Harbouring Doubts: Carolanne Clement

HARBOURING DOUBTS

By Carolanne Clement

“... pressure coming... ferry closing fast... tack!... lift!... Etchells... tack!... gust!... knock... Optimists... tack!... ferry… boat below is calling water... tack!... gust... where is Bradley Head safe water mark?... STARBOARD!... ferry... tack!... more pressure... KNOCK... tack!... ferry... tack! TACK!... watch this idiot windsurfer across our bow!... tack!... that was a first finish gun – that surely can’t be for us?”

I once declared, “Thank goodness I’ll never find myself racing on Sydney Harbour”.

I’d just watched the start of yet another Sydney to Hobart race and my head was spinning at the sight of the white-water washing machine that had resulted from a mass of both competitors and spectator vessels.

My husband Mark began racing dinghies out of Wangi Wangi, NSW, as a twelve-year-old and I learnt to crew on a 470 in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, during my university days, so it was inevitable that we would continue sailing and racing together from the time we met. For three decades I’ve enjoyed the luxury of familiarity and wide expanses of water that racing on Lake Macquarie offers, where there is an occasional crowding at a rounding mark but nothing too overwhelming.

By 2017 we’d reached our goal of retirement and fulfilled our dreams of a brand-new boat that would allow us to travel far and wide as well as occasionally race. Our Jeanneau 51, we named Beyond Cool, came with the bonus of becoming part of the Jeanneau social group and the chance to compete in races and rendezvous that are held anywhere from Wollongong to Lake Macquarie and of course including Sydney Harbour. So inevitably, and despite my declaration, I have indeed found myself twice crewing in a race around the cans in the harbour city over the past few years. But on both occasions, they were short courses, conditions were pretty benign and each time we had the expertise and local knowledge of a guest crew so my anxiety levels were pretty minimal.

This year was to be our blue water cruising year to New Caledonia and beyond, but of course this also being the year of ‘the pandemic’ our plans were shelved. We found ourselves provisioned and sitting in

Newcastle Yacht Club’s marina with nowhere to go. Swansea Channel, which has been causing keeled vessel skippers more and more headaches of late due to its silting issues, had become too shallow to allow us to return to our berth at Lake Macquarie Yacht Club. So we became exiled and found ourselves wiling away the weeks in glorious Port Stephens until channel dredging would give us our ticket home.

“I’ve entered us into the Seven Islands Race as the first of three in the Jeanneau Cup

Megan Nixon (WWSA) was also cruising the harbour that day and snapped us as we passed her. INSET: Flying the WWSA burgee!

series on Sydney Harbour in a few weeks’ time”, were the words my husband recently and quietly uttered, falling upon my ears with a deep resonance that heralded an alarming interlude in my sloth-like existence over these past few months. 2020, aka the year of suspended animation in every sense of the meaning! My fitness levels were at an appalling level of ‘UN’ and to add to the woes were a few extra kilos that my leisure wear just seemed to accommodate without drama. Before I knew it, we had upped anchor and were heading south to Sydney

Harbour on the most perfect of days, full of sunshine, a friendly breeze and an almost non -existent swell but for me also a slight tinge of anxiety at the thought of throwing ourselves into the white wash that can be Sydney Harbour on a weekend race day.

As the race was being conducted by the very friendly Middle Harbour Yacht Club we anchored overnight at nearby Chinamans Beach, a stone’s throw from crew pick up and the starting line. Our three guest crew members were friends and all Jeanneau owners, two of whom have been separated from their boats since COVID-19 hit. Whilst Mark diligently went about preparing the boat and studying the course, I threw myself into preparing for the post-race dinner party we’d planned. I simply didn’t have time to discuss any of the race details including the course, but I did recall the skipper remarking we’d be plagued with light winds. Not a good start as we were unavoidably still in cruise mode and heavy with an abundance of nonrace gear such as paddle boards, fishing rods, a barbecue, and a huge portable freezer.

Race day: the heat is early and intense with flukey, but light, winds. We’re ready to go and I note that my WWSA burgee is proudly flying on starboard, though I’m the only female participating on board our boat. The crew arrive and there’s a quick briefing about techniques and who’s doing what. I’m the understudy for all positions except helming, making sure everything’s going to plan and jumping in to cover anything that’s being overlooked or not done correctly. I’m also calling the pressure so that our sails can be constantly managed for optimal control and speed. The start is crowded and takes place in a tightly restricted area between the MHYC marina, a mooring field, and the Spit Bridge, that requires expertise to negotiate the abundance of contenders, gusts, and the clock that is steadily counting down. I’m too busy watching and checking to worry about the near misses and the sudden unexpected moves of boats around us. Finally, we’re away at the 18-minute mark with ten boats ahead and three behind in the Jeanneau Div handicap start. Off to clear water and a sense of relief to at last be out on our own where we can finely tune our boat and reach maximum speed. We gybe and make our way around Middle Head and then look for the Sow and Pigs. What on earth is such a reef doing in the middle of one of the world’s greatest harbours?

