Quarterly
Vol 29 Issue 3 Spring 2015
The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron
www.rsays.com.au
ROYAL SOUTH AUSTRALIAN YACHT SQUADRON Patron Commodore Vice Commodore Rear Commodore Treasurer Committee Members General Manager
His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AO Rae Hunt Mahalo Bruce Roach Antares Colin Doudy Circe Ian McDonald Rachel Geoff Wallbridge Solace Helen Moody Magic Beach Kevin Cook Summer Breeze Andrew McDowell
161 Oliver Rogers Road, Outer Harbor, SA 5018 PO Box 1066, North Haven, SA 5018 Ph (08) 8341 8600 Fax (08) 8248 4933 Email: rsays@rsays.com.au Web: www.rsays.com.au Office hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm Wednesday during Twilight Race Season 9.00am - 4.00pm Saturday & Sunday Closed Public Holidays and Easter Weekend Chris Mandalov Roger Oaten Kingsley Haskett Andrea Mead Mitch Mead Heidi Pfeiffer Wayne Knill Steve Lewis
Apology to Peter Lauridsen’s widow Beverley, and his friend Ken Cock.
Our apologies for the regrettable error that occurred on page 38 of the last edition of the Squadron Quarterly in which the final paragraphs of the ‘In Tranquil Waters’ eulogy on Peter were accidentally omitted. It was a very unfortunate printing error and we regret the hurt it caused. Note: A reprint of the article, in its entirety, is on page 38.
NEW MEMBERS Category Boat Name First Surname Senior Wild Goose Czeslaw Rauch Senior No name Eddie Koncewicz Senior SARI Michael Kaczkowski Family Spindrift Tony Papworth Family Terror Two Tracy Dauginas Family Partner Terror Two Dion Dauginas Family Partner Carolyn Papworth Family Partner Lucette Trish Sentinella Crew Kamil Zuber Crew Finlay Rice Crew Pelle Mumford Crew Ezio Bordon Crew Lucas Williamson Crew Ian Dixon Crew Dinah Harcus
RSAYS 2015-2016 Yearbook Amendment Members are advised that John Brooks, a 17 year member, has incorrectly been listed in the Member list as “John Brooksby”, all other contact details are correct. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
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The Squadron Dining Room, Jimmy’s Bar and Quarterdeck: The dining facilities are positioned beautifully, overlooking the majestic view of the marina from all locations. This attractive setting provides a warm and relaxing feeling year round.
Opening Hours:
Lunch from 12:00: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays when advised Dinner from 18:00, Wednesday (Twilights), Thursday, Friday, Saturday (and Sunday on long weekends)
Private functions anytime by appointment
SERVICE DIRECTORY
RSAYS Foundation Racing Committee Cruising Committee House and Social Committee Juniors Committee Sail Training & Race Support Etchells Fleet Captain Trailer Sailers
OPENING TIMES
0417 847 836 0408 415 138 0419 844 772 0417 887 818 0447 333 001 8341 8600 8240 4615 0418 275 710
SQUADRON QUARTERLY TEAM
Sally Metzer (Editor) Sue Buckley (Production), Barry Allison, Sandy Barker, Gill Hogarth, Wayne Knill, Jacqui LawSmith, Dick Richards, Bob Schahinger (Regular Contributors), Ann Hastwell, Anne Arnold, Fay Duncan, Gill Hogarth, Lynda Walsh, Peter Hansen (Proof Readers).
Seaweed Gardening Group Slipmaster Finance Manager Accounts Administrator Member Services Hospitality & Events Manager Chef
Robert Henshall Julian Murray Joann Galios Kathy Bernhardt Annette Turk Kevin Grant Dave West
8332 0889 0414 365 294 8341 8600 8341 8600 8341 8600 8331 8600
Squadron Quarterly Deadline for Summer 2015 issue is 13 November 2015
Advertisements, editorial and photographs can be sent to Sally Metzer, Editor (sallymetzer@hotmail.com) or member.services@rsays.com.au or left at the Squadron Office. Material for an e-Bulletin may be forwarded to the Office at any time.
Squadron Quarterly Advertising Please contact Kathy Bernhardt - phone 8341 8600 or accounts@rsays.com.au
Squadron Quarterly Editorial Spring 2015: Sally Metzer
Notes for Contributors
Articles submitted should be typed as a Word document in font Arial 10 point, 1500 words max. 1500 words plus 2 photos will cover two pages. Photos should be 1) in focus, 2) JPEG format at a high resolution (300dpi) and 3) sent separately and not embedded in a Word document. Articles can be submitted to the office for distribution to the Committee.
Disclaimer
With exception of statements made by duly authorised officers and the editor and members of The Squadron Quarterly Committee, all other statements and opinions in this publication are those of contributors and advertisers. The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, its Management and Members accept no responsibility for statements by nonauthorised personnel. Front Cover: Our new Commodore Rae Hunt being piped to her yacht Mahalo to fly her official new burgee at the 2015 Flag-Raising ceremony. Piper is Luke Comyn.
REPORTS
From the Commodore .....................................................................4 RSAYS Ltd........................................................................................4 From the Manager’s Desk................................................................5 Catering...........................................................................................6 Foundation .....................................................................................7 Racing.............................................................................................8 Cruising.........................................................................................12 Juniors..........................................................................................17
CONTENTS Entry forms and Terms & Conditions available on our website www.rsays.com.au
REGULAR ARTICLES
New Members.................................................................................2 Women on the water .....................................................................10 Sail Drive.......................................................................................16 Member Profile: Nives Vincent........................................................18 Sponsor Profile: Kaesler Wines.......................................................31 Nature: Dolphin traps.....................................................................32 In Tranquil Waters..........................................................................38 Berths for Sale & Lease.................................................................42 Events Calendar.............................................................................43
FEATURES
Flinders Ports - Pilot Boats...............................................................9 Spring Sailing in Scotland..............................................................14 RSAYS Library update....................................................................17 National Equipment Audit...............................................................19 Sydney Boat Show.........................................................................20 KI Independence Project................................................................21 Flag Raising & Commodores’ Dinner..............................................22 Squadron Burgees.........................................................................24 Peter McBride’s Birthday................................................................25 Airlie Beach Race...........................................................................26 Clipper Race Update......................................................................28 Paul McGuire Maritime Library.......................................................30 My Boat.........................................................................................33 Winter Cruise.................................................................................36 City of Adelaide..............................................................................40
EDITORIAL
ical t u a n t e bes h t ine” e w t r a e e l r s “C w Kae e n a r o name f
Win A BOTTLE OF “THE BOGAN” *conditions apply
(08) 8341 8600 rsays.com.au 161 Oliver Rogers Road, OUTER HARBOR SA 5018
Spring 2015
Vol 29 Issue 3 Published Quarterly ISSN 1037-1133 Print Post Publication No. PP532154/00016
Bring in the bagpipes! Toss on your tartans! There’s more than a wee hint of Scotland in this SQ ‘spring fling’ edition! It starts off with the heralding pipes on the front cover, with our newly-initiated Commodore Rae Hunt being escorted by a Scottish piper during the Flag-Raising ceremony on Saturday, 5 September. It’s there in Gill Hogarth’s story about sailing round the Scottish Isles. And again in Trevor Hamlyn’s piece on cruising through some Scottish Canals. And then there’s the account of Campbell Mackie’s prerace preparations and expectations just before he set off on the Clipper Round the World Race. (With a name like that he has to have Scottish ancestry!) And what about Peter Boyd’s account of three Squadron multihulls going over land to Queensland and competing in the Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Race weeks? Those sound like Scottish names to me too! I can assure you it is not a Scottish invasion – it is totally accidental that these Celtic connections have crept onto our pages! Sit back and enjoy our Scottish spring-fling – and the many other good stories that have nothing to do with haggis or sporrans or things Scottish!
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From The Commodore Combined Committees Chairs’ meeting was held at the beginning of August, which gave everyone the opportunity to share information as to what was happening within their respective Committees, discuss any issues and, most importantly, identify and request support measures from the Management Committee and staff that would benefit the Committees. I would also like to acknowledge all of our volunteers who may not be listed in the Standing Committees, but who dedicate their time and expertise in various areas within the Club.
Rae Hunt It’s amazing penning my first Commodore’s report thinking of just how much has happened over the past few years since initially being elected to the position of a Flag Officer. I am humbled, privileged and very proud to be elected to serve you as your Commodore, only the second female in our 146-year history. If you had asked me if I thought it possible a few years ago, I might have had difficulty answering that question, but certainly not now. My thanks go to our Immediate Past Commodore Peter Cooling for his commitment and hard work over the last two years … Pete, you now have plenty of time for relaxation and of course sailing on Last Tango. I am looking forward to working with our General Manager, Andrew McDowell, and the very talented and dynamic team elected to your Management Committee to ensure that the best interests of the members and the Club are upheld, dealing with not just routine issues but also the larger long-term issues that affect us all. Let me take this opportunity to introduce our Management team: Bruce Roach – Vice Commodore, newly elected Flag Officer Colin Doudy – Rear Commodore, Ian McDonald – Treasurer, Committee members Helen Moody, Geoff Wallbridge and newly elected Committee member Kevin Cook. There are also congratulations to new members and thanks to retiring members of our ever hard-working Standing Committees, and the Squadron Quarterly publication group who do an amazing job of getting this publication out to us all. A
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The Club is surging through with a revitalised vigour and energy; members are enjoying the new dining facilities and also having more intimate gatherings in Jimmy’s Bar. Winter months are always difficult, as we tend to hibernate and spend more time at home, but I’m pleased to say that the Club has been bucking the trend! There has been a myriad of events organised at the Club over the winter months to keep the cold at bay and pique the interest of members, friends and fellow yachties. Our Cruising Committee had some well sourced topics for their winter talks, and extended invitations to our neighbouring yacht clubs to join a dinner cruise which began its first night in our clubhouse. The House & Social Committee has offered the ever-popular wine tasting, there was a special early visit by Santa at the Christmas in July dinner, and of course the brilliant Henschke food and wine dinner. All fantastic ways of showcasing our facilities to a wide range of attendees! Our well-organised Racing Committee has only a couple of months before the full racing season starts, but only a few weeks before the Twilight racing season gets into full swing in October. I may have to forgo my cruising outlook and see if I can put my hand up to become a ring-in “crew” member for Twilights – if there is a skipper willing of course! By the time this Squadron Quarterly is distributed we will have held our Flag Raising Ceremony and also the Commodore’s Dinner. For those who attended the Flag Raising Ceremony I hope you enjoyed this long-standing Squadron tradition and followed on to the more relaxed atmosphere of dinner.
With the hint of spring in the air, the promise of getting out and sailing, seeing the Juniors in the dinghies, getting racing boats ready and socialising on the quarterdeck is getting ever closer. Time to start getting ready to enjoy our wonderful facility in what is a very special community known as the RSAYS! Jeff and I look forward to meeting and seeing you, our members, either at the Squadron or on the water. In Seamanship and Fellowship.
RSAYS Ltd Update By Rae Hunt
The new directors of the RSAYS Ltd Board were announced at the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday, 13 August. They are: Rae Hunt (Chair), Colin Doudy, Robert Henshall, Ian McDonald, Bruce Roach, Andrew McDowell (Secretary). Those stepping down were Peter Cooling, Paul Bogner, Alan Down and Patrick Hill. Chris Riggs resigned in July 2014. To our retiring Board members, we thank them for the wealth of knowledge and absolute dedication during their term(s) of appointment, and wish them all the best. Members of the Board have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that issues affecting the assets of the Squadron are given the utmost consideration. The greatest achievement over the past year has been the redevelopment of the Squadron Clubhouse. The need to replace the roof culminated into a facility that all of our members can enjoy and be proud of. The longer term visions are being developed in collaboration with the Management Committee in the form of a strategic plan. This is in its final stages and should be available to members for perusal and comment within the next few months.
FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK By Andrew McDowell
Andrew McDowell It might be cold, but the motors are running red hot as we gear up for the warmer months… The last few months are traditionally a quiet period for the club, but we have been working hard with all of the committees to develop exciting and interesting events to engage with members on a wide range of social and boating angles. Of particular note were the success of the Cruising Dinners, the Tim Jarvis Event and the sold out Henschke Wine Dinner. It has also been a busy period behind the scenes with our annual reporting and AGMs taking centre stage. With this year also comes a changing of the guard, as we have been preparing for our Flag Raising Ceremony and Commodore’s Dinner to welcome in the new Flag Officers and thank our Past Commodore for his service. We are almost complete on a strategic plan framework and are now detailing the finer action points and strategic goals that will incorporate the ideas to be presented later in the slipway precinct update. Once this is finalised the plan will be released to the members for feedback and discussion. One of the desired outcomes as part of our negotiations with the remaining chain mooring licence owners is to not only ensure the safety of remaining moorings but also to remove all of the disused moorings and clean up the basin, both on the surface and below the water. This will be achieved within the coming months depending on availability of the contractor’s barge, and will pave the way for future development. It will also allow the sheltered waters to be used more safely by slipway clients, the Etchells fleet and as a possible training area for the Juniors. The Management Committee has approved a trial period of ‘public welcome’ to the dining facility over the spring and
summer months. This is expected to bolster turnover and result in greater follow-through of function enquiries. This is planned to commence in spring. With new staff in both key positions within the Food and Beverage department and substantial changes being made to grow existing channels and establish new business, a settling in period will be experienced to re-set the efficiency, while delivering on member expectations and client requests. I am revisiting the proposals for solar energy, and am now working on a dual proposal to include a 20kW system on the north bank and a 30kW system on the clubhouse, with the option of trying to keep the north face of the roof clear of panels. Due to some new pricing and networking charges introduced by SA Power Networks, the payback periods and effectiveness of these systems are much more advantageous. On current estimates, we are now looking at a possible payback period of less than two years. This is now a much more viable proposition and once finalised will be presented to the Management Committee for review. We are working with the Racing Committee to develop a proposal for the 2017 9er’s National Titles after the great success of the Etchells Nationals competition earlier this year. There will be a number of hurdles that we will need to factor-in to the proposal, but the efforts will be based on ensuring that the event does not cost the club, but brings income into the Food and Beverage department and continues to grow our profile. I have received a substantial number of comments in the last couple of months on the overwhelming feeling from members and visitors that they feel the club is in a new era of positivity and growth. The comments make particular mention of the visual impact of the club now looking like a prestigious sailing club, and that our efforts in areas like facilities, marina maintenance, grounds maintenance, communications, marketing, publications and events are all having a very positive impact and show a club and management that are planning for the future and making decisions, activating projects and implementing change that are all giving out a positive vibe. I am pleased to announce that following our request, we have received a new burgee from the Royal Yacht Squadron on the Isle of Wight. This prestigious club burgee will take its position above the Commodore’s
Wall with the other six Royal Squadrons in our elite group of seven worldwide. We are currently awaiting communication from the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron after a request was sent to them as well. Finally, reciprocal rights have been granted with The Republic of Singapore Yacht Club. Reciprocal rights apply with many yacht clubs interstate and overseas, especially those with a royal designation and also with certain local clubs. We are constantly working to establish appropriate relationships with other national and international yacht clubs to further enhance the benefits of full membership at the RSAYS. We have a number of other clubs that we are making arrangements with at the moment and will advise on these in due course. I look forward to reporting further progress as these exciting developments evolve and, as always, I welcome comments that are constructive, without partiality and in the spirit of ‘seamanship & fellowship’.
