Tidings Magazine - September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

ZAC LITTLEWOOD WINS WORLDS SEPTEMBER UPDATE DINGHY & TRAINING CENTRE

IMAGE © LINDSAY PREECE – IRONBARK PHOTOS

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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2021 3

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

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2021 LASER UNDER-21 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Zac Littlewood

12 DINGHY & TRAINING CENTRE UPDATE 16 THE ENDEAVOUR CANNON

John Longley 22 MEMBERSHIP – NEW CLUB MEMBERS 24 NOW & THEN

Susan Parker

CLUB STAFF Chief Executive Officer Paul Bayliss ADMINISTRATION/ACCOUNTS Communications Deb Hanrahan Membership/Offshore Administrator Susan Ghent Executive Assistant Pic Lee Song Accountant Catherine Ramsey Accounts Zoe Rostron ON-WATER Yachting Operations Mgr Debbie Blaauw Sailing/Power Administrator Sharon Skinner Training Centre Principal Chelsea Hall On-Water Assistant Jade Lane HOSPITALITY Operations Manager Nic Gaunt Bar/Restaurant Manager Paul Morgan Events/Weddings Kaidy Raag, Natalie Neal GROUNDS Bosun Nathan Stronach Timothy Donohue, Laurie Martin, Joel Sheppard

The new Dinghy & Training Centre has a September update in pictures. We’re anticipating the finish! See pages12&13.

28 VALE – ANDREW CHARLES KINGSBURY 29 VALE – PETER MALCOLM HAY 30 VALE – RON KEMPIN 31 VALE – RONALD WILLIAM GREY 32 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 12 November 2021 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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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Spring is in the air and we’re excited about the 125th anniversary of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

It’s been a great winter of power time trialling, rowing and sailing activities including the new radio controlled sailboat racing. Many members have enjoyed the social and dining opportunities too such as themed dinner evenings, wine dinners, quiz nights and the Annual Combined Mess Night with RPYC. During these challenging times we’ve had a very small number of members able to travel for sailing competition and it’s been very exciting to follow their success and hear their news.

It’s been very busy around the grounds, the new Dinghy and Training Centre is looking great and the main wharf is really taking shape.

See you at our 125th Sailing Season Opening Day on Saturday, 16 October.

rfbyc.asn.au 125th Sailing Opening Day Don’t miss this very special day at the Club where we showcase many of our activities. We begin with sailing and racing from the Dinghy and Training Centre through the morning. Presentations take place at the main Clubhouse followed by the excitement of the Parmelia’s Ball Challenge Race in the St Ayles Skiffs. The Official Opening is at 1pm. Keelboat racing through the afternoon, the power yacht sail past and raft up and sailing results presentation at 6:30pm. Enjoy a meal with friends and dance the night away with live music until late.

Save the Date Pop this date in your diary now Tuesday, 14 December. We are planning our 125th anniversary celebrations with a cocktail party.

Technology The new website is running well. A fresh look for our Club and some great features including an online member portal. There is also an app (MemberPoint) available for members to use. Members will log in to both of these new tools using their full Club membership number (5 digits) and the default password is the first 4 digits of their date of birth (DDMM). More information and instructions are available on the website in the Club Info section.

We welcome new applications for membership Do you know that we now have an online application form? It’s easier than ever to apply for membership of the Club.

Members wishing to nominate a person for membership should provide their Club membership number and an email address to the applicant. When completing the online application, the person will select ‘yes’ to include a proposer and seconder and then include the member number and email for each. The proposer and seconder will receive an email request to verify the nomination. Once approved their application will be sent to our Membership Coordinator to begin the joining process.

Visit the membership section of the Club website by using the ‘Join RFBYC’ button or get in touch with our Membership Coordinator, Suzzi, for assistance.

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ROBERT PARKER COMMODORE

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T’S HARD TO BELIEVE IT’S a year since my first Tidings as Commodore.

The Club has been so active and vibrant that the time has flown. I have enjoyed the last 12 months and I am confident that the ongoing Flag Officers and elected/re-elected General committee (GC) will keep the Club’s governance in good order as we commence another summer sailing season.

The AGM back in July continued with the same group of Flag Officers, but we had a change in GC with Tony Packer standing down after a long period on committee. On behalf of all members I thank Tony for his outstanding contribution to the Club. Tony continues on Capital Works & Maintenance sub-committee, no doubt to ensure the proper completion of the several large capital projects currently underway!

I congratulate and welcome Andrew Gill to GC in filling the vacancy left

by Tony. I also congratulate Barbara-Dene Jones in returning to GC, 12 months after her term as Rear Commodore Juniors.

The Club continues to perform exceptionally well with record membership numbers for many years and sound operational performance, as per the Honorary Treasurers report provide in our recently published Year Book.

Sadly, in the last 12 months, we have lost a number of ‘old guard’ members. I thank Basil Twine and many others for providing material and knowledge to enable the various Vale’s that have advised members of these

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passings. I am pleased to note however, that our New Members Nights have seen many wonderful younger members, and family groups. I have no doubt that our ‘old guard’ will be assured that the Club continues with a sound membership base.

The COVID word is rarely far from our thoughts but we are to be thankful that our state, and sport, have been able to continue, largely as normal, throughout the last 12 months. Our thoughts go to fellow yacht clubs in the other states.

A brief update on our various major capital projects is as follows: MAIN WHARF – WESTERN END

To the relief of staff and near neighbours, piling work was completed a few weeks ago. Deck panels and in-situ concrete pours are nearly complete. With only crane installation and roadworks to complete, the strong hope is that works will be done with a brief gap before summer sailing Opening Day. I thank all members who were affected by boat relocations etc during these works for their understanding and forbearance.

DINGHY & TRAINING CENTRE

This project is in 2 parts, a) Fundraising and b) Development a) Fundraising – the fundraising campaign by way of donations has largely ceased. The balance of planned pledges owing is now a very modest figure and will be completed by next 30 June. With other sundry fundraisings, and the very successful raffle (approx. $135k), the total amount raised is close to $2.7M. This is an outstanding effort by members. Any member wishing to support the project can still donate, with tax deductibility ensured. b) Development – all members visiting the Club will be aware of the rapid progress of the building since completion of the roof. All internal works are well underway and partial handover of the dinghy storage area was provided recently. Rear Commodore Juniors, Scott Monro and member Denis Cullity had a very successful busy bee with parents of juniors and other volunteers and constructed a large portion of the storage racks. This is a fantastic volunteer project.

At time of writing, we are confident of completion

of the entire building and storage before Christmas.

No doubt there will be finishing works, gardens, landscaping etc continuing into January 2022, but operationally we will have transitioned to the new centre.

Again, I thank all members for their understanding and patience with suffering limited parking, truck movements etc throughout this project.

I was delighted to attend the Power Section Closing event recently and I congratulate Rear Commodore Elise and Club staff on the running of a very successful season. Of course end of Time Trialling is not the end of participation opportunities for power boat owners.

Elise provides further details herein.

Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer provides full details on our House and Membership matters, but I wish to acknowledge an excellent combined Mess Night with Royal Perth Yacht Club recently. The camaraderie between our Clubs is at a high level and full attendance indicates that it has become a very successful, member only, event in our respective calendars. continued on page 6 3

PETER CHALMER VICE COMMODORE

C

ONGRATULATIONS to Andy Gill, Barbara-Dene Jones, John Standley and Nick Gray for being the successful nominees from the AGM ballots. John and Nick successfully renominated for their roles and Barbara-Dene has sat on General Committee before as Rear Commodore Juniors. Andy Gill is the new member of the team and will offer a younger perspective to the Committee.

Sincere appreciation for very many years of valuable input and guidance go to Tony Packer who chose not to stand this year.

HOUSE & SOCIAL

Members of the House Committee are Fiona Webster, Barbara-Dene Jones, Kim Laurence, Tom Lovelady and Andy Gill.

COVID-19 restrictions have been eased further.

We are now able to operate without limits on attendance capacity and need only to maintain contact registers, our Safety Plan and for our biggest events an Event Checklist.

Summer is approaching and the House Committee is concentrating on our 125th Year celebrations.

Planning is underway to include Opening Day as part of those celebrations and then a larger cocktail function on the anniversary date of 14 December.

Please keep an eye on Front of House and Gybe Sheet for details and be part of the festivities celebrating these occasions.

The Bosun, Nathan, and his ground-staff team have a lot to do this year because of the works and refurbishment around the Club, but I’m certain the seedlings are already planted and the 4

lawns and grounds will be as beautiful as always.

Our Combined Clubs Mess Night with Royal Perth Yacht Club was a huge success with our venue looking resplendent and a full attendance from both Clubs. The usual camaraderie and banter during the toasts was present from both Clubs and the meal was superb. My sincere congratulations to our Head Chef, Derrick, and his chefs and to our Food and Beverage Operations Manager, Nic, and his team for their expertise in creating such an impressive night. My thanks also to the Events Manager, Nat, and Kaidy for the fantastic dual act of coordinating service and supplying information for the Mess Vice President’s Fines of the night.

Along with the industry generally, we’ve experienced some shortages in availability of Food and Beverage staff. These will be resolved as soon as appropriate staff are available.

We are extremely pleased to welcome Paul Morgan (Bar Operations Manager) and Sun Ning (Sous Chef) to the Club. Congratulations to Kristina Richard for her promotion to the role of Bowline Manager.

In addition to our normal Club activities, we will have major Club functions in the coming weeks so please ensure an early booking to assist with our planning.

MEMBERSHIP

Members of the Membership Committee are Rear Commodore Elise Manners, Grant Alderson, Mark Tremain, Jenny Spearman and John Walsh.

Membership numbers continue to increase and New Member Nights are more frequent. The Membership Committee is literally working overtime to deal with the number of new membership interviews being held. The New Member Nights are fun nights with a great opportunity for all members to come to the Club on a Friday night and enjoy the ceremony as new members are presented to the Flag Officers. All are encouraged to stay for a few drinks and socialise, followed by dinner in the Bowline.

The Club will host another Young Adult Membership Night in late October.

This night will present our younger Members that are stepping up to Ordinary Membership. These Members form a very important

part of our future so please check Front of House for details and please come to the Club and support them.

The Committee has reviewed categories and strategic planning for Membership. There were many topics and a broad range of categories to consider and almost all are finalised.

The focus was on current relevance and future possibilities. All categories were deemed as remaining relevant.

Investigation into an appropriate ‘corporate’ based style of membership is under ongoing consideration by a working group.

As part of updating our member database some member categories were invited to confirm their compliance with the definition of their particular membership type in light of lifestyle changes brought about by COVID-19 and life’s changes in general.

Responses to the invitation have been well received and positive. My appreciation goes to all members that reviewed their membership and changed where appropriate.

I look forward to seeing you around our Club.

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IAN BURVILL REAR COMMODORE SAIL

WE’

VE BEEN FORTUNATE to sail over winter, while many other states are locked down. Bad weather caused the cancellation of a couple of keelboat Frostbite races and one Mid-Week race.

Another Mid-Week race was lost, due to the lockdown in early July.

Brian Cain will retire as Mid-Week Race Officer at the end of the Autumn/ Winter Series on Thursday 14 October. Brian has provided high quality racing and entertaining presentations for many years. It won’t be a full retirement, as he will still be on the Saturday start boat team.

Sandra Whelan will take over as the Mid-Week Race Officer at the start of the Spring/Summer Series.

The Club Best Regatta was held on Sunday, 22 August. The Race Officer, Kim Laurence, was assisted

by Mark Crier, of RPYC, with his four robotic MarkSetBot marks. These devices enabled the course to be reset rapidly between races, in the shifty conditions.

Eight fleets from the Club entered the regatta. It was won by Ethan Prieto-Low and his youth match racing team of Max Godfroy, Adam Brenz-Verca and George Boulden. The other two youth teams performed well: Zac Sprunt’s 29er fleet finished second and Lucy Alderson’s Akamai Race Team was fourth. Lucy’s

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father, Grant Alderson, was just ahead in third place with the older and wiser Radio-Controlled Sailing Team.

It was exciting to watch the Tokyo Olympics, especially the local sailors. Congratulations to Matt Wearn for winning the Laser event so convincingly. Matt, who hails from RPYC and FSC, was also a member of RFBYC until recently. Our own Zac Littlewood trained with Matt in the lead-up to the Olympics, then went on to win the ILCA Class 7 (Laser full rig) U21 World Championships in Poland in late August. We hope to see Zac in the Olympics in the future.

Several other Club members have been participating in European events. Ben Durham has been coaching the Australian Sail GP team, racing F50 foiling catamarans. His team won the Great Britain Grand Prix, in July, and the Denmark Grand Prix, in August. Mark Spearman was onboard for the British Grand Prix and has also been ocean racing on the JPK1180, Dawn

Treader, and racing M32 catamarans with the Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team.

Pete Nicholas (with Luke Payne) won the Swedish 505 National Championship in August. David and Sam Gilmour (with Yashiro Yaju) came third in the Yanmar Dragon Gold Cup, held in Marstrand, Sweden in August. Torvar Mirsky also competed in that event.

Eight bells for Ron Kempin, who passed away on 24 July. Ron tirelessly led RFBYC’s ‘Cruising in Company’ division for many years, in his yacht Samantha III. He undoubtedly holds the record for the most mast lowerings and raisings, on his journeys to and from the ocean.

Skippers, please remember to nominate for the summer season and ensure that your safety audits are completed prior to Sailing Opening Day on 16 October.

Note that, for the 2021–2022 season, skippers will be required to sign on their boat and crew via the MemberPoint app for

each day of racing. The app was trialled, on a voluntary basis, for the 2021 Frostbite series. This enabled the system to be tested and refined. It was disappointing that only about one third of boats signed on during the trial. In the summer season, sign-on won’t be optional, so if you’re planning to compete on Saturday racing or Thursday Mid-Week racing, please take the time to familiarise yourself with the process. This is an important tool for safety (to know who’s on the water) and for compliance with the Australian Sailing prescription to Racing Rule of Sailing 46.

