ALBURY WODONGA YACHT CLUB Sail Away FEB RUARY 2018 To be a thriving place where people of all ages and abilities come to discover the joy of . What’s On! From the Helm Saturday, 17th FEBRUARY Leanne Thomson - Commodore 9.00am - 1.00pm Better Sailing (Wk 2) It seems a world away when I looked back on my last 1.30pm – 5.30pm Start Sailing 1 (Wk 2) & ‘From the Helm’. So much has happened since the Tackers 2 (Wk 2) beginning of December, but I guess that is why they call Sunday, 18th it the Silly Season. 9.00am Women & Girls in Sailing Mini Regatta 1.00pm Women & Girls in Sailing Mini Regatta The Swamp Cup, Intergalactic Champs and Woody’s 1.30pm – 5.30pm Tackers 1 (Wk 2) Radial Roundup were the prelude to our Christmas party Saturday 24th in early December. There is a wrap of the fun filled day on page 5. am – Hartley TS16 Vic State Championships 9.00am – 1.00pm Better Sailing (Wk 3) I hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas 12.00pm – 3.00pm Sailability period. For those that went away sailing we would love 1.30pm – 5.30pm Start Sailing 1 (Wk 3) & to hear from you in the newsletter. Your sailing Tackers 2 (Wk 3) adventures make a great read and often inspire other Sunday 25th members. The Maxa family are members from 9.00am Club Championship Race 8 Melbourne who spent some of their holidays at AWYC. pm Hartley TS16 Vic State Championships Read about their fun and check out some great pictures 1.30pm – 5.30pm Tackers 1 (Wk 3) on page 7. Saturday 3rd MARCH A huge thanks to those who ran the Holiday Sailing 9.00am – 1.00pm Better Sailing (Wk 4) programs. There were a lot of happy Tackers (16 kids in 1.30pm – 5.30pm Start Sailing 2 (Wk 1) & Tackers 1) and parents who spent the week with our Tackers 2 (Wk 4) youth instructors learning to sail. We also had a small Sunday 4th group in our Start Sailing 1&2, with 2 new members 9.00am Club Championship Race 9 coming from that group. (See new member listing on the 1.30pm – 5.30pm Tackers 1 (Wk 4) back page). Our Learn to Sail classes started again on Extended calendar later in the edition. the 10th of February and I wish to thank those from the Please see the Schedule of Courses for the Discover Sailing team who are running these. remainder of the season on AWYC website here Congratulations to Laura Thomson, who is a finalist for her sailing efforts in the Sports Albury Wodonga Norske COMING EVENTS Skog Young Achiever of the Year. Laura had been crewing for Sophie Jackson in a 420 since last February, th th  Sat 17 & Sun 18 March with them winning the 420 Victorian Youth Power Boat Handling Course Championships in March. They recently competed in the rd 420 Nationals in Fremantle, finishing 3 Australian  Sat 7th April female. This was followed by the 420 Worlds, where they finished 6th Open Females. The gala evening to First Aid Course th announce the winner will be on Friday the 16 of March.

(For details & to register please see page 8) (Continued on page 2)

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(Continued from page 1) VICTORIAN With half the season gone we are now offering a STATE OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIPS: 6 month membership to the 30th of June. If you 10-12 March have had guests or family who have visited the Club on occasions (note maximum 4 visits per Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron (BYS) and the season) then you may like to suggest to them to Victorian International Optimist Dinghy join the Club. Even better, if they complete a Learn Association (VIODA) warmly invites junior sailors to Sail or Powerboat Course through our Discover to join them for a weekend of family fun and Sailing Centre we will waive the joining fee. Whilst sailing for the 2018 Victorian State Optimist on this note don’t forget to sign your guests into the Championships. The event will offer three skill Visitor Book found on the sign on table. levels Green, Intermediate and Open Fleet. VIODA are now accepting entries for a great Congratulations to our Youths / Juniors who ran weekend to bring our Optimist sailors together. their annual Junior Run Regatta last weekend. It Enter at: http://www.vioda.org.au/shop was great to see Samantha Roberts and Simon Thomson join forces to arrange the event (in the absence of a Junior Rep). It is a great chance for Nautical Trivia the kids to bond, with many new young members offering to help out. It also helps them get an insight In the mid-18th century in excess of 4000 seaman into what it takes to run a regatta. Check out the would drown each year. This appalling loss of life photos and small write up about the regatta on prompted Dr John Wilkinson to design what is page 6. If you are interested in becoming the regarded as the first Lifejacket using cork as a AWYC Junior Rep please speak with a Committee floatation material. In 1854 Captain John Ward, a member. Royal National Lifeboat Institution Inspector, developed the next generation of lifejacket. th th On the weekend of February 24 & 25 the Hartley Ward’s design was a vest style jacket with small TS16 Victorian Championships will be held at blocks of cork sewn onto the canvas vest. This AWYC. We are looking for race management crew design allowed sufficient freedom for rowing and to volunteer to run their small regatta that weekend. swimming. In 1861 a Lifeboat from Whitby Sunday racing will be incorporated into AWYC capsized in heavy seas. The only survivor of the racing (with a separate start), so you will receive capsizing was Henry Freeman, the only person average points for your duty. Please volunteer on wearing one of Ward’s Lifejackets. Dutyman if you can help out.