NAUTILUS MARINE COMPETITION WINNER
Congratulations to John Phillips, winner of a dozen wines, courtesy of Nautilus Marine Insurance for his entry into our Winter SQ Competition. Members were asked to tell us in 100 words or less of a boating incidence where your insurance provider ‘came to the party’ and helped you in your time of need. Here’s what John had to say … It was at a Rotary Charity Fundraiser held at RSAYS, where members’ yachts were chartered out for the day, including lunch and a twilightstyle fun race, followed up by a BBQ at the clubrooms. There were about 30 yachts vying for position on the start line when another came barging through on port tack. The resulting collision caused significant damage to three yachts. At the BBQ, RSAYS member Adrian Anderson approached me with a claim form saying ‘Sign here’. One of the other competing yachts was chartered by our insurers. They, and their assessor Adrian, had witnessed the accident and, as the three yachts were all insured with them, Adrian had taken the liberty to already assess the damage and fill out the forms. That’s what we call prompt service!
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Catering report By Kevin Grant
Photos courtesy of Sally Metzer
I am pleased to report that the new name for our dining room is now officially ‘The Squadron Dining Room’. Thanks to the many members who submitted their preferred name to the Management Committee. There were many thoughtful and fun suggestions, but in the end the simplest, most familiar title was chosen. Another newsworthy item is that we are opening the doors of our impressive new restaurant to the public for a six month trial over the summer sailing season from September. Please present your member’s card to the bar staff to receive members’ prices and loyalty points. The loyalty points add a further 5% value to your card that can be redeemed for drinks and meals. The new winter menu is being well received, with the Chef’s specialty dishes
proving a popular choice. My favourite is the Atlantic salmon with crispy skin served with a warm choritzo potato salad. We have just announced more members’ benefits on top of members’ discounts and members’ loyalty points, with the introduction of a member’s birthday offer. You will receive a birthday card from the Club with a complimentary main course plus drink per couple. Refer to the birthday offer voucher for all information. To receive the member’s birthday offer, the office must have your date of birth on file. Please contact the office if the Club does not have your DOB information. The new Thursday night promotion is the Chef’s special, starting from $15.00 plus a children’s menu for $8 including an ice cream sundae. Good food at family friendly prices! We are planning to open for lunch on Fridays with four $12 lunch specials plus Happy Hour from 12.00 to 2.30pm. The ever-popular $12 schnitzel will continue plus Happy Hour from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
Kevin Grant What a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon sharing a seafood platter with friends over drinks. What a great state we live in! The Henschke Wine dinner on 8 August showcased these premium SA wines, complemented by a specially chosen chef’s menu. The night was a runaway success enjoyed by all, and judging from the feedback from those present, we will definitely be scheduling more wine dinners in the future.
A new snack menu will be available for Jimmy’s Bar. We will have items such as fish and chips in a cone, pork sliders and a simple toasted ham and cheese sandwich. There will be a Sunday special with a seafood platter for two and drinks specials available. Phil Stump with barman Scotty
MELBOURNE cCUP heon
Lun
12noon
Tickets $48.00 per person includes 3 course lunch, and glass of sparkling wine on arrival. Sweeps for the Big Race. Best dressed and best hat prizes on the day as well so come in your racing best.... Tickets on sale now. (08) 8341 8600 rsays.com.au 161 Oliver Rogers Road, OUTER HARBOR SA 5018
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Burgee Challenge accepted and solved!
It’s taken a lot of sharp-eyed concentration, but after two attempts Nives Vincent has found the anomaly David Borg asked our readers to find in the last SQ. He said there was something wrong with the burgees he and his wife Lorraine have hung on the walls of the Squadron Dining Room, and challenged us to find the mistake. After her first attempt, (which David says wasn’t the one he had in mind, but shouted her a drink anyway!), Nives took a closer look and found that there are two Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club burgees on our walls. So now she’s earned herself another free drink for her determination. Well done Nives!
foundation REPORT Article & Photo by Roger Holden
Some new faces, a new Chairman and new challenges … that’s how the RSAYS Foundation is lining up for the year ahead. Having ably steered the Foundation through recent impressive changes at the Squadron, which, of course includes the role of the Foundation in support of the clubhouse redevelopment, Chairman Garry Read has retired. The new Chairman is Chris Mandalov. Former Commodore Peter Kelly, refreshed from cruising adventures on the east coast, returns to add his knowledge and expertise to the Trustees. So too does Barry Allison, whose sailing and business experience will be invaluable. Trustees for the year ahead are: Chris Mandalov (Chairman), Helen Moody (Deputy Chair), Gill Baker (Secretary), Barry Allison, David Borg, Bob Hogarth, Marion Holden, Roger Holden, Peter Kelly and Liza Reynolds. Trustees who have retired under the terms of the Trust Deed after a greatly appreciated six-year commitment are Garry Read and Kevin Cook. For those members who may not be aware of the functions and importance of the Foundation, a brief explanation might help. As an entity, it simply manages donations to the Squadron from members, and then disburses them via projects registered with the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF). You donate, your club benefits … and you can benefit as well because your generosity attracts tax deductibility. It is important to note that the Foundation is not a fund-raising group. Three projects are registered with the ASF the Equipment Fund, the Sport Development Fund and the General Facilities Development Fund. The ASF has strict rules on how the donations are disbursed. Over the past year, major contributions have again been made by the Foundation to the clubhouse redevelopment, repairs
Foundation trustees Roger & Marion Holden, Chris Mandalov, Bob Hogarth, Gill Baker, Helen Moody - not pictured Peter Kelly, Barry Allison and Liza Reynolds
to the Juniors’ start boat and support for members who took part in the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta in Melbourne. Incidentally, generous and enthusiastic members and their families who want to contribute to the future of the RSAYS and its commitment to sailing, might consider bequests of money or property. It is one way of repaying for the years of pleasure and companionship the club has provided. The Foundation is the perfect platform for doing that. Guidelines for applying for a grant can be found on the RSAYS website or through the Squadron office.
Bequests can be targeted for projects or purpose of your choice. And don’t forget, if you wish to proceed with such a gift during your lifetime, you will have the pleasure of seeing it being used for things that you and other members will appreciate and cherish. The Squadron Foundation has been formed to encourage bequestors, and a brochure is available from a Trustee or at the office.
How to follow a dream... Have you some exciting ideas, plans or projects that you feel that might contribute to the development - personal or otherwise - of Squadron sailing and/ or the enhancement of the club in the community? It is part of the responsibilities of the Trustees to cultivate these ideas among members and perhaps encourage you to push hesitation and self-doubt aside and give it a go. Groups or individuals -the offer is open to all who see their sport, their club as the launching platform for innovation and self-improvement. Ideas from the simple to the esoteric are: Seminars. New interactive sail training techniques. New equipment and facilities that complement the growing needs of a progressive club. Developing marketing strategies to attract more
young people to the joys of sailing and racing and to our club. Youth leadership courses. Fitness regimes. Seamanship, safety and responsibility. Who can we bring in to excite our imagination? Youth sailing at the Squadron has already benefited by those who did precisely that. And so too has a group of determined women members who took a dream to Melbourne … and triumphed in the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta. Find out if grants could be available. Guidelines for applying for a grant can be found on the RSAYS website or through the Squadron office. Speak to a Trustee. Put your ideas in writing. You can find application forms on the website.
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RACING NEWS By Heidi Pfeiffer & Chris Mandalov Winter racing has concluded with the final race of the Combined Winter Series with the CYC. It was great to see over 30 boats take to the water each race. The weather provided mixed sailing conditions resulting in Race 5 being abandoned due to strong winds, but nothing stopped most sailors enjoying what winter has to offer. The Plympton Cup saw almost a dozen boats not finishing the race as the wind dropped out as the afternoon went on. The first boat crossed the line in a little over three hours into the race with the remaining boats finishing over the next three hours. Congratulations to Secret Men’s Business which took out the race, and 3 Cool Cats for winning the Le Hunte Cup. The Combined Winter Series was well attended with presentations taking place at the CYC for the 2014-15 season. Congratulations to Winter Series Winner Taniwha (Ron Parker) and Arcadia (Paul Bogner). Well done to those who also won places in the Combined Winter series: Arcadia (Paul Bogner), Horopito (Mark Roberston), Blue Diamond (Mal Denton) and Rival (Stuart Shimeld) for 3rd in Div 2
PHS, 3rd in Div 1 AMS, 2nd in Div 2 AMS and 3rd in Div 2 AMS respectively. The Port Line Cup was well attended by the Squadron resulting with Musetta (Kevin Kelly) taking out first place and Nerana II (Chris Perry) in Second. A club Race Officer’s course was held at the Squadron in early August. This attracted a keen group of 15 people from the RSAYS and surrounding clubs. These half day seminars are aimed at educating people who wish to become involved with officiating in the sport of sailing. Race Officers play an important role within sailing, conducting racing at clubs, and enabling organised participation and competition. These courses are run regularly and may be of interest to those who want to contribute to the sport, or volunteers or sailors who no longer actively participate in the sport. The Coaching series is being held again this month with a number of enthusiastic participants discovering the joys of sailing. The Summer Series entry is now open to all boats, and if you are unable to commit to a series there is also the option to be casual entrant if you still want to take your boat out for a race.
The new racing season begins on Saturday 10 October with the Inshore Pointscore series, Etchells and Multihull series, with the Women’s Series starting on Sunday, 12 October. The Twilight Series commences on the following Wednesday, 14 October. We look forward to a great season ahead with a high level of participation. If you need to brush up on your skills, Radio Operators courses are run regularly by the North Haven Coastguard. If you wish to attend one, watch our weekly e-bulletin for dates of upcoming courses. Don’t forget that all boats operating in unprotected waters must carry a marine radio and that the person operating the radio must hold a marine radio operator’s certificate of proficiency. The Squadron participates in National Discover Sailing Day. This year it falls on Sunday 25 October. This is a great opportunity to showcase our Club and the sport of sailing. Club members and boat owners are encouraged to get involved in a defined role, as a promoter of the day to friends, family and colleagues. Boat owners are encouraged to show their boats or take people out for a short sail.
Musetta wins 2015 Portline Cup By Kevin Kelly The 2015 Port Line Cup was a great spectacle on the Port River as over 40 yachts battled it out in windy conditions and close quarters.
Squadron members Kevin Kelly and his crew, Geoff Beacham and Trevor Harper, were successful this year sailing through the course and then taking out the Cup. His boat Musetta finished first on corrected time followed closely by Nerana II (Chris Perry). The Port Adelaide Sailing Club (PASC) set a challenging course for its competitors, (course 9 from the racing instructions), involving several loops traversing the river, finding skippers steering in all directions whilst dodging and weaving through traffic. With the slower boats starting first in 15 to 20 knots generally from the north, many tacking duals began to unfold. By the time boats reached the first buoy near beacon 30, the Division 1 yachts had caught the lower divisions and the fleet was bunched up rounding the first mark. From there a loop to buoys near beacon 25, back to beacon 30 and back to beacon 25 before heading back up the river under spinnaker. The dog legs were amazing with close quarters and a procession of boats going in opposite directions.
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At the presentations PASC commented on how well skippers handled the course and conditions with only one minor incident occurring. Several boats pushed the race to the edge, that is the edge of the river and found themselves thick in the mud. Musetta was introduced to the Squadron by its former owner (Lloyd Cushway) in November 2001 and has been actively involved in the racing program over this period. Kevin has entered Musetta into the Port Line Cup race for the last five years. In 2011 it came within a whisker of being written off after being T-boned in a nasty port -starboard incident with a keel boat. After the race Kevin commented on how Geoff Beacham and Trevor Harper worked their butts off during the race and how it was good to have Geoff’s big voice on board for the numerous starboard calls. The team was rapt with the achievement and plan to celebrate it in the traditional way.
flinders ports – pilot boats Compiled by Sally Metzer
Photos by Trevor Powell
FLINDERS PORTS LAUNCHES THE FIRST OF TWO NEW PILOT BOATS AT THE SQUADRON. Flinders Ports launched its new pilot boat, the Alert, at an official ceremony held at the Squadron last May. The boat, which is moored in the Squadron pool, is the first of two brand new pilot boats arriving at Port Adelaide to join the Flinders Ports’ fleet, as part of the company’s longterm investment strategy. It is named after HMS Alert - the first vessel that legendary navigator Matthew Flinders served on. She was launched by Flinders University Art Museum Director, Fiona Salmon, who is also one of Matthew Flinders’ descendants.
responsiveness to Flinders Ports’ pilotage services. “We anticipate a number of flowon benefits for our shipping customers, because these new boats have a range of features that improve operational efficiency and most significantly - safety standards,” says Captain Kavina. The new boats have a vital safety feature, a self-righting mechanism, which will safeguard the crew in the event of a capsize. An innovative beak-bow design provides enhanced sea handling characteristics,
reducing stress and fatigue for the crew from the pitching and rolling of the vessel in rough waters. The new boats also feature the latest generation of marine I.T. software including Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR), which will assist the crew when working in the dark, when visibility is poor, or during search and rescue operations. The second pilot boat is scheduled to arrive at Port Adelaide in October this year.
Flinders Ports is South Australia’s largest private port operator with seven ports located at Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Thevenard, Port Giles, Wallaroo and Klein Point. It provides pilotage services at all seven of its South Australian ports, as well as for the Port of Whyalla and Port Bonython. It is 20 years since any port in South Australia has welcomed a new pilot boat, according to Captain Carl Kavina, General Manager, Marine Operations at Flinders Ports. Australian owned and operated boat builder Hart Marine, constructed the boat at a cost of around $2.5 million. The Alert has been constructed to NSCV criteria with a 2C classification and measures 16 metres long, with an overall beam of 5.43 metres. The vessel has a top speed of 27 knots and maximum draft of 1.5 metres and will bring enhanced manoeuvrability and
The Alert at the Squadron
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WOMEN ON THE WATER
The team competing on Mrs Overnewton
Article by Dianne Schwerdt Photos by Bruno Cocozza
SA team competes in 2015 Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta and perform very well! 2015 marks an important anniversary in the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta. Twenty five years after its inception in 1990 the annual regatta held its biggest event yet, hosted by the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and contested in the waters of Port Phillip over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, 6-8 June. The Silver Anniversary attracted entrants from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, as well as a team from New Zealand. Twenty five boats, 160 competitors, six fiercely contested races and some interesting weather made for a fabulous weekend of great sailing.
weekend did not dampen the enthusiasm for the regatta that was clearly felt by everyone present. Three races were set for Saturday, the first day of racing. For much of the day the winds were variable and Race 1, in 11-14 kts plus gusts, was no exception. With a #2 jib, Mrs Overnewton got off to a good start staying up with the front runners for the duration of the race. A borrowed short brace made for some interesting retrievals mid-race while the sail choices were found to be right on target.
