Tidings - September 2015 Edition

SEPTEMBER 2015

BICENTENARY INTERNATIONAL REGATTA COUTA FLEET ROUNDUP QUESTE DELIVERY OVER THE TOP

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2015 4

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Yachties in the know know Doyle

NEWS FROM OUR FLAG OFFICERS Ian Clarke - Commodore Dean McAullay - Vice Commodore Peter Chalmer - Rear Commodore Sail Evan Moore - Rear Commodore Juniors Richard Williams - Rear Commodore Power CRUISING TO BALI IN THE FAST LANE

13 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

Summer Season

Locally

Al Fresco – Offshore winner Arajilla – Club Champion Blondie – Offshore Winner

Capricious Wind – State Champion Grand Piano – State Champion This Way Up – Offshore Winner

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Wild Bull – Offshore Winner The X Factor – Offshore Winner

Well done to all teams who raced offshore this winter season.

The Summer Bluewater series begins 10 October.

Nationally Margaret Rintoul V – Offshore Champion Secret Mens Business – Sydney to Hobart Winner Overall

17 ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON

Level Rating Fleet, Cowes UK - July 2015

Team Australia – Sydney to Hobart Record Run Tow Truck – Sydney to Hobart Division Winner Wedgetail – Brisbane to Gladstone Winner

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Internationally Bella Mente – IRC Winner Hugo Boss – Round the World Racer Invisible Hand – Transpac Winner Leopard – Super Maxi Ragamuffin 100 – Transpac Line Honours RedKyte – China Sea Race Winner Salperton IV – Super Maxi Sanya – Volvo 70 Team Shockwave – IRC Winner

Invisible Hand – Ex Limit

acorndesign.com.au

Ph: 08 9430 5366 Fax: 08 9430 4243 Email: will.hammond@doyleaustralia.com

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2/15 Forsyth Street O’Connor WA 6163

37 EATS AND TREATS FROM THE BOWLINE

MID-WEEK SAILING Round up from mid week sailing

38 ASTERN: THE CAMBRIA WHEEL

By Basil Twine

PITTWATER TO RFBYC Over the top journey from one side of Australia to the other

42 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

30 WELCOME NEW CLUB MEMBERS

Will Hammond www.doyleaustralia.com Doyle Sails

20 ‘THIS WAY UP’ AT THE FREMANTLE SERIES

All the news from the winter series

34 ST AYLES SKIFF PROJECT

By John Longley

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

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

Cover shot: Hamish Beck

GROUNDS STAFF Timothy Donahue, Laurie Martin, Joel Sheppard, Shane Ramsey PUBLICATION Registered by Australia Post Publication No 63312300018 To contribute or advertise in the next issue send your copy by Monday, 2 November 2015 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

FLAG OFFICERS Ian Clarke - commodore@rfbyc.asn.au Dean McAullay - vicecommodore@rfbyc.asn.au Peter Chalmer - rearcommsail@rfbyc.asn.au Evan Moore - rearcommjuniors@rfbyc.asn.au Richard Williams - rearcommpower@rfbyc.asn.au

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IAN CLARKE COMMODORE

DEAN McAULLAY VICE COMMODORE

Greetings members. As the year rolls along, the seasons come and go. Spring is replacing winter and already there is a feel around the Club that summer is not far away.

How many days until Christmas?

At our recent AGM, Members approved a range of changes to the rules surrounding membership categories, the majority of which were designed to make Club membership more affordable for Members aged 18 to 35 years of age.

I thank the many Members who contributed to the process which resulted in the drafting of the proposals put before Members at the AGM, and the staff involved in bringing the documentation all together, especially our CEO Paul Bayliss and Membership Coordinator Susie Ghent, both of whom put in many hours of work.

Special thanks also to the Members who attended the AGM and strongly supported the proposals. It’s very important for the Club that the changes were approved. The drop off in the number of Members from age 18 into the early 20s has become alarming.

Sure, many rejoin in their 40s and 50s, but we need to do better at keeping these Members at the Club. But the answer is much more than just affordable membership. It’s important that Club membership becomes meaningful to these Members.

Therefore appropriate sailing programs and social offerings attractive to Members in the 18 - 35 age group are equally important. Yachting Committee and House Committee are working hard to ensure we offer the total package.

The AGM also saw the election of a new Rear Commodore - Evan Moore - who takes on the role of leading the Dinghy/Junior Club. I congratulate Evan on his election and wish him well for his tenure, as I do for all the Officers who were re-elected.

Recently elected Special Members Steve Ward and Rae Cronin

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP Special Membership is not lightly awarded at RFBYC, so I was delighted to announce at the AGM that Committee had elected Rae Cronin and Steve Ward as Special Members.

Both Rae and Steve have given many years of service to RFBYC in a range of volunteer positions and are very popular around the Club. The announcement of their election was received warmly and with an enthusiastic round of applause.

The other important event at the AGM was the election of Past Commodore John Galvin as a Vice Patron, filling the vacancy caused by the passing of Bruce Campbell. I am looking forward to the guidance John and the other Vice Patrons will give me over the coming twelve months.

On a different subject, another Opening Day is just around the corner, and following the success of last year, the Dinghy/Junior Club Opening Day will be held on the same day as the Senior Club – Saturday, 17 October. With the dinghy and junior sailors sailing in the morning, the bigger boats sailing in the afternoon and the power boats participating in the raft up and sail past, the whole of the Club coming together will be a wonderful display. I look forward to seeing many of you on Opening Day.

The AGM of the Club has occurred and I am pleased to report that all motions presented on the night were carried including a significant alteration to the membership categories. These changes are significant in that they recognise the importance of attracting and retaining members so as to keep the membership base active and vibrant. It’s no secret that clubs and sports in general have difficulty with younger age demographics.

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club is not immune from that issue and the Committee has long seen the need to address the matter. There are two things we considered vital to attracting and retaining members in the 18 – 35 age group.

The first and most important aspect is to provide compelling reasons for those in that age bracket to want to become or remain as a member. We have worked on providing more enticing onwater activities incorporating ideas from existing members and developing new ones. We have also looked at on-shore based activities and events to suit those ages. Whilst doing this we also need to ensure that these are all compatible with the whole membership group and

the Club’s Strategic objectives. We see this as enhancing the ‘value’ of membership and without that value, no strategy would be successful.

Secondly, the Committee recognises that financial reasons are a significant hurdle at that phase of life. Study, new job, family and any other commitment can create a need for prioritising resources. This also includes the demand for time for recreation and competing activities. The reduction in annual subscriptions, joining fees and other levies is the core of the changes approved at the AGM. Committee believes that our Club is a Club of choice for those age groups (and older) and we must maintain that momentum.

We will always be looking at how we can deliver more for our members.

An example definitely proving that if you provide value and quality, you will achieve success, has been the fortnightly Wednesday themed dinner nights. The curry and parmigiana nights had numbers approaching 200 dining in the Roland Smith Ballroom. These nights will continue until the beginning of the season in October.

Keep an eye on the fortnightly “Front of House” newsletter which has information on all things food and beverage including the dates and themes for the Wednesday nights.

The ever popular Thursday night buffet continues as does the monthly Sunday

lunches. Quarterdeck lunch is the first Friday of each month and has a steady following.

EVENTS The combined Mess Night with Royal Perth Yacht Club is at our Club this year and will take place on Friday, 4 September. Numbers will be limited to ensure the traditions and formality of the night can be maintained so book early to make sure you don’t miss out.

There have been several well attended member events since the last Tidings edition. Once again we saw record numbers attending the Sailing Champions prize night as well as the always sensational Junior and Dinghy prize night. No one will ever look at Captain America the same way again.

The latest New Member night saw 15 new members get introduced to the Club.

It’s a great tradition to hear from a member speaking to the group about their time at the Club. I am sure the new members get a great feel for the comradery that exists within the membership.

I look forward to seeing you all around the Club and enjoying something that not everyone gets to experience. Make the most of it. It is special.

Pictured below: The Winter Speakeasy for our young adult members

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

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EVAN MOORE REAR COMMODORE JUNIORS

PETER CHALMER REAR COMMODORE SAIL

I was an apology at the AGM but, as I’m still receiving emails from the Club addressed to the Rear Commodore Sail, all is apparently forgiven. I thank the members and staff for their support and input during the last year and look forward to the forthcoming year.

In addition my sincere thanks go to Past Rear Commodore Matt Giudice for providing guidance and input to me over his last year at the Junior Club and I welcome Rear Commodore Evan Moore to the position. As he steps down I also thank John Longley AM for the sailing passion and experience he gave to Committee over his term. Peter Chappell has also recently retired from Yachting Committee and I also thank him for his valuable contribution over the past few years.

For a period that is considered our “off season” I notice, upon writing this edition, the Club has been very busy and some of the current projects are showing pleasing progress and results The St Ayles Skiff project is well underway and the first two boats are framed and are now being planked.

Due to the success of the BW8 Teams Racing the training sessions have continued on a Saturday morning with up to four BW8’s filled. The Club also entered two BW8’s in the Keelboat Frostbite Series with junior sailors making up the crew. An experienced coach and mentor were on-board. This was a fantastic initiative to allow our junior sailors to try keelboat sailing in a great environment. The juniors had some exceptional results and placed 5th and 6th in the Series.

Race Management Sessions continued through the winter months to not only build member confidence in these roles but to also attract new members.

Whilst we are very grateful to our existing volunteers the Club recognises the need for a succession plan and to train new volunteers for the various on-water roles. I apologise to those that sat the RO course and were subjected

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to a degree of time constraint pressure in the assessment. It does, however, tickle my fancy that they faced it with aplomb and may face some portion of it when on the race course!

The Winter Seminars, comprising Sail Trim presented by Paul Eldrid, America’s Cup presented by Andy Fethers, Navigation presented by Don Punch and The Season Ahead (Weather and Safety) with Neil Bennett and Manfred Speicher were all well attended and I’m certain everyone went home wiser after each one.

‘C’ jetty underneath the Start Box has now been completed. Thank you to the Start Teams and sailors who adapted well to this inconvenience.

The winter days have played havoc with our Midweek & Frostbite however, despite this, participation numbers have remained steady and some stunning sailing days with light winds and sunshine have occurred.

