Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club Website: P.O

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 21/10/20 0412798505

Rear Commodore Chris Hallett 0414866998 From the Commodore; all members

Secretary need to read this… Nola Hallett 0414866999 1. INTERMEDIATE SAILING ON AGAIN Seamus and Phill will be running an intermediate sailing session on Sunday Treasurer Col Woodbry mornings from 10am to 11.30am. Please tell anyone you know who might be interested. Club boats need to be booked online for this purpose. Class Reps Gennakers – Michael Wiley 2. SAILING OFF THE BEACH Catamarans – Michael Cocks Last Sunday during a gusty Northerly, two separate accidents occurred Trailers – Paul Morris Monos – Graham Hams between boats while one was trying to leave the beach. One resulted in the Start boat being deflated and the race cancelled. With a number of Trailer Rowing Officer Sailors and mono’s using the same small section of beach this is a high risk Graham Hams situation, and special care needs to be taken. Also, the correct technique

Website Admin needs to be used. Please consider the following guidelines. a. Check the precise wind direction; is it perpendicular to the Publicity Officer/Newsletter shore or slightly NNE or NNW? This will determine the direction you should Trent Morgan choose to leave on. Choose the direction that gives the LEAST angle to the Training team wind, so if the wind is NNE then you should leave towards the SE and if the Club Committee wind is NNW then leave to the SW. If N’erly then you can choose either direction. (The reason for this is to maximise the angle you can turn the boat ALL EMAIL away from the beach without the boat being powered up.) CORRESPONDENCE TO: [email protected] b. Keep the boat facing into the wind until ready to leave the shore. CONTENTS c. If planning to leave to the SE then move to the WEST of your 1. Commodore’s Message 3. Try RS100 Day available space between boats to give yourself the maximum room. 3. The Non-race Report d. Partially lower centreboard and rudder before proceeding. 18. Aus NACRA 17 Team Article e. Request someone to hold you boat while you get in and turn it 18. Covid-safe Sailing Reminder for you if needed. 20. Briefings Process 20. Further Announcements f. With sails fully out, turn your boat about 90 degrees to the 20. Reminder – Fees and AGM wind and climb on. Have rudder turned 45 deg down wind already. 21. Club Shirts g. As the boat begins to move, turn away from the wind. WATCH 21. Crew Available/Crew Wanted for boats and people. When clear water ahead, lower the rudder and 22. Idle Gossip 22. Upcoming Events/Regattas centreboard if needed. 23. For Sale/Wanted/Free h. When away from the shore and in clear space, turn into the wind enough to slow down; fully lower rudder if not done and centreboard if

needed.

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

If you are inexperienced with launching in an offshore wind then review this basic instruction video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5JNs7k3WAc

For Catamarans: They accelerate faster and are harder to turn downwind so NEED A LOT MORE ROOM to leave the beach when it is windy. They are especially difficult and sometime impossible to turn with the rudder only partially down! GIVE YOUSELF MORE ROOM and start in deeper water so at least one rudder can be fully down! An alternate technique for catamarans, especially if insufficient room is to go out backwards. With Sails connected but fully loose and rudders up you can sail backwards by sitting or standing on the very front of the nose and pushing off. With the tail higher than the front the cat will be pushed straight downwind. You need to go a long way out this way before you can turn around. When well clear, go down the back and drop centreboards, rudder and then reverse onto a working angle using the rudders. A wide bareaway can then be executed out in the river.

An option we may need to consider if problems continue during Northerly’s is to allocate a section of the beach (say 20 m West of the boat ramp) solely for launching and arrival of monos and gennakers. This area would have to be kept clear of anchored boats and the immediate beach kept clear. Boats being launched or retrieved on the boat ramp would sometimes block the SE exit direction with this solution however, so boats would have to wait for the boat ramp area to clear before launching in that direction. With the increasing Trailer Sailor numbers (which have to use the water West of the ramp because it is deeper) we may have to consider this option for safety.