By Race 2 a drop in wind speed called for the #1 jib while the variable nature of the wind made for some challenging spinnaker gybes. Despite the promising start Mrs Overnewton dropped back in the field. Race 3 brought some welcome improvements. This end of the day was noticeably colder. Good winds, occasional gusts and a longer course made for good racing. Division 2 started first, giving the Division 1 boats a better break between races. Dark clouds stalked the race, however, and, with the weather visibly changing and the last boats
The Bavaria Match 38, Mrs Overnewton, was again lent to the SA team by RMYS member, Les Norton, and we were quick to renew our acquaintance with her on the day before the regatta with a practice in the bay in light winds. Two new members had joined the team this year - Debbie Frisby (mast) and Julie Bernardo (pit) - adding their skills to those of Helen Willmer (our wonderful skipper and helm), Di Schwerdt (main), Helen Moody (trim and main), Barbara Parker (trim and spinnaker), Janet Thornley (pit), Helen Kearney (pit and mast) and Mel Barclay (foredeck). Friday evening’s pre-regatta briefing was well-attended as usual and it was good to size up the opposition as well as renew friendships forged in past contests. Even the possibility of bad weather for the
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The team Back row (L-R) Janet Thornley, Dianne Schwerdt, Debbie Frisby, Barbara Parker, Melissa Barclay, Julie Bernado; Front Row (L-R) Helen Kearney, Helen Moody, Helen Willmer
heading for the finish line the Melbourne skyline slowly lost definition. Back at the mooring we put the boat to bed, took a very late lunch and chewed over the day’s racing with an eye to improving our position the following day. Later, back at the clubhouse the camaraderie was infectious and we were soon jostling for drinks and wedges at the bar while we waited with everyone else for the results. We placed reasonably for the day with our best result a 4th on EHC. The second day of racing was a different matter entirely. After wild weather in St Kilda overnight there was some concern about the possibility of safe racing at all on the Sunday. Forecasts were for gale force winds but we were hopeful the strong winds already in evidence would abate. Unfortunately they increased and we had 28 kts in the marina where most crews were waiting on their boats, more or less expecting a postponement. White caps increased in the bay. The palm trees onshore strained against what was clearly becoming a relentless wind. Crews were called back to the clubhouse to have confirmation that the race had been postponed until midday. This was disappointing but we hoped for an improvement in the weather and took some time to explore the nearby St Kilda market, followed by a second breakfast/ lunch at Zenith in Acland Street before heading back to the Squadron clubhouse to hear the decision that racing had been cancelled for the day. Monday, the third and final day of racing, had a predicted 20-30 kts and increasing, but the wind had howled itself silly overnight so we readied the boat in the hope that racing would take place. As it turned out we sailed the remaining three races. Race 4 started with 20 kts and quite a few reefed mains. This was weather that Mrs Overnewton enjoyed and accordingly we got a good start and were among the first boats over the start line. With the wind gusting 25 kts at the top mark we decided against a spinnaker and goose-winged to the gate maintaining good boat speed over the duration of the race. This decision paid off and we ended up with a 2nd on EHC. In Race 5, with the wind averaging 18 to 22 kts we managed another good start
and found ourselves part of some very tight racing round the marks. Wind gusts were again making for challenging racing but Mrs Overnewton kept her position in the front half of the fleet. By the time we came to Race 6 the wind was on the increase. Mrs Overnewton got an excellent pin-end start and, at the top mark, cranked on and fighting for first rounding against two other boats, rounded first and in 28 kts goose-winged again. In the second half of the race the wind proved to be even more advantageous - 28 to 30 gusting to about 35 kts. Few in the fleet were brave enough to fly kites and one sports boat we passed was gift-wrapped in its own spinnaker. With the wind gusting 33 kts we crossed the line in second place giving us a 2nd on EHC and on AMS. It goes without saying that we had made steady improvement over the regatta ending with these last very pleasing results in individual races. The weather continued to deteriorate and the next challenge for everyone was to get all boats in the fleet back into the marina without mishap. Pulling the sails down proved difficult for some out in the bay and the wind played havoc with a number of boats trying to get into their moorings. It was all hands on deck to make fast at the end of the day. Presentation Night in the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron’s Harbour Room provided a fitting climax to the 25th Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta. Once again the RMYS are to be congratulated for hosting an excellent weekend regatta. Welcomed by the Commodore, Janet Dean, we were treated to a wonderful three course meal accompanied by speeches and the presentation of trophies. Our team
enjoyed having the company of Les Norton who had followed our daily progress with keen interest and we remain grateful for his continuing to lend us Mrs Overnewton and for being as delighted as we were with the weekend’s results. Regatta Results: Overall we placed 2nd on EHC in Division 1. This represents a very creditable performance by the South Australian women’s team, indeed the best yet, and we were very pleased with our first podium finish on final results at an AWKR event, and, of course, the trophy that went with it. There is no doubt that practicing as a team before the event has paid dividends and we therefore wish to thank Barbara and Ron Parker for making Taniwha available to the women’s team throughout the Women’s Series enabling us to train as a team and thus continue to improve. Thanks also are in order to Helen Wilmer for her excellent coaching, for pulling the team together in the best way possible way and for taking on the organisation of this year’s mission. Thanks must also go to the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron and the Foundation for supporting women’s sailing in the club in a number of important ways including its running of the Women’s Series and, especially, for its financial support for the South Australian team’s participation in what is consistently recognised as a significant national women’s sailing event.
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cruising report By Kingsley Haskett
Kingsley ‘Bones’ Haskett Greetings from the Chair and fellow Committee members of the new and recycled Cruising Committee. The Committee for the next year is Kingsley Haskett, aka ‘Bones’, back in the chair again, with Lynda Walsh as the new secretary to fill the tall shoes of retiring Phil Stump. Steve Beaufoy has also stepped down. Michael Rossiter and I remain from the previous committee and we welcome on board Trevor Manoel of Natuna, Ken Case of Stardust and Steve Kennedy. Alan O’Donnell is also on hand. Trevor Manoel is a cruiser with vast experience in short and long cruises and will be organising local and other group cruises. Ken Case also will be on hand to assist. This group should be an able cruising core. Trevor formed part of the crew, which returned Catriona to the RSAYS via the Tasmanian east coast and across the top to Devonport, then to Portland, Victoria, and on to Cape Jaffa to let a blow go through, then back to Adelaide. The crew for this cruise was me (Bones), Jeff Hunt, Bruce Wetherall, Trevor Manoel, owner Adrian Donald and grandson William on his first offshore voyage. A small accident on the pontoon at Devonport shortened our crew as Adrian and Will left the ship at this point. Apart from Adrian’s small accident the whole trip was without incident and the cruising under Trevor’s guidance was fantastic. As it should be, the whole crew worked well together to much enjoyment. Catriona is a beautiful yacht, seakindly and comfortable. She was first commissioned by the late Malcolm Kinnaird for family cruising, but with her sale to Adrian Donald and the decision to take her to the Wooden Boat Festival, she was fitted out for ocean passage-making by a team led by me. This is what offshore sailing is all about, although some sun
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would have encouraged us even more! A talk and picture show of the trip was well received by about 130 members.
early 1970s. Both are astonishing cruises. Ice Bird is now in the Powerhouse museum in Sydney.
The next cruising event was the video of ‘Deep Water’ the story of the first solo nonstop around the world race and especially the story of Donald Crowhurst in the boat he commissioned for the trip, Teignmouth Electron, a 40-foot (12 m) trimaran designed by Californian Arthur Piver. Over 100 members and friends enjoyed this presentation by Michael Rossiter – well done!
The next cruising event is the Black Point cruise on 3-5 October to Pat and Jane Hill’s hacienda and the BYO everything BBQ – all are welcome. This event is not to be missed. I like to enjoy the thought that a sail to Black Point is more than a sail from England to France. There will be more information nearer the time.
The talk by Sue Richardson, Femme – but not Fatale was very well attended. Sue shared tips for comfort and safety in cruising. She and Keith Hancock in Femme Fatale have cruised extensively the West Coast of South Australia, and happily shared their knowledge. The cruise to St Kilda, despite favourable tide and weather, was a bit short on boats, with David Rawnsley’s 470, John and Veronica Wickham on Kooringal and Trevor Manoel on Natuna. About 20 members drove around including our new Commodore, Rae Hunt, and her husband Jeff. Michael Rossiter presented the video of Snow Petrel’s trip to Antarctica much to everyone’s enjoyment. While the video states Snow Petrel to be the smallest Australian vessel to do this trip, Dr David Lewis’s Ice Bird at 32ft was in fact several feet shorter and Lewis also sailed singlehanded. He went down to Antarctica in the Veronica & John Wickham with visitors aboard Kooringal at St Kilda Boat Club
The cruise to Port Vincent will take place on 21-23 November. If you love your creature comforts then the marina at Port Vincent is just right, but purists, (or those with very big water tanks) may prefer the bay. With a yachtie-friendly pub (if raining they’ll come and pick you up), Port Vincent is almost a home from home. Again, more details closer to the event. I’ll finish with this interesting quote I found on Cruisers Forum (18-6-2015 Muckle Flugga Post 610) ‘Structural engineering is the art of modelling materials we do not wholly understand into shapes we cannot precisely analyse as to withstand forces we cannot properly assess in such a way that the public at large has no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance.’ Anon. Yours in seamanship and fellowship.
‘A Femme – but not Fatale’ dinner & talk By Lynda Walsh
On Saturday 22 August, over sixty people gathered in the Squadron Dining Room to hear Sue Richardson talk about her experiences cruising with family and friends in South Australian and Tasmanian waters. Sue offered us tips she has found to be of practical help when sailing, and members of the audience confirmed, elaborated, or sought more detail as discussion proceeded. She pointed out that cruising in our waters differs from cruising along the east coast of Australia. Here, in South Australia, a ‘long sail’ will often be needed to start things off, or at least be required at some stage. Big ocean swells may be encountered, especially in the waters of the far west, but also along Kangaroo Island. Anchoring is often beset by wind against tide and uncertain holding, which can make for anxious times and uncomfortable nights. Anchoring techniques were the most debated subject, while the related topic of
picking up a mooring received some attention. Putting weighty topics aside, it is useful to know that cheap shampoo lathers better than anything else in salt water! Why should anyone voluntarily seek such a testing time, to say nothing of the smell of cheap shampoo? It’s because there is real joy in the beauty of the seascape, and satisfaction in meeting the challenges thrown up by cruising. As Sue said, one returns home refreshed in body and soul, and keen to go again next year.
Bones, Sue RIchardson & Keith Hancock
Many thanks Sue, for an interesting and helpful account. We hope other cruiser-yachties may be inspired to share their experiences too.
*The Cruising Committee has prepared some notes on this topic to be found on the Cruising website.
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Tobermory
Spring sailing By Gill Hogarth
OUR HIGHLAND ADVENTURE – SAILING ROUND SCOTTISH ISLES It seems ridiculous to think that fear of the cold nearly prevented us from sailing round (or beside) the Inner Hebrides on a recent trip to the UK. Our short week was the highlight of our five weeks seeing friends and family, with some sightseeing sprinkled in. My brother owns Highland Sealord, a 30 year old 39’ Westerly Sealord sloop which has been in charter much of its life and has been well maintained. It is at Dunstaffnage Marina just north of Oban on the west coast of Scotland. My brother has the use of it for six weeks a year. Andrew has sailed twice with us here, Hobart to Adelaide and Adelaide to Ceduna a few years ago when he was a novice sailor, and was keen to repay the hospitality.
Crew beside Highland Sealord
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Bob and I dithered for months about the prospect of sailing in cold, wet and windy weather. Unwillingness to carry clothes suitable only for sailing, for seven weeks of travel on a round the world trip was a problem. Finally Bob took his sea boots, we invested in more thermals (finding merino infinitely superior to synthetic) and borrowed and hired what else we needed.
helmsman change so each of us was treated equally to the squalls. The boat felt ‘shippy’, with berths for 10(!) and two heads. It was very comfortable and at 16tons, very sea kindly. At one point we decided after all to sail from Tobermory (the setting for the children’s TV series Balamory) to the hoped for islands. Hit with westerlies of 25-30knots as soon as we reached even slightly open water we turned back when the sleet started!
As we feared the weather forecast was poor. Maximum temperatures of 6-8C in Oban most days, with rain, and we barely We did not venture out of the cabin saw the sun until our last day. We had hoped without our five layers of very warm clothes: to sail to the more scenic islands of Skye, ‘oilies’, hats, gloves, boots and best of all Rhum and Eigg but strong westerly winds ‘neck warmers’. By law lifejackets were kept us in sheltered waters. Each day we departed about 9am, anchored for lunch worn at all times except below. The heater and arrived for the night about 5pm. The had been repaired and was tested on our views occasionally showed themselves but first evening. It was not put on again, as our generally they were like Scottish paintings companions didn’t find it particularly cold. of clouds, mists and grey water. Typically for the UK, the evenings were often fine with the odd shaft of sunlight on spectacular hills and mountains. Many just to the east of us were snow covered – and there was fresh snow on them at the end of the week. We had a strict ‘watch’ system for an hourly Castle in the trees, Loch Aline
We wore everything bar the wet weather gear during the evenings. No point in commenting when we thought the heater was non-operational! Andrew and his regular crew do a short shakedown cruise before Easter every year. What sooks we were! Being May there was little sea traffic except for ferries, although our first evening was interesting with a ferry, container ship, cruise ship and us in very close proximity to Mull and each other. No radar or AIS to help here! We anchored under Duart Castle, Mull, the home of the Macleans, then sailed down the Sound of Jura, with Jura and its ‘Paps’ and the Isle of Islay (pronounced Eila) to starboard, anchoring off Gigha overnight. Unfortunately we had no chance of whisky tasting in these homes of whisky; with tides and currents of up to 8 knots to consider, the timings would not work for us. Lochs are lakes but also deep inlets – deeply cut into the land and staggeringly deep for narrow bodies of water. Words like ‘ross’ (headland) and ‘mull’ (rounded hill) became familiar and straits were ‘sounds’ or ‘firths’. We had haggis with mashed potato and turnip one night to give us the full Scottish experience!
Sheltered nights were found on moorings at Tobermory, the one place we went ashore, and Kilmelford Yacht Haven. It was dodgy getting into the latter in very poor visibility as it lies through a narrow inlet. The last day was the best. A gentle downwind sail to our sheltered lunch spot on Loch Aline, carefully watching the falling tide over mud after juggling to avoid meeting the ferry in a narrow neck. An afternoon of sailing in a stiff breeze in sunshine and we finally were able to sail round an island – the Island of Ling.