For twilight sailing, the SMS sign on system will continue. We’re also asking skippers, on a voluntary basis, to log onto the free Nebo app, to track their journey. This should enable the start team to track boats around the course. Users of the app can also see where all the other boats are.

Please make the effort to participate in this trial.

I’ll see you on the water.

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SCOTT MONRO REAR COMMODORE JUNIORS

T

HE DINGHY WINTER SERIES was a huge success with 124 sailors participating over the course of the season, including visiting sailors from nine other Sailing Clubs. We managed to sail a total of 11 races, with only one race day cancelled due to poor weather. The final race day was an ‘end of an era’ being the very last day of dinghy sailing from the existing Clubhouse.

Everybody is eagerly looking forward to the move to the new Dinghy & Training Centre (DTC) which is expected to occur in November just in time for the ICR, presenting a wonderful opportunity for the Club to showcase the new DTC to the broader sailing community.

A big shout out to the army of volunteers that are assisting with the transition from the existing Clubhouse to the DTC. There has already been a huge work effort with the quarantine and disposal of un-registered and un-wanted dinghies and rigging, the installation of dinghy storage racks in the new dinghy shed, the clean out of the canteen, and the selection and ordering of indoor and

outdoor furniture. Packing up the existing Clubhouse is work in progress so that demolition can proceed in October.

At the recent Junior AGM, George Elms was re-elected as Junior Captain, supported by Amy Moore (Vice-Captain), James Pitt (Treasurer), Alex Molyneux (Secretary), Betty Moore, Sasha Monro, Alasdair Cameron and Angus Cameron. Judging from the speeches at the AGM, the key focus for the new Junior Committee is organising social events, participation and having fun!

A special mention for Zoe Thomson and Zac Littlewood who have recently travelled to Europe to kick off their Laser campaigns.

Zoe is working towards

pre-selection for the 2024 Olympics with Zac working towards selection in the Australian Sailing team by 2024 and then hopeful of selection for the 2028 Olympics. Zac is already off to a great start, winning the 2021 ILCA (Laser) Men’s U21 World Championship in Poland.

Congratulations to Team 29er achieving 2nd place in the 2021 Club Best Regatta, skippered by Zac Sprunt and crewed by George Elms, Vass Katsaitis, Xavier Bates and Pol Raffart. This achievement is testimony to the success of the Sailing Institute training programs and the sailing skills of our Junior sailors.

I recently attended a Professional Development and Pre-season Informa-

tion session for our Club’s coaches and instructors, which included a guest speaker on child safeguarding. It was a very interactive session, with plenty of open discussion and great ideas on coaching, development opportunities and the sailing pathways for our Junior sailors.

Safety Sam celebrates his 1st birthday with 12 months of safety messages to the dinghy community. Safety Sam is doing a great job re-enforcing the importance of safe dinghy sailing and developing a positive safety culture amongst our Junior sailors.

I look forward to seeing everybody on Opening Day.

look forward to strong fleet participation, not only on Opening Day, but throughout the season. I hope to continue on Saturdays as over-worked, under-paid crew on Jim Wilshires Couta Eclipse and many Thursdays on my chartered Foundation 36 Cappoquin III. A full program of sailing over summer will com-

mence soon under the excellent guidance of Rear Commodore’s Ian Burvill (Sail) and Scott Monro (Juniors). Please refer to their respective reports herein.

I thank all Flag Officers, and the Honorary Treasurer, Mark Caddy, for their continuing service to the Club.

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

The Commodore’s Report continued from page 3 The Club’s new-ish website continues to be refined and implementation of MemberPoint and the associated On-Water Pass will also be progressively phased in to sailing and other events. I encourage all skippers and crew to adopt these processes to ensure the Club can offer the safest possible playing field and to ensure equita6

ble access to our valuable and world class facilities.

Spring is finally upon us and Summer Season Opening Day is imminent. Our Bosun, Nathan Stronach, and his Grounds Team have their work cut out in getting the Club presentable, given the various building disruptions. I have no doubt we will look as best we can for the start of the season. I

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ELISE MANNERS REAR COMMODORE POWER

AS

ANOTHER SEASON comes to a close, congratulations go to all competitors. We have seen great numbers competing in our weekly Club time trials, including a few new faces, which is great to see. We were well represented in the CPYC State Teams Events with RFBYC featuring in the top 10 at each event.

It should also be noted that the power section fronted a sailing team in the recent Club Best Regatta, coming a credible fifth. Well done team!

On Saturday, 7 August the John Cowen Memorial Trophy Time Trial was held.

We had 14 competitors with the win going to Tim Cummins and Ken Stevenson on Havana with 6 points lost. A special mention to Bev Cowen and family, thank you for continuing to donate this trophy.

The 64th JM Zeffert Memorial Time Trial, competing for the coveted Kylie Cup, was held on Sunday, 29 August. We had a total of 45 boats from SoPYC, RPYC, CYC and of course RFBYC competing with 157 people staying on to enjoy the ‘pig on a spit’ lunch afterwards. Congratulations to Guy Skinner and Richard Evans from South of Perth Yacht Club, competing on Thanet, who was the winner of the Kylie Cup with 7 Points lost. This was certainly a hard-fought win with only 4 points separating the top 10 boats!

Power Closing Day was held on Saturday, 18 Sep-

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tember with presentations in the Athol Hobbs Room.

Congratulations to all place getters, most notably Tim Cummins and Ken Stevenson on Havana for taking out the Club Championship again with a total score of 138 points. A very close second was Evan Moore and Christiane Clyne on Kizuri with 131 points. The most improved skipper for the season was Andrew Gill on Card Shark and Stephen Lewis on Inkognito took out the WM Schofield Shield for winning on consistency.

A big congratulations to all! It was definitely a close season that could have gone one of many ways and certainly came down to the wire!

The 125th Sailing Opening Day will be held on Saturday, 16 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.

This year, the Rockingham Race Regatta will be held on the weekend of 27 and 28 November. Power Yachts are encouraged to watch the start of the race then make their way to Rockingham in convoy

and enjoy the festivities on the Saturday night at The Cruising Yacht Club. This is a fantastic weekend that includes both power and sail with moorings provided

by TCYC. If you would like to join in the fun, please keep an eye out for further information.

A special mention and thank you goes to all our volunteers, most importantly our regular start boat attendants, Brian Cain, Mark Donati and Sandra Whelan as well as Peter Mason in the Start Box, without whom, our weekly events would not be possible. Also, a big thank you to Sharon Skinner for her tireless efforts as Power Administrator!

Finally, I encourage all members, power and sail alike, to give time trialling a go next season. 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 very much look forward to seeing you out on the water!

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IMAGES © ROBERT HADJUK, SHUTTERSAIL.COM

Zac Littlewood

2021 LASER UNDER-21 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

I

JUST WANTED TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU to Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club for their assistance in getting myself overseas this year. I wouldn’t have financially been able to afford to come earlier to Europe for these Worlds if it wasn’t for your support. So, thank you!

