GBBC NEWSLETTER June 2016 geilstonbayboatclub.com.au Issue 7

FROM THE COMMODORE

I attended the Commodores meeting for the south of the State organized by Yachting Tasmania earlier this month. Regrettably there was little to be gained by the Clubs in general. The major focus was how Yachting Australia is restructuring itself.

Hopefully the end result may be positive.

By now I expect that you are aware of the very sad loss of one of our few remaining founder members, Jack Barker, earlier in May and on behalf of the club I extend our condolences to the family. Very few members will have known that Jack and his daughter were part of my crew on ROANA for the 6 months that preceded my move to Burnie.

The winter down turn on Wednesday and Friday nights has started but despite the colder weather and shorter days I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy what the clubhouse has to offer - fine fare and warm surroundings. It was very pleasing to note that on one occasion recently we had 5 committee members present.

As historian I spent a few days on picking out some facts about our club membership. 10-15 years ago at one stage we had approximately 260 members and 140 boats on our register. Things have changed.

As our year is drawing to a close I ask all Adult members to give serious consideration to taking on a committee role. Key positions that need to be filled are Vice- Commodore and that of Principal Race Officer.

As for the slip refurbishment members should expect to see the contactors on site in early June.

New Members

The Club welcomes the following new members: Adult member: Nicholas Watt.

Social Members: Angela Nixon, Chris McKay, Richard Tunks, Jason Pearson and Pete Goldstone-James.

Slip Refurbishment Project Planning and preparatory work has continued since the date of last newsletter. As the Commodore has mentioned members can expect to see the contactor, Tas Marine Constructions (TMC), on-site early in June. The project will be undertaken in two stages. Stage 1 is the refurbishment of the rails and underwater infrastructure whilst Stage 2 will involve refurbishment of the No1 cradle.

Can you help? In the last newsletter an invitation was issued to all members to consider being part of a “slip syndicate” providing an interest free loan to the Club of the $20,000 required for a contingency fund. This would be over and above our present resources, and will be repaid within 5 years. Legal safeguards will obviously be built into some sort of contract between the Club and X number of members. 1 x $20,000; 2 x $10,000; etc and 20 x $1,000.

Our Treasurer has indicated that some members have already approached him with offers to assist with funding. If you are willing and able to help then please contact Keith Bolton in person or by email to keith.bolton1947@gmail.com

STRONG WINDS PLAY HAVOC In the last newsletter members were reminded of the need to check moorings. Well the strong winds continued well into May and indeed a number of boats in the bay did separate from their moorings. Once again we can only reiterated the need to CHECK, CHECK, CHECK. Luckily for one boat owner Scott and Tim came to the rescue in the ‘Laurie Dean’

ON THE WATER Unfortunately the Autumn season has seen a dramatic reduction in the numbers of boats competing. One can surmise that this has been partly due to the weather forecasts. The last race held on 22 May was the Boat Sales Tas Series Race 4 Bridge to Bridge and due to lack of wind and the adverse current only ‘Footloose’ completed the shortened course.

The next event, Pieroth Wines Trifecta Leg 2 is to be held on Sunday 12 June. It would be good to have a good roll up for this one. The last two races for the 15/16 season will be held on Sunday 3 July and 7 August.

A draft sailing program for the 16/17 season is currently being drawn up by Keith Bolton and Nigel Grey and in view of the downturn in numbers serious consideration is being given to only running one race per month. This will be on the first Sunday and will be in addition to the popular Twilight Series. Once the program had been drafted it will be put to a meeting of skippers.

Another can you help????????

Lack of competitors is one issue and another is the need for sailing staff. If anyone can assist in this regard or is keen to learn then please contact either Keith Bolton or Nigel Grey.

AROUND THE CLUB

Wind breaks courtesy of North Sails

Wally Purdon’s Native Hen sanctuary

From the Clubhouse Quiz Night

This recent event attracted some 60 members family and friends and all had a good night.

Sunday Happy Hour

Members are reminded that the there is a Happy Hour every Sunday 4 to 5pm with the club staying open to 6pm. Numbers attending recently have been relatively few and if there is no improvement then the Committee may have to review the continuation of opening on Sundays.

