways around the world. What we do in our own backyard affects our rivers and therefore every Perth resident has an important role to play in helping to protect them.

The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions manages a program that engages the community on matters relating to the Swan and Canning Rivers.

River Guardians volunteers can take part in skilled volunteering projects, receive training in a number of projects ranging from foreshore restoration sites to being the eyes on our rivers and becoming a Dolphin Watcher.

I recommend to anyone who uses our beautiful river to subscribe to the River Guardian E-newsletter to keep informed on a number of topics, such as:

44

ecosystem functions such as water filtration and fish production and provide an overall boost for estuarine biodiversity.

With less than 10% of our natural shellfish reef ecosystems remaining in Australia, this project is part of The Nature Conservancy’s National Reef Building Program to restore and protect 60 shellfish reefs across southern Australia, bringing them back from the brink of extinction for the benefit of people and nature.

While Moon and her new calf were happily swimming around, Moon’s previous calf, Djinda (6-yrs old) was showing off her aerial prowess with some spectacular jumps out of the water.

The current estimate of the sub-population of Riverpark dolphins (based on six surveys in 2020) is 21 individuals including: 13 adult/sub adults; three juveniles and five calves.

DOLPHIN WATCH TRAINING EVENT

The next Dolphin Watch training event is scheduled to be held in late spring.

Details of the upcoming event are as follows: When: Wednesday, 28 October, 6.00 – 8.00pm (registration and supper from 6:00 and formalities commencing at 6.30pm) Where: Scitech, City West Centre, Sutherland St, West Perth Register: www.riverguardians.com DOLPHIN VIRUS UPDATE

ALL THINGS DOLPHINS...

Great news! Introducing the newest resident dolphin after Moon was spotted with a new calf during a survey on 19 July (see photo above).

While the human race is in the midst of a global pandemic as we struggle to deal with the COVID-19 virus, our very own resident dolphins had their own battle with a deadly virus last year. continued on page 47

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Basil Twine

ASTERN FROM THE ARCHIVES

left: Bernadene III at typical attitude, time trialling with Bill Dunn and Simon Prosser (Navigator)

C

HARACTERS IN THE HISTORY OF RFBYC: William George DUNN, 1915–2000.

The records show Bill joined RFBYC in 1960. However, after having been discharged from the army on medical grounds early in WWII he joined the Naval Auxiliary Patrol unit HMAS Leeuwin II which was based at RFBYC.

Some of his exploits on the NAP vessel HMAS Viking are described in Ken Tregonning’s Club history book. This story is as much about his boats as it is about the man himself because the two cannot really be separated.

FIRST THE BOATS…

Three Bernadenes.

I am told that number one was a small speed boat probably with a Holden engine.

Bernadene II: was a small two-cockpit, high speed run-about with a Holden engine.

Bill preferred Holden engines, but he told me they were a bit heavy and the wrong shape for his next boat: Bernadene III: 28’ twin screw launch built by Stewart Ward and fitted out by Bill. It was launched in 1980.

The hull was fibreglass and timber. Both deck and hull were Dynel coated.

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Powered by twin Leyland P76, V8 petrol engines which took up most of the limited space in the saloon.

Designed for a top speed around 35 knots and could still reach 30 when we owned her in 1996.

It came with a spare motor, several spare prop shafts and props as well as boxes of all sorts of other stuff. Mounted on the foredeck was a beautifully crafted stainless steel ‘Danforth’ anchor. Unfortunately, Bill didn’t warn me that it was only for show and the metal was really a bit too soft for actual use. Of course, I did use it and it got stuck. When it eventually came up the shaft was bent.

The boat was full of hand-crafted fittings and gismos all made by Bill in his home work shop and electro plated at Dunn Bros so they would never tarnish. (Bill took over from his father in the family electro-plating business. He also had an amazing workshop at home with precision machines & tools).

NOW A BIT ABOUT THE MAN…

Bill Morris wrote a wonderful obituary to his good mate in Tidings – January 2000. It is well worth reading again.

His passions: • Power boats - Bernadene II, Bernadene III • Making stuff out of metal; stainless steel or bronze then getting it electro plated.

• Going fast and Time Trialling (with Simon Prosser as Navigator).

• Getting involved with helping people and doing things for the Club. He loved taking Huck Scott (Club Coach) out in his boat to coach the juniors.

• But most of all, tinkering with the engines on Bernadine III. Sadly, Mary his wife, never went aboard his boats. “Don’t understand why,” said Bill. “She was a keen surfer and loved the water when we were young but wouldn’t go near the boats or the Yacht Club.” continued overleaf 45

ASTERN CONTINUED FROM THE ARCHIVES

Mary expressed concern that Bernadene was getting a bit beyond Bill so about 1994 she prevailed on him to put it on the market.

In 1996 Jenny and I decided we were sick of having to lower masts to go under bridges and decided to ‘dip a toe in the water’ to see if we might like power boating (verging on sacrilege). I did not want to spend a lot of money, so we looked around for a cheapish boat. There were a lot around but the prettiest was Bernadene III at our own Club.

