RSAYS Squadron Quarterly Winter Edition 2016 by Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron

Quarterly

SQUADRON Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron

Volume 30 Issue 2 Winter 2016

www.rsays.com.au

ROYAL SA YACHT SQUADRON PATRON AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 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 Steve Beaufoy Outrageous Kevin Cook Summer Breeze Helen Moody Magic Beach Andrew McDowell

OPENING TIMES Dining Room, Jimmy’s Bar & Quarterdeck: The dining facilities are positioned beautifully, overlooking the majestic view of the marina from all locations. The attractive setting provides a warm and relaxing feeling all 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). • Thursday is Curry Night - A great winter warmer

SERVICE DIRECTORY

• Friday is Schnitzel Night - A family favourite

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

• Sunday lunch Special - Seafood Platter (pre-order required)

Office Hours;

SQUADRON QUARTERLY TEAM

9.00am - 5.00pm Monday - Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm Wednesday during Twilight Race Season 9.00am - 4.00pm Saturday and Sunday Closed public Holidays and Easter Weekend RSAYS Foundation Chris Mandalov 0417 847 836 Racing Committee Roger Oaten 0408 415 138 Cruising Committee Kingsley Haskett 0419 844 772 House and Social Committee Andrea Mead 0417 887 818 Juniors Committee Mitch Mead 0447 333 001 Sail Training and Race Support Heidi Pfeiffer 8341 8600 Etchells Fleet Captain Andrew Waterman 0408 856 012 Trailer Sailers Steve Lewis 0418 275 710 Seaweed Gardening Group Robert Henshall 8332 0889 Slip Master Julian Murray 0414 365 294 Finance Manager Joann Galios 8341 8600 Accounts Administrator Kathy Bernhardt-Loechel 8341 8600 Member Services Annette Turk 8341 8600 Hospitality & Events Manager Kevin Grant 8341 8600 Chef Dave West 8341 8600

Coopers Competition Winner Winner of the Coopers ‘I like to drink beer after ......’ competition from our Autumn SQ is: Lindsay Bell who says he likes to drink beer after.... “I’m three sheets to the wind”

Front Cover Barbara Parker, winner of the Eileen Hardy Trophy 2015 - 2016 Taniwha, Opening Day 2015

xxxxx Private functions any time by appointment xxxx

Sally Metzer (Editor), Roger Oaten, Sue Buckley (Production), Barry Allison, Sandy Barker, Gill Hogarth, Steve Kennedy, Dick Richards, Bob Schahinger. (Regular Contributors). Anne Arnold, Fay Duncan, Peter Hansen, Ann Hastwell Gill Hogarth, Marion Holden, Steve Kennedy, Lynda Walsh (Proof Readers)

Squadron Quarterly Deadline for Spring 2016 Issue is Monday 15 August, 2016 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 can be forwarded to the Office at any time.

Squadron Quarterly Advertising Please contact Kathy Bernhardt-Loechel phone 8341 8600 or accounts@rsays.com.au

Notes for Contributors Articles submitted should be typed as a Word or text document,1500 words max. 1500 words and 2 photos will cover 2 pages. Photos should be: • In focus • JPEG format at high resolution (300 dpi) • 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 non-authorised personnel.

CONTENTS REPORTS From the Commodore �� 4 From the General Manager �� 5 Functions Report �� 6 Racing News �� 8 Juniors Report �� 12 House and Social �� 14 Cruising Report �� 16

REGULAR ARTICLES New Members Welcome �� 6 20 Year Members Profile �� 7 Around the Cans �� 10 Women on the Water �� 11 Senior Member �� 30 Nature �� 38 In Tranquil Waters �� 40 Berths for Sale & Rent �� 42 Events Calendar �� 43

FEATURES Lessons to be Learned: Be Prepared �� 15 Winter Sailing Spots �� 17 Sail Drive �� 18 Five Islands to Ceduna �� 20 Yachty Hotshots �� 22 Medical Emergency at Sea �� 24 Fishing Spots �� 25 Panama Revisited �� 28 York Peninsula Saltwater Classic �� 32 World Map �� 33 Lost Burgees Found! �� 34 Around Cape Horn �� 35 Biggest Morning Tea �� 36 Trophy Polishing �� 39

Winter 2016 Vol 30 Issue 2 Published Quarterly ISSN 1037-1133 Print Post Publication No. PP532154/00016

EDITORIAL What’s wrong with ‘staying-put’ this winter and delighting in the grey skies, chilly winds, sleet and hail that are all part of the local sailing experience? I know many of you are planning on heading off to warmer climes, in search of fun in the sun, but why hot-foot it away when the Squadron has so much to offer during the coming months? You might choose to participate in the rugged winter races, enjoy cosy dinners and sleepovers on board your own boat, head to the warm ‘n’ welcoming Squadron Dining Room with your friends, go on weekend sails to nearby ports … all without having to cope with foreign currencies and challenging languages! Admittedly one memorable winter family cruise we undertook some years ago did test our cheeriness. Bumpy seas, seasickness, freezing hands and iced-up eyelashes do tend to make even the cheeriest crew a bit gloomy. But my ever-optimistic friend Cathy revved us up with singing songs, playing games and producing steaming home-made soups to warm our cockles as we headed home in the rain. When we finally made it to home-port, Cath enthusiastically rallied the slightly-frozen children by promising fish and chips at the Largs Bay Kiosk if they packed up and disembarked quickly. With that, she flung herself overboard and plunged into the freezing briny, having miss-judged the finger in the failing light! Decked out in heavy Shetland sweater and boots, she bobbed-up three times. On the first, her partner grabbed the car keys, on the second he grabbed the bag, and on her third surfacing he finally made an attempt to drag his drenched wife to safety! Funnily enough I don’t think they’ve cruised with us since! If all you want to do is rug-up and ‘go local’, we’ve got a lot of good winter tales for you to read in this issue. Roger Holden suggests some suitable winter sailing destinations. Mark Sinclair plots places further a’field to explore, the Kerrs might spark your imagination as they head into the Pacific, and there’s a fun competition in which you can win some great wet-weather gear…no excuses not to go sailing this winter!

FROM THE COMMODORE The following week Jeff and I were hosted at the Cruising Yacht Club of SA for their presentation night. Much enthusiasm and banter filled the air … what was, what could have been, and what will be done in the next season. Delighted skippers and crew came to the fore to collect their trophies and it was a proud moment for the Squadron when Commodore Geoff Boettcher reluctantly presented me with the Commodores’ Shield to bring back to the Squadron.

Rae Hunt

T seems as if, with a blink of an eye, the past few months have passed by. March through to the beginning of May have been extremely busy and filled with many events and projects. Our Easter Regatta kick-started this busy period with the annual migration of Squadron vessels, racing and cruising, across to Port Vincent. This year we were joined by a number of members and vessels from our neighbouring clubs who took part in the festivities both on and off the water. Camaraderie and competitiveness were high on the agenda as the racing fleet took to the water, whilst others enjoyed the more relaxed opportunity to socialise or explore the township. Unfortunately this year we were not without incident. A serious medical emergency involving one of our members saw emergency services responding, resulting in a medical evacuation via helicopter from Port Vincent. I take this opportunity to thank all involved for their professionalism in handling the situation and am pleased to report that our member is well on the way to recovery. Racing at the Squadron continued until the middle of April, with the season culminating in the Inkster Memorial Trophy race and the end of the sailing season party. With the summer season officially over, we had time to reflect, ponder and celebrate the achievements of the racing season, with a series of presentation nights on the calendar. Our Juniors started celebrations with their annual sail past and presentation evening. While watching the prowess of the Juniors in the Pacers and the rescue vessels, the flag officers and guests gave a hearty three cheers as they sailed past the pontoons. It was an honour to present certificates of achievement and trophies to our future generation of sailors and to acknowledge the trainers who generously give their time. Well done to all, and of course we should not forget to mention the parents for their encouragement and participation.

Our own presentation night, the highlight of the racing calendar, was held the next evening, with a packed dining room and a sea of faces eager to see if they had won and would perhaps receive one or more of the Squadron’s prized trophies. A fabulous job was done by a number of volunteers on trophy polishing night to ensure that each and every trophy to be presented would glisten on the night. A plethora of awards and trophies was presented to many of our proud skippers, crew and our valued racing volunteers, with celebrations continuing well into the early hours of the morning. There are a number of special events organised which will be taking place over the next few weeks. The opportunity to welcome our new members in a more formal introduction to the Squadron as well as meet and greet flag officers, committee members and staff, with an invitation for everyone to continue interacting over lunch. Our biennial 20 Year Members’ Dinner which celebrates and acknowledges the milestone of reaching 20 years plus of continuous membership in the Squadron. In July we will celebrate and thank all of the Squadron’s hard-working and dedicated volunteers.

Now onto some of the projects that had been identified and undertaken as priorities. The project for the repair and replacement of the Squadron’s slipway rails began in earnest almost immediately following the end of the sailing season. It was a major undertaking to remove the old rails and have them replaced with the newly fabricated purpose-built rails – a brilliant job done by our team of dedicated workers. The eastern maintenance pontoons have also been removed for full inspection and possible repairs. However, this has been referred back to the Development Advisory Panel for further investigation and recommendations. The Quarter Deck will have a brand new look as the old timber deck is replaced with new composite decking which will reduce the hazards and maintenance requirements for the area. After the recent storm damage, clean up and repairs to any affected infrastructure will need to be a priority. There are always more projects, large and small, to be identified, and these are constantly being reviewed by the Management Committee. Since we’re coming into winter when we all tend to hibernate, I would urge you to check the calendar and website and brave the winter chills to participate in a range of social events organised by the House & Social or Cruising Committees. I hope to see you around the club or out on the water. In seamanship & fellowship

FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER The quarterdeck replacement has been very successful with a new long lasting composite deck and has given the area a smart contemporary look and provides members another facility to enjoy year round. The composite material has been sourced from a local Adelaide manufacturer after a lengthy tender process with 3 suppliers. The new club boundary signs are complete and give the club a fresh look from the street and allow us to publicise club events and activities to the members and the wider community. Lighting will also be included in the next few weeks. Andrew McDowell

HE temperature is dropping but the club activity is keeping everyone from hibernation…. The recent capacity presentation night event to celebrate the culmination of the summer series sailing season was a fantastic display of club seamanship and fellowship. It was so good to see the club’s treasured trophies polished highly and presented to such deserving skippers and crew. By all reports everyone had a great night, even the Commodore of the CYCSA, who graciously handed back the Commodores’ Shield to us for this year, was all smiles. With crew participation always a hot topic and skippers looking at any ways of securing more willing racers, it was encouraging to see so many skippers pay homage to their dedicated crew. In such a time poor economy, it is important that we realise the value of crew members dedicating their time to not only follow their passion but to ensure that we have a wellsupported and dynamic racing calendar with as many boats as possible. Without them they could not competitively race.

The recent storm surge and king tides in early May have proven the prudency of the extensions to the “Toblerone” breakwater and I commend the majority of boat owners in heeding the warnings and ensuring the vessels were properly secured. We did however sustain some damage to the northern marina and boat ramp that we are working with our contractors to repair. Although an extensive inspection was carried out after the event, members are reminded to always bring any damage or maintenance issues to the attention of the office straight away so that we can attend to them quickly.

Function & corporate trade has been very successful and is helping drive the substantial turnaround in reported result for the F&B Department, but we are also mindful of managing the access to the facilities first and foremost for members. Projects like the Jimmy’s Bar upgrade, forward planning on the club calendars and guidelines will all go to ensure the club benefits from its ability to trade in this market but not disadvantage or restrict access to its members. We have also released a new set of membership benefits that will further enhance the member experience and reward members who frequent the club facilities with substantial discounts. After the sinking of Sari, members should take this as a timely reminder of the need to keep their boats well maintained and in good order. Recent scheduled walk arounds have identified a number of vessels requiring work and members are advised that the club will be contacting them to discuss the schedule of works they plan to undertake to ensure that they meet their obligations. As the seasons change now is the perfect time to think about getting some work done and with the great winter slipping deal started, now is the best time to start planning those jobs.

Sari aground on the North Bank

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.’

Members will be pleased to hear that the slipway rail repairs have gone very smoothly and economically thanks to tight project management and expert advice. The slip infrastructure is undergoing a staged maintenance and upgrade to ensure its longevity and safety into the future. Another project nearing completion is the new contractors shed to be leased by Bravo Sails, which is due for hand over in the coming days. This will further enhance the onsite access for members to specific trades and services for boat owners. The SE Maintenance pontoons have been removed for assessment and quotes are being sourced for repairs and/or replacement by the Development Advisory Panel.

FUNCTIONS REPORT you do not miss out. Andrew won many hearts with the mums giving a way the flower at the end of the luncheon.

New winter menu

Kevin Grant

We are running a little behind schedule with the new winter menu as we need more time for Catherine to rehearse her dessert performance. We cannot leave out ooooozing with chocolate as part of the description. Too many guests come just the here Catherine dessert spell, I mean spill. Never have we sold so many desserts. We are contemplating a new system to cover costs if you don’t buy a dessert we charge an entertainment fee instead. Worth the price of admission for the show.

On a more serious note we are being advised to expect constant increase in beef fillet and lamb prices. We will continue to buy quality meat and do our best to keep prices low.

E continue to be busy with future bookings go well. However we are a member’s Club and any member who has a special occasion event please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be delighted to look after your event and to ensure you make the most of your Club. Presentation Night with over 200 guests was a wonderful night with lots of fun with members enjoying each other’s company. Congratulations to all involved in the event. Presentation night was followed by Mother’s Day and for the first time ever we were fully booked for Mother’s Day. We received so many compliments on the food and service with guests keen to rebook for 2017. After the success of Mother’s book early to ensure

Members’ discounts

• Curry Night -Thursday Night $15 Promotion plus Drink Specials • Clare Valley Brewing Craft Beers $5 330ml Bottle • Jeanneret Sideways Riesling & Cabernet $6 Glass $25 Bottle I prefer beer with my Curry and I really like the Clare Valley Monkey’s Uncle Red Ale and at $5 bottles is a bargain, The Jeanneret Sideways red a nice way to finish the night. Perfect way to spend a winter’s night sharing good food and wine with friends. A special thank you must go to the House and Social team for their tireless work in scheduling fun social events. Priscilla Queen of the Desert movie night was another fun event. Check our Facebook there are some hilarious pictures and comments. I you have not attended one of their many events as Molly Meldrum would say “Do yourself a favour”

Members discounts now of Restaurant menu as well as beverages

Wine tastings and film nights are great fun.

Present you members card to receive your member’s discount ranging from 20%, 15% or 10% depending on you membership category. To receive you discount our staff need to swipe your membership card after each sale to activate the programmed discount. Unfortunately without your membership card no discount can be given. Please note-Specials do not receive additional discounts.

Heather McDonald and Jill Roach divert a disaster as the wine maker informed me on the day he could not make it or find a replacement. They came to the rescue, and did a brilliant job more fun and laughter than I have ever seen at any wine tasting. Best description ever “The sparkling is chardonnay with bubbles” Spot on. Well done and thanks and I sure they will be getting another gig by popular demand.

