AN AVALON CLUB PUBLICATION

Jib Sheet FEBRUARY 2005 THIS ISSUE

Flying 11 Nationals Photos

* Get to know your Committee

* Cruising Musing *

The Great Pump Out Debate

*

Guess Who Don’t Sue

F11 Nationals Photos by Watson (see page 7)

www.avalonsailingclub.com.au The Australia Day Regatta was a great success thanks to all those who supported it. Seventeen yachts and 61 From The Tiller dinghies enjoyed the challenge of a shifty ENE and later a presentation and sausage sizzle on the deck. We had a appy New Year to all, I number of visiting yachts and dinghies who featured Hhope you had a relaxing quite conspicuously on the result sheets!! We’ll have to Christmas holidays. do something about that next year. Congratulations to all who received medallions and many thanks to The Ladies Day race was held Elizabeth Kidner, Peter and Michelle Gale, Greg Bolton, the weekend before Christmas. Andrew and Robyn Kendall, Rob and Sue Wall and Our lady skippers had to deal Norm Field for your efforts towards another successful with a blustery day and met the Australia Day. Thanks also to the Australia Day challenge well with success Committee and Pittwater Council for their on going going to Evelyn Curtis on support of junior sailing on Pittwater. Stockade who took line honours I am pleased to be able to announce the start of another and Wanyen Batchelor on Greensleeves handicap hon- primary school learn to sail program. Bilgola Plateau ours. Well done to all who took part especially and Avalon schools will send 40 children each Friday to Elizabeth for coping with yours truly as crew!! the club to learn the basics of sailing. The program will be conducted by Richard Scarr of Dinghy Solutions a Our juniors have been busy over the holiday period sailing school based on Sydney Harbour. Richard will with many taking part in their class National bring 4 accredited coaches to the club each Friday and Championships. Congratulations to all who took part in with the assistance of club volunteers and our fleet of their first Nationals and to those who achieved major Nippa and dinghies will conduct a learn to sail placing in their events or improved on last years program during Terms 1 and 4 of this year. The addi- results. tional cost associated with having extra coaches is being offset by the generous support of Richard Rasdall and Avalon was certainly well represented on the winner’s his company Rash TV. I would like to take this opportu- podium at the Manly Junior Nationals with James nity to sincerely thank Richard and Meredith for their Dargaville and Michael Koener finishing 4th overall on support of Junior Sail 2005. Without the huge effort of scratch and on handicap Penny Kendall and Jessica Rob Wall in documentation, co ordination of schools, Russell coming 2nd and Gemma Rasdall and Laura coaches and sponsors we would not have a school pro- Witchard 4th. In the Novice Division Tom Koener and gram that is now self sustaining over the long term, I Louis Halford-Barrow came 2nd on scratch and 1st on would like to personally thank Rob for his huge contri- handicap and William Dargaville and Jack Nairn fin- bution to this end. ished 4th on scratch and 2nd on handicap. These results are pretty amazing considering most of these kids were The summer duty roster has been distributed and the first timers at a National Championships!! Master Copy is on the club Notice Board. You can also download a copy from the website. Please check and The F11, s contested their Nationals on the harbour in note your duty day, if you can’t do duty please arrange what were difficult conditions with choppy seas and a swap, let the relevant OOD know and note the change winds up to 30 kts. Ninety four boats took part in 7 on the Master Copy at the club. The club wouldn’t be heats over 5 days with all sailors showing moments of the place we all enjoy without the support of its mem- brilliance and all achieving PB,s. Andy Kidner and bers, thanks to all who have helped out over the past Mathew Mayall finished 13th overall and were the most season. successful Pittwater boat. Congratulations to all sailors and their families for surviving what was a very "full- The upcoming yacht event is the Hallets Beach race on on" regatta. February 19 and 20. Book your tickets early for the Akuna Bay dinner as there are limited places. All adult Our Spirals enjoyed Lake Macquarie for their Nationals members are welcome to attend. Come by boat or road. with the more senior of our sailors achieving major placing. Noel Lewis finished 12th overall and Lastly we have a working bee on Saturday the 26th Marty Trembath 14th. Congratulations to all our Spiral February starting 0900hrs. There is always plenty to do sailors particularly those new to the class and partici- so please come along as many hands make light work. pating in their first National Championships. A BBQ lunch will be provided.

