Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club Website: P.O

Home , 18ft Skiff, Heron (dinghy), NS14

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to [email protected] (deadline midnight Monday)

Commodore Phill Robbins 0466668541 Club Newsletter Vice Commodore Jonathan Horsley 0412798505 2/4/19

Rear Commodore Chris Hallett 0414866998

Secretary Nola Hallett 0414866999

Treasurer Norm Hunt 66291366

Class Reps Gennakers – Duncan Dey Catamarans – Col Woodbry Trailers – Ian Michie Monos – Graham Hams

Rowing Officer Gerald Anderson

Website Admin Mark Pierce

Instagram/Facebook Admin Trent Morgan

Training team

Graeme Turner The South-East Course

ALL EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE TO: [email protected] Race Reports for March 31st

CONTENTS 1. Monohull report Monohull Report (Trent Morgan) 6. Gennaker report 12. Catamaran report 23. Trailer Sailor report 30. Interview 39. Drone footage 39. Club weather station 41. Seniors race info 41. NS14 Training weekend info 42. Race fee changes 42. Editor’s note 42. Race Q’s 44. Use of club tractor 45. Club shirts 45. Idle gossip 46. Upcoming away events 47. Crew available/crew wanted The Monohull/gennaker start 48. For sale/wanted/free 1

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Autumn weather at last and what a pleasant day to sail! A South East course was set with a start near the RSL but the breeze direction was confused just prior to the cat start with it going completely South West. This didn’t last long and we pretty much had a Sou-Easter when the hooter went. As usual got a good start and lead the way.

had parked near the line and was in a good position when the hooter went but stalled when the breeze went light in that period.

The majority of the race seemed to have some wind shifts towards the South at times, balancing these shifts with the slow outgoing tide early in the race helped to sort out a race order fairly early on. up front, newcomer Claudia Juan sailing the club laser next, until Grace and Graeme Turner overtook her.

Alter Ego made the most of the conditions .

Not long after the start

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

On the second leg Cameron in overtook with his Impulse loving the tight reach wind angle. Graeme Hodgins in got going as well, settling into third spot fairly early on.

Graeme Hodgins in ‘Retro’

After a slow start Des’s relished the leg running past the club, catching and overtaking . By the time and were eyeing off the bottom mark, it was apparent that it was a two horse race up front, with right on the tail of .

Grace and Graeme really pushed Alter Ego for line honours

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Meanwhile, Steffen didn’t have a crew to sail with in the Pacer until Kirah was suggested and they did very well to be rigged and there in time to start in . They didn’t have a great start but they got out onto the track and settled into a good sailing rhythm by the second triangle. Both reported enjoying the race very much. It’s wonderful to see ‘learn to sailors’ getting out there and racing! Hopefully they’ll race in the next pacer race as well. But… where were Peter and Susie today, three pacers would have been great!

Steffen and Kirah, rigged and sailed at the last minute Claudia Juan in her first club race in Black Pearl and had a fun race in ‘Penny Puffin’

The order didn’t change again apart from overtaking on the second work, which lasted only for a couple of legs as Des’s superior downwind speed took hold again.

Colours of the day 4

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

The day went to the speedy solo sailed , with the also speedy not too far behind.

Wilful Intent battling Alter Ego

Despite ’s good race, Trent and Daisy just couldn’t reign them in.

Thank you to Rolly, Ric and Blade in the rescue boat, Gunter in the tower and Chris and Nick Larson in the kitchen.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Thanks to Rolly, Rick and Blade

Gennaker Report (Duncan Dey and Michael Wiley)

Magic Formula meets Serenity 6

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

A fleet of four fifteens and three RS100’s fronted for the start. Notable in the F15 fleet were Laura & Francine again sailing and Clare, making her first return to sailing after 23 years on the sideline and crewing with Dan Bradford on .

It was a good starting line, minimising the crowding and barging at the boat end, with all the boats getting a good start, with the possible exception of which understandably took a more conservative approach.

Numero Uno

Once again, the fifteens quickly moved out into air which was clear of any influence from the other monos, even if there were still affected by the disturbance of the light winds by the large sailed Trailer and Cat fleets that got away ahead of them.

For the first work and much of the first run Michael & Tara in , Barry & Anna in and Daniel & Clare in enjoyed a close tactical battle with many changes of lead.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Mr Bond in good breeze

But by the bottom of the first run, had fallen back, leaving the other two to continue the battle.