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME New RSAYS Members Welcomed with open arms! The Commodore Rae Hunt, and retiring Chair of the House & Social Committee Andrea Mead, officially welcomed all new RSAYS members at an informal lunch on Sunday, 22 May. New members and ‘old salts’ mixed and mingled, and enjoyed a Commodore’s ‘shout’ of a free drink to celebrate the occasion. A warm welcome to each and every one of you!

Our new members Liam & Ali Harris (Hullabaloo)............. Family Michael Harden (ND965).................... Senior Troy Lawrence (Windshift).................. Senior Barney Smith (Atomix 600)................. Senior Alyn Stevenson (Too Hot to Trot)........ Senior Stuart Cox (Son of a Son)................... Senior Theo Strecker (Magic)......................... Senior Lindsay Glaetzer................................. Crew Wilhelm Biarne................................... Crew John Smith......................................... Crew John Karam........................................ Crew Tony Vianello...................................... Crew Gabriel Lowe...................................... Junior Tim Strecker....................................... Junior

20 YEAR MEMBERS PROFILE 20 Year Memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dinner celebrated in style! More than 100 guests enjoyed the official dinner to honour and acknowledge members who have achieved over 20 years of membership on Saturday, 28 May. Commodore Rae Hunt, together with the Flag Officers and the House & Social Committee welcomed everyone and joined in the traditional group photo, with smiles all round!

Group photo of attendees taken in the Dinghy Shed prior to dinner in the Dining Room

60 Year Member Charles (Chook) Wall-Smith

40 Year Members Ian Shaw, Margaret Shaw, Ole Vandahl, David Rawnsley, Ian Moncrieff, John Muirhead, Arthur Vandenbroek, Anthea Cowell.

50 Year Members Peter Ewens, Vivienne Cauchi, Jennifer Last

30 Year Members Bruce Roach, John Deniet, Alan Duncan, Fay Duncan, Helen White, Trevor Mills, Murray Chase

20 Year Members Robert Hogarth, Gillian Hogarth, Jenny Treloar, Rudi Vatzlavik, Perry Warren, Roger Oaten, Larry Konopka, Leigh Causby

RACING NEWS in second place to Peter Vincent, New Morning III. Nevertheless everyone enjoyed the live entertainment and curry after the race on the quarterdeck. Presentation Night was a sell out once again, with over 200 people in attendance. In the very capable hands of MC extraordinaire Peter Kelly, we were delighted with an entertaining evening to celebrate the 2015-16 season. It is always good to start the evening with Geoff Boettcher on behalf of the CYCSA handing over the Commodore’s Shield, keeping the friendly rivalry between clubs alive.

Heidi Pfeiffer

HE sailing season has wrapped up and winter series has just started. The combined series with the CYCSA will see over 30 boats on the water each week and includes the prestigious Plympton Cup Race. We finished the season with Inkster Memorial Race. As usual it was an interesting race. Unfortunately for Les Howell, Allouette, who after 50 years is yet to win, this time finishing

Barbara Parker was the deserving winner of the Eileen Hardy Trophy. Barbara has been involved in women’s racing for many years as crew and skipper, competing in the RSAYS’s Women’s Series and the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta; she has also been a coopted member of the Racing Committee. Hats off to Aikin and 3 Cool Cats who both received a nice haul of trophies after a successful season. Jimmy Howell Vulcan was acknowledged for the competition he provides every time he races and for his many years of successful racing.

There were changes to the committee following the Skipper and Crews Meeting. Thank you to Steve Martin for his contribution to the committee over his four years of standing. A big welcome to Chris Perry and Barbara Parker who join as members and Caillin Howard and Nives Vincent who are both co-opted to assist the racing committee. Roger Oaten once again is Chair and Chris Mandalov Vice-Chair. We are bringing back some of the offshore races that haven’t been used for several years, bringing out different silverware from the trophy cabinet and add more variety to the series, particularly for those who have raced offshore for the last few years. Finally I would like to thank our generous sponsors for their contributions throughout the season: Kaesler Wines, Musto, Nautilus Marine, Bethany Wines, Whitworths, North Haven Marine and Michael McMichael Motors. We also extend our thanks to Mario Minuzzo, Miss Robyn, and Brian Sutherland, Wilbur, for generously making their boats available once again for the dedicated race officers and volunteers to use in conducting our races.

Aikin - Caillin Howard / David Oliver

3 Cool Cats - Scott Mutton

Taniwha - Ron Parker

Vulcan - Jim Howell

Presentation Night Trophies and Awards 3 Cool Cats (Scott Mutton)

Bundey Cup, Cock of the Walk, Inshore Series Div 1 AMS, Le Hunte Cup, AMS Div 1, Alan Wilkinson Trophy (Twilight Cock of the Walk - Div 1), Reverie Trophy (Club Series - AMS), Kaesler Cup - Div 1

Aikin (Caillin Howard/David Oliver)

Clive Fricker Memorial (Pt Lincoln Race Fastest), CAT Thorquest Trophy (Glenelg Gulf Race), Mark L Mitchell Trophy (Island Cup - AMS), Jubilee Cup, Kintore Cup, Matthew Flinders Trophy (Pt Lincoln Race), Keith Flint Memorial Trophy (Pt Lincoln Race - AMS), Kintore Cup

Arcadia (Paul Bogner)

Revereie Tropy (Club Series - PHS), Winter Series - Div 2

Blue Diamond (Mal Denton)

Alan Jordan Memorial (Women’s Twilight - Robyn Riedel), Morton Trophy (AMS Club Champion), Kaesler Cup - Div 2, Inshore Series Div 2 AMS, Twilight Series - Div 2

Carte Blanche (Peter Mumford)

Harold Dicker Memorial (Easter Regatta)

Circe (Colin Doudy)

Alan Wilkinson Trophy (Twilight Cock of the Walk - Div 2)

Horopito (Mark Robertson)

Orontes Cup, Twilight Series - Div 1 (Phil Parish)

Juniors

Pacer Cup (Jacob Morelli, Alistair Teagle)

Kaesler (Colin Fraser)

Mark L Mitchell Trophy (Island Cup - PHS), TG Flint Memorial

Medium Rare (Wayne Knill)

RJ & SR Duncanson Trophy (Etchells State Champion), Hawse Trophy (Etchells Cock of the Walk), Etchells Series 1 & 2

Musetta (Kevin Kelly)

PFL Hussey Memorial (Easter Regatta)

New Morning III (Peter Vincent)

CS Inkster Memorial, Inshore Series Div 2

Outrageous (Steve Beaufoy)

Correll Memorial (Easter Regatta)

RSAYS

Commodores’ Shield

Taniwha (Ron Parker)

Eileen Hardy Trophy (Barbara Parker - best performed yachtswoman), Germein Memorial (Easter Regatta), Morton Trophy (AMS Club Champion - Div 1), Women’s Racing Series (Barbara Parker), Winter Series - Div 1, Inshore Series Div 1

Two True (Andrew Saies)

SA Champion of Offshore Racing

Vulcan (Jim Howell)

George Eimer Memorial (Haystack Island Race), AMS Offshore Trophy, Teachers Cup (PHS Offshore Series)

Witch’s Thimble (Robin Townsend)

Women’s Keelboat Invitation Race

Blue Diamond - Mal Denton

Medium Rare - Wayne Knill

AROUND THE CANS the Victorian Etchells State Titles in March. To those outside, the Etchells world may seem quite ordinary, but when you cast an eye over the skippers and crew above 8th place you quickly see a number of professional sailors, America’s Cup and World Title holders in the list. Excellent sailing Mark. The season this year certainly had weather to suite all boats, with only a few races lost due to poor weather. Therefore very few excuses can be made about poor results not coming from within the boat. One of the great things about One Design sailing is how quickly it shows up poor crew work and poor tactical decisions. It can take a whole leg to gain half a boat length against an opponent and a matter of seconds to lose 2 or 3 boat lengths.

Andrew Waterman

T is said that some people are naturally gifted and others are just lucky. I’m not sure which group Wayne Knill and his crew fall into but this was certainly their year, clearly winning both the State Titles and the Pointscore Series. As Wayne said at prize night, he and his crew have been sailing together for 10 years or more, so this does help. Congratulations to both Wayne and his crew. The other good news that has not had as much publicity was Mark Roberts’s achievement in coming 8th in a fleet of 20 at

The big challenge for the Etchells fleet next season will be to have greater representation on the water. Too many crew were not available week in week out, so to help with this it has been decided that we will move away from regular Saturday racing and experiment with more intense block racing on selected Saturdays and Sundays with no scheduled racing in between. This would allow those skippers and crew who wish to do other things to do so. The format would mean racing 3 races on Saturday and 2 on Sunday with a break from scheduled racing the following 2 weeks.

For anybody currently not sailing Etchells and interested in sailing One Design, this is the perfect opportunity with at least 1 boat up for hire at a very reasonable price. There is one thing I can guarantee - it will very quickly improve your sailing skills. On a more boring note for those who wish to be up with the game you will notice in the front of your racing rules ‘Blue Book’ that it expires on 30th December 2016, so we can expect some changes. I’ll keep you posted in the next issue. But one thing to keep in mind is that any series that starts prior to 30th December and runs beyond this date is covered under the current rules and their interpretation. Any series starting after 30th December will be governed under the new rules. Say goodbye to being able to buy a printed copy of the ‘Blue Book’ as it will no longer be available as a printed version. You’ll have to download it from either the YA or World Sailing (ISAF) website. My suggestion would be to wait until October or November and download the YA copy which will have the Yachting Australia Special Regulations attached, put it on a memory stick and go to Officeworks to have it printed in A5 B&W and bound at a very reasonable price.

Racing Rules Q & A

W L

QUESTION: A common Wednesday night sailing situation with L heading towards the breakwater and W to windward. At which point does W have to give L room? ANSWER: Go to page 26

WOMEN ON THE WATER By Helen Willmer and Helen Kearney

Eileen Hardy Trophy awarded to Barbara Parker She is an active crew member and capable in a range of crew positions including skipper. A very focused sailor when racing, she prepares well with detailed pre-race organisation. Studying the course, the conditions and all elements in detail, she puts plans into action in a calm, organised manner. She is a good communicator via crew briefings talking through possible strategies and scenarios. She understands duty of care, studies weather, tides and shipping – all part of preparing a boat for time on the water, and her sense of ‘fair’ in competitive sport is well respected.

Barbara Parker with presenter John hardy

T this year’s Presentation Night, Barbara Parker was awarded the Eileen Hardy Trophy for Excellence in Seamanship by a Female Racing Sailor. Barbara is a capable and generous sailor who provides an excellent role model for other women sailors, a great participant at the RSAYS and is well deserving of this award. Barbara is a confident and proficient sailor in both cruising and racing modes. She describes herself as a ‘late bloomer’. She and her husband Ron started sailing in about 2000 with a 25 ft Omega, quickly progressing to Daystar, a Duncanson 35, and then to Taniwha, a Farr 38. Barbara has raced and cruised in local waters, offshore (including the Port Lincoln race), in both SA Gulfs and in Victoria and Queensland.

On the water Barbara continues to fine tune her own skill level through experience and is able to reflect with others in a ‘debrief’ situation on how it might have been possible to squeeze a little more out of a particular performance. Barbara’s personal concentration and tight focus in any skipper/ crew position, and her decision making and problem solving contribute to boat performance. No doubt also, does the preparation of Taniwha for participation in events. Barbara plays an active role in the maintenance of the boat frequenting the pontoon, which is close to her front door, to keep things ‘ship shape’ and tidy with her usual attention to detail. Her race preparation is systematic and thorough starting with pre-season and leading into pre-race.

of competing in the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta in Melbourne each year. She has been a regular crew member in the regatta for the past six of the seven years a Squadron team has attended and will compete again this June long weekend. In more recent times, Barbara and Ron have generously offered Taniwha to train and bond this group of Squadron women. During regular Squadron racing, women crew members are encouraged on Taniwha and provided with opportunities for growth in a range of crew positions. For the past seven years, Barbara and Ron’s boats, first Daystar and then Taniwha have also participated in the Women’s Series, giving many women the experience of being part of a total female crew (with the occasional male on board). Her contribution to the RSAYS community is notable. She is a member of the racing committee, and has played a supportive role in mentoring of women (and men) through various organised coaching series and is a regular participant in a range of squadron events. She willingly offers Taniwha for women’s training events and can be called upon to support RSAYS events as a behind the scenes person. Barbara is most generous in sharing with others the knowledge she has of yacht racing and is well respected by all those who have had the opportunity to sail with her.

Barbara has been instrumental in fostering women’s participation in sailing through the development of a team of women capable

Nautilus Marine Women’s Series

Women’s Keelboat Regatta

Winners- Taniwha

EASON 2015/16 has seen another successful Nautilus Marine Women’s Series, with many women being given the opportunity to crew and to helm. This year, six boats were entered from the Squadron and one from the CYCSA.

Again it was a season full of fun, but at the same time hotly contested right down to the last race, in which the boats were battling a massive incoming tide and a massive ship as they tried to exit the river, and the inevitable change of wind direction. Barbara Parker on Taniwha managed to read the obstacles well and was out of the river leaving Schools Out and Blue Diamond a long way behind, sealing the first place for the race and the series. Thanks to all owners of the boats that were part of the Series, and to all the officials who helped make the series possible. And congratulations to all participants, including the place getters in the series; first prize to Taniwha, second prize to the CYCSA boat School’s Out, with a variety of helms and third prize to Blue Diamond’s helm Robin Riedel.

N June 2016 the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta celebrates its 26th year. Held annually at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, the AWKR is a notoriously fun, often cold and always very competitive regatta. For the past seven years, the Squadron has sent a team/s, and will again be sending a South Australian team to compete. Sailing on the Victorian boat Mrs Overnewton, a Bavaria 38 Match, the team will be skippered by Helen Willmer, with other crew members Melissa Barclay, Tess Gordon, Barbara Parker, Di Schwert, Helen Moody, Sarah Buckley, Janet Thornley (dropping in from Sydney Harbour, east coast adventures), Deb Frisby and Julie Bernardo. Joining the Victorian boats and the South Australian team will be other interstate teams from Tasmania, Queensland, Northern Territory and New South Wales. We wish them well, especially the South Australians.

JUNIORS REPORT By Stuart Davis

End of the 2015-16 season, end of an era.

HE Squadron Juniors headed off to the much anticipated camp from 11 to 14 March. Not knowing it on arrival but it appears it will be the last camp at Lake Schubert (near Morgan on the River Murray). The Junior Sailing Committee were advised that the property is no longer going to be available for any groups. For many kids, parents and instructors, not just this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campers, this will be sad news. This also made this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camp even more special. The racing, as always, was closely contested and competitive but undertaken with equal doses of seamanship and fellowship. Alistair made it two in a row, winning the Crusty Cup again this year. His crew over the weekend were Tim, Oscar and Sienna. Well done Alistair! The pressure will be on next year for a hat trick. Everyone embraced the dress code for the presentation night dinner and 21st birthday celebrations (congratulations Lynton). Finally we believe a new record was set for the number of canine campers this year.

