ALBURY WODONGA YACHT CLUB Sail Away OCTOBER 2 0 1 6 To be a thriving place where people of all ages and abilities come to discover the joy of sailing. What’s On! From the Helm Leanne Thomson - Commodore Sunday 9th OCTOBER 9.00am Club Championship Race 1 – PIZZA What a wet start to the season! I am still amazed at OVEN ON TODAY seeing the water at the lawn (half way up the sandbags) 1.00pm Blessing of the Fleet and Commodore’s every time I visit the Club. It has certainly made Sail Past/Season Launch launching the boats easy and the view across a full lake 3.00pm Information Session re Teams Racing whilst enjoying a coffee is amazing. th Sunday 16 September saw the running of our Frostbite series. 9.00am Club Championship Race 2 Numbers increased as the weeks went on, with 1.30pm Teams Racing members dusting off their sailing gear to come out for a nd Saturday 22 ‘warm up’. Results and a wrap up can be found on page 9.00am Powerboat Handling Course Day 1 of 2 3. 11.00am Sailability 12pm-3pm (set up from 11am) Sunday 23rd Sunday 9th of October will see the start of Championship 9.00am Powerboat Handling Course Day 2 of 2 Racing (at 9am). Following the racing will be the Season 9.00am Club Championship Race 3 Launch. As part of the festivities there will be a Blessing 1.30pm Introductory/Fun Racing of the Fleet and Commodore’s Sail Past. The pizza oven Wodonga Children’s Fair – DSC Display will be on and I encourage all members to come along Friday 28th for a great social afternoon. More information about the SAIL COUNTRY – Visitors Arriving fun day on page 7. th Saturday 29 Many members have been busy about the Club in the 2.00pm SAIL COUNTRY th lead up to the start of the season. Thanks to Mark Harris Sunday 30 and Phil Clements, who have been working on the Jetty 9.00am SAIL COUNTRY st project. Also to Stuart Howsam and Phil Craig for their Monday 31 work on the dollies for the new Pacers. The Sail Country Class Association Training Camps Organising Committee have also been hard at work and Extended calendar later in this edition. you can read an update about their progress on page 5. Please see the full Schedule of Courses for 2016-17 on AWYC website here I have noticed some of the new AWYC merchandise about the Club. It is great to see the new logo embraced

by the membership and they are happy to proudly wear AWYC SEASON LAUNCH clothing with it displayed. Merchandise can be ordered via the AWYC website at any time. th Sunday 9 October The new Access System (with cards instead of the old keys) will commence after the Season Launch. You can Come and join in the fun! read more about the Access System and how to obtain your card on page 3.

(See details page 7) (Continued on page 2)

Connect with us on Social Media!

Website: www.awyc.yachting.org.au

www.facebook.com/AlburyWodongaYC twitter.com/AlburyWodongaYC www.youtube.com/user/AlburyWodongaSailing instagram.com/alburywodongayachtclub/

SAILAWAY OCTOBER 2016

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Thank you to the members who have DutyMan Stuart Howsam – DutyMan Administrator renewed their membership. Fees are NOW DUE and if you have not yet paid As most of you would be aware Sail Country is being hosted once please go online to do so. 2015/2016 again this year by AWYC. members (who have yet to renew) need to be aware that their insurance Already many members have volunteered to provide assistance with Australian Sailing expired on the during this event. However more helpers are required in the 30th of September. If for some reason Café to “feed and water the masses”.

you are having difficulty renewing, or If you look on Dutyman you will see there are still many have not received your renewal email, four-hour time slots to be filled from Friday 28th October through to please contact Helen Tuesday 1st November. [email protected] ASAP. More about membership renewals can be If you are able to help on any of these days please log into found on page 3. Dutyman and indicate where you are able to help.