Meanwhile, Garry in RS100 was quick out of the blocks and again lead the Rs100’s up the first work.

The first lap was tight between the three RS100's. Vince then got in the groove in to pull ahead on each upwind leg, while not yielding his progress on the downwind legs.

Vince under kite 8

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Up the front, pulled ahead of on the next work and for a while looked as though it was going to romp away. But in the shifty winds, nothing was certain. Repeatedly came charging in from behind to narrow the gap or even take the lead, only for to get ahead again.

Trade Secret greeting Tango

One spectacular example was a gust that hit both boats half way down the third run, pushing them both double wired under spinnaker toward the rock lee wall past the RSL.

The same old duelling pair 9

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

With about to T-bone the rocks, it was forced to drop its kite and reach up for sea room while sneakily dumped its main and rolled the front of its kite to claw its way out of trouble (Michael was heard to concede to Barry after the race he might also have had the benefit of a lightening of the gust).

At the top mark, turning down for the last run, was less than a boat length ahead when fouled its tack and capsized. That should have settled the race. But again, a spectacular twin wire run by and a spinnaker drop problem by at the bottom mark brought them back together at the end of the run for a close battle up the last work.

The finish would have been much closer had Michael not fallen out the back of while trying to be too clever in executing a fast tack. Fast work by Tara saved a capsize and fast swimming by Michael brought him back to the boat, but the result in favour of was settled. In the RS100’s, Vince's lead was unassailable until, oh no ... the spinnaker halyard knot failed on the last run down the Straights of Ramada. Duncan Never Say Die took the lead to finish a minute ahead of Vince.

Duncan putting in the hard work

Garry came in about five minutes later unintentionally dropping his kite on the finish line, due to hitting the quick release rope.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Garry heading to the bottom mark

On board Numero Uno

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Catamaran Report (Jonathon Horsley)

Championship race 9 had the first of the Autumn weather with a breeze out of the South to South east varying up to 15 knots. The action started early with having a side stay failure on the way to the start. was soon receiving help from Cat-Man and after sales service from the previous owner.

Once was safely unrigged on the sand bank Col and Phill returned to their boats and the business of the day. was towed back to the club after the starts by the rescue boat.

This left 9 cats at the start of the race, which was well contested although was behind the fleet, possibly slowed by the weight of the cameras.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

The start of the catamarans

The first work up through the narrows saw many changes in positions as alternative strategies were applied to deal with the current and the shifting breeze. showed off its pointing skills along the northern side of the narrows by getting through even though most of the others tacked several times.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Tony demonstrating quick heels out of the blocks with ‘A’ and ‘Finely Tuned; in pursuit

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

benefited from a good start and plenty of breeze and can been seen chasing

Phill contemplating a tack across the fleet after getting out of the blocks quickly 15

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

With the numerous tacks up through the narrows, there were many close crossings.

Phill doing ‘the dip’ behind Chris and Nola

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

“Tango” showing promise early in the race, having crew on board for the race

“Shore Thing” (Cat-Man) powering up the first work

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

“A” crossing ahead on the first work

Michael in ‘A’

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

At the top of the first work “ rounded first followed by , and the rest.

The tight reach out towards Shaws Bay was fun with the breeze generally strong enough to fly hulls, but with the usual dead patches.

This favoured some of the cats with some places changing by the Shaws Bay mark. Both y and getting past .

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

The leg back to gate was a mixed effort with a work to get past the sand point and then a reach past the club. The leg back to the bottom mark had many slow patches with the following boats getting the better of the breeze. showed its great down wind speed to be second around the bottom mark.

The next work saw the wind strengthening, allowing to brake the string and get clear ahead of the fleet. The tussles continued in the mid fleet with many changes in positions as the race progressed.

Drew in his NACRA 5.2, happy to be out on the course and not weaving his cat in and out of the yard!

Col criss-crossing with ‘Trade Secret’ 20

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

The second and third laps saw plenty of fast sailing.

Jonathon and Martine packing on the speed 21

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

The over the line results meant little after the handicapper played his magic which saw (the handicapper) first, 2nd with 3rd.

John in ‘Wokat’

Many thanks to the club members who volunteered to do the duty and man the starting/rescue boat.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Trailer Sailor Report (Colin Hinwood)

The start of the Trailers

Top day racing, with 9 boats, clear skies, moderate breeze and a good Course.

BoM had the weather at 15 to 20, SeaBreeze around the 15, but it ended up 5 -12, so quite light in patches, with the odd puff making us think .. here it comes but …not.