N the Grelka Cup long race, a brilliant finale to a fantastic season, the brother and sister team of Sage and Joel triumphed on a count-back from Sam, Tim & Ashley. While we were enjoying fantastic sailing on the Port River, Will, Jacob M, Lachlan and Jacob L were making their way to Ceduna for the State Secondary Schools Teams Racing Regatta where they managed to achieve outstanding results for their school. Perfect weather was the backdrop for the sail past and presentation evening. There were some very proud sailors, and parents, with a few surprise award recipients who were rewarded for their efforts over the season. Finally thanks to all that make the Juniors program possible, there are too many to name, but it is only through everyone lending a hand that the program can train the next generation of Squadron sailors and future members. Juniors will be back to do it all again later in the year.

Sail past and presentations

HOUSE AND SOCIAL Priscilla’s 25th Anniversary celebrated with flamboyant gaiety!

Easter Regatta at Port Vincent ‘Commodore’s Shout’

Helen Prisk wrote this article for us some years ago after a rather traumatic incident in her dinghy when the engine failed. Helen with her partner Graham Kilgariff were stranded on an uninhabited island in the Sir Joseph Banks Group. We’ve decided to re-run it as many members have not seen it, and it contains many lessons for us all.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED: BE PREPARED By Helen Prisk

HIS is a true account of a potential disaster which happened to rookies (Helen & Graham) in the Cruising Division at Reevesby Island. The dramatic events highlight important safety aspects which should be considered when using inflatable tenders. One evening we were invited to dinner on another boat which was anchored about 100 metres from The Tardis. We set off during twilight in the duck with two bottles of wine and some spare petrol on board. After all, we were only going a short distance to the other boat. The weather was quite warm and we wore tee-shirts, shorts and light spray proof jackets. There were about twenty yachts anchored in the lagoon At about 10pm Graham decided to stretch his legs and went on deck where he discovered that the wind had picked up to about 25 kts. He immediately decided that we should return to our boat. We had not drunk the wine we had taken, so took it with us. There was no moon, the wind was very strong and there were waves to negotiate. Unfortunately Charles, our host, could not get his powerful torch to work to see us back onto our own boat. The winds immediately pushed us into the anchor chain of the boat as we left our host and we had to push off with difficulty. It was hard to steer into the strong winds and waves as we headed towards our boat. Finally, after about 10 minutes we approached The Tardis and I made ready to grab the ladder. Then disaster struck. One foot from the ladder the two horsepower motor stopped suddenly and I could not reach the ladder or any part of the boat. The wind pushed the dingy away from our boat with great speed and we were stranded. The motor stopped because Graham had left his squid lines floating out over the stern of The Tardis and they became hopelessly entangled around the prop of the dingy. Not to worry, we had oars onboard, so we could row back to the boat. Or could we? Have you ever tried to row a rubber inflatable in a 25-35 knot wind? We went around in circles while still being pushed rapidly North West away from the fleet. We passed two boats and yelled out for help, but the wind was so strong and noisy that nobody could hear us. Our words were blown away with the wind. I became a little anxious as you do in these situations but Graham remained fairly calm having had a couple of wines that evening.

Photo: At the annual Shag Island Yacht Club Rendevous held at the Glouscester Passage 2014

The duck floated away and the other boats became smaller as we drifted. We thought we might end up in Tumby Bay and there was nothing that we could do. However, Graham thought he could see Partney Island in our path. It was very dark and I could not see it. He used an oar to steer the boat in that direction and eventually we approached a large smooth rock on the shore of the island. A wave blew us onto the rock and we pulled the dingy up. During the night we pulled the dingy further up the rock as the tide kept rising. It was very cold and we were only wearing light clothing, so we turned the dingy over to try to keep the wind off us, but it just whistled in under the dingy. It was very cold and neither of us could sleep on the hard rock. Graham tried to remove the fishing line from around the prop but it was too dark to see and the line was tightly entangled. We found an empty beer can and tore it apart to try to gain a sharp edge to cut the fishing line but that was a useless exercise. Graham next attempted to remove the split pin holding the propeller but he had no tools and rocks were not very effective. I suggested that we break one of the wine bottles to get a sharp edge, but Graham thought that was too dangerous and we may cut ourselves in the dark. During the night I saw bright lights among the fleet and thought that people had noticed that we were missing and were looking for us. This, however, was not the case. The wind was so strong that at least two boats Grey Nurse and Beachcomber had dragged anchor, and the skippers were out trying to prevent damage and re-anchor their boats. We spent all night on the cold, very dark shore and had to wait for daylight to make any progress. Finally, the sun lit the land and Graham could just see the fishing line, although he did not have his glasses. While he was attempting to undo the line three boats left for their cruise to the north of

Spencer Gulf. We went un-noticed. At last, the fishing lines were cleared from the prop and Graham and I lifted the duck into the water. The engine started with no problems. We were on our way back to civilisation. No one knew of our ordeal until we told them. What lessons did we learn and what equipment should be present in the dingy? • If you have guests on your boat, always ensure that you see them re-embark on return to their own boat. Shine a strong torch until they climb on board. • Check via radio that your guests have made it back to their own boat(s) • Always have warm clothes with you, just in case! • Do not leave fishing lines dangling over the back of the yacht • Have spare 2 stroke on board • Keep a small grab bag for the dingy and the contents should include • Spare split pins x 2 • Spare spark plug • Spare can 2 or 4 stroke • Knife • Bright torch with spare batteries/globes • Pliers • Bottle of water • Chocolate or biscuits • Spare spectacles • Oars • Bucket • Portable VHF • Matches • Personal Epirb would be useful. • SAT Phone By the way, the two bottles of alcohol would not have been of much use because drinking alcohol will contribute to hypothermia. The lessons learnt on this escapade reinforce the issues of safety and I know no longer want to be stranded on a desert island.

CRUISING REPORT weather was perfect and it was a great sail over on Good Friday with boats visible on all angles all the way over. The racing was keen with the Beaufoy’s yacht Outrageous being the top point scorer overall. The one sour note was that one crew member suffered a stroke just after the finish of a race as the yacht was returning to the marina. An emergency airlift by helicopter was necessary To the credit of all involved the patient is doing well. This is a stark reminder of how vulnerable we all are, regardless of our fitness or age. This incident was very sobering and changed the outlook of an otherwise very good Easter Regatta.

Kingsley ‘Bones’ Haskett

REETINGS from the Chair and Committee members of your Cruising Committee. As I put pen to paper our second major storm front of the late autumn period approaches and it’s a timely reminder to boat owning members to check lines and all possibly loose items on board their vessels. Be sure all sails are securely stowed and or tied down. The cruising season has now closed and winter is on our doorstep. Now is a good time to review your season, and actively make note of work to be done or scheduled. Don’t leave it to the start of the next cruising season to begin a makeover, no matter how small. Of the events since our last Quarterly, the Easter gathering of cruisers and racers from four different clubs, resulted in the reported largest number of vessels to berth in the Pt. Vincent marina since its inception. The

The next Cruising event was the sail to the Cutter Patch in the Troubridge Shoals. Although the weather was boisterous most of the weekend, seven yachts made the trip down the Gulf. The weather prevented much fraternising between vessels and the fishing was poor but a reported good time was had by all. Trevor Manoel of Natuna was the coordinator for this event. As reported briefly in the last Quarterly, three large moorings are now in place at Black Point. This has been a long-term effort and, apart from the final laying of the moorings has been a volunteer project from start to finish, with a large number of Squadron members involved over a number of years. However, special mention must go to Zane Lamont, who spliced all the large mooring lines plus the pick up lines as this is an essential part of the project. Jeff Hunt must also be thanked for his help in assembly and the eventual positioning and laying of the moorings, and also to Steve Kennedy for his for his ability to supply most of the materials needed. Thanks also to Garry Reed who

Easter Regatta: Germein Memorial - Taniwha

Easter Regatta: Correll Memorial - Outrageous

supplied vital parts for this project. The three moorings all have Squadron stickers on them, each is in at least three metres of water at LAT and are strong enough to hold the largest vessels on the Squadron register. All materials were over engineered and should last many years. A final note of thanks must go to Maritime Constructions, and Martine Weson who made it all possible. The Yorke Peninsula Saltwater Classic is not a Squadron event but a good number of Squadron wooden yachts joined in this biannual event. It was well run and enjoyed by all the cruisers who made the trip over. The event is well worth attending. The cruise to the Torrens Island Quarantine station on Anzac Day is part of the Squadron’s history. It is to emulate the event of 1892, which was a picnic to celebrate the return from England of Commodore Walcot to the Squadron. This Popular event is held biannually and attracted 92 members and friends. Seventeen boats were at anchor and as no landing stage is usable everyone was ferried ashore in the Squadron tender and Steve Kennedy’s small motorboat. The Squadron catering staff provided the food. The weather was perfect and the wellattended event was enjoyed by all. The last event in this report is the just completed Pt Adelaide dinner cruise and tour to the Aviation Museum. This was organised by Committee member Ken Case. Nine yachts made the trip up to the Port marina and 29 to dinner at the hospitable Lighthouse Hotel (originally the Exchange Hotel). The usual socialising on the yachts ensued and a good time was had by all. Yours in seamanship and fellowship.

Dinner at the Lighthouse Hotel

Anzac Day: Quarantine Station, Torrens Island Photo: Antoinette Hunter

Anzac Day: Quarantine Station, Torrens Island Photo: Sue Buckley

WINTER SAILING SPOTS By Roger Holden

Chilling Out on Port and Pickled Onions

Y late Autumn, high pressure systems scurry north to central Australia for the winter, bringing NW to SW wind patterns and chilly days to South Australia. Those cruisers with time on their hands who haven’t fled north to warmer climes, have two options: abandon ship for a few months, or ……

Today the Port River offers even better added winter options, with great restaurants and pubs waiting for those who venture inside the bridges and moor up in the Inner Harbour for a few days. It’s a nice , safe way to remain in totally sheltered waters for those families who are keen to throw away the cool-weather cruising L-plates and venture further afield.

Or what? Simple really . Pack warm clothes, a small boat heater if you can and head out doing precisely what you love to do in Summer. Go cruisin’! In those days when our children were young, the Wickhams, the Holdens, the Barlows and the Cluses in particular used to do it quite regularly, albeit with the finest winter-warmers money could buy: casks of cheap port and Marion’s fabled, home-made chilli pickled onions.

Further afield? Interestingly, our summer cruising grounds can be even more enticing in winter. For starters unless the gales are in, conditions tend to be far more benign. No ferocious seabreezes, generally gentle winds and often –too often—a great deal of motoring. The east coast of Yorke Peninsula remains safely under the lee and while the north coast of Kangaroo Island may be out for reasons of prudence, possibilities open up on the southern coast of Yorke Peninsula.

The June long-weekend was generally the starting point. Behind Torrens Island in the Barker Inlet was the destination. In the weeks prior to raft-up, the pickled onions had been brought to maturity and been pooch-tested on our pet Beagle Jodie, the four-legged food vacuum and processing legend. If she could no longer wolf one down, it meant the onions were ready.

Margaret Ford (Rusalka) leads the Black Point Cheer squad

Twice in winter we sailed to Port Augusta to see our son who worked with the ABC. The glorious backdrop of the southern Flinders bathed in sparkling green winter clarity made it so worthwhile. Short warm days, bitter-cold nights, stars that lived without the camouflage of cloud or spillage of city lights … beautiful. Marionette heads for home off Normanville

A port and Pickled Onion night underway

Barker Inlet is an ideal and very safe winter anchorage. Particularly when the port flows from 10 am onwards and the pickled onions are explosive enough to sink a Collins class on sight.

out and send us on our way either to the bottom or to the heaving coastline south of Corny Point still remains a raw memory, but hey, these things can happen quite easily in our warmer months as well. Those who race to Port Lincoln in February each year might be pleasantly surprised to learn that Boston Island turns a delightful shade of green and produces some lovely mushrooms if you know where to look.

We sailed several times to Port Lincoln in the winter months with our young children and with but one exception—never a drama. Our much-loved wooden boat at the time had the windward ability of a brick. Sitting all night in Hecla’s anchorage on Thistle Island shivering in fear without an engine while a screaming westerly tried to rip the anchor

Of course, we are much older now, but that isn’t going to stop our winter cruising this year. Come late July we shall be off again, taking in the sights of Stockholm , Helsinki, St.Petersburg, Tallinn and London. Older, but not necessarily wiser, as you can see. Mind you, as long as we can find a glass of port and a decent pickled onion, life aboard a monstrous cruise liner might not be as bad as it sounds ….

And hey, what could be better than the Port River itself for winter anchoring anyway? We used to have wonderful nights off the Quarantine Station, carousing around huge driftwood bonfires, adults-only at one end of the beach and the young ones giggling and marvelling at the stupidity of their elders around another blaze not so far away. Mind you, it was often necessary for us to rotisserie ourselves as the chill struck from one side while the inferno fried us from the other.

SAIL DRIVE By Trevor Hamlyn, Photos: Gordaon Watson - Lake Eyre Yacht Club

40th Anniversary …. Sailing Regatta - Lake Eyre 1976

Lake Eyre Regatta 1976

RECENT front page feature in The Advertiser (4 April 2016) about desert sailing prompted me to find out if any Squadron Members were involved in the regatta on Lake Poondulanna 70km ENE of Mungerannie, which is 203km N of Maree on the Bridsville track, in April this year. Our current-day trailer sailers, like those owned by Squadron members, are too big and heavy to drag over sandhills and Lake Eyre, which has the only suitable water, is now apparently closed to sailing. A Trailer Sailer regatta was held on Lake Eyre 40 years ago. Fay Tozer accompanied her husband Jim to the Lake in May 1976, along with 73 other men, women and children of the Hartley TS16 Association of SA. The following is Fay’s article of 40 years ago which appeared in (*insert Journal/newspaper, etc). It was written at a time when inland roads were still fairly basic, when 4-wheel drive vehicles were few and of course when there were no mobile telephones, GPS devices or the like.

EFORE dawn on Saturday, May 8th 1976, excited families belonging to the Hartley TS16 Association packed their eskies into their cars, checked their loaded boats and started on the most interesting and historical holiday of their lives. Their destination was the inland sea of Lake Eyre, South Australia. Unusually a dry salt bed, and now, for the first time ever, a sea of water 90 miles by 40 miles and many times saltier than the ocean sea. The course to be sailed was to be set out over the area where the late Donald Campbell set the land speed record in his “Bluebird”.

casings, and on arrival they found that their cabins were inches thick in red dirt. The route to the lake took the 10 Hartley 16’s through the mid-North of South Australia and through towns (Jamestown, Orroroo, Hawker, Marree) where the residents couldn’t believe their own eyes as the convoy drove through towing boats toward the sand desert country. They could be forgiven for thinking that a wrong turning had been taken somewhere earlier along the route. The further North we drove, the hotter and dustier everyone became

and welcome stops were made at Hawker and Marree, for refuelling and washing down the dust with canned drinks. The road to Lake Eyre from Marree passed through the Price family property of ‘Muloorina” where the condition of the road ahead was checked on and proclaimed passable. By this time, a Victorian couple and their boat had joined the convoy, also a 20 foot Randall (the flag ship), four families in Toyota Land Cruisers (backup vehicles in case of bogging in the sand) and a doctor.