Well done to all our centreboard sailors we are very Looking forward to a great summer season of sailing. proud of your achievements. You will find all the holi- day racing results later in this Jib Sheet. Peter Kidner

Page 2 Getting to Know Your Committee

orm Field: Life Member and ulia Smith: Centreboard repre- Nsewer expert. Jsentative Completed Matriculation Certificate Like many other families at Avalon at North Sydney Boys High School Sailing Club, Chris and I turned up and became a pharmacy apprentice. with young children who had been Pharmacy and me did not get on, so around boats all their lives and joined Qantas in flight operations. were now old to learn how to sail Called up in the first National themselves – what a find this place Service intake to repel the Koreans, was. learnt rule 303; hold a Lee-Enfield 303 rifle hard into your shoulder when you fire it, or you are damaged for life. Got a taste for service life and attempted to join Unlike many of my illustrious the RAAF and Fleet Air Arm but forgery of my mother’s signa- colleagues on the committee, I have no sailing experience to ture wasn’t good enough. Next best thing, work and spend your speak of, having spent my more youthful years rowing. Chris money learning to at the Royal Aero Club, on the weekend. and I met at the 1979 World Rowing Championships in the Must have had one weekend off as Wendy (she was the girl a then Yugoslavia, during my few years of rowing with the GB pushbike distance away) and I bought the heaviest VJ in Sydney women’s rowing squad, He was a rower also and we spent the for 60 pounds. It sank. 80’s based in London and competing at club and national lev- els, with the occasional foray into the European rowing scene. No flying jobs in Australia, so armed with a commercial flying license and just enough money for the bilge berth of a ship it was Our move to Australia in 1989 prompted a sport change for us off to England. Must have developed my hatred of bureaucracy both. Some six months after our arrival here, and a few months then as I could have got a job flying the Berlin airlift, but the Air after Stephanie's arrival in the world, we bought our first boat, Ministry would not accept a license from the colonies. WHO a Duncanson 34 (in retrospect, maybe we should have bought a HELPED WIN THE BLOODY WAR!! house first.) Although I had sailed with my father on the Solent, it was Chris's first real contact with the sport. There had Long live Canada as they recognised an Australian pilot’s license been a few abortive outings with my father – one time the pro- and after flying light aircraft out of Toronto hit the big time and peller fell off just as we were leaving the mooring and the skip- became a first officer on DC-3’s and Convair 240’s operating around Western Canada. Retrenched at the end of 1957 and per was not prepared to tackle the very strong tides off Cowes joined Qantas the same week, becoming a second officer on without an engine for fear of being unable to get back to the Super Constellations. Wendy had been flying as a hostie with mooring under sail power alone. CPAL and wasn’t retrenched, came back to Australia resigned (damn, she earnt more than I did), we married in 1959. We learnt how to sail on the Duncanson, with Stephanie as a baby and then toddler, sometimes asleep in her car seat bolted Three boys later (Ross, David and Richard and house almost paid to a berth, other times exercising her lungs. The three of us off) we finally could afford a boat. A which we started spent many happy weekends in Americas and Refuge bays. racing as family at Bayview, and then changed to Palm Beach With the arrival of Daniel we thought a small child and a baby Sailing Club when they amalgamated. Never go to an AGM with too restrictive for sailing and the Duncanson was sadly sold. your hand up. Muggins Field was elected Commodore. Chris soon suffered withdrawal symptoms and bought a Ross joined A.S.C. as a single junior in 1970 and the family joined Folkboat to get himself back on the water. Inevitably we were 1972, building M.J. Vulcan number 2048 in 1973. all soon back afloat, now with a larger family but smaller boat. (We later found out that Stuart Walker had been a previous Flying was interfering a lot with sailing in the 60’s and 70’s owner of this boat!) A few years later, with the increasing abili- as I kept changing aircraft and categories. Captain on DC-3’s sec- ties of Stephanie and Daniel, we changed boats again, this time onded to Fiji Airways (a promotion?) with a three cornered hat to Juluka, a Miura 31, our present boat. and a parrot on the left shoulder; followed by a black eye patch and a bottle of rum DC-4 command flying to Norfolk Is. and Auckland. Luckily I changed to 707 command. With Stephanie and Daniel’s participation in sailing camps in 1999 and 2001, Chris and I became more and more involved in Wendy and I were still sailing at PBSC, now with an Olympic 470 centreboard sailing, including in the setting up of Red Division which we trailered to Port Phillip for the 1976 Nationals and in September 2002. This is my third season of running the front Olympic Trials. Wendy bought a Flying 11 to get her hand on the desk and registration for Blue and Red Divisions, and I joined tiller and race at Avalon. My spine deteriorated to the extent I the committee this year as a centerboard representative and to gave up and we bought Fat Cat, a Holland 25, help Cher with the junior membership. which we raced until buying a bloody Young 88’s in 1985. Daniel now sails a Spiral, having acquired a taste for one-up Starting to enjoy my flying roster as “Numero Uno”, Qantas pilot sailing from his time in his . Stephanie had a season and sailing at Avalon on a Sunday I retired in 1991 with over ‘cruising’ in a Flying 11 but has since found what she considers 20,000 flying hours. better ways to occupy her time. Chris and I usually get out on Juluka each weekend but are looking forward to spending Apprenticed as ASC treasurer and handicapper I took over the more time on the water in the future – and may even compete stewardship of the Club from that well known racing, lady com- one day. modore, Helen Carlson in 1999, a hard act to follow. We were very proud to have been made life members in 2000.