Gill rugged up and steering
We sailed till the last possible moment before tying up at the marina late on a beautiful evening.
Observations from our short week > The charter mentality where one sails somewhere whatever the weather, getting the most out of every expensive day. Everybody is there for the experience so there is no automatic pilot > Merino thermals are much better than synthetic > With thermals, top quality fleece, warm woollen jumper and top quality
‘oilies’ one can be comfortable to 0C. I added a skivvy. And thermals, jeans/pants and bib-fronted ‘oilies’ below > Waterproof gloves, seaboots, and warm, waterproof headgear are all essential > Neck warmers beneficial.
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SAIL DRIVE By Trevor Hamlyn
cruising Scottish Canals Three Squadron couples, Lorraine and Trevor Hamlyn, Natalie and Stuart Wells and Mignon and Roy Martin, escaped some of the Adelaide winter this year by spending time barging on the Kennett and Avon Canal in England and sailing on some Scottish Canals. Here Trevor tells of their Scottish adventure!
Lorraine and I have dreamed about a canal boat holiday since we lived in the UK for a year in the mid 70’s, so the idea had been brewing for some time. Each couple hired their own narrow-boat for two fantastic weeks, sharing happy hours and pub meals along the way - just like trailer sailing. It was this holiday that sparked our interest however in the canals in Scotland. After leaving the canal boat we travelled north by car towards the Isles of Mull and Skye, we were most surprised at the popularity and strength of sailing throughout the Lochs of the Scottish Western Isles. The Scottish Canals clearly play a part in this, by connecting navigable waters across the country. Between Glasgow and Edinburgh the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals link the Irish Sea with the North Sea. Vessels using these canals however are restricted to a beam of 3.5m, a draft of 1.8m and headroom of just 2.7m so mast stepping is unavoidable for all yachts. Well to the west of Glasgow the Crinan Canal links Loch Gilp at Ardrishaig to the ‘outside’ west coast at the port of Crinan, enabling yachts to avoid the exposed passage south around the Mull of Kintyre. This effectively opens up the waters of the Western Isles to cruisers and holiday-
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makers alike. Opened in 1809 the canal (known as Scotland’s prettiest short-cut) meanders through 14.5km of beautiful countryside. It allows the passage of vessels with a beam of up to 6m, a draft of up to 2.7m and a mast height of 26m. Further north, the Caledonian Canal effectively slices Scotland in two, from Inverness to Fort William, (just below the Lady’s arms and bonnet) through spectacular scenery in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The canal is just under 100km long, of which 35km is man-made, the remainder making use of the natural fresh waterways of Lochs Lochy, Oich and Ness. The 29 locks and 10 swing bridges along the canal are all operated by trained staff, unlike those in the Kennett and Avon Canal in England which are all selfoperated. Vessels with a beam of 10.6m, a draft of 4m, a length of 45m and a mast height of 29m can successfully negotiate the canal making it very navigable for most craft. An interesting feature of the Caledonian Canal is a staircase of eight locks at Benavie near the Fort William end, in which one lock opens directly into the next. ‘Neptune’s Staircase’ as it is known, was conceived by the engineer Thomas Telford in the early 1800’s and opened in 1822. Originally hand operated, the locks were mechanised in the late 1960’s and are now operated by trained Lock
Keepers. This is good news for intending users of the lock, ie no sprained muscles. Yachts are available for charter in Scotland from either the West or East coasts. They are well placed to explore the Crinan and Caledonian Canals, including some of Scotland’s semi-protected waterways. If the views from land are any indication, the sights from on-board a yacht must be truly spectacular. The Scots claim to having some of the finest cruising grounds in the world is clearly fully justifiable. Next dream? A sailing holiday in Scotland, but not without a guarantee of fair weather. We did spot three trailer sailers whilst in the UK, one on the Kennett and Avon, one in Loch Lomond and another on the Crinan Canal. All of them were MacGregors, made in the USA.
Stuart and Roy - BBQ time on the bank
Library Update By Sue Buckley & Deirdre Schahinger Photos courtesy of Bob Schahinger books are and who has them. Don’t worry, we won’t impose fines on late returns, but we would ask that you maintain some rigour around borrowing and returning in a timely manner.
Isn’t the Library looking great now? After much hard work and what seems to have been ages (well, it’s probably a couple of years), our library is now looking like a warm, friendly and inviting space. We have catalogued all the books and restocked the new shelves with them. They are all in alphabetical order by author and we have uploaded all the data to a library database on the personal computer in the library.
We have retained the manual loan system for now, so if you would like to borrow a book please enter the date, your name, the title and other details in the borrowers’ book. When you return a book, please sign and date the borrowers’ book and leave the returned book on the appropriate shelf. We will update the electronic database and track loans on a regular basis to ensure we know where
JUNIOR TRAINING REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN Squadron Juniors Sail training and Racing Program is now open for registrations.
First training on 27 September.
The Junior Training at RSAYS follows the syllabus of the Yachting Australia Dinghy Program. The training sessions are run on Sundays during the sailing season. For more info contact Heidi in the sailing office: sailing@rsays.com.au or 8341 8600.
I would like to again thank the many hands we’ve had helping on this project over the last few years, and the efforts put into making this space such a wonderful one. I also urge you to come along and browse the shelves as there are so many wonderful, old and particularly interesting books that I’m sure you will find something to take your fancy. We would also welcome suggestions for new books to add to our collection. The library will be open at all times the Clubhouse is open, so please feel free to pop in during the week if you are around the club.
juniors’ report By Mitch Mead It has been a quiet winter for the Juniors program, with our last event being our prize night. Over the winter we have been working on rejuvenating our fleet of pacers, with new masts, booms and sails, and repaired hulls. This will enable us to use our whole fleet to the best of our ability, after increasing maintenance issues in the previous seasons. We are looking forward to the coming season, and encourage anyone who may be interested in joining our program to get it touch with the Squadron office or me to find out more about the program call 0447 333 001 or email mitch306mead@gmail.com.
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Racing on Blue Diamond
member profile
nives vincent The Growth of One Woman’s Sailing Nives Vincent, winner of the first Eileen Hardy Trophy, outlines the development of her love for sailing. In my forties I was introduced to sailing through a Sailing Course at TAFE. My first experience was on a Duncanson 22. This was a lot of fun and I did many trips including one to the Coorong. My first involvement in racing was on a Triton 24, as a CYC member competing in the Friday Night Ladies Series, enjoying success there as a winner of three series as well as a Ladies Twilight race. In the early 2000s I sailed on Daystar, a Duncanson 35 and that is when my love for racing really took hold, sailing all available series: Twilight, Club, Pointscore, Offshore, Winter Series, Short-handed Short courses, Shorthanded Long courses and the Friday Night Ladies Series. I couldn’t get enough! I also had the opportunity of sailing on a J24 for a couple of seasons, participating in the J24 Nationals at Lake Macquarie and in SA.
In 2005 New Morning lll, a Northshore 38, was purchased and my ten years at the CYC came to an end as we moved to the Squadron. As a new member I raced in every series and regatta possible as well as the Haystack Island Race, Island Cup and many Adelaide to Port Lincoln Races and Lincoln Weeks. I was still competing in the Ladies Friday night races with the CYC until they stopped their series. That’s when the push began to encourage more Squadron women into racing. The Ladies Sunday races have flourished, becoming a competitive series with some now very experienced women on the water, not only as helm but also as crew. In 2009 I was asked to run the Coaching Series, which at that stage was at a very low learning level and for women only. It was revamped to include 3 levels of training for both men and women. The first series attracted over a hundred participants and was a great success thanks to the willing support of our skippers and mentors at the Squadron. In 2010 I was honoured to be the first recipient the Eileen Hardy Trophy for Best Performed Yachtswoman. In 2013 I participated in the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta at RMYS and following that experience helped introduce the Women’s Keelboat Invitational Race which, being open to all clubs, has been well supported. It’s amazing to see so many women on the water doing what they love, exhibiting much knowledge and confidence. It is heartening to see many of these women, having gained experience through the coaching series, go on to become mentors for others.
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Later in 2013 I obtained my Race Officer Certificate and in the 2014-15 season helped out in the Twilights setting class flags and calling race starts. Being a member of the Racing Committee has been a rewarding learning experience. Sailing on trimarans is exhilarating. My first race was at the Queensland Nationals followed by Geelong Week on Goldfinger. Later Airlie Beach Race Week on Su Mare and Port Lincoln Nationals on The Tribe. In February I was the Principal Race Officer for the King of the Gulf Regatta. It was a well organised series enjoyed by all and for me another excellent learning experience after my initial training. This event has become part of the racing season for the Squadron and I hope to be involved with it again. Sailing takes up two or three days out of my week, but I do have other interests. Volunteering as a mentor for Service to Youth Council, working with a remarkable teacher, I help teenagers with Maths and English. I also mentor a student through the Department of Education and Child Development. Working in these areas is quite challenging but rewarding. For the last two seasons I have crewed as foredeck hand on Mal Denton’s Blue Diamond, also a Northshore 38. We had quite a successful 2014-15 season doing very well in all our racing series and proudly taking 1st place the Ladies Series. Now in my sixties and a grandmother of six, let me tell you all that it’s never too late to go sailing!
national equipment audit By Bruce Macky
The National Equipment Audit Scheme A couple of years ago I was approached by Ian Leeson, of Yachting SA, to ask if I would be interested in becoming involved in the National Equipment Audit Scheme. After a short briefing from Ian, I felt it is a good initiative, and agreed to become the Senior National Equipment Auditor for SA. So it was off to Brisbane for the first conference of Auditors with representatives from every state. I was surprised to discover that the scheme has been running in NSW for some years and has been adopted by Queensland and Victoria. The scheme is a safety initiative of Yachting Australia. It is based on the belief that, while ultimate responsibility for the safety of any yacht lies with the skipper, it is also the responsibility of all organising bodies, i.e. YA, the State bodies and each club to ensure that risks are minimised. As part of that responsibility, YA has updated and continually reviews the ‘Special Regulations’ published in the ‘Blue Book’ each three years, with updates published on-line when necessary. I’m sure our racing skippers will be familiar with the ‘Special Regulations’. Any cruising members who are not so familiar, I recommend that you get a copy and get to know them. They set out the safety equipment that has to be carried on board and the standards for fixtures and fittings. The standards are set for each category of race, from Category 1, such as Sydney
to Hobart, to Cat. 7, off the beach racing. Available on the YA website, there is a printable checklist of all the standards that apply to each category of race. I know our racing skippers have been using the checklists for many years and there have been some spot checks of yachts before specific races. The scheme was developed, at least in part, because there were skippers who tried to avoid some of the rules. Tricks such as carrying under-weight anchors, or not enough water, or out-of-date flares and first aid kits. So how does the scheme work? Well, in NSW, Vic, Qld, and, as of this month, WA, at the start of each season, before a yacht can take part in any race, they have to undergo an Equipment Audit. The process takes maybe two hours the first time, (longer for Cat. 1) and less on subsequent occasions. To be audited, the owner, skipper or other responsible person, (I’ll just refer to the skipper), must contact me to make a time to be audited. Once that is agreed they print off the checklist from the YA website, for the highest category of race they plan to undertake that season. So if the Sydney – Hobart is on the agenda, Cat. 1. If it is Adelaide – Lincoln, then it is Cat. 3. Just before the agreed time for the audit, the skipper must carry out a full audit
him/herself, ideally getting all moveable equipment on deck or dock where it can be checked. Once that is done, and the form signed by the skipper, the auditor will then go through the list again, with the skipper, and also initial each item on the form which conforms. If there are some items missing, the auditor can either ‘fail’ the boat, or can note the ‘problem’. The boat would then have to undergo a spot check before the race to ensure it now complied. If failed, another complete audit may be required. For example, when I audited Enchantress and Southern Myth before they left for the last Hobart, I was able to approve most of the gear, but sent an advice to race organisers of the issues that had to be followed up. Because these were my first Cat. 1 audits, they did some other fairly comprehensive checks in Sydney as well. There is no charge for audits, but for reimbursement of travel costs. So far none of the Clubs in SA has adopted the scheme in its entirety, and made it compulsory. Over time, I’m sure that as awareness of the scheme grows, owners will want to be involved. So if you would like to know more, or would be interested in becoming an auditor, please get in touch. Any cruisers planning a big trip, who would like to discuss the special regulations, and recommended safety gear, please give me a call on 0417818005 or email brucemacky@gmail.com.
$12 SCHNITZEL NIGHT ys .00
DrinkFrSpecials om
pm 4:30-6:30
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In Jimmy’s Bar
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sydney boat show
The Sydney Boat Show 2015 Experience It’s about the wondrous new boats and the new and innovative boating gear. It’s about the sailing fashion and wet weather gear. It’s about the familiar faces from RSAYS and the ‘host’, our fine city of Sydney and the night time cheer. These are the reasons why Dave Rawnsley, his partner Mary and his friends make their way to the International Sydney Boat show at the same time each year. The chatter around the club starts about eight weeks prior. Who’s going? Where are you staying? Which is the best value hotel to stay at? What are you doing in the evenings? Then up at the crack of dawn to catch the red-eye early flight to make the most of the first day. You’ll see many familiar faces at Adelaide airport scrounging for coffee and brekkie at that time of the day. We hit the ground running and head straight for the Show. Some carefully peruse all the luxury boats in Darling
Harbour one by one and catch lunch and drinks on the fabulous boardwalk eateries along the way. Others just enjoy the vista from the bars and restaurants and that’s enough for their first day. Then it’s on to the merchandise halls, via the Captain Cook ferries, for a plethora of boats, boating gear, fashion parades, shows, demos, show bags stuffed with magazines and gadgets. And plenty of free advice from experienced boating enthusiasts, all whom have great stories and experiences to share, as well as the latest technologies to delight every boatie. The evenings are spent however you please. Some go to dinner and drinks around Darling Harbour and end up at the karaoke club nearby, others take in a dinner show, of which there is an abundance of choice, then party on into the night. But some prefer to just retire early from the long day out on the Darling Harbour Sydney Boat Show trail. All in all it’s a great weekend!
Article and photos by David Rawnsley & Mary Carpenter
other great new products such as the latest tech in decks; Flexitech on the Amel 64’ French-made ketch at $2m-plus was a great crowd puller along with other innovative developments such as Gemlux flush mounted s/s friction hinges that stay open in any position claiming to be the best marine torque hinges currently available. No more Bangs! in the night. Very impressive! Plus the vast selection of fantastic solar lights and the new Railblaza hold-everything gadget holders. The boat show certainly had a great selection of boat sweeties for hungry sailors. It’s easy to fit in so much on just a short weekend away. Hope to see you all there next year!