I recently had the pleasure of participating in the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Bicentenary International Regatta at Cowes, UK and came away with an appreciation of their 200 year old Club and also a broader perspective of our own Club and our achievements.

No silverware was brought home but I did take photos of it.

Rear Commodore Moore has penned words detailing our Juniors’ successes here and overseas so I won’t duplicate his words. Other results and achievements to note are as follows: The Club was represented at the inaugural Swan River Team Racing Championships hosted by RPYC in early June. The enthusiastic crew, which included a mixture of ages from youth to Over 50’s, thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were placed a credible 2nd.

Five skippers and their crew competed in the Dragon World Championships in La Rochelle in June. Willy Packer and his crew placed a 7th out of 80 boats and won the Corinthian & Masters Division.

Congratulations to Indian owned by Craig Carter for achieving line honours in the Bali to Fremantle race as well as winning in IRC. The trophies were presented to the Club at an informal gathering in the bar in late July.

GOVERNORS CUP Recently Lach Gilmour competed in the Governor’s Cup junior match racing championship at Balboa Yacht Club in the USA. Lach and his crew, Gilmour Racing, sailed very well during the regatta and placed 2nd overall behind another Australian, Harry Price from CYCA. The Club was pleased to support Kaiella Taylor with a grant from the Sailing Excellence fund. Kaiella was selected to represent Australia at the European O’pen BIC Championship in Lake Garda in Italy. I am pleased to report that she achieved a 3rd place in the under 19 division. Brothers Florian and Oliver Mitteregger also travelled to Italy to represent RFBYC in the same event.

Congratulations also to Peter Ahern & Scott Bailey’s Oi! for coming out on top of the battle of the TP52’s at Phuket Race Week.

In the Pantaenius Australia 2015 WA IRC State Championships RFBYC Div 1 yachts The Next Factor and Indian came in second and third respectively to Calm’s first placing in a very tightly contested and well run series. In Div 2 By & Large, Joss, The X Factor, and This Way Up filled second, third fourth and sixth places respectively to Giddy Up in first place.

In the Valmadre Series RFBYC Div 1 yachts The Next Factor placed first in IRC and YAH. Indian placed third in IRC and second in YAH. In Div 2 By & Large, Joss, The X Factor and This Way Up placed second, third, fifth and sixth respectively in IRC and then swapped around to place fifth, first, seventh and third in YAH respectively. French Kiss placed 14th in YAH but Ross says it was an ‘off day”. There were also many other members out racing in the event, mostly spotted on Dirty Deeds, Giddy Up and Calm.

The Club has many pre-season and new events in the pipeline and I ask you to note the dates as they are released on Gybe Sheet and the Club website.

Enjoy the last of winter and start the pre-season jobs that need doing. I’ll see you out there.

It is with great pleasure that I have taken on the role of Rear Commodore Juniors at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. I really enjoy being involved at the Club and I look forward to working with you all to promote dinghy sailing.

Matt Giudice has done a tremendous job over three years and on behalf of the Junior and Dinghy members I would like to thank him for his efforts. He has left the Dinghy and Junior Club in good shape with high participation rates in the various fleets. Our challenge now is to continue the good work and make Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club the club of choice for dinghy sailors.

For those that I have not met, may I give you some background on my time at the Club. I joined in 2006 after crewing for some time on Gelasma. I am the father of three daughters and two of them are currently sailing in the Optimist Silver fleet. I have spent many hours on the water supporting them in Club events and regattas. It is very rewarding to see all the kids out on the water not only racing but learning many skills that will benefit them in life.

With winter now here attention turns

to the Dinghy Winter Series. We have had a good turn out of boats with many sailors from other clubs joining the series. With 150 boats and 187 sailors entered into the series, the results are very close.

The Club has entered two BW8’s into our Keelboat Frostbite Series with junior sailors making up the crew. An experienced coach and mentor is onboard each boat but it is the junior sailors who are actually sailing the boat.

This is a fantastic initiative to allow our junior sailors to try keelboat sailing in a great environment. The juniors have had some exceptional results, placing second and third in several races.

The launch of the RS range of boats was held at the Club, although the weather on the day was not favourable a number of people took the opportunity to learn about the boats. The RS brand is known for the development of new classes catering for specific gaps in the market. For our Club, the RS Feva would cater for those stepping up from Optimists and O’pen BIC, and prior to entering the 420/29er fleets. The Club is now considering how to start a fleet of RS boats.

I would also like to mention other members that have competed to high standards recently. Mark Spearman won two Gold medals in his Laser at the XV Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea. Annabelle Davies and Hayley Clark achieved 1st Female in the Queensland Youth Week and 1st Overall at Sail Brisbane. Zac Littlewood achieved 1st at both Queensland Youth Week and Sail Brisbane. At the Dziwnow Match Cup, Team Gilmour (Dave Gilmour) came 1st and Neptune Racing (Sam Gilmour) came 4th.

OPENING DAY RFBYC will once again be holding a combined Opening Day with the Senior Club this year on Saturday, 17 October 2015. Dinghy sailors are once again encouraged to complete the sail past prior to Dinghy racing in the morning which will be followed by the Opening Ceremony and keelboat racing in the afternoon. There will be lots of great activities at the Club and opportunities for dinghy sailors to participate in keelboat racing in the afternoon.

We are looking forward to getting back out on the water and a full summer of sailing. We have an exciting season ahead with regattas and coaching at RFBYC.

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RICHARD WILLIAMS REAR COMMODORE POWER

A well-deserved announcement was made at this year’s AGM with Steve Ward selected as a Special Member.

Steve is a valuable and consistent supporter and volunteer to power activities as well as other roles and achievements in different parts of the Club over many years.

SEASON 2015 With only one weekend lost so far to bad weather the 2015 Time Trialling season has provided its normal share of fine winter weather to enjoy an afternoon out on the river.

The prizes have been evenly shared around, which is great to see some non-regulars ringing the bell with David and Andrew Jordan on Break-Away, Adam and Robert Hancock on Gusto, Keith and Barbara Stevenson on Boston Belle, and even myself receiving Lowest Points Lost prizes in recent weeks.

Our State Team once again led by Bun Lynn has been out competing and have seen some stunning performances from team member Terry Malloch who has racked up winning performances with 4 points and 1 point lost in recent races.

Good to see Terry has lost none of his touch after a year off.

Thanks go to our generous season sponsors Daniels Printing Craftsmen, High Peak Royalties and Pantaenius Sail & Motor Yacht Insurance for their support of our Club season.

By the time this edition of Tidings is received we will have completed the bulk of the regular season and be heading into our 19 September Closing Day race and prize giving. Hopefully a clear candidate for the Boat Hook Award will have emerged by then.

Thanks for your support in Season 2015.

RIVER RULES UPDATE Time Trialling follows the new river rules with all competitors keeping to 8 knots in restricted areas. We did receive a welcome reminder of the rules when a charter boat chose to anchor on our course in a recent event. His rights to calm water overrule any time trialling imperative with all boats not to exceed 8 knots nor pass closer than 45 metres to a moored or stationary vessel. With summer coming this is a timely reminder for us all.

UPCOMING EVENTS Sailing Opening Day is 17 October and it would be great to see as many power boats as possible out there for the sail past on this traditionally great day.

Please pencil in your diaries the RFBYC

Rockingham Race Weekend on the 28 & 29 November 2015. This is the perfect way to kick off the summer season with a fun overnighter at Rockingham shared with the sailing fleet. There are plenty of free moorings; a great night with food and entertainment at The Cruising Yacht Club. Watch the morning yacht racing before returning home on Sunday.

FOR THE LOVE OF BOATS AND BOATING - VALE MARCUS MICHAEL As a Flag Officer it is sadly not unusual to hear of the passing of an elderly Club member. Unfortunately, this was no preparation for the shock and sadness I felt when I learnt that Marcus Michael had passed away unexpectedly in June.

Of a similar age and with many common friends and interests inside and outside of RFBYC this created a great deal of introspection in the days and weeks that followed albeit incomparable to the loss carried by immediate family and friends.

Marcus, and the Michael family, have a lifelong history at the Club that started with sailing and included finance committee service. I will particularly remember the many times I bumped into him in the carpark in the early dawn hours before work heading to the boat like myself to make that final adjustment or repair in readiness for the next trip. A true enthusiast, he loved the fine detail of boating and learning all he could from whoever had the information and an interest to share. In recent years this culminated in successful Abrolhos fishing competition trips as part of Team Halco and running his own amazing family trips to the same islands, which was a long held ambition.

Marcus’s passion for power boating and the Club clearly centred around good times with family and friends and reminds us what is special about our boats, being a ‘power boatie’ and that special place called Rottnest. He will be missed.

I look forward to seeing you on the water.

119TH OPENING DAY

CONGRATULATIONS STEVE WARD

Saturday 17 October 2015 Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club Sailing Opening Day incorporating keelboat, dinghy, and junior racing.

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

Live entertainment and activities for the children.

Bring the whole family for a fun day.

Keelboat Rules Session widest range of Deck Chairs & Boat Tables online, at low prices.

FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR BOAT for RFBYC Members

Thursday, 8 October 2015 19:00—21:00 Athol Hobbs Room We are fortunate to have International Umpire & Racing Rules expert, John Standley as our presenter.

This is a timely opportunity for owners, skippers & crew to brush up on their knowledge of the rules prior to the start of the season.

Please bring along a note pad & pen and a Rule Book would be beneficial (not absolutely essential).

RSVP: carol.martin@rfbyc.asn.au | 9286 8200

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CRUISING TO BALI IN THE FAST LANE MICHAEL BRESNAHAN In between sailing and other on board duties we spent our time fishing (how many types of tuna are there?), spotting whales, having a dip or two in the great big blue and sipping wine with an antipasto plate while admiring the sunsets. We wondered… “what’s it like on the Race Boats?” and would we swap - NO. But when all is going well one can be lulled into a sense of calm. We were just relaxing when out of the gloom we spotted heading directly for us ….an iron ore carrier. While our AIS had picked it up, some fault meant we weren’t getting audible alarms. Our route to seek wind had taken us into the iron ore shipping channel and we were reminded that a 300m ship can sneak up on you quickly. So it was onto the VHF, a few pleasantries and then a quick “can you

Fresh faces six hours off Fremantle

Ready…. Set…. Go back home to your wives and families. Rarely have so many ‘sailing widows’ been heard to say “Will you just go and SAIL!!!” And so on a wild and windy Monday morning after 2 postponed starts, the 2015 Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race/Rally got under way.