Page 3 Guess Who...Don’t Sue

ho has bought the world's biggest wrist edding anniversary is around again this Wwatch to help one of those Rockets power Wweekend and overnighting at Coogee. How off the start line. As John was proudly showing could I ever forget it when the date was blast- it to the assembly on the balcony the "Cutting ed into the balcony ceiling by one R.Tubman Edge" was heard to mutter "Gee we used to tell finishing the race with the club shotgun. O.K. it the new pilots in Qantas when they invariably was first on scratch, but it was not a shotgun bought a BIG new watch on their first trip wedding. Probably have to explain to the through Singapore, that the size of the watch Younger Generation what a "shotgun wedding was inversely proportional to the size of the was". Bit like a petard I guess. brain." Maybe us old fellers might all have to buy one to see the time as I am sure my arm is s this a record? asks Philip Auton, of shorter but I am dead scared if I go INarrabeen, who notes that Jack Hurley, of overboard that watch would take me straight to Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood, did the bottom not miss one day of school from starting in Year 7 to finishing Year 12 this year. In that time he boss of the rack police has a new por- Jack did not receive one demerit. This feat was Tfolio, the boss of the parking police as well. announced at the school presentation night last Last Sunday he was heard muttering week where Jack picked up the Yvette Waters incantations about cars taking up too many Award for Special Achievement. parking spots, thoughtless, rude, you (This item of news was spotted by our eagle know**##;;::**## etc. etc. About 1100, Ritchie eyed ace reporter, Celia Craig) the O.O.D. made an announcement from the bal- cony, would the owner of car, number plate no xyz please move it as they are blocking another car in. Quick as a flash Geoff's hand shot up on the rigging deck," I am on the way". I have never been able to work out the old Shakespearian statement " being hoisted by your own petard" but I wonder if that could be it. However you are right Gauleiter, we should be able to get five cars in the first grass annexe above the club and three in the slot near the road, so do not park in the entry ways PLEASE.

ho was the muscleman rowing WScarymouche's dinghy out to the boat when the big breeze was blowing last Quartet bowl race and not only snapped an oar but tore the rowlock holder out of the boat and had to well done to our Jack Hurley and be towed back to the club by a passing motor congratulations to his wonderful parents, boat from up near Paradise Beach. You must Janet and Paul (alias our Clothing Caravan team) have thought you were back in the police gym. you can check out their merchandise team David. by going to the Club Shop at