Just a reminder that we require all members to forward their Working With Children Card to [email protected] Thanks to the large number who have already done so. If you are still to apply please refer to page 5.

With Summer in full swing it is hard to think of the end of the season approaching. As we go into next season we will be approaching our 60th Anniversary. Life Member Cliff Swatton (along with a small working party) is collecting the Club’s history of the past 60 years. Read more about this project on page 4. Don’t forget to save the date of our End of Season Function, to celebrate our 59th Newsletter season. It will be held on Saturday the 28th of April at the Commercial Club Albury. More details will be Contributions available soon. A reminder to those members who have been Leanne Thomson doing sailing related activities over the school Commodore holidays or during leave from work – we would love you to share your experiences. You can send contributions to [email protected]

Thank you to those who have contributed articles for this edition of Sail Away it is much appreciated. 2

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communication flowing between the jetty and Sailability the shore team was Nick Horden on radio. The Phil and Andrea Clements – Sailability Coordinators sailors Marcia, Brian R, Tony H & Jean Gab did a great job of making the on-water experience The Sailability program continues to be well supported by safe, fun and enjoyable. participants, volunteers and sponsors. Thanks to all of you. For the Nov and Dec sessions last year we regularly had around 20 participants at each event which was great.

Then in Jan we were quite blown away when we ended up with 40 participants joining in the fun! This was a new record for our program and while there was a bit of initial consternation about how we would cope, the day was a beauty.

Not only were numbers up but so was the wind! With westerlies gusting through at up to 25 kts we even had to consider the possibility of postponing the event. However the decision was made to reef all sails and ensure we had an experienced sailor with all the participants. The result was lots of smiling faces after some exhilarating rides in the Hansa dinghies!! Our Feb event will have happened by the time you get this newsletter. We will be hosting one of our sponsors, the Albury West Rotary Club who have provided the financial support necessary to enable us to have the wonderful sailability jetty that has made life so much more safe, pleasant and dignified for participants and much less back- breaking for the volunteers! More about that next month.

Once again, we would like to extend an invitation With so many participants, the logistics skills of our to any club members that haven't been involved volunteers were also well and truly tested. A test that in Sailability to come along and see what a great was passed with flying colours! program it is and maybe even consider becoming The on-shore organisation was carried out with military a volunteer in the future. This invitation applies to precision by Terry C and Andrea and ensured everyone all members, both senior and junior. got their turn and a fair amount of time on the water. Give one of us a call or catch up with us for a Brian Radomski was kept busy on the rescue boat chat at the club sometime. ensuring all stayed safe and secure on the water. Our dock marshalls, Tony Pardey, Pete Nelson, John L and Phil & Andrea Clements (0459 754 841) Chris Davenport made sure the movement of people on/off the jetty happened effectively. Keeping the vital

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SAIL AWAY FEBRUARY 2018 Please help us identify archive pictures

Celebrating 60 years During our 60th year we will feature archive Mary-Anne Scully – Marketing/Promotion pictures in each issue of Sail Away.

It's a diamond year - Celebrating 60 years of We invite you to share information or stories about sailing and socialising at AWYC. these pictures.

2018 is a milestone year for Albury Wodonga Yacht If you know more about the people and activities in Club as we celebrate 60 years since establishment. these photos, please send information to Thanks to the generosity of our founding members, [email protected] We will feature member many individuals and families have enjoyed sailing contributions in the next issue of Sail Away. and socialising at the Club over the last six decades.

AWYC Life Member, Cliff Swatton, often shares stories about sailing on Lake Hume during his regular visits to the Club on Sundays.

At Cliff's suggestion, we are aiming to produce a story of the Club's history based on the records we can find, and the memories of Club members. We will present this showcase to members during the Club's 60th year.

Please share your memories

Several members have already offered to assist Cliff in collecting and recording information about the Club, including Herman Van Ree and John Hawksworth. We'd love to include your stories too.

Please contact these members if you would like to contribute to the Club's story:

 Mary-Anne Scully - if you would like be interviewed or contribute your own words

 Wes Ward - if you have photos to share

1958 - a milestone year

It appears that 1958 was not just a time of action at AWYC.