We have a busy couple of months If you have problems logging into Dutyman you can contact me by coming up with the Children’s Fair, Sail phone on 0416 320 198 or by email at [email protected]

Country, Discover Sailing Day and Alternatively if you would prefer to telephone or email your training courses commencing. I preferences please either ring Helen on 0438 425 992 or email encourage members to help out Stewart at [email protected] and let us know when you wherever they can. are available to assist, we would be most grateful. We look Leanne Thomson forward to hearing from you soon. Commodore Of course prior to and beyond Sail Country we will all be required to give a helping hand! New Marquee Leanne Thomson – Commodore

Thanks to some grant funding we have Racing at the Club been able to get a marquee produced to Leanne Thomson – Commodore use for marketing (and of course Our Championship Racing commences Sunday 9th October (after shade). Each year we have been the NSW long weekend). Sailing Instructions are available on the borrowing the Discover Sailing Tent website under the Sailing tab – Racing Documents. To participate from Yachting Victoria (requiring a in the Club Championship racing (on a Sunday morning) you must member to collect from and then return be a current 2016/2017 Sailing member who has selected and paid to Melbourne) along with the Tackers the Racing Entry fee for your boat. The fee is per boat and not Tent (freighted from and back to applicable if you are just a crew member. Sydney). These tents were used for the Wodonga Children’s Fair and our If you have renewed your membership and neglected to pay the Discover Sailing Day. racing entry fee for your boat, please contact Helen Kerr [email protected] so you can be issued an invoice and your With our own tent we will have more membership updated. flexibility to set up promotions at other events throughout the year. Sailability We request that non racing members keep clear of the course sets up a display (without a promotional during races on a Sunday morning. We will be conducting tent) at the Nail Can Hill race each year. Introductory Racing on nominated Sunday afternoons which you Now they will be more visible at the do not need to have paid a racing entry fee for your boat to be finish line with this new marquee. involved. We encourage members who are starting out to come along and be supported around the course. These races are a great opportunity to bring family or friends out for a sail, or for skippers to put their crew on the helm.

This year we are offering some Teams Racing to the calendar. These races will be conducted in the Club’s new Pacers – 3 boats against 3 boats. On nominated Sunday afternoons we will gather interested members to create some teams to race off for the afternoon. There will be a short information session at 3pm on Sunday 9th October (at the Season Launch) about how the Teams Racing will work.

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SAILAWAY OCTOBER 2016 Membership Renewals Now Due Leanne Thomson – Commodore

Thanks to the members who have already renewed their membership for the 2016/2017 season.

We currently have: Sailing Membership = 76 members Social membership = 18 members Race Entrants = 19 members

As you can tell this means we have many members still to renew. With racing about to start you need to be a current financial member and have paid your racing fees to participate.

2015/2016 members (who have yet to renew) need to be aware that their insurance with Australian Sailing expired on the 30th of September. If you are not a 2016/2017 member you are not covered.

The link to renew your membership is: https://membership.sportstg.com/regoform.cgi?aID=21149&pKey=66cf4d1edabcf804ea9943664e4fe5fc&form ID=41968

The last edition of Sail Away had heaps of information about the renewal process. If you are still having trouble, please have your credit / debit card and other details including boat information and insurance with you when you visit the Club and a Committee Rep will assist you.

Please note this will be your last printed edition of the newsletter if you are not a financial member.

Frostbite Series Leanne Thomson – Commodore

Thanks to the competitors and Duty Crew who participated in the Frostbite series run throughout September. The winds were generally light and variable and we even had some wet days thrown in for a true start to Spring. A mixed fleet of 9 boats competed in the event and included: Boomerang 20, Elliot 780, Castle 650, Cobra Cat, Noelex 25’s, Laser Radials and a Tasar. Congratulations to Wes Ward on Grey Ghost (Tasar) who came first on a countback. Simon Thomson on

Anchorman (Laser Radial) finished second, with Terry Caldwell on Pisces (Noelex 25) taking third place.

The Club Championship (official) Racing commences Sunday 9th of October, after the NSW long weekend. More details on racing this season can be found on page 2.

Have You Picked Up Your New Access Card Yet? Terry Kerr – Vice Commodore

Some of the Club’s locks (Front Gate, all Storage doors, and the

Clubhouse Door) will be changed to the new Keyless Locks on Nautical Quiz Monday, 10 October 2016. After this date you will no longer be able to open these locks with a traditional key, you will need an

Access Card. If you haven’t done so already, you can collect your How’s your nautical knowledge, do you Access Card at the Club on any Saturday or Sunday between 10:00am and 2:00pm between now and 10 October from Terry know what this is (answer on page 6)? Kerr. If you are unable to collect your card at any of these times email [email protected] to make alternative arrangements.