As for the favourite yacht at the Show, there was definitely a leaning consensus among the Squadron crowd that the Moody 45DS Zam Zam at $869,000 was pushing as one of the special favourites with its luxury deck saloon. We had a good look around the dinghy offerings and there were some brilliant specials wide-spread amongst many of the brands. Also this year we noticed a few new clothing companies from Queensland with new and interesting designs in wet weather gear, gadgets and fashion items. The anchor buoy light was on our shopping list and the range was extensive, with new self-adjusting options. Who could resist it at $350-$400? And many
Mary Carpenter enjoying the show.
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Mary & David checking out the latest sailing gear
KI Independence By Alan Noble - photo courtesy of Alan Noble
The Schooner Independence Progress Update Alan Noble is a Committee Member of the Rebuild Independence Group (RIG) and Skipper of Arriba. Ahoy from American River! Back in December we reported in Squadron Quarterly how our non-profit organisation Rebuild Independence Group (RIG) was formed with the mission of rebuilding a replica of the schooner Independence, the first vessel built in South Australian waters. RIG continues to make steady progress and has achieved a number of important milestones since then. Construction of the boat shed is well underway and will be completed by the time you read this. The photo shows the shed at the time of writing. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our members and sponsors. Did you know that rebuilding Independence will require
approximately 10,000 linear feet of hull planks? One way you can support the project is by ‘buying’ hull planks at $20 per foot. Every foot makes a difference, so purchase as little or as much as your budget permits. Learn more at www.rebuildindependence.org. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible. We also welcome new members. Last but not least, RIG will be holding a gala event at our boat shed in American River on Sunday October 4. So take advantage of the Labor Day long weekend to sail over to Kangaroo Island and join us for a great night out.
Please visit www.rebuildindependence. org/events or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rebuildindependence to learn more. Hope to see you in American River!
Blue Sky MArine BoAtyArd
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Email boltyots@senet.com.au www.blueskymarine.2ya.com Alexa Road North Haven SA
South Australian Authorised Dealers for: Stern Drives & Inboards
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FLAG RAISING & Commodores’ Dinner Compiled by Sue Buckley
Photography by:
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Squadron burgees
Colin & Jeanne Harrison exchanging burgees with Peter Hurd, General Manager of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
By Peter Kelly
NEW ADDITIONS TO SQUADRON’S BURGEE COLLECTION Collecting things is a popular human pastime… stamps, books and gardengnomes are the familiar end of a very broad spectrum of collected objects. But yacht clubs have a different penchant for collecting things …. namely the burgees of other yacht clubs. At the RSAYS we have a fine collection – and thanks to the personal generosity of Dee Henshall the highlights from our collection were re-framed earlier this year and are now beautifully presented around the new Dining Room. Some of these burgees are weathered pieces of cloth, having come straight off the flag halyards of visiting vessels. Others in our collection are fading with age, having been acquired in earlier days of the Club. Newer burgees in the Squadron’s collection have been gifted to us in the process of establishing reciprocal rights – Robert Henshall facilitated one such exchange with Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club in 2011.
y a D
g n i n pe
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But as burgee enthusiasts and flag protocol aficionados within our Club have noted – there have been two particular omissions in our collection. Until recently we held burgees from only five out of the seven yachting entities authorised by the British monarch to use the title ‘Royal Yacht Squadron’. To remedy these omissions the Management Committee initiated an exchange of burgees with the first Royal Yacht Squadron based at Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the UK, and with the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron based at Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Committee has spent over six months negotiating to receive these last two burgees and discussing establishing reciprocal rights with the clubs, which will be a first.
The Royal Yacht Squadron based at Cowes on the Isle of Wight has recently celebrated the two-hundredth anniversary of its formation and it Official opening by His Excellency The Honourable Hieu Van Le AO is arguably the GOVERNOR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA most significant Opening Day and Sail Past 1300 for 1330 and prestigious Presentations from 1600 on the quarterdeck then sumptuous Dinner Party private yacht club Plus Adelaide’s Hippest Swing band “Swing & Tonic” for the after party in the world. It was (08) 8341 8600 rsays.com.au 161 Oliver Rogers Road, OUTER HARBOR SA 5018 one of the earliest
Saturday Nov 7th
Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron
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Royal Yacht Squadron burgee
institutions formed in the embryonic recreational sport of sailing. Like our Club, our English counterpart the Royal Yacht Squadron began life as a simple ‘yacht club’ and was subsequently given the ‘Royal’ in 1817 by one of its new members – the Prince Regent. In 1833 King William IV, decreed a name change to the Royal Yacht Squadron in acknowledgement of the organisation’s informal affiliations with the Royal Navy. Among the myriad of distinguished vessels, members and achievements of the Royal Yacht Squadron over the last two-hundred years two are worthy of particular note – in 1828 the RYS promulgated a rule that vessels on port tack must give way to those on starboard, and in 1851 the RYS ran and lost the first America’s Cup yacht race. The Royal Yacht Squadron made a quick and positive response to the burgee request and it now hangs with honour above the ‘rogue’s gallery’ in the south-east corner of the Dining Room. In late-breaking news, Colin & Jeanne Harrison, who are currently travelling in North America, have personally collected a burgee from the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, thereby completing our ‘royal flush’!
peter mcbride
Peter McBride turns 90!
Peter McBride, 90 not out!
One of the Squadron’s most esteemed members, Peter McBride, recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Together with Chris Vorbach, Jim Howell, Ian Moncrieff and Bob Stevens, Peter joins the small but select group of ‘nautical nonagenarians’ within our Club. As an active boat owner and Club member Peter McBride epitomises the dual mantras of the Squadron motto – ‘seamanship and fellowship’. In terms of seamanship Peter has been constantly on the water since he was introduced to boating at the RSAYS as a four-year-old aboard his father’s gracious 53ft motor-yacht Koorngan (so named because of the spelling error by the engraver of the vessel’s glassware). Peter went on to develop his boat handling skills in his father’s next power boat Marie (with an unusual 9hp Kelvin sleeve-valve engine) and he learnt to sail with Frank Ide on Radiant. Peter’s first yacht purchase in his own right in 1946 was Alva – an 18ft long gaff-rigged sloop built in the 1890’s.
By Peter Kelly
If you want to know anything about marine engines from 1920 onwards Peter McBride is your man! With his engineering degree from the University of Adelaide, a naval architecture degree undertaken in Glasgow in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s and a life spent in boats, Peter is an expert in marine engines. Like old friends, Peter can recall their technical dimensions, drive speeds and their personalities! After working at Perry Engineering for 18 years, Peter became a naval architect with the Department of Transport in Melbourne until his retirement in 1982. Peter returned to live in Adelaide in 1985 and his Columbia 27 Theme Song followed him a couple of years later. Subsequent vessels included Mrs. Hooligan – a Northshore 38 that shared a nickname with Peter’s mother, Lady McBride, Abacada – a twin-screw 28ft motor cruiser, a little Avro called Abacus, and Adder – a 34ft Beneteau trawler design. While his seamanship is widely known and respected, Peter McBride’s commitment to the Squadron’s other mantra, fellowship, is perhaps less conspicuous. Peter was the Squadron’s Assistant Measurer from 1956 until 1970 when he moved to Melbourne. In financial terms Peter’s goodwill is evident through generous, but often anonymous, donations to the Squadron Foundation, and in practical terms Peter’s yachting fellowship has yielded a lifetime of recreational sailing days with friends. Since 1953 Peter has also hosted visiting merchant seamen aboard his various boats …. over 3,000 in total! This fellowship was acknowledged by the British Sailors Society – an organisation of
Peter McBride with Mrs Hooligan
which Peter was a 50-year member and past President and Chairman. Peter McBride holds the second-longest Squadron membership – nearly 72 years – and he is on the water most Saturdays with his regular crew Alan Key, Harold Handley and Ray Correll … long may this continue!
Proceeds to benefit The Centre for Robotics & Innovation at the Adelaide Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
7thndFeb ay 2016
Su
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airlie beach race
Article and photos by Peter Boyd
A Road Trip to PARADISE OR A STORY OF BROKEN BOATS, BROKEN BODIES AND BROKEN BANK ACCOUNTS
Crosshair leading Dux Nutts
We had all done it before. Carting boats from one side of the country to the other for Regattas including Airlie and Hammo but until you start preparing for the next road trip your memory conveniently fails to recall just how much work is involved. Organizing crew, accommodation, getting entries and berthing sorted, sails repaired and boats packed up. Making sure you have spares for the trailer including tyres, wheel bearings, grease caps along with tools necessary to carry out running repairs on the road. Our route to the Whitsundays would take us through outback NSW and QLD Mildura, Goolgowi, Cobar, Bourke, Cunnamulla, Charlieville, Roma and Emerald where the distances between fuel stops can be over 250 kilometres let alone assistance for break downs. This may sound like a strange route but if you look at a map you’ll find it is fairly direct but most importantly when towing heavy boats is flat and has little traffic. In the end, three boats made the journey north. Peter Hawker in Carbon Credit, Gerry Valk in Crosshair and me with Dux Nutts a new joint acquisition with Pete Hawker and Iain Macdougall. Due to work and family commitments Iain could not make the trip. With everything organised the three boats set off on the 31 July. Travelling arrangements were constrained by the fact that the two big
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Farrier 32’s are oversize and have various restrictions on when and where they can travel. They also have a speed restriction of 90kph. The trip takes just over four days and we left a couple of days for contingencies on route plus time to rig and test sail. All three boats had crew coming from interstate including Victoria and Qld. Road trips are an adventure by themselves and in general terms, what goes on the road stays on the road. However I can share a couple of things with you. The owner of Crosshair who shall remain nameless lost his wallet on the second morning. We think it might have been deliberate as then he could go on the bludge for money until his new cards could be delivered. Yours truly got hit by a Kangaroo with fortunately only minor damage and then managed to step on this his specs and smash them, after they got knocked off his face while checking the tie downs on the boat. On the way back Gerry’s trailer lights and rear view camera were playing up and Dux Nutts threw a tread off a trailer tyre. Fortunately this was only a couple of kilometres from our intended overnight stop. Facts found on the road include. Every pub in out back Australia is staffed by a young female backpacker of mainly German origin. In outback Australia the quality of the
accommodation is inversely related to the cost. The first regatta was Airlie Beach race week which started on the 8 August. In accordance with tradition, the first race was a long race around Double Cone Island, Olden Island and back into Pioneer Bay. With a nice breeze of around 14 kts the fleet of over 100 boats got away over about 7 starts. With a crew who had not been on the boat before, and myself who had only sailed the boat twice before, we were going really well, especially in the long downwind leg to Double Cone where we flew past some supposedly faster boats. However on the next leg down to Olden the wind lightened and we found it difficult to keep Nutts moving. Once around Olden we were back in the pressure and beating into the typical short chop experienced around the Islands. Dux Nutts being a very light boat is not suited to these conditions and the big cats overhauled us. We also made the mistake of getting out into the tide which runs pretty hard in this area. You need to be within a hundred metres of the shore to avoid adverse tide effects. To cap it all off, our spinnaker pole decided to come adrift and we spent valuable minutes recovering it which forced us down the placing’s. Like any race or regatta sailed on a level rating formula, mistakes on the course cost you dearly. Nevertheless Nutts showed her true
Convoy arrives in Airlie
potential, with some great downwind speed and excellent upwind potential. Crosshair and Carbon Credit had similar days with Carbon Credit being the best of the SA boats. Over the next couple of day’s tactical errors and lack of consistency cost us dearly although when we were in the groove the boat sailed to its rating. It really is a beautiful boat to sail. Crosshair and Carbon Credit also lacked consistency with Pete Hawker still being the best of the local boats. Later in the week we noticed a problem with the front Port Beam on Dux Nutts. The outboard mounting pin was working the carbon laminate, resulting in an elongated hole from excessive movement of the beam. We had also noticed a problem with the inboard end of the same beam. With a lay day and strong winds forecast for the remaining races, we decided to pull the boat from the water and try and effect repairs before Hammo. As it turned out this was a wise decision. The next race had wind gusting over 25 kts, with a horrible sea state due to the wind against tide effect, and bullets coming down the valleys. In this race, an 11 metre Cat flipped, Crosshair broke a lifting foil apart and there was general carnage across the fleet. As you would expect in heavy air boat handling issues and breakages had a significant impact on the results and the big boats did better. With Airlie over and middle of the fleet results for Crosshair and Carbon Credit, we headed over to Hammo. This in itself was quite an exercise, as cars and trailers had to be stored, and as much food and beverage as possible taken to the Island as it is quite expensive to buy it there. Unfortunately yours truly slipped on the steep driveway at our accommodation in Airlie and apart from landing heavily on my backside and jarring my back I tore a quad muscle in my left leg. Let me just say I didn’t get up for about 5 minutes and am still hobbling around. With the repairs completed on Nutts we were ready for the first race at Hammo, although we were still concerned about what was a temporary repair to the inboard end of the port forward beam. Day dawned and we headed for the start line for a 20 nm round Island race in a nice 15 Kt breeze. After a down wind start negotiating at least 150 of the 200 boats competing at
Hammo we ended up on a beautiful two sail reach with Nutts showing her true colours as we carved our way through the fleet. We were catching Crosshair but Carbon Credit was out of sight. When we came back onto the wind we were beating into a short steep chop and noticed that the inboard end of the repaired beam had started to open up in a different area. The crack was getting worse by the minute and instead of subjecting the boat to another 6nm of hard beating and risking severe damage we pulled the plug and headed back to Hammo. Further assessment of the damage indicated that while repairable we would have to go back to Airlie, pull the boat out of the water, dismantle the port side, effect the repair, and return to Hammo. This would leave us with just one race to go. Dux Nutts had run her race. With the next days forecast being favourable we took Nutts back to Airlie and got her back on the trailer and mostly packed up for the return trip to Adelaide.
We then returned to Hammo by Ferry as we had arranged rides on other boats for most of the crew. Yours truly by this time had managed to have another fall and tore muscles in his right arm and shoulder! I was in a pretty bad way and just thankful I wasn’t a race horse. To say things weren’t going well was an understatement but the worst was yet to come. Pete Hawker was involved in a pre start collision with a 60 foot catamaran and his boat suffered significant damage shearing off the starboard float bow and penetrating the main hull. Peter’s regatta was also over. In the mean time one of Gerry’s crew had broken a couple of ribs and Gerry himself had done his back in. So for the last couple of races there were enough crew from three boats to sail the one remaining boat! Peter hawker had left Hammo, but lent Gerry a foil to replace the one he had broken previously. All in all, it couldn’t be regarded as the most successful of ventures for any of us, but we still enjoyed the experience, and while Dux Nutts won’t be difficult to repair, we have learned more about her than we would have with a season of sailing in Adelaide. From Peter and Gerry’s perspective they have both improved the performance of their boats significantly since the Nationals in Geelong. This was probably my last big regatta, as the body is really starting to protest, particularly on these really high performance boats. Peter and Gerry will no doubt be back and Dux Nutts will be a regular on the local race course this year and for years to come.