www.avalonsailingclub.com.au/merchandise.html

Page 4 To Hold or Not to Hold... that is the question

ith a much used twenty-eight year old draft details in hand to be greeted by the smiling WSpacesailer 24 with a perfectly good private, yachty type sales person – ensuing conversation working, self contained, macerating discharge to went something like this: ocean marine toilet where to go to next except of Me -" I’d like to have a look at the small toilet hold- course giving up drinking, eating and enjoying life ing tank catalogue number 90140N and a few fit- on board. tings please" He - "Certainly, but you may find one of Consider – Going to a local marina and get the these better – a bi-pot toilet – our price $ 139.00" installation done professionally – Check the bank balance and stifle the hysterical laughter. Now heres a nice dilemma – All the research, meas- uring and planning down the drain – oops!! not into A lot of time spent on board – Crawl around the Pittwater – remember the Environment operations cabin, measure all sorts of spare space (if any) and Act of 1994. with a pad and pencil sketch Put the mind into gear - $ 139 ver- inside of lock- "Under the Protection of the Environment sus just as a start $ 366 – sounds ers and bilge. operations Act of 1997 it is illegal to discharge pretty good and saves a hell of a lot raw sewage to the waters of NSW. of work. Think – Out NSW Maritime officers can issue on-the-spot with the "cattle fines for polluting water” Deal completed !! dog" from a Boating Handbook – NSW Maritime 2004-2005. well-known All I have to do now is convince local "discount DELIBERATIONS ON COMPLYING the handicapper to adjust our Marine WITH THE REGULATIONS FOR POLLUTION handicap for the extra weight. Supplies – summer bargain book" and sketches of possible space on board. David Lyall 2519 - Red Herring (now complying) Success – Compare available "flexible toilet holding tank" (smallest and cheapest of course) size to interi- or of port side storage locker. Decide that it is a close fit but will work. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Next – Back to the "summer bargain? Book" to work out the required fittings – ball valve, "T" tail, bulk- Dear Sir head fitting, deck pump out fitting, vent pipe and hose etc., etc.,. Then – work out how many holes to With regard the Environment drill through bulkheads, deck etc., tools needed to Operations Act 1997 whereby carry out the installation and how long the task may NSW Maritime Officers can issue take (always double what you first estimate). on he spot fines for polluting water; do they have to bag the evidence But – Just to look professional – make out a list with the Discount Marine Supplies Cat No. and just out or just go through the motions? of interest add up the total cost – Bl…dy h..ll - $ 366.00 - not even counting the drill saw, silicone, confused - time and effort – all for ………….. Regards

Oh well – The law is the law – so off to the Will I Pumpout. "Discount Marine Supplies" – list and bank over-

Page 5 Meet our Newest Members Claudia and Oscar

Welcome, Claudia Annais Fitzgerald. Welcome, Oscar William Percy Born 12th of October 2004. Born 2nd December 2004 Congratulations to Belinda and Wayne Fitzgerald Congratulations to Terry and Damian Percy

OUR RESTAURANT RULES Now is your chance to run your own Restaurant?

The Club needs a connoisseur of fine food to manage the various delicacies offered to the membership from the

BETTER KNOWN AS THE ASC CANTEEN

You really will enjoy managing and coordinating this fine food establishment The look of delight on the faces of young sailors as they tuck into a meat pie is reward in itself Add to that great working conditions and the admiration of fellow club members ...what more can we say? PLEASE! PLEASE HELP US by becoming our Canteen Coordinator

For more details Contact Elizabeth Kidner 9918 0469

Page 6 Flying 11 Nationals Race Results Pictures by Mark Watson

Manly Junior Australian Championships Scratch Results/Handicap Results 4th Place James Dargaville and Michael Koener 11th Hdp 19th Penny Kendall and Jessica Russell 2nd 21st Zac Duryea and Harry Parsons 10th 25th Gemma Rasdall and Laura Witchard 4th 27th Harry Bate and Adam Bradley 12th 30th Peter Kendall and Sophie Russell 32nd

Scratch Results Novice Division 2nd Place Tom Koener and Louis Halford-Barrow 1st Hdcp 4th William Dargaville and Jack Nairn 2nd 12th Anna Kendall and Lily Rasdall 10th

Other Notable Results: Andrew Kendall won best dressed man for the presentation dinner (Hawaiian theme) Penny Kendall and Jessica Russell won the Invitation Race. James Dargaville and Michael Koener won the Shortest Elapsed Time. Peter Kendall won the RMYC Citizenship Award. Zac Duryea and Harry Parsons - 2nd place National Junior Champions

Flying Elevens Australian Championships Scratch Results 13th Place Andy Kidner and Mathew Mayall 44th Amy Lee and Jenna Walters 58th Lisa Sherman and Madeline Nairn 64th Francis Dargaville and Tom Koener 81st Sarah Lee and Georgia Carney

Spiral Australian Championships Scratch Results 12th Place Noel Lewis 14th Marty Trembath 27th Simon Hill 28th Andrew Coates 30th Cameron Edwards 31st William Sherman 36th Michael Holloway 41st Andrew Mayall

169th Australia Day Regatta Yachts 3rd Place Norm Field - Scratch 1st Place Neil Gregory - Handicap 2nd Place Jim Dargaville