In the same year:  Qantas Airways introduced a round-the- world air service from Australia to London;  the Cahill Expressway opened in Sydney; and  Lake Eucumbene was completed. 4

SAIL AWAY FEBRUARY 2018 Swamp Cup, Intergalactic Championships & Woody’s Radial Roundup Leanne Thomson - Commodore Sunday 3rd of December saw our annual fun regatta with the Optis and Lasers. A lot of fun was had by entrants who competed in several 1 lap sprint races for the morning. The winners of the regatta were:

Swamp Cup:

1st - Jacob Scully

Intergalactic Championships (Laser 4.7):

3rd - Ian Howsam 2nd - Lara Johnson 1st - Riordan McMillan

Woody’s Radial Roundup (Laser Radial):

3rd - Ken Woodman 2nd - Casper Linssen 1st - Simon Thomson

Christmas Party

Following from the morning fun regatta members and their guests socialised at the Club to celebrate the festive season. There was even a visit from Santa, who broke with tradition and arrived on the back of the Club’s tractor on our new carry-all. Santa brought gifts and lollies for the children present, who included John & Cathy Hawksworth’s grandchildren.

Working With Children Checks

Working with Child Checks are now required by members. More information can be found on the AWYC website, or you can apply online at: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

Photos provided courtesy of Cathy Baillie 5

SAIL AWAY FEBRUARY 2018 Junior Run Regatta

AWYC junior members did a fantastic job once again running their Regatta over Saturday and Sunday 3rd and 4th February.

Thank you to Commodore Leanne Thomson and our Marketing/Promotion Committee member Mary-Anne Scully for providing some great photos of the event.

Congratulations to winners:

1. Daryl Stone - ARTwork 2. Wes Ward - The Grey Ghost 3. Phil Clements - Rum Runner

Thanks also to those senior members who made themselves available to assist during the regatta.

Funds raised over the weekend amounted to $725-00 from regatta entry fees and café takings and will go towards equipment for AWYC junior members. Well done juniors!

North East Windsport

Invitation

Springhurst Site Opening Sat 3rd March 12 Noon (Cnr Anzac & Developmental Roads) Free BBQ Free BloKartRides (wind permitting) Please BYO chairs and drinks

RSVP for catering purposes: Club Secretary – Scilla Taylor [email protected] (03)5721 3679 6

SAIL AWAY FEBRUARY 2018 Thank you AWYC! Catherine Maxa – Member Contribution

Hi club members,

We are the Maxa’s; Jürgen, Catherine, William (12) and Oliver (8), and we have been AWYC members for 5 years. We were introduced to the club by John and Bronwyn Sidgwick who are Melbourne expats and are now local residents of Albury. Together we have shared ownership in a 23 foot . The boat itself is another story but in short if we hadn’t found it in a farm yard on the Mornington peninsula in 2006, it would have probably become a large flower pot overgrown with invasive weeds.

Being Melbourne residents significantly impacts on how often we visit the AWYC, for both water activities and club contributions. In the couple of visits we do make over a season we use the camping facilities. We love having access to the facilities and have often brought another family along with us to participate in the Tackers courses. We have a 1970s van that we bring along with us and having access to the power and water is added comfort and the WC amenities considered a luxury. Tackers 1 is slotted in the second half of the day This year’s visit was timed for Oliver’s introduction where the wind has normally abated which gave the to Tackers 1. We love how the course is targeted children a chance to sleep in, have some fun in the for all levels of ability. It is great seeing the kids’ water, finish minor duties about the camp site, slip confidence grow and hearing the giggling echo slop slap and then it's time to hit the water. across the water. The Tackers course affords them the opportunities to interact with other children and Our decision to encourage the boys to do Tackers make new friends. William completed all three was about water safety, respecting equipment, people Tackers courses over the preceding summers and it and themselves on water. It offered a whole lot more is so great to see their abilities grow including than that. The Instructors Samantha and Simon, boating balance, sense of wind direction, getting the Assistant Instructors William, Lara, Jacob and Liam push and pull turn around the right way. and Tackers Trainee Ryan are amazing and the children relate so well to them. Hearing the stories from Oliver of an evening was priceless. It was great for the self motivation to prepare his drink, sunscreen etc. It was especially great seeing him arranging camp chairs to practice tacking, passing the tiller behind.

We also enjoy the opportunity to hire a boat from the club as this gives us a chance to trial each of the

smaller boats as William is very keen to purchase a new boat. Local members should pat themselves on the back, we understand how large the property is, managing the work requires a lot of input from all levels. Our appreciation goes out to all of you for

creating a very safe and enjoyable club, where we are always greeted with a smile.

