Aug - Sept 2013 Newsletter

Windward
Sailing at its best
August/September 2013
Sailors from
Somers enjoy
Summers
Somewhere
else...
Above: Tim Rintoul graces Lord’s. Left: Amanda Nutting
and Steve Clifford in Europe. Below: Stan Phillips enjoys a
cool ale in Queensland.
Contents
Commodore’s report ……………………….…….2
Rear Commodore’s tack……………………..…..3
Notice of Special meeting………………………..4
Notice of Annual General Meeting……………...6
Somers female sailors……………….……...…...7
French Island cruising…………………………….8
Getting to know you……………..……………….9
Members’ winter activities…….……...…….10-11
Sailing school notice………….…………..…….12
Membership………………………………………13
Somers Foreshore Committee…………………14
Club contacts…………………………......……..15
Somers Yacht Club Inc. No 7635, Alexandra Ave, Somers. Tel: 5983 5568.
Website: somersyachtclub.yachting.org.au
Editorial: Jill and Tony Duboudin. Tel: 5983 1360 or email jilldoobs@bigpond.com
Windward page 2
From the Commodore’s Desk
WELL the sun is setting on my term as Commodore and it's almost time to hand over to Jeremy
Pearse.
I am very pleased that the club will be in great
hands with the new flag officers and current committee members all working towards having a
well run and vibrant club. It has been a privilege
to be the Commodore of this great club and the
two years has gone so quickly! The support I
have received from so many people has been
fantastic. There is never a dull moment and you
need a great team to help keep things running
smoothly.
The off season has been very busy with
preparations for the new season. Our program is
complete and packed with more than 60 races
and many social events, so we can look forward
to many summer nights on the deck drinking your
favourite beverage with your sailing companions
after a day on the water.
There has been a small rise in our subs this
year which is detailed in a letter mailed with the
program. This year's major change is in the payment options, which is also explained in the letter, hopefully it make things a little more efficient
and easy. This online payment form was developed by Marg and John Tilleard and looks great.
A big thank you to
both of them for the
fantastic job.
The AGM being
held on September
29 will have three
major components.
Firstly, at 9.30am
there will be a Special General Meeting to consider the proposed amendments and additions to
the rules so that our rules comply with the new
Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012, imposed by Consumer Affairs. You will receive this
notice and details of the changes in the post with
the club's program for the 2013/2014 season.
The second part of the proceedings will be the
AGM itself at 10.30am which includes the election of the office bearers and the general committee for the club.
Then thirdly, at 12.30pm will be Vic's fantastic
roast. Bookings can be made on the club web
site. Be sure to book early as this event is very
popular.
I look forward to seeing you all there and
around the club in the coming season.
- Malcolm Otto
IN HOME CATERING
FOR ALL OCCASIONS
VIC CRUST
Tel: 5973 6096
Mobile: 0450 784 969
Fax: 5973 2708
Windward page 3
Rear Commodore’s report
THE Rear Commodore has not much to report!
I must thank the sailing committee as almost all
the work has been completed for next season!
The calender is complete, the updated sailing instructions and courses are complete. Trophies
for trophy races have been revised.
Amanda Nutting will join the committee as I
move into the Vice Commodore’s position and
we are in discussion with a couple of potential
division one representatives to replace Matt
Stone.
Somers should be proud of its female sailors,
Caitlin Davies representing Australia and Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes join the Victorian sailing team.
So what else is new? Cheryl and I have just
returned from the Whitsunday's were we spent a
week learning to sail! I completed the RYA day
skipper qualification and Cheryl competent
crew. Competent crew is the fourth level a crew
can aspire to. First level is figurehead - just there
for the looks, second is ballast - just sit on the rail
and get wet and cold, third is intelligent ballast knows how to trim the sails before sitting on the
rail to get wet and cold. A competent crew can do
all of these plus steering the yacht, stopping on a
mooring, following a course, sailing in the dark,
checking the engine, emptying the holding
tanks....while still having time to mix a G and T
and cook dinner!
The day skipper needs to manoeuvre in the
marina, spring off pontoons in adverse wind and
current (with a audience sitting on very expensive
looking craft). Once out of the marina you are
set challenges like using the depth contours to
navigate (good in fog and the dark), or setting a
passage plan starting with tidal charts and curves
to plot drift from the
intended course, not
forgetting to take into
account leeway,
magnetic variation
between chart (true)
and the yacht compass (magnetic) and
if that is not enough a further calculation because
of on board metallic influences give an additional
deviation to the compass. So now we have a
course to steer for the competent crew. Given
the opportunities to stuff up the calculations and
the fact that the yacht may not be sailing at the
assumed speed it is a good idea to take some
fixes with the hand compass. Having arrived the
day skipper is required to pick up the mooring
under sail. Before setting out on a night sail you
need to know which lights flash in which sequence and colour and not make to assumption
that all of them are working - something I had not
considered, especially in Australian waters like
the Whitsundays.
