Capital Insurance Brokers ACT Dinghy ChampionshipsThe Capital Insurance Brokers ACT Tasar Championships were sailed over 25–26 November, I think it’s fair to say a good time was had by all who joined-in. It was certainly the case for everyone I spoke to, and that included most of the visitors.

Many thanks to the Canberra Yacht Club (CYC) for organising the event to a very high standard and helping Tasar with the Friday evening sail and social functions Anita Faulks in particular.

Thanks too to Andy & Ang and Anne N, for billeting visitors and helping to make their stay in Canberra that bit more special – and to A&A (again) and Paul for their assistance in arranging the sausage sizzle on Friday and helping coordinate visitors.

continued p3

Canberra Yacht ClubSailing News

ACT Sailing IncMariner Place Yarralumla ACT 2600 PO Box 7169 Yarralumla ACT 2600

Office Manager Carolin Dasey P 02 6273 7177 admin@canberrayachtclub.com.au caberrayachtclub.com.au

The Canberra Yacht Club acknowledges the generous assistance of the Canberra Southern Cross Club

October/November 2006

Contents

Capital Insurance Brokers ACT Dinghy Championships 1Compass Pools City of Canberra Regatta 4Tayls of Pathfinder – Bay to Bay 2006 5Namadgi home after adventurous cruise 6Past events at the CYC 7A Sport for all ages 92006 National NS14 Championships – Hobart 10

CYC Sailing News2

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

We seem to have had a hectic first half of the season, which can only be seen as good I think. By Christmas, in addition to the Club’s 9 Pointscore (3 Championship) and 7 Twilight races, we will also have very successfully conducted 6 regattas, each with its own unique requirements. These events have almost all had fleet sizes bigger than we have seen for years. In addition to this great level of activity and participation, all the events have been supported by really pleasing efforts by Volunteers, Committee Members and the Club Staff, so essential to the success that is evident. Also very pleasing is that many new faces are appearing among the volunteers, taking some of the load from our band of regular helpers, and I expect getting more out of their club membership at the same time. Clubs are their members, and by this indication, we are travelling well.

The one event that was not as well supported as usual was the City of Canberra Regatta, effectively the ACT Championship for trailable yachts. Whether the number of local boats that sat this out in the boat parks was simply a random occurrence, or there are some features of the event that are not attractive to some members is not clear. If the latter is the case, please do make the Club aware of your concerns, through your Class representative on the Sailing Committee or direct to Rear Commodore Sailing or other Committee member. We want to do the very best that we can to make this an event that members want to participate in.

In the same spirit, I would hope Members will always feel very welcome to let the Committee know of any aspect of the Club’s operation that they have any concerns over.

While Club racing has been going so well, the Sailing School is enjoying sell-out success again this year. The staff, led by Craig Davidson, are continuing to provide the professional, enjoyable and quality training the School has developed a reputation for. Boat Hire has also been steady, with the busiest period still to come over the holidays.

We do have one area of our Club’s operation that is potentially critical, results processing. Jenn Nielsen has provided us with outstanding support for Club events and regattas for a

number of seasons. There has been some support from others, but mostly it has been Jenn who has been there. We urgently need to establish some depth in competency in series setup and results processing, over the full range of event types that we conduct. If anyone would like to take on sharing this task or knows of someone who might, as a ’Duty’ activity if a sailor, or as just a results person if not, please make this known to Rear Commodore Sailing or Jenn.

At times the needs and activities of the Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club (CSCYC) and ours will interact, as its functions, normal operations and maintenance tasks take place in or adjacent to the same spaces that we use. It is in our interest that the CSCYC operates efficiently, and that there are good relationships between the members, staff and management of CYC, CSCYC and the Canberra Southern Cross Club. Accordingly, you are asked not to impede, but facilitate the operations of CSCYC. At the same time, any matters of concern about CSCYC activities should be referred to our Club Manager or a Committee member for action. We enjoy a very productive and constructive relationship with the Canberra Southern Cross Club, and this is most important to our Club. We all have a part to play in maintaining this.