I was lucky enough to get permission to leave Australia a few weeks before U21 Worlds started. I really wanted to do this event but due to a lot of factors It wasn’t realistic to go earlier to Europe. However, a few things fell in place and before you knew it, I decided to come do the event and five days later, I was on a plane out of Australia.

The last time I competed overseas was 2019 in Poland, Gdynia at the World Sailing Youth Championships. I went into the last race of the regatta leading the Worlds but didn’t execute well enough and got a silver medal. Even though the

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silver medal was good, I was disappointed. Fast forward to U21 Worlds this year, and they are at the same venue in Gdynia, which I was really excited about.

The pre-regatta training was exciting. Being around 20–70 boats just for training races felt so different. I wasn’t consistent enough in the pre-regatta training. I was either winning races or being quite deep, so it took a bit of time to be more automatic with my starting and racing processes.

Day 1 of racing was 0–7 knots, with 4 hours on water waiting for wind. It was kind of cool to be back

in that environment where you have to stay switched on the whole day, not just a 3-hour training session.

We had 3–4 general recalls for race 1 (70 boats on the line) and I managed to have a good start, just didn’t execute well enough on my first upwind. I scored a 30th which didn’t faze myself too much. The next race I sailed the same strategy, but I executed my first beat a lot better and won the race.

Day 2 was 8–14 knots, shifty and heavily cloud influenced. I scored a 2,1 but still wasn’t executing as well as I could. Day 3 was 10–16 knots and a more steadier wind 9

direction. I scored a 1,1 going into finals racing (Gold Fleet – Top 70) the next day. Day 4 was a weird day. Offshore breeze ranging from 5–16 knots and big differences in pressure. I scored a 1,2 but it was a tough day where I managed risk a bit better than everyone else. Day 5, we spent 2 hours on shore waiting and 4 hours on water for the wind to not be as light and shifty. We got one race away and I posted a 7th but weren’t able to get any more racing in after that.

The last day I had a 23-point lead over second place but had a 30th as my discard. The regatta only let you drop one race, so with 3 races planned I had to have a solid day if I wanted to win Worlds.

I got down to the boat park and there wasn’t any wind.

We waited onshore for an hour and got sent out with the wind being 2–5 knots, shifting 40 degrees and constant rain.

They tried to start us three times in these conditions, with their last attempt to start us at 14:59, one minute before last warning signal. It was so hard to stay switched on and be under the mindset that we will race in these conditions.

1min until the start, it was so Pinn End bias, half the boats are racked up on starboard and the other half on port tack. Three big horns were let out to abandon the race and that

was it. I won the Worlds. It wasn’t a screaming and jumping celebration, but I just sat down in my boat and took it in. I was so focused on the racing I didn’t realise that it was over until I was on top of the podium at presentations while the National Anthem was playing.

The whole week was an incredible experience, racing with boats again and being able to finally win a World Championships in Gdynia.

I’m in Marseille, France now doing some training before I head off to Bulgaria for the Senior Europeans. A few weeks after Bulgaria in November, I’ll be competing at the senior World Championships in Barcelona before I try head back home.

I also understand how fortunate I am to be here in Europe while parts of Australia are struggling in lockdown and have friends/family stuck abroad. My thoughts go to you and I hope for better days ahead.

Lastly, I’m very thankful for the support from the Western Australian Institute of Sport especially Head coach Belinda Stowell. The Australian Laser Squad was a massive part of my development as well, letting me join them last year and train in a great environment during the period where we couldn’t compete. Coaches Michael Blackburn, Ben Walkemeyer, Arthur Brett, Matt Jerwood were a big part of this journey the past few years. Ron Tough Yachting Foundation was also a big part of my support team. So thank you!

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SEPTEMBER UPDATE THROUGH PICTURES.

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DINGHY & TRAINING CENTRE UPDATE ANTICIPATING THE FINISH!

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at i d me r e nt ard) I & nd 25 n e ta al 1 p S O f ( ial & ation f i Sk Rad | N n ’Pe r(4.7, chno O ) | Lase IC Te 1 e t 2 a B | i 0 | ed der m) 2 m r n 2 . e R nt onte & 8 I E & C B en 20 | (6.9m M p E t (O r | 4 ASZP s C i E tim 29e | W p D O r ro r 5 i M

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Designed: Ken Lacco Designed: Built: Mick Ken RileyLacco Built: Mick Riley Launched: Victoria, 1986 Launched: Victoria, 1986 Refurbished: Western Australia, 2010 Refurbished: Western Australia, 2010 Phone: Rob Cameron 0427 711 223 Phone: Rob Cameron 0427 711 223 (Current Share Holder) (Current Share Holder)

‘HIAWATHA’

50’ Motor Launch 1939 FOR SALE

Penned at RFBYC for whole life.

Famous, with an illustrious career, and a significant part of W.A.’s maritime history.

Enquiries to Julian 0438 525 580

ENDEAVOUR

THE

CAN John Longley

16

www.rfbyc.asn.au

NNON On the night of 10 June 1770, HMB Endeavour was heading ENE off the Queensland coast, close on the wind and under easy sail.

S

he was doing 2 to 3 knots on a smooth sea and was well offshore. Just before 10 pm Captain James Cook’s log records, ‘We had 20 and 21 fathoms and continued in that depth until a few minutes before 11 when we had 17 and before the man at the lead could heave another cast the ship struck and stuck fast’. They were on a coral reef at high tide.

The story of how they got her off, fothered and sailed her to what is now the Endeavour River at Cooktown to careen and repair her, is a one of exquisite seamanship. The part of that story that informs this article is that almost immediately after grounding they threw overboard everything that was heavy including the six guns and their carriages on the weather deck, iron and stone ballast, casks, decaying stores and a general miscellany of 50 tons or more.

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T

hose six guns lay there on the bottom of the sea next to Endeavour Reef, as it is now known, for nearly 200 years. Then in 1969 an expedition sponsored by the American Academy of Sciences recovered all six cannons and some iron ballast.

The cannons were treated by conservators then given to collections in Australia, Britain, New Zealand and America.

‘All very interesting,’ I hear you saying, ‘but what has all this to do with RFBYC?’.

Well, the cannon that is sitting at the east end of the upper lawn pointed at the Dalkeith foreshore is a very accurate replica of one of the six cannons that were heaved over the side of HMB Endeavour on that terrifying night.

HMB Endeavour was issued with ten 4 pounder cannons. Cook did not want that many but was ordered to take what he was given. He promptly dismantled four and put them down below with the ballast.

W

hen the project to build a replica of HMB Endeavour in Fremantle got under way, the build team was approached

by Australian Defence Industries (ADI) and asked if they would like ADI to build the ship’s great guns. ADI is responsible for building the guns for the Australian Army and Navy and at the time had excess capacity. They also had many young apprentices and wanted a project on which to train them.

The build team was very happy to accept the offer and got to work to develop drawings for ADI to work from.

