Cruising Group History
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CRUISING GROUP HISTORY Page 1 CONTENTS PAGE 4 Forward A SEED OF AN IDEA (1991-1995) PAGE 5 1991 PAGE 6 1992 - 1993 PAGE 8 1994 PAGE 9 1995 GROWING STEADILY (1996-2000) PAGE 10 1996 PAGE 12 1997 PAGE 14 1998 PAGE 16 1999 PAGE 18 2000 CONSOLIDATION AND GROWTH (2001-2005) PAGE 20 2001 PAGE 22 2002 PAGE 24 2003 PAGE 26 2004 PAGE 28 2005 Cruising Group Chairs FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH (2006-2010) PAGE 30 2006 JOHN MOWSON 1991-1992 PAGE 32 2007 CLIVE HEARNE 1992-1993 PAGE 34 2008 JIM PATTON 1994-1997 PAGE 36 2009 PAGE 38 2010 CLIVE HEARNE 1998-2000 CRUISING ON, INTO THE FUTURE (2011-2015) DAVID JAMES 2000-2003 PAGE 40 2011 LYN BINGHAM 2004-2006 PAGE 42 2012 WILL MERRITT 2006-2012 PAGE 44 2013 PAGE 46 2014 ROD WATSON 2013-2014 PAGE 48 2015 ROGER WALKER 2014-CURRENT PAGE 50 The musings of a cruiser Page 2 Page 3 A seed of an idea 1991-1995 Foreward 1996 From humble beginnings 25 years ago the Cruising Group quickly grew into an important element within Royal Brighton Yacht Club. It seems that the birth of the Cruising Group Ian Twentyman, the Commodore at the time, Since the group was formed, hard-working came about when like-minded RBYC members was in favour of the idea and supported the committee members have endeavoured to came together with their ideas and a common formation of a Cruising Division as part of the provide a varied and interesting program interest. Sailing Committee. He, John Mowson and Jim Patton regularly met for a morning cuppa out of monthly meetings as well as social and In 1990 David Pollard was a member of the on John’s boat ‘Greenough’, with David Pollard ‘on water’ activities. Successive Chairmen Sailing Committee. He surveyed the yachts in joining in after a time. This was when discussion and Committees are to be thanked for their the marina to form a yachting register classifying began about the formation of a Cruising Division dedication. the yachts into three Racing Divisions. However and the activities they could organise. In recent years Newsletter Editors have while conducting the survey he found a group produced informative monthly newsletters to of yachts that weren’t racing, but were basically Miriam and Brian Cherry were racing at the keep members abreast of forthcoming events. cruising yachts, and so placed this group into an time, as well as cruising occasionally along For those wishing to cruise, the Annual Bass informal Cruising Division. the northern Bass Strait coast. They had just purchased Peter Joubert’s Billabong and were Strait ‘cruises in company’ present an excellent Meanwhile club member John Mowson had keen to extend their cruising further offshore - means of extending cruising experience beyond been reading about Cruising Groups in yachting so they joined the group too. Port Phillip Bay. magazines, sowing the seed in his mind that Over the years Cruising Group has provided RBYC could form a Cruising Group. John Mowson became the Founding Chairman opportunities to meet and socialise with fellow of the Cruising Division and a number of yacht club members, both on and off the water, Founding Chair, successful bay trips were held. John spent 18 resulting in many long-lasting friendships. John Mowson months as Chairman before moving to Perth, As we head into the next 25 years we hope this and recalls that in these early days he personally continues for many years to come. rang interested cruisers to make things happen. The first official sail of the newly formed Cruising Division was to RYCV in January 1991, where 25-30 boats and about 80 members sailed to Williamstown and enjoyed a barbeque on the Acknowledgement lawn in perfect weather. This event has been The RBYC Cruising Group Committee would like celebrated as the official start of the Cruising to thank Pam Merritt, with the support of Lyn Group, with a birthday BBQ cruise to Royals on Bingham, for the generous hours spent collating the third Sunday in January ever since. the history of our wonderful group. 2016 marks the 25th Anniversary. Thanks also to Robina Smith and Rod Watson for the use of their Bass Strait photos. Page 4 Page 5 1992 1993 118TH RBYC ANNUAL REPORT (1992-1993) From the 117th Annual Report (1991-1992) By now the Cruising Division had formed its the Commodore’s Report reads... own Sub-Committee, listed in the 1992-1993 Annual Report as Vice Commodore Clive Hearne (Chairman), Ken Brown, Peter Metherall, Fergus McPherson, Jim Patton and David Pollard. 