We were on Playground, the only catamaran in the event.

Yachties are often bemused by catamarans and are not sure where they fit in the scheme of things – and more importantly - were they in the Race or Rally – and do we have to ‘worry’ about them. Technically we were in the Rally but Playground’s owners, Martin Webster and Greg Barrett, are competitive and were out to show the racers why two hulls are better than one.

The Bali trip is one of the great trips that can be done from Fremantle under the auspices of Fremantle Sailing Club as a formally organised event. Our team, the previously mentioned owners and their invited ‘deckhands’ Stuart Fields and Michael Bresnahan, were ready to sail after much preparation of themselves and the boat.

The first three days of the event saw ‘robust’ conditions hurl the fleet up the Western Australian Coast. If ‘cruising’ down waves in the middle of the night at 22 knots wasn’t enough to keep you awake (and it did) then hearing on the ‘skeds’ that boats were ‘breaking’ booms and keels was sure to make you wonder…. is this a cruising event? Then it was our turn for issue management - cries of “FISH” broke out, the kite was dropped as a 25 kg yellow fin tuna was wrestled to the boat. Too many episodes of MasterChef saw sashimi, fish tacos being conjured up and even an experimental tuna biltong!

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As daylight broke on the third day and conditions began to moderate, we peered forward in a Bali direction and wondered ‘where are the Race Boats?’ As we settled down to our cooked breakfast (cruising quality food only) we were bemused to see a race boat putting in the hard yards to catch us. After a gybe across the bow of ‘Audeamus’ to prove to ourselves we were in front we settled down to the radio sked to discover we were 3rd overall with only ‘Indian’ and ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ ahead of us. This cruising caper is great fun.

Our imminent departure from Australian waters and the jump across the Sunda Trench to Bali was looming. This required us to do a ‘safe and ready’ assessment. Crew in good shape… Check; Enough food and water…. Check; Boat OK…. mainly Check; Enough fuel ….. mmmm … was it a good idea to offload some fuel so the weight could be taken up with more ice cream? After a range of checks and counter checks and fuel tank diagrams that would have made Michaelangelo proud we could safely say, “enough fuel”. We were on our way to Bali.

Right on cue, the conditions turned dead calm and we realised why we entered in the Rally and not the Race – you can put on the engines!! We began consulting the cryptic text messages we had been receiving from our specialist weather advisor ‘Clouds’ - where was the best wind? One day the word was head West, then the next… head East.

And we wanted to go North!!! The breeze sprang up again and as we moved towards Bali on a course east of the rhumb line, we were again enjoying some sweet sailing reefing and shaking reefs, hoisting and dropping kites and even catching wind shifts to coax us toward bali. .This resulted in lots of tactical discussions which all ended the same – “sail as fast as we can and go the right way”.

see us?” before we both altered course a few degrees to ensure a wide berth was given. For the remainder of the day China, Korea and Japan kept hurling carriers at us making our route busier than an Australia Day trip to Rottnest.

We were learning that a 1500nm journey is partly about sailing and partly about maintaining the boat. While Playground handled the conditions easily she required some TLC to coax her along. Along the way we tended to: broken spinnaker halyard (and subsequent jammed mouse in the mast); fuel filter blockages; the AIS not giving audible alarms; and constant checks for chafing points around the boat. Nothing critical but highlighting the need for a mix of skills, weights (for the mast) and sizes (for squeezing through bulkheads) amongst the crew. In the end all were solved or managed and soon Bali was featuring on our course plotter.

Did we want to reach Bali when the sailing was so good – what can beat doing 8 knots in 11 knots of tropical breeze under full genoa and main while the lunch table is being set with full lunch and a selection of wines!!

It was 8 ½ days since we’d departed Fremantle when the lights of Bali came into view. An early evening breeze was carrying us under spinnaker towards the finish line, gently enough in the warm evening to allow us to pause and reflect on what had been achieved. We were 3rd overall and had line honours in the rally. We had crossed the oceans to another country, another continent, another culture and had done it in style, with fun and with some great sailing. When we arrived at the jetty in the wee hours and were greeted and congratulated by the race committee with some lovely cold Bintang beer, it struck me… this cruising caper is bloody good.

You can review how our journey unfolded with some more photos at our blog: www.freotobali.tumblr.com

Morning sailing with Audeamus in the background off Exmouth.

Last Supper before Bali 11

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2015 Rookie Auctioneer of the Year

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The summer season is fast approaching and there are so many things happening at the Club.

Keep in touch through our weekly Gybe Sheet email newsletter, on the website, Facebook and on our noticeboards. Our staff are here to assist, if you have any questions please get in touch. While there are many exciting things to be involved in, we also have fabulous grounds for you to relax and enjoy. See you at the Club.

Our Flag Officers

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If you are considering selling or buying and need any Real Estate Advice or just a chat about your future plans, please give me a call.

” Andrew Gill 0439 955 725

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

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rfbyc.asn.au

We welcome Rear Commodore Evan Moore and thank Matt Giudice for his time as Rear Commodore.

Special Members Congratulations to our well-deserved members, Rae Cronin and Steve Ward who have been granted Special Membership of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

andrew@housere.com.au

Sales Executive

Travel Grants

SELL | BUY | RENT | MANAGE 10 Station St, Cottesloe 6011 WA

P: 9284 5554

W: housere.com.au

FOR SALE 1/3 SHARE IN “KITE”

The Club is pleased to confirm the following members were recipients of travel grants for May/June/July.

Marcello Torre Raffael Torre Ezra Kaye Sam Gilmour Cameron Seagreen Liam Seagreen Zoe Thomson Zac Littlewood Lachy Gilmour Alex Negri Peter Bowman Mark Cubitt Sandy Anderson Stephen Eyssautier Ben Walsh Florian Mitteregger Oliver Mitteregger Kaiella Taylor Mark Spearman Sailing Excellence Recipient Kailla Taylor Direct Debit options for Members The Club now has the facility to set up Direct Debits from your bank account. This is an efficient way of paying your monthly account and attracts no fees, unlike Credit Card payments.

To set up a Direct Debit facility on your account, please contact the Club Office.

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A one third share in ‘Kite’, a Davidson 36 is offered for sale. Kite has won a bunch of midweek and weekend Freshie consistency trophies in the last 5 years or so plus the Governor’s Cup. She is the most consistently campaigned yacht in the club in recent years. Kite is easy and relatively inexpensive to maintain but the two existing partners often travel and a third partner would see the boat continue to be represented on the water every week.

Kite had a new paint job in 2013, new main and headsails in 2015 so there is little to spend in the near term.

A steal at $20,000

Changes to Membership Good news for members aged between 18 and 35. Changes to the Ordinary Membership categories and fees are now in place.

Three additional membership categories have been added, resulting in the full subscription not reached until age 36.

The discount for previous members to re-join has also been extended to within nine years. Know any old members who are considering a return to the Club?

Thank you to all members who supported these changes at our 2015 AGM. For further information, please contact the Membership Coordinator, membership@rfbyc.asn.au

Contact Gerry McGann 0438642738

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COUTA FLEET PETER FERRY

An excellent and well supported season concluded this past summer with an astounding result in all categories! At the Sailing Prize night in May, Roulette swept the field by claiming every trophy available to the fleet and Andrew McMillan topped it off by receiving the Free Spirit Award for his contribution in organising the KPMG Couta Boat Classic where substantial funds are raised for charity.

Congratulations to Roulette and her hearty crew for an impressive season.

Consistency – Madelaine Perpetual Trophy 1st Roulette 2nd Kasey 3rd Hero Championship – Kim Gamble Perpetual Trophy 1st Roulette 2nd Ajax 3rd Kasey Summer Consistency Series – Amanda Energy Trophy 1st Roulette 2nd Kasey 3rd Hero

Spring Consistency Series – The Royal Hutt River Silvertails Trophy 1st Roulette 2nd Madelaine 3rd Ajax Free Spirit Award – Mount Gay Rum Trophy Andrew McMillan Going into the 2015/2016 season the Couta Fleet committee has introduced a trial program of sailing with the Swan River Retro Yacht Series as part of our competition. These are Sunday races and our participation will be in lieu of the usual Saturday Club race and for Couta Boats racing on these days consistency points will be awarded. The following dates are tentatively booked for next season with each being a Mid River start and all finishing at RFBYC except for the last race.

October 25th 1300 finish at RFBYC November 22nd 1300 finish at RFBYC December 13th 1300 finish at RFBYC January 17th 1300 finish at RFBYC February 14th 1300 finish at RFBYC March 13th 1300 finish at RFBYC April 17th 1300 finish at RPYC

The attached photographs represent the highs and lows of sailing and restoring the grand Couta Boats with a cross section of boats in the fleet going through their restorations, river racing, sailing to Garden Island and Rottnest.

Anyone interested in crewing or introducing someone to the experience of sailing on a Couta Boat, feel free to make contact with Fleet Captain, Andrew McMillan on 0418 527 688 or amcmillan@psl.com.au . We are always looking to welcome new members to the fleet.

Facebook for the WA Couta Fleet In an effort to minimise email and maximise reach to the Couta Fleet, a Facebook Group page has been set up for the WA Couta Boat fleet. Event information, crew needed and places available, photos, commentary and general fleet banter can be shared. Links with crew and posting information, photos and general commentary to the site will be welcomed.

We look forward to participating in the Retro Series as a fleet and trust this innovation is well supported by the fleet.

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15

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON BICENTENARY INTERNATIONAL REGATTA

Level Rating Fleet, Cowes UK - July 2015 Geoff Totterdell It was a wet Thursday morning about 2am when some of us struggled to the taxi to embark on a sailing adventure of a lifetime, an international regatta in Cowes.