17

WHATEVER LIES AHEAD

One of the six original cannons that had been given to the fledgling Australian National Maritime Museum was sent to Fremantle to be put on display at the build shed. While she was there it was measured up by the project’s 18th century naval architect, David White, who then developed accurate drawings of the gun.

T

he original guns would have been cast but this technique had long since been replaced by forging a large block of steel and then turning them up on a lathe. This was much more accurate and should they ever be fired, much less likely to fail.

The problem was that when they came off the lathe they looked much too modern and there was no way of casting the King’s crown into the barrel. This was solved by milling out a section of the gun and inserting the crown that was moulded off the original. The surface was then painted with a resinous rough paint to appear as a cast gun.

The iron work for the carriages was made by the project’s blacksmith, Jan

Jensen and then sent to ADI with sufficient karri timber for the apprentices to manufacture the carriages.

O

n completion, the ten cannons were delivered to the ANMM to be handed over in a ceremony in front of many of the good and great of Sydney. The plan was to fire them one after the other into Darling Harbour, but how to do that safely was the problem.

A system of firing small charges electrically was devised but on the big day it started to rain. Kitchen wipes were hurriedly put in the muzzles to stop the electrics getting wet. Unfortunately, when they were ceremoniously fired, there was only a small pop followed by a kitchen wipe gracefully floating through the air to land elegantly on Sydney Harbour like a tired jellyfish. The initial murmur of laughter rapidly grew with each firing.

The guns were never fired electrically again. The touch holes were drilled out and they were properly fired with black powder and wadding as the RFBYC gun is each Opening Day.

So how did one of these guns end up at RFBYC? Well, although the Endeavour Project needed ten cannon ADI decided to build 12. (Four would have sufficed as from a modern stability point of view Endeavour was only allowed to carry four on the weather deck). One was subsequently sold to the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, and one was kept on display at the ADI offices. A few years later ADI decided to donate this 12th gun to the Foundation to raise funds for the ship.

T

he gun was subsequently offered to RFBYC but the asking price did did not fit anywhere in the Club’s budget. Thankfully Past Commodore and Club philanthropist Bruce Campbell donated the funds, and the 12th of Endeavour’s great guns was delivered to the Club.

So, when you next pass the cannon spare a thought for those scared sailors back in 1770 heaving the original over the side in a desperate attempt to save their ship.

19

SE ASON 2021/22

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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O R S CA N H E R E

info@swanriversailing.com

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

2022 WA IRC State Championships Ocean Racing WA Saturday 27 November 2021, 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 28 November 2021, 0930 start Racing in Cockburn Sound Two windward / leeward races, target time 45 mins each Gordon Craig Ocean Race - Rockingham to Fremantle Thursday 2 December 2021, 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

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.

22

www.rfbyc.asn.au

MEMBERSHIP NEW CLUB MEMBERS ORDINARY

Member Duncan Craib Mark O’Malley Jon Morris Linda Barnett Andrew Sutherland Jeff Ecker Boudewijn van de Veire Michael Errey Kassia Ralston Tom Wang Ben Hohnen John Young David Foti Vance Franklin Laurie Macri Brendan Ryan Doris Gao Jill Curnow Tim Johnston Michael Lloyd Angela Forbes

Proposer Seconder Timothy Crommelin Robert Forbes Susan Ghent Adam Garnaut Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer John Standley Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer Mark Tremain John Black Rob Towner Alex O’Beirne Rear Commodore Elise Manners Scott Disley Graeme Disley Jay Walter Craig Butler Glenn Whiddon David Michael Rob Lynn Craig Carter Robert Freedman Douglas Freedman Christopher Michael David Michael Mark Tremain Rear Commodore Elise Manners Brian Galton-Fenzi Paul Byrne Ian Clarke Craig Carter John Stanning Wyborn Seabrook Grant Alderson Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer John Black Barbara-Dene Jones Seth Eggleston Hugh Currie Christopher Bingemann Michael Bingemann John Brazier Jennie Fitzhardinge

ASSOCIATE

Member Helen Hammond Catherine Craib Jane Disspain Craig Halsted Pip van Helvoort Lindsey Morris Gavin Baker Suzanne Sutherland Sha van der Veire Sharmane Errey Christopher Whitehead Christina Du Julie Ecker Lindsay Douglas Christine Macri Marie Paterson Cheryl Young Brenton Fielke

Proposer Seconder Tony Packer Robin Hammond Timothy Crommelin Robert Forbes David Michael Frederic Flipo Commodore Rob Parker Philippa Packer Susan Ghent Adam Garnaut Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer John Standley Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer Mark Tremain John Black Rob Towner Scott Disley Graeme Disley Jay Walter Craig Butler Glenn Whiddon David Michael Rob Lynn Craig Carter Alex O’Beirne Rear Commodore Elise Manners Robert Gould Rear Commodore Elise Manners Ian Clarke Craig Carter Paul Stark Martin Ashby Christopher Michael David Michael John Brazier Jennie Fitzhardinge

JUNIOR MEMBERS

Member Breanna Morris Taylor Leafe Jess Dilley Ben Engelbrecht Jackson Macri

www.rfbyc.asn.au

Member Member Cameron Morris Annabelle Sutherland Kai Patterson Marianne Gu Dylan Capewell Siena Fielke Siân Vitales-Jones Oceana Vitales-Jones Stella Gray 23

TIDINGS

EDITIONS MISSING FROM THE CLUB’S COLLECTION

1962

JAN, JUN

1963

FEB, MAY, AUG, NOV

1964

JAN, APR, JUN

1965

JAN, MAR

1966

FEB, JUN

1967

JAN, JUN, OCT

1968

MAR, JUL, SEP, DEC

1969

FEB, MAR, JUL, SEP, DEC

1970

JAN, APR, JUL, SEP, DEC

1971

JAN, APR, JUN, SEP, DEC

1972

JAN, MAR, MAY, AUG, SEP, NOV

1973

JAN, APR, JUN, SEP, NOV

1974

JAN, MAR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, NOV

1975

JAN, FEB, MAY, JUN, AUG, SEP, NOV

1976

JAN, FEB, APR, JUN, JUL, AUG, OCT, DEC

1977

JAN, FEB, DEC

1978

FEB, MAR, MAY, JUL, AUG, OCT

1979

JAN, FEB, APR, MAY, AUG, OCT

above: Front cover, Tidings, October 1971

24

inset: We are looking for copies of Tidings published in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was published monthly.

These are the specific months missing from the Archives.

Susan Parker

NOW & THEN FRESHWATER BAY TIDINGS Now and Then will every now and then relate something from the Club Archives to current events and activities.

THE

ARCHIVE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS continue to work their way through converting the Club’s official publications and records to electronic files. The long-term outcome will be state of the art electronic search and retrieve access to the Club’s historic records.

The reason for preserving the past records of the Club is best described

by Basil Twine, who together with wife Jenny has been our long-time archivist. ‘The efforts and achievements of our members in the past together with their decisions, their habits and the resultant customs all combine to create the tradition and character of our great Club’.