3. TRAILER SAILOR’S RADIO Under our Sailing Instructions, all Trailer Sailors need to carry working radios and have them on when racing. To ensure this happens we are initiating the following procedure. Every Trailer Sailor is to do a radio check with the tower on channel 13 before 1.30 pm or the first starting sequence, whichever is earlier. This is a safety issue because we only have one rescue boat on the water, so may need to call on Trailer Sailors to help out in a rescue situation and a working radio that is turned on is essential.

4. BOAT DETAILS FORMS We need to keep a better track of which boats are in storage at the club and who owns them. We also need to know which boats are class legal and which do not meet class rules. This has come to a head because the Trailer Sailors will shortly be using a new CBH rating system from Australian Sailing. Everyone with a boat that competes in races or is kept at the club will need to fill in the form and return it. It requests a photo of the boat owner for easy identification. The form will be in Word format, so you can insert a photo and send the form back by email.

5. RESCUE TRAINING SESSIONS We will shortly be starting training sessions for members in case they participate in the rescue of another boat. Please consider joining one or more of these sessions as any member might be on duty or on shore when required for an urgent rescue. We want as many people as possible trained in advanced boat operations to rescue another boat. This might involve the small rib or being an extra person on the large RIB. Detail soon.

Phill

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

Try RS100 Day

Test sailing is on this Saturday arvo (24 October) weather permitting.

If you're interested please register with Duncan on 0429 845 440 or at [email protected]. No obligation to become an RS sailor - you might just want to know why these people love what they do. Competent sailors may go out unaccompanied - others might go two up. If the weather fails us, a postponement will be advised by email or text on the Friday.

The Non-race report for October 18th – Wounded by a Spider

What came out of this hole, located at the rear of the club? Was it a Spider?

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

Could it have been the Spider responsible for this? Perhaps an incy-wincy spider, or a white tail? But revealing the name could cause bad blood….

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

That sinking feeling…

The week leading up last Sunday had varying wind strength predictions forecast for the river, depending on where you looked. Early in the week Willy weather had predicted strong Northerlies, then later in the week the site was showing light Northerlies. Sea Breeze had forecast strong Northerlies all along.

Come race day and all morning through the rigging period the wind was mostly light. It was from the North and there might have been some stronger gusts but even they seemed quite moderate in strength.

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

At about 1pm when most were fully dressed, rigged and ready to sail to the start line a hoot went out from the club tower – the one usually used to call attention to a briefing. Word went round that the start/rescue boat had been punctured. A trailer sailor had accidentally bumped into it leaving the beach causing one of the valves to completely pop out. This resulted in the complete collapse of the inflated part of the boat, rendering it useless. The race was delayed until further notice.

The committee scrambled into action and after a relatively short time the word got further round that a tinnie had been procured for start/rescue boat purposes and that we were looking at a 2pm start. 6

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

However, in the space of about ten minutes the wind decided to play its hand and got really strong, with some very strong gusts – no doubt around or above the 25 knot cut off point.

As crews were once again about to set out rumours started flashing that the race was potentially to be abandoned, and indeed, sadly, a few minutes later the race abandoned flag was raised on the club verandah.

No doubt the combination of the conditions and the loss of the club’s main rescue boat resulted in this call.

What do a fleet full of sailors do who are standing on the edge of the water with their boats rigged after a race is called off? Go for a sail!

Tom and Brendan in were doing some really fast spinnaker runs from the sand point towards Mobbs, and had been doing the same thing a little earlier whilst awaiting a potential race start. The majority of the monohulls were very quick to get in the water and immediately set off on an adventure to Burns Point Ferry, like salmon, going against the current, seemingly not getting very far quickly.

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

The ‘salmon’ heading up river

Sometimes picking up a gust and planing for bursts which looked like plenty of fun.

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

Laura launched , went out for a blast, as did the Channer brothers in the 49er FX, joining Tom and Brendan who were still out there joy riding.