Bring al&onfgrieynodusr! family
NATIONAL
Discover Sailing Day
SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2015 The Discover Sailing Day is a great day to bring your family & friends along to the club to enjoy a FREE day of sailing, so they see how much fun sailing is! All boats and safety equipment are provided by the club. All you need to bring with you is clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet, sunscreen, a hat and loads of enthusiasm! For more information call the club, or visit the club’s website or go to discoversailing.org.au
Fun is just the start.. Squadron Quarterly
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Round the World Clipper Race By Campbell Mackie
“I think excitement and apprehension are a bit hard to separate at the moment,” Campbell told 891 ABC Adelaide. “This will be the pinnacle of my sailing experience.” The race pits 12 yachts against each other and many of those who have signed up to crew have no previous experience. Unlike some of the other sailors in the global race, Campbell has a long history in sailing. “I started sailing in dinghies in Port Lincoln in the 1960s, and my wife and I have owned a keel boat for over 30 years and done a fair bit of sailing, but not bluewater sailing quite like this,” he said.
Clipper Race the pinnacle of yachting experience for Adelaide sailor Campbell Mackie Sourced and adapted from original ABC Radio 891 Adelaide, posted on Monday, 31 August 2015 at 8:56am
Veteran Adelaide sailor (and RSAYS member) Campbell Mackie will spend the next 11 months sailing around the world in the 10th anniversary Clipper Race that set off from London on 31 August. The Clipper Race is billed as
the world’s longest ocean race, covering about 40,000 nautical miles. The eight legs of the event are made up of 16 individual races and not all competitors have signed up for the entire 11 months.
“There must be an element of madness in me but I’ve signed up for the lot,” Mackie said. “I think there’ll be moments when I wonder why I’m doing it but I think the sense of achievement at the end of it will be marvellous. No doubt there’ll be some challenges when the stress comes on during the race.” The fleet is heading to Brazil, then sailing to South Africa and Australia. After docking at Albany in Western Australia, the yachts will then sail south around Tasmania and up to Sydney, where they will compete in this year’s Sydney to Hobart race. From there, the fleet heads to Queensland, then Vietnam, China and the United States, before ending the event next July in London.
Campbell describes his pre-race preparations and expectations ... Campbell Mackie writes on a cool overcast morning from Garmin, the yacht he has been allocated for the race of a lifetime. The fleet of twelve is motoring in convoy to Southend on Sea, at the mouth of the Thames, where the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will start in just eleven days. The fleet of twelve boats left Gosport, SE of Southampton, for the last time two days ago taking the boats to St Katharine Docks in London, the final port before departure. The three weeks since we arrived in the UK have been busy and varied for me. Upon arrival we travelled to Weymouth and the Henri Lloyd shop, to complete purchase of the final bits of kit for the voyage. Getting
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fitted into a dry suit created a lot of mirth among the spectators and a fair amount of athletic contortion for me! We have been fortunate to be introduced to a prior ‘Rounder’, now working for the Clipper Race and living in Portsmouth. Meeting with her was comforting as regards having the right kit, especially for dealing with the colder legs. I worry about this issue quite a lot, but I am now confident that I have the right clothing. Lorna’s practical advice has been a great help in procuring my equipment and limiting its volume and weight to the required 25kg. Having said that I keep finding chocolate mysteriously secreted in my bags.
The final week of training, (level 4), took place soon after our arrival and on Garmin. It was less formally structured than the earlier training in Sydney, and focussed on racing the boats. Starting twelve 70’ boats on a shortish line in the Solent, with plenty of breeze, was gut wrenchingly exciting! We were a complement of 17, all team Garmin members. The age range was 18 to 65 (me) including six women. I was meeting my crew mates, including our skipper, for the first time so of course was interested to discover their reasons for signing on to the race, their life stories, personalities and of course their knowledge of sailing. This information was exchanged progressively over the training week as we raced across
the Chanel to The Baie de Normandie, down to Portland Bill and back to the Solent. All their stories were interesting, varied and frequently surprising. There is a constant theme of wanting an adventure as a personal test, and to achieve something. They are a unique bunch indeed. We were at sea for the whole week and were immediately put into a four hour watch system. In addition to being actively involved in sailing the boat, each crew member has a rotating non-sailing role. These include Mother Watch (meal preparation), Engineering (managing the main engine, the gen set and water maker) and twice daily cleaning of the heads and galley areas. Cleanliness is a high priority with up to 20 people living in a confined space. The week taught us a lot about racing the boats, especially the asymmetric spinnakers and management of fatigue and seasickness. Being on Mother Watch in a galley populated with seasick crew members has its challenges. Fatigue and seasickness also served to peel back the protective layers of our personas and reveal how we will cope with the rigours ahead. In general the impression was positive, but some will need more support than others. And others will need to step back a little. Garmin achieved a 2nd and a 3rd in the racing with no gear catastrophe, unlike some of our competitors. The crew worked hard in a variety of conditions and displayed commitment even when out of our comfort zones. So I felt encouraged that we can build on this spirit and have a real chance for a podium finish overall. As we head into the last weeks of preparation, my mind is turning to the long separation from kith and kin, and the demands of endurance for the race ahead. My prior perceptions that people management will be the number one issue have been confirmed. Getting fit in the lead up to departure has paid a big dividend and I have been able to cope well with the heavy work that these vessels demand. Final preparation of the boats commenced immediately after the training was complete. It is a gigantic effort, starting with specialised training of crew members in topics that span engineering, victualling, sail making and bosun’s duties. New sails have come on board, all running rigging has been replaced and anti-chafing measures fitted. The engines and water maker have been serviced, by me as it turns out. Every corner of the boat is stuffed with supplies,
including the bilges, where it is packed in dry bags. Mapping where stuff is stowed will be crucial to finding it when it is needed. The intensity of the work spread across 12 boats and more than 100 people made Gosport marina resemble a beehive. Excitement and apprehension are difficult to separate at this point. Whatever it is, it is intensifying like an Atlantic low pressure system. Post script - the day after The delivery trip from Gosport was fascinating. We passed many places known to me from my reading and so there was a special interest in seeing them in person. Beachey Head, Royal Sovereign Lighthouse, the Goodwin Sands and then the journey up the Thames. What a sight it must have been in its heyday as a port. Even now it is impressive, with amazing amounts of redevelopment on redundant industrial waterside land.
Campgell Mackie
Greenwich and the Cutty Sark heralded the arrival at London Bridge and St Katharine Dock. And then we were passing quickly through the lock. Lorna was there, along with many other crew families, to welcome us in. Surprisingly, I found it an emotional moment. A harbinger of how it will feel on departure day?
CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
The Race of Your Life
No Experience Required
Achieve Something Remarkable
8 OCTOBER 2015
For m ore information:
CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
EL=
For more information contact Kirsty Whyte at the Clipper office in Sydney:
Crew Recruitment Information Session Are you are a keen sailor or have never sailed before and would like to take part in the worlds only round the world yacht race for amateur sailors? Come along to this information session to find out more. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a 40,000 mile, 11month challenge raced by twelve 'Clipper' 70 foot yachts.
P: 02 9363 2020 E: Australia@clipper-ventures.com W: http://clipperroundtheworld.com
Crew members can sign up for the whole circumnavigation or one or more of eight legs. The only qualification for the race is the minimum age of 18 (there is no upper age limit) plus a thirst for adventure. Free entry. Dinner Available from 6-9pm in the Squadron Dining Room Contact RSAYS Office for bookings 8341 8600
ROYAL SOUTH AUSTRALIAN YACHT SQUADRON 161 Oliver Rogers Rd Outer Harbor SA 5018 Date: 8 October 2015 Time: 6.30 – 7.30pm
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The Paul McGuire Maritime Library By Dick Richards
The Paul McGuire Maritime Library –
Julian Murray, President of The Friends of the PMML
a treasure trove of shipping and boating books Dick Richards informs or reminds our readership of this marvellous library housed within the State Library, with upto-date information from Julian Murray and Neil Waller, Secretary of the PMML. Many Squadron Members will be familiar with this gem of a collection housed on North Terrace in the State Library. It is a major maritime library, the largest in Australia with more than 4 000 titles covering all aspects of maritime life, shipping, naval forces, maritime art and history, navigation, and all aspects of pleasure sailing and boating from all over the world. In addition the State Library also has large and fascinating collections of maritime periodicals, newspaper cuttings, shipping records and several substantial pictorial collections. Included in the McGuire Library is the Thomas Walter Hardy America’s Cup Collection and the AD Edwardes collection of 5 000 shipping photographs with other important collections of papers and photographs amassed by RR Le Maitre and AL (Tony) Arbon. There is also the Walker Collection which was given in memory of Commander Jefferson H Walker DSO RAN. The Paul McGuire Library was named after a distinguished South Australian, the
author of more than thirty books of fiction, verse, history, travel and politics. He was particularly interested in ships and the sea. One of his books, Westward the Course!: the new world of Oceania, went to press the day Pearl Harbour was attacked, and became a best seller. During World War II Paul McGuire served with naval intelligence, reaching the rank of Commander. He later went on to a successful career as a diplomat. The library named after him was established in 1979 with a very generous donation from his wife, Mrs FM McGuire. Our Slip Master Julian Murray is president of The Friends of the PMML and would be more than happy to introduce any members to the group. It meets regularly for an interesting
program of lectures, films and dinners. The Friends also produce The Traverse Board, a regular newsletter which you will find pinned to the Cruising notice board on the Clubhouse veranda. Do read it, and visit it this most interesting of libraries.
Seafood Sundays
n o i s s e S azy l Platter for 2 a r o f s u n JoiCorona Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron 4 for $25 161 Oliver Roger Road Outer Harbor 30
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Kaesler Wines
Kaesler sponsors the Inshore Point Score Racing Series 2014/15 and many Kaesler wines are on the RSAYS wine list. Kaesler Chairman Reid Bosward, sails regularly on Old Bastard, the company’s boat based at the RSAYS. Here he tells us the history of his company and his love of sailing. The Kaesler story is a familiar tale for the Barossa. The Kaesler family migrated as religious refugees to the Barossa from Silesia in Germany in 1890. As a shoemaker, Gottlieb’s craft and trade had already filled in the burgeoning towns of Tanunda and Nuriootpa, and like many who arrived he had to turn his hand to farming. In 1893 he took up a share farming arrangement with the South Australian Company on what is now the home of Kaesler Winery and Cellar Door Sales. Like all the farmers at the time, their existence was primarily subsistence – they grew and farmed what they needed with a little left over to trade and barter with, but more importantly they grew grapes. This was not necessarily as a crop for sale but more to make wine to consume at the table with the daily meals.
Reid Bosward presenting prizes at the Inshore Pointscore Series Awards Presentation
The rest was history. The Barossa became increasingly famous for its fortified and table wines, and the Kaesler family rode those trends until eventually the entire property, and the additional three farms that Gottlieb had bought for his sons, were dedicated entirely to grape production. It wasn’t until the disastrous Vine Pull scheme of the 80’s and 90’s that the Kaesler family decided to sell up. At this stage Ed Peter, son-in-law of longstanding RSAYS member Colin Fraser, and I were in search of a vineyard with which to set up a wine business. I have five years’ winemaking experience in France, South Africa, Spain and Russia and led a global search which eventually recognised the Barossa as the pinnacle of wine excellence.
Reid Bosward testing his wine
The vineyards in the Barossa were purchased from the Kaesler family in the late 90’s and the seed was sown for what has become a growing company
that covers McLaren Vale, Clare, Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley and France as well as the Barossa, incorporating the largest holdings of eighteenth century vineyards in the world. My association with sailing started on Lake Macquarie in 1995. This first experience was a short-handed race on a J24, but when an unfastened clew on the headsail forced the sail to the top of the mast, the boat was dragged on her side across the lake for a few miles. I was hooked. After five seasons I moved to South Australia. In 2003 the need to sail was affirmed after a cruise with Colin Fraser on Spoonbill. Colin’s acquisition of the new Sydney 39CR in 2006 led the way to more time back racing, both inshore and offshore. I have been a member of RSAYS for five years and would like to extend a warm invitation to all RSAYS members to visit Kaesler Kitchen, taste some wines at the Cellar Door or come and stay with us! We now have three bed & breakfast cottages for rent, set among our gardens and vineyards. Take advantage of the Crew discount available to all card-bearing members. Contact details: www.kaesler.com.au Cellar Door: 08 8562 4488 Restaurant: 08 8562 4402 Cottages: 08 8562 4488 or email: ksales@kaesler.com.au
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nature By Erica Gibbs
Where do dolphins sleep? Not in these Dolphin Hammocks! Everyone walking down the ramp to their boat moored on the Northern Bank must have seen them – those strange rectangular grids lying low in the water and attached by lines to the pontoons. If you’ve been wondering what they are, this enterprising young researcher with strong Squadron links now explains. My love for the ocean began when I was very young, thanks to my parents and their sailing background. My father, (who sailed Stingrays for more years than I’ve been alive), and my mother (who was part of the winning crew in a 470 Australian championship, and then in the 470 women’s crew in the 1985 World championship), raised me on the waterways we use for our passion – our sport. At eight years of age, I moved from boogie boarding in the shallows of Carrickalinga to the Junior Sailing Programme offered by The Squadron. My interests in the Port River, ocean wildlife and habitat grew while being there every second Sunday in summer. Where do the dolphins go when they weren’t chasing the Pacers during the annual long race? Do fish sleep? Why do trees grow in salt water?
feeding rates of the Purple Sea Urchin and the Green Turbo Snail. Although these guys seem relatively docile and unimportant, how much they can eat has a large effect on the other animals that either eat the same food, or eat them.
theory and the rate at which they eat, we can determine how stressed the animals are while in these new conditions, and how likely they are to grow, how quickly, and with what effect on grazing pressure of our coastal systems.
The Dolphin Hammocks you have seen on the northern side of the Squadron have tiles attached which are growing the same type of algae that the snails and urchins eat in the wild. We have been using these rough tiles to encourage growth of the Brown Turfing Algae, which you no doubt know from your hulls after a warm summer. These tiles are then clipped from the netting and taken back to our lab where we divide them into 100 equal parts by placing grids over them. When we put these in the tanks with our animals, this allows us to get a percentage feeding rate while in four different water treatment conditions: a control treatment, an acidified treatment, an elevated temperature treatment and an elevated temperature and acidified treatment, where we expect them to be the most stressed. Using established metabolic
This research will bring new insight into the behaviours and potential for growth of the Purple Urchin and the Green Turbo Snail, which are known to dictate the surrounding kelp forests and rocky reef habitats offshore, all the way from Perth to Sydney. As well as being responsible for keeping ecosystems in check, these two particular species are food for a variety of fish from snapper to stingrays, as well as a lot of coastal birds. Having these tiles in a sheltered area exposed to a lot of sunlight has been imperative to the fast growth of these algae. It has allowed us to complete this research in a much shorter time period, as well as allowing much easier access than we could have ever hoped for if we just placed these offshore in the gulf.