The occasion was the Bicentenary International Regatta of the Royal Yacht Squadron which was founded in Cowes on 1 June 1815. It was attended by Royal Yacht Clubs only and included spectacular yachts such as the huge J Class and Class 0 IRC. On arrival in Southampton, awaiting the Red Funnel ferry to Cowes, after a train journey from London the skies opened and incessant rain began which made the prior evening in Perth seem like a light shower. Welcome to the UK! RFBYC had entered a crew of ten for the inter-club Level Rating Fleet held in Beneteau First 40 racing yachts, slick but not without vices, the boats that it is. The crew comprised Ron Packer (skipper), Torvar Mirsky (tactician), Ryan Donaldson and Remy Donraadt (trimmers), Geoff Totterdell (mainsheet), Steve Ward (cockpit manager), Tony Packer and Roderick Smith (dogs bodies), Philippa Packer (mast) and Peter Chalmer (foredeck). Pauline Chalmer and Theresa Smith provided the very important shore support to the crew.

Tuesday was the first day that racing was deemed possible, three arduous windward/leewards in up to 40 knots. Wow, these Beneteau 40’s are not what you would expect - nose diving and Chinese gybes downwind, not for the faint-hearted.

We played it cautiously keeping the kite in the bag and made great gains downwind only to be snookered by hitting the bottom mark and losing our hard fought gains.

Wednesday again found testing wind conditions and we joined the nose dive brigade. Fortunately all crew stayed aboard but sported many bruises as evidence of the experience. Thursday and Friday saw the winds moderate and, whilst we performed better, local knowledge of the tidal influences came into play.

The competition, ten boats in all, were seriously good and well-co-ordinated crews. The experience of the regatta and the onshore activities was outstanding. Overall our placing, last, was not impressive but we did beat all other competitors, bar St Francis Yacht Club, on at least occasion.

To quote Tony Packer, “at least on this occasion we had the best helicopter!”

Other than Torvar and Roderick, the crew had had two training sails in 8 knot winds off Fremantle on French Kiss thanks to the generosity of its owner Ross McLaren.

A training race was programmed for the Sunday after our arrival but was cancelled on account of gale force winds. The first scheduled race day, Monday , was cancelled for the same reason however the crew enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the country estate of local sailor Jamie Sheldon and his wife Susie who graciously hosted a barbecue for 50 with an hour’s notice.

Roderick wowed the crowd by arriving in his 6 seat helicopter ferrying a number of the RFBYC crew.

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DON’T MISS A GREAT DAY AT THE CLUB

COMBINED MESS NIGHT 2015 4 SEPTEMBER

The Largest Sailing Event in the World Further Information—www.rfbyc.asn.au 9th-11th Oct 2015

MANDURAH

BOAT SHOW

SHOW AMBASSADOR

PAUL

WORSTELING FROM IFISH

9-11 October 2015 at Mandurah Offshore Fishing & Sailing Club, Mandurah Ocean Marina www.mandurahboatshow.com.au

/MandurahBoatShow

@mandurahboatshow

american performance Government of Western Australia Department of Transport

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“THIS WAY UP” AT FREMANTLE WINTER SERIES 2015 BRYAN THURSTAN Interesting TWU Fact No. 1: Per capita, the typical TWU crew line up will have 250% more redheads on board per capita than the Australian national average. And in the first race of the Fremantle Sailing Club Winter Series, with a moderate 12kt SWér, we had 250% more breeze than we would have for the rest of the series.

We put in place our usual Fremantle race strategy: win the start, sail away, win the race, repeat the following week. Race 1 done, one bullet. It was good to be back!

just made it up. Except the bit about us winning, that is true.

In Race 3 the faint puff of easterly put all boats into a coin flipping competition.

Interesting TWU Fact No. 2: The TWU crew consume 200% more sunscreen per crew member than any other boat in WA. By coincidence, Race 2 had 200% more reaching than a normal race in light breeze. We hate reaching. Lazy sailing, soldier’s course. Save it for Thursday afternoons & cruising offshore. We did the best we could & got a second for our efforts.

Interesting TWU Fact No. 4: On occasions when a TWU foredeckie has cut themselves & bled all over the deck, jib, spinnaker, sheets, clothing & crew, it is necessary to use 20% more anaesthetic than average to shut them up. We find liquid anaesthetic works best. Other yachts don’t seem to have this problem to the same degree as us. And Race 4 was a slo-mo blood bath. The 4-6kts of breeze created carnage on the water, most of it from Fremantle. TWU sailed away to secure her 3rd bullet for the series.

When will we get the fresh 20-25kt day we so like?

Interesting TWU fact No. 3: On a light & shifty breeze day, TWU will come back from nowhere to win, just like in ancient Greek Mythology that redheads were reborn as vampires.

Actually it might have been zombies, as vampires don’t like the sun (See fact No. 2). Actually this is not a fact at all, I

One hour in at the first mark, things weren’t looking good for TWU. The breeze finally steadied, we performed some superb kite work at 180 deg to 80 deg true wind angles, to sail away from the fleet & score our second bullet for the series. The strategy was back on track!

Interesting TWU Fact No. 5: We always know our course.

But there can always be one goat…… The 4kt of breeze had TWU sailing away from the fleet, with the bullet looking assured, and much talk of how good the Inshore Series

presentation lunch will be. And then we sailed around the wrong mark. DOH! We realised our mistake well into the next leg, and hastened back to set our error right. We stormed home in the light breeze, and still managed to salvage a 3rd.

Goat for lunch?

Interesting TWU Fact No. 6: TWU has serious sailing cred down at Fremantle – Well beyond the widespread perception that we are just cool & good looking. Studies have confirmed this to be independent of hair colour. In addition to be respected on the water as a competitor, we set new personal records for working the Freo crowd & being good ambassadors for Freshie. That is, no Rule 69 infringements for excessive carousing! Race 6 was cancelled due to 2535kt breezes.

Interesting TWU Fact No. 7: Despite weighing in at well over five tonnes stripped out, TWU can move along nicely in the very light weather, when we really try. And the last race was the lightest & most trying. After nailing the start & sailing away in 4-5 kts of breeze, it looked pretty certain we’d get our trophy back. Then it shut down & glassed off, becoming a lottery. We didn’t get the winning ticket, and had to be content with a very close 3rd. Which was just enough to miss out on the series win by 1 point!

Out of the 17 boats that competed in Div 1, our worst result was a 3rd, and our results included 3 bullets. We may have just missed out winning back our trophies from our last winter series in 2011, but we certainly demonstrated that when RFBYC comes to visit for racing, you need to really lift your game – Both on & off the water!

Images thanks to Suzzi Ghent RFBYC, Rick Steuart Perth Sailing Photography & Frances Hammond FSC.

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CREW NIGHT Friday, 18 September Main Bar: 1800—2000

A MUST attendance for all Keelboat Owners & Skippers and for those looking to crew in 2015-16 Season

Further Information—www.rfbyc.asn.au

further information coming soon

THE ADVANTAGES OF INDOOR BOAT STORAGE REALLY STACK UP.

Worried about losing your hair.

Well - spare a thought for those going through Chemotherapy…!

Hair falling out in clumps with the ensuing loss of self-esteem, their pride and their privacy…

On Tuesday 17th November, we are holding a Fundraiser - an Art Exhibition and Sale to showcase and sell local Art (paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass and jewellery) in the Roland Smith Room at RFBYC. Our mission is to purchase 2 DigniCap® machines at $37,000 each which have been proven to minimise hair loss substantially. This technology is available worldwide and has been available on the East Coast for over 10 years – but not here in WA!

save the date for an evening of

Members of RFBYC - Please help us! We are also doing a ‘Wine Wall’ and ask you to donate either a magnum or a box of wine, which will be raffled to help us achieve our goal.

Please contact Philippa Packer, 0403191444 or philippa@packer.net.au Janet Barron, 0409180858 or janet.barron@iinet.net.au or drop it off at the Office.

We would be so grateful!

Save thousands on yearly maintenance.

Now you can keep your pride and joy away from the elements by storing it safe and sound at The Boathouse. It’s a stateof-the-art, fully enclosed facility in the heart of Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour, perfect for any vessel up to 34 feet long.

Just imagine it. You call 60 minutes before you’re planning to set sail and your boat is in the water, ready and waiting.

Your car is safe in our secure parking.

And when you get back, we hose it, flush it and carefully rack it until the next time.

Places are limited. Call now.

A limited number of racks are available.

Call 0432 692 228, see us at 16 Mews Rd Fremantle, or visit theboathousemarina.com.au

MID-WEEK SAILING BRIAN CAIN

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PITTWATER TO RFBYC HAMISH BECK At approximately 3.00pm on a mid-week day in May 2014, we freed the lines of Queste, my recently purchased Riviera 60 and idled out from the Princess Street Marina in Pittwater, rounded Barrenjoey Head and out into the Tasman Sea. The last six weeks had been an intensive time of servicing, familiarising and meticulously ensuring every piece of equipment on-board Queste was ready for the 4,800+ nautical mile (7,200km) round-the-top navigation to her new home at “B Jetty”, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC).

Many of the opening leg crew were also RFBYC members, including Richard Williams, Cameron Cox and Tony Packer of whom I had assisted some years before with the delivery of Hotspur from Auckland New Zealand through to RFBYC. It was that voyage some two years ago where I assisted Tony, Rose, Jenny and Robbie from Broome to Fremantle that gave me the inspiration and also the confidence to personally deliver my new Riviera 60 Queste from Pittwater to RFBYC. There are a number of Freshwater Bay members who have undertaken the journey with vessels (which included David Milne’s Alchemist) in that they decided rather than ship their new vessels, they make the journey a trip of a lifetime and experience so much more boating and understand their vessel by the end of the voyage.

Our first hours were trialling different speeds and fuel burns as we meandered our way at between 9 12 knots along the New South Wales coast, meticulously recording engine RPM versus fuel burn and sea conditions to ensure we could understand and maximise Queste’s range for the future long legged voyages in the north where fuel supplies would be remote, limited and unreliable.

