Corinthian 2019 BUILDING OUR SAILING FUTURE Royal Geelong Yacht Club Statement Of Purpose “To be one of Australia’s cornerstone yachting and boating clubs, hosting world class events and home to the nation’s best sailors.” Royal Warrant By Admiralty warrant of 27th March 1924, the privilege of wearing the Blue Ensign of Her Majesty’s Navy with the Club Pennant was extended to yachts of this club. PATRON: The Honorable Linda Dessau A.C., Governor of Victoria RGYC Board John Kint Stuart Dickson Brenton Carnell Roger Bennett Brian Marshman Commodore Vice Commodore Rear Commodore Club Captain Treasurer Christie Alberts Peter Alexander Phil Francis Simon Guthrie Chris Manton Paul Smart RGYC General ManageR EDITORS DISCLAIMER Phil Clohesy Chris Williams, Sarah Pettiford The information contained in this publication has been prepared to the best knowledge PHOTOGRAPHERS ADVERTISING of those who contributed. If an error has appeared, please contact the RGYC office Tom Smeaton, Denise Smeaton, Steb Fisher, Steve Hassell, Sarah Todd, Sarah Pettiford Craig Greenhill, Travis Harries, Adam Snow, so a correction can be made in subsequent Paul Douglas, RGYC Members & Staff PUBLISHER editions. The opinions expressed in Corinthian are not necessarily those of the Royal Geelong COVER IMAGE Royal Geelong Yacht Club Inc. Eastern Beach Yacht Club. All rights are reserved. No part of Road, Geelong this publication can be reproduced, in whole Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Precinct or in part, without the written permission of the Project CORINTHIAN 2018 CORRECTION publisher. Architect’s concept image The 2018 paper edition of Corinthian contained incorrect Alpha Division racing results. The error was corrected for the online edition. Royal Geelong Yacht Club Corinthian 2019 3 Commodore’s Report development of volunteering at RGYC. program, interclub racing and State and The Board has recently resolved to further National Championships. assist our volunteers through the purchase of The Fireball National Championship held four additional race support vessels and an in February this year was an outstanding upgrade of our racing and training equipment. success. Thank you to the many volunteers The further development of our volunteers’ who delivered these great championships – skills and the improved on-water support now for the Fireball Worlds in 2022! assets will be a lasting legacy from the World The 2019 Festival of Sails was a fantastic and National Championships that our club is about to host over the coming Summer of event, with plenty of feedback that it was one Sailing. of the best ever! Well done volunteers and staff – a magnificent effort. The RGYC Foundation continues its strong efforts in supporting the club’s future sailing The club power boat navigation rallies are set endeavours – thank you. to return this year. It is with pleasure that I provide my Commodore’s Report for 2018/19. GEELONG WATERFRONT SAFE WORLD, NATIONAL AND STATE In what has been an incredibly busy year, we HARBOUR PRECINCT (GWSHP) CHAMPIONSHIPS are well placed to bring our long-term plans to reality in the coming year. PROJECT In what will be the biggest year of significant regattas in the club’s history, our club will host Firstly, I thank all our members for your great Over the past twelve months we have the following events over the coming season: support and enthusiasm for our brilliant club. achieved much in this huge project. Stage 1 Your ideas, voluntary work and loyalty to our has commenced with the Minister for Planning • Springsail - State Dinghy Championships and club makes all the effort worthwhile. Thank providing Ministerial Approval for the entire Coaching Regatta: September 2019 you one and all. project. • Cadet National Championship: December We have secured a total of $19.35m in funding, 2019 / January 2020 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE made up of: • 2020 Festival of Sails: January 2020 As noted in the Treasurer’s Report and the • $7.85m – State Government of Victoria Audited Annual Financial Statements, the club • Oceania and Australian (Incorporating Sail • $5.5m – Australian Government remains in a very sound financial position. We Melbourne) 49er, 49er FX and Nacra 17 have once again delivered a very strong profit • $3.0m – City of Greater Geelong Championships: February 2020 and cash surplus, even after Government • $3.0m – Royal Geelong Yacht Club • 49er, 49er FX and Nacra 17 World grants are deducted. This is most pleasing and The On-Water Design and Construct tender Championships: February 2020 positions us well as we enter the construction has been let, with work currently underway for • Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong: March phase of our redevelopment. the manufacture of the floating marina berths, 2020 Our club is well supported by many local, wave attenuator floating pontoons and piles. national and international partners in our We expect to see construction of the on-water • Laser Masters National Championship: events. Their