If you have already collected your card but do not intend to renew your membership, please return your card and your original gate key for a $11.25 refund. If you do not renew your membership by the 3rd of December your card will be deactivated.

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Graeme Base Exhibition – The Seahorse Cafe Leanne Thomson – Commodore

Albury Wodonga Yacht Club’s Tackers boat recently featured at the Albury Library Museum as part of The Seahorse Café exhibition, a children's play space.

The Seahorse Café featured 10 original works from a number of well-known picture books by Graeme Base. It was on display in the main exhibition space of the Library Museum from the 10th – 31st August.

The Tackers boat tied in nicely with “The Legend of the Golden Snail”. The book tells of a young boy, Wilbur, who sets out on a mission to free the Golden Snail. Along the way he makes friends who save him from rough seas and mazes of madness, returning him safely home.

navigation skills to use them. A number of our Top insurance claims members have had great success navigating Erwin Bejsta – Member Contribution unknown waters all over the country but some have

discovered the shallow areas with their keel! I recently came across an article, published by the RYA, on the top five insurance claims. I thought it Next on the list are capsizes. Whilst a dinghy rarely would be worthwhile to share the information with suffers under a capsize, the same cannot be said for club members as it reminds us of the major greatest trailer sailers or keelboats. If your trailer sailer or risk we face in boating and is a timely reminder for keelboat fills up with salt water the recovery is everyone at the start of the season. lengthy and will normally require replacing

32% of claims relate to collisions! This is a electronics and other components. If your battery is staggering statistic when you consider that boats not properly secured a capsize can very easily result generally don’t move very fast and skippers have in a punctured hull and possibly a sunk vessel.

plenty of opportunity, and indeed are required by Paul Birch (Bishop Skinner Marine) says law, to avoid a collision. ”Remember, the best time to head back to shore is

The collision regulations (road rules for water) when the thought first occurs to you. Be sure to take define a “stand-on” vessel and a “give way” vessel the necessary precautions and follow your instincts if you have any reservations about the weather”. but do NOT define a “Right Of Way” vessel. Next time you think you have right of way, remind Number five on the list is rig and mast damage. yourself that the responsibility of avoiding collisions Regular rig checks are essential and if your rig is is yours, just as much as the other boats’. raced hard you should replace it more frequently.

Most major insurance claims I have observed at On salt water the basic rig life expectation is 10- AWYC over the years would confirm this statistic. 12years, insurance providers normally require a rig check every 1-2 years after that. 10% of claims are due to weather damage. I don’t believe this is a major issue at AWYC, but it is worth If the rig breaks out on the water, it is not reminding ourselves to secure the boat when left at uncommon for yachts to also loose the mast and damage the deck. the club or anywhere else.

The third most common reason for insurance claims I had a recent report from someone who lost a rig is striking underwater objects. Whilst this has not (and mast) on a 37 footer with the final repair bill been a big problem at our club (unless sailing to coming in at $80,000; the whole boat being worth Tallangatta), the submerged trees in Lake Hume around $100,000 (with rig and mast). The cost of a pose a great danger and most of us generally avoid new rig ($10-15,000) would have been a much better choice. the treed areas.

Have a safe and happy sailing season. When sailing in another location the chances of running aground are much greater but can be Erwin Bejsta easily avoided if you have up-to-date charts and the 4

SAILAWAY OCTOBER 2016 Sail Country Stewart Cathie – Event Coordinator

We are only 36 days (from writing this article) away from SAIL COUNTRY 2016. Preparations are well under way for what is promising to be the biggest and best Sail Country the world has ever seen!!