Photo credit: Marg Fraser-Martin on behalf of the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

The heat is building and so is the wind. In fact, it’s becoming wild, forceful, and unpredictable with all the drama of a determined westerly. The reality bears no resemblance to the forecast and it’s now even more vital to call the pressure so as to avoid problems and ‘stuff-ups’. The traffic is building. Every club on the harbour I’m sure is running a race at this same time and as far as the eye can see there is a mass of sails ahead. With ferries having right of way over sail it’s a full-time job to call their position, predict their paths, and stay clear at all times and the Fast Cats simply intensify that pressure, given they can be upon you within seconds.

The temperature is now 43 degrees and there is no relief. Our water bottles are hot to touch and no amount of drinking is quenching our thirst. I have no idea what time it is, but I realise we haven’t eaten, and the extreme conditions are now quite frankly threatening our wellbeing. I call for the crew to eat and keep cool. One disappears below to douse himself with water but it’s of little help. We finally run the gauntlet of ferries and traffic around Circular Quay and pass under the iconic bridge where finally there are way fewer racing boats, but I’m daunted by the length of the course as we continue heading west. By now I’ve managed to down my lunch but now feel physically strange. I’m thinking it may be low blood pressure and am concerned I may become a liability and affect our ability to race so I uncharacteristically announce I’m taking a break. Another crew member follows me down below where we position ourselves on the low side with legs elevated in an attempt to recover. It works! After ten minutes out of the sun I’m beginning to feel normal so it’s back to work on deck. By now Snapper Island is in sight. Once we round that and its neighbour, Spectacle, we have completed the first half of the course and can begin to head east with the wind on our port quarter.

Once our sails were set, the run home provided the opportunity to relax a little and relieve a bit of the pressure and tension that had been constant for the last few hours. I

Dodging ferries.

admonished myself for not having studied the course prior to racing, but then again perhaps I was better off not realising just how long this race was going to be. We picked our way up the harbour, again dodging and weaving until Middle Head eventually loomed large before us indicating our turn for home for a windy beat to the finish. But home was going to be hard fought.

With temperatures soaring it seemed like every pleasure craft in Sydney had decided to drop anchor in and across Middle Harbour. Add to the mix suicidal wind surfers, runabouts, paddle boarders, canoeists... How we managed to make that finish line unscathed I’ll never know. Though I have to say the skipper has exceptional skills and did a brilliant job. Our crew too were resilient and capable.

As we crossed the line, I can’t tell you the sense of relief and the look of astonishment on everyone’s face as we heard a finishing gun. In disbelief we took stock and gradually realised we had managed to pass the ten lower handicap contenders in our division to take out the win. With sur vival as my only priority, particularly in such conditions, I hadn’t even considered a victory and besides, how do you even spy your competitors when there are hundreds of boats around you? But oh, how sweet it was and with my WWSA burgee proudly flying for all to see. As I finally grabbed that first celebratory drink and sat back to relax, I looked around and laughed, “Good grief I know we don’t quite look the part having two paddle boards attached to our starboard lifelines but no-one realised we were racing with my fishing rod still in its holder!”

Postscript: Now safely back in the tranquil beauty of Lake Macquarie the skipper has let it slip that we should head back to Sydney Harbour mid-January for the second race in the Jeanneau Cup! It’s not lost on me that this next race is also known as the combined Bedlam Point and Chaos Cup. Sigh... I’m thinking I may have something else on that day.

Beyond Cool. Photo credit: Performance Boating Sales.

SheSails @ NCYC Open Regatta and 2021 Calendar of Women’s Regattas By Deborah Wallace

The end of 2020 seemed to return to a perceived norm and there were a few weeks of great yacht racing around all clubs. The last weekend in November saw the annual SheSails Open Regatta held at the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, open to all female crews. In its third year, 13 crews represented clubs from around NSW and the ladies from Mooloolaba were lucky enough to take advantage of the lifting of the Queensland border closure to fly down for their second SheSails Open Regatta. Sailing manager Kelly Dawson, from Darwin Sailing Club, also attended the weekend to learn more about the operational aspects of the regatta.