Meals Meals still available Wednesday and Friday nights. Recently about 30 meals have been served on a Friday night with about 60 on Wednesdays. Although numbers decrease during the winter months Karen can always find you a table. Clubhouse is available for hire with members getting a special rate. Bookings are heavy up to end of July.

Notes for you diary

20 August 16 - Presentation Dinner (Saturday)

10 May 2017 – GBBC 50th Anniversary

On a quiet day

MESSAGE FOR MOTORBOAT OWNERS The club survey undertaken two years ago indicated that motorboat owners were interested in taking part in some on water activities such as a time trial or navigation trial. If you would like the club to organize such activities please inform Laurie Dean, Keith Bolton or Nigel Grey.

Who are the Committee and would you like to join them? Committee members (l to r): Keith Bolton, John Wilcox, Wally Purdon, Mike Lever, Laurie Dean, John Brierley. Absent: Nigel Grey (photographer), Fred VanTuil and Sue Hardwick. Please give serious consideration as to how you can contribute to the running of your club. Nomination forms for the 16/17 committee will be available shortly from the bar or GBBC website.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (If anyone is willing to share information about a cruise they have undertaken or are undertaking; or news about a boat known to members please contact the editor) ‘REFLECTIONS’ Some members may remember the yacht ‘Reflections, an Adams 33, that was once owned by Andrew Boon. Andrew who is the current Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania often used to compete in our Sunday Sail Days and the Mottle Cup. Well, the boat was sold a few years ago to solo sailor Bill Hatfield who apparently set out to sail around the world East to West. Unfortunately it all turned sour off Cape Horn with a dramatic rollover. The boat ended up in the Falklands where it was sold. His report of the incident is on the following blog and is a very interesting read http://www.sailblogs.com/member/whatfield1/?xjMsgID=392293

BAHAMAS TO NEW YORK Eliza Grey is currently crewing on the catamaran ‘Tribe’ sailing from the Bahamas to New York. Eliza joined GBBC last year.

Scorpio II’s Adventures by Richard Hewson (continued)

The run up the coast from Cairns was majestic as expected, with the trades building to 20kts by mid morning. We were making a cracking pace past Cape Tribulation, and Cooktown.

The days sail was marked with history as we sailed in the wake of some extraordinary explorers. While charting the Australian coastline Captain Cook found the Great Barrier Reef by accident when his soundings went from 17 fathoms to 0 and he hit Endeavour reef. With an amazing feat of seamanship the crew of the Endeavour limped to the mainland and made cook town their home for the refit.

While the carpenters were busy, cook sent a longboat out to chart the reef and search for an exit

to the Pacific Ocean. Cook and a small crew took a second longboat and sailed to Lizard Island where he climbed to the peak of the island to search for an exit from the reef.

Scorpio II sailed in the path of the Endeavour (minus the reef incident) and in the afternoon if 27th August we anchored in a windy Watsons bay and climbed the peak for sunset. Due to lack of light I ran ahead of Emilie, bringing back memories of our crew run up Mt Streslicki on Flinders Is during a post Sydney to Hobart Delivery on Wild Rose in 2004.

Departing Cooks Look at Lizard Island at 4am the breeze was perfect for enjoyable down wind sailing along the coast. By mid morning Scorpio II was regularly sitting on 10kts and surfing down waves at 12kts. With the wind and current behind us we were making some great miles. By lunch time we were approaching some tighter navigational passages, and Scorpio was trying to tell us she was a bit over dressed for the occasion and to take down some sail. I put in two reefs and reduced from the big genoa to a staysail. Scorpio was still comfortably sitting on 8.5kts, but seemed a lot happier and danced along the coast with small dolphins.

We were sailing from one historic landmark to another, made famous by two different explorers for separate reasons. Lizard island made famous by Cooks desperate attempt to exit the reef, while Bligh's passage, and Restoration island were made famous by the Mutiny of the Bounty and Captain Bligh's monuments voyage and attempts to enter the reef and reach civilization.

On entering the reef Bligh came to rest on an island he named Restoration Island where he and his crew rested, collected fish and provisions and fixed their long boat. The crew of Scorpio also deserved a rest, and we planned to anchor off Restoration, but with only three boats in the bay, one being a shipwreck, and the other being washed up on the beach, in 30kts of wind we decided to find a safer, more sheltered anchorage for the night in Portland Roads with plans to visit the island the following day.