The clubhouse and grounds are looking a picture and I’m sure our visitors will be blown away at the spectacle provided by a full Lake! Members’ Boats Parked in ‘East Side’ (along The program has been finalised and we have had a the back fence) Storage: great response to our call for Gold, Silver and Due to the likelihood that we will have a full Bronze sponsors. I would like to thank all the lake for SC16, we will need to generate as organisations and businesses that have come on much space as possible for the visitors. board for this event. If you know of anyone else that Consequently it will be necessary to move the would like to become a sponsor, packages are OTB boats from the eastern side parking available from $250. Mary-Anne Scully has all the areas for the duration of the SC event. details and would be pleased to talk to you. If you can relocate your boats for us that There has also been a fantastic response to our call would be great. If you can’t, we will do it for for volunteers and we appreciate the fact that so you. It will be undertaken carefully and the many people have been prepared to offer their temporary relocation site will be just as assistance over this important weekend. At this secure as your allocated site. stage we have approx. 85 volunteers providing assistance. Movement will occur the week before the event and boats will be returned to their sites We are very much working on the age-old principle in the week following SC16. that many hands make light work so opportunities still exist for anyone else that would like to join the I would like to say thank you to the Sub- team. In particular we require some additional committee for all of their help in putting this event people to work in the galley. on the map. Thanks to Leanne and Donald

If you could help us out in this either ring Helen on Thomson, Phil Clements, Mary-Anne Scully, 0438 425 992 or e-mail Stewart at Helen Kerr, John Rodgers, Brian Royal, John [email protected] and let us know if and Pimm, Phil Craig, Terry Caldwell, and everyone else that has contributed so far. when you are available to assist, we would be most grateful. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Many thanks for your assistance.

The full volunteer roster will be circulated to Stewart Cathie everyone in the next few days for review and (on behalf of the SC-2016 Sub-committee) confirmation of allocated duties.

Free Training Opportunity

There will be an afternoon of advanced resuscitation training on 8 October 2016 from 10:00am to approx. 3:00pm. The aim of the afternoon is to train people in the use of some resuscitation equipment that will be available during the Sail Country weekend.

As the training involves some advanced skills you will need to hold a current First Aid or CPR Certificate to be eligible to attend the training. You must also be prepared to assist with resuscitations during Sail Country should it be needed. Bookings are essential as positions are limited. If you would like to attend the training reserve a place by emailing your name and phone number to [email protected]

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SAILAWAY OCTOBER 2016 2016 -17 Sailability

Session Dates Nautical Quiz - Answer Phil and Andrea Clements – Sailability Coordinators This is a Wind Barb. Wind Barbs are a concise Sailability Session dates for the 2016-17 season follow. and convenient means of depicting both wind Set up will be from 11.00am with sailing sessions from speed and direction in a single graphic on a 12.00pm-3.00pm. meteorological chart. Each full length barb, the longer of the two lines on the illustration, Please note the first Sailability session for the season is represents a speed of 10 knots, and as you’d Saturday 22nd October 2016. imagine, a half bard represents 5 knots. For Saturday 22nd October 2016 stronger winds a Pennant, the Triangle, is used Saturday 26th November 2016 to represent 50 knots of wind. Barbs and a th Saturday 10 December 2016 Pennant, if needed, are added to a Stem to th Saturday 14 January 2017 indicate wind speed to the nearest 5 knots. th Saturday 4 February 2017 Wind Direction is indicated by the angle of the Saturday 25th February 2017 Stem with the end of the Stem where the Saturday 18th March 2017 Barbs are located indicating the direction the wind is coming from. So the below Wind Barb

indicates 65 knots of wind from 285o. No Dogs Allowed Leanne Thomson – Commodore

Can members please note that as per our Club By-Laws, and as clearly sign

posted at the Club, all animals and pets are banned from the Yacht Club at all

times (with the exception of Guide Dogs). What is more disappointing is those who are breaking this rule are not cleaning up after their pet. The Mow and Grow team do not appreciate the presents being left for them!

Paralympic Games – More Gold for Australia!!

Congratulations to: and (SKUD 18) – GOLD! , and Russell Boaden () – GOLD! Matt Bugg (2.4mR) – SILVER!

Well done to all of our Paralympic sailing team – what a battle! You have done us proud!

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SAILAWAY OCTOBER 2016 Discover Sailing Centre Donald Thomson – Training Principal

Thanks to Terry Kerr, Mynyx for conducting the First Aid Course and Refresher at AWYC on the 3rd of September. It was only a small class, but those attending gained valuable life skills to assist an injured person.