Another interesting fact was that the TS16’s were to be sailing 42 feet below sea level. Two months of planning and preparation went into this 450 mile trip north of Adelaide. Preparations included strengthening the boat trailers for the hundreds of miles of driving on dirt roads, protecting the boats in various ways with hessian, plastic or canvas, working out menus to provide enough fresh food for the week, dehydrated and tinned food for an extra five days in the event that should rain and the road become impassable, and lastly, enough water and petrol. All openings in the boats were sealed to prevent the dust penetrating, but there were those who forgot to cover the centre-board

Hartley TS16 of the type sailed on Lake Eyre 40 year ago

Keeping in groups of three or four, the convoy drove through the sandy track past salt pans, cattle being mustered, kangaroos, multitudes of rabbits, saltbush and cathedral grass as far as the eye could see. At last, after climbing the highest sandhill, there - the Lake. Incredible, breath-taking, serene, sparkling in the bright sunlight - the beginning of the most perfect holiday anyone could ever experience. Once the splendid sight had been absorbed, each family moved off to inspect the sandhill to select a suitable site for their tent or caravan. These were set up with haste as darkness would soon be approaching. Next morning all hands prepared to launch the boats. The 30 foot high sandhill was graded with shovels by the teenage boys, the women and girls formed a bucket brigade to keep the sand wet, and reasonably firm. All boats were launched manually by the men without difficulty, although one man’s fingers were caught in the pulley through which the rope was moving. It was a nasty accident and pain-killers were given by the doctor. Once the boats were moored along the shore - a beautiful sight with all the different coloured hulls against a backdrop of sparkling blue water - a deep satisfaction was felt by all that so far things had gone well. All four races in the championship were held in ideal conditions - the sun shone about 26 degrees each day, allowing the specially printed TS 16 Lake Eyre Championship t-shirts and shorts to be worn and a good suntan was obvious after two days. The wind off the land each morning was approximately 10 knots, which changed to a sea breeze each afternoon, so that one could almost think they were back sailing on St. Vincent’s Gulf. The races were named “Muloorina Handicap” after the station whose property we were on, “Saltbush Stakes” for obvious reasons, “Camel Stakes” (no, we didn’t see any). These three races were sailed in the afternoon, and “Lassiter’s Last Race” (after the gentleman who was supposed to have found gold somewhere in the outback) was sailed in the morning of the last weekday. The overall outright champion was Don Thorpe and son, Chris, in “Superoo”. Don is also Interdominion Champion 1974-75 and South Australian State Champion 176 and 1977. The first three place-getters received a trophy, donated by GM-Holden, and every boat which sailed received a memento of this historic occasion, plus small bottle of water taken from the finish line of the last race, and presented by the starter-judge. The buoys were placed in the triangle with the furthermost one being placed out over the area where Donald Campbell ran his Bluebird to achieve his speed record.

Lake Poondulanna Regatta 2016

The starting boat was a dinghy which had seen better days, equipped with a motor to facilitate the stewards reaching the start and finish lines. The start “flags” were three buckets of different colours.

After the exciting week - congratulating the place-getters and presenting Don with a bottle of lake water from the finishing line, it was sad to retrieve the boats and pack up for the homeward journey.

Each night a large campfire was lit and everyone gathered around, swapping stories of their adventures with their boats, telling jokes, singing, drinking, roasting potatoes and toasting bread, or the younger ones taking a stroll along the lake’s shore.

The Hartley TS 16 Association had achieved everything it set out to do – sail an event over a land speed record area, make certain of a place in the Guinness Book of Records, prove that families from all walks of life can share in a holiday together, and prove that TS 16’s can go ANYWHERE.”

There was a full moon that week and three skippers took their boats out for a moonlight sail, loaded with visitors to the lake from other organised safaris. It was a magnificent experience. The only fresh water available was that which had been brought up with each family, and it was being used very carefully, so needless to say, personal toilet was rather limited. On the Wednesday, there was a lay-day and the whole camp went to an artesian bore about 40 kilometres away to bathe. The bore was drilled in 1921 and 2 million gallons of water per day flow from the pipe at a temperature of 127 degrees. A hot bath was enjoyed by all in a huge tank where the water has cooled enough to immerse one’s body. The hot water didn’t deter the cattle, they were drinking it as it ran from the pipe down the channel. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the camp - everyone joined in the sailing, photography, watching over small children, digging latrines, finding wood for the fire, and rabbiting. The camp liaison officer was out of a job, for he had nothing to do - the air, sea and sun made everyone very relaxed and free from worries.

Some interesting statistics in support of Fay’s article that were recorded at the time are: • Lake Eyre North and South was flooded in 1974 • Lake Eyre North measured 144km in length, 77km in width and filled to a depth of 5-7 metres with a shoreline of 1,390km at the time. The salt crust was normally 460mm thick. • Lake Eyre South measured 64km in length, 24km in width and filled to a depth of 3-7 metres with a shoreline of 328km at the time. The salt crust was normally 400mm thick. Many thanks to Fay Tozer, who still lives in Adelaide with her husband Jim, for allowing me to reproduce her article. Thanks also to TSA Life Member Gordon Watson, the TS16 Association and the Lake Eyre Yacht Club for providing the photographs. This article is taken from: Page 13, the July 1976 edition of ‘Water Sport’ magazine ‘, titled ‘Lake Eyre Championships’ Re-printed unedited with permission from the author, Fay Tozer

FIVE ISLANDS TO CEDUNA By Mark Sinclair

Greenly Island Fishing Vessels

EDUNA is situated on the eastern shore of Murat Bay on the Great Australian Bight. From Adelaide by sea it is approximately two-thirds of the way to the Western Australian border, a distance of some 370 nautical miles. Despite its remoteness, a voyage off the west coast of Eyre Peninsula is an attractive proposition, offering a number of seldom-visited offshore islands and numerous bays and small settlements along the coast. I have desired to sail to Ceduna for some time and made an unsuccessful attempt in September 2014. On that occasion, fresh westerly winds thwarted our plan to get around the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula, so we opted for a more sedate cruise up Spencer Gulf to Cowell instead. We also realised that the two weeks we had allowed were not really enough for such a trip. February 2016 provided me with another opportunity as I had three weeks annual leave. This time I was sailing singlehanded. For the outbound leg, I decided to sail offshore, via Wedge Island, Williams Island, Greenly Island, Pearson Island and Masillon Island in Nuyts Archipelago. This passage took six days, with three nights and one day spent at anchor, and two nights underway. On the return leg, I opted for an inshore route, via Smoky Bay, Streaky Bay, Sceale Bay, Venus Bay, Elliston, Hall Bay, Coffin Bay, Point Sir Isaac (aka Seasick Bay), Avoid Bay and Memory Cove, over a period of 12 days. This plan worked well with respect to the weather. Fresh south-easterly breezes generally provided fast downwind sailing for the longer outbound legs. For the return, light southerly or moderate to fresh westerly

conditions were experienced, enabling a series of day sails, with the exception a final overnight run from Memory Cove to Adelaide. An additional benefit of this plan was that my outbound and return tracks did not cross until I was back in Investigator Strait, so I always had the feeling of sailing over new ground. I departed RSAYS on the morning of Sunday 14 February and beat down Gulf St Vincent into a light south-westerly breeze. Off Troubridge Island, the wind backed to the south which allowed for a close reach down Investigator Strait. During the night, four large merchant vessels kept me on my toes, all passing within one1 mile. At dawn, I passed close north of Althorpe Island. As the morning developed, squalls set in from ahead, so I decided to take a break at Wedge Island, anchoring at midday. Although I let go in a sand patch, I dragged anchor (twice), until finally deploying two anchors: a CQR and a fisherman.

Pearson Island Anchorage

The following day, the wind was still in the south so I weighed at 0800hrs for a short sail to Williams Island. I passed well south of the tide-rips off the southern end of Thistle Island and anchored at 1300hrs in the bay on the north side of Williams Island. This time, the holding was better. The anchorage was quite comfortable; although the south-west swell refracted into the bay, it came up from astern. Unfortunately, while Thorny Passage and Williams Island were previously shown at a large scale on paper chart AUS 134 Port Lincoln and Approaches (2002 edition), the current edition of AUS 134, Approaches to Port Lincoln (edition 22 March 2013) no longer extends this far south. In my opinion, this is a retrograde change, and a reminder to keep hold of those old charts! I departed early the following morning before a light south-east breeze which dropped out during the forenoon, so I had a quiet passage under power along Whalers Way, in contrast to my previous attempt in September 2014.

In the afternoon, off Four Hummock Island, the wind increased to a fresh breeze, which provided a fine run to Greenly Island. Some of the islands off the west coast of Eyre Peninsula are poorly documented. For example, in Graham Scarce’s book, A Cruising Guide to the Historic West Coast, Greenly Island is described on page 31 as ‘two (sic) far offshore to be of significance to coastal sailing and will only receive a brief description’. However, Tumby Bay radio put me in contact with some fishermen who advised me there was an anchorage on the north side of the island close to a cleft in the rocks. I arrived at Greenly Island at 1800hrs and found there were two fishing vessels anchored or moored in very deep water off the northern side of the island. They directed me to the anchorage in a depth of approximately 15 metres over sand, close off a ‘V’ shaped chasm in the island. This anchorage would provide excellent shelter from weather from the south to west, although in the strong south-east conditions I experienced, the wind wrapped around the corner of the island, and blew strongly into the anchorage, making it a lee shore. The combination of strong wind, deep water and rocks close to leeward was quite confronting, and fearing dragging anchor onto the rocks at night, I decided to put back out to sea. Maybe on this occasion Scarce was right; I left Greenly to the commercial fishermen. Pearson Island is some 50nm distant, and with a fresh south-east breeze, my ETA was 0200hrs the following morning. I took in sail to slow down, initially proceeding under headsail only, but even this was too fast; eventually I doused all sail and ran before the wind under bare poles. This maintained a comfortable three to four knots throughout the night with George, the Aries wind vane, keeping us quietly running down sea. At dawn, I was 10 miles south of Pearson Island, so hoisted sail and at 0900hrs anchored in the bay on the north-east side of the island. Pearson Island was discovered and named by Flinders in the Investigator on 13 February 1802. Unfortunately I think Scarce does it little justice, describing it on page 86 of his book as ‘of no concern to most vessels and will not be described’. I was captivated by the rugged appearance of the island. I launched the dinghy and went ashore to explore. Like many islands off the South Australian coast, Pearson Island was formed over 100 million years ago from lava which cooled to hard-wearing granite. The exposed boulder-strewn mountain summit has largely resisted erosion and is so high it also resisted deposition and so there is not the sandstone that is found on most of the islands. The western side of the island is more exposed to the swell which has resulted in tall cliffs and crevasses. On the lee side, there are two anchorages: a bay with a small sandy

beach on the eastern side, and the bay I was anchored in on the northern side. Both are protected from the prevailing southwest swell, and the northern bay provides more suitable protection in south-easterly conditions. The vegetation is hardy stunted trees and shrubs. There is a population of rock wallabies which inhabits rocky crevasses; due to the isolation of the place, they are curious and seem largely unafraid of humans. There are numerous reptiles (skinks, geckos and dragons), native rats, and terrestrial and coastal birdlife including sea eagles. Australian sea lions inhabit both bays. I conducted a sketch survey of the northern anchorage and this is displayed here. I decided to take advantage of the fair wind and continued on to Masillon Island, some 98 miles to the north. During the night, I ran square before a strong breeze under headsail only, reefing occasionally in the squalls. In the morning the wind dropped and I hoisted full sail, and headed for the keyhole-shaped bay on the western side of the island where I conducted a sketch survey and anchored in the mid-afternoon.

is topped with spectacular bright yellow calcarenite cliffs. The cross-bedding of the rock layers indicates the sandstone was created from windblown dunes. It is difficult to get ashore on the island due to the sheer cliffs that surround the bay. Although the anchorage is open to the west it provides excellent shelter from the south-easterly winds of summer. On Saturday 20 February, I weighed anchor after breakfast. With two reefs in the mainsail and a reefed headsail, I sailed up the west side of St Francis Island past Mast Bay, Trivia Bay and West Bay. The south-easterly swell refracts around the back of St Francis Island and rolls into Mast Bay; the beach in Trivia Bay looked like the most suitable anchorage in these conditions. I passed between West Point and Inner West Island, then headed north, passed close to weather of Lacy Island, west of St Peter Island, then and sailed up the channel into Ceduna, berthing on the north side of the main wharf in mid-afternoon. The story of the return leg, Ceduna to Port Adelaide via 10 bays, and the sketch survey of keyhole bay in Masillon Island, will be the subject of my next article.

Masillon Island was named by the Baudin expedition after Jean Baptise Masillon, Bishop of Clermont. The island has a granite base which extends to just above sea level and

YACHTY HOTSHOTS

HE third Yachty Hot Shots competition was held over the summer sailing season, and co-organiser Sue Buckley, who put the display on Friday, 11 March together with Jacqui Law-Smith, says the quality of the photos has improved each year. “We consistently receive about 60 excellent entries, but this year there were a couple of stand-out photos that were clearly winners.”

Best Action/Racing

The panel of three independent judges included award-winning newsprint photographer Bryan Charlton, who has taken on the role for the previous two years, plus two new judges, Alice Rossiter and Grier Neilson. We appreciate the time and expertise they gave to this timeconsuming task. The entries were displayed in the Dinghy Shed, where the first event was held, allowing plenty of space in which visitors could walk around, enjoy a glass of wine, and view the photos at their leisure. Guests were encouraged to go upstairs to the Dining Room to enjoy dinner and the prize presentations. Thanks to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the deserving winners. It is hoped that our ‘Yachty Hot Shots’ photographic competition amateur photographers, and viewing attendees will continue to support this event next year.