Manly Junior Division 3rd Place James Dargaville and Michael Koener - Scratch Flying 11 Division 3rd Place Amy Lee and Jenna Walters - Scratch 1st Place Amy Lee and Jenna Walters - Handicap 3rd Place Sarah Lee and Georgia Carney – Handicap Division 3rd Place Matt Duryea – handicap Open Division 1st Place Andy Kidner and James Kidner - Scratch - 1st Place Riarne Gale and Marni Dickson - Handicap – 2nd Place Declan Wall – Handicap – Nippa

Page 7 Cruising Musing Summer Cruise 2004/05

fter the post-Christmas clean-up, watching the less than Nobby’s head into Newcastle, 56 miles of track through the Abrilliant coverage of the start of the Sydney to Hobart water. race and packing provisions for the summer cruise, a number The marina in Newcastle provided a safe haven, along with of boats met up in Towler’s Bay on the evening of Boxing day. great showers and the nearby fish markets and Albion pub. Three boats from Avalon, Hagar (Bev and Paul Sinclair), Overnight the predicted southerly came up the coast and blew Swagman (Greg Edwards) and Kate Kelly (Sue, Jim and Rob a gale. Next day 20 or so boats competing in the Four Ports Flaye) met a group from the Small Yacht Cruising Club Race came into the marina having sailed up from the south in (SYCC). heavy seas. One of them had lost her rudder and was towed The next morning at 0400 before the kookaburra could get a in by the Police Boat to save her being swept down into word in Hagar, Sacre Bleu from SYCC (Judy and Paul Hrones) Stockton Bight. The next few days were spent touring and Kate Kelly cast off warps and headed up Pittwater by the Newcastle and enjoying the many fascinating parts to this industrial city by the sea, with some good long walks and a ferry ride over to Stockton. We also enjoyed many relaxing and excellent meals in various cafes and restaurants. Rob Flaye returned to Sydney from Newcastle to enjoy the New Year celebrations. Early on the 30th, a group went out to Nobby’s Head to inspect the sea and returned with the news that while formidable, the seas were no longer regularly breaking. At 1145 the three left the marina to head north departing the breakwater at 1240 into the turbulent ocean. The wind was blowing about 20 knots from the south-east with a heavy swell and seas rising to four metres. The first concern being to lay off a course to provide plenty of sea room from the lee shore of Stockton Bight. Kate Kelly revelled in the fresh conditions with speed made good exceeding 7 knots across the bay to Morna Point, where the swells stood up at the point of the downwind passage to Point Stephens. The end of pas- sage at 1700 saw the three amigos in the narrow passage into Port Stephens between Yacaaba and Toomeree Heads, 28 miles from Newcastle. It was a good sea that followed us into the harbour and up to Nelson Point where the tide was running strongly with the ebb. We chose the Middle passage to lay Middle Island with the confidence that comes from a bang up to date chart of the harbour. Well within "the channel" along- side the third starboard lateral pile Kate Kelly went aground on Ships passing the falling tide. Hagar wisely stood-off and offered a pull. We were joined by a jet-ski who took the spinnaker halyard and light of a glorious full moon. Greg followed us up the coast heeled Kate over sufficiently to slide her off into deeper water. for a short while, but didn’t have time to complete the cruise I will never say another bad word about jet skis, until next with us. At 0500 the start of passage was made off Barrenjoey time. It was not until 1930 that we were securely anchored in Head with a course north-east to clear Cape Three Points was Fame Cove. The next day saw finer weather that lit up the laid. Although the wind was light, storm clouds rolled out beauty of Fame Cove that was nearly deserted. We walked to from the Central Coast to seaward and a southerly swell soon the top of Fame Mountain which at 142 metres provides a had the boats yawing in an uncomfortable way. Dawn was a great view down Port Stephens to the citadels of Yacaaba and welcome sight, with shafts of light emerging from the cold Toomeree Heads. New Year was toasted in the tranquillity of storm clouds lit up by in the western sky. The Fame Cove to the distant explosions and light of fireworks clouds were the most amazing colour, a sort of purply- from Shoal Bay. orangey pink and towering into strange shapes. We were On New Year’s Day the Sinclairs and the Flayes decided to beginning to think that Paul and Bev Sinclair were laying on move on to Broughton Islands. The Hrones were to stay in another of their dramatic thunder storms, as encountered on Port Stephens. We upped anchor and headed east using the our last cruise together back from Hardy’s Bay. We have now Southern passage to Shoal Bay where we stocked up with sup- nicknamed them "Donner und Blitzen"! By 0800 the skipper of plies. The bay was full of noise with motor boats at play so by Kate Kelly had said good bye to the Christmas lunch, dedicat- 1430 we had weighed anchor and headed out through the ing it to the fishes. Navigating down below is not the best heads. A big swell was standing up at the entrance supported place to be in a big swell! By 1100 the wind had picked up, by the ebb tide and the wave refraction from Yacaaba. With having veered to the NNW with gusts of winds at 15 to 20 the wind from the nor-nor-east, we stood out to sea past knots accompanying heavy rain, thunder and lightning and Boondelbah and Little Islands before coming onto the star- visibility down to a mile. By 1300 Red Head was abeam and board tack deep into Providence Bay. shortly before 1500 three boats cleared the breakwater off Go to page 11