We still have some places left in our next Powerboat Handling Course on Saturday 22nd / Sunday 23rd October. This class is limited to 4 students, so make sure you register early. All successful students can receive TSV Certificates for marine licencing (Vic) or can take their successful completion certificate to NSW Maritime for a marine license.

Erwin is also conducting a Member Development course (no formal qualification) “GPS Basics – Using a GPS” to be held on Saturday 12th of November from 10am – 4pm. This course covers the basics of: How the GPS works; Getting to know your GPS; How to use the Man Overboard (MOB) function; Using the GPS to give time of arrival; Simple techniques for laying a windward mark; Basics of Waypoints and Routes; Q&A session; Practical MOB GPS exercise (weather permitting). This course is FREE to AWYC members but is limited to 8 people. Be one of the lucky ones to take up this offer by registering online now.

The 2 above classes, along with Tackers and Learn To Sail Dinghy Program, can all be booked via the course schedule on the AWYC website.

Don’t forget to make a note in your diary that our Discover Sailing Day is on Saturday 5th of November 11am – 3pm. I encourage all members to help out on the day, but also to promote the event by inviting family, friends, work colleagues and neighbours along.

We are requesting that members assist us in promoting the activities of the Discover Sailing Centre. If you can display a poster of the Discover Sailing Day / Dinghy – Learn to Sail /Tackers (or all) please email me with the quantity and if you require an A4 or A3. Email: [email protected]

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AWYC Club Values Leanne Thomson - Commodore

If you have been to the Club recently you may have seen above the bar our Club Values Boards. These are the Values of our Club, which were determined a few years ago as part of our Strategic Planning (in consultation with members). These boards were on display at the end of season function and have now been mounted for display at the Club. As a Club member these Club Values are to be followed.

Our Mission is:

“To be a thriving place where people of all ages and abilities come to discover the joy of sailing”.

Our Values are:

 HONESTY & INTEGRITY o We are trustworthy as individuals and as a Club. o We will be accountable for our commitments and actions. o We are genuine and truthful. o We expect high standards, consistency, transparency and follow through in everything we do. o We communicate with each other in a responsible and appropriate manner.

 RESPECT o We respect and value everyone. o We are considerate of the ideas and opinions expressed by others. o We respect personal and Club property and the environment. o We abide by the spirit and intent of the Club rules.

 DIVERSITY o We recognise the positive aspects of a variety of ideas and the value of differences. o We embrace the community’s expectations in regards to inclusiveness. o We recognise a variety of skills, motivations and abilities. o We accept the need for competitive and recreational / social sailing to be given equal standing.

 SPORTSMANSHIP o Fairness, good humour, fun, excellence and highly skilled members will be a feature of our Club. o High safety standards can be expected both on and off the water. o We ‘play by the rules’.

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SAILAWAY OCTOBER 2016

How are we going ? Member satisfaction survey results - 2015/16 sailing season Mary-Anne Scully – Marketing / Promotion

At the end of each season the voluntary management committee invites AWYC members to provide feedback on the previous sailing season and suggest ideas for the year ahead.

Thanks to everyone who completed a ‘How are we going?’ member satisfaction survey for 2015/16.

The survey was circulated at the end of season function and Annual General Meeting and also printed in the SailAway newsletter. We received a total of 30 responses this season, compared with 52 responses last year,

Here is a summary of the responses and feedback received.

(Note: some members did not answer every question so the total number of responses for each question may vary).

Q. How were you involved in the Club during the season?

Activity No of responses SAILING Club racing 18 Introduction to racing 0 Cruising on Lake Hume 5 TRAINING Enrolled in a course offered at the Club 5 Volunteer instructor/Assistant/Trainee for 10 Tackers Dinghy Program Volunteer instructor for non-sailing training (eg 2 Power boat handling, first aid Volunteer for Sailability 10 SOCIAL Wood fired pizza 17 Christmas party 10 Season launch 11 End of season function 15 Sail Country welcome function 10 DUTY/ MAINTENANCE Duty crew 17 Gardening/grounds committee 2 Galley 9 Volunteer for Open Day 8 Volunteer for Sail Country 13 Volunteered for other events hosted by Club 5 (eg Triathlon events) Other (Working bees) 3