As the anchor took up in the mud off the mangroves, Scorpio's log read a days run of 195nm - that's what I call cruising! The SE trades here are the strongest and longest lasting in the world, and the next morning they trades were still around 30kts, making for a very uncomfortable passage back upwind to restoration island. After half an hour motoring and making less than 1nm, and noting the reputation of the anchorage, I was convinced to abandon my plans to climb Restoration Island and we decided to go with the wind and head to the passage between Hick Is and the mainland.

Hicks Island group was beautiful, but navigating through the islands is not for the faint hearted. Probably one of the most stunning tropical islands we have seen on the reefs with excellent diving and kiting. The passage involves weaving our way past numerous reefs and bommies and was absolutely stunning.

Towards evening we sailed into escape river to get some rest and do some faultfinding on the autopilot. The next morning we had a fantastic down wind run to Albany Passage where there used to be a town and a large pearling industry. Today only a couple of huts remain, but the beauty of Albany passage remains.

We took the opportunity of the flat sea and light winds amongst the islands to change do our second headsail change since leaving Hobart (Loving this cruising lifestyle and lack of wet sail changes) and making preparations for Torres Strait and beyond.

A good forecast and timing the tides through Torres Strait is essential and is the difference between perfect sailing conditions and a bumpy uncomfortable ride. Scorpio II had perfect conditions for the passage, and with following wind and tide we made good miles past some of the most beautiful and remote islands in Australia. Given our progress and the perfect conditions we decided not to stop which I now regret as after speaking to other cruisers the islands offer some fantastic exploring. Our passage took us north of Possession Island and into Endeavour Strait then north of Red Banks and into the Arafura Sea towards Wessel Islands

The Wessels prove to be some great cruising grounds with lots to explore in the wild rugged wilderness. We sailed towards Cape Wessel, and then cruised along the southern shores of the Wessel Islands. Our highlight of the wessels was an anchorage to in an unnamed bay on Raragala Island. As we approached the sheltered anchorage Emile was on the bow looking for bommies and preparing to let go the anchor. Emilie pointed out an apparent “uncharted rock” close to our planned anchorage and once the anchor was let go, Emilie pointed out that we were getting closer to the rock… or rather the rock was getting closer to us. Once we were all fast, Emile pointed out the rock and then realized that we had just spotted our first Crocodile. The 3m crocodile seemed intrigued with Scorpio and for the next hour continued to linger around the boat.

I decided to go exploring in this rugged landscape and put the tender in the water. After about half an hour of persuasion I convinced Emilie to join me for a spin around this amazingly beautiful natural harbor. Once clear of the crocodile Emilie began to relax, until a 3m tiger shark swam under the boat, followed soon after by a large manta ray. I was in ore of the environment and its inhabitants, but after

half an hour of exploring we decided that when the animals are bigger than the tender, it’s a good idea to return to a larger boat, so we returned to Scorpio and observed the abundant wildlife from a more stable platform while enjoying a bbq and glass of wine while the red sun dipped below the horizon.

The next morning was an early start, as we needed to time the tides for our passage through the hole in the wall. With cliffs on either side of the channel, and up to 12kts of tide, make it important to get your navigation correct. We entered the hole in the wall channel on slack water, and by the time we were half way through the tide was already over 4kts and we were only making ½ a knot over ground with the engine at 80%. After passing through some over falls marking the strongest of the current, Scorpio began to pick up speed again and we were once again in safe water. I launched the tender and while Emile motored through the remaining channel and went exploring, having a fun time riding the rapids in the tender. We anchored close to the northern entrance and enjoyed a peaceful lunch surrounded by white sandy beaches.

( to be continued)

MAJOR CLUB SPONSORS:

Brierley Marine, DJ Motors, Boat Sales Tas and Pieroth Wines

OTHER SPONSORS:

Rockcote, Mechanical & Marine, Roof Coatings Tas, CED Williams Glass, Lindisfarne Service Centre, Nibbs Electrical, North Sails, Cranes Combined, Boat Biz, McDonald Builders, Custom Curtains & More, Masters Contracting, Quilt and Pillow Factory.

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This month we feature BOATBIZ who specialize in boat license courses. Recently the Boatbiz floating classroom grabbed pole position in the club’s car park.