contributions are essential to assets over the coming months. March 2020 the continued growth and success of our In parallel, the design of the land-based • Laster Masters World Championship: March programs and I thank them for their support. component of Stage 1 of the project – the 2020 Maritime Education complex, comprising RGYC is grateful for the continued support As you can see, we are in for a busy and of the City of Greater Geelong and the the Off The Beach building and the Victorian exciting year ahead! There will be disruption Government of Victoria who have contributed Sailing School, is well underway. to our normal routines, and I encourage all so much to our major events and the Geelong We expect the demolition of the Marina Office members to embrace these exciting times and Waterfront Safe Harbour Precinct Project. and Victorian Sailing School in the next month get involved and enjoy. or so. I take this opportunity to thank our brilliant VOLUNTEERS At this time next year, we will see the wave Board – you have been visionary, professional, Probably the most pleasing aspect of our attenuator and floating berths in place and accountable and diligent. Your workload has work over the past twelve months has been the new OTB/VSS building will be nearing been huge and your unified support is well the focused effort in rewarding, recruiting and completion. Exciting times! training of our great band of volunteers. We recognised and acknowledged. have introduced a comprehensive series of CLUB SAILING PROGRAMS I thank retiring Board Members Brenton training modules across many elements of Our club sailing programs are once again very Carnell and Paul Smart OAM for their race management and race support for our well supported by skippers and crew. passionate and dedicated hard work. many on-water programs. The sailing programs and activities that have I thank all our members for your support of The Race Management Team Training Matrix been very well supported by our members the Board and your support for us to continue is an innovation that is attracting attention from include: keel boat racing (Summer and Winter), serving our members’ interests to our full many clubs throughout the Australian Sailing Off The Beach (Summer and Winter), cruising, capacity. What a year we have just had! What network. Women in Sailing, navigation rallies, Learn to a year we have in front of us! I offer my heartfelt thanks to our huge array Sail (Tackers, Green Fleet, Out There Sailing, of volunteers and I particularly thank the keel boat courses and dinghy courses), John Kint volunteers who work to support the growth and coaching programs, Barwon Sports Academy Commodore 4 Royal Geelong Yacht Club Corinthian 2019 Royal Geelong Yacht Club Corinthian 2019 5 General Manager’s Report Club Sailing Program to grow our band of trained volunteers, particularly from a race management Our many and varied programs operated perspective. The many training courses that very successfully under the guidance of our the club now provides for our volunteers are Sailing and Boating Committee and Sailing of the highest order. Office staff. The club recently introduced a volunteer The regular club sailing activities including management software system. Whilst it the Leura Park Summer Sailing Series, the may take some time to iron out some small Deakin University OTB Summer Program, wrinkles, this system will support the club’s VRCA Twilight Sailing Series, the Davidsons management and engagement of volunteers Winter Series, and the cruising activities for years to come. Over the past twelve months, our club has were extremely successful. Combined World, National and State focused on a number of key areas: with other club events including the Tuff Championships • The Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Marine Series, Gannett Cup, McAllister Precinct (GWSHP) Project Cup and the Commodore’s Winter Wonders The coming Summer will be one of the afternoon mini-series, we had more than most significant periods in the club’s history • Club Sailing, Coaching, Training and Learn sixty club races throughout the year. in terms of hosting and conducting major to Sail Programs regattas. The Off The Beach section including • Volunteers Cadets, Optis, Green Fleet, Lasers, Mixed A list of these events is provided elsewhere • Upcoming State, National and World Fleet, Barwon Sports Academy, Club in this edition of Corinthian and I thank all Championships Coaching Programs and regattas continued members for the support and assistance Importantly, the Board and staff maintained to be extremely active. The International required to conduct these regattas. focus on our financial performance and Cadet Worlds in Poland was a highlight for RGYC has an international reputation financial position. This effort has resulted in our young members who competed at such for our ability to attract and deliver world the outstanding financial results reported at a high level. standard events. We all face a significant this year’s Annual General Meeting.