The east coast of Australia is absolutely amazing – there is an impressive amount of options for boating facilities available to the boating public: welcoming marinas, retail integrated shopping malls, professional operations always ready to provide genuine service to the cruising boating public frequenting their waters. One of the most notable differences to Western Australia is the availability of multiple fuel options on the east coast. One can phone marinas and literally negotiate with the marina owner of their rate per litre in a starkly more competitive environment than the few remote fuel opportunities we have in Western Australia. After some time, we found Queste’s sweet spot was at approximately 1,100 RPM, 33% engine load, which provided approximately 10.5 knots. That would be our economical cruise for the remainder of the voyage. Rodrick Smith (Anastasia) kindly lent me his fuel bladders from a previous similar trip Anastasia had done some ten years prior, which were fuelled and lashed to the aft deck. After some 36 hours of cruising, we were pleased to understand the economical cruise speed

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of Queste as being approximately 28 30 litres per motor ie approximately 6 litres per nautical mile, which provided a far better range than what we had originally anticipated. After the significant work in the trial run of filling and lashing the bladders, as well as the additional cost of a 15 metre fuel hose and specialist fuel fittings, we found we did not need the bladders for the rest of the voyage.

Prior to leaving Pittwater, we had completely upgraded all of the navigation equipment on-board Queste. On our voyage out through Barrenjoey we were occupied well into the nights during our watches, playing with all of the new Raymarine navigation equipment, AIS, satellite communication system and Foxtel television.We cruised non-stop past Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Ballina and arrived at the Gold Coast into Southport. After a day of rest, we then navigated the inland waterways of South Stradbroke Island. The Gold Coast/ Brisbane waterways are a labyrinth of creeks and estuaries that connect into South Brisbane. The waterways in many ways are not dissimilar to the Peel Inlet, south of Mandurah and in many cases not much deeper, so navigating my new 22 metre vessel, we stood out hugely against the multiple trailer boats and jet skis that normally frequent the water.

Despite having four captains on board we came very close touching bottom in shallow water and on more than one occasion, with Tony holding his iPad in the air swearing that it was upside down, we gently grounded on soft mud. Our voyage took us out through Brisbane waters and into the Coral Sea where we then came into the beautiful marina town of Mooloolaba. With Cameron Cox having been on board for over 16 days re-fitting electrical equipment, it was time for Cameron and Tony to head back to Perth and another fresh crew to arrive – being RFBYC members, James Collis and Rod Cooper.

After a wonderful dinner at a sea-side restaurant, we then headed off the next morning for our 3 day voyage alongside Fraser Island, out to Lady Musgrave, a memorable night at Great Keppel, where we then arrived at the beautiful Whitsunday Islands via Mackay for fuel.

The Whitsunday Islands, as many of you would have read are beautiful sub-tropical islands that set off Bundaberg in North Queensland. We entered the Hamilton Island Marina where we were escorted by RIB to our new pen facilities and this would be Queste’s home for the next six weeks whilst I returned to Perth and then back with the family to cruise the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. The anchorages, views, amenities and swimming in the Whitsundays are absolutely beautiful, although the majority of the beaches are dark in colour and pebbled, but with some magnificent walks as well as great marina facilities.

After exploring the pristine waters of the Whitsundays, Ngaire, Millie, Mason and my sister Danielle joined me for the voyage through to Cairns. It became increasingly bouncy as we rode the south-easterly trade winds up along the mid Queensland coast with the trip from Hayman Island back toward the mainland becoming quite rolly. Ngaire, Millie and Mason were looking longfully at me as we rolled from scupper to scupper until we eventually took refuge alongside the seaside town of Bowen.

Our plan was to take ten days to do the Whitsundays through to Cairns, however a drama was unfolding at my office which required my attention and what was to be a gentle exploring voyage, then became a fast delivery at full cruising speed at 21-22 knots along the Queensland coast, with our fuel burn escalating to 250 litres an hour, or 17 litres per nautical mile!

We steamed until we reached the entrance to the Hinchinbrook Island inland passage. One thing we noticed during our voyage of North-Central Queensland was the effect of the recent February cyclones and in many places completely devastated some resorts, marinas and other marine facilities, including laying waste to navigational markers, making the voyage far more hazardous where many cardinal and floating marks had been blown off course, resulting in intensive navigation at all times.

We stopped overnight at Townsville to take fuel and the whole family went ashore late in the evening. As we walked in from the marina and given Townsville is a military town, we noted it was full of strip joints, bars and many interesting people. We found the restaurant we were looking for and returned back to Queste safely for a 4.00am departure the following morning.

We then continued our speed further north direct into Cairns, where Queste would undergo maintenance whilst I would fly to Perth and focus on the office for the coming weeks prior to the next voyage. Cairns has full marine and engineering services and I was put in contact with an excellent boatman who re checked winches, desalinators, generators and undertook a servicing and oil change for the next long leg of Cairns to Darwin.

The Cairns to Darwin trip was followed three weeks later with a crew of Johnno Wroth, Dan Fisher, Jamie O’Byrne and I. We didn’t arrive well from our overnight Jetstar flight from Perth to Cairns and on the flight had made substantial food lists of supplies we needed for the 12 day unsupported trip around the top. Despite the longest discussions of meal plans and food orders, only approximately one third of what we had planned arrived on board, as well as many packets of other nutritional food such as chips, chocolates, lollies and the like. Although the plan not quite coming together, we confidently idled out on a falling tide from Cairns to commence our long voyage through the north.

We managed to navigate through to Cooktown on the first afternoon where we took fuel tied alongside four other vessels tied to what are the remnants of the wharf after the tropical cyclone that had hit earlier, with the fuel line passed over boat after boat, and just reached Queste’s tanks. We refuelled whilst meeting up with the local fisherman and picked up an amazing

feed of mud crabs. $35 bought us six of the locally caught crabs – which was a definite highlight as we headed off the next day.

FURTHER NORTH We meandered along the tip of Australia, all the way through to Thursday Island, less than 80 nautical miles from Papua New Guinea. Thursday Island is the most northern island in Australian territorial waters and we were able to organise fuel via fuel truck after a long winded process of pre-paying the fuel many days before to guarantee delivery.

After a lunch at the pub, we confidently set off for our largest journey to date, being the 400++ nautical mile crossing of the Gulf of Carpentaria. As mentioned earlier, the prevailing winds on the east coast are the South Easterly Trade Winds which typically exceed 25 knots and when a vessel is 300 nautical miles from the coast, the Gulf of Carpentaria can become turbulent and uncomfortable to say the least. We had left Thursday Island on a Saturday afternoon when we were less than three hours into our voyage, we suddenly noticed that the vessel was swaying significantly off course and found that the auto-pilot had burnt out.

With no chance of being able to have the auto-pilot fixed in any reasonable time, it resulted in the crew needing to hand steer the proposed 40 hour crossing of the Gulf. Seas were by no means comfortable as we entered the middle of the Gulf at approximately 2.00am, whereby Dan Fisher at the helm was radioed by a seismic vessel running 6 nautical mile long sonars asking us to deviate course. This resulted in us taking a deviation of some 30 nautical miles, or three to four hours further north off our projected course and of which the excitement was added to with the course correction occurring at 1.00am in the morning for the sleep deprived crew.

We eventually arrived in Gove of which is an alumina town in the remote North of Queensland and spent a day doing maintenance prior to refuelling in one of the most challenging re-fuelling examples to date; being alongside the main shipping wharf on 25 knot onshore winds endeavouring to take fuel from a 50mm pipe. Due to the conditions, we weren’t able to tie up and had to constantly manoeuvre Queste for the hour to refuel at huge costs with a fuel price of $2.65 per litre!

Upon leaving Gove, we were now truly in the north, north of Australia and in Arnhem land, where any arrival on the beach is required to have an Indigenous permit. We navigated through amazing islands through the Wessel Islands and Hole in the Wall (Gugari Rip) in Raragala Island where we explored King River and Crocodile Island.

Our trip moved us away from the Coast to one of the more remote areas, where we eventually found the most picturesque Oxley Island, well off the normally navigated track. When exploring in the dinghy, we found the waters in and around Oxley Island absolutely alive with every type of fish, with Dan and Johnno catching trevally, mackerel and queenfish. While Jamie and I explored the islands, we were about to step onto a white sandy beach when out from behind the sand dune, a giant 4 metre ++ crocodile burst from the banks of the island and rushed at our dinghy at incredible speed and force. This

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crocodile had absolutely one thing in mind, and that was either to eat us or remove us from his territory. He constantly swam straight for the dinghy at great pace, resulting in us quickly accelerating away, only to find some minutes later he had crept up on us again. The size and the power of these animals are absolutely amazing and after the shark sightings and crocodiles, we decided there would be no further swimming for this voyage.

Cruising the Kimberley is no mean feat, with an overall distance of 1,450 nautical miles. We spent two days provisioning the boat for the seven people for a full two weeks, with every locker, fridge and cupboard jam-packed to see us through the voyage. The magnificent Kimberley cannot be described and upon entering the King George River at Twin Falls, I knew that this would not be the last time Queste would experience these waters.

phenomenon of hectares of reef rising out of the water, creating an island for some hours, trapping many fish, turtles and the like.

trip south of the Montebello’s was a dream and the run in from Geraldton was exciting as a front was quickly closing from the north.

We subsequently cruised from Montgomery Reef through to the Horizontal Falls, and then through Koolan Island and Crocodile Creek for a swim in the water tank and then through to Broome.

We arrived at 1.00am in the morning to be greeted by RFBYC Gusto, skippered by Adam Hancock together with Steve Ward and our ‘weather god’, Kingsley Piesse. We arrived into our pen and later that day had conditions of over 40 knots.

We then visited the Coburg Peninsula and the world renowned Popham Bay, which is unique in the world with its coral mangroves and huge supply of fish, which resulted in Johnno’s second barramundi for the voyage.

From the crocodile and shark filled saltwater waterways to the beautiful freshwater clear billabongs, the Kimberley is one of the true last remote wildernesses of the world.

James had bought his remote flying camera drone with him that provided us with some amazing imagery and iconic photos of our adventures and anchorages.

I cannot convey the beauty and remoteness of the Kimberley with days and days of not seeing another vessel and seeing the amazing wildlife, ever the threat of crocodiles, remote Aboriginal art – it was everything it could have ever been.

The voyage from Pittwater to the Swan River was complete, with Queste in her new home at RFBYC.

Our voyage then took us through to Darwin, where we entered the locked marina of Cullen Bay. Due to the tidal movements of over six metres, the marinas are created with locks and again we were cheerfully greeted by the commercial marina.