The Club’s history of membership and boat registrations/ownership/ achievements is documented in Tidings and Year Books, as well as the official Minutes of Committees.

Every now and then Club calls on members to locate copies of publications which have escaped the Club’s collection.

MISSING TIDINGS

If you have copies of Tidings published in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was published monthly (generally 11 or 12 editions per year), please consider donating them to the Club. Specific months are missing for each year (please see inset opposite), however duplicate copies are kept so any editions from these decades will be welcome donations.

BRINGING MEMBERS GLAD TIDINGS FOR 60 YEARS…

FRESHWATER BAY TIDINGS was first published 60 years ago in June 1961. It was a four-page blue-onwhite edition mailed to over 1,000 members to ‘keep each member fully informed on all matters con-

www.rfbyc.asn.au

cerning the Club’s conduct and development’ as explained by the then Commodore Michael Ahern (dec) in his column ‘From the Commodore’.

RFBYC member David Cruickshank (dec) was the inaugural editor.

In light of the publications purpose, the first edition shared with members the news that Bar Trade had been better than expected, however it noted that some members were buying soft drink provisions elsewhere unaware the Club could provide supplies.

Continuing in the manner of ‘history repeats itself’ the first edition reported that repairs were being undertaken to the sea wall underneath the main wharf. The roadway was to be raised to be safely above highwater level and it was hoped that it would be ‘trouble free for many years to come’.

On the sailing front, the Regatta Committee announced that ‘lads reaching 15 years of age and leaving Pelicans’ could take up the Gwenette class, being a second-hand Gwen 12 with a smaller sail area. The cost was 100-120GBP and four were immediately available for purchase - Betty Anne, Simplicity, Echo Too and Vickie.

Although the Gwenette has now disappeared from the Club’s shores, the International Dragon Class continues to flourish. 2021 is the 70th year of the class racing at RFBYC and in 1961, Tidings announced that the Prince Philip Cup was to be

held in Perth just prior to the Empire Games in 1962.

Ten years down the track, Freshwater Bay Tidings remained a four-page publication. At the start of 1971 the ‘Commodore’s Notes’

by Commodore John Plunkett (dec) congratulated the Club members on the success of the World Hornet Championships and included an extract from Yachting and Boating Weekly stating ‘RFBYC who ran the series came out of it covered with glory. Never before has championship racing been so perfectly organised. Together with a shore administration that never failed to meet every request for a fortnight, the sailing committee could not be faulted.’

What a great standard and one that continues to be met with every regatta hosted by RFBYC. By the end of 1971 the publication was enhanced with a full colour cover. The October edition featured a beautiful photograph of Tony Manford’s Dragon Leander sailing in Cockburn Sound. Interestingly, the same photo appeared on the cover of the November edition.

By 1981 Freshwater Bay Tidings was published simply as Tidings.

Early in the year the publication featured a black/white aerial photo of the Club on its cover and much-admired colour photos inside. By the second half of the year the publication was reduced in size and only printed in black/white. The change 25

NOW & THEN CONTINUED

right: Front cover, Tidings April 1981

was attributed to postal regulations – although there must have been substantial savings on the publication costs.

The ‘Message from the Commodore’ was always a succinct piece under the pen of Commodore Bruce Campbell (dec). Class reports were regularly contributed by 420’s, Laser’s, Dragons, Solings, Flying 15, Hornets, Moths, Cruiser Divisions, Offshore, Power, Juniors and The Wine Club!

The item still vexing the General Committee and Club Administration was the number of trailers being left on the Club premises. ‘Any member who has a trailer on the grassed area 26

behind the Junior Club Rooms is requested to remove it immediately.

The General Committee will take action to remove any trailers that remain on the Club grounds at the time of the next General Committee meeting’ – as published on the front page of Tidings, December 1981!

A decade later in 1991, Tidings remained a mono print publication but was up to 16 pages in size.

Stephen Parker (dec) was editor and Debbie Hills (now our Yachting Operations Manager, Debbie Blaauw) was the assistant editor. The big-little Tidings now covered race results, reports from classes/divisions, Committee reports and Office

Bearer reports. Events and functions (including Sunday buffet and a la carte menus) were being promoted, Racing Rules were being explained, Cruising in Company reports had been added, Boats for Sale ads were many, Club Merchandise was being advertised and ‘Fifty Years Ago from the Minute Book’ was a regular item keeping members in touch with the history of the Club.

One of the most unusual reports in the March 1991 Tidings came from the Flying 15s. Nils Blumen, a well-known yachtsman from Esperance, joined the Club’s Flying 15 fleet for their Saturday afternoon race in his own FF The Downhill Slide. Whilst the report provides no indication of Nils place in the race, it does explain how he came to be there with his yacht.

Nils had sailed The Downhill Slide from Esperance to RFBYC with his 18-year-old daughter Siobahn as crew. That’s 700 nautical miles along the treacherous WA SW coast around two capes in a Flying 15!

Big changes to Tidings occurred with the new millennium. General Committee accepted a proposal for a 24 page, A4 magazine-style full colour gloss publication with the first in this design published in May 2001. Commodore Mark Cubitt introduced the new style with the reassurance that the costs were one half the existing one-colour print design costs.

Other notable items appearing in Tidings of the new century were the reports from members travelling far and wide and setting sail on distant waters.

Jono Farmer was a regular contributor with his wonderful tales of cruising the North Ionian on Zephyros. Others setting sail in foreign waters were also encouraged to share their stories with members through Tidings, especially those who were displaying their racing skills on water.

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NOW & THEN CONTINUED Belinda Stowell shared her appreciation for the Club’s assistance in achieving her Olympic Gold medal and updated members on her second-place finish in the European 470 Championship in Dublin.

Grant Alderson provided an indepth analysis of the Club’s Flying 15 contingent of Greg Leaversuch and Peter Barblett, Ron Packer and Peter Mudford, Dean McAullay and Grant who contested the 2001 World Championships in Durban.

JESS reports came in from Nieuwpoort, Belgium and Warnemuende, Northeast Germany. And Trish Ford reported back to members on the Dragon World Championships held in Hornbaek, Denmark.

At the start of the next decade in 2011, Tidings continued in its

magazine format with six editions per year. It took on a very corporate style with Office Bearer and General Manager reports comprehensively covering Committee decisions and operations.

Even more member contributions were being provided by those attending championships interstate and around the world. However, it’s the inclusion of many more photos of racing yachts and pleasure craft on the water as well as members socialising at Club events that provide a pictorial history of the Club in this new decade. Although, archive volunteers of the future are going to have to dig deep to identify so many of the unnamed people. At least boats have numbers and names to identify them!

Now in 2021, the 60th year of publication, Tidings continues to bring news of interest to Club members. It is complemented by regular on-line updates of Club matters by the e-newsletters Front of House, Gybe Sheet, Dinghy Digest and Power Torque. The online Fresh News blog and the Club’s website, Facebook and Twitter feed all provide members with access to Club activities and information and together fulfill the need identified by the General Committee in 1961 to ‘keep each member fully informed on all matters concerning the Club’s conduct and development’.

