6. 01.
Our crusing director Paul Graham is proposing that we move the Werribee River cruise from Saturday 16th January to Saturday 23rd January. Having the cruise on the 23rd will tie into the fireworks for Audi week nicely as they are scheduled for 9:30pm Monday 25th January; (http://www.victoriaweek.com.au/eventguide/entertainment.asp) for more details.
The official cruise begins at the Werribee ramp at 4:30pm Saturday 23rd January.
Members can either launch at St Helens or perhaps from the Bellarine Peninsula or from Werribee so long as they are ready for a briefing at 4:30. The cruise up the river to our evening destination will take approximately 45 minutes.
There will be fishing, beach cricket and happy hour around the camp fire (weather permitting). This is a great opportunity to have all the family aboard for something a little different and special. We will remain there overnight and return to the Werribee ramp at approximately 10:30 am.
Those people interested please contact Paul Graham on tel 0432 248 969 or 5241 6604
12. 12.
To download the GTYC Calendar click on the Calendar tab above.
1. 12.
Division 1 underway
- Executive Suite at the top of the fleet
Peccadillo sailing hard upwind
Dream On under spinnaker
Action aplenty at the start of Division 1
Arthur the Great winners Bruce Leaman, Len & Bernie Spooner
1. 12.
Trailable yachting was alive and well in Geelong last Saturday 28th November 2009 when 15 boats contested the Arthur the Great race on Corio Bay. The race was won by RL24 Lowana III sailed by Len & Bernie Spooner and Bruce Leaman narrowly beating Albury Wodonga boats Executive Suite (Herman van Rees) and Rum Runner (Phil Clements). The race was sailed in 2 divisions in a fresh breeze that challenged crews and made headsail selection tricky.
Overall results click here => athegresults1 Div 1 results click here => athegresultsdiv1
Div 2 results click here => athegresultsdiv2
16. 11.
A very successful 2009 Opening Day was held on Sunday 15th November in near perfect conditions for sailing. The sail past featured 12 boats who all hailed the Commodore Rob Ballard with three cheers. Among the guests on the Committee Boat were Cr Barbara Abley, from COGG and Lachie Jackson, and Rod Beasley from Parks Victoria, and Peter Barrow from Geelong Coast Guard. Sailors and guests enjoyed lunch prepared by Chris and Jean Hancock in the Rotunda before hitting the water for the Open Day sternchaser. Barry and Andrew in their new Boomerang Charisma were first away with the remainder of the fleet being started according to individual club handicap. The race was won convincingly by Ken Kugler and Ziggy in their Sonata Free Spirt with Glenn Kewish and Colin in Dream On taking second just beating Terry Fraser in Peccadillo. The Open Day was a great event for the Club and it was great to see 12 boats tied up at the marina. The day was hailed as a great day for the club as we look to build our sailing numbers during the season.
16. 11.
10 boats faced the starter in the 2009 Cluster Cup last Saturday 14th November. In perfect sailing conditions Beaujolais won the start and sailed well to win the race. The wind was a steady 15 knots from the south-east for the first hour of the race as Beaujolais led the fleet through the North Channel but as the race progressed the wind dropped. The fleet divided into two, one group of boats around the .7 handicap, the .65 group of Boomerangs in the other, as they worked their way to the mark off Drysdale (near the old Cluster mark!)
The fleet spread out further as the wind dropped further, with Bruce Ewen in new Sonata 6.7 Mod, 5 o’Clock Somewhere powered through for line honours.
OODs were Rob Ballard and Peter Jones.
Results:
- Cluster Cup winner, Beaujolais, Chris Hancock
- Dream On, Glenn Kewish
- Vintage Red, John Mole
Photos show Little Miss and 5 o’clock Somewhere battling it out, Free Spirit and Cluster Cup winner Chris Hancock receiving the trophy from Commodore Rob Ballard.
21. 10.