THE KIMBERLEY For the journey from Darwin to Broome, Ngaire and I were joined by Stuart and Caroline Owen, James and Natalie Collis and Adam Hancock.

From Darwin to Broome the good ship Queste and crew travelled the notorious Bonaparte Gulf (aka Blown apart Gulf), King George River, Twin Falls, East Arm Falls, Governor Islands, McGowan Islands, Aboriginal art at Jar Island, Freshwater Bay, Bigge Island, the Hunter River, Montgomery Reef, Langii Bay, Prince Regent River, Kings Cascades, Horizontal Falls, Koolan Island, Silvergull Creek, Cape Leveque and Broome.

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As it was now September, it was getting warm in the Kimberley.

This meant there was rarely a time that the generator was not running to keep the cabins cool with air-conditioning. With the plentiful supply of mackerel and other bottom fish, we truly lived like kings as we cruised through this picturesque wilderness.

Fuel is the greatest priority in these areas as we had organised many months before to pre-purchase fuel at the McGowan Island Aboriginal Camp, where we literally had to ground Queste onto the beach at high tide for them to run the 150 metre diesel hose from the rusted out tanker that had permanently been left on the beach some years before.

With fuel prices approaching $3.00 per litre, it wasn’t a case of the cost, but more of the need in order to continue the voyage.

Our voyage continued on the most picturesque day, arriving at Montgomery Reef, which is truly an amazing natural

We spent two days re-stocking Queste in Broome, which was probably one of the worst anchorages we experienced in our voyage thus far. A strong swell rolling in from the south created a scupper to scupper roll. Two vessels sank at their anchorages whilst we were there.

The last crew change came again with my father, sister and Rear Commodore Richard Williams re-joining with his daughter, the ever capable Olivia Williams (aged 12). They were no sooner on board then we powered out of Broome waters to commence our long voyage south.

The trip south upon the Western Australian coast was by far the most challenging. We experienced 40 knot headwinds for some 50 hours as we navigated from Broome down to the Montebello Islands. After exploring the Montebello’s, we had a sensational run through to Exmouth for fuel, and then south running before another front inside Shark Bay, down to Geraldton. Apart from a rough patch out from Steep Point, our

SPECIFICATION Riviera 60 Flybridge Cruiser: LOA 22.1m Hull Length 18.6m Beam 5.40m Draft 1.58m Approximate fuel capacity 5,800 litres Approximate water capacity 841 litres Power Twin C18 Caterpillar diesel engines

1,001 break HP @ 2,300 RPM

240 Power

1 x 22kVA Onan

1 x 7.5kVA Onan

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WELCOME NEW CLUB MEMBERS ORDINARY Member Proposer David Capozzalo Rob Cameron Steve Hamersley Peter Wisbey Andrew Whitehead Dean McAullay Bruce Richardson Dean McAullay James Collis Sheldon Coxon Michael Hansen John Cassidy Anne Arnold Lloyd Clark Nick Unmack Peter Hammond Alex Eastwood Mark Tremain

JUNIOR UNDER 16 Seconder Martin Jurat Mark Wisbey Mark Tremain Mark Tremain Adam Hancock Jo Wilson Tony Packer Steve Ward Timothy Gardner

ORDINARY 31-35 Member Proposer Ben Tolley Dean McAullay

Seconder Grant Alderson

Seconder Graham Stafford Steve Ward

ORDINARY 25-27 Member Proposer Andy Fethers Bruce Maloney

Seconder Dean McAullay

Seconder John Taylor Carol Martin Carol Martin Carol Martin Carol Martin Dean McAullay Steve Ward Steve Ward Rodney Pitt Rodney Pitt Evan Moore Evan Moore

IMPORTANT DATES FOR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS •

ORDINARY 28-30 Member Proposer Sally Bihler Barry Johnston Tom Shillson Charles Colvin

Member Proposer Jacqueline Harding Andrew Locke Catherine Pile John Taylor Dominic Beer John Taylor Cullen Binet John Taylor Adam Martin John Taylor Grace Owen Grant Alderson Oscar Unmack Peter Hammond Emmy Unmack Peter Hammond James Pitt Richard Pitt Alexander Pitt Richard Pitt Jonathon Everett John Cassidy Jenna Everett John Cassidy

• • • • •

Membership applications (with signature and endorsement of two Members with five+ years membership) must be submitted to the Membership Administrator by post or email – 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 applications will be invited to attend an interview by the Membership Committee on the first Monday of the following month or thereafter.

Membership Applications are placed on the Notice Board for a period of 26 days (except Junior members) All membership applications which progress to the next stage of the membership process will be ratified by General Committee on the last Tuesday of the month.

ORDINARY 18-20 Member Proposer Lucy Syme Brad Stout

Seconder Grant Alderson

ASSOCIATE Member Proposer Zöe Pitt Richard Pitt Barbara Capozzalo Rob Cameron Meredith Tolley Dean McAullay Natalie Collis Sheldon Coxon Sandra Liu Dean McAullay Sharon Squires-Hansen Sandra Anderson Nicole Unmack Peter Hammond Fiona Cameron Laurence Iffla Pauline Foster Peter Chalmer

Seconder Rodney Pitt Martin Jurat Grant Alderson Adam Hancock Mark Tremain Jo Wilson Steve Ward Tony Ruse Jenn Suffield

WELCOMING OUR NEWEST CLUB MEMBERS FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2015

RECIPROCAL Member Proposer Karl Paganin Geoff Bingemann

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Seconder Steve Johnston

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LEARN TO SAIL CLASSES AT RFBYC

Rockingham Race

SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN

Weekend 2015 Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November

Hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and The Cruising Yacht Club of WA 28th - Dolphin Race to Rockingham, Stay overnight in Mangles Bay, 29th - Windward-Leeward Race and Gordon Craig Ocean Race to Fremantle.

MOORINGS AND FERRY SERVICE PROVIDED BY TCYC, POWER AND SAIL WELCOME

RFBYC will be running childrens’ holiday courses during the coming school holidays.

Week 1

Tues, 29 September – Sat, 3 October 2015

Week 2

Mon, 5 October – Fri, 9 October 2015

Fees start from $160.00 for Little Tackers (10 hours) including use of Club boats and safety equipment.

Recreational Skippers Ticket courses are available for children 14 years and over. Participants must be able to swim and be water confident.

Entry closes 5pm Monday 23 November. Email offshore@rfbyc.asn.au or visit

rfbyc.asn.au

Private lessons are also available during both weeks.

Conducted on the safe, sheltered waters of Mosman Bay, the Club offers a range of courses designed for children 6 years and upwards, for complete novices to learn to race.

Spring Into Summer with With an exclusive 10% discount off your first order for all Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club Members Also Members only can enjoy a complimentary Spa Rejuvenating facial, microdermabrasion and skin analysis in September and October.

Limited spots available to book an appointment Email: Springintro15@gmail.com Tel :0401 791 291     

No1 Anti –Ageing Australian Skincare company with over 45 Years of expertise.

Delivering innovative skin technology combined with nature’s best ingredients, state of the art innovation.

Dermatologically tested and designed for the Australian skin Not tested on animals.

Free from animal derived ingredients.

Roland Smith Ocean Race Saturday 10 October 2015 The Roland Smith Ocean Race will open the Blue Water Series for 2015-2016.

An 80 nm race which will start off Fremantle, head south to a mark off MOFSC, lap Rottnest Island to Starboard and finish outside Fremantle Harbour.

Named in honour of Roland Smith, his connection with Rottnest Island and RFBYC. Entry closes 5pm Monday 05 October. Email offshore@rfbyc.asn.au or visit

rfbyc.asn.au

ST AYLES SKIFF PROJECT JOHN LONGLEY North of the Firth of Forth, across from Edinburgh, the members of the Scottish Fishing Museum created a 2009 phenomena named the St Ayles Skiff. Inspiration for the design of the 22 foot double-ended rowing skiff was developed by the Australian boat designer Iain Oughtred from the Viking characteristics of the Fair Isle Skiff – so popular among Scottish rowers through until the 1950s.

This winter work commenced on building two of these delightful four oared rowing skiffs at the Club. The skiffs arrive in flat pack kit form, profiled from marine ply, with hog, keel, stem and stern, knees and fit out built from locally sourced timbers.

The two RFBYC rowing skiffs are among approximately 200 skiffs launched, or under construction, in Scotland, Canada, USA, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia.

Local chatter seems to support the notion that one other Royal club on the Swan is considering a St Ayles transaction. Interested groups are also being reported to be forming in Mandurah, Albany, Augusta and Walpole. In addition, two are being planned for local Sea Cadets.

At the Wooden Boat Show in Hobart, in February 2015, Steve Ward and I were attracted to the St Ayles Skiff and floated the idea of inviting the RFBYC membership to donate the necessary $20,000.00 to purchase and build two boats. The IPO was promptly subscribed to by enthusiastic members who recognised the opportunity to support a new activity for all Club members. Additional donations that are tax free via the Australian Sports Foundation will always be welcome. You never know we might decide to build more.

The whole basis of the St Ayles movement is that community groups fund, build and then use the boats as a community activity, so when finished the boats will be available for members of any age or gender to enjoy the simple pleasure of rowing with mates.

The build team got underway in July and work in three shifts, Monday 1300-1600, Tuesday 1800-2100 and Wednesday 1300-1600 in the dedicated St Ayles shed located at the rear of the southern dinghy shed beyond the RFBYC Junior Club rooms. Visitors are welcome to check out progress and chat with the team building these marine ply, lap strake skiffs of stunning beauty and luscious curves.

The build team led by Steve Ward and Chris Bowman

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RADIO OPERATORS COURSE

ALL LEVELS OF COACHING YACHT RIGGING & SPLICING

includes Rob Perrin, Charles Colvin, Gerry McGann, Paul Reiffer, Judith and Adrian Diedericks, Basil Twine, Matt Zimmerman, John Longley, Jack Baxter and John Walsh.

Indeed, if you experience an inclination to sign-up to join them please “dip in an oar” and signify your interest by email to pr@rfbyc.asn.au The St Ayles shed was refurbished by Bosun Nathan and his team is a near replica of a shipwright’s workshop with excellent work benches, shelving and power points together with an array of donated hand tools and power tools equal to the best. However, tools are always in demand, so, if you happen to own an idle chisel, a cordless drill, any surplus woodworking gear or lengths of quality timber the St Ayles team would welcome a donation.

