1 Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association The Mainsheet Table of Contents Page Editorial 2 News from the Commodore 3 Profile of Doug Murchison 5 News from the Vice Commodore 12 Bay to Bay Race 2015 15 Techo Night Presentation 18 News from the Rear Commodore 23 News from the BEM Committee Working Bee February 2015 26 History of Club Renovation 27 August 2015 2 Editorial Welcome to RANSA’s newsletter, “The Mainsheet” which was named by our very own Vice Commodore, Dave Giddings. I believe he came up with this name after a brainstorming session with a few members one afternoon after a hard day’s sailing. Great name! In this edition, we have the latest news from the main Flag Officers and the Building & Maintenance Committee, attaching some interesting articles relating to each news section. All I can say is that there is something for everyone. In the next edition we will be introducing a Q&A section which will answer your technical questions about sailing, racing, boat repair and maintenance. So, email Janet all those questions that you have stewed over for ages and we’ll ask the RANSA experts to answer them. Now that’s a challenge! Let me know your views on the newsletter and what you would like to see in future editions. Please send your feedback to Janet at [email protected]. Now, get your favourite drink, sit back, relax, open “The Mainsheet” and enjoy. Anna Shepherd 3 News from the Commodore Dear Members We have so much news to share with you that space does not allow a lengthy report. Renovations: We are proceeding with the long overdue stage II of our renovations which were approved and commenced in 2011 with the galley, storage, start boat locker and other areas. The Rushcutter Room will be refurbished to a high and attractive standard for use as a multifunction venue. Conformably with our eco-friendly approach to our heritage tin shed, there will be no air conditioning, but we are looking at the best technology to allow the heat to escape from the west facing roof. We have obtained the necessary approvals, tendered the work and let the contract. You will see now that work has started and we plan for the work to be completed before the Trafalgar Day Celebrations on Saturday 17th October. Legacy Marina (LMC): The LMC continues to suffer inconvenience and damage from especially heavy yachts being left by owners unattended. Please remember to seek permission from a LMC Director if, for good reason, a yacht is to be left alongside. LMC is a joint venture with Sailability, and RANSA does not have control. LMC may issue invoices for unauthorised berthing, or have yachts towed away by RMS. I suggest you contact the Secretary initially, who can put you through to the relevant person at LMC. Risk Warning: It is timely to remind members to read the risk warning notices on the premises, and to remind crew and extras of the provisions of the Civil Liability Act, and ensure that your insurance is current. Security: We have had a recent incident where an Aquapro inflatable dinghy was removed in the early hours (0320) on Wednesday 24th June. Police are still on the hunt for the two offenders who were plainly captured on our remote recording video system. This has IR cameras which see in the dark, the recordings go back to a base, and are then passed on to Police. New Smoke-Free Regulations: All outdoor dining areas, and within 4 metres of a pedestrian access point, have become smoke-free from 6th July 2015 under new Regulations (see RANSA website for more details). That unfortunately has required more signage which we hope to keep unobtrusive but compliant with the requirements for such signage. This will be policed by NSW Health Inspectors. 4 Dinghy Etiquette: Notices about the use of RANSA dinghies are in place. Please read them. We are always looking for volunteers for the Dinghy maintenance sub- committee. Website: We have a number of members on whose membership application forms state their occupation as "IT". We are looking at the possibility of an assistant to our Webmaster, Prof Cyril Latimer, to further develop our website. Venue Hire: Our facilities are available for all types of functions on non-sailing days or evenings. We have a unique and beautiful waterfront venue for all celebrations, functions and corporate events. Closing time is strictly 2300 at which time guests are requested to respect our neighbours, and move away quietly (see RANSA website for more details). New Members: We are delighted to be able to welcome 68 new members this year which is probably a record, and bodes well for the future. We will do this formally at our