If you can help with donations of early Tidings, please contact the Club.

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VALE ANDREW CHARLES KINGSBURY 1928 – 2021

A

NDREW KINGSBURY JOINED RFBYC in 1942 about six months before Tony Manford and at the time of his death had been the Club’s longest serving member.

He was born in Malaya, the son of Victor Kingsbury, an engineer, and Effie Richardson. His schooling was mainly at Hale School where he was an excellent student and also excelled as a middle-distance runner and as an oarsman. A close friend and fellow oarsman at school was Frank Slee.

At UWA he again rowed with Frank while studying medical science before having to go to Melbourne to complete his medical degree at Melbourne University. It was while he was there that he rowed with the Melbourne University crew and the Victorian Kings Cup Crew.

They finished second behind NSW with the WA Kings Cup crew third, stroked by Frank Slee.

Andrew’s sailing began at the age of 12 in a tin canoe with a bamboo mast and part of a bedsheet for a sail. He may have had a few swims but he was hooked! His uncle David Brisbane (Commodore 1942– 1944) suggested he should join the Club as a Junior. He then crewed in Cadet Dinghies with Bob Bennett in Adonis and later with Jim Paton in Hero. Graduating to keel boats he sailed with ‘Skipper’ Bourne in Jolly Roger both on the river and offshore (despite a propensity toward ‘Mal de Mer’).

Tony Manford related a story about a particularly rough Bunbury 28

race he sailed as crew in Haze with Eric Leach and Andrew. Only four boats managed to finish the race and at one stage Eric was in a bunk down below, Tony was on the helm but had one foot on Andrew’s backside to stop him falling overboard as he was throwing up over the side.

After completing his medical degree and returning to Perth he acquired an old ‘Sharpie’ which he rebuilt and raced. This was followed by several years racing as crew on the river and off-shore in keel boats all of which would send the safety conscience of today into a fit.

In 1952 Andrew married Helen Birtwistle with whom he had three children, Jane, Richard and Amanda. All three were introduced to sailing at RFBYC in a Pelican and later Cherubs. Richard still sails a Viking 30 Firebird at the Club. But it was while they were involved in Cherubs that Andrew became Cherub Class delegate to YAWA, serving on the executive and ultimately becoming President (1980 – 1981).

In 1974, after a period in England qualifying as a Gynaecologist he partnered with Fred Grauaug in launching Esprit, a Maurauder 24’ in which he proceeded to terrorise Div 2 at the Club. Ten years later he sold Esprit and purchased his last and best loved yacht, Gwendolyn

III, a Viking 30 which he renamed Framar.

About that time cousin Basil Twine and his wife Jenny also purchased a Viking 30 named Longreach so that the number of yachts at the Club qualifying under the old ‘Half Ton’ Rule was building. He and Basil decided the Club needed a club championship so the 30R Fleet (30’ Restricted) was formed to include Petersen 30s, S&S 30s and Custom 30s. The trophy created is the ‘Longreach Keel’ which depicts a representation of a Viking 30 keel.

The marriage to Helen did not last and in 1980 Andrew married Faith Brown with whom he had a daughter Susannah.

As well as being a fine Gynaecologist Andrew was also a keen member of the RANVR in which he served for many years as a Medical Officer both on shore and on ships based in WA. He was heard to mention that his sea sickness only lasted a couple of days before he could enjoy the cruise. I believe he retired with the rank of Commander.

Andrew may not have served the Club as a flag officer but he certainly made a significant contribution to the areas in which he was involved.

He was a great competitor.

Until we cross tacks again: Cheers!

www.rfbyc.asn.au

VALE PETER MALCOLM HAY 1936 – 2021

P

ETER HAY WAS BORN in Launceston, Tasmania and spent most of his schooling at Hutchins School in Hobart.

The connection with the sea began early with his great-grandfather who was a Ship’s Captain engaged in transporting settlers to Tasmania.

The family became involved in the Timber industry and in particular, soft-woods from the Huon Valley.

They were partners in a firm named Henry Jones & Co based in Hobart.

Their home was adjacent to what we now know as Wrest Point which was owned by Mr Arthur Drysdale and he owned a yacht! It was on that yacht that a small boy named Peter discovered a love of sailing.

Graduating into Cadet Dinghies was a normal progression where his job was to sit in the bottom of the boat with a pan and bail the water out. At the first opportunity he joined the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and despite moving interstate and around the world always maintained that membership. He met a number of sailors visiting for various championships and these included Rory Argyle so that when he re-located to Perth it was natural that he would join RFBYC. Peter described the difference between sailing conditions in Hobart and those in Perth as ‘coming from hell to heaven’ and RFBYC as having a ‘good feel’ and a ‘unique location’. ‘There are very few clubs where you can watch the racing from the bar and the fellowship is next to none. It has good yachts and good yachtsmen.’

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Rory Argyle introduced Peter to Rolly Tasker with whom he sailed many races on Rolly’s various Siska’s including the famed ‘Parmelia’ Race in 1979.

After that he returned to his favourite class of yacht (the Dragon) of which he owned three: DKA 83 which had various names, AUS 191 Red Barron, and AUS 225 Dragonfly. He was fiercely competitive and raced these yachts with success with Willy Packer, Tony or Richard Lynn as helmsman.

When retiring from racing his power boat Four Seasons was used as a Committee Boat for starting and spectators at Dragon events.

In many ways Peter was a giant of a man. Not only because of his height but because of his generosity and loyalty and offer of friendship.

He was always ready to help but never pushed it. At the same time there was a sense of impatience in that he did not tolerate fools.

In some ways he was a private person who guarded his family closely. He was devoted to his lovely wife Annie who pre-deceased him and to the well-being of his sons Malcolm, David and John.

We shall miss his presence around Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and the sailing scene.

29

VALE RON KEMPIN 1931 – 2021

RON

WAS A GREAT CHARACTER, well known as the skipper of the Hereshoff 29, Samantha. He had an amazing life, became a real ‘Old Salt’, and was much loved by all who cruised in company with him.

Ron set up RFBYC Cruising in Company, inspiring many of us to go on regular weekend offshore cruises. The favourite was the annual Quindalup Boxing Day cruise, spread over a couple of weeks depending on weather conditions.

He raced Dragons in his early days, then came to love blue-water sailing. Samantha could be seen heading down the river and offshore most weekends, generally alone if he was not leading a cruising fleet.

Ron was very generous with his experience, and taught dozens of sailors how to cruise, an important skill to learn with our strong winds and long distances. He taught his fellow cruisers how to fit in with the weather, and plan passages to gain the maximum enjoyment, maybe waiting for days, or departing in the early hours. His famous quote, when faced with strong winds while heading south, was ‘Why have a miserable trip bashing into a strong sou-westerly, when the red wine in 30

Mandurah tastes just as good as the red wine in Bunbury!’.

Samantha’s cockpit hosted many good parties, always with Ron’s famous ‘cockies’ or cocktails and entertaining stories. The yacht would be weighed down with drunken sailors and her self-draining cockpit would fill up, so people were chased up to the bow to keep her afloat. Any weekend’s cruise would never arrive home before 5:00pm, so he could escape gardening duties.