Page 8 Recipe of the Month Chicken and Macaroni Bake by Denise Bolton

Ingredients: Method: Cook pasta. Drain. Set aside. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C 2 cups macaroni Cut chicken into cubes. Heat oil in pan. Cook chicken quickly until _ Cup olive oil brown but not cooked through. Drain on paper. 4 chicken breast fillets(or 500gms pieces) Add carrot and bacon to pan. Stir over medium heat for 10mins. 1 carrot diced Add zucchini, add soup. 3 rashes bacon chopped Bring to the boil, simmer uncovered for 5 mins. 2 zucchinis diced Remove from heat. 440gm can Rosella tomato soup (strongest flavour) Combine pasta, chicken, tomato mix and sour cream in large flat _ cup of sour cream casserole dish (oval or rectangular lasagne type dish). Salt and Pepper Season with salt and pepper. 1 to 1 _ cups grated cheddar cheese Top with cheese. Sprinkle with paprika Bake 20 mins. until golden.

Send your favourite recipe to Elizabeth Kidner or place your contribution in the box provided at the Clubhouse (on the sign on table)

Prizes to be won for the best recipes

Thanks for your assistance Email

I Have You Seen our Merchandise Now is the time to buy that cool looking Avalon Sailing Club shirt...or how about a club cap and for those formal times a club tie.

Navy Cotton Polo Shirts (short sleeve S, M, L, XL XXL) $38 White Cotton Polo Shirts (short sleeve S, M, L, XL XXL) $38 Navy Cotton Polo Shirts (long sleeve S, M, L, XL XXL) $42 White Cotton Polo Shirts (long sleeve S, M, L, XL XXL) $42 Club Caps (one size fits all) $13 Bucket Hats (S, M, L, XL) $15 Wide Brimmmed Hats (navy or natural S, M, L, XL) $20 Burgees (racing or cruising) $20 Racing Rules (laminated) $7 Badges (square) $3 Badges (round) $2 Car Sticker $2 Club Tie $5 Pittwater Inter-Club Shirts $30

To purchase contact Elizabeth Kidner or visit www.avalonsailingclub.com.au

Page 9 Two friends remembered

hose of you who were listening to ABC Radio adly, Pat Lees (Captain Z Special Unit and M.C. Recipient) TNational on January 26th might have heard a Sdied on the 4th December 2004, aged 84. Only two years moving story about a man we all knew and his ago Pat came back to visit his beloved Avalon Sailing Club. We were fortunate enough to be on duty that day and had the daughter. The program dealt with the the nature of opportunity to hear more club history from this very jovial grief and how we deal with death and has a man. Only a few weeks before he died sent a donation to the personal note for those who knew Ross Jarratt. Puffin Pacer Fund. The family brought his ashes up to Pittwater by boat, with the intention of scattering them near “Young writer and musician Bettina Richter travels the clubhouse, but due to the wind conditions that day it was the Great Ocean Road with her father, after he was more suitable to scatter them at Towlers. So once again he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This trip was a back where he loved being – Pittwater and close to ASC. Our chance for Bettina to find out how her father really sympathy is extended to his wife Liz and sons Dave and Tim. felt about his illness, as well as recalling a childhood spent around boats and the ocean.” Celia Craig