This knowledge certainly improved my confidence to make further charters, it also reinforced
that being on deck visually checking your position
followed by looking at the GPS and being anchored before dark is the way to go, but if the
electrics fail and the fog rolls in at least I have
some idea of what to do.
I take my hat off to Patrick Moore who has
qualified two levels up as yacht master for his
new job in Croatia, he knew what to do when a
helicopter had to take off one of his crew. The
most important thing is not to tie the line they
send down, to the boat!
- Chris Gurney
The Somers Yacht Club 50th anniversary book
has been reprinted and there are only 23 copies left.
Please contact the commodore Mal Otto
to purchase a copy
Windward page 4
Windward page 5
Windward page 6
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The 51st Annual General Meeting of Somers Yacht Club Inc.
to be held on Sunday, 29 September 2013
at 10.30 am in the Clubhouse
AGENDA
APOLOGIES – Please enter names on the sheets provided at the meeting.
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES
OF THE 50th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD ON 30 SEPTEMBER 2012
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
COMMODORE’S REPORT
TREASURER’S REPORT
ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS
AND PROFFESSIONAL OFFICERS
GENERAL BUSINESS
Please note: Nominations for Office Bearers and Professional Officers be submitted to the Honorary Secretary by Thursday 19 September 2013.
The AGM will be followed by our traditional roast at 12.30 pm
THE AGM SUNDAY ROAST
12.30 pm Sunday 29 September, 2013
Roast dinner and dessert- $28 per adult/$15 per child
Bookings via the Somers Yacht Club website
or phone Helen Kirkby on 0410 628 464
by Thursday, 26 September 2013
Windward page 7
Our female sailors hit the high spots
THREE of Somers Yacht Club’s female sailors
are making waves at a state, national and international level.
Chelsea Haynes and Michelle Bursa, both 17,
have been named as members of the Victorian
Sailing Team. They sail a Hobie 16 at Somers,
while Caitlin Davies has been selected to represent Australia at the world Laser Radial Championships in China in September–October.
Michelle Bursa was also one of about six sailors nominated for Victoria female sailor of the
year. The award went to Olympic sailor Krystal
Weir.
Yachting Victoria says the Victorian Sailing
Team is the underpinning program to the Victorian Institute of Sport’s sailing program and exists
to provide funding and opportunities to junior and
youth sailors who wish to pursue a sailing pathway in high performance.
As part of their selection, sailors will receive
invitations to Vic Sailing Team Camps, access to
funding and sponsorship opportunities, regatta
support and invitations to guest speakers and
coaches.
Michelle Bursa’s mother Joyce said that her
daughter was “very excited” about gaining a
place with Chelsea Haynes in the Victoria team
for the second year running.
In early July the pair was sailing at Jervis Bay
after having competed in the OAMPS Youth Regatta at Royal Queensland Yacht squadron sailing Viper.
Normally Michelle and Chelsea sail two evenings a week and weekends when daylight saving is in force and every weekend in winter.
The two girls are neighbours in Somers and
have known each other since they were about
two years old but have only been sailing together
for the past two years.
Michelle Bursa, a student at Flinders Christian
College in Tyabb, still finds time to coach at the
Tackers junior sailors Westernport Yacht Club at
Balnarring.
Chelsea Haynes, a student at Padua College
Above: Michelle Bursa and Chelsea Haynes
competing in the OAMPS Youth Regatta at Royal
Queensland Yacht squadron sailing Viper in July.
in Mornington, said that she and Michelle had entered the Hobie 16 world championships, which
are being held at Jervis Bay in February next
year.
The world Laser titles, where Caitlin Davies
will be competing, will be held at Rizhao city on
the Yellow Sea south of Beijing, 27 September to
7 October. She will be one of only three women
sailing for Australia.
Caitlin, 22, has been a member of Somers
Yacht Club for 12 years when she first took up
sailing but has only been sailing competitively for
the past two years. She is now ranked 69th
woman Laser Radial sailor in the world.