I became Junior Captain in 2007 and again in 2008, and the Squadron became a second home as I began sailing Wednesday twilight races on Seven Eighty after school to get my weekly salt water ‘fix’. As I finished high school, there was only one place I could see myself for the rest of my life - the sea. I began studying a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) in 2012 at the University of Adelaide, including an exchange to The City of Sails – Auckland. I graduated in 2014 and this year I have commenced a one-year Honours thesis at the University of Adelaide with the Southern Seas Ecology Laboratory under the Connell Group. The Connell Group focuses on the effects of climate change on temperate coastal ecosystems. My study involves the effects of the herbivores of our coastline in an increased temperature and a decreased pH, such as is expected in 2100. We aim to investigate the effects of climate change on the respiration rates and ultimately the
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Erica Gibbs checking dolphin hammocks
my boat By Dick Richards
Zangezi – a Catana 47 catamaran new to the Squadron New member Gary Rella has berthed his French-built catamaran Zangezi in the pool. She was built in 2001, number 39 in Canet - en - Roussillon in the Catalan region of the South of France and acquired by Gary and his wife Margaret in 2014 after an extensive search. (See following pages) Catana Yachts specialises in fast, luxury catamarans designed for long distance cruising. Zangezi is strongly built using a combination of materials to provide strength while controlling hull weight. The vinylesterpolyester laminate hulls are reinforced with Twaron aramid and carbon fibre in critical areas. She carries two forestays like a cutter and is 7/8 fractional rig with a short bowsprit, bluff-bowed with high topsides. The boat has two outside helming stations at the stern with high backed seats and ridged shades to provide protection. She carries a dinghy on her stern and has a very large clear working deck and trampoline
forward. The accommodation is generous and well lit below. The deck saloon is also comfortable and very spacious with seating for eight or more. She has a beautifully designed galley with a giant fridge and a separate freezer, four-burner stove and a large oven. The navigation area is also finely fitted, capacious and equipped with every electronic aid. The whole boat is beautifully constructed; the internal joinery and the cabin sole is superb, strong and finely finished. The deck saloon and the cabins below have full headroom and the proportions of the heads, showers and double berths are very generous. Each hull provides very roomy, airy accommodation - the owner to starboard, visitors to port. The record of Gary’s delivery trip from Singapore to Adelaide speaks volumes about the boat!
Length: 15 m OA Beam: 7.70 m Draft: Boards up 1.20 m, 2.30 m down Displacement: 12 tonnes Sails: Main 88.0 m2 Genoa 53.0 m2 Fuel: 800 L Water: 600 L
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Gary and Amy Rella on top of Middle Island, Recherché Archipelago
my boat By Gary Rella
Buying Zangesi and bringing her home
Gary Rella recounts the highs and lows experienced when searching for his and his wife’s new boat, and the joys and trepidations of sailing her back from Singapore to the Squadron. My wife Margaret and I searched the world looking for our ‘perfect’ sailing cat. After much research and after numerous sea trials, we decided on the 2001 or 2002 build version of the French built and Christopher Bareau designed Catana 471. Zangezi was the first one we looked at back in 2009, and she was immaculate, but as it is when one looks at the first boat in the search, we didn’t realise how good she was. We did put an offer in on her at the time but we were played for a ‘Dutch Auction’ and pulled out.
Bridget Laucke, Peter Stone and Margaret Rella
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Consequently we travelled to many different places looking for a Catana 471 similar to the condition Zangezi had presented in without any success. Until I received a call from one of the many boat brokers I’d come to know during the elusive search advising me I could do an ‘off market’ deal on what he described as the best Catana 471 in the world. He was about to sell a brand new sailing cat to the current owner of this catamaran. Guess what, it was Zangezi! Yes she had a few more years on her and many more sea miles than when I’d last stepped aboard, but she was as immaculate as I remembered and I subsequently negotiated to purchase her. The purchase process was carefully administered by the broker who held a deposit in escrow while a crew of three of us delivered Zangezi from Singapore to Fremantle via Christmas Island. Once Zangezi had cleared customs we then purchased her from the previous owners and she became ours. We cast off from Singapore on Wednesday 27 August 2014. The delivery crew was Greg Wallis, John Ruediger and me. The journey from Singapore to Christmas Island was five days of motor sailing with very little breeze through the world’s busiest shipping lanes (great to have AIS) and we were constantly on watch, especially at night for Indonesian fishing vessels with no navigation lights (the Raymarine HD Digital Radar was essential). Once we passed Krakatoa and sailed through the Sunda Strait we encountered the most magnificent breezes
and Zangezi really demonstrated her slick ability to eat up the ocean miles. We were at Christmas Island in a matter of hours where we were met by the Customs vessel Trident. We stayed three days at Christmas Island, exploring and preparing for our next leg which we’d hoped would be all the way to Fremantle, but the weather gods had different ideas. We sailed for days in what seemed perfect conditions at times followed by booby birds and frigate birds. We trolled for fish and landed a 70 kg blue marlin which we released, but kept the mahi-mahi and large Spanish mackerel. My lifelong friend John Ruediger was master chef on board and he saw to it that many well-planned fish meals would be enjoyed. John made excellent use of the wellequipped galley, baking fresh bread and John Ruediger with a 30Kg spanish Mackerel
at anchor. Just onshore shone a majestic pink lake. From Middle Island we steered a course SSE taking us some 500 nm offshore to where we would find perfect winds which we used to our advantage all the way to the familiar Cape Borda, after having contended with huge swells and big seas. A quick hello to friends at Marion Bay and then home to the RSAYS at midnight on the 13 December last year. Zangezi had reached what would be her new home, for a little while at least.
Amy Rella at the helm off Albany
cakes as well as preparing exquisite meals during the four week passage to Fremantle. We had to head east as the weather was becoming due southerly and fierce. We made land fall in Dampier where we made our final customs clearance, took on fresh fruit and headed for the Montebello Islands. It’s hard to believe that in the 1950s the British detonated three nuclear bombs on those pristine islands. It is unfathomable to understand. We dived for fresh crayfish in the crystal clear waters before sailing on. So it was that we leap-frogged our way along the Western Australian coastline, stopping at Exmouth, and Shark Bay to ride out some southerly squalls before berthing at the Fremantle Yacht Club on Monday 29 September 2014 after a solid 33 days and some 4000 nm.
Gary Rella at the helm
I arranged a final inspection of Zangezi in Fremantle and settled with the broker. The ownership of Zangezi could now be transferred to us. The first thing I arranged was to replace the aging Volvo 50hp motors with new 54 hp Yanmars, SD60 sail drives and Gori folding props. The voyage from Fremantle to Adelaide began on the 30 November and proved to be a gruelling two weeks of endurance. The crew this time was Greg Wallis, Peter Stone, my daughter Amy Rella and me. As we sailed first to Albany and then to Middle Island in the Recherche Archipelago where we dived for crayfish and explored the island home of Australia’s only known pirate Captain Jack Black. We climbed the summit of the granite massif for a panoramic view of the archipelago and the turquoise blue bay where Zangezi lay
Margaret finally had her chance to enjoy the Zangezi experience with a 10-day cruise to Kangaroo Island, Wedge Island, Thistle Island, Port Lincoln, Williams Island and back. She loved every bit of the experience. Very different to the passagemaking 24 hour a day non-stop day after day sailing needed to deliver Zangezi (Marg would not have enjoyed that!). Day sailing is a beautiful way to cruise and stopping for the night in a tranquil bay is so much more relaxing and less exhausting than the long ocean legs. Marg is looking forward to cruising the many beautiful SA islands and coastal towns this summer and gaining some valuable sailing experience, before we head off to Tasmania later next year. Hopefully she will have gained enough confidence by then to make that passage. We’re looking forward to seeing many beautiful parts of the Australian coast during the coming years.
Delivery crew arrives safely into Fremantle John Ruediger, Gary Rella, Greg Wallis
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Seals on White Rock, Goose Island Bay
winter cruise Article and photos by Mark Sinclair
Checking out Spencer Gulf Where do you sail to from Adelaide in winter? How about to Spencer Gulf while conducting a survey or two along the way! Here’s the story of a cruise from Adelaide to Wallaroo in early August 2015. With our resolve hardened by attending Tim Jarvis’s presentation on 1 August concerning the re-creation of Shackleton’s epic small boat voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia almost 100 years ago, we, retired Royal Australian Navy hydrographic surveyors and classmates, Mark Sinclair and Rod Nairn, cast off Starwave’s lines from RSAYS and headed south early the next morning to tackle the somewhat less-intimidating Investigator Strait and Spencer Gulf. With a reefed main and number 2 genoa set, and the wheel lashed to port to counteract weather helm, Starwave sailed herself close-hauled down Gulf St Vincent into a WSW breeze of Force 5-6. At 1950hrs, in the dark, we sailed to anchor in Eastern Cove Kangaroo Island, 3 cables south of the first entrance beacon off American River in a depth of approximately 4 metres, providing a well sheltered anchorage. Departure the following morning was delayed due to the Force 6 breeze still blowing down Investigator Strait. We weighed at 1145hrs and headed across Nepean Bay and off Marsden Point, shook out the reef and hardened up into Investigator Strait. We continued under full mainsail and number 2 genoa, slightly over-pressed in the gusts, and that evening raised Althorpe Island light at a range of 19 nm then Cape Spencer light and the loom of Cape Borda light soon after.
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Sailing west we were treated to a celestial spectacular with Venus setting just clear of the forestay, Jupiter close off the starboard bow, the heeled mast pointing up at Antares in Scorpius, the Southern Cross riding high on the port beam and the Greater and Lesser Magellanic Clouds clearly visible on the port quarter. Then at 2100hrs, we enjoyed the finale of a large red moon rising on the starboard quarter. Shortly after, and despite the dark we were able to approach Althorpe Island, as it is clear of dangers to the east and at 2150hrs anchored 100 metres NE of the jetty in a depth of 7 metres. We had been advised that a passage exists SW of the beacon inside Souttar Shoal. We had planned to explore and survey this area; to facilitate this Rod had brought along a CEESCOPE 200 portable hydrographic survey system. This consists of a single-beam echo-sounder and marine radio beacon capable differential GPS. On Wednesday 5 August we motored back to Souttar Shoal and found the beacon to be located 670 metres west of the position shown on both the digital and hardcopy charts. It seems the beacon has been relocated to the eastern edge of the bank! We then reconnoitred the passage inside Souttar Shoal following advice to remain in general depths of approximately 3 metres. Next, we anchored close SW of the beacon and rigged the portable echosounder transducer and GPS antenna on the starboard quarter of Starwave. During the remainder of the afternoon and on the following morning, we ran lines of soundings in Starwave at a spacing of approximately 100m using a Garman GPSmap 78sc for line control. Rod then
processed the data with the hydrographic processing software package HYPACK using predicted tides from Port Turton. We found the channel to be approximately 300 metres wide at its narrowest point with a minimum depth of 2.3 metres below Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT). The channel can be accessed from the west by following WGS 84 waypoints: A) 34 53.75 S, 137 09.00 E; B) 34 53.95 S, 137 11.00 E and C) 34 53.6 S, 137 12.0 E. For visual navigation, on approach from the west, run towards the left hand edge of the low rocky point 4 nm W of Souttar Point on a bearing of 097T (090M) and at waypoint B alter course to 067T (060M) to parallel the shore and pass midway between the point and the beacon. The inshore banks at the eastern end of the channel are steep to due to the tidal stream and should be visible to starboard. It should be noted that, due to the sedimentary nature of the coast, the seabed may be mobile and the channel position and depths may change over time,
Corny to Souttar 1m Areas
Goose Island Bay 1m Areas
Goose Island Bay 2500+Buoys
but a good covering of seagrass indicates reasonable stability in this route. Another important consideration is that this shoal provides additional protection from winds from N to W, enabling anchorage in the lee if necessary, which is well worth considering since the closest alternative anchorage is
off Wardang Island some 20 nm north. Thursday 6 August the wind dropped out and we motored north to Wardang Island, then briefly inspected the bay at the southern end which provides good shelter from northerly winds but is open to swell from the SW. We then transited the narrow channel between Wardang Island and the mainland, keeping the port hand beacons close to starboard. We then proceeded up to the east side of the island which provides a number of suitable anchorages with winds between NW to SW. Anchorage that night was in an agreeable cove off the northern end of Wardang Island, between Goose Island, Cormorant Island and White Rock, in position 34 27.162 S, 137 21.834 E and in a depth of 5 metres. Friday 7 August, we rigged Starwave’s dinghy, Bootlace, with the portable survey system and conducted a large scale survey of the cove, running lines at a spacing of 20 metres eastwest and cross lines at 25 metres north-south. We used Universal Tr a n s v e r s e Mercator coordinates of constant northings and eastings for line control and reduced soundings using predicted tides from Port Victoria.
300 metres north-south. On the island is a building used for school camps; close in the south-east corner of the bay, are two buoys and there is a thriving seal colony on the northern end of White Rocks. The seabed is rocky around the perimeter of the bay inside the 3m line and then shelves steadily to general depths of 3 to 6 metres , appearing to be sand and weed. At 1500hrs. we weighed and motored on a glassy sea to Warbuton Point north of Moonta, anchoring at 2030 south of the light in position 34 01.634 S 137 32.837 E in a depth of 4 metres. This anchorage was also recommended to us and is suitable in northerly winds. On Saturday 8 August, a northerly breeze had set in and we sailed close by both Moonta and Port Hughes jetties before beating up to Wallaroo, berthing at 1330hrs. There are berths at the Copper Coast Marina and also an extensive canal development. We were fortunate to be able to arrange a private berth and have left Starwave there, returning to Adelaide on the Sunday on the daily Copper Coast bus service. Spencer Gulf is vast, some 175 nm north-south and 70 nm at its widest part. It is approximately 4 times the area of Gulf St Vincent and opens up a whole new world of interesting cruising areas beyond easy reach of Adelaide. Sailing from Outer Harbour to Wallaroo involves a distance of some 185 nm, a similar distance as from Adelaide to Robe or to the Coffin Bay Peninsula. Wallaroo is only 30 nm from Cowell, 70 nm from the Sir Joseph Banks Group of islands and 90 miles from Port Augusta, however, it is an easy 2-hour drive from Adelaide and provides an ideal base to explore the numerous anchorages particularly in the middle and northern parts of Spencer Gulf. On reflection: The most important attributes of our winter cruise were good foul-weather gear to keep warm, a solid dodger and hot hearty meals. The downside; the CQR anchor struggled to hold off Port Turton and was supplemented with an admiralty pattern. I would like to thank Fred Howes for his hospitality, advice and recommendations regarding the numerous anchorages in Spencer Gulf.
Goose Island Bay is approximately 200 metres wide in an east-west direction and
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in tranquil waters He started rowing while at high school becoming the Danish junior champion in double skulls before rowing in fours and eights. In 1951 he competed in the European Rowing Competition in France (coming second) and in 1952, the Helsinki Olympic Games. Peter arrived in Melbourne in 1959. On being told that there was plenty of work in Whyalla he went to check it out, arriving in 105 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. The only work available was repairing coal wagons. He stayed for ½ day and then went to Adelaide.