Many of our members are busy readying themselves to compete in national championships over the holiday period, this year all at distant locations. As well as the great sailing, enjoyment and fellowship such events usually give to the participants, there is a spin off for our Club in their representing us at these championships, both in encouraging potential participants to come to our major events, and in the new skills and ideas that such regattas bring to light. I wish them all every success and enjoyment in their endeavours.

I also want to wish every member a very happy Christmas and holiday season, and a happy New Year. I wish all who are travelling event free and safe trips.

Graham Giles Commodore

Commodore’s Column

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

CYC Sailing News 3

Capital Insurance Brokers ACT Dinghy Championships (continude)

There were 16 different Tasars racing in the Championships, 7 local and 9 visitors, such that we were given our own division start. In comparison, there were 11 competitors in 2005. In the 2 years before that, the event was run by Batemans Bay Sailing Club with the ACT Tasar Assn contributing funds for the purchase of prizes.

A full range of winds blew over the weekend. There wasn’t much for the informal twilight sail on Friday, but gliding slowly over near perfectly smooth waters had an aesthetic quality. On Saturday and Sunday the breezes increased and varied in both direction and strength – frequently and suddenly – a ‘race-officer’s nightmare’. They made for challenging sailing, so that racing required continuous attention and effort. 2 races were held on Saturday and 3 on Sunday after a delayed start.

The Tasar World Champions, Rob and Nicole (his daughter) Douglas, from Batemans Bay and Callala Bay Sailing Clubs, won the Championship convincingly sailing Chukkle. Former world champion,

Rick Longbottom, sailing with Rory Gleeson in Platform 9 3/4, finished second, whilst with Nick Grey as crew, I was third in RAN.

The social side of the weekend was most enjoyable. It included the sausage sizzle on Friday evening; post-racing, pre-dinner champagne on Saturday evening, the dinner itself, and the after-event wind-down at the prize giving function.

In all, therefore, the whole weekend seemed like a mini-holiday.

by Martin Linsley

Series Results for Division 2No Skipper Crew1 Rob Douglass Nicole Douglass2 R Longbottom Rory Gleeson3 Martin Linsley Nick Grey4 Ross MacDonald Andrew Foulkes5 Brad Tallis Jared/Tayla Tallis6 Duncan Robertson Clare Woods7 C Parkinson Di Lane8 Noel Borel Lorraine Madden9 Bruce Litchfield Simon Litchfield10 Paul Neal Rebecca Everson11 Andy Cumming Angela Cumming12 Andrew Finney Julie Finney13 Kirstin Norris David Maddison14 Tony Pincott Sarah Pincott15 Kate Douglass Stephanie Bacon16 Trish Gleeson Emily Gleeson

Series Results for Division 3 No Skipper Crew1 Hugh Tait Alana O’Connor2 M Hitchens Ben Spencer3 Russell Moore Mat Cox4 Peter Spicer Cathy Cox5 Chris Eddes Susie Blom6 Michael Tait Rosa O’Connor7 Paul Gurr Michelle Tierney8 Ron Thompson Katia Moura9 Justin Wright Annette Wright10 Mary Tulip Roellen Little11 Chris Denman Mandy Denman12 Bill Kerrigan Andrew Kerrigan

Cameron Tyrrell

Series Results for Division 4No Skipper Crew1 John Tracey Craig Murphy2 Peter Russell 3 Peter Thompson 4 Bernard Broughton Graham Giles5 Kim Williams 6 Richard Hart Ian Chapman

Steven Hart7 Leigh Nielsen Trevor Hitchins8 Tom Rutt Debra Nowell9 A Hamilton 10 B Mclennan 11 Rick Scott-Murphy Susan Alexander12 Neal Davis Alex French13 Steve Langlands Colin Barr14 Barry Coates 15 Neil Garvey James Gustus

Series Results for Division 5 No Skipper1 Martin Brady2 Anita Faulks3 Graham Maltby4 Mike Wadley5 Tessa Gavin

Series Results for Division 6 No Skipper Crew1 Alan Davidson 2 Jampal Dawa 3 Hugh Gallagher 4 Joshua Owen 5 Indi Pain 6 Nathan Reynolds 7 David Larmour 8 Warren Reynolds 9 Spencer McMahon 10 Spencer Scutt Nick Gilmore11 James Reynolds 12 Peter Pederson 13 Alex Iverson