Normal SE Course set, but needed to have faith, as wind hung around the SW right up to the Start, when it freshened a tad and settled into the SE . Whew!! otherwise it would have turned the Course to crap.

A good Start Line from Roland, Ric and Duty Person Chris Larsen, who with son Nick came back to their old club to do a Duty even tho they don’t sail here anymore .. at the moment anyway.

Roland said the Trailers were the best starters, but doing circles over the Line with a bridle tangled around the outboard, and going back to restart thinking the second hoot was them [not ] , and an enthusiastic Boat End Starter terrorising the Start Boat.. ummm don’t think the fleet would agree.

.’ ‘Dig that hole, forget the sun’

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Great work up to Mobbs, a dog leg around the Red Channel Marker .. and it was the 1st to the Top Mark, followed by .. who had done a bolter, and was manning the aft guns warding off the pack behind … ahh finally a moment of glory … ahhh ..

Treasure Isle and Shades

It really was close racing, with and the Spiders nipping at ’s heels, tangled up in there somewhere, and the RLs all in the chaos of the first work and first run.

Bad Blood giving Run Rabbit Run a tickle 24

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

The wind wasn’t heavy or even shifting much, but .. it was hard day at the office .. somehow the mix of the smallish tide with the wind up and down pressure, meant no boat could settle into a trim pattern.

Reg making good way

pretty much had clear air just in front, but behind it was swap and swap, with a gap eventually appearing between the RLs + , and the front pack of Spiders and .

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

A Sunday walker’s view

Rabbit and Bad Blood locked together again 26

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

As the race wore on, bolter was gradually worn down, until the battle between and settled in, drawing away from .

Spudgun

Round and round they went, horns locked, until the final tussle for Line Honours ..well for them anyway .. going to by 2 seconds. Grinners ..

Inci Winci 27

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Corrected Times have the first 5 boats all inside about a minute, so .. close.

won the day on corrected time, then then but on the Course it was anyone’s guess .. great day.

Shades took the day

Summer Dream had some nice runs 28

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Serenity looking spectacular with her kite

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Get To Know A Club Member

Every newsletter will feature an interview with a different club member The questions are designed with a focus on sailing experiences. So far we have had a club member each from the catamaran division, the monohull division and the Trailer Sailor division. This week we find out more about a sailor in the gennaker division, F15 stalwart Michael Wiley.

Name: Michael Wiley

Number of Seasons at RRSRC: About 16

Roles in the Club (now and previously):

When I left my last Sydney club (Bayview Yacht Racing Association; BYRA) I had been sail training officer for a number of years – considerably expanding their previous program - and I brought that program up here. I acted as official sailing training officer at RRSC for about a decade before 30

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

handing over to Brendan. Since then I’ve run an informal higher performance programme to fill a hole in our skill development program.

I’ve also been class captain

Where did you learn to sail? In what class/classes of boat?

I first learnt to sail in a Heron at the Double Bay Sailing Club in Sydney; taught by my father at the age of 10. My father built the boat and another two Herons after that. After one season, he sort of pushed my younger brother and myself off the beach in it and surrendered the boat to us; so leaving me as skipper. He then took over starter’s duties at the club (letting him give me a full autopsy of my race performance every week!)

I spent most of my youth at that club.I hung around there on the weekends with friends, racing on Sundays and alternately sailing and just hanging out on Saturdays; just mucking around in boats as the saying goes (yes, I know – Wind in the Willows). It was a memorable time, but a good and safe place to grow up and come of age.

After another two Herons, I moved into Cherubs; buying an older boat which I rebuilt. A few years later I built my own new Cherub from scratch (I was 17 and just starting Uni at the time).

I did a bit of Lightweight Sharpie skippering with the Uni Sailing Club.

In my early 20’s I acquired an 18ft skiff which we sailed at the NSW 18ft’ers Sailing League, next door at Double Bay. That was the first of two, which kept me and my brother very actively involved in sailing until the age of thirty.

Michael’s first of two 18 foot skiffs. 1000 square foot of spinnaker, the biggest in the fleet at the time. 31

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Michael steering

At thirty I became both a father and a partner of a major Sydney law firm in the same year; necessitating a break from competitive sailing.

Over the next ten years I owned a couple of yachts which were used for family outings.

When my youngest was about 10, I acquired a Northbridge Senior which I sailed with him at BYRA; upgrading that to a new one two years later.