117TH RBYC ANNUAL REPORT CRUISING DIVISION REPORT Chairman Clive Hearne had the honour of I am pleased to present this inaugural report on behalf of all RBYC presenting the Inaugural Report of the Cruising Yachtsmen. This year saw a further interest in Cruising Division. cruising and the group had a number Early this season it was agreed to form a Sub-Committee to cater for the of successful trips. Our founding needs, and to further the aims, of members who wish to pursue yachting Chairman moved to Perth during the in a broader sense, complementing our Sailing Committee’s task of year, however from a sound start the administering the racing program. Division, now led by Rear Commodore Although our Club’s Charter refers to ‘racing between yachts in particular’ Clive Hearne and club member Jim it is obvious that most boats go to sea at times ‘other than’ and ‘as Patton, has continued to assist well as’ racing. We have at present 73 yachts and more than 160 members members not actively involved in registered as Cruising Members of RBYC. racing to sail together and enjoy their boats. Our program has become an integral part of ‘on water’ and ashore events of the Club. IAN TWENTYMAN, Regular meetings to share special interests and information are held Commodore Second Cruising Group Chair monthly. Our thanks to those members and guests who have shared their - Clive Hearne experiences with us. Information is also published in our ‘Cruising Newsletter’. Congratulations to our editor Peter Metherall for his effort this year. On July 12th 1992 the first Frostbite Cruise Kindred clubs who also have active cruising fleets have formed a ‘Combined’ was held at Victoria Dock, an event that has Award Committee to co-ordinate voyages and day trips this season. A highlight continued to take place on the Yarra River on will be a ‘Cruise in Company’ to Lord Howe Island during February 1994. the first Sunday of July each year. ManyWinners RBYC yachts have cruised to In August 1993 the Combined Cruising Divisions of kindred clubs gathered distant parts over recent years, but none for the Inaugural Dinner Dance held at RBYC. This was a huge success with more successfully than Gumblossom. good representation from other clubs. Congratulations to Thorry Gunnersen, winner Finally, thanks to my committee, especially Jim Patton and David Pollard, of the first ‘Cruiser of the Year’ award. and members Di Patton, Judy Hodgkins and Joan Hearne for their contribution to our social activities. CLIVE HEARNE Vice Commodore Page 6 Page 7 1994 1995 Jim Patton took over as Chairman, with Ken The Cruising Committee was: Brown, David Mattiske, Peter Metherall, Jim Patton (Chairman), Peter Metherall (Newsletter Editor), Ken Brown, Fergus McPherson, Fergus McPherson and David Pollard on David Mattiske, David Pollard, Bill Westerbeek and Judy Hodgkins. committee. The first official newsletter, a single page, was produced in May, June and October, with Peter Metherall as Editor. There were 75 active members who met on the 1995 Newsletter was the first ‘two page’ edition, 3rd Friday of each month in the downstairs Bill with the introduction of ‘Member News’ The second Combined Cruisers Dinner Dance Currie Library. and ‘Nautical Terminology’, the forerunner was held on August 29th at SYC, with several of ‘Captain Coxswain’. Both these newsletter ‘On water’ activities included a Veteran Skippers tables of RBYC members. columns continue 20 years later! Race, cruises to RYCV, Mornington and QCYC, as well as a combined RBYC/QCYC ‘on land’ BBQ to Peter and Jan Metherall set off in Penyllan for a the You Yangs. shakedown cruise in preparation for setting out on their planned world circumnavigation Monthly meetings continued to prosper, with Award in 1996. growing attendances and interesting speakers. MurrayWinners Smitheram, Adams Rib, was the In June 1995 the first Classical Music Evening winner of the 1993-94 RBYC/QCYC was held - another tradition that continues Cruising Yachtsman of the Year award. today. Committee member David Mattiske had an interest in the MSO and was responsible for organising the first few Classical Music Nights. The first, ‘A Midwinter Soiree’, was a night of Award 119TH RBYC ANNUAL REPORT (1993-1994) chamber music accompanying dinner. David Mattiske organised the musical program, with TheWinners 1994-1995 RBYC/QCYC Cruising Diana Patton and Judy Hodgkins assisting with Yachtsman of the Year was awarded organisation to ensure a successful evening. CRUISING DIVISION REPORT to Martin and Judy O’Donohue for their During the year Judy Hodgkins took over as circumnavigation lasting more than We continue to cater for the needs of those members who wish to go to sea in the the (still single page) Newsletter Editor, with Bill 5 years on their yacht Kinta 111. broader sense and, complementing the racing fraternity, we have maintained our Westerbeek doing the layout. The September members. One of the highlights was the Inaugural ‘Veterans’ Race Day organised by David Pollard. Three RBYC boats participated in the Lord Howe Island Cruise, surviving the vagaries of the weather and East Coast currents.