Series Results for Division 1No Skipper Crew1 Rob Hughs Liam Miller2 Ian Ruff Daryl Roos3 Michael Leydon Dan Teubert4 Mark Thorpe Doug Ramson-Harris5 Michael Chapman Alan Griffith6 Sam Cronin Kevin Whitbread7 Andre Webster Jake Webster8 Rod Hookway Iain Millar9 Oliver Merz Ben Hillman10 Matt Owen Steve Bartlett11 Howard Faulks Alessia Santarossa12 Andrew Munyard Grant Ireland13 Ian Mccaussin James Cuuk14 Ken Webster Peter Webster15 Kevin Rosenbaum Tara Ducuer16 Andy Weiss Alan Weiss17 Charlie Bellwood Michael Denny18 Justin Wood 19 Peter Wilkinson Kate Corbett19 Adam Zissler Sam IversonComplete Series Results can be found on the CYC website www.canberrayachtclub.com.au

CYC Sailing News4

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

Compass Pools City of Canberra Regatta

Series Results for Division 1Place Skipper Crew1 Matt Owen Andrew Reed Greg Breen2 Angus Reid Fred Kasparek Mikel Leydon3 Mike Green 4 Justin Mitchell Ken Mitchell Lachlan Hornsby5 Ben Dagger Chris Hanson Rick Garner6 Neil Primrose Sue Hart Tony Whipp7 Rod Badgery John Bradley Shayne Russell-Smith8 Howard Faulks Andrew Breen Graham Maltby9 Peter Barter Adam Holman Michael Walker10 Stuart Minchin Greg Knight Juan-Pablo Guershman11 John Graham Colin Graham Glenn Graham12 Mark Hillis Christine Almanci Daniel McDonnel13 Andre Webster Debra Hippisley Trevor Hippisley

Series Results for Division 2Place Skipper Crew1 Danny Fitzgerald Cameron Fitzgerald Greg Williams2 John Foreman Isabelle Foreman Madeleine Foreman3 Alan Green Michael Russell Ron James4 Ian Brokenshire Julian Walsh Stephen Hayes5 David Bizant Julie Bizant Peter Rothwell6 Shane King Jason Chaffer Matt Handicott7 Darren Knights Col Durran Graeme Campbell8 Roger Amos George Gondor Shirley Lee9 John McDaniel Antonia Kaucz Leigh Nielsen10 Geoff White Vincent White

Series Results for Division 3Place Skipper Crew1 John Tracey Craig Murphy 2 Peter Taylor Trevor Dunn 3 Don Shortridge Libby Shortridge Paul Potapowicz4 Mo Kalnins Steve Pearce 5 George Reeves Bill Watson Martin van der Hoek6 Ian Hawke Rosemarie Hawke Tina Patmore7 Geoff Gillet David Merz 8 Paddy Hodgman Guy Hodgman Mark Quilter9 Richard Wood

Complete Series Results can be found on the CYC website www.canberrayachtclub.com.au

Compass Pools City of Canberra winners photographed against the backdrop of the sponsors product.

The Regatta was a great event for all those who competed and one that the organisers can be justly proud. Given the quality of the organisation and the generous prizes on offer the number of entrants though was disappointing.

Three Races on Saturday were held in medium to strong winds that gave everyone who attended the dinner many racing incidents to talk about.

The Sunday Race was by contrast an anticlimax with a drifter causing some frustration. In the Elliott 7s, visiting boats Evergreen and Mitchell Sails from Sydney and Lake Macquarie respectively challenged WalterTurnbull and Humungus but could not match the crew work and knowledge of the CYC top two.

It was good to see competitors from Wagga Wagga at the Event. Danny Green now sailing an Elliott 5.9 named Serious Fun proved how serious he is by winning Division 2. Mark Hillis also from Wagga Wagga competed in his Magic 25 Rum & Racin.

John Tracey proved his versatility by winning Division 3 in a borrowed Red Witch that he renamed Winglets just for this event.

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

CYC Sailing News 5

Canberra Winter, time to go north again. It’s time for the annual pilgrimage to cruise Fraser Island and race in the famous Bay to Bay regatta. After 10 days on the Myall Lakes basking in perfect weather in great company we set off straight from there to Urungan, the gateway to Fraser Island. This year we were just two up with Trevor and Captain Pete.