As the kids got older, they each got introduced to sailing; necessitating a family fleet of Manly Juniors and Flying 11’s for them while I sailed the NS with whoever was willing.

It was about this time I got involved in Sail Training because the existing program at the club was doing a very poor job of retaining people coming out of the otherwise fairly successful (in terms of numbers and reputation) learn to sail program they had.

When the 29er was first released, I (together with a few other fathers at the club) bought one which I sailed for a season with my wife Sue and then with my son John for a number of seasons; bringing it up to RRSC as we moved. John (unfortunately) found a passion in surfing, which made

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

him a less reliable crew. With no replacements at the club, it was at this time I became interested in the question of how to teach non-sailors to crew high performance boats.

But the problem with the 29er on the river was it didn’t have the power to go out and play gennakers in the tide in less than about 15 knots. So all to often we were left trying to run square along the river bank with the NS14s. This was very frustrating and I was always on the lookout for a better class.

It was Daniel Bradford who cast his eye down the list of boats on the VYC schedule and investigated what these “Formula Fifteens” were. That was ten years ago and the rest as they say in history.

More recently I owned a 35ft yacht (in conjunction with Graeme Fleming) for a couple of years which gave me a better introduction to offshore sailing and racing. During the time it was own we sailed it up to Southport (from Yamba) a couple of times to enter the Sail Paradise Regatta and it was taken to Hamilton Island so we could participate in the Hamilton Island Race Week.

Have you been a member of other sailing clubs, if so, which?

See above

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

What class or type of boats have you sailed in your life?

See above

Favourite and why?

The Fifteens, definitely. I’ve learnt more about how to really sail from sailing them than I learnt from any other boat.

Best sailing experience?

That depends on what you call best.

Some of the intense, boat on boat battles I’ve had with Barry in the Fifteens certainly rate up there.

Then there are days that everything just goes right.

Sailing my first old clunker of a Cherub to a sixth place in a heat of the (60 boat) National Titles was one [And you have to remember this fleet provided most of the crew for the America’s Cup winning 12 metre and most of the top skiff and Olympic sailors and medal winners for that generation. The Cherubs were THE intermediate class in those days].

Winning my first heat of the 15’s Nationals was another.

Then there’s the new experiences like Hamilton Island Race Week.

Surprising everyone by winning our division in our first Sail Paradise Regatta

But you also have to include the “hero” days.

Like being the only boat to finish a heat of the Cherub State Titles in a 35 knot breeze (the day the Opera House Opened). They didn’t cancel races in those days!

Or the only 18ft skiff to sail back to the beach on the day that was the first in the history of the class (as far as I know) where the race was cancelled through stress of wind (a southerly Buster gusting to 50 knots). They couldn’t start the race because they couldn’t get the starter’s boat to hold its anchor and if you capsized while waiting for it you were gone. Every other boat washed up on the North Shore before being towed home.

Worst sailing experience?

Hard to think of a bad day on a boat.

I’m sure there’s been some, but the lessons stick in your brain while the memory fades.

Have you sailed at any state or national titles? If so, what ones?

I skippered my first Heron National Titles at 13 with my younger brother as crew. I was a decade younger than any other skipper (it was mainly a father and son boat). They kept telling me I couldn’t sign on because it had to be the skipper who did it.

Multiple Heron Nationals after that.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Multiple Cherub Nationals and a Worlds.

I was never good enough to make the 18ft’er Nationals or Worlds (by a big margin!)

29er Worlds (with Sue as my crew) in 2002. 120 entries! We had to pull out half way through because it was the year of the big bushfires (smoke was covering the Sydney harbour race course). Bushfires were circling our house in Ingleside/ Terry Hills on the edge of the National Park and the kids were otherwise home alone.

Multiple 15 Nationals (small fleets compared to the Herons and Cherubs; although with Lindsay and Jim, the standard of the 15’s was traditionally very high).

Best results?

Nothing to skite about.

Best results in a series at RRSRC?

Plenty of Championship and Pointscore series wins.

Suggestions on how sailing as a sport could be improved?

Perhaps I’ll depart from your script here.

Everyone recognises my passion for sailing. There’s a reason for that (apart from the fact it’s fun). My parents decision to get me into sailing was strategic, even though my father had been heavily involved in 18ft’ers. I was a quiet, withdrawn, non-sporty, under confident kid (I know, hard to believe) and very nerdy (some things don’t change) and my parents thought sailing might be good for me. They were right.