The weekend commenced with some of the ladies gathered on Friday evening in the cool of the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club bar for drinks and dinner. That evening I met and received a warm welcome from our SheSails Ambassadors for NCYC, Mary Holley and Jan Howard, as they introduced me to some of the ladies that I’d be seeing over the weekend.

I spoke with Mary and Jan about the Newcastle SheSails program which began over 10 years ago. It was their vision to get more women and girls of all ages to share their passion for the sport of sailing, develop skills and nurture others, and expand their knowledge and capabilities in an open and encouraging environment. The NCYC SheSails program has set the standard for the rest of the nation’s women’s programs, and has seen many take up the sport and enjoy the pleasure of sailing every week.

from the NCYC, and teams from Mooloolaba Yacht Club, Lake Macquarie Yacht Club, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Port Macquarie Yacht Club, Australian Defence Forces (ADF), and this year saw Sailing Women’s Network sponsor our first competitive team.

Saturday morning was an early start at the NCYC for coffee and to meeting up with my friend Gemma Burns, the Australian Sailing NSW|ACT SheSails representative, whom I buddied up with for the day on one of three transfer RIBs. This provided me a great opportunity to meet and chat with the teams as they changed yachts during the six race program for the day. Olivia Price, Silver Medalist from the 2012 London Games, was the providing the on-water commentary as well as the guest speaker at the event dinner.

Liz Borberg was the skipper on Sailing Women’s Network (SWN) and with Jess Tavener, Emma Byrne, and India Howard, made up the team defending their 2019 title. Each team had to complete three races over the day and the SWN team went on to win the first two races.

The wins over the next four included:

1st - Race 3 – Sanatra (LMYC/NCYC) –Natalie Butterworth, Tracey Hanson, and Sarah Gamble

1st – Race 4 – Alfredisiacs (RPAYC) – Nicole Butcher, Lisa Ratcliff, Gemma Rasdal, and Maike Muth

1st Race 5 – Knot Shore (LMYC/NCYC) –

ABOVE: Mary Holley, Gemma Burns, Olivia Price.

Newcastle is a working harbour.

1st – Race 6 - Sanatra (LMYC/NCYC) –Natalie Butterworth, Tracey Hanson, and Sarah Gamble

The teams had to contend with temperatures in the high 30s and strong gusts exceeding 20 knots at times. Tugs and a cargo ship entering the harbour saw a change of course for the second half of the race programs. The weather was set to worsen on the final day with temperatures in the high 30s (and possibly into the 40s) with high winds.

Race 7, The Battle of the Bubbles, was the final non-point score race for the day with Knot Shore Team getting in a few seconds before the Sailing Women’s Network Team and Mooloolaba Women’s Team in third. What a great day of racing and endurance from the teams on such hot day and in the gusty conditions.

During the regatta I had the opportunity to chat with some of the ladies, to find some i nt ere st in g fa ct s ab out the ir tea m Ladies of the ADF – Courtney Smith, Carol Sedgman, Julia Whitwell, Juanita Furney, all but one had sailed before. They are all currently serving in the ADF and Julia came all the way from Canberra to compete.

It’s a real family affair for the Teams of Sanatra (LMYC/NCYC), Knot Shore (LMYC/ NCYC) and Bouyane (LMYC) who saw mothers and daughters race against each other. Ultimately, the top two team combinations included mothers and daughters taking out the first two places of the Regatta.

With the extreme conditions promised to return with even greater temperatures and increased winds, the NCYC announced due to safety concerns there would be no racing on the second and final day.

This saw the final placing with the first two spots on a count back for first and the overall w i n n e r o f t h e r e g a t t a , a n d o u r congratulations going to:

1st Sanatra (LMYC/NCYC) – Natalie Butterworth, Tracey Hanson, and Sarah Gamble (top right).

2nd Knot Shore (LMYC/NCYC) – Nina Tolhurst, Erin Killey, and Grace Buchan (middle right).

3rd Sailing Women’s Network – Liz Borberg, Jessica Tavener, Emma Bryne, and India Howard (bottom right).

During the weekend there were a number of conversations about the Mooloolaba and Darwin Regattas coming up in 2021.

Mooloolaba has been running a very successful Women’s Development Program along with a Women’s Keelboat Regatta for the past few years and the Mooloolaba Women’s team that attended Newcastle would love to see some of the NSW teams attend in 2021.