We launched on the Saturday, a week before the start of the race at 3.30 pm for a very brisk 2 hour sail across to the island. The wind was an easterly at about 20 knots so we got a bit lazy and just set a headsail. This was enough. We reached the vicinity of the chosen anchorage but the tide was not high enough to get in so we ended up high and dry on the beach. Oh well. We were unable get off until 2.15am the next morning. We anchored off the beach but we got edgy at 4:00 am and up anchor and motored off up the island under a bright moon until sunrise. The morning was a perfect day on crystal blue waters.

We had a whole week of easterly breezes, beautiful sailing, invigorating bush walks and gourmet food and wine. Doesn’t that sound better than sitting behind a desk in Canberra’s winter.

Every day offered the same fantastic weather. Wednesday was us start the journey south, some 80 miles to Tin Can Bay where the race would start. Of course we went exploring again on the way. We spent a day at Kingfisher Resort where we availed ourselves of the spa, swimming pools and of course the bar, and I don’t mean a sand bar. The next day we decided to explore the sleepy little village of Maroon. I now know why it’s called Maroon, as due to the tide we were marooned for 6 hours until the tides came in over the sand flats making our departure possible. We then had to navigate islands and sand bars in the dark. That was interesting, missed them all. A night at Gary’s anchorage and then departed the next morning making breakfast on the way under motor on glassy waters all the way to Inskip Point where we had a swim and then set sail for Tin Can Bay.

The race was shaping up to be an upwind bash with 15 knots emerging from the north. This was unusual as most years offered us a 2 day spinnaker run up the island.

15 knots turned into 25 knots, a bit much for a genoa on Pathfinder but we ploughed on over some waves and through others. After hours of hard work we changed to a very comfortable blade jib which we carried to the finish of day 1. Both Trev and Pete were spent.

Day 2 started at 7.30 am with 15 knots, again on the nose. After the previous day’s experience we started with the blade jib. We changed up to a genoa later on in the race and carried it in about 20 knots on the nose. Tack, tack, tack all day. We finished at Urungan at about 2.15pm.

The 1,600 km drive home was uneventful except for one shredded trailer tyre and a broken trailer spring which was not noticed until a week after we got home. Don’t know how long we drove with that. How did we go in the race?, a 1st in Division, not a bad outcome for two old blokes and a 21 year old boat. This is a great way to start the Canberra winter, so next year get those boats to sunny Queensland.

Tayls of Pathfinder – Bay to Bay 2006

CYC Sailing News6

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

Namadgi, Canberra Ocean Racing Club’s 14-metre yacht, returned to home base in Pittwater on 24 November, right on schedule, after a highly successful South Pacific cruise.

Namadgi left Pittwater in early May to sail to New Caledonia. Since then, almost all the members have skippered or crewed on the yacht in exotic locations. This generally meant a crew change every two-weeks or so as Namadgi ventured northward taking advantage of the south-east trade winds. They visited beautiful places like New Caledonia’s Isle of Pines, the Loyalty Islands and the north-south chain of islands that makes up Vanuatu.

Including members, associate members, families and friends about 80 people took part in the adventure, much of it far from the tourist track.

Namadgi was away for 195 days, logging more than 4000 nautical miles on passages and many more in local sailing and exploring.

From Vanuatu, the boat sailed to Queensland, where she cruised the ever-popular Whitsunday Islands, before starting a leisurely homeward passage which took a month and involved two crews.

For members and friends, their experiences in remote parts of Vanuatu will be among the most treasured memories. Everyone was moved by the cheerful welcomes at each anchorage and the kindness and generosity of the Ni-Vanuatu, almost all of them poor subsistence farmers living in small, self-sufficient villages without electricity or other services.

At each stopover Namadgi’s skippers would formally seek the local chief’s permission to anchor and land, which was always granted, followed by a formal exchange of gifts. We mostly offered items for children, particularly pens, pencils, writing paper and the like for the impoverished schools. Soccer balls and pumps were highly prized. Invariably, crews would return to the yacht laden with delicious tropical fruit and vegetables, and on one occasion, a bucket full of yabbies – still crawling.