It was more than about playing the sport. Yes, I learnt how to win, even if only at club level. How to [pretend to] walk confidently up to a podium on presentation night and say a few words (as one did then). But in being taught how to put back into a volunteer club I learnt life lessons that I regard as largely responsible for my professional success.

At 17 I was vice president of a club which had a judge as president and a committee made up of stock brokers, accountants and other professionals. I was just a kid. I still recall the first meeting the president was absent and I suddenly found myself needing to chair a serious meeting. In that moment I learnt how to ‘wing it’; to play the role as best I could; a skill that served me well for the rest of my professional life.

As an even younger class captain, I took the role seriously enough to have the courage to ring up less frequent participants and encourage them to come down for a sail (again as was the role of class captains in those days).

I learnt – again while still a youth - how to run a regatta, host visiting officials, drive a motor launch (in the days before inflatables and tinnys) well enough to bring it along side for a rescue and run a starting sequence.

I tried to replicate that experience for my children as they came through sailing (and pony club for that matter). To let them see me and help me in my involvement in running events and teaching sailing and be able to duplicate that. My tween daughters (as they then were) were basically 36

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

responsible for running a large pony club gymkhana; doing all the entry paper work, programming and running the desk on the day. And as preteens they were the only kids allowed (by the club) to run the club canteen on our class duty days. I’ve seen them apply all those same skills in their careers.

My passion in introducing others to sailing is to give them the same opportunities.

When I did the junior learn to sail at BYRA, I organised it so the students from one year would be the teachers a year or two later. Kids in their tweens who would be skilfully teaching other kids and even adults with complete confidence. You could see their parents glow with pride when, often an adult student, went up to them and praised their children for their teaching skills. I get a lot of joy when I come across those young people in their adult life and see how well they’ve gone.

Passionate sailing kids, on the whole, make great adults.

In a way, the way sailing has been taken over by the “administrators” at National level has destroyed all that. If you want to have a “recognised” learn to sail programme, you have to do it their way, using ‘registered, qualified, instructors (all of which costs money to obtain), this destroying the whole volunteer ethos. Kids are pushed into intense racing classes (Optimists, Sabots etc) where they can be channelled into pre-Olympic programmes. Those not good enough simply become discarded cannon fodder and lost to sailing. None of them come out with real life skills.

To me sailing can be improved by going back to focusing on the clubs. It shouldn’t be about the quality of the sailors (at least in an Olympic sense), more about the quality of the sailing experience they have.

Nationals should be remembered as a wonderful social and learning experience, not as something where everyone other than the winner is a loser.

Michael and Tara in Magic Formula 37

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Why do you go sailing?

Enough said above.

Apart from the cheese/dips and crackers why do you sail at RRSRC on a Sunday?

It keeps me fit and engaged and I love it

Are there any sailing dreams you aspire to?

Not really

Any boat you aspire to?

No, not at the moment

Any advice for up and coming sailors?

Have fun, get involved with the club in a real sense. Learn to be a volunteer.

Would you like to share one thing that people at the club might not know about you?

I’ve overshared already

Michael and Tara in Mr Bond 38

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Drone Footage

The club facebook page has more great drone footage, this time from last Sunday’s race. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/rrsrc/

Club Weather Station

The clubhouse now has a Davis weather station on the roof, with a display panel in the clubhouse. There are two ways you can access our weather station.

Firstly, you can find our weather station online at www.weatherlink.com. Log in with the following:

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

User: RRSRC

Password: (I will email out password)

Secondly, you can download the WeatherLink app for iPhone or Android.

Download this app, set up your account and search for our weather station by map of Ballina or by name:

“Richmond River Sailing Club.”

Phill

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Seniors Race This Weekend

The Seniors race will be on 7 April. Seniors are to sail their own boats (all crews must be seniors as well) and it will be handicap start based on age of skipper and the boats handicap (as set by the club handicapper). Seniors race briefing to be held at 11:00 with race start at 11:30. Short race of about ½ hour in length.

NS14 Training Weekend

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

G'day NS14 sailors at RRSRC

There will be an NS14 training weekend on 6-7 April at Harwood. Peter V has won a huge string of state and national NS14 championships but is also an excellent trainer.