She is also a qualified sailing instructor and
works at Sandringham and Westernport yacht
clubs as well as working part-time as a pool lifeguard at Pelican Park in Hastings.
Olympic aspirations? “If I improve enough in
the next three years, perhaps. My immediate
goal is to see how far I can go. But I don’t rule
out a shot at Olympic selection but there‘s still a
long way to go,” Caitlin said.
- Tony Duboudin
Windward page 8
French Island cruising
IT was to be the last Somers' French Island Cruise.
Premier Henry Bolte had declared Westernport to be
'the Ruhr Valley of Victoria'.
BHP had mainland near
Hastings for a steel mill,
Esso too for an Oil refinery,
BP's was further down at
Crib Point. On French Island
the SEC had bought the bottom corner off Elizabeth Island as the perfect spot for a
nuclear power station, Alcoa
the west side at Fairhaven
for its smelter, and oil and chemical refineries for
the rest of the frontage to the bay. A causeway
was being built from Tooradin to the Island to enable the construction, so yachts would no longer
be able to get around.
It was about 1968, so I was about 15. Stan
Byrne, the postmaster and past commodore
would take me around on his huge fast Shearwater catamaran. Though I was too young “it being the last cruise and all” I was allowed to go.
With the flooding tide and laughs from Stan's stories, the miles of my first “voyage” quickly passed
the landscape mostly the same as for George
Bass 160 years earlier. Camp was set at Sandy
Spit Point after we approached at high tide. Dinner was fish “barbied in a shovel”, fresh caught
by Jack Carrol and his mates and still the best
ever. The tide quickly went down two metres exposing a mud flat for 100 metres. That was the
prompt for a race to the sea and back across the
mud that exhilarated then exhausted for a sound
sleep under the stars. The next high tide lapping
at our feet got us up at dawn, collect all the rubbish, and off so we would not be left high and dry
if dilly dallying. Back in Somers by 10 to parents
just waking, and me the adventurer high on discovery.
Half of Bolte's vision came through, but thanks
to the energy and influence of many Somers folk
in WPPC including Cummins, Kotzman, Hayes,
Boadle, and Tilleard French Island didn't. So
there have been many French Island adventures
since. Despite everyone saying “we should do
this more often” interest in “the cruise” waned
over the years. Not helped by one of twenty who
did not hear the call to let go the telegraph pole
for the bonfire and broke a leg. A dedicated core
of motley crew have kept the spirit burning
through the Somers Sailing Squadron* and
peaked with the officially endorsed “Bicentennial,
Rolly Morris Memorial, 25th Anniversary, 1988
Round French Island Cruise” when 30 boats attended. From that, it looks like 2014 is the 50th
anniversary cruise and the moon and tides look
very good for late February.
So, sweep up your sleeping bag, grovel for the
ground sheet, tighten up the trampoline, emasculate the esky, and prepare your self reliance for a
Somers event of the half century!
- Tedd Warden
* Somers Sailing Squadron is for the conservation of the French Island Cruise, has no fees, is
unincorporated, joining is on completion of a
cruise, commodore in perpetuity is Jack Carroll
(dec'd), flagship is The Margaret, all members
are ranked Vice Commodore.
Windward page 9
Getting to know you—Wendy Wilson
there are lots of
other female sailors. The very competent race manWhat do you sail?
Sabre 1782 “Out of the Blue “
agement and sea
rescue, I always
feel safe sailing at
How often do you sail?
Every week over the summer season at Somers Somers. It’s great
plus a few at Point Leo and then a bit over winter that the results are
with the Sabre Association at Black Rock, Sauna announced and applauded straight
Sail, Albert Park and Mordialloc.
after the race. I
How old were you when you started sailing? also love the dolAbout 11 years old at Mt Martha. I had a break
phins, the sunsets
from the deck,
when our kids were little and only started again
BBQs and dancing
about 10 years ago at Point Leo, but trying to
to the Jets. Somers
make up for lost time now!
is a very welcoming and inclusive club. .
What is your most memorable sailing moAny suggestions about how the club could be
ment?
After one of the Summer Cup races was abanimproved?
More coaching and training days.
doned last summer reaching back to shore in
25knots – really flying!
What is your worst sailing habit?
Not keeping the boat flat.
Where is the best place you have sailed?
Somers, it really is special.
If you could choose to be any sports star,
who would it be?
What is your best result at Somers?
Fiona McCulloch- the Victorian Womens’ Sabre
Winning the Division 4 Club Championship in
Champion.
2012
What division do you sail in?