Highlights included the “kastom” dances put on for us by village men, naked except for a penis sheath made of a single palm frond. How these stayed on with all the leaping, stamping and shouting we

never worked out. Others were: swimming with a dugong in a remote bay, visits to active volcanoes on Tanna and Ambrym islands and stunning tropical sunsets.

Namadgi departed Luganville, capital of Espiritu Santo to return to Australia, clearing Customs at Mackay on 24 August. A highlight of that 1130 nautical mile passage was a two-day stopover at Chesterfield Reefs, a poorly charted French possession in the middle of the Coral Sea, uninhabited except for thousands of seabirds.

Namadgi sported two new items of equipment that proved very successful. One was a desalinator to make fresh water from the sea, enabling crews to enjoy occasional hot showers, and freeing them from depending on dubious water sources in Vanuatu. The other was Sail Mail, an email system connecting Namadgi’s laptop computer to the internet via HF radio. Being able to download

Namadgi home after adventurous cruise

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

CYC Sailing News 7

Past events at the CYCSTORMSThe storm that hit the Club on 2 November 2006 reminded me of another storm at the Club in 1988. I remember the day – we were due to leave the next day for EXPO in Brisbane; fortunately, someone took some photos of the damage that occurred then – see the uprooted gum tree, for example. I looked up The Canberra Times for the next day and found front page coverage then, too. The opening paragraph of the report summarises the situation:

“A yacht had `sailed’ across the car park, another had sunk in Lake Burley Griffin, & another had been pulled from its moorings; part of the CYC’s roof collapsed, windows were smashed & winds blew tables & chairs 10 metres across the dining room during a freak storm which hit the Club at about 6 pm”.

Outside, there was further damage with uprooted trees blocking the road leading to the Clubhouse and destroying the Club’s BBQ and outdoor furniture. Overall damage was estimated at some $100,000. Other damage in the area included part of the roof of West Block being blown off into the adjacent car park. The weather report shows the maximum wind speed for the day as 63 km/h at 6.17 pm, but

as we know, that is recorded at the airport. My clear memory is that the storm damage at the CYC was caused by a very narrow band of wind, undoubtedly stronger than 63 km/h, that had West Block in its path & a number of trees between the Club & West Block. In this year’s storm the wind was recorded at 105 km/h (but 43.9 knots on the Club’s weather station).

detailed weather maps and forecasts every day was a great help. As well, next of kin had daily reports on the yacht’s position and the crews’ activities.

Among the crew that visited Tanna, a southern Vanuatu island, was CYC member Susan Alexander, a teacher at Telopea Park High School. As a result, students at Telopea are now corresponding with children at Port Resolution School on Tanna and have developed a project to raise funds for education materials to send to them.

CORC’s program for 2007 is expected to involve some ocean racing, including the Sydney-Hobart race, a visit to Lord Howe Island and more cruising on the Queensland and NSW coasts.

Members were very pleased with Namadgi’s performance under a demanding schedule. But, inevitably, we are confronting a detailed, four-page list of maintenance tasks.

David Townsend

CYC Sailing News8

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

A former Champion of Champions at the CYC, Michael Blackburn, has recently won the World Laser championships, &, of course, is well known as an Olympian, winning Bronze for Australia in Sydney in 2000. The Canberra Yachtsman for August 1991 shows that Michael won the Laser Class Club championship that season, followed by Tony Ryan, Martin Brady, M Brooks, & John Tracey, in that order. Australian Sailing for November 2006 says that Michael has sailed Lasers for 16 years (12 years internationally) & is now 36 years of age. On that basis, 1990 would have been his first year in Lasers & he would have been 21 years of age. The Champion of Champions regatta that year was sailed in borrowed Tasars. A contemporary report says that `the winds were unseasonably high on the day resulting in considerable damage to a number of the boats & only one heat being sailed’. The race was won narrowly by Michael Blackburn from Adam Scott (Hobie 18) & Danny Hughes (Mirror). The accompanying photo shows Michael, with Terri Ebrill, after the presentation of the Champion of Champions trophy.