The St Ayles skiff has precipitated a global community rowing revival. With four rowers plus a cox, the skiff is ideal for competition or just for fun, in both closed and coastal waters. Interestingly, it has become a fascination for ladies who are evident as builders, crew and competition organizers. WOW [Women on Water] built Cygnet and Chiton for the Franklin, Tasmania, 2015 regatta. They now have four skiffs.

For RFBYC the St Ayles skiff project offers a new dimension for on water enjoyment by any member from 8 to 80 who may wish to join a crew, whether for a 20 metre dash for seniors or a 2000 metre event, around Karrakatta Bank, for the fit and aspiring famous - or, perhaps the preference is to assist with the building and maintenance of the skiffs.

Whatever your inclination the option is open to engage with this global rowing revival.

GRANT ALDERSON

BOAT MAINTENANCE & DETAILING YACHT FITOUTS & MANAGEMENT HARDWARE SERVICING MAST & BOOM SUPPLY & MAINTENANCE

The course will run over four Wednesday evenings.

RACE PREPARATION & TUNING

$140 for RFBYC Members, $180 for non-Members.

WORKSHOP & ONSITE MOBILE SERVICES

Session

Wednesday

Time

1

4 November

19:00 – 21:00

2

11 November

19:00 – 21:00

3

18 November

19:00 – 21:00

4 (exam)

25 November

19:00 – 21:00

For more information, please contact Barry Martin on 9286 8200.

BALUSTRADE / TRELLIS WIRES DEALER FOR PINNELL & BAX SAILS More Than 25 Years Professional Experience Flying 15 World Champion Paralympic Coach Mobile: 0412 944 909 Email: grant.alderson@gmail.com Unit 2/ 23 Carrington Street Nedlands 6009

WINNER OF THE STELLA BELLA PRIZE FOR JUNE AND JULY Congratulations to Simon Joel, pictured with his prize, a Jeroboam of 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.

CHRISTMAS PARTIES AT RFBYC The festive season is fast approaching and this is the time to book your table or event at the Club.

Dates are quickly going in the Roland Smith Ballroom and Athol Hobbs so get in quick!

Please contact Natalie or Kaidy on 9286 8200 to discuss your Christmas Party plans or email on functions@rfbyc. com.au

THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY RACE The 19th Anniversary Race is to be conducted on the 5th November 2015.

This race is to be sailed as a combined fleet of the current “A” & “B” Midweek fleets.

Nominations will be required. The Anniversary Race will be run in conjunction with the normal Midweek races for “A”, “B” and “C” fleets.

Further details refer to the weekly Gybe sheet.

ORIGIN OF THE MID WEEK - HALF SOVEREIGN ANNIVERSARY RACE

Although the club was formed in 1896 the efforts of members were concentrated on building a jetty with a small club house so the first race was not held until a year later and was for a “Prize of One Pound donated by a member”.

When Mark Cubitt was Rear Commodore Sail in 1997 he had the brilliant idea of holding a Mid Week race annually to commemorate 100 plus years of that first race and to award a prize of a Gold Half Sovereign. – In 1897 one pound was the equivalent of a full gold sovereign. Today the cost of that amount of gold is a touch more than the old pound (of course in 1966 one pound became two dollars).

Congratulations to Mark for his initiative, this race continues with prestige as the highlight of the Mid Week program.

WEST CAPE HOWE PROMOTION AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER Purchase either a glass or bottle of West Cape Howe, 2015 Mount Barker Reisling or 2013 Tempranillo during August and September to go into the barrel to win a five course degustation dinner with paired wines for yourself and five guests.

Gavin Berry, the winemaker from West Cape Howe will host the dinner on Wednesday, 14 October.

WINE SHOWCASE - SAVE THE DATE Sunday 11 October 3.00pm to 6.00pm A selection of wine and food tastings in the Roland Smith Ballroom.

Entertainment by WA Youth Jazz Orchestra. Purchase your $5.00 RFBYC tasting glass on entry.

The prize is valued at $600, the experience will be invaluable!

MELBOURNE CUP 2015

TUESDAY, 3 NOVEMBER FROM 10:00AM IN THE ROLAND SMITH BALLROOM. FUNDRAISING FOR “SOCK IT TO SARCOMA!” $120.00 PER PERSON. RSVP: RFBYC@RFYBYC.ASN.AU

37

ASTERN - THE CAMBRIA WHEEL BASIL TWINE For a number of years there has been a ships wheel languishing in various rooms at the Club. More recently it has lived in the Ward Room against the wall adjacent to the fireplace. How the Club came by the wheel is a mystery.

(Which may be on the verge of solution?)

The brass centre boss of the wheel is inscribed: “SS CAMBRIA 1885 LAUNCESTON” About four years ago a team from the Fremantle Maritime Museum visited the Club to look at our various artifacts with the idea of including some of them in an exhibition. They became very excited when they found the “SS Cambria” wheel and explained that the remains of the shipwreck had only been re-discovered recently, unfortunately very little remained.

It had been reported that the wheel “was hanging on the wall of a Perth yacht club but the museum team had not been able to find it.” We were advised that technically it probably belongs to the “State” but provided we look after it we should be allowed to keep it.

Sadly it has not been well looked after; suffering damage while being moved around the Club and shoved aside. As a result I took the decision to have the wheel “stabilised” and partially repaired then mounted on a specially built pedestal to minimise the likelihood of further deterioration. It now has a permanent home in the main passage opposite the larger wheel outside the office for all to enjoy.

WHAT WAS THE S.S. CAMBRIA ?

The following article appeared in the Launceston Press in October 1885.

“Another valuable addition has been made to the already large fleet of steaming vessels on the coast, in the shape of a new steamer which arrived at the Market Wharf yesterday from Emu Bay. The new arrival is the Cambria, built to the order of Mr W. Jones, of Upland, Emu Bay. The Cambria was built in the early part of last year, specially for the N.W. Coast trade. She is a “cargo wallah” boat, pure and simple, and has been kept scrupulously clean.

The Cambria was launched at Emu Bay a short time since, and the following are her dimensions:- Length, 90ft; depth, 7ft 3in; breadth, 18ft 6in. The hull is straight stemmed, with

38

an elliptic stern. She is constructed of stringy bark, with Kauri pine decks, and was built by Mr J. Mollison (sic). She is bridged over amidships, and from this place the vessel is steered.

The saloon, which is reached from the raised deck astern, is limited as to dimensions, but very snug and comfortable withal, and is equal to the berthing of ten passengers. The engines are compact in appearance, and there is much of simplicity in their structure. They are from Messrs. Ross and Duncan, of Glasgow, and are on the compound surface condensing principle, direct acting, with inverted cylinders. They have a pressure of 90lbs., and the boiler is one of Blakes’s patent vertical. The Cambria’s speed has not yet been properly tested, but it is presumed she will travel at the rate of ten knots per hour in fair weather. Her draught is 7ft 6in aft, and 6ft forward when loaded. This light draught will enable the steamer to proceed up rivers where at present most of our coasting fleet cannot venture. The captain’s cabin is placed amidships, and is a roomy compartment, where everything requisite is to hand, whilst the men are comfortably housed in the forward part of the vessel. The Cambria is fully equipped with all the requisites, mechanical and otherwise, for the quick intake and discharge of cargo. She is rigged as a ketch, and no doubt in fine weather a great demand will be made on her canvas in assisting during the passages from port to port.

The vessel has not yet been measured, but it is estimated that she will carry about 90 tons of cargo, and should be a great acquisition on the coast……..”

This is the story of the Steam Ship Cambria She was a regular and profitable part of the coastal scene in north western Tasmania from the time she was launched until August 1896 when she was sold to Mr Stephen Smith, building contractor and timber merchant of Geraldton Western Australia.

On 10 September the Cambria arrived in Melbourne under her new ownership to load 600 cases of dynamite for Fremantle where she arrived on 1 October 1896. Smith ran a timber yard and mill in Geraldton which supplied the “MidWest” with building material. The Cambria was employed on a roughly ten day cycle carrying timber and general cargo north from Fremantle and returning southbound with largely agricultural produce for the Fremantle domestic and export markets.

The occasional passenger was carried in both directions and occasionally trips were made to more northerly ports including Carnarvon and Maud’s Landing. Unfortunately arrangements suffered due to competition from the new railway and the larger, faster steamers on the same route. It seems that she may have lain idle at Geraldton for a period of around 7 months in 1898.

In September 1898 she raised steam and departed Geraldton for Fremantle then proceeded to Bunbury and the Vasse to load timber for Fremantle.She appears to have demonstrated her suitability for this trade and was sold on 2 November 1898 to Mr J.C. Port, timber merchant of Bunbury.

1 case Champagne 68 brooms 8 cases gin 3 cases glass 2 cases lager beer Milk and tea 2 octave Whisky Quarter-cask vinegar 4 cases brandy Spring cart 4 cases rum Axe handles 10 cases Merwan’s Ales Scythe handles

By this time the condition of the vessel had deteriorated and she was leaking badly which necessitated a lengthy and expensive refit by Fremantle shipwright A.E. Brown.

On 23 April 1899 she resumed a roughly weekly service calling at Bunbury, Busselton and Hamelin Bay. Southbound; carrying imported and manufactured goods needed by the south-west population and returning to Fremantle with timber and agricultural goods.

There was also a large quantity of potted meats, nails, jams, salmon, peas, sunlight soap, ironmongery, piping, preserved fruits, buckets, sardines etc. etc.

On Sunday 4 March 1900 at 4.45pm she left Fremantle with eight crew and one passenger, carrying general cargo.

However she ran into a southwest gale and heavy seas so her Master, Capt Carl Colstadt (or Coalstad) headed for the South Passage of Garden Island to seek shelter in Mangles Bay. On reaching the South Channel at 8.30pm a heavy swell lifted the ship to leeward and it stuck a reef on the south west of Garden Island. The ship was put into full astern but the propeller broke off and it started taking water.

The pumps could not cope and at 10.00pm it filled with water and sank with the masts and funnel showing.