“The Lees family were heavily involved with the ASC in the late 50's and 60's and Pat in particular lead a very active fund raising which resulted in the building of the rig-up ramp out front of the club house. My brother David and I sailed VJ's Green Dolphin' and Pastime and I think our names should appear on a few club trophies from those years. Along with the beach, the ASC was the focal point of the village in those years and all us kids would sail like mad every weekend, sleep over night and sail again on the Sunday. I clearly remember sailing with Dennis Walgrave on a VJ and our TOTAL combined weight was less than eight stone so that if we got a strong gust when hiking out we would both be flicked way past the top of the mast as the boat capsized! The torpedo range barges were in place down the middle of Pittwater then and a regular training session for us kids involved the parents taking all centre boards and rudders out in the tender and depositing them on one of the torpedo barges. We then had to rig up, sail out and recover our own centre board and rudder then complete a race course and finish back at the club. The program can be heard by going to Needless to say a considerable number of us ended up in vari- ous locations around the perimeter of Pittwater. Good times and great lessons.” We hope to be able to place a CD of the program in the Club library Tim Lees

Page 10 recorded 250 c reflecting the output from the power station Summer Cruise continued and the shallow waters of the Lake. We anchored for the night off Wangi and went to the ever-hospitable working This provided us with the correct lay on port tack just behind men’s club for showers, drinks and a good meal. Which crew the somewhat tricky and rock strewn entrance into Coal was it that spent some time searching for their yacht among Shaft Bay on Broughton Island. the moorings that night? Guess Who, Not Sue?! The follow- ing day we toured the northern end of the Lake and returned With the anchor down at 1830 in some 5 metres of water over in good time to anchor in Rathmines again. We had our last sand we had good holding. The next day came with nor-east meal ashore at the excellent bowling club that had once been winds suitable for us to tour the island by walking over to the officers’ mess for the flying boats that were stationed Esmeralda and up the highest point of the islands to gain a there, meeting a large number of Pittwater/RPA yachties also commanding view that took in Point Stephen’s light in the enjoying the facilities. At 0600 on 8th January, we weighed south through to Sugar Loaf Point and Seal Rocks to the anchor and made our way across the Lake for the 0800 bridge north. On returning to the yachts, the wind had begun to opening. A strong flood tide was still in progress as we left veer to the south-east and by 2100 we had paid out more the Lake and entered into a boisterous southerly and big seas chain to hold to the strengthening southerly winds. This was off Moon Island. The wind that started the day with a gusty accompanied by the return of the south-east swells that had 15 knot sou-wester backed into the south east and fizzled the yachts pitching wildly into the darkening night. Anchor away to nothing by 1000. Our progress declined with the watch was required to 0030 by which time the wind had wind and having bobbed about in a hideous swell of some 3 backed from south-west to south-east and we could breathe a and topping 4 metres with no wind and no steerage, I had to little easier. However at 0630 and before much breakfast had recant the sailing vow (under heavy pressure from the rest- been consumed we weighed anchor and headed around the less "admiral") and turn on the donk, having made little island into the lovely sandy anchorage on the northern shore, progress by 1040. The lunch was a meagre stew cooked in a which was tranquil in the lee of the islands out of the pitching rolling yawing sea. By 1400 the wind filled in strong- southerly winds. We swam, fished and relaxed before the ly from the south east and it was not long before the yachts backing wind in the evening persuaded us to return to Coal were bounding home in 20 knots of wind on the port tack. Shaft for the night. The seas continued to build. Hagar and Kate Kelly were in their element as they rounded Cape Three Points with some After a peaceful night’s sleep, we weighed anchor at 0500 ugly refraction and bore off home. At 1600 the end of passage and headed south for Lake Macquarie. The early morning was recorded off Barrenjoey and at 17:30 we were home and brought gusty winds from the nor-west which initially secure at Avalon. helped in setting a course to clear Cabbage Tree Island, but as So in 13 days of cruising we covered 285 miles, much of it we it backed with the warming sun it dropped to light and vari- are proud to say was solely under sail, in predominantly able winds off Point Stephen’s light. The starboard tack took southerly winds with sun, rain, thunder in heavy swells, with us a long way out into the Stockton Bight until we were some respite in Newcastle, Fame Cove and the Lake. Hagar, Sacre 10 miles off the coast. This fitted with the promise of Bleu and Kate Kelly have returned from a successful cruise stronger nor-westerlies veering to the nor-east later. Not the with many great experiences and few regrets. Paul, Bev and ideal wind for entering the Lake. We passed through a pod of Hagar performed exceptionally well on their first long off- some 30 odd dolphins who had no time to play, being in a shore passage. It was great to have their company this year. feeding frenzy having rounded up hundreds of small fish. Who else would like to join us next year? Needless to say, no takers for the lure that danced and weaved behind Kate Kelly. The veering and strengthening Jim and Sue Flaye wind at 18 knots with low visibility sped up the passage and Lessons learned: with precise dead reckoning put us to the north of Moon • Don’t trust even up to date charts of Port Stephens; the Island at 1530. With little developed swell and at the top of sand banks move readily and unless you like sand groping, the flood tide provided an easy crossing of the bar. keep to the southern channel. Unfortunately the road bridge at Swansea was trialling a new • Jet-skis can be useful in pulling you off sand banks, give system by omitting the 1600 bridge, so in front of it we wait- them a break. ed stemming the ever increasing flood tide. The • Broughton Islands is an ocean anchorage; be prepared to crossing has now been well dredged so entry into the Lake move and have the plan before nightfall. Good ground tackle has become a whole lot easier, if still alarmingly shallow in is necessary for any form of coastal cruising. places! It was with relief that we entered the drop-over into • Newcastle is a great stop-over. It does not require the tim- the Lake at 1730 and anchored at Rathmines at 1815. The next ing of the bridge or the tricky entrance of Lake Macquarie. day (5th of January) had a strong nor-easter, which provided Also crew can join and leave easily. a wonderful opportunity for huge fleets of dinghies to com- • The bridge at Lake Macquarie has to be ordered in pete out of Belmont. So judiciously we picked our way advance. New policy has some of the periods at through the fleets to Belmont sailing club, which was the hub rush hour omitted. Once in the Lake, it is very easy and rest- of great activity. We met the Chapmans who were celebrating ful cruising as long as you understand the Alexander winning the National 420 title in a highly competi- courses. tive fleet. Having re-provisioned we set off across the Lake to • Always maintain the dead reckoning and half-hourly fixes. the southern shores of Gwandalan and Taylor’s bay for a The visibility closed down on us several times quite quickly. peaceful anchorage. We met up again with Paul and Judy Hrones, who had sailed down from Port Stephens. The fol- lowing morning we toured the south western arm of the Susan Flaye Lake within Bonnell’s Bay where the water temperature