John Tracey told me that when he joined the CYC Laser fleet (presumably, around 1990), Michael was the `gun’ sailor of the fleet. At the time, he was studying for his first degree & was on a very limited budget. Whilst he didn’t have the newest boat or the best sails & equipment, he kept his boat in perfect condition, spending

hours rubbing out, filling & polishing imperfections. He seemed to be concentrating on developing boat speed, boat handling & sailing techniques As part of his studies he experimented with various diets & exercises to improve his stamina & strength. He became very conscious of his diet, having proper meals, sensible food, & no cigarettes, & very little alcohol or soft drink. He acquired an old Laser hull, modified it, & set it up in a jig with a host of measuring gauges to ascertain how to develop the maximum leaning effect (or righting moment) by improving his hiking/leaning technique. He used this test rig & a hiking bench to build up his stamina to sail Lasers in heavy weather.

Michael was a good sportsman & never employed `sharp practices’ to beat a competitor or to win a race. As he was below the ideal weight for Lasers, he was dominant in light conditions & worked hard to become equally dominant in heavy conditions. It was a very rare occasion that anyone was able to beat Michael in a race, & the race was never over until you crossed the finishing line. On one windy day, John was amazed to find Michael had overcome what he (John) thought was a safe lead by slipping onto the wake of a

Spider 28, the fastest boat on the lake, & surfed past John to take the gun. The bow on his Laser was less than a metre from the stern of the Spider, showing Michael’s great handling skills.(Incidentally, John’s notes to me said the Spider was owned by Brian Burke; I know that John has WA connections but I don’t think they extend to the infamous BB; I’m sure he meant to say Brian Worth!).

Michael was a very quiet person but he was always willing to offer encouragement to newcomers to the fleet. In one windy race when John had capsized 6 times in quick succession & was exhausted after the race, Michael took him aside & quietly explained the idiosyncrasies of Laser sailing & gave him some helpful suggestions about how to improve his skills & avoid the `death rolls’.

Past events at the CYCOLYMPIANS

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

CYC Sailing News 9

Past events at the CYCFAREWELL TO LAURIE McGEE

On Friday 17 November, several of us had lunch at the Yacht Club with Laurie McGee, a stalwart of the Flying 15 Class in Canberra for some 20 years. Of the 13 present, 9 of us have been involved with the Flying 15 for 20 years or more. The longest records are held by Paul Cohen, owner of 9 boats, builder of 4, over a period of 36 years – he started crewing for his father at the age of 10 years!, & Peter Russell, more than 30 years.

Laurie owned/raced two Flying 15s, both named Wings, sail no. 1192 from 1986/87 until 1995/96 when he bought a brand new boat, sail no. 3492. He became Class Measurer in September 1989 & retired from that role only a couple of years ago. He helped out as Measurer at the 2006 Nationals held in Canberra. The National Measurer, from Perth, has acknowledged Laurie’s useful contribution over a lengthy period. Laurie `allowed’ John Tracey to sail Wings in the October 2002 ACT Flying 15 championships; John bought the boat & as we all know, John has gone on to

bigger things as current National champion. We wish Laurie & his wife well in moving to Cairns to be closer to family.

By chance recently, I discovered that another long time member due to leave shortly for warmer climes is former Vice Commodore, Stuart Manley. Stuart owns an Adams 21 but has been sailing with Craig Tucker in recent times. Stuart looks forward to some pleasant sailing in coastal conditions.

Good sailing Peter Forster

A Sport for all agesWith the assistance of his proud dad, Steve Cartwright, Callum is competing in his Mirror ‘Octopussy’. Callum is also a regular crew member on the Elliott 7 ‘WalterTurnbull’ for the Wednesday Night Twilight Races.

At least three active, sailing members at the CYC are over the age of 70 years. There may be other but Gerard Buker, Peter Russell & John White fall into that category.

Gerard Buker sails with Leo Schofield every week and is a regular volunteer assisting with the duty race crew.

Details of Peter Russell’s achievements were published in the CYC Newsletter Janu/Feb 2006.

John White won two Seafly National championships, in 1965/66 and 1966/67 and these days is a regular in Twilight races.