Come and join us for a cruise to explore the southern end of Port Phillip on the weekend of Saturday 31st October/Sunday 1st November (with maybe some extra days if you are off for Melbourne Cup Day). Details are as follows:
SATURDAY 31st October
Starting at Indented Heads launching ramp
- Gather (with yachts ready to sail) for briefing at 9:30 am
- Cast off at 10:00 am
| Indented Heads to Popes eye | 6 NM 1.5 hrs | Morning tea |
| then past Chinamans Hat to South Channel Fort | 5 NM | Lunch |
| South Channel Fort to Blairgowrie | 5 NM | Tea |
| Alternative berth Sorrento | 6 NM | Tea |
| SUNDAY 10AM start
|
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| Blairgowrie to Portsea | 3.5 - 4 NM | Early lunch |
| Portsea to Indented Heads | 8.5 NM | Finish |
Places of Interest
Popes Eye
Chinamans Hat
South Channel Fort
Interested? Please contact the Cruise leader: Brian Farnsworth on mobile: 0408 364 192
Keep an eye on our webpage in case there is any further information. We have options for all weather conditions.
Please Note: Make sure you have all required Safety Equipment. You can find it listed here; part-1-declaration-and-checklist-cats-5n5
27. 08.
Where: St Helens to Portarlington for an overnight stay and return the following day
When: 26 - 27 September
Briefing Time: 10:00 amOur first cruise for this season is planned to start from St Helens, sailing through to Portarlington taking in the sights of the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula. Once there we are planning a demonstration of the Cobb Cooker to learn first-hand what is possible with this amazing system. We aim to book into the local hotel for a great evening, and invite other members who for whatever reason can’t cruise with us to join us. After a leisurely breakfast on Sunday morning we will have a briefing on our return voyage home back through the North Channel.
Why don’t you join us…. please contact Paul Graham: 0432 248 962 by Saturday September 19th if possible so I can send you out the appropriate forms and information. OR ring on 0432 248 969 to let us know if you plan to join us on the Saturday night.
27. 08.
After the Saturday race on the 12th September members are invited to stay on and enjoy a barbeque tea at the Rotunda. Bring your own meat and salads or purchase sausages or hamburgers from the Club. After the meal John Mole will talk about boat trailer set-up and handling, and what you can do to minimise problems with your rig.A night not to be missed. It would be good to see all members along this weekend, not just those racing.
27. 08.
Part 3
Just got back from our first really big adventure, and it was ‘out of this world’. In talking to some locals, we decided to sail from Mackay out to Scawfell Island, a distance of 22nm, and stay in a really safe all weather anchorage at Refuge Bay. We planned to stay a couple of nights, but the weather forecast indicated strong winds a few days into the future, so we were prepared for a longer stay.
The trip out on Monday was perfect, 10 - 15kn on a shy reach, Ian helmed all the way without a single tack. Our navigation skills are improving, and we sailed directly there without any hassles. We anchored off shore the first night but then moved closer inshore so that we could ‘bottom out’ at low tide. This means we lift the centerboard/keel and let the boat sit on the sand. For several hours we then have access to all the beach facilities (a drop toilet and a dry rainwater tank), and a boat that does not move. Because the weather did indeed turn nasty, this last point ensured at least a couple of hours of lovely peaceful sleep. Several larger boats that we spoke to envied our ability to bottom out. We ate very well including roast lamb (cooked to perfection in our Cobb cooker), Thai warm beef chilli salad, curried beef etc. Marie even made a date loaf using the Cobb cooker and skills she learnt from her Mum who, when camping, could make birthday cakes in a frypan - what a woman!
Ian was concerned by Thursday that he only had 2 beers left, and was starting to wonder about the ability to brew beer from a dry water tank on a desert island. We decide to sail out on Saturday, although the forecast was at the upper end of our comfort zone. With the help of Marie’s brother Mick, we have been working on our heavy weather sailing skills and decided to put them to the test. The wind was 20-25kn,would again be a shy reach, but with 2m waves in a washing machine type sea. We put up a small amount of sail and handled the trip really well, if slowly, the waves settling during the afternoon.
The next day Marie was talking to a woman in the laundry (yes the cruising life is not all about drinking Chardonnay and eating things on biscuits) and another woman approached and asked if we were the small boat that had sailed into the marina on Saturday from Scawfell. I confirmed that we were, and she then told be that they had also sailed in on Saturday, and when her Year 12 son saw us sail into the marina, he said that if we could do the trip in ‘that small boat’, he would never woos again! There was a bit of discussion around the Marina about our exploits, but I can assure you all that we were never at risk, and we sailed safely, conservatively and delightfully the whole way.