Division 4
How long have you been a member of the
club?
Four years
Do you have a hidden talent?
Puppy raising a Guide Dog, Esme, who is now
working in Singapore.
What are you known for around the club?
Being a bit of a sailing addict and silly enough to
race on cold and windy days.
If there was one sailing rule you could change
what would it be?
Make all races finish on an upwind leg – gives
you more of a chance to come back from behind.
What is it that you like about Somers Yacht
Club?
The friendly but very competitive racing and that
there is lots of it! The way everyone helps each
other launching and retrieving their boats. That
If you could crew for anyone in the world who
would you choose?
My son David- he is a great sailor!
Windward page 10
How did you spend your time during winter?
WE have been
walking dogs, fishing, yoga, driving,
and so far have
covered 4500 kilometres with our
vans. We’ve been
cruising in the
Daintree, drinking,
getting plenty of
sun, reading, eating
out and will have
been away for three
months by the time
we return. Of
course, very boring
for some people.
Stan Phillips has
been sailing/racing
as crew in an
Adams 35 at Bowen
with the North
Queensland Cruising Yacht Club.
- John Copeland
Above and below: It’s a tough job but someone has to do …
drinks before dinner while the hard part of the day is taking the
dogs for a beach walk. Waiting in the caravan queue.
Below: Janus working to finish off his A
class hulls before the season starts.
Below: Chris Gurney and others
allegedly learning to sail in the
Whitsundays.
Above: And who was
caught having a pint at
Lords when you were
freezing in Somers?
Tim Rintoul putting on
the style.
Windward page 11
Somers sailors celebrating Bastille Day
The Somers petanque group on Bastille Day (Sunday 14 July) with Dottie the Hampshire Down sheep and a
Citroen car. Dottie, a pet belongs to one of the petanque group as does the Citroen car.
Picture: ROD NUSKE
Emma and Daniel
go racing
OVER the colder months to keep away those winter blues, Daniel and I trained up for the Mountain
Designs Adventure Race in Creswick.
The race course is unknown until one hour before it starts and it involves mainly trail running,
mountain biking and paddling, through the bush
while orienteering to check points along the way.
You get a short time to plot your intended
course and have to carry all your water, nutrition
and first aid with you. Points are lost for missing
check points, and you must stay with your partner.
Daniel and I had a great race, only getting temporarily disorientated once, coming in first mixed
pairs, with a time of 3 hours and 12min.
Anyone interested in adventure racing, or doing
some shorter courses, I love to chat about it and
happy to help.
- Emma Morris
Windward page 12
Classes for the season 2013 -14
Bookings are now open
Start Racing, Sunday 9:30-12:30 Nov 10th, 17th, 24th, Dec 1st, 8th
Start Sailing Course 1, 9:00-13:00 Dec 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st
Start Sailing Course 2, 9:00-13:00 Jan 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
Adult Start Sailing, Sunday 9:30-1:00 Jan 19th, Feb 2nd, 9th, 16th, Mar 2nd
Further information is on Somers Yacht Club web site
under the sailing school tab, including cost
and a link to Yachting Victoria to book your place.
Any questions please contact Emma Morris: simemmorris@bigpond.com
Windward page 13
Membership renewals 2013-14
IT is that time of year again and your annual fees
are due and payable by October 1. You will be
advised at the end of August on how this is to be
done. Prompt payment is always appreciated as
it helps in making the start of the sailing season
run smoothly and is a great help to me as membership secretary.
This year we are offering some different options for doing your renewal:
• Online—forms have been designed for you
to complete the forms on line and submit. You
will then need to pay online using direct debit.
This has been a lot of work by a hard working
volunteer so please be kind in your evaluation of
how well it works.
• Download forms from the Somers Yacht
Club website. Complete and forward with payment or pay online and provide details on the
forms
• For those who are not online we will mail out
the forms as normal
NOTE: If paying online it would be ideal if you
used your membership number as well as your
name as a reference. Your membership number
is shown with your address on the envelope you
will be mailed at the end of August with the calendar and other information.
Silver Card – Yachting Victoria this year are
also changing the way they provide Silver Cards
and will not be mailing out cards. Your status
can be viewed on their My Club Website. As in
the past on receipt of payment I will update your
financial status on the MyClub website. I will also
be providing your email address to YV so that
they can email information to you.
As I have done in past years I remind you of
the need to be financial by October 1 particularly
for sailing members.