Ron was a plumber by trade, he was always thinking and very creative. He discovered that Samantha’s copper propellor never fouled up and started experimenting with copper plating of props to avoid the need for antifouling. He had some successes but had mixed results due to the complexities of underwater electrolysis.

Ron joined the Club in 1972 and was given Special Membership in 2006.

‘We enjoyed cruising with Ron in the ’90s. We thought he would live forever!’

VALE RONALD WILLIAM GREY 1931 – 2021

O

LDER MEMBERS WILL REMEMBER Ron Grey who was a member from 1969 until 2017. He was a remarkable man: quiet, cheerful and always ready to help or advise.

His background was typical for a youngster growing up in Mosman Park – local primary school then Fremantle Boys High School. Life was good; Mosman Bay Sea Scouts, messing about on the river, and sailing with his brother Trevor in their 12ft Cadet Dinghy Gumleaf at RFBYC. It was in this boat that he was runner-up to Tony Manford in the State Championships.

He was also a keen footballer who played for East Fremantle around 1950 to 1953 during the era of Bernie Naylor and the infamous Jack Sheedy. This was reflected in one of his famous dinghys; the 16ft Skiff Elva named after his mother, and all built in her back yard.

The skiff which he built and sailed from Mounts Bay Sailing Club was painted in blue and white panels.

It was a hard chine design, revolutionary for that era. In this, Elva

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II, he won an Australian 16ft Skiff Championship on the Swan River, from Sydneysider Ken Beashell and his old friend and previous skipper Jack Cassidy.

Ron’s talents as a sailmaker and spar maker for Rolly Tasker followed his apprenticeship with the Beam Motor Bus Company building bus bodies from timber and sheet metal.

This, together with a passion for sailing led to his experimenting with mast and sail shapes. One was a memorable example he referred to as the ‘Hockey’ mast because of the prodigious, overhanging bend at the top. Unfortunately, wood was never going to be strong enough to cope with the stresses and it collapsed and broke as soon as the sail filled.

The introduction of aluminium for spars led to his developments with mast cranes and cantilever tops with and without backstay. His

subsequent work as an aluminium spar maker and designer/builder of special yacht hardware became legendary.

Earlier in his career Ron set up and managed the Tasker Sails loft in La Rochelle in France and then Chicago in the USA. It was on return from the USA that he brought back a ‘Soling’ class yacht for Rolly.

This was red in colour and named Siskabab. Ron sailed it on Rolly’s behalf on the river. After the local demise of the Soling class he sailed an Etchell 22, Cavalier, purchased from Laurie Connell.

Ronald William Grey was a quiet gentleman, good friend, former champion yachtsman and a wizard spar maker. He will be missed by his many friends in the yachting fraternity in WA and particularly by those at RFBYC.

31

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

11 SEPTEMBER

CLUB POWER YACHT TIME TRIAL – COURSE 217 – PATHFINDER TROPHY

12 SEPTEMBER

DINGHY WINTER SERIES RACE 6 – PM

16 SEPTEMBER

MARRIWOOD PARK AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

18 SEPTEMBER

THE INKOGNITO POWER YACHT CLOSING DAY TIME TRIAL AND END OF SEASON PRESENTATIONS

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

13 NOVEMBER

GOVERNOR’S CUP (STARTS AT RPYC AND FINISHES AT RFBYC)

14 NOVEMBER

OFF THE BEACH RACING

17 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

18 NOVEMBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

20 NOVEMBER

ETCHELLS MICHAEL MANFORD SERIES RACING FROM 0800

20 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

19 SEPTEMBER

KEELBOAT FROSTBITE SERIES RACE 7 AM – FINAL

23 SEPTEMBER

MARRIWOOD PARK AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

21 NOVEMBER

OFF THE BEACH RACING

24 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

25 SEPTEMBER– 27 SEPTEMBER

FLYING FIFTEEN ‘TALLY HOBBS’ REGATTA (RFBYC OA, FSC HOST VENUE)

25 NOVEMBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

27 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

30 SEPTEMBER

MARRIWOOD PARK AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

27 NOVEMBER

07 OCTOBER

MARRIWOOD PARK AUTUMN/WINTER MID WEEK RACE

ROCKINGHAM RACE REGATTA, DOLPHIN RACE (AND WA IRC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS)

28 NOVEMBER

10 OCTOBER

DINGHY FLEETS AUDITING AND INFORMATION SESSION

ROCKINGHAM RACE REGATTA, GORDON CRAIG OCEAN RACE (AND WA IRC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS)

14 OCTOBER

FINAL MARRIWOOD PARK AUTUMN/ WINTER MID WEEK RACE

01 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

02 DECEMBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE ICR REGISTRATION

16 OCTOBER

SAILING OPENING DAY – FLAG OFFICERS TROPHY RACE

03 DECEMBER 04 DECEMBER

ICR DINGHY REGATTA

20 OCTOBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

04 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

21 OCTOBER

FIRST SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

05 DECEMBER

ICR DINGHY REGATTA

21 OCTOBER

PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AUTUMN/ WINTER MID WEEK SERIES

08 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

09 DECEMBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

24 OCTOBER

OFF THE BEACH RACING

11 DECEMBER

27 OCTOBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

KEELBOAT RACING (INCLUDES WINDWARD LEEWARD RACING AT 1630 FOR SELECTED FLEETS)

28 OCTOBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

12 DECEMBER

OFF THE BEACH RACING

30 OCTOBER

KEELBOAT RACING (INCLUDES WINDWARD LEEWARD RACING AT 0900 FOR SELECTED FLEETS)

15 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

16 DECEMBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

03 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

18 DECEMBER

03 NOVEMBER

NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNOR’S CUP CLOSE AT 1800 HRS

ETCHELLS MICHAEL MANFORD SERIES RACING FROM 0800

18 DECEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING

19 DECEMBER

OFF THE BEACH RACING

22 DECEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

23 DECEMBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE

31 DECEMBER

NEW YEAR’S EVE TWILIGHT SAIL

04 NOVEMBER

32

11 NOVEMBER

SPRING/SUMMER MID WEEK RACE (INCORP. ANNIVERSARY RACE FOR COMBINED A & B FLEETS)

06 NOVEMBER

KEELBOAT RACING (INCLUDES WINDWARD LEEWARD RACING AT 0900 FOR SELECTED FLEETS)

06 NOVEMBER

BW8 AND ETCHELLS WINDWARD LEEWARD RACING FROM 1630

07 NOVEMBER

BW8 AND ETCHELLS WINDWARD LEEWARD RACING FROM 0900

07 NOVEMBER

OFF THE BEACH RACING

10 NOVEMBER

TWILIGHT SAILING

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n g i l i S a e S

YEARS 1896 - 2021

on as

125t h

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club

OPENING DAY

Saturday, 16 October 2021 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 2021-22 Sailing Season Nomination Form on the Club’s website