Enough of the boring sailing stuff. I want to tell you a delightful story about Sophie the wonder dog, who belongs to a local couple Jan and David (who advised us about Scawfell). On the way out to Scawfell, you have to pass St Bee’s Island where Jan and David were motor cruising last year with their dog Sophie, a beautiful dark grey cattle dog. About 5 miles off St Bees they realised that Sophie was no longer onboard and immediately went into man overboard mode (or should that be bitch overboard?) Despite searching for many hours they were unable to locate her, and returned to Mackay much saddened by their loss.
Five months later, they received a report from a friend who had heard at a dinner party that there was a feral dog living on St Bees, and subsisting on fresh water and feral goats. Inquiries revealed that it was a cattle dog, which the rangers caught and returned to Mackay Harbour. The reunion was amazing, and even the sailors on the launch were crying. Sophie was delighted to see Jan and David, and acted as if nothing had happened and wanted to get into the car and go home.
A vet visit shortly thereafter revealed that Sophie was in excellent health if a little tatty, and her teeth were in perfect condition from dining on goat bones. She has become quite famous with reports of her exploits being sent all over the world, and a possible movie in the offing. As Jan and David cannot keep up with the requests for photo shoots, appearances and movies, Sophie is now being managed by Harry M. Miller. Despite all of this, Sophie is a delightfully friendly dog and a wonderful family pet.
I think you have all suffered enough with a sailing story and a lost dog story, so with apologies to Paul, Kate, Claire, Beth, Mark, Lachie and all the other Trekkies out there.
Part 4
So many adventures to tell you about and so little time!
Since my last communiqué we have moved up the coast to Airlie Beach and we are using the local Sailing Club as our base (warm showers and hot lattes). It is costing the astronomical sum of $1.10 per day to get full member privileges. They have made us feel very welcome and we are enjoying the fast paced tourist resort type town. There are backpackers all over the place and many languages, sure feels like we are not in Bendigo Toto.
We were anchored off South Molle Island last week and a passing dinghy invited us to lunch with them on prawns and wine, they thought our boat was cute. They were on a 50 foot charter boat (a Bavaria) and it was beautiful, and so it should be for over $1000 per day. We had a terrific time, and went into the resort for pre dinner drinks and many cocktails later, and no dinner, we managed to navigate our way back to the boat. Now I have been having some difficulty getting from the small inflatable dinghy onto our boat, but after several Pina Coladas, several Kamikazes and several things with umbrellas in them, it was remarkably easy and graceful, slept very well that night.
We have also spent several nights at Nara Inlet which is beautiful, and offers a short walk up to a cave that has some aboriginal cave paintings that visitors are welcome to peruse. The indigenous Ngaro people have been very generous in sharing this treasure, and as I have never seen cave paintings before, I was really amazed.
We keep catching up with people that we have met previously, and it is like seeing old friends after years of separation. There are several boats in the area that we keep in radio contact with, and try to cross paths every so often.
Most of the popular anchorages are very busy, and it would not be unusual to have between 20 and 50 boats moored there. We have found a little inlet called Bluff inlet which is about 3 nM from Airlie Beach and never another boat. It is a wonderful find, and may be the one that Dad was talking about. Sometimes it is just good to get away from the crowds!
There is a small 18 foot boat permanently anchored close to Airlie Beach. We always say hello to the owner Wayne who lives aboard, and his nephew Bob who is staying for a few months. Wayne is an invalid pensioner who does not like to pay rent, and who loves being on the water. The other day they called us over and gave us some shark fillets that they had caught. It was marinated in garlic, oil and lemon and was about the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.
I am amazed at the variety of people that we are meeting. Tim and Diana on the charter yacht who are seriously wealthy and have serious fun sharing it, and Wayne and Bob who have very little but share it just the same. It is humbling.
We are planning to stay in this area for quite a while yet as there are still so many places to explore. All those travel shows and postcards you may have seen do not do justice to the beauty of this area, it is gob smacking. Just to give an example of this, the other day I was sitting on the Porta Potti enjoying the view out of the companionway (door for you landlubbers), when 2 dolphins started playing around outside. It was great. Hopefully, I have been able to gross out Eleanor and a few others with that little anecdote, and I will leave you all with that thought in your heads.
Cheers
Marie and Ian