CYC Sailing News10

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

2006 National NS14 Championships – Hobart

Early on Boxing Day my father and I departed Canberra on a journey to Lindisfarne, Hobart to compete in the National NS14 Championships. We crossed the Bass Strait on ‘Spirit of Tasmania’ and arrived on the 27th, just in time to have our boat ‘Shiraz’ weighed in - one kilogram too light! With a quick fix of lead and a lot of tape we were ready for Race 1 the next day.

Being 15 years old, my aim was to win the Youth Skipper Division, for skippers under the age of eighteen years. This division comprised seven boats, and we had very close racing with one particular boat, ‘Captain Planet’ skippered by 16 year old Henry Kernot of Northbridge Sailing Club, right to the end.

Except for the last heat, winds were around the 15-25 knot mark, perfect conditions for dad and me. Race 1 started off well with us rounding the top mark in 5th position. As we were coming up to the mark for the second lap though, a northern Sydney boat stalled on the mark on port tack and, to avoid collision, we capsized, losing a whole bunch of places. The remainder of the race was spent trying to catch up, which was made more difficult by our inability to point well compared to most other boats. We placed 17th, with ‘Captain Planet’ finishing 20th. The heat was won by Hugh Tait in ‘Tigger’, the newest Tiger dinghy in the

fleet. Peter Vaiciurgis placed 2nd in ‘Without a Trace’. This was the only race in the whole competition which Peter was to drop from first place.

The next day Races 2 and 3 were raced back-to-back. Weather conditions were lighter for the first of these heats; not ideal for dad and me. This race resulted in a 23rd placing for us, and an 18th placing for ‘Captain Planet’. Luckily though, in the second race of the day the wind had picked up and we were able to gain a place on ‘Captain Planet’ and a race result of 14th.

Race 4 brought moderate winds, and again we struggled with the pointing problem. We lost another five places on ‘Captain Planet’ and were 18th overall. With this placing I was coming 2nd in the Youth Skipper Division with ‘Captain Planet’ having a 6 point lead.

The winds in Race 5 were up around the 25 knot mark. Seven minutes before the start, the boat which was coming 3rd overall, ‘Samba Pa Ti’, lost her mast. The race started and in the heavier weather we were doing well. We rounded the top mark in 15th position with ‘Captain Planet’ four places ahead and, as we settled down after the mark, we saw ‘Captain Planet’s’ mast fall as well. Taking advantage of her misfortune we finished 11th overall. ‘Samba Pa Ti’ had managed to re-rig on the water and start within the 10 minute time limit; and she finished two places ahead of us.

Race 6 was another heavy weather day and, after fixing the vang, we had finally solved the pointing problem. We finished 12th in this race and gained two places on

‘Captain Planet’. At this stage in the series Peter V, national NS14 champion for six of the previous seven years, could not be beaten in 1st place overall, and Hugh Tait was confirmed in 2nd place overall.

Race 7 was the only race to take place in the morning. The weather forecast was for 30 knot northerly winds and, noting they were rising, we rigged accordingly. Unfortunately, the wind dropped soon after the start and a ‘drifter’ prevailed for the remainder of the heat. With a massive out-going tide, the fleet strayed no further than 15 metres from the shore. In the light weather and dad’s heavier than average weight, we had a lot of trouble keeping up with the main fleet. With the finish line placed in the middle of the channel and with no wind, we managed to get within 20 metres of the finish boat before we exceeded the race time limit and the buoy was pulled up. Nineteen other boats found themselves in similar plight.

Only one drop was allowed in the series, so the last race was our drop. After taking into consideration ‘Captain Planet’s’ DNF, we finished three points ahead of her, winning the NS14 Youth National Champion trophy and placing 16th overall in the fleet of 43 boats. The next youth-skippered boat was 39 points further behind ‘Captain Planet’. ‘Samba Pa Ti’ had secured 3rd place overall in the championships.

The experience of racing in Hobart and in such a great fleet, with such great people was fantastic. So much can be learnt at national championships and I can’t wait until next year’s championships.

Oct/Nov 2006Oct/Nov 2006

CYC Sailing News 11

From the CYC ManagerIn my August article I started with the words “game on” well the big game has just got bigger. We are half way through the CYC sailing season and it feels to us in the office that we are conducting a large regatta each week. We had a recent record fleet of 86 boat taking part in a CYC Championship race in November and with an average of 70 boats taking part in racing each week the Club is growing again at a great rate. The Angus Reid’s Homebuyers Inspections Twilight Series entries have soared with an average of over 50 boats racing each Wednesday with many boat coming from the YMCA Sailing Club enjoying mid week sailing.