This article is a very much abbreviated version of a fascinating story which is held in a file in the Edward Keane Room. Members are welcome to visit the Archives Team on a Tuesday if they would like to read the full version.

It was announced in “The West Australian” 17 March that the wreck of the steamer Cambria was sold as she lay to Mr Johnston representing the Underwriters Association for 41 pounds.

In passing it is also interesting to note that the Fremantle Agents for the ship were R. J. Lynn & Co!

The crew spent the night clinging to the rigging but next day managed to salvage and launch the lifeboat so that all the crew, the passenger, Mr Reid and the ships cat made it to a sandy beach on Garden Island where they “found a bit of a sail” which they rigged, enabling them to sail the boat to Fremantle.

The ship and the cargo were partly insured and most of the cargo was salvaged. The subsequent enquiry found Capt Coalstad was:1. Guilty of “want of judgement” and 2. Guilty of “carelessness in not taking soundings or having

a special lookout”.

His Masters Certificate was suspended for 6 months from the date of the wreck.

The list of salvaged cargo auctioned by J Learmonth & Co of Fremantle makes interesting reading. It included: 2 x quarter-casks of whisky 170 cases kerosene 84 cases of whisky 5 clothes baskets

39

PANTAENIUS

FROM THE ARCHIVES BASIL TWINE

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SUCCESSION While many would regard Jenny and me to be “bullet proof”, fit and energetic the truth is we are both getting older, less supple and I particularly, tend to “Nod off” in front of telly.

The archives work at the Club is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable interests with which I have ever been involved and I would hope to continue with it as long as I draw breath. It is vital to the history and traditions of the Club that this continues.

Quite often we receive enquiries for information on membership, boats and events involving the Club which demonstrates that there is interest in Club history and background. It is therefore important that we find a successor to take over this work in the event of the untimely demise of one and/or both of us.

We are looking for members, male or female who enjoy a love of RFBYC and its history to join our Archives Team with the ultimate reward of inheriting this responsibility.

CONGRATULATIONS NEPTUNE CUP SUCCESS FOR NEPTUNE RACING IN THE DETROIT CUP Congratulations to Sam Gilmour’s Neptune Racing team, winner of the International Match Race for the Detroit Cup. Neptune Racing have been crowned winners of the US Grand Slam Series. The Grand Slam series consisted of four back-to-back regattas across the USA contested in total by 19 teams.

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Kennedy Gordon Phillip Tregonning MBE passed away on 20 July 2015 aged 92. Ken joined RFBYC in 1938 and at the time of his death was the Club’s longest serving member.

His contribution to the Club was conspicuous in the form of his book “The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club 1896-1996”. This recounts the history of the first 100 years of the Club and includes many anecdotes and descriptions of the activities and characters of the period. It makes for engaging reading.

Ken wrote several books including North Borneo, written while Professor of History at the University of Singapore, and Home Port Singapore, a history of the Straits Steamship Company.

Later in retirement he wrote Young Hearts Run Free, a history of his Alma Mater, Hale School.

Ken attended Hale from 1936 to 1941, and was captain of the athletics and swimming teams, as well as a member of the school’s life-saving, football and rugby teams. His nickname “Tanglefoot” may have derived from his being left handed (and footed) when playing football.

After leaving school Ken joined the Army to serve in the 109th Anti-Tank Regiment and six months later took the opportunity to transfer to the RAAF. He won his wings and was commissioned, eventually being sent to the UK via the USA. After the war he graduated from Adelaide University with the Tinline Scholarship for the highest place in Political Science and History. While there he was captain of the varsity rugby union team.

In 1950 as Gowrie Scholar, he entered New College Oxford where he gained a PHD. That same year he married Judy Manford with whom he fathered five daughters. Following this he became Professor of History at the University of Singapore.

In 1967 Ken was appointed Headmaster of Hale School, where he stayed until his retirement in 1988.

Ken began sailing in a Cadet Dinghy named Philante, competing against his twin brother Alec in Phryne in 1938.

Later in Singapore he was largely responsible for the beginning of yacht racing, having purchased a number of 16ft Skiffs from Jack Cassidy.

On his return to Perth, Ken acquired the H28 Thora Helen from Bill Jacobs, renamed her Rajah Laut (King of the Sea) and sailed her for a number of years. Ken eventually replaced Thora Helen with a pretty little MB24 which he called Tanglefoot. Ken Tregonning will be remembered in many circles and he has a special place in the history of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. A quiet unassuming gentleman, I will remember him for his great sense of humour and his firm but modest demeanour.

Basil Twine

CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 2015 TO JANUARY 2016 10 SEPTEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

11 SEPTEMBER 2015

JUNIOR AGM

22 NOVEMBER 2015

SWAN RIVER RETRO SERIES RACE 2’ COUTA BOAT SWAN RIVER RETRO SERIES FLYING 15 TALLY HOBBS MEMORIAL SERIES AT SOPYC

12 SEPTEMBER 2015

JUNIOR BUSY BEE & SWAP MEET MIRROR SAIL @ RFBYC

13 SEPTEMBER 2015

DISCOVER SAIL DAY MIRROR SAIL @ RFBYC

25 NOVEMBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

26 NOVEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

17 SEPTEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

28 NOVEMBER 2015

18 SEPTEMBER 2015

CREW NIGHT

19 SEPTEMBER 2015

POWER CLOSING DAY

CLUB RACING ROCKINGHAM RACE WEEKEND – DOLPHIN RACE

20 SEPTEMBER 2015

BART’S BASH

29 NOVEMBER 2015

24 SEPTEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

1 OCTOBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

ROCKINGHAM RACE WEEKEND – GORDON CRAIG RACE DINGHY RACING PACER ADVENTURE DAY

3 OCTOBER 2015

AFL GRAND FINAL

2 DECEMBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

4 OCTOBER 2015

VOLUNTEERS BRUNCH

3 DECEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

8 OCTOBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

4 DECEMBER 2015

10 OCTOBER 2015

PRE SEASON COACHING

INTERNATIONAL CLASSES REGATTA REGISTRATION

11 OCTOBER 2015

PRE-SEASON COACHING – JUNIOR CLUBHOUSE

5 DECEMBER 2015

CLUB RACING INTERNATIONAL CLASSES REGATTA

17 OCTOBER 2015

SENIOR/JUNIOR/DINGHY OPENING DAY

6 DECEMBER 2015

INTERNATIONAL CLASSES REGATTA

21 OCTOBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

7 DECEMBER 2015

MONDAY KEELBOAT RACE

22 OCTOBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

9 DECEMBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

24 OCTOBER 2015

CLUB RACING ETCHELLS METRO SERIES AM

10 DECEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

11 DECEMBER 2015

DRAGON STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

25 OCTOBER 2015

SWAN RIVER RETRO SERIES 1 COUTA BOAT SWAN RIVER SERIES

12 DECEMBER 2015

DRAGON STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS CLUB RACING

28 OCTOBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

13 DECEMBER 2015

29 OCTOBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACING

31 OCTOBER 2015

CLUB RACING

1 NOVEMBER 2015

JUNIOR RULES TALK DINGHY RACING

DRAG0N STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SWAN RIVER RETRO SERIES COUTA BOAT SWAN RIVER RETRO DINGHY RACING PACER ADVENTURE DAY

3 NOVEMBER 2015

MELBOURNE CUP

16 DECEMBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

4 NOVEMEBR 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

17 DECEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

ANNIVERSARY RACE / MID WEEK RACE PRESENTATION AUTUMN /WINTER MID WEEK RESULTS

19 DECEMBER 2015

CLUB RACING

20 DECEMBER 2015

DINGHY CHRISTMAS PACER CHALLENGE

5 NOVEMBER 2015

to know the market...

90 will do 1925 – 2015

21 DECEMBER 2015 – NO CLUB RACING CHRISTMAS NATIONAL 9 JANUARY 2016 PERIOD BREAK

7 NOVEMBER 2015

CLUB RACE WINDWARD / LEEWARD RACING

9 NOVEMBER 2015

MONDAY KEELBOAT RACE 1730 – 1900

27 DECEMBER 2015 – MIRROR AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 7 JANUARY 2016 HOSTED BY RFBYC

11 NOVEMBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

4 – 8 JANUARY 2016

12 NOVEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

CONTENDER AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP HOSTED BY RFBYC

14 NOVEMBER 2015

SYD CORSER REGATTA CLUB RACING

31 DECEMBER 2015

NEW YEARS EVE TWILIGHT SAILING

6 JANUARY 2016

TWILIGHT SAILING

15 NOVEMBER 2015

ETCHELLS SYD CORSER REGATTA DINGHY DASH FOR CASH DINGHY RACING

7 JANUARY 2016

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE FRESHWATER BAY COURSES

9 JANUARY 2016

CLUB RACING

16 NOVEMBER 2015

MONDAY KEELBOAT RACE 1730 – 1900

13 JANUARY 2016

TWILIGHT SAILING

18 NOVEMBER 2015

TWILIGHT SAILING

14 JANUARY 2016

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

19 NOVEMBER 2015

THURSDAY MID WEEK RACE

20 NOVEMBER 2015

IRC BIG BOAT DEMO RACE 1700 – 1900

21 NOVEMBER 2015

GOVERNORS CUP - STARTING RP FINISHING RFBYC

42

It doesn’t take 100 years

Chris Shellabear 0418 910 065

Nick Holt 0477 443 996

chris@shellabears.com.au

nick@shellabears.com.au

shellabears.com.au

Connect with us:

FARRAWA CUP SERIES 2015-2016 Inaugurated 1977-78

SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 2015 ROLAND SMITH OCEAN RACE CAT 3 (80NM race starts off Fremantle, Rottnest Is. and beyond)

SATURDAY 28 AND SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2015 ROCKINGHAM RACE WEEKEND CAT 4 DOLPHIN RACE (Fremantle to Rockingham, Saturday)

GORDON CRAIG OCEAN RACE (Rockingham to Fremantle, Sunday)

FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2016 68th BUNBURY AND RETURN OCEAN RACE CAT 3 (New start time of 1800 on Friday evening)

THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2016 FARRAWA CUP SERIES PRESENTATION EVENING

offshore racing Contact: Susan Ghent, Offshore, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club

offshore@rfbyc.asn.au

rfbyc.asn.au

9286 8200