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

Seamus and Ethan doubled up in Mark Pierce’s laser

Ian Bowles took out , sporting a flashy looking yellow stripe half the length of the hull after Des’s Impulse bounced on down the length of her as he left the beach.

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

went out for a blast with guest crew Jish and the RS100 contingent of Duncan, Bill, Vince and Garry took off, heading deep into the strength of the wind in the river mouth, before belting down with the wind under kite, dancing with the wall until Mobbs.

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

The pattern seemed to be climb towards the river mouth for as long as one was game, the outgoing tide made this easier, then turn around and hang on!

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

There were a few spills but all self-righted, but many thanks to Jonathan who went out in the smaller club inflatable boat just in case.

While many had fun wearing themselves out in the conditions, getting their sailing fix, others toiled in packing up the race equipment. many thanks to Chris, Jonathan, Graeme Fleming, Seamus, and Ethan.

The buoys are back in town 17

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

Australian NACRA 17 team article in Sail World Australia

Col Woodbry pointed out that the Sail World Australia website has an article about the recent visit of the Australian NACRA 17 to our club. Here is the link!:

Covid-Safe Sailing Reminder

Firstly, you must NOT come back if you feel unwell or experience any new symptoms, respiratory or other. Play it safe and stay home. When you do arrive, there will be a sign-in desk set up on the club veranda and everyone is expected to hand sanitize then sign in: skippers on the race sign-in forms and crew, officials and visitors on the contact register form. This is the only time you will be allowed onto the veranda. Only officials will be allowed into the clubhouse. Come dressed ready to sail and be able to change in the yard or your car, to minimize use of our change rooms. No items to be left in change rooms please. Bring your food and drinks and esky, if needed, as the clubhouse and kitchen are off limits. Although a major part of why we sail, socializing in person

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

must be kept safe. Sitting on the veranda after racing is considered too difficult a time to maintain social distance, so we have made the difficult decision to close it down. Chat with your friends in the yard but keep good social distance. We will have a Duty officer each week as usual, however their duties will be different now. The club and change rooms should be clean before they arrive, so the Duty Officer is not expected to do cleaning. And with no kitchen duties they should have a lot less to do.

Their first job will be to check or set up hand sanitiser in each of the change rooms, then set up a table on the verandah with hand sanitiser and two types of sign-in forms: the usual division based race sign-in forms and a general attendance register for everyone else. Skippers sign in on race sheet, while crew, officials and visitors sign the attendance register. It will be up to everyone to sign-in. The duty officer does not need to police it. The division based race forms will then be used for scoring, and when finished passed onto the handicapper who will enter all names into an electronic attendance register. Duty officer will likely be scoring races with an assistant, or helping on the rescue boat if required.

One of the most difficult things to do is to remember to keep your social distance when in a familiar setting with friends, yet this is what we must learn. To assist everyone in this, the other role of the duty officer will be to act as a Covid-Safe guide around the club and remind people to keep their distance when they need reminding. The committee will support them in this role. We have to assume that at some time during this pandemic an asymptomatic carrier of the disease will come to the club and we want everyone to stay safe if this occurs. If everyone is prepared to make some sacrifices in how we interact on our club site then we can continue to sail and stay safe.

More excellent social distancing modelling by members of the gennaker fleet

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

Briefings Process

As part of our Covid-safe plan there will be no briefings in the clubhouse. Instead, there will be a whiteboard displayed from the verandah at 12.30pm with the course and number of laps for each division.

You will need to download and print out the 6 standard courses from our website here www.rrsrc.com.au/documents and bring them all to race days. Look at the relevant one. There will also be the chosen course map on display downstairs on race day, and you can have them on your phone as well. There are 3 NE courses, a SE course as well as a W’erly and E’erly.

Division reps must inform the Vice Commodore or Commodore before 12.30pm if they want a different number of laps to the default shown on the Course map.