Now is the time to plan and I’ve put together a calendar for some of the racing events throughout the year to enable some basic planning, in the hope the borders will be open and we will be able to attend these types of events. These dates will be regularly updated on:

www.sailingwomensnetwork.com.au

If there are any other clubs wishing to add their women’s regattas to the calendar please get them to reach out directly and I can include the dates, and links to the details on their websites. I look forward to meeting more of our readers and Facebook friends in 2021.

Regatta snaps

NSW

NSW NSW NSW

LOCATIONS

Toronto Rushcutters Bay

Manly Mosman Double Bay CYCA

MYC MHYC DBSC

REGATTAS

She Skippers Sydney Harbour Women's Keelboat Series MYC Helly Hansen Women's Challenge Women's Keelboat Regatta The Women's Regatta 28 Feb

28 Mar 21 8 May 21 25 26 Sept

NSW

NSW NSW NSW

QLD

QLD Kirribilli

Mosman Newcastle Point Piper

South Townsville

Mooloolaba RSYS

MHYC NYC RPEYC Ladies of the Sea Coaching Regatta MYC Helly Hansen Women's Challenge SHESAILS OPEN REGATTA WOW Regatta

TYC

MYC Townsville Gal’s Regatta Mooloolaba Women's Keelboat Regatta 2-3 Oct (Long Weekend)

21 Oct 21 Nov 28 Nov

TBA

25-27 June

VIC St Kilda RMYS Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta 12-14 June

NT Fannie Bay DSC NT Women's Keelboat Regatta 21 Aug

sailingwomensnetwork.com.au

Sailing Women's Network is a private Facebook group, founded in May 2018, for like-minded women who enjoy and participate in inshore and offshore yacht racing around Australia and overseas.

Down Under Rally Offshore Cruising Course getting great reviews!

For the past few years the Down Under Rally has held their very popular Offshore Cruising Preparation Course around Australia in venues in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. In April 2020, in response to requests to make the course available to those who are unable to attend the course in person, the Down Under Rally made the entire two-day Offshore Cruising Preparation Course available online. The course was recorded and the recording then professionally edited to break down the two days of content into 10 easy to watch sessions of about 1 hour per session, all of which are available to watch as a series online and on demand. During the course John and Leanne share their experiences, the lessons learned and the knowledge gained, along with the experiences they have had sailing to and cruising in many different countries.

John and Leanne Hembrow. Woman Who Sail Australia group member Gaye Jennings recently had this to say about the course:

“If you are thinking about ‘living the dream’ either coastal or blue water sailing – or feel your sailing skills have slipped because of the unplanned hiatus many of us have had due to COVID-19 – do yourself a favour and do this online course with the team from Down Under Rally. I can honestly say this was the best course the Captain and I have done. We have learnt much about sea safety and survival, boat preparation, the must haves on your boat, latest technology tips, crew preparation etc. Additionally, John and Leanne have real experiences they can relate to on both monos and catamarans where as many courses we found were geared specifically towards monos. Overall the team provided us with the ‘realities and practicalities’ of cruising/sailing in comparison to the ‘romantic notions’ in the glossy magazines.”

To learn more about the Down Under Rally Offshore Cruising Preparation Course visit: www.downunderrally.com/events

My favourite anchorage

CANOE COVE

Fortescue Bay Tasmania

By Sue Drummond

Canoe Cove is a small dent in the larger Fortescue Bay and is protected by a sunken wreck. The photo above is looking out to the east from behind the wreck to ‘The Lanterns’, three rocky islands at the tip of Cape Hauy. The wreck gives a modicum of protection from the east but lots of protection from the south. It is quite shallow, but despite this we were able to get out mono with a 2.3 metre draft in and anchor. It is within the Tasman National Park, so quite isolated and the surrounds are spectacular

If you are sure of the weather and your anchor, you can do quite a strenuous walk out to Cape Hauy, the last cape of the Three Capes Walk. You need to get a permit from the National Parks office at Fortescue Bay for a small cost but the walk and the views are worth it. At the tip there are high wires climbers use to access the Totem Pole and Candlestick from the Cape. Watching the climbers scaling the dolerite columns is, for me as a height phobic, terrifying. The bay was originally used as a timber mill. A dredge, used in the construction of the original bridge spanning the Derwent, was sunk in 1953 to provide a haven for the fishing boats. There are no signs of civilisation except the walking track to Bivouac Point, some kilometres north.

I’ve anchored there three times and enjoyed a serene and natural ambience.

ABOVE: The Candlestick and Totem Pole RIGHT: The Bay. LEFT: The Beach.