We have included some photos of our stay this year and look forward to the next Tackers course.

Warm regards, Catherine

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(over 16 years) considering upgrading their Discover Sailing qualifications should speak to Leanne, who is taking down names to co-ordinate a course with Australian Sailing. Leanne is also taking names of those Centre Donald Thomson – DSC Training Principal interested in an Assistant Instructor’s course (minimum age of 12). This course will require a A massive thanks to the team who helped out minimum number to conduct. Please email over the Holiday programs. Our Start Sailing 1&2 [email protected] to ensure your name is listed Package was instructed by Rob Minato with for either of these opportunities. Simon Thomson and Jeff Stirling (Wed) assisting. Whilst it was a small group we have received new members as a result of it. Our Tackers team did Return and Earn an amazing job also, with Tackers 2 in the mornings and a fully booked Tackers 1 course of The AWYC Juniors are now collecting cans and glass 16 kids each afternoon. Andrea instructed T2 with bottles to return for the 10 cent refund. The cans must assistant instructors Ben Demeo, Lara Johnson NOT be crushed as the vending machine needs to read the barcode on deposit. (Mon – Wed), Jacob Scully (Thurs) and Liam Brookes (Fri). Samantha Roberts and Simon There is a plastic crate placed near where the cans Thomson instructed the hectic Tackers 1 with used to be collected. Please place your uncrushed assistant instructors Will Haberfield, Lara Johnson cans and bottles in this crate for return to the (Mon – Wed), Jacob Scully (Thurs) and Liam collection depot.

Brookes (Fri).

Our next lot of weekend Learn to Sail and Tackers th courses started the 10 of February. Thanks to the team who have volunteered to run these. Our next weekend Learn to Sail courses will not be until November.

We are still getting interest from schools to conduct Sailing Intros and Start Sailing courses (some including an overnight camp). If your school is interested in a sailing opportunity please have them contact Leanne at [email protected]

Thanks to Erwin and Alex for conducting Powerboat Handling courses at AWYC. The last course had several non-members as students. The next course is scheduled for Saturday 17th and Sunday the 18th of March. Please help promote this course with friends, who can register on our website course schedule There is a discounted rate for AWYC members.

Mynyx will again be conducting a First Aid Course DutyMan th on the 7 of April. This is a mixed mode course. AWYC DutyMan rosters for So you actually do an online component at home the remainder of February and as a result are only required to do a 1 day and March have many class. (Previously these courses were 2 full days spots available for of classroom). The course is suitable for those members to volunteer to completing such a course for the first time as well fulfil their duty for the as those requiring a refresher. Please register season. online early to allow yourself enough time to complete the online segment. Please remember as part of your membership everyone We have some Instructors due for reaccreditation over the age of 13 is to later this year. As a result, it is likely we will run a complete 2 weekends of Dinghy Instructors course at AWYC (with those duty per season. due for reaccreditation joining just part of the weekend). Any Dinghy assistant instructors 8

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Welcome to Our New Members

The Commodore and members would like to welcome the following new members to the Club:

o Andrew Stevens o Thurston and Suzanne Kent

o Gregory Hayes and Susan Crick

Launching / Retrieving Safety RIBS

J ust a reminder that no person is to be seated in the RIBS during launching or retrieval.

When putting a RIB back on the trailer it must be FLOATED on - NOT driven on. Last winter repairs were required on the white RIB due to a crack in the hull caused from driving it onto the trailer. It appears that crack has opened again, from being driven onto the trailer!

If parking any of the rescue craft on the beach, make sure it is on sand NOT rocks.

Thankyou.

Albury Wodonga Yacht Club Inc 2017-2018 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 Vacant [email protected] Secretary Deb Culhane 0488 600 560 [email protected] Treasurer Jeff Stirling 0406 856 458 [email protected] DSC Training Principal Donald Thomson 0467 355 258 [email protected] Club Captain Racing Vacant [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 Helen Kerr 0438 425 992 [email protected] Women & Girls in Sailing Rep Vacant [email protected] Newsletter Editor Nan Astridge 0429 002 463 [email protected] Webmaster Nick Hordern 0419 270 820 [email protected] DutyMan Administrator Stuart Howsam 0416 320 198 [email protected] Assets Management Vacant [email protected] Storage Neil Henderson 0488 245 813 [email protected] Projects Tony Johnson 0410 401 253 [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 Vacant Opti Representative Mark McMillan 0477 138 115 [email protected] Laser Representative Donald Thomson 0413 486 996 [email protected] Functions Coordinator Helen Kerr 0438 425 992 [email protected] Club House Phone 0459 533 583