Page 11 PO Box 59, Avalon, NSW 2107 Clubhouse: Old Wharf Reserve Hudson Parade, Clareville, NSW 2107 Phone: (02) 9918 3637 COMING EVENTS Editor: Mike Maher (02) 9918 9271 [email protected] [email protected] The Great Hallets Beach Assistant Editor: Stuart Walker Cruise [email protected] Contact Helen Bayer for bookings 9918 3712 www.avalonsailingclub.com.au 19/2/2005

“For the fostering, encouragement, promotion, teaching and above all enjoyment of sailing on the Working B waters of Pittwater” BBQ Lunch Provided 26/2/05 Affiliated with the Association of NSW Patron: Iain Murray

RUNNING BY THE LEE

he staff here at ASC publications just get better and better. Take this issue for example. We have a Tlight hearted (I think) piece from David Lyall...what is about toilet jokes? We have a great story by Susan Flaye who, with Jim and Rob cruised north in Kate Kelly. Three boats from Avalon, Hagar (Bev and Paul Sinclair), Swagman (Greg Edwards) and Kate Kelly met a group from the Small Yacht Cruising Club (SYCC). It’s interesting to see how the cruising division has gone from strength to strength in the last year or so. There are some great photos from Mark Watson showing just how rough the conditions were in the F11 Nationals, which makes the fine performance of our Junior sailors even more impressive. Norm Field just keeps those “Don’t Sue” stories coming and don’t you just love the profiles of your committee members...it makes you realise what a talented bunch they all are. Nor should we forget our Commodore who somehow manages to get the “from the Tiller” copy to me each month despite all his other commitments; and how about our First lady, Elizabeth who collects those yummy recipes. Celia Craig deserves a special mention not only does she do all the post production work on the Jibsheet, (postage, folding picking up from the printer etc; all the rotten jobs) but she also acts as a roving reporter. Her knowledge of the membership is amazing and she keeps your editor alerted to newsworthy stories with her contributions.

In short, to all of the above and the many more I have failed to mention...I think you all deserve more money

Mike Maher

www.avalonsailingclub.com.au