Best Lifestyle/Nature/Cruising

First Place: Kamil Zuber ‘Onboard Refreshments’

First Place in Category and Best Overall: John Mackenzie ‘Mirror Image’

Second Place: Kamil Zuber ‘Twilght’

Third Place: Kingsley Haskett ‘Sunset at Kings Anchorage’

Second Place: David Burnett ‘Setting off’

Anna Rutherford ‘Early Riser’

Best Captioned/Funniest

First Place: Iain McDougall ‘Bob’s faith’

Second Place: Kamil Zuber: ‘Point of Sail - Skyward Tack’

Third Place: Jacqui Law-Smith ‘Tuiga Circa 1909 in Full Flight’

Ronda Wallis ‘Look Out’

Third Place: Alexander Law-Smith ‘Do you like my fancy car parking’

Marion Holden ‘Galapagus girls just want to have fun’

Trevor Hamlyn ‘Drinks Stop - Wilkadene Brewery’

MEDICAL EMERGENCY AT SEA By Trevor Barker

OW often do you hear on the news about a tragedy that has befallen someone on a yacht or fishing boat? Emergencies involving injuries can occur during racing, fishing or just cruising; they can be minor and treated on the yacht, or more serious and require emergency medical treatment. I was recently enjoying some reds with fellow yachties at Stansbury and relaying my own medical emergency experience while cruising. It was a very serious injury at the time. I look back on that event and think: was I lucky or were we just well-prepared? I will let you be the judge. My sailing mate Scott and I had decided to take my yacht at the time - a Bavaria 36’ called T&T - to Spencer Gulf after Christmas 2004, and enjoy our great sailing friendship. Interestingly, prior to leaving I decided to see John Moffatt about a satellite phone. I thought to myself that VHF signals could be difficult at Snug Cove. What would we do if there was an emergency and the signal was poor? Solution : buy a satellite phone! This proved to be a very wise purchase. It was 11 January , 2005, and we were anchored in Spalding Cove in a gale, with fires threatening Port Lincoln. We sat listening to events unfolding on the radio and TV while dense smoke and ash filled the air. We felt safe but hoped that the wind would turn and help the firefighters on the ground. North Shields was gone and people were dying… there were incredibly tragic events happening all around us. The next morning we left for Reevesby Island. Port Lincoln had been saved, but the fires were still raging and we felt it was time to head out to further safety... or so we believed. We arrived and anchored at Haystack Bay, relaxed, cooked a hearty dinner and enjoyed our surroundings while still monitoring the Eyre Peninsula fires. The next morning I put on a wetsuit to snorkel over to the reef and see what I might catch for lunch. So there I was in my wetsuit, standing on the sugar scoop and putting on my flippers . As I tried

to fit my second flipper, I slipped, coming down hard on my backside before bouncing into the drink. It had only been about a metre from standing to landing on the sugar scoop, but when I floated to the surface I realised I was in serious trouble. I could not breathe or feel my legs and I could barely raise a whisper. Luckily Scott had heard the thump and resulting splash and came looking for me. The pain was so intense I could hardly inhale. Scott was able to grab my hand, and I managed to let him know I had difficulty breathing and that I couldn’t feel my legs. It was fortunate I was wearing a wetsuit as it provided some buoyancy. I was a dead weight with a possible serious injury, maybe even paralysis. On top of that I am a big man and Scott is only half my size. The scenario was scary, but i realised I had no choice but to somehow get back on the boat, even at the risk of causing myself more serious damage. Scott put the boat ladder down. A slight sensation had returned to my right leg and my breathing eased a little, but then the pain intensified dramatically in my back and chest. We made a decision. I would have to use my hand to lift my right foot on to the bottom step of the ladder and then see if I could use my leg while Scott pulled me on to the stern. Somehow I made it into the cockpit, but once there the pain increased even more and once again I struggled for breath. With Scott’s help I was able to get on to the settee, where he applied what basic first aid he knew. Scott’s next priority was to radio for help, but the repeaters had been burnt down and the VHF was not being picked up. This is when we realised just how important the purchase of the satellite phone would be. Scott rang the Port Lincoln hospital, who in turn rang the Port Lincoln Police. The fires were still raging and emergency services were already stretched impossibly to the limit and here we were involved in another medical emergency in the middle of Spencer Gulf. Full credit to our emergency services though. The Police sent two Coast Guard boats to us; one from Tumby Bay and the other from Port Lincoln with a paramedic on board. By the time they arrived the wind had gone northeast, the bay was exposed, and the seas were lumpy. They tied their boats to T&T, which was a worry in itself in the rough seas at anchor. The paramedic was concerned

Racing Rules Q & A - Answer

that I had a serious injury and if not handled carefully, I could be permanently paralysed. On a side note, during this drama, Joe, a Port Lincoln local from the boat Hawk, arrived to see if he could assist. He came bearing a pain-relieving suppository, which I kindly declined. The boating fraternity… you cannot beat it. Urgency came into play when the linked heavy boats and the outgoing tide saw T&T’s keel start to hit the sand. I needed to get to a hospital and fast. Calling a chopper was discussed but it would have to come from Adelaide as the others were fighting the fires, and this was going to take time to organise. In the end it was decided to try and get me into one of the Coast Guard boats. The pain hadn’t diminished and the paramedic would not allow me to have pain relief at that time. So with every ounce of inner strength I steeled myself through the agony as they helped me to the stanchions, and then I promptly passed out. Luckily I was caught before I fell back into the water. When I came to, I was lying on my back in their cockpit. Only then was I allowed pain relief, but with the swell increasing came fresh concerns of further injury while battling against the waves trying to get to Port Lincoln, so the Coast Guard headed for Tumby Bay instead. Once in hospital, the resulting tests revealed a fractured vertebra at chest level and crushed lower vertebrae. Ultimately I was extremely lucky, and with time , I have made close to a full recovery. So amidst the trauma and heartbreak of a major natural disaster, our emergency services were still able to get help to me and were pivotal in saving me from long- term serious injury. Once I was mobile again, I hooked up with my mate Scott and rested on T&T in Lincoln until we could slowly make our way back to Adelaide. In a nutshell - all I was doing was putting on a flipper and then ... bang! What are the lessons to be learned? Well, firstly it pays to have a satellite phone. Secondly, anything can and does happen at sea. You do need to be prepared for any emergency. I am just so thankful that we have such great emergency services personnel and I am also incredibly lucky to have such a great mate like Scott. He remained calm at all times and worked through the problem systematically, making all the right decisions. Thanks again Scott!

At the 1st call for water L has room to tack but after completing her tack is quickly into a port / starboard situation with W, she must then tack back onto starboard and again heading for the breakwater she is now overlapped with W and she has rights under Rule 11 (windward boat must keep clear), as she approaches the breakwater she again hails “water” Rule 20.1, W is required to either give L room to tack Rule 20.2 and tacking herself or hail to L “you tack” and allow L to go behind W.

FISHING SPOTS By Shane Mensforth, SA Angler Magazine

Winter - it’s Calamari Time

S sailors, most of you will know that winter often throws up plenty of light winds and calm seas. Those annoying afternoon sea breezes are now but a distant memory, providing boaties with the chance to plan day trips offshore without fear of being ‘belted’ by 25 knots of south-westerly on the way home. The next few months will also offer some of SA’s best fishing opportunities. June through August is prime squid time, as these succulent cephalopods settle over the coastal tape weed beds to spawn. You’ll need decent tides and clear water to find significant squid aggregations, which means that the protected shores of eastern Yorke Peninsula are a great place to start. Predominant winds are offshore during the winter months, leaving the coastal strip clear and easy to fish.

but it pays to understand their habits and the hunting techniques needed to maximise your chances. They feed by sight only, which is why today’s crop of upmarket artificial jigs are so effective. You don’t need to outlay big dollars on squid tackle, but carrying a decent rod/reel combination and a range of jigs is definitely a good idea. Some anglers like to use handlines, as they provide plenty of ‘feel’ while squidding. However, I prefer a short, light-tipped rod and a 2500 size threadline reel spooled with 10-12 pound braided line. The rod/reel option enables longer casts and also helps the angler to work the jig in a more natural way. It has been proven that calamari have keen eyesight and can discern between colours, so I like to pack at least six jigs of varying shades. Black, white, blue, green, orange and various combinations of these are all worth carrying; experiment with colours

on the day until you find one that seems to be working better than the others. Quite often, when a patch of squid is located, it’s possible to hook four or five in quick succession during a drift. These are usually spawning aggregations that present a great opportunity to catch a good feed quickly. The daily bag limit for southern calamari in SA is 15 per person and 45 per boat (three people or more), and when the bite is on, it’s often possible to achieve this in a surprisingly short time. Squid freeze particularly well; in fact, I prefer to keep mine in the freezer for at least a month before eating, as the flesh seems to ‘relax’, and softens up noticeably when it thaws. Cut into strips or rings, coated with Panko crumbs and quickly deep fried, I can guarantee there are few better seafoods!

Drifting is by far the most effective way to catch a feed of calamari, particularly if winds are light. The ideal water depth seems to be 2.5m-4m, and the most productive bottom is tape weed meadow. Mature squid lay in and around the weed fronds, where females deposit large rafts of eggs, and males compete to do their part. Southern calamari are fast growing, short lived creatures, that reproduce in vast numbers. They are generally easy to catch,

MY BOAT - DIONE By Glen Kerr

Dione Heads Back to the Pacific

Dione a Refuge Cove

FTER a 15 year hiatus working in Adelaide, Glen & Susan Kerr are again headed for Pacific adventures in their Adams 40 Dione, this time on a planned 20,000 Nm Pacific cruise to Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Shake-down Cruise, Adelaide, South Australia, to Eden, New South Wales, 4 April 4 2016 - 13 April 2016

We were finally off again, sailing from Dione’s Adelaide home at the Squadron, headed for Eden, our departure port for the first big run – a three week passage to Tonga. The ‘shake-down’ cruise to Eden seemed more like a shake-up: of our systems, sailing skills and rigging. Over the nine-day passage, the wind clocked every point of the compass multiple times and ranged from nothing at all, with Dione going backwards in Gulf Saint Vincent, to surfing at over eight knots between Kangaroo Island and Portland, in a pitch-black 30-knot blow (peaking at just under 40 knots) that began, of course, on our first night at sea in 15 years. Portland to Melbourne was every cruiser’s dream – 20 knots of wind behind us; what a delightful day or so. Then, a strong wind warning for the next three days saw us picking our way through the islets and crags south of Wilson’s Promontory, on a cold

and moonless night, to reach Refuge Cove at 0130hrs on 10 April. We lazed through two blissful days in what has to be one of the prettiest and most secure mainland anchorages between Adelaide and Eden. We set out for Eden on 13 April in around ten knots of breeze with the cruising spinnaker set in all its pink and blue glory, giving us 20 hours of slow but steady progress despite some contrary currents. Once this breeze petered out though, we were again losing ground, now to the south-setting East Australian Current. Going backwards, with no wind and full cloud cover (meaning no power generation), and quite a few oil and gas rigs, as well as Gabo Island, to dodge, we ended up motor-sailing for much of the last day before raising Eden, in a thick smoke haze (from bushfires in North East Victoria) at 0500hrs on 15 April. Suffice to say, we’d remembered a good deal about sailing by this time! For my part, I have long held what I consider a healthy respect for Bass Strait, so I’m grateful that our passage through this (in)famous stretch was safe if cold and a little rough. Also, and somewhat incongruously perhaps, having ‘discovered’ the delights of Refuge Cove I was not (after the fact) much put out by the strong wind warning that precipitated this interlude (which, by the by, blasted winds across Wilson’s Promontory at 47 knots while we lay snug at anchor).

Dione under MPS

Eden: a cruiser’s delight - high green hills afford many vantage points from which to view the graceful twin arcs of Twofold Bay on which is set the compact and friendly town of Eden. To visit town or for outward

has a removable cutter stay: unlike a fixed stay, a removable stay means no damage or drama tacking the genoa, or when flying the cruising spinnaker, and also affords a clear foredeck for launching and recovering the dinghy or life raft. We carry six sails, a fully-battened, loose-footed tri-radial main with three reefs, a No 2 genoa, a staysail, a cruising spinnaker and a storm jib and trysail. While cruising guides often prescribe “more is better”, and it’s not unusual for cruisers to carry 10 sails even for a single-mast rig, we have removed the No. 1 genoa, the spare No. 2 genoa, the spare main and the reacher since our first Pacific cruise, with huge weight and space savings. For the genoa and mainsail, we find tri-radial construction in cruising Spectra/Dyneema provides a level of performance and durability that permits a reduction in number of sails carried, and keeps repair and replacement costs to a minimum.

Eden

clearance, yachts either tie up at the public wharf in the working harbour of Snug Cove (boards and rafting fenders are essential), or anchor off and dinghy into the main trawler wharf. The Harbourmaster, chandler and fuel truckie are welcoming and accommodating. Tying up at the wharf costs $25 per night, showers are free, and diesel is the cheapest we’ve found in years. Border Force (previously Customs) are also in Snug Cove and are wonderful to work with. Trips into town for laundry, grocery shops, post office, cafes and so on are a long haul up one of those green hills. True - a $7 taxi ride is never more than five minutes away - but the walk provides panoramic views of the bay; it’s really quite beautiful. In town, everyone we met was helpful and easy going and we were pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive food was groceries and cafes) - a great stop-over for cruisers stocking up.

are advised to head across to southern areas of the Bay (especially behind and adjacent to the Navy wharf). This part of the Bay is lined with sweeping sandy beaches nestled up against exquisite natural bushland, where the high clear ting-tong of bellbirds is the only sound you’ll hear. All anchorages here are protected from southern and western winds and swell and we rate this side of the Bay a must visit before heading back to sea. Dione will clear out, weather permitting, on 20 April, bound for Tonga – more than three weeks East of Eden. S V Dione has a website www.dionelog. com which contains a wealth of information about the boat and the way she is rigged and set up. She is a steel Adams 40 sloop. She

Dione’s halyards, outhaul and reef lines lead through mast-base turn blocks to mastmounted clutches and winches. We find that leading all lines back to the cockpit creates many trip and ankle-roll hazards, causes excessive wear on the lines, costs hundreds in extra deck fittings, requires many more holes through the deck (causing many extra wear and leak points), and requires more holes through the dodger, allowing a much wetter cockpit. All this for little gain given rarity of changing sail configuration while cruising (compared to racing). We use eye splices in lines: if done correctly, eye splices in double-braided line preserve 90% of line strength and minimise chafe, so are superior to knots for cruising rigs. Also, the outlay in fids is tiny, they are easy to learn,are very satisfying, and they look cool. All Dione’s rig, rigging and deck fittings are at least one full size or 20% to 50% heavier than manufacturers’ recommendations for her size and use. While we’ve replaced all running rigging and some worn and cracked sheaves for this trip, while cruising we’ve only (so far) broken just one (very undersized) block and one halyard while in cruising mode: we’ve been fortunate in not suffering serious rig or rigging failures in 20 years of cruising.

When a strong south westerly comes in, the Snug Cove wharves are battered, and yachts

Eden Navy Wharf

Eden Anchorage

PANAMA REVISITED

Jeanne and Col Harrison’s 21st Anniversary comparisons

Manali at Nuku Hiva

HORTLY after our wedding in 1996, Peter Last wrote an article for the Squadron Quarterly entitled, ‘His Story, Her Story and Their Story.’ Since then, there has only been ‘Their Story,’ as 24/7 time has rarely been spent apart. Much of that time has involved long distance sailing. This year, with the purchase of Manali, a 42’ Bavaria located in St Lucia, we continued our offshore adventures with a special twist. The start of this Pacific crossing was on the 21st anniversary of our first start together in 1995.

Some of the changes in those 21 years have been remarkable. In 1995 we managed to secure the last marina berth at the Panama Canal Yacht Club in Colon. We were thrilled to have easy access to everything, as we were positioned directly in front of the open-air restaurant with $2 meals and the air-conditioned bar. The latter was most welcome, as we refer to the heat in Panama as PHOT (Panama Hot), a combination of 95% humidity and 40 degree heat.

It was only when we pulled out our old paper chart of the Caribbean, with a criss-cross of many tracks, that we noticed our arrival date in Cristobal, Panama (the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal) was on exactly the same date, 8 March, as when we first arrived together on Colin’s Duncanson 37’ New Address, to transit the Canal in 1995.

Manali at Shelter Bay Marina 2016

Doing laundry in Gambiers

Colon was, and still is, a dangerous port city, so few activities were done on foot. Most trips in 1995 were made by taxi at a cost of US$1$2 as we found the various offices for Port Clearances, Customs, Immigration, Admeasure, and Canal Traffic scheduling; then did our provisioning for the long Pacific passage.