I had been on board a couple of times with Bill and Huck Scott who preferred the boat as a ‘stable platform’ to film the kids sailing from the Junior Club in his role as coach.

We knew that Bill was a ‘bit of a petrol head’, and enthusiastic Time Trialler. His boat was his great love and his escape from the gardening chores set by Mary. Just about every day he would say: “Goin down the boat” and disappear just to sit on board, make a cup of coffee, chat to people going by or tinker with the engines or something and write up his Log. I felt he would be lost without it so we asked him to treat the boat as if he still owned it but to ask us before he spent any money on it.

He could still Time Trial, have his cup of coffee, ambush Kerry Davies and so on but should not have any obligation or expense. Also, would he please continue to write up the Log. (This was not what Mary had in mind and she was not impressed.)

From here on Jenny and I became known as ‘The Owners’.

THE LOG

Bill was an inveterate fiddler and nearly everything he did on the boat was recorded in the boat’s Log. This document is a treasure with the grammar and spelling being somewhat freestyle in character.

He loved to tinker with the motors: • “It might run better with bigger jets in the Carbies.”

“Maybe they just need cleaning.”

• “Praps I should clean the spark plugs and reset the gaps.”

“Oops! Had a plug out and dropped a spring washer down the hole really buggered things will have to take the whole damned head off to get it out I should have joined a sewing circle.”

• “Ran over a floating anchor rope and got it around the two props wound it up on the shafts and pulled the ‘I’ brackets in together so that I ended up with two holes in the bottom of the boat just managed to run it up on the beach at PFSYC before it sank. Hell of a job fixing it all had to get the boat up on the

slips take out the shafts to get them straightened then the motors because of water damage then fix the holes and put all the stuff back. And the stupid woman trailing the floating anchor rope said she was just washing it and I should have seen it instead of cutting it all up with my boat.”

• “I was out practising for time trials last Wednesday and got in a bit close just around Chidley Point nudged a rock and buggered an ‘I’ bracket, prop and shaft as well as putting a hole in the bottom just made it back to the slips at Freshie before she started to sink had to swap to the spare motor to fix the water damage in the other one.”– Bill was supposedly distracted and actually passed inside the spit post at Chidley Point.

• “I am going to join a sewing circle. Yours truly did not titen down two bolts holding the rockers down having run the motor for about 3 hours the two bolts sheered off.

I was very puzzled she was only running on 7 cylinders. Today I put a compression test on & found out no 4 was in trouble & that’s what I found.”

This ‘Log’ is to be held in the Edward Keane Room Library as one of the precious documents in the Club.

THE BERNADENE BRANDY BOTTLE

This one is not in the Log. Bill was always the gentleman.

If a lady came aboard, he loved to be able to offer her a drink. So, he built a cocktail cabinet – one bottle

above: Bill Dunn and Bill Morris (Tidings Jun 1997)

46

www.rfbyc.asn.au

ASTERN CONTINUED FROM THE ARCHIVES

deep - into the bulkhead on the port side where the saloon divides from the aft cockpit. The front door of the cabinet would drop down to form a shelf and display his collection of spirits and fortifieds. Amongst this collection was a shapely bottle of ‘Bernadene’ French Brandy which he proudly showed us the day we inspected the boat. Jenny and I thought it was so special that it just had to stay with the boat so, whenever the level went down a bit we would refill it with whatever brandy we had. On opening the cabinet one day we noticed the bottle was missing and asked Bill what had happened to it. He replied: “Well, it was always full so obviously the owners didn’t want to drink it so I took it home.”

THE SIGNALLING LAMP

Bill was a craftsman and inventor. During WWII the Navy were looking for a new type of hand-held signalling lamp. Bill designed and built a prototype which was accepted so that Dunn Bros was awarded

the contract to supply the Australian Navy and many of the Netherlands and US naval ships in Australian waters. This prototype is held by the Club archives in the Edward Keane Room.

THE TRUCK

The days when the Club used to hold ‘Working Bees’ were great for fellowship and ‘bonding’ between members getting dirty and sweaty together followed by a few beers.

On the appointed Sunday morning volunteers would turn up with garden tools and gloves. Bill would turn up with his spectacular little Mazda mini truck which he had dressed up to look like a Mack prime mover and drive around picking up the rubbish for transfer to a big skip bin. Better than several wheelbarrows.

THE GUN

After the Replica of HMB Endeavour was completed John Longley let us know that a suitable cash donation could secure a spare gun.

A certain well-known benefactor

of the Club was consulted and we duly acquired two guns. The larger of these (Iron) is emplaced at the base of the flagpole. The second (bronze) is generally displayed in the entrance foyer. This smaller model was designed to be mounted using a swivel trunnion on the rail of the ship. Bill built a carriage for it and sleeved the barrel with a stainless-steel tube. The intention was for it to be fired on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of the Junior Club Sailing Season. The action of firing was generally reserved for the Club General Manager (an ex-army type). However, after singeing his eyebrows on one occasion it seems he has lost the urge.