• Firstly the funds provided by your renewal
are used by the club to keep functioning. This is
your club. Everyone works together to make it
the best in can be and prompt payment is appreciated
• The yacht club’s affiliation with Yachting Victoria requires that you need to have a current
Yachting Australia Silver Card to sail in club
races. Your current Silver Card runs out on 30
September 2013.
• Any boat which uses the facilities of the club
MUST be registered and this is done annually
through your renewal. As regards club racing the
usual practice of the club is that race entry cards
are issued when the boat registration form has
been received. The information provided on the
registration is used to complete the race entry
card.
• Yard storage is provided on payment of fees
and your place in the yard is only guaranteed on
payment. Think also of how much easier it is for
the yard manager to work out the layout of the
yard if he knows what boats are going to be
there. It is a challenging job so show your appreciation.
Looking forward to another great season
Marg Tilleard
Membership Secretary
Windward page 14
Somers foreshore — regular working bees
THE Somers Foreshore Committee of Management holds a regular Sunday working bee on the
third Sunday of every month usually meeting in
either the Upper Car Park (opposite Somers
General Store) or the Lower Car Park (Somers
Yacht Club) at 9.30am.
The work involves regular maintenance of the
reserve’s assets and various project tasks. There
are activities suitable for all age groups and abilities. Friendly and helpful guidance on what to do
is given and all equipment is provided. The work
is finished by about 11am followed by a morning
tea to meet and talk to SFCOM members and
other community volunteers.
Please consider helping the SFCoM to protect
and maintain our beautiful Somers foreshore.
Reward for beach cleaning
MANY of the Somers Community walk on the
beach every day as part of their exercise regime
and many of those who are community minded
take the opportunity to remove litter that may
have been left by visitors or washed up on the
beach.
You may not realise that the State Government actually pays funds to SFCoM for this voluntary activity but in order to lodge a claim a written form must be prepared.
The funds which can be obtained will assist
SFCoM to help maintain the Foreshore reserve
and preserve the Somers environment.
If you are a regular or just an occasional
“beach cleaner” and would like to assist, please
pick up a form from the Somers General Store/
Somers Yacht Club/CFA or Brian Evans Treasurer of the SFCOM by calling him on 5931-3687.
All you need to do is record the time spent on
beach cleaning between October and April
(inclusive) and return the form to Brian @ P O
Box 466 Somers 3927.
Please contact him if you wish to discuss further.
Come along and watch THE GRAND FINAL
on the big screen in the clubhouse
from 2pm on Saturday 28 September
Bar Open Meat pies
Windward page 15
Club Contacts
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Commodore
Vice-Commodore
Rear-Commodore
Treasurer
Secretary
Malcolm Otto
Jeremy Pearse
Chris Gurney
John Hatton
Roy Higginson
5983 1431
0419 804 349
0413 433 620
5983 5898
0408 838 057
malndi3@bigpond.com
alplas@bigpond.net.au
chris.gurney33@gmail.com
hattonjande@bigpond.com
royhigginson@bigpond.com
Helen Kirkby
Stephen Brown
Margaret Tilleard
Norm Dewar
Tim Rintoul
John Tilleard
Grahame Tiplady
0410 628 464
0407 334 018
0409 003 136
5983 1690
5983 1116
0419 517 193
5931 3301
hjksomers@gmail.com
stephenbrown48@gmail.com
margaret.tilleard@moroka.com.au
dewars01@bigpond.com
timsue.r@bigpond.com
john.tilleard@moroka.com.au
grahame@ocean-clocks.com
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Social Coordinator
Bar Management
Membership Secretary
Sea Rescue & Safety Officer
Rules, Legal & Finance
General Committee Member
General Committee Member
OTHER ESSENTIAL CONTACTS
Clubhouse Booking
Madeline Boadle
Facilities Manager
Simon Boadle
Race Management
Mark Graham
Liquor Licensee
Rob Welch
Web Site Manager
Grahame Tiplady
Sailing school
Emma Morris
Windward Editor
Tony Duboudin
Friday Night Dinner
Vic Crust
Bookings & Catering (Friday night meals must be
0417 583 902
boadles@gmail.com
5983 5561
boadles@gmail.com
0417 530 230
markgraham58@gmail.com
9592 2597
robwell42@gmail.com
5931 3301
grahame@ocean-clocks.com
0425 784 877
simemmorris@bigpond.com
5983 1360
tonyduboudin@bigpond.com
0450 784 969
booked by Thursday 5 pm)
Return address:
Somers Yacht Club Inc.
PO Box 129
Somers Vic 3927