Even at that time, the Panama Canal Yacht Club was rustic or some might say dilapidated, but it was a very convenient and sociable place where friendships began that carried across the Pacific and long into the future. Sadly, it was demolished a few years ago to make room for additional commercial wharf space. This time the only marina alternative was Shelter Bay Marina, situated on the former Ft Sherman US Military Base site on the far side of the Cristobal Port area. Unlike the very basic Panama Canal Yacht Club, Shelter Bay Marina provided a swimming pool, Wi-Fi, a more upmarket air-conditioned bar/restaurant ($15-$25 meals), and a very full schedule of social events from Movie Nights to Open Band Nights and Swap Meets. Manali was one of the smaller yachts, with the average cruising yacht size seeming to have increased from 38’ to 44’ during those years. In 1995 we cannot remember seeing any catamarans; this time perhaps 15% of the vessels at the marina were large catamarans and there were several super-yachts. The cost of a half-day taxi to do all our clearance and transit arrangements from Shelter Bay Marina was US$80. The alternative was hiring an agent to handle some of this at US$250-$350. The marina provided a twice daily bus service to the supermarket, but seats were limited, as also was storage space for the returning groceries. A one-way taxi to the Rey Supermarket was $25. The actual cost of transiting the Canal for yachts under 50’ is around US$1000, plus a refundable bond (if you do not use an agent) of US$875. This has not significantly changed in 21 years. The marina fees in 1995

yachts keep the raft centred in the lock by taking up and letting out the slack on bow and stern lines, which are secured to bollards at the top of the lock walls. Twice, including this year, we have been on the outside of a raft with a local day-cruise boat against the wall and another yacht next to them. Bow and stern lines to the lock wall were handled only by the cruise boat on the port side of the lock. This has been the worst configuration, as both times we were required to un-raft inside the lock, move to the next lock and re-raft. On both occasions this created serious strife for the yachts. The water pressure and turbulence in the confined area was far too much for small craft.

Nuku Hiva Yacht Services

were around US$0.25/foot; now they are $1.10/foot. Few professional repair services were available then – or now. We heard that there was a plan for a new marina/ resort complex back on the Colon side of the harbour, so perhaps that will eventuate and be far more convenient.

two Brisbane residents aboard to assist while waiting their own transits. This time we were fortunate to also entice a delightful Danish couple, both marine engineers on large ships, to join us as well. The congeniality of the group made for a delightful transit experience.

Very much underway this year was the nearly completed additional six lock system to accommodate larger ships through the Canal. Running parallel to the old locks, these six sets of two locks will increase the individual lock capacity from 1000’ x 106’ to 1400’ x 180’. With a scheduled completion date of July 2016, we were able to see much of the completed work, and were actually driven over the top of one of the lock gates on the way back from Colon to the marina. It was a very impressive engineering feat, which also included extensive water recycling provisions.

Transiting the Canal has changed in minor ways. In 1995 we entered the three Gatun Locks in the morning, sailed across the lake, anchored at the far side of Lake Gatun and swam in the freshwater lake, tackling the Pedro Miguel and two Miraflores Locks the next day. This year we entered the first three Gatun Locks at night, then anchored for the night before sailing across the Lake to the three Pacific-side down-locks the next day. There was no swimming in Lake Gatun as the alligators now exceed 5m in length.

Line-handler team at Pedro Miguel Locks 2016

Transiting the Canal was the same in many ways. We still needed a Panamanian advisor, a helmsman, four line-handlers and four 125’ lines. Some extra fenders or tyres were advised as well. We lucked out on both occasions with terrific line-handlers. We had hoped that our niece and a friend could transit with us as line-handlers, but we were unable to get a scheduled transit before they had to depart for work commitments. Ironically both in 1995 and 2016 we had

As we have transited the Canal five times, we have experienced different locking configurations. In 2008 when we went through the Canal on New Address II, a 38’ Catalina, there had been a work-slowdown by the Canal advisors. With the backlog of yachts piling up, Canal Traffic Control decided to put through 15 yachts at one time without any ship in the lock. This was by far the best arrangement for small vessels, as there was no excessive turbulence within the lock from cargo vessels. We were rafted three abreast in five groups, only un-rafting to cross the lake. This made for a fun, easy, party atmosphere, especially since being the centre yacht in the raft and having the four lines run off from the outside yachts, our crew could just enjoy the experience without actually handling any lines. In 1995, New Address was also the centre yacht in a raft of three, but the bow lines were handled from our yacht, and the stern lines were handled from the outside yachts. The most common arrangement is still for a raft of three yachts to come into the up locks behind a big ship, then go into the down locks in front of a large vessel. The outside

On this latest transit, as the 45’ yacht travelling with us tried to re-raft in the last lock, it was spun 180 degrees, almost hitting the side wall. Somehow they then managed to recover enough to raft – backwards! – alongside the cruise boat. Meanwhile, Colin was able to keep Manali clear until we could safely tie alongside them, fortunately facing forward, as a 650’ bulk carrier bore down on us from astern, squeezing turbulent water into the confined space. Our canal advisor said that this was the first time he had witnessed a boat leaving the lock in reverse, but it seemed to us that that was the safest choice for our backward-facing neighbour when he departed the lock.

Backward facing neighbour 2016

When the last lock gates opened onto the Pacific, everyone aboard was jubilant. A toast to celebrate was enjoyed as we headed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge look-alike, for a bouncy mooring at the Balboa Yacht Club, alongside the Pacific approach to the Canal. Between 1995 and 2016, the Balboa Yacht Club main building burned down and a new facility was built. The new building houses a friendly thatched open-air bar/ restaurant, but we did not linger long on either occasion. After outward clearance procedures were completed, in 1995 New Address was bound for Easter Island, a 32 day, 2,800 nautical mile sail; and in 2016 Manali was bound for the Marquesas, French Polynesia, a 30 day, 4,000 nautical mile nonstop sail.

SENIOR MEMBER By Barry Allison

This is the next of a series of articles by Barry Allison which records some of the experiences and adventures of our many prominent Senior Members of the Squadron This account is of the long and varied sailing experiences of David Henshall. Miss Dianne and Invaderw) as sheet hand and David Freeman up for’d. David by then was courting a pretty girl, Dulcie Clarke, who followed the racing from the beach and often helped pick up the pieces. David and Dulcie (Dee) married in 1965 and built a new house, curtailing sailing for a while.

AVID has been a Member now for 48 years, joining as an Intermediate Member. He remembers being inducted at the Squadron City premises in the basement of the T&G Building in King William Street on 21 August 1968. David began his sailing career when 16 years of age. His father had bought a 16 foot bondwood runabout which gave David and his brothers a lot of fun sailing at Somerton. However boredom set in, and David and his father joined the Somerton Yacht Club where they were sailing Heavyweight Sharpies at that time. The new Lightweight Sharpie was being developed in Perth, and David’s father, Phil, who had contact with West Australian Viv Downing, managed to buy the Lightweight Sharpie Rojemar. So it was at the Somerton Club that David began to learn all about capsizing and how to right a boat after gybing on the wing mark! David sold Rojemar and built his own LW sharpie Bon Aire, which he sailed from the Glenelg Sailing Club with Dick Cooper (ex

Bonaire at Glenelg

David’s father joined the Squadron and purchased, sight unseen, a JOG boat from the UK named Mydacity. Designed by Laurent Giles, she was 21 ft 5 ins long with turtle back decks, lifting centre plate and rudder, and a 2 cylinder 8hp Coventry motor driving a feathering propeller. Phil, David and his two brothers did a lot of local sailing in her with trips across the Gulf and to Kangaroo Island. She was a well-found yacht and sturdy vessel, but also no speed machine. On the usual Easter race to Port Vincent in 1968, after an early morning start, Mydacity tied up at the Port Vincent wharf at 8 pm (these days we arrive for a late lunch). A trailer was built so that she could be towed to the River Murray and David remembers one particular cruise with Harry Perry Snr aboard when a spinnaker was set and was not taken down for the day, with the wind pushing them along at a reasonable speed. The need for speed had Phil Henshall thinking and a 32 foot Blythe Spirit Ranger was purchased in 1969. She was built by Arthur Mitchell and constructed of King William pine stripped plank and glued. She was raced successfully for many years in SA waters. In those days, a 32 ft yacht was regarded as a fairly large vessel, and a number of Blythe Spirits were built. Merv Butterfield purchased Ariel from Keith Flint, Bill Jolly built Wonoka, and Pep Manthorpe built Moongara. Ranger was raced consistently well, winning the Inkster Memorial race in 1972. She also cruised SA waters extensively, usually in company with Ariel and Jaffra, which was owned by Frank Henderson and Jack Gamlin. David’s father died in 1978, and David and his brother Robert continued to race and cruise Ranger for another 3 years until disaster struck! In those days, the CYC and the Squadron raced together on Wednesday nights. On one windy race, Ranger was gybing around a mark and a Dragon class yacht out of control rammed Ranger. She sank in about 3 minutes, but all aboard were rescued. Ranger was raised the next day by Mac Lawrie and repaired at Searles. She was subsequently sold to Peter Osborn.

Some years earlier, Merv Butterfield had sold Ariel and built Bella – a Duncanson 35, and David and Robert crewed on her, eventually buying her in 1979. This provided valuable crewing experience for David’s sons, Bruce and Paul, aged 16 and 14 years respectively. In the early eighties, David sold his share of Bella to Robert and became involved in a very long association with the Etchells, which included sailing in two International Etchells Regattas – Marblehead USA in 1986 and Hong Kong in 1990. His first Etchells Excalibur was bought in 1984 and was crewed by his two sons. She was raced with mixed results and had an unfortunate incident in a rough sea state when she was swamped and ended up on the beach at North Haven.

Excalibur

Later, David bought a new Etchells Warkanu and continued to sail her with his boys. However, the boys wanted their own Etchells, so Mystery Taxi was added to the fleet. They still actively compete, but over recent years have had difficulty in keeping within the crew weight limit of 285 kg and so limiting their racing. In December 2001 David bought another Etchells Superheat to add to his stable and continues to race her today. David crewed on Mike Trump’s Epsilon in the 2001 Sydney-Hobart race, finishing first in Division C, and in 2003 he bought another Etchells Wood Duck which was leased to Peter Drew. David knew Rob Gale who owned an Etchells called Hopscotch that had been racing consistently since 1984. David and Rob decided that they would like to go

cruising around Australia, so a partnership was formed and a Cavalier 37 Caviar was purchased from Sydney and sailed home to Adelaide in 1991. Caviar was fitted out for long distance cruising and David, Dee, Sue and Rob set sail from Adelaide in January 1993. Caviar sailed down to King Island and along the west coast of Tasmania to Hobart. From there they sailed along the east coast, across Bass Strait and up the east coast of Australia, reaching Airlie Beach in mid May 1993. Here the partnership was ended and David and Dee ordered a new yacht to be built in Sydney. Lara III was a Cavalier 395 (a Davidson design) fitted with a Yanmar 38hp engine. She was delivered into Adelaide in January 1994.

Lara III during a Twilight Race

Excalibur grounded on North Haven Beach

As part of their cruising agenda David and Dee decided to do a Darwin to Ambon race and set sail on 1 May 1994, with David, Dee, their uncle Bill and Jimmy Howell as crew. They reached Townsville on 24 May without any mishaps and decided to place Lara III on the hard for the coming winter months and fly back to Adelaide. They had to be back in Townsville by March 1995 to prepare to sail across to Darwin and then the race to Ambon. Lara went back into the water and departed Townsville for the journey to Darwin, arriving on 1 July 1995. The race to Ambon started on 15 July with the crew being David, Dee, Ian Moncreiff, Anthony Gates, Warren Cosgrove and Mark Rimeljan. The start from Darwin Harbour was shrouded in thick fog which caused early concerns. They raced north towards Ambon which took 92.5 hours to complete at an average speed of 6.7 knots. They finished second in their division. As Indonesia was celebrating 50 years of independence that year, the Indonesians decided to put on a race from Bali across to Jakarta, so David and crew left Ambon on 24 July and sailed across to Bali via the Bonerate Islands where the local Indonesian fishermen construct very basic wooden fishing boats using wooden nails! They also ventured into the Rinja Islands where the famous Kimodo dragons live, and then pushed on to Bali arriving in Benoa Harbour on 31 July.

The race to Jakarta started on 7 August with the crew all keen to clear Bali and get into racing mode. They finished the race on 11 August and spent the next week at Ancol Marina. After five days in Jakarta, they departed on 17 August bound for Darwin, cruising extensively around the many islands in these waters and arriving in Darwin on 28 September. Lara III was hauled out of the water at East Point and de-commissioned for the coming winter season. The crew departed for Adelaide with many great memories of sailing 10,336 nautical miles and using only 563 engine hours.

the Squadron land and basin freehold which ensured tenure. David has always been available for general Squadron work and has been on most of the Squadron’s Committees over the years, including the Sail SA Committee in 2002. Perhaps his most deserving reward was being granted Life Membership to the Squadron in 2003. Today, David and Dee are enjoying their new yacht Aria, a J122 built in France which arrived here in November 2015. We wish David and Dee and their sons many happy years of racing and cruising in their respective yachts. w

Back in Adelaide, David continued to race his Etchells for the 1995/96 season, and started planning the next cruise to the Kimberleys, to be followed a year later by the 1997 Ambon race and the return of Lara III to the Squadron. These cruises will be related perhaps in future Quarterly editions. The mid-nineties saw the Squadron in great financial difficulties. The Club was near bankrupt – Marinas Stage 1 and 2 were not selling well and the Flag Officers and management were worried by the remote possibility that the property lease could be terminated. Spending was drastically cut and any economies possible were instigated. In May 1996 David bought Miss 5DN for Squadron use, renamed her Miss Robyn, and took over the responsibility for the care and maintenance, thus relieving the Club of costly upkeep. David’s term as Commodore from 2000 to 2002 saw many changes – particularly the completion of Marina Stage 3 with David Harries as General Manager. In 2001 David, on behalf of the Squadron, signed the documentation to purchase

Aria - a J122

YORK PENINSULA SALTWATER CLASSIC By Rod Wells

UCH to the delight of the organising committee, the Squadron was well represented at this year’s Saltwater Classic. In the lead up to the event Geoff Wallbridge and Solace were featured in SA Life. The article was titled ‘Solace at Sea’ in the March 2016 Issue of SA Life. Squadron vessels included Catriona, Ellos, Monsoon, Reprieve, Solace, Wongga II. But for three unavoidable last minute withdrawals we would have had nine classics. We were treated royally, granted free marina berths and transported to and from the opening evening at Stansbury and the Saturday evening dinner at Port Vincent, with music provided by the Royal Australian Navy Band.