These races are also very important to our Sailing School which the graduates incorporate these races into their final practical session on the water and we thank all members who give them pointers and cheers of encouragement during the race.

Just to make the office busier the CYC held two regattas over two weekends which stretched the resources and volunteers of the CYC. But I am happy to report that the well oiled CYC regatta machine came through with great complements from interstate competitors. I would like to thank John Tracey the Rear Commodore Racing and Ian Brokenshire and their

regatta committees for putting an enormous effort into making these regattas successful. Anita Faulks and her MSG team also excelled themselves in providing all the support for the sailing competitors on land including two superb dinners up-stairs. A special mention must also go to Di Stafford who organized all the prizes for both regattas which is a huge commitment which she handled with out missing a beat.

It was a bit embarrassing talking to an interstate trailable yacht owner who had driven all the way from Lake Macquarie explaining why we had thirty boats sitting on their trailers with a well organized regatta at their door step. We as a club must support these regattas with boats on the water to continue these events for many years.

David Kent on his yacht Gillawa is once again off to Hobart representing the CYC on this great classic yacht race, the whole club wish him the all the best for a safe and fast trip south. While you are

relaxing between Christmas and New Year please think of Dave and his crew out at sea on a 9.76 m yacht.

The Sailing School is also a growing entity with Girls Grammar also now part of our schools sailing program, with Boys Grammar and Marist Collage makes us a very busy place. In addition to Craig Davidson, Drew Taylor has joined the school as a full time sailing instructor, he has fitted in very well and his duties also include the long awaited regular PRO position. Both guys are doing a traffic job at the school so if you see them around say hi.

On a personal note I would like to thank all the members and friends for their kind thoughts and wishes Karen and I have received with the new addition to our family young William. I wish all of you a special Christmas and a safe new year.

Cheers Matt

Matthew Owen Manager-Canberra Yacht Club

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act l

istCYC Executive contact list Commodore Graham Giles (m) 0412 507061 (h) 62886990 ggiles@cyberone.com.au

Vice Commodore Peter Harvey (m) 0439 486 651 (h) 6248 6653 peter.harvey@ozemail.com.au

Treasurer Trevor Hippisley (w) 6242 8499 (h) 6254 9102 tldjh@bigpond.com

Rear Commodore Member Services Anita Faulks (m) 0407 934 492 (h).6262 4759 hfaulks@bigpond.net.au

Rear Commodore Communications Peter Barter (m) 0418 625 741 pbarter@netspeed.com.au

Rear Commodore Racing John Tracey (m) 0411 750 069 (h) 6286 2390 jandet@grapevine.com.au

Rear Commodore Operations Sue Hart (m) 0419 995 724 (h) 6285 2888 sue_hart@iinet.net.au

CYC Manager Matthew Owen (w) 6273 4777 matt.owen@canberrayachtclub.com.au

CYC Office Manager Carolin Dasey w 6273 7177 admin@canberrayachtclub.com.au

Canberra Yacht Club Sailing School have released their 2006/07 learn to sail program dates. The courses are Yachting Australia’s Get Into Small Boat Sailing Scheme basic sailing courses were you will learn

Personal Preparation Yacht PreparationWater Safety Rigging Personal Flotation Devices Terminology Sun Protection Points of Sail Cold Weather Protection Knots Marine Safety Capsize Recovery Nautical Terminology Helming Technique

Please check the CYC website www.canberrayachtclub.com.au for all bookings and details or contact Matt Owen at the Canberra Yacht Club Sailing School on 6273 4777.

This and future additions of Sailing News for this season will be edited by Peter Barter. Please forward articles for future newsletters to pbarter@netspeed.com.au

Lay-out design by Angela Cumming (nee Imbriano) For advertising contact: matt.owen@canberrayachtclub.com.au If undeliverable return to Canberra Yacht Club, PO Box 7169,Yarralumla ACT 2600.

Canberra Yacht Club Sponsors

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