It would be wonderful to see this superb example of Bill Dunn’s workmanship polished up again and returned to ceremonial duty.

Bill was not a big man physically, but he certainly left a big legacy to the Club he loved and the friends he made there. He died in 2000.

THE BOSUN’S LOCKER CONTINUED continued from page 44 Cetecean Morbillivirus (CeMV) is the confirmed primary pathogen responsible for the deaths of three Riverpark dolphins in 2019.

There is no effective treatment for CeMV. It is a naturally occurring disease for which there currently is

www.rfbyc.asn.au

no vaccine available locally, nor is there any effective means of treating affected animals.

Fortunately for our Riverpark dolphin community, we haven’t seen any CeMV related deaths in 2020.

Fingers crossed we don’t see the reoccurrence of this naturally occurring cetacean disease in the Riverpark for another 10–15 years!

47

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

48

01 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

04 OCTOBER

DRAGON LADIES AND YOUTH HELM REGATTA

08 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

11 OCTOBER

DINGHY INFORMATION AND AUDIT SESSION

15 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE FINAL

17 OCTOBER

OPENING DAY / FLAG OFFICERS TROPHY RACE

15 NOVEMBER

DINGHY RACING

15 NOVEMBER

SWAN RIVER RETRO SERIES RACE 2

15 NOVEMBER

WASZP/MOTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SESSION 4

18 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

19 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

21 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

22 NOVEMBER

DISCOVER SAILING DAY

25 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

26 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

18 OCTOBER

SWAN RIVER RETRO SERIES RACE 1

21 OCTOBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

28 NOVEMBER

22 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

ROCKINGHAM RACE REGATTA – WA IRC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

28 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

24 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT RACING

29 NOVEMBER

DINGHY RACING

28 OCTOBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

29 NOVEMBER

29 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

ROCKINGHAM RACE REGATTA – WA IRC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUES

31 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT RACING

02 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

31 OCTOBER

ADVENTURER’S CLUB

03 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

01 NOVEMBER

DINGHY RACING

05 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

04 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

06 DECEMBER

DINGHY RACING

04 NOVEMBER

NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNOR’S CUP DUE

06 DECEMBER

SWAN RIVER RETRO SERIES RACE 3

05 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK ‘ANNIVERSARY’ RACE

09 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

10 DECEMBER

07 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

08 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT MORNING RACING – ETCHELLS SYD CORSER AND SPORTS BOAT MINI SERIES

11 DECEMBER

2020 ICR REGISTRATION 1600 – 1800

12 DECEMBER

2020 ICR

12 DECEMBER

08 NOVEMBER

DINGHY RACING PM

KEELBOAT RACING (SPECIAL COURSES)

11 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

13 DECEMBER

2020 ICR

12 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

16 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

17 DECEMBER

13 NOVEMBER

WASZP/MOTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SESSION 1

KEELBOAT SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

19 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

14 NOVEMBER

GOVERNOR’S CUP (NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON 4 NOVEMBER)

20 DECEMBER

NO CLUB DINGHY RACING

23 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

31 DECEMBER

NEW YEAR’S EVE TWILIGHT SAILING

14 NOVEMBER

ADVENTURER’S CLUB

14 NOVEMBER

WASZP/MOTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SESSION 2 & 3

www.rfbyc.asn.au

EXCLUSIVE LISTINGS WITH OCEANEER MARINE

2007 Horizon E73

$1,899,000

2003 Marko 60

$899,000

2002 Curran 63

T ILE RUCK RP ACKAND AGE

IN & T C TRU RAI CK LER !

2012 Riviera 43

$749,000

2019 Expedition 30

VOL VO

2002 Carver 564

$349,000

1999 Northshore 42

1999 Sea Ray 450

$239,000

2016 Naiad 8.5m

$525,000

2015 Denis Walsh

$398,000

$249,000

1997 Riviera 39

$249,000

$235,000

1972 Formula 233

$124,000

D6

REP

OW

RFB

YC

1981 Bertram 35

$80,000

1977 Randell 42

$850,000

TRA

ER

BOA T

$75,000

2002 BW 36

$49,000

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2020 - 2021 124th Sailing Season

Opening Day Saturday 17 October 2020 Junior & Dinghy Racing in the morning Parmelia’s Ball Challenge Race - St Ayles Skiff Official Opening 13:00 Keelboat Racing in the afternoon Children activities all afternoon Power Yacht Sail Past Result Presentations 18:30 Sailing After Party with live music to dance the night away Casual Meals, BBQ & Bowline Dining options will all be available Enter the Opening Day Flag Officers’ Trophy Race via the RevSport 2020-21 Sailing Season Nomination Form on the Club’s website

Mark your calendars with the 2020 Sailing Season Opening Day, A fun day & evening for members and their families.