Robert Preston is helping organise and hoping to get boats from as far away as Brisbane and Taree. Here is the link: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=485005&

Cheers, Duncan

Race Fee Changes

New Race Fee Process Race fees are as follows: • $7 for members sailing their own boat • $15 for member sailing a club boat

From now on please use the following process when signing on and paying race fees. 1. If you have paid for race fees yearly; write a Y in the Paid column 2. If you are paying casually, write the amount in the Paid column. Eg $7 or $15 and put the cash into the race fee container.

This will allow the treasurer to check that the fees collected matches the amount stated. Thanks.

Phill

Note from the newsletter Editor

It’s been lovely to receive such nice feedback about the newsletter - many thanks should be given to the contributors and all the participants who make it possible. It is a real team effort.

raceQ’s

From Graeme Fleming

FYI We used this app at the Sail Paradise regatta as it was compulsory for all Yachts. Amazing playback of races. 42

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Welcome to raceQs, the innovative sailing program that will change the way you sail!

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Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

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Thanks,

The raceQs Team

Commonly Asked Questions

Do I need to keep my phone on deck, in view of "open sky" like my GPS?

No, the app will still work below decks, safely stowed in your bag. You can even set it to automatically shut-off when your phone battery reaches various levels.

USE OF CLUB TRACTOR

New Rules re Trailer: 1. At low tide you must ask one of 3 people to supervise (Chris Hallett, Jonathan Horsley or Col Woodbry) 2. At high tide approved drivers are ok to retrieve or launch on the ramp.

We will find a process that works and is safe for the RIB. Phill

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Club Shirts

Here’s your chance to wear the colours of your club, to proudly display what you do every Sunday – wear a club shirt!

Royal Blue Club shirts payment required at time of order into RRSRC account with your name as reference BSB: 728728 ACC: 22288328

Email or text Nola with size [email protected] or 0414 866999

Mens Long sleeve polo - $37 Short sleeve polo - $35 Cotton T-shirt - $20

Ladies Short sleeve polo - $31

Kids Cotton T-shirt -

(As worn by Secretary Nola and Commodore Phill – reflective safety vest optional)

Idle Gossip – Please send anything interesting sailing or club related to [email protected].

Phill, Jonathon and Norm in earnest discussion in the change room immediately before last Sunday’s race, something along these lines: ‘Ok, I propose it’, ‘I second it’, ‘Passed’. The newsletter editor remarked on the unusual venue for a committee decision. A voice said, something along the lines of ‘Passing a motion in the change room’.

Whatever it takes to get the job done.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Upcoming Away Events

• 4th/5th May – Bay to Bay

• 4th/5th May, Qld Pacer championships. Lake Cootharaba

If anyone knows of any more events or would like an event posted please let me know – [email protected]

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Wotif Offer to our Club!

Book your next travel or accommodation with Wotif and quote this code: ASF043153 and we will receive a donation from Wotif. Support our club when you or your family or friends travel.

Crew Available/Crew Wanted

Seamus, an enthusiastic graduate from our last Learn to Sail course, is keen to continue his learning by crewing on any boat available. Seamus has already crewed on a NS14, Nacra 5.8 and Spider 550. Please help him continue his involvement with the club by giving him a place, if possible. Email his mother Jill at [email protected] if you have a spot for him

If you need some crew or are wanting to have a sail in a race please make your intentions known here by contacting [email protected]

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

For Sale/Wanted/Free to a Good Home

If you have any sailing related items for sale or if you want to buy something sailing related and want it put in the newsletter please let me know – [email protected]

FOR SALE

Details are: Castle 650, Mr Squiggle, Sail Number 61. Generally good condition. New Doyle Main and No 1, near new No 2 and No 3. Older Main and No 1 (Still usable). Old Dacron Main. Spinnaker with launching shute. Near new 8hp Tohatsu. Trailer in good condition. New complete storage cover/tarp. Price $15,000.00 Neg. Ph Todd Goldsmith 0427002571.

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

FOR SALE Anyone interested in buying a Nacra Sirroco catamaran in excellent condition? Asking $4750 ono. Scott Lewin

FOR SALE Laser Radial and 4.7 rig This laser dinghy has been well maintained and stored under cover its whole life. Turbo wang set up, carbon fibre tiller, stiff dry hull includes 1 training and one regatta sail barely used and laser cover. Price: $4000 For any enquires please call Georges on: 0431 213 774

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Seventy One Days of Blue Solitude

Dear sailors,

I wrote very good book for the sailors and people, who like adventures. Please look it up. Just use my name. Your members will enjoy reading it.

Regards

Reinhard Brecko

Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478

Where’s the buoy?