Solace pursued by Wonga II enroute to Saltwater Classic

This was all augmented by art and craft street markets, vintage cars, caravans, motorbikes and stationary engines, all rather reminiscent of our own Keels and Wheels. Catriona attracted lots of attention, taking first prize as the best-presented keelboat. Congratulations Adrian. Rod Wells and Roger Baker were appointed judges for trailer and trailerable vessels. This turned out to be quite a daunting task, with almost fifty vessels to examine and score for authenticity, originality, standard of workmanship and general presentation. A quick triage narrowed the field but picking the best of the best was daunting. A handful of vessels were exquisite, these including both restorations and new builds. The next Saltwater Classic will be held in 2018 and will be open to both timber and classic vessels and is certainly a fun event to add to your calendar

Blaser a work of art, 6m lug yawl by owner builder Anthony Blaser

Popette a small lighter rescued from the Maitland rubbish dump and lovingly restored by Trevor Jones

A well known Squadron identity searches for a problem

WORLD MAP

The World Map in Jimmy’s Bar

By Steve Kennedy

l to r: Malcolm Brinkworth and Bernie Matzat photographed in front on the map.

OMETIMES people can be guilty of looking at things and never giving a thought about how they “came to be”, as it were. The World Map in Jimmy’s Bar is a classic example. Bernie Matzat, an RSAYS member for more than 20 years now, was in a travel agency on Unley Road at some stage during 1997. He spotted a map like ours on the wall there, and something just clicked, “RSAYS needs one of these”, he thought. Having an idea and bringing it to fruition can often be very difficult, as Bernie, and his great friend Malcolm Brinkworth, soon discovered. Besides being Bernie’s best mate, Malcolm was also a long time RSAYS member, who has recently passed away, and is now in tranquil waters. Finding another map the same, or similar, to the one in the travel agency, was not easy, but they managed to be able to locate one in Melbourne, and promptly ordered it. The cost back then was around $200, a bargain at today’s prices. That turned out to be the easiest part of the project! Bernie and Malcolm decided to have it laminated,

but pondered and discussed at length, (and possibly over a few drinks), about how to mount it? The decision was made to purchase three pieces of Masonite from Alex P Mann in Port Adelaide, (unfortunately now closed due to economic pressures, and sorely missed by all who ever shopped there), and to mount them on the wall first. They also made a joint decision to surround the map with genuine Hemp Rope, which they thought would create a “Wow” factor when people first set eyes on it. This certainly proved to be a great choice. Very exact measuring, and precise calculations, ensured that after the rope was spliced the border was fitted with less than a 1mm wgap. This was a feat to be proud of in itself. Up until now everything suddenly paled into insignificance, when they scratched their heads and wondered, “How on earth are we going to be able to glue such an enormous sheet onto three separate pieces of already mounted Masonite on the wall”? After lots of mucking around, and planning, they, along with the help of several other volunteers, laid the laminated map out onto

several trestles in Jimmy’s Bar. They had everything prepared before they applied the contact adhesive. They had to act very fast, because they only had one shot at getting it right, and having it correctly aligned. The fact that one of them had a peg leg only exacerbated the difficulty of standing precariously at the top of the ladders, which were used to position the World Map where it is now. From conception to completion, Bernie and Malcolm have created something in Jimmy’s Bar that we can all be proud of. I have sat with friends there on many occasions, and seen first-time visitors walk into the bar and just stare at the World Map in awe. They often walk up to it, and point out many places and points of interest that they have been to. Sailors gather near it, and share tales of their travels, far and wide. With the kind assistance of Barb Adams, and reports from our office, we continue to try and show the current location of RSAYS members who are cruising in faraway and exotic places. Thank you Bernie and Malcolm, you have given us all something to be proud of.

LOST BURGEES FOUND!

WO Squadron members have expressed concern regarding of the whereabouts of two burgees that were previously located on the walls of the Squadron Dining Room. Lynda Walsh wonders where the Little Ship Club of London burgee had gone as she says it is historically significant. Located on the banks of the Thames between Southwark Bridge and Tower Bridge, The Little Ship Club was involved in the training of members of the Royal Naval Supplementary Volunteer Reserve Force. The close link with the RNSVR led to Little Ship Club members taking part in the World War 2 evacuation of Dunkirk, in which the military commandeered hundreds of private “little” ships to bring troops from

The Little Ship Yacht Club of London burgee

land to larger navy vessels that could not pull in close to shore. The club still includes what is possibly one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, the Sheemaun. The club will celebrate its 90th anniversary on 28 October this year. It is not known who donated the burgee to the Squadron.

Lake Biwa Yacht Club burgee

Barry Allison was concerned about the burgee donated by his former boss, Keiichi Kisuma, Chairman of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd in the 1990’s. Keiichi came from a sailing background, and was a member of the Lake Biwa Yacht Club in Japan. Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. The lake is most

likely named after the Japanese stringed instrument biwa, whose shape it resembles. It is popular with game fisherman, and for its beautiful surrounding scenery. Barry remembers thatKeiichi always signed his name as ‘Skipper K. Kisuma’. He owned a small 30 foot yacht and he loved to go to the Squadron when he was in Adelaide. He often entertained his Japanese associates at lunch at the Squadron. When leaving Adelaide Keiichi donated the burgee of his home sailing club to the Squadron. Dave Borg, who together with his wife Lorraine, kindly re-hung all the burgees after the renovation, says they have not gone missing at all. Dave says that due to space restraints in the new Dining Room, many of the framed burgees needed to be relocated downstairs, including the two in question.“If Lynda and Barry take a stroll through the Dinghy Shed, they will notice that the burgees are both now hanging proudly in the south eastern corner.”

OST of Anaconda II thirteen crew gathered in Adelaide between March 4 and 6 this year, to celebrate enduring friendships. Being cooped up on a yacht with twelve other sailors for 78 days of non-stop sailing, from Sydney to Dover via Cape Horn presented many challengers. Freezing in the Roaring Forties, becalmed and frustrated on the Equator, and gear failure are a few of the obvious. Another, of course, is learning to live in harmony in cramped conditions during an arduous sea voyage.

AROUND CAPE HORN By Julia Steele

Readers of a ‘certain age’ will no doubt remember Josko Grubic’s epic journey of getting his 83ft ketch to the start line of the Financial Times sponsored Round the World Yacht Race 1975-76. His determination to race the only Australian entrant in this non-stop London-SydneyLondon race is legend. During the launch of Anaconda II the cradle arm snapped rendering Josko unconscious and with serious leg and head injuries, Anaconda II suffered only a minor mishap. Believing he could make the start of the Race Josko instructed his team from his hospital bed to get the yacht ready. However, the delay meant they did not have time to ship Anaconda II to London. They missed the start of the race leaving only four yachts racing to beat Patriarch, which sailed London to Sydney and back again via the two Capes in 69 days in 1869. According to Alec Beilby’s official account of the Race To Beat the Clippers (Penguin Books 1976) there is a shadow of a doubt as to whether Patriarch was the holder of the record (p. 10). The Financial Times, together with a historian, agreed that for the purpose of the Race Patriarch was the holder of the record (p.11). Anaconda II sailed from Adelaide to Sydney to join Great Britain II, CS & RB II (Italy), Kriter II (France), and The Great Escape (Netherlands) on the second leg of the Race Sydney to London via Cape Horn. When the gun fired on 21 December 1975 five yachts set out on this epic voyage, Anaconda II magnificent as she powered down Sydney Harbour towards the Heads. Next Stop, Dover. Forty years later nine of the 13 crew gathered in Adelaide, to not only celebrate participating in the Race, but to also acknowledge what this experience had meant to them. Some had not seen each other in the intervening years, while others had kept in touch. The joy of walking into Windy Hill restaurant on the Friday night and seeing those not seen for decades, most with grey hair and lined faces, brought spontaneous hugs. Doug Justins (Anaconda’s doctor), 40 years ago a medical intern, now a retired consultant anaesthetist flew from his home in London. The joy of seeing his old crew again written across his face. Charles Wall-Smith

The crew of Anaconda II celebrate enduring friendships at the 40th anniversary of their participation in the Financial Times Round the World Yacht Race 1975-76. (Chook) (member of RSAYS), in his eighties and maybe less effusive in his greetings than Doug, was still clearly thrilled to be sharing a beer with his old crew. Lou Davidson (Anaconda’s navigator), nudging 80 flew down from Gympie, raised a number of beers to old times. Arthur Vandenbroek (member RSAYS) instantly recognisable with the same beard and enthusiasm for life. Craig Mitchell, responsible for keeping in touch over the years, was instrumental in organising the reunion and hosting a barbeque at his home. John Taylor (Base) nudging 60 was the youngest crew at just 19, he also did a good job over the years in keeping in touch. Hans Savimaki, another Queenslander flew down from Nambour to celebrate life aboard Anaconda II. Martin Carney (Chimpy), the unofficial photographer on board put together a film of the Race. Roger Scales was a surprise arrival on Saturday when he arrived from his home in Tasmania. No one had seen him in the intervening years. By Saturday the group had settled into that camaraderie of forty years ago, as we all gathered at Craig and Sue Mitchell’s home for a full day of eating and drinking under the grape vine. It is at this juncture that the gracious and generous support of wives and partners must be acknowledged. Many played an integral part, not only preparing and serving the food at the reunion (special thanks to Sue), but who also supported their men at the time of the Race. For those who were involved during the Race, the thrill of the reunion was no less exciting. As the day moved on conversations started to shift from Race focused to life today. Careers, partners, children, grandchildren, and, of course, reflecting on those who are no longer

with us: Josko Grubic, Owen Trewartha (the watch master drowned at Airlie Beach, Australia). And saddened, that the two other crew were not present today, Nick Creech (Sydney, unwell) and Paul Howard (London, unable to locate). By mid-afternoon Base asked for our attention. We thought he was going to make a little speech, but he wanted the crew to reflect on their experiences of being on Anaconda. They were allowed one anecdote each (were you serious Base?). The individual stories were entertaining, most about the foibles, failings, madness that was Josko, perhaps surviving this enduring character was the glue that bound Anaconda II crew together in the first place. One of the highlights of the reunion was Martin’s film. This is where, at the end of the day, we all relived the Race. The crew watching themselves on board freezing in the Roaring Forties, playing silly buggers as they crossed the Equator, preparing food, Doug sewing up Chook’s finger. And the thrill of sailing up the Thames from Dover, under the Tower Bridge into St Katherine’s Yacht Haven brought cheers. The crew’s shared experiences of forty years ago brought them together again for a mighty fine time, vowing to keep in touch as they hugged each other goodbye.

Julia Steele worked for The Financial Times. Based in Sydney, she was responsible for media liaison, public relations, and Race Organising Committee liaison for the Financial Times Round the World Yacht Race 1975-76.

BIGGEST MORNING TEA By Cancer Council Ambassador, Sally Metzer

Our Second ‘Biggest Morning Tea’ an even bigger success!

RETTY party cakes, scrumptious scones, delicate cream puffs and some healthy treats, together with cups of tea and coffee and glasses of bubbly were enjoyed by the 80 or so members and friends who attended the Squadron’s ‘Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday 26 May. Attended by the Chair of the Cancer Council, Lincoln Size, and the Council’s Relationships Manager, Rebecca Hayward, the event raised over $2,200 for the Cancer Council’s many projects including valuable research and sufferer support programmes. People either made donations at the door, or bought some of the Cancer Council merchandise on sale and entered the prize-packed raffles. Many came dressed in yellow, the daffodil being the Cancer Council logo, and the theme was carried thru’ in the flowers decorating the tables and the flags fluttering on the walls. Commodore Rae Hunt bravely shared her on-going fight with Melanoma, as did young braincancer sufferer Alex Dunkley, founder of the ‘Walk4BrainCancer’ fundraiser. Will Metzer and Nina V from ‘Jazz It Up’ kept the music flowing and moods happy, while tables games and a quiz kept everyone busy … when they weren’t eating, drinking and mingling! Thanks to all my family and friends who were ‘roped into’ helping on the day – and thanks to all who came. It was a fun gathering, and the great financial result was worth the effort! This successful event is to become ‘a regular’ on the Squadron calendar, so try to make it next year… it’s a great way to spend a morning and help make money for a very worthy cause.

Helen Prisk’s appropriately iced party cakes in the Cancer Council’s colour theme of Daffodil Yellow.

Foreground l to r: Lincoln Size, the CEO of the Cancer Council, Rebecca Hayward, Cancer Council Relationship Officer and Commodore Rae Hunt.

Dinah Harcus & Kathy Roberts counting donations

Will Metzer and Nina V from ‘Jazz It Up’

Welcome to the Biggest Morning Tea

Commodore Rae Hunt’s story of her on-going journey with Melanoma That done, the fight began. Not just the physical one with further testing and more operations for lymph node removal but, the mental anguish of trying to deal with this insidious disease. Having been made aware of treatment options and survival rates, how was my family going to cope, more so how was I going to, and what happens from now on! Amazingly through the massive support of my husband and daughter, friends, medical staff and counselling all was good and with renewed vigour I carried on, back to work, continued as a flag officer at the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, as well as enjoying all of my other activities including sailing. Rae Hunt and Alex Dunkley sharing their cancer experiences with a supportive mutual hug.

UNSHINE, blue skies and stiff breezes… a totally idyllic sailing lifestyle, until in late 2011, when I noticed a spot on my face that would not go away! Off to the doctor to get a referral to the skin specialist, but that spot wasn’t the problem. Giving me the once over, he discovered another on my back was, in his opinion suspicious and a biopsy was done. He was right and it was confirmed as melanoma, it had to be removed as soon as possible which he did and referred me to the Melanoma Clinic at the RAH.

Unfortunately even with all of my optimism, previous treatment and monitoring, melanoma was not done with me, it was almost three years later in mid 2014 when those sneaky cells metastasized. This time in my elbow (which I thought I had damaged while sailing), other lymph nodes, liver & lungs. Time for more drastic action…, damn it, I’m not going to let this get the better of me, I’ve got too much to do and to live for, bring on the next course of action! First up another operation, to remove a tumour that had eaten away the joint and replace it with a prosthetic joint, then radiotherapy and new targeted immunotherapy treatments (rather than the traditional chemo) which continued on for over a year boosting the T-cells to help fight the cancer. So far so good with my

follow-up scans, not in remission but stable and have faith it continues that way. I can’t thank my orthopaedic surgeon, oncologists and nursing staff enough for their efforts and caring, helping me get through this and continuing to do so. My husband and daughter, pillars of strength supporting me in all I choose to do and continue with. It has almost been two years since the second bout and I remain as optimistic as ever, I live with the remaining side effects of treatment but it’s a small price to pay, but most of all continue to enjoy each and every day. “Remember yesterday, dream of tomorrow, but live for today”. Sunscreen has now become a daily routine, covering up and generally being aware of when and how much sun exposure is acceptable is always on my mind especially when I’m out sailing. I’ve now become Commodore of the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron, as such I am so pleased that our decision to host one of the Cancer Council’s ‘Biggest Morning Tea’ fundraising events will be held annually at the club.

NATURE By Maraina Boorman

SA Dolphins and the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary

Port River Dolphins Marianna and Summer Bow

OUTH Australia is home to three species of dolphins, the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis). When traveling along the oceanic coast and across the deeper waters the dolphins usually seen are the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) and the Short-beaked Common Dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins are larger than Common Dolphins, they are dark grey on their backs and have light grey/white bellies. Common Dolphins are dark grey/ black on their back, they have a yellow/cream hourglass pattern on their flanks and their bellies are white. They are often in large pods and are very active. Common Dolphins can often be seen leaping out of the water as they approach a boat.