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SAILAWAY OCTOBER 2016

(Continued from page 9)

Q. How do you rate your Club for the 2014/2015 season ?

(note: most common response for category appears in bold)

Category Excellent Good Fair Poor Club racing 14 9 0 0 Training 21 3 0 0 Social activities 7 13 3 0 Yard Arm Cafe 11 10 5 1 Communication with members 10 10 3 0 SailAway newsletter 18 7 1 0 What’s on (weekly e-bulletin) 17 9 1 1 Safety 15 6 2 0

What did you like most about your Club this season ?  Great training options and social functions

 Sail Country was fantastic – raises profile of the Club and offers members an opportunity to participate

 Socialising after race events, coffee, lunch and a chat on the lawn

 Opportunities to sail and enjoy the Club facilities and friendship  Beautiful environment, friendly feel  Kids participation  Coaching the Opti squad

Q. How can we improve ?  Offer wi-fi in the Clubhouse  Pay instructors  Revert to former duty roster system please  I’m a bit concerned about the ability of many of our members to perform rescue. Can we offer special training for this as well as powerboat handling courses?  Look after our juniors.Offer further encouragement after Tackers 3 to continue with sailing. It’s a thrill to see kids continue !  Remove the shelf in the galley which holds the microwave – it’s dangerous !

What’s your preference for timing of our end of season celebration ? Friday night: 2 Saturday night: 23 Either: 1

Where to from here ? The Committee considers all feedback provided through this annual survey to see what is working well for members and if there are ways we can improve our Club.

For example, in response to feedback received from members in 2013/2014 and 2014/15 ‘How are we going ?’ surveys, the Committee

 reviewed the Club racing calendar to increase frequency of racing  offered more Introductory racing for members who wanted a ‘taste’ of racing  introduced a ‘welcome to the season’ function at the club  recognized that replacement of the tractor was critical, ensuring that revenue raised from the Sail Country regatta was directed to purchase of a new tractor for the Club  removed ‘presentation’ from the description of the end of season function as it’s a celebration for all

The feedback provided by members in the 2015/16 satisfaction survey will also be used in planning activities for the current sailing season.

Member feedback and ideas are always welcome. If you would like to offer feedback to the Committee, please post a note in the ‘suggestions’ box at the Clubhouse.

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Lake Hume at AWYC as at 4th September 2016 – there is now only one sandbag out of the water!

Albury Wodonga Yacht Club Inc 2015-2016 Contacts A full list of Committee & other Contacts is available on our website

Commodore Leanne Thomson 0402 348 874 [email protected] Vice Commodore Terry Kerr 0419 401 036 [email protected] Rear Commodore Stewart Cathie 0401 668 741 [email protected] Secretary Helen Kerr 0438 425 992 [email protected] Treasurer Jeff Stirling 0406 856 458 [email protected] DSC Training Principal Donald Thomson 0467 355 258 [email protected] Club Captain Racing [email protected] Marketing / Promotion Mary-Anne Scully 0408 685 225 [email protected] Sailability Coordinators Phil & Andrea Clements 0407 272 375 [email protected] Yard Arm Cafe Rep Cathy Baillie 0466 744 857 [email protected] Women & Girls in Sailing Rep [email protected] Newsletter Editor Nan Astridge 0429 002 463 [email protected] Webmaster Michael Cole 0413 490 951 [email protected] DutyMan Administrator Stuart Howsam 0416 320 198 [email protected] Assets Management Phil Craig [email protected] Storage Neil Henderson 0488 245 813 [email protected] Projects Mitch Harris 0413 950 075 [email protected] Member Protection Information Officer Terry Kerr 0419 401 036 [email protected] Grants/Sponsorship Officer Stuart Howsam 0416 320 198 [email protected] Junior/Youth Rep George Henderson 0476 254 372 [email protected] Opti Representative Mark McMillan 0477 138 115 [email protected] Laser Representative Donald Thomson 0413 486 996 [email protected] Club House Phone 0459 533 583