LEARNING TO SAIL

THE PACERS HAVE ARRIVED

The Midway Point Yacht Club has always been a credit to the local community with its contributon to junior sports—. The club was fortunate enough to receive a grant from the State Government to purchase new boats essentally for training, being the Pacer class sailing . The Pacer was designed in the United Kingdom by Jack Holt, which was commissioned by Pufn Paints and Glues to be designed as yacht for the use of families. The Pacer is a 3.8 metre, one design family dinghy, complete with spinnaker. The Pacer is the ideal performance family yacht, it has a lightweight hull capable of planning speeds, but safe and stable. It allows this performance to be had by parent and child. It has since become a popular learning and racing dinghy in Australia, Canada

TOP : The Pacers just arrived still bubble-wrapped. LEFT: Rigging the Pacers alongside the Bics

16 The club ofers sail training for all ages tll 16:00pm including Sail Training in the club’s own boats, the Bic Open, Introducton sail from 13:00 untl , and our brand new 16:00 to give trainees an experience Pacers and is supervised in various classes. by accredited training ofcers. Training starts on Sunday TBC from Our training sessions kicked of with 9:30 am to 11:00am and runs weekly Sail Training Introducton at the club through untl December. on Sunday 23/9/2018 from 12:00am and the UK. The club ordered three Pacers direct from the builders last July once the grant was confrmed. But unfortunately the boats did not arrive untl December afer the training had fnished, though it was a litle like receiving a Christmas present. They were bubble- wrapped, smelling new and was very excitng unwrapping them. They were used on occasions for the morning races alongside the Bics. Next season we will heavily promote the training in schools and hopefully have a good crop of trainees to use the Pacers and Bics.

ABOVE LEFT: The first Pacer goes through the trials ABOVE RIGHT: Introducing the adult trainees to the Pacers. RIGHT: The sailors of the future inspect the Bics

17 THE SOCIAL PAGE

ENVIABLE REPUTATION

Almost anyone who is a member or Bev Mitchell who has been the driving visits the Midway Point Yacht Club to force for the canteen and for the social atend a regata, a social functon or functons that the club has hosted over fund raising event will testfy just how the last few years. Bev’s High Teas and friendly and family orientated our club the Melbourne Cup functons were very is. We as a club endeavour to make successful and the food, as is the norm, everyone feel welcome and we have an was amazing, even catering to those enviable reputaton among other clubs with food allergies. for putng on some impressive social events, whether they be a simple HIGH TEA barbeque or a big anniversary bash. The Midway Point Yacht Club invited Over the last twelve months or so, the members, friends and families to a High club has hosted some very successful Tea for both ladies and gentlemen social functons and it should be which created quite a few atending. A acknowledged that with the fashion parade was included which was improvements that have been made to presented by Style High who specialise the club house, partcularly the kitchen in sourcing unique, quality brands and or canteen and the installaton of the ofer limited ranges in a wonderful glass doors onto the deck area that this collecton of shoes, fashion and has made it that much easier and nicer accessories. from a presentaton point of view. There was be a barbeque for those who The club’s canteen volunteers have a stayed longer. fantastc reputaton for providing MELBOURNE CUP amazing and varied catering for our ‘in club’ fundraising functons. Everyone enjoyed a luncheon with A huge thank you should be given to friends and family in a relaxed

18 environment—untl the race. There was a prize for the best dressed, and most decoratve hat which certainly showed a lot of creatve thought. Flemington had nothing to match. There was also a Lucky Door prize and a quiz to fnd the amount of knowledge the club can handle. It was generally a great day for everyone. It is without these people their assistance hard to have a Melbourne Cup without and contributons, the events and a wine or two. functons would not be the success Acknowledgment should be given to they are. the amazing volunteers in the canteen Those volunteers include Byron behind the bar and the club members Johnson, Mick Emery, Lynn and Chris who regularly contribute by bringing a Keil, Marlene Daley, Helen Eggins, plate of food to our functons, as Carol Augostn and, of course, Bev Mitchell. There are many others who also give up their tme to the club to allow these functons to be as successful they are, and for sailing each weekend during the sailing season to contnue. A huge thank you to you all. Marlene Daley

LEFT PAGE: The High Tea cuisine and wares TOP LEFT : Byron Johnson , the well-known barman . TOP RIGHT: Bev Mitchell, co-ordinator. CENTRE LEFT: Marlene Daley cutting the cake at the High Tea. LEFT: Darren Eggins dressed as Santa Claus for the children. BELOW: Getting a barbeque underway.

19 THE BOATS

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