Drop in for a Drink session for 2015, Friday 25th September. Many of these new members are younger than the average age. I would ask the senior members to mentor the younger members and “show them the ropes” in the best traditions of our organisation. Fees: RANSA has increased most of our fees in line with CPI rounded a bit to keep pace with our ever-increasing costs. We are looking at ways of increasing our efficiency and the solar panels on the roof are paying their way. Rent, which is one of our largest expenses, increases every year. Increased venue hire will help defray our costs by using our otherwise underutilised assets. Yachting NSW (YNSW) has reformulated its charges and adopted a banding system. RANSA is in band 5 and is charged $22,500 per annum, payable in one tranche. That cost has to be passed on to members and equates to about $50 per member per annum. YNSW also charges us for maintenance of harbour marks. Outstanding RANSA Member: RANSA is a volunteer organisation, apart from Janet Doyle, who is part-time Assistant Secretary and Principal Race Officer. We exist, and keep our wonderful ambiance, because of the volunteers who willingly give up their time and apply their skills to make RANSA what it is, for the enjoyment of others. I would like to introduce to you in the next article Doug Murchison, a former Rear Commodore, chair of the BEM, and a tireless worker in the interests of RANSA. Sponsors: I would like to take this opportunity of thanking our sponsors who support our functions and sailing events – they all give generously to RANSA and contribute to the special spirit and camaraderie for which RANSA is renowned. Please support our sponsors. Keep flying the Flag and Burgee. Adrian Gruzman Commodore 5 ATTACHMENT ARTICLE - RANSA’s “Known and Notable” Profile of Doug Murchison – RANSA Life Member Doug is a strong advocate for volunteer organisations where volunteers have the ability to unlock the potential of a host of services to the community. Doug’s hope for the future is to see more involvement by volunteers in their community organisations, in particular RANSA. Here is a brief overview of Doug’s background in sailing, his involvement with RANSA and some personal insights. He is a treasured member of the RANSA community and I’m sure you will find his story very interesting. HISTORY OF DOUG’S SAILING AND RANSA ACTIVITIES Doug started sailing and racing as an 8 year old with his older brother Ian (10 years old) on a Manly Junior boat called “Saltcoat”, 8 feet 6 inches, 3 sails including spinnaker. At that time, he was a member of Woollahra Sailing Club. As a 13 year old, Doug began working on the rescue boats at Woollahra Sailing Club until he was 17 years old. He obtained his boat licence at 15 years of age which he has held it since. Doug also sailed a Moth for 1 year, a 12 foot Cherub with his younger brother James for 1 year and then took to yacht racing in the short off-shore ocean races and around the buoys on Sydney Harbour on board “Seonna” owned by Harry Long, “Calypso” then owned by Ross Butler and “Sayonara” owned by Dr Jim Molesworth. In the late 1970s, Doug tried out for Olympic Selection in the B Class Tornado Catamaran class with Scott Anderson as helmsman, held at Moreton Bay, Queensland. Doug suffered an injury to his thigh, which affected his performance and consequently he was not selected. Scott and his new sailing partner went on to win a bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics. Doug and his younger brother bought a yacht, in partnership, named “Maroota Too”, a Hutton 24 named after their last joint venture in the Cherubs. Following the purchase of “Maroota Too”, Doug’s father, a Major General in the Australian Military and a member of RANSA, introduced him to RANSA. Doug became a member of RANSA in 1978, being one of the first Local Members. Doug saw that RANSA’s slipway needed immediate attention as it was incapable of operating safely. With the help of other members, he repaired and replaced the faulty parts, enabling him and other members to use the on-site slipway for their yachts’ 6 maintenance. This was the first of numerous times that Doug was instrumental in the refurbishment of the RANSA slipway over the past 35 years. RANSA recognised Doug’s actions by inviting him to become a member of RANSA for “services beyond the call of duty”. He has since been the recipient of the Captain R. J. Scrivener Trophy twice as the RANSA Member who provides “invaluable service to the Club”. Doug has been racing from RANSA since 1978. He has also raced with CYCA, RPEYC, RSYS, RPAYC, DBSC and Gosford Sailing Club.