Common Dolphin

When traveling along the coast and close to shore the dolphins usually seen are the Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins. These are also the dolphins that live in the Port River and often venture into the Royal SA Yacht Squadron. Most of the dolphins that live in the Port River are permanent residents and are closely monitored by the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Rangers and Volunteers that work with the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Action Group and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation group.

The Port River which is part of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is one of a few places in the world where a pod of wild dolphins live permanently so close to a major city. This close proximity and the ease of watching them from both the water and the land has presented the opportunity to identify and get to know the dolphins and learn about their behaviour and social interactions. We identify the dolphins by photographing and recording notches on their dorsal fins. Some have smooth fins and are harder to identify. Some of the 30-40 resident dolphins that live in the Port River have led very interesting lives and have incredible stories. These include swimming with race horses, learning to tail walk, being orphaned, being rescued from fishing line entanglements and one dolphin that was rescued after traveling through a pipe and becoming trapped in a small pit in the Penrice Soda factory. Some of these stories have captured headlines all around the world. The Port River dolphins are intelligent, playful creatures and we are very fortunate to have them living so close to the city of Adelaide. It is important that we do all we can to protect them. The dolphinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main diet consists of fish and squid. When dolphins are feeding you may see them racing along the surface. Often when you see birds circling and diving into the water to catch a fish there is a good chance that there are also dolphins nearby. When a dolphin arches its back and lifts its tail in the air, this indicates that it is commencing a deep dive. Dolphins are often seen displaying many different behaviours, including logging (resting), mating, fishing, playing, traveling and bow riding. One of the most enjoyable behaviours to observe is bow riding. Dolphins will often race over to boats to surf in the bow waves. In the Port River they are often seen leaping in front of the ships and tugs.

Living in a busy industrial and commercial port can be a dangerous place for dolphins. Vessel strikes can injure and kill dolphins and other marine mammals. It takes a while for young calves to perfect their swimming technique. They often lift their whole head out of the water when taking a breath and they spend a large amount of time on the surface. Younger dolphins are therefore particularly vulnerable to vessel strikes. Dolphins need to rest for approximately 8 hours per day and eat approximately 8kg of fish per day. It is therefore important that the dolphins natural behaviours such as fishing, mating and resting are not disturbed by boats out on the water. When watching dolphins, boat operators are reminded to obey the speed limits and maintain the regulated approach distances (50 metres for adult dolphins, or 150 metres if there is a calf present). To further protect dolphins propeller guards on boats can be installed.

Port River Dolphins Bianca and her calf Doc

It is important that we keep the dolphins wild, free and healthy by disposing of rubbish and fishing line appropriately and never feed, harass or approach them. If dolphins are in an inquisitive playful mood they will often approach boats and ride the bow waves. To report an injured or dead dolphin please contact the Marine Mammal Emergency number: 0427 556 676

Marianna Boorman Volunteer with the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Action Group and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation group

TROPHY POLISHING TROPHY POLISHING NIGHT - a shining success!

T was a case of ‘all hands on deck’ on Thursday 5 May when a squad of members rolled up their sleeves to buff and polish the Squadron’s Racing Trophies in readiness for Presentation Night. As you can see, they glistened and gleamed brilliantly on the night!

Lynda Walsh and Nives Vincent

Peter Vincent receives the Inkster Memorial Trophy

Lindy Tauber hard at work

Dierdre and Bob Schahinger

Bob Schahinger, Lynda Walsh and Colin Doudy

IN TRANQUIL WATERS Emigrating in 1967 with her husband James and two daughters, Stella and Trish, she spent the formative years at home with her girls, and the next 25 years working at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital, where she was the authority on immunisation. Her expertise in the area was acknowledged in the Honours List in 1995 when she became the recipient of the Public Service Medal, for her dedicated service to the children of South Australia. Jim became a Squadron member in 1976, with Helen joining shortly thereafter. They competed in racing on board friends’ yachts, and then cruised with great enthusiasm. Helen was quietly proud of having helmed solo back across the Gulf from St Vincent after one of the Easter cruises when the weather had turned, and Jim was occupied below decks with the electronics.

Helen Campbell Forsyth 21/06/1935 - 19/12/2015

ORN in Melrose, Scotland, Helen trained as a nurse from the age of 17 at the Royal Edinburgh Infirmary. Nursing was her occupation and her passion - particularly paediatric nursing, after she obtained further qualifications as a Registered Sick Children’s Nurse.

She was fond of recounting the day when, returning from a cruise in the Gulf, a sudden change in the wind launched Jim and Stella from comfortable seats on the boom straight into the water! Jim had never learned to swim. Throwing the life buoy overboard Helen yelled at Jim to “take the thing yourself, idiot!” when he tried to give it to Stella, who could swim. Once they were safely back on board, she said it was the most perfect swan dive she had ever seen!

Purchasing their first yacht, Skye-Blue in 1983 Helen and Jim sailed together around the coast of South Australia - to Black Point, Port Vincent -and to the Birkenhead Tavern! After purchasing a larger yacht Freedom in the early 1990’s, longer cruises were enjoyed, until illness meant the sale of their beloved yacht. Helen was an enthusiastic and long term member of the House and Social Committee. She particularly enjoyed organising Burn’s Night Suppers and fancy dress dinners - and portraying the part of Queen Victoria at the re-enactment of the granting of the Royal Charter to the Squadron. Helen was at her happiest in the company of good friends, good food and better wine- all of which she found in abundance as a member of the Squadron for more than 30 years. Her personal contribution to the Squadron was acknowledged thereafter with an Honorary Membership. She moved to the Hills in 2015 to live with Stella and her family, with her sailing memorabilia and photographs around her. She was farewelled to the Band of the Scots Guards, and The Skye Boat Song, with many fond memories, numerous toasts and much laughter.

You are invited to lunch to launch the

At the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia 12 t0 4:30pm, Sunday 26 June 2016 Adult Tickets: $40, girls under 18 free Come and enjoy a delicious 2 course lunch, meet fellow female sailors and be inspired listening to some amazing women talk about their sailing experiences

Why SASS was created:

Mary Hotham Howie 3 April 1922 – 4 August 2015

UR sincere apologies to the family of Mary Howie for having mistakenly included an incorrect photo with her obituary in the autumn edition of ‘The Squadron Quarterly’. It was actually a photo of Mary’s sister, Janet, that appeared in print. A correct photo of Mary is seen here.

Surveys have identified that whilst we have a good number of girls sailing in the 7-15 age group, we are losing them as they age. We want to create a network of female sailors of all ages to encourage and inspire the younger sailors to continue sailing throughout their lives and create opportunities for women of all ages to participate and compete at whatever level they want.

Guest Speakers: Stacey Jackson was a member of the first all-female team in the last Volvo Ocean Race, among many other achievements. Shevaun Bruland is a member of the YSA Board and co-owner of Concubine. She also competed in the 2015-16 Sydney to Hobart. Further information and tickets can be found via the YSA website www.sa.yachting.org.au

BERTHS FOR SALE & RENT Berths for Sale - May 2016

Length (metres)

Berth Type

8.2

Price From

Hard Stands Best Deal - HS23 (Tarmac) 9.2 Dry Stand Best Deal - DS01 10 Marina Best Deal - I23 or I24 (Doubles) 11 Marina Best Deal - C14 (Single) 12 Marina Best Deal - A03 (Single) 13 Marina Best Deal - E04 (Double) 14 Marina Best Deal - I07 & I08 (Double) 15 Marina Best Deal - F06 (Single) 16 Marina Best Deal -G05 (Single) 18 Marina Best Deal - SI14 (Double) 20 Marina Best Deal - H01 (Cat) 22 Marina Best Deal - SI11 (Single Super) 25 Marina Best Deal - SI07 (Single Super) 27 Marina Best Deal - I27 (T-Head) 30 Marina Best Deal - SI03 (Single Super)

Price To

$2,500.00

$7,000.00 $2,500.00

$5,000.00 $5,000.00 $44,000.00 $80,000.00 $44,000.00 All offers considered $40,000.00 $66,000.00 $39,000.00 $48,000.00 $89,000.00 $48,000.00 Reduced $45,000.00 $100,000.00 $45,000.00 Neg $90,000.00 $120,000.00 $90,000.00 Reduced. All offers considered $65,000.00 $145,000.00 $65,000.00 Reduced. All offers considered $88,000.00 $195,000.00 $88,000.00 Reduced. All offers considered $110,000.00 $175,000.00 $110,000.00 All offers considered $130,000.00 $130,000 Neg $160,000.00 $220,000.00 $160,000.00 Reduced. All offers considered $120,000.00 $120,000.00 $370,000.00 $370,000.00 $450,000.00 $375,000.00

Above is a summary of berths available, not a complete list. For further information please contact Andrew McDowell - General Manager Email general.manager@rsays.com.au or Phone 8341 8600 Price & availability are subject to change without notice

Berths for Rent - May 2016 Length (metres)

Pen

Berth Type

Berth No

$ Per Week

Double

MARINA

I10

$82.50

Single

MARINA

C15

$90.75

Single

MARINA

D16

$90.75

Double

MARINA

K20

$99.00

Double

MARINA

C07

$99.00

Single

MARINA

C12

$99.00

Double

MARINA

D08

$99.00

Single

MARINA

E07

$107.25

Double

MARINA

I01 & I01A

$115.50

Double

MARINA

I03

$115.50

Single

MARINA

F01

$123.75

Single

MARINA

J16

$132.00

Single

MARINA

G06

$132.00

Single

MARINA

G07

$132.00

Single

MARINA

SI07

$391.35

Single

MARINA

SI03

$469.62

Notes

SUITABLE FOR CAT BERTH

For further information please contact Kathy Bernhardt Email marina.services@rsays.com.au or Phone 8341 8600 Price & availability are subject to change without notice All berth rentals are subject to terms & conditions TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PERMANENT RENTAL OF BERTHS, ALL VESSEL OWNERS MUST BE CURRENT MEMBERS OF RSAYS

EVENTS CALENDAR July 2016 Racing Squadron Mon 4 Management Tue 5 Management Fri 8 Social Sat 9 Racing Sun 10 Racing Sun 3

Tue 12

Management

Thu 14 Management Sat 16 Social Sun 17 Racing Tue 19 Sat 23 Tue 26

Management Cruising Racing Management

Sun 31 Racing

August 2016 Continued Winter Series Volunteer Thank You Event House & Social Committee Meeting Junior Committee Meeting Wine Tasting Shorthanded Series Destination Race Shorthanded Series Destination Race RSAYS Ltd Board Meeting; RSAYS Inc Board Meeting; Racing Committee Meeting RSAYS Inc Annual General Meeting Dancing in the Dinghy Shed Winter Series Combined Committee Chairs Meeting "Youth" Trophy Presentation Shorthanded Series Cruising Committee Meeting Winter Series and Presentations at RSAYS

Sat 6

Racing Social

Tue 9

Management

Thu 11 Squadron Sun 14 Racing Cruising Sat 20 Racing Tue 23 Management External

September 2016 Sat 3

Management Management Social

House & Social Committee Meeting Junior Committee Meeting Wine Tasting - Kangaroo Island Spirits

Squadron

Mon 5 Management Tue 6 Management Sun 11 Cruising Tue 13

Management

Tue 27

Squadron Management

August 2016 Mon 1 Tue 2 Fri 5

Shorthanded Series Social Event RSAYS Ltd Board Meeting; RSAYS Inc Board Meeting; Racing Committee Meeting RSAYS Ltd Annual General Meeting Port Line Cup Cruising Night Short handed Series Cruising Committee Meeting Private Function in the Dining Room. Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dining in Jimmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar Flag Raising Ceremony and Squadron Ball House & Social Committee Meeting Junior Committee Meeting Open Boat Inspection Day RSAYS Ltd Board Meeting; RSAYS Inc Board Meeting; Racing Committee Meeting Quarterly Meeting of Members Cruising Committee Meeting

CAPTUR

EXPRESSION • 7” touch screen media navigation system • ECO mode for lower fuel consumption • Rear view camera and sensors • Keyless entry / start • 16” alloys

KOLEOS BOSE

CLIO AUTHENTIQUE • Turbo-charged manual engine • ABS, ESC, ASR traction control and EBD • Stop&Start fuel efficient technology • LED daytime running lights • Bluetooth® phone pairing Renault CLIO MEGANE R.S. • Cruise control with speedRenault limiter Expression Manual 265 Cup Manual

20k

• BOSE® audio system • Dark charcoal leather upholstery • R-Link Sat Nav with 7” touchscreen • Front and rear parking sensors • Hands-free entry and engine start • Blind Spot Warning (BSW)

46k or 0% p.a. $

Renault MEGANE GT-Line Hatch Auto

26k

Includes metallic paint

comparison rate◊

Includes signature paint

0) 9999 9999 urlrenault.com.au COME AND SEE US

FOR A TEST DRIVE TODAY!

MAIN NORTH RENAULT

llic paint and Clio R.S. Sport, Megane GT-Line Hatch with metallic paint and Megane R.S. 265 Cup with signature paint valid for vehicles ordered between uyers. Renault reserves the right to vary, extend or withdraw this offer. ◊0% p.a. comparison rate available for 2015 Clio R.S., Megane GT 220 Hatch & Wagon, livered by 31/1/16 to approved personal applicants and 0% annual percentage rate available to approved business applicants of Renault Financial Services oved applicant only. Excludes Government, Rental and National Fleet customers. Terms, conditions and fees apply. WARNING: This comparison rate is true s or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Comparison rate for the purpose of the National Credit Code is based on a 5 year secured the right to vary, extend or withdraw this offer. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. †5 years unlimited km warranty applies to all new Renault ^ vehicle warranty. Roadside Assistance terms and conditions apply. Call our Customer Service Team on 1800 009 008 or view the Terms and Conditions maintenance services capped at $299 per service on new and demonstrator Renault Passenger and Renault Sport vehicles, based on standard scheduled icesLVD173. required every twelve (12) months 15,000km (whichever first) on Clio Expression, GT-Line and Demonstrator every twelve (12)vehicles months receive or †5 years unlimited km or warranty applies to alloccurs new Renault passenger andMegane Renault SportHatch, vehicles. balance of new vehicle warranty. Roadside renault.com.au is not presentedterms within three (3) months of whenCall the scheduled service is required, right that capped-price under the program is forfeited. Assistance and conditions apply. our Customer Service Team onto1800 009 008 or service view the Terms and Conditions statement at www.renault.com.au/drivingpeaceofmind for

75 Main North Rd, Nailsworth / Ph: 8309 5055

mainnorthrenault.com.au

†

details. ^First 3 scheduled maintenance services capped at $299 per service on new and demonstrator Renault Passenger and Renault Sport vehicles, based on standard scheduled servicing from new and on normal operating conditions. Scheduled maintenance services required every twelve (12) months or 15,000km (whichever occurs first) on Clio Expression, Megane GT-Line Hatch, and every twelve (12) months or 10,000km on Clio R.S. Sport and Megane R.S. 265 Cup (whichever occurs first). If vehicle is not presented within three (3) months of when the scheduled service is required, right to that capped-price service under the program is forfeited. MNR1432