Peter Gjelstrup Lauridsen By Ken Cock and Beverley Lauridsen
Peter was born in Lolland, Denmark where the family farm was on the coast, hence his love of the sea. When he was 15 years old Peter’s father arranged an apprenticeship for him as a carpenter/ joiner in Copenhagen. With no pay for 4½ yrs he remodelled old clocks for pocket money. On qualifying he built staircases, before being drafted into the navy where he served in Copenhagen and Greenland.
Peter often told us the thing that sold Australia to him was the friendliness of the people. He was invited to a BBQ and told to bring a plate, which he thought was strange. Perhaps they didn’t have enough plates! Nobody told him you were supposed to put food on it. He worked for Emmett’s in the joinery shop at Forestville, and then as a subcontractor for Ian Wood Homes. Then he became a boat builder and was foreman for John Duncanson. They built some of the finest wooden yachts such as Ron Boswarva’s Gambian, Alan Jordon’s Celeste, Dean Smoker’s Balamara and Chappie Charlesworth’s Tiriki.
He then went into a partnership with One off Constructions and Fairisle Pty Ltd, building fibreglass boats, before establishing his own company, Scandia Yachts. He spent his weekends building his own boat, Gotcha, which was planked with Western red cedar as a core and Epicraft sheeted externally. He raced Gotcha for many years, and enjoyed taking his many friends out sailing. He retired in 1994, and sailed Gotcha at least twice a week, often single handed. He was a regular member of the Wednesday BBQ, started by Laurie Rhodes in 1994 as a means of keeping in touch with friends who had sold their boats or retired. Peter was noted for his pancakes which he cooked once a month, a day looked forward to by everyone. After he sold Gotcha he sailed with David Lowe on Unity and with Peter Hansen on Serenity. Peter died from an accident at the Squadron on 19 December 2014 and is survived by his partner of 40 years, three children and five grandchildren. The Wednesday BBQ will never be the same without Peter, whose compassion, friendliness, and enjoyment of a good yarn will forever be remembered.
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Daniel (Paddy) O’Rourke 23 December 1957 – 11 April 2015 By Peter Roberts
I first made the acquaintance of Paddy through a close work colleague of mine, Iris, who later became Paddy’s wife in a ceremony at the Squadron. Paddy was born in Roma and worked in the desert for 20 years as a fly in-fly out for Santos at Moomba. He was a complete landlubber at the time. Soon after we met he became fascinated with my project to build a yacht from precision cut pieces of plywood. A friendship was borne and while completing an Economics degree with Honours as a mature age student, Paddy also became a regular Saturday participant in boat building. He stuck at it throughout the four years of construction, a clear sign that he was very determined. Thus kindled a flame that drew him into that time honoured tradition of “mucking about in boats”. When Strega was launched he saw another side of boating and we saw another side of Paddy. He became a familiar figure at the Squadron and, soon after, a Squadron member. He was a regular volunteer at
John Simon Ellison 3 July 1950 – 22 June 2015 By Kingsley ‘Bones’ Haskett
John was a member of the Squadron for 47 years, OOD/PRO for 22 years and also skipper of the start boat Miss Robyn, previously Allan Scott’s Enola Gay. John grew up on the Le Fevre Peninsula and was involved in boating from a young
the club, particularly the Come’n’try days. There would be few people more colourful than Paddy. He loved the ceremony of Opening Days and he and Iris joined us for sail pasts and for one of our trips across the Gulf to Vincent. He purchased a Duncanson 29, Carriebee, and set about the task of cutting out osmosis and completing a refit. He and Iris sold their Stonyfell home and purchased a house on the water’s edge at North Haven so he could be closer to the action. Paddy was a man on a mission. Sadly, and only part way through this project, he learned of the cancer that would eventually claim him. Emerging drugs gave him a reprieve of several years that he did not think he’d have. In typical fashion Paddy made the most of them, including several overseas trips with Iris and presiding over numerous ‘Hawaiian loud shirt margherita parties’. I was never a lover of loud shirts, but like many of Paddy’s friends, and at Paddy’s insistence, we became owners of several.
Paddy had an opinion on most things reinforced with a special touch of his Irish sense of humour. He believed that, among other things, life was too short to cellar cheap wine much less drink it. Paddy was a popular figure at the Squadron and it was a fitting testament to the enthusiasm and friendship of the man that so many loud Hawaiian shirts were present for his final send off, many of them worn by Squadron members. Paddy O’Rourke was a unique character who will be sorely missed.
age; a long term member of the Largs Bay 1st Sea Scouts and the Pt Adelaide Sailing Club, as well as the Squadron.
Thorpe and the Aztecs. He also worked as a solo sound technician for a number of other bands. His son Andrew has acquired his love of music.
He was apprenticed to GMH as a fitter and turner finishing in 1971. He then worked for Barry Quin in rigging and general marine work. He also worked as a maintenance fitter for Gadstone Can Manufacturers and for Scott Bonner in repairs and sales. He returned to GMH as a fitter and turner and technical photographer.
In later years John worked for Stan Quin as a rigger, rigging and building masts for hundreds of boats and when Quins closed in 2008 John became Ellison Rigging. John also looked after and skippered a number of yachts and motor vessels namely Gymere, a restricted 21, Alan Jordan’s Celeste III a beautiful 8 metre clear finish cruising yacht, Nyroca for Bill Harneman senior, Trieste for Ron Patric, Bill Yard’s Bird of Dawning and Margaret Mary. Probably his favourite boat was Bagatelle owned by David Fuller. He and Helen did a lot of cruising in her until she was sold.
While helping shipwright and long time friend Allan Rice build two yachts, Judy Ann and Sobroan, he was also getting his hand into sailing. He married Helen Robb of the Peninsula Robb clan, daughter of John Robb of Robb Sails or Robb’s Rags as they were jokingly called. Their two children Andrew and Kylie followed. He had a long-term love of music, and worked for Bob Allan as a sound technician in such shows as JC Superstar, Brandy and at concerts for Jeff St. John and Billy
John began a battle with cancer late in 2014 and his last rigging job was Catriona of Adelaide aided by his son Andrew. This is the yacht I sailed to the 2015 Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart and returned to RSAYS in May, and there was no doubt about the integrity of the rig. John’s fight with cancer was not a long one, and maybe a blessing in disguise, he succumbed to a massive heart attack in June.
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city of adelaide By Peter Christopher, Director of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd. (CSCOsAL)
Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Update
Since her arrival back on our shores, the huge hull of this impressive vessel has caught the imagination of the many South Australians who’ve flocked to No 1 Wharf at Port Adelaide to see her in all her glory. Peter Christopher tells us of the restoration progress. Over 3,000 people have been on a tour inside of the City of Adelaide in recent months. Now open to the public, the mid deck of the giant passenger ship was once home for up to 270 second class passengers on each of its 23 journeys to Adelaide. Work is underway to open up the poop deck, which housed 30 first class passengers in 14 cabins, and the enormous hold is being prepared for visitors. Daily tours are conducted at 10am, noon and 2pm seven days a week, with many additional times scheduled by arrangement for groups at a discount price of $15 pp. Probus, Rotary, Lions, schools, U3As and car clubs have all been regular visitors. One wag driving a Model T Ford was heard to remark that it was strange to see a means of transport older than his own! With restrictions on access to work on the outside of the ship while it is temporarily housed on the barge Bradley, the focus of work has been internal and on upgrading the Information Centre with merchandise, photos and other material. It’s estimated that about 90,000 people have come to see the ship and visited the Information Centre, with many overseas and interstate visitors. Internally, the mid deck is now fully accessible, with recent guests including Cape Horners Alf Jarvis, 100 years old,
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and Keith McCoy, a much younger 86! The most usual reaction on entering the ship is to gasp at the sheer size of it, and then to try and work out how 270 people lived on the deck they are on for three months with little privacy, no electricity, cooling or heating on its journeys between 1864 and 1886. While the poop deck and hold are not yet open for the public, visitors can see into them. Displays have been erected and proper walkways laid down, and are being regularly extended. Volunteers work on the ship continually, and we now have several people gaining work experience through a Work for the Dole scheme. It’s a great community activity. Recent visitors inside the ship have included local MP, Dr Susan Close and Lord Mayor Martin Haese. A special event was held inside the ship recently to celebrate the 88th birthday of Pam Whittle, the great grand-daughter of Captain David Bruce,
the ship’s first master in 1864. Functions have also been held to recognise and thank sponsors, supporters and volunteers. In coming months it is expected that the ship may be capable of hosting other special events. Support is continuing to grow, with the Police Credit Union entering into a major sponsorship arrangement for the next three years. As well as the direct ship activity, submissions have been made to Government aimed at quickly establishing the site within the inner harbour for the City of Adelaide’s final home, and the surrounding seaport village. If you haven’t had a chance to visit her yet why not head down to the port soon.
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Squadron Quarterly
Mon 5 Thu 8 Sat 10 Sun 11 Wed 14 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 Wed 21 Sat 24 Sun 25 Wed 28 Sat 31
Black Point Cruise Black Point Cruise Black Point Cruise Labour Day Holiday Clipper Information Evening Inshore Series; AMS Club Championships Div 2; Etchells Series 1; Multihull Series Junior Sail Training 2; Club Championship 1 & 2 Women's Series Twilight Series 1 Wine Tasting Social Event Offshore Monohulls (Orontes Cup); Offshore Multihulls (Orontes Cup); Whitworth Club Series; Etchells Series 1; Tri Series Opening Day Working Bee Twilight Series 1 Inshore Series; Commodores' Shield; AMS Club Championships Div 1; AMS Club Championships Div 2; Etchells Series 1; State IRC & AMS Div 1; State IRC & AMS Div 2 Junior Sail Training 3; Fun Races 3 & 4 Discover Sailing Twilight Series 1 CYCSA Opening Day
November 2015 Sun 1
Junior Sail Training 4; Juniors Bundey Cup Bundey Cup
Tues 3 Wed 4
Melbourne Cup Function Twilight Series 1
Sat 7
RSAYS Opening Day
Sun 8 Wed 11 Fri 13
Morning After Breakfast Twilight Series 1 Friday Afternoon Sternchasers; Offshore Series Monohulls (Haystack Is)
Sat 14
Offshore Multihulls (MacDonnell Sound); Club Series; Etchells Series 1; Tri Series
Sun 15 Wed 18
Women's Series Twilight Series 1 Port Vincent Cruise Great Southern Regatta; Inshore Series; AMS Club Championships Div 1; AMS Club Championships Div 2; State IRC & AMS Div 1; State IRC & AMS Div 2 Etchells Series 1; Multihull Series Port Vincent Cruise Junior Sail Training 5; Club Championships 3 & 4 Great Southern Regatta; State IRC & AMS Div 1 ; State IRC & AMS Div 2 Twilight Series 1 (Combined with CYCSA - CYCSA Host) Friday Afternoon Sternchasers Offshore Monohulls (Jubilee Cup); AMS Club Championships Div 2; State IRC & AMS Div 2; Whitworth Club Series; Etchells Series 1; Tri Series Welcome to New Members
Sat 21
Sun 22 Wed 25 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29
December 2015 Wed 2 Thu 3 Fri 4 Sat 5 Sun 6 Wed 9 Sat 12 Sun 13 Wed 16 Fri 18 Sat 19 Fri 25 Sat 26 Thu 31
Twilight Series 1 (Ladies Helm) Quarterly Meeting of Members` Friday Afternoon Sternchasers Inshore Series; AMS Club Championships Div 1; AMS Club Championships Div 2; Musto Etchells Series 1 Game Fishing Club - Quarterdeck Junior Sail Training 6; Fun Races 5 & 6 Women's Series Twilight Series 1 TG Flint Memorial Race; Club Series; Multihull Series; Etchells Series 1 Christmas Party & Pacer Cup Women's Series; Women's Keelboat Invitational Race Twilight Series 1 and Series 1 Presentations Friday Afternoon Sternchasers Inshore Series; Etchells Series 1 Christmas Day Boxing Day Lunch / Sydney to Hobart / Keith Flint Sprint Brown's Beach New Year's Eve Party New Year's Eve Drinks on the Quarterdeck
2015 EVENTS CALENDAR
October 2015 Sat 3 Sun 4
Squadron Quarterly
43
CROSSOVER TO ALL NEW CAPTUR CAPTUR DYNAMIQUE EDC (AUTO)
CAPTUR EXPRESSION MANUAL
$25,990 DRIVE AWAY*
• 7” touch screen media navigation system • 16” alloys • Fuel efficient turbo engine • Rear view camera and sensors • Keyless entry / start
5
5
3
YEARS
YEARS
YEARS
UNLIMITED KM WARRANTY
ROADSIDE ASSIST
CAPPED PRICE SERVICING*
$32,790 DRIVE AWAY*
WITH METALLIC PAINT
• 7” touch screen media navigation system • Two tone paint • 17” alloy wheels • Rear view camera and sensors • Keyless entry / start • Washable / removable seat covers
CAPTUR EXPRESSION EDC (AUTO)
$28,990 DRIVE AWAY*
• 7” touch screen media navigation system • 6 speed EDC automatic transmission • 16” alloys • Fuel efficient turbo engine • Rear view camera and sensors • Keyless entry / start
The crossover that’s taken Europe by storm is here. It’s packed with features and covered by a 5 year unlimited kilometre warranty, roadside assist and capped price servicing. Hurry into your nearest Renault Dealership today. TEST DRIVE ONE TODAY
MAIN NORTH RENAULT
75 Main North Rd, Nailsworth / Ph: 1300 145 320 mainnorthrenault.com.au
UNLEY RENAULT
284 Unley Rd, Hyde Park / Ph: 1300 898 628 unleyrenault.com.au
LVD173. *Recommended drive away prices for Captur Expression petrol manual and Captur Expression petrol EDC (auto), each with non-metallic paint and Captur Dynamique petrol EDC (auto) in non-metallic or metallic paint. Valid for vehicles ordered between 05/02/2015 & 28/02/2015 while stocks last. Renault reserves the right to vary, extend or withdraw this offer. Offer not available for Govt. buyers. 5 years unlimited km warranty applies to all new Renault passenger vehicles and to all new Renault Sport models where order, purchase and delivery are all after 1 July 2014. Demonstrator vehicles receive balance of new vehicle warranty. Roadside Assistance terms and conditions apply. Call our Customer Service Team on 1800 009 008 or view the Terms and Conditions statement at www.renault.com.au/drivingpeaceofmind for details. Scheduled services capped at $299 per service for 3 years or 45,000km (whichever comes first) on new or demonstrator passenger models and 3 years or 30,000km (whichever comes first) on Renault Sport models (incl. Clio R.S. 200 and Megane R.S. 265). Offers based on standard scheduled servicing from new and normal operating conditions. If the vehicle is not presented within three (3) months of the due date for the scheduled service, the vehicle forfeits the right to that capped-price service under the program. MNR0541