Further Announcements

1. If you still have a club trophy, please bring it back to the club so we can get it engraved.

2. Crewing. If you are crewing on a boat in club race then you need to be a member or use a sail pass. This is a requirement of the club and it also provides you with some personal accident insurance cover. If you obtain a stand-in crew then please ensure they register with Sail Pass. In future, boats with non-member crew without a Sail Pass for that day will not score points for that race. Sail Pass is free for three sessions and is accessed from our website at www.rrsrc.com.au/registration

3. If you come down to the club during the week, then please email Jonathan that you were in the club on [email protected]

4. If anyone knows of a sailor who would like to learn to be our starter/rescue boat operator then please ask them to talk to Phill by email or phone. We would prefer an experienced sailor, but primarily need an able-bodied person for this important role.

Phill

Reminder – Fees and AGM

You must have pre-paid your race fees to have your race counted as we are cash free.

Membership fees are due.

A Covid-safe AGM will be announced soon 20

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 (As worn by Secretary Nola and Commodore Phill – Cotton T-shirt - $17 reflective safety vest optional)

Crew Available/Crew Wanted

➢ John Willey has recently joined the club and is available for crewing. John has been racing all his life, most recently Etchells in Bris. Would be a good crew.

[email protected]

➢ Potential new member wants crewing position: Sam Edwards 0449140150

“I work as a teacher at Southern Cross School. I have experience sailing for a few years with my own small boat; Holfast trainer and a Moth, and spent a little bit of time on yachts. No racing experience. I’m a confident water person and easy to get along with. Cheers.”

➢ Crew available – Claire Rankin - capable of sailing a one-person catamaran, I also have much to learn from sailing with other people, especially those more experienced.

My details are - email: [email protected] phone: 0409159280

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

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

Where is Australia II now? Here is an article from Sail World Australia with a brief history of the lead up to her design, elements contributing to her success and what became of her after the America’s cup win of 1983. The article is from 2005 but still seems relevant. What a boat!

Upcoming Events/regattas Big River Sailing

With the easing of restrictions relating to inter-regional sporting events, the Big River Sailing Club advises that the regattas planned for Oct and Nov will proceed.

Single Handed Regatta 24/25 Oct 2020

Bridge to Breakers 21/22 Nov 2020

The regattas will be managed in accordance with the Club's Covid-19 Safety Plan. NOR and Sailing Instructions to be available soon. 22

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 - RS 100 No. 272 "Raw Speed"

RS 100's are an international high performance single-handed skiff with gennaker for exhilarating off-wind speed. One design rules ensure all boats are highly competitive. Carbon fibre mast and excellent sail controls allow for adaptation for a wide range of crew weights and conditions.

This boat will develop your skills and provide a challenging platform to enhance your individual sailing mastery. The single hander to own! New boats sell for $19,895. Special price -

Only $9000.

Lowest Price for one of the last two RS100’s for sale in Australia now. Excellent racing condition. 5th in Aust titles. Hull and fore deck refurbished for perfectly smooth hull. Comes with good quality 23

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

8.4 main and gennaker, mast cover, rudder cover, trolley, boat cover. Call Vincent on 02 6688 4480 or email [email protected]. I have 2 boats again and will be buying a brand new RS 100 to sail at the club next year..

Watch the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-9wfj9Zj68

Visit the Website: http://www.rs100sailingaustralia.net/

Test sail today! It’s fantastic fun. No crew. Give it a try!

For Sale - RS 100 No. 371 "Swing Shift"

One of the last two RS100’s for sale in Australia now. Excellent racing condition. 1st in Aust titles 2017. Excellent racing condition. Comes with 2 sets of sails - near new and also good quality 8.4 mains and gennakers, mast cover, rudder cover, trolley, boat cover.

Call Vincent on 02 6688 4480 or email [email protected]. I have 2 boats again and will be buying a brand new RS 100 to sail at the club next year..

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

Sail Repairs in Town

Sail repairs are available in Ballina now. The business is called Undercover Canvas. They have a new staff member that is experienced in sail repairs.

3/1 Endeavour close Ballina Ph 02 66865116

Until next week….