RYCV YEARBOOK 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 ROYAL YACHT CLUB OF VICTORIA YEARBOOK 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 CONTENTS 0 3 FROM THE PAST COMMODORE 0 7 FROM THE PAST REAR COMMODORE 1 1 OTB NEWS 1 5 2 0 2 0 MUSTO OPTIMIST AUSTRALIAN AND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2 0 LAURA GLORIA TROPHY 2 2 LIPTON CUP REGATTA 2 5 LAUNCESTON TO HOBART AND ROUND THE BOTTOM 3 4 MARTHA COVE WEEKEND 3 6 CLASSIC CUP REGATTA 3 9 LOUIS SCHOFIELD - SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE 2 0 1 9 4 1 SAFETY DEMONSTRATION DAY 4 2 THE LOVE OF MEARSUREMENT NO HANDICAP FOR JOHN DUFFIN 4 5 ROYALS TIMELINE HISTORY WALL 5 2 YEAR IN REVIEW 7 3 THE CLUB AND COVID - 1 9 7 6 INAUGURAL MELBOURNE TO HOBART YACHT RACE 1 9 7 2 RYCV YEARBOOK 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 FROM THE COMMODORE JOHN DUFFIN Coming to the end of my term as Commodore, it has again been an interesting and challenging time. The first 18 months saw continued successes on the water culminating in the 2020 Musto Optimist Australian & Open Championship, continuing improvement to the Club’s Member facilities and a buoyant Club membership. From this good trajectory we then had to weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic. This imposed restrictions beyond our control and has dictated a tremendous change to our operations. Initially this was the termination of our racing programme and most social events, but has now progressed to a total close down of all activity both on and off the water. However, we have used this time to improve the facilities at your Club. Under the guidance of our General Manager Michael Neumann, we have completed major improvements to the old railed yard, removing most of the rails and upgrading the surface with new concrete. This major task has been completed by volunteer Club Members, led by Steve Standen. We now have a large accessible and useable area to the west of the Clubhouse. Doug Hem has demonstrated his boat finishing skills PAGE 0 3 RYCV YEARBOOK 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 to strip back and revarnish the bar and Melissa Wisbey (Membership and foyer bench tops to a finish that is as Sailing Administrator), Camilla Bett good or better than the original. Ryan (Marketing and Communications) and Blackstock and his yard staff have lifted Allicia Rae (Sailing and Club the floating pontoons under the Development Lead). The Yard operations western hardstand crane for are under the able leadership of Ryan refurbishment and, with all sail training Blackstock (Waterfront Manager) being cancelled, Ian Fox has inspected assisted by Luke Poperinskas. Ian Fox and replaced faulty mooring lines (Training Manager) has continued to run throughout the marina. Your our very successful Sail Training Committees have been learning new Programme and our on water racing was skills to run meetings on Zoom; this was again well run by David LeRoy (Race demonstrated when we run our AGM on Manager). Michael now leads a well co- Zoom. ordinated team managing our day to day operations. On the financial side, I am pleased to report that in the past 12 months we We hosted the 2020 Musto Optimist have made good progress towards Australian & Open Championship in improving our financial position. We January this year. This was a major event have been able to reduce our overdraft for the Club with an entry of 230 from $554,999.95 to $397,499.95. This dinghies from several countries. With has been a very good result on the part the 230 competitors plus coaches and of our financial team of Treasurer family, the Club was a very busy place. Warwick Norman and General Manager It was a major exercise to organise the Michael Neumann. Prompt actions measuring and storage of boats and have resulted in favourable outcomes containers with only 6 months with Parks Victoria and the Jobkeeper preparation time. It was well planned programme. out by Allicia Rae and ran seamlessly. International entries arrived in shipping We have been able to pass some savings containers that had to be unpacked and on to Members with reduced stored which meant the yard and membership fees however, with the hardstand needed to be cleared of current restrictions in place, we have to keelboats to make space. ask Members to continue to be patient Racing started on time, but the regatta and support our Club with continued coincided with serious bushfires north of membership until we can return to full Melbourne. This presented a new and operations. challenging dimension to the regatta. Not only did our Race Director David Our operations continue to be ably led LeRoy have to check wind conditions by Michael Neumann. He is well each day, but also reports on smoke. The supported in the office by Gary smoke not only reduced visibility but Cockinaras (Finance), Jennifer Russ (HR posed a health risk to competitors, race and Finance Administration), officials and volunteers. PAGE 0 4 RYCV YEARBOOK 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 Reduced visibility made it difficult for This will be put in place on the Club’s the race management team to monitor re-opening after our current COVID-19 the race fleet. Great care was taken restrictions have been eased. We shepherding competitors across the welcome Pete Evans who will be shipping channel before and after races, managing this new operation. but the reduced visibility made it difficult to see the whole fleet all the Our membership continues to grow time. Some races were cancelled since last year’s AGM after the changes because of smoke on medical advice. to the Rules, and we have recorded an Despite these challenges, the event increase of just over 16%. proved to be an enormous success both on and off the water. Our floating marina development has been put on hold. The financial risk of This regatta again demonstrated the proceeding was considered too great, tremendous support provided by our particularly because it would require the volunteers, with over 60 volunteers building of suitable wave and surge every day. Not only this event but most protection to the north. The cost of this of our Club on water activities would wave wall imposed a substantial not be possible without them. We also premium to the project construction provided support to the ships visiting cost. Williamstown in February and March. So again a big thank you to all our In recent years we have noticed a volunteers. significant increase in ferry and shipping traffic causing surge issues to all marinas In late February/early March, the in Hobsons Bay, and particularly Royals. inaugural Williamstown Seaport Festival The State Government has recognised was held. This was a very busy event for this issue and tasked Parks Victoria with Royals with our Club being open to the investigating the problem. Parks have public on their way to visit the Tall Ships engaged a consultant to study this at Workshops Pier. Many Club Members problem and recommend a solution took the opportunity to sail on the 70m that protects all waterfront stakeholders historic Barque James Craig, although in Hobsons Bay. This report and our Club booked sailing day had to be recommendations were due to be cancelled because of COVID-19. delivered in late 2020, however this has now been delayed because of reduced Your Club has decided to return to traffic caused by the COVID-19 running its own food and beverage pandemic. The Club will reconsider its operation. Pier 41 provided good service position in relation to the floating over the past few years, but we have marina when the outcomes of this study decided with our new management are known. structure to return to running our bar and restaurant with our own staff. PAGE 0 5 RYCV YEARBOOK 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 We have been able to fill these Sailing at the Cub has been well vacancies with Tim Olding taking up attended and it was great to have Tony’s chairperson position, Ian Barclay Vicsail Melbourne-Geelong come on chairing House and Social Committee board as a sponsor of the Wednesday and Andrew King taking on an ordinary twilights. Our offshore sailors were again position. These three members active in major ocean races. Bruce are well placed to assist the Club with Taylor in and Matt Fahey in Chutzpah long term succession planning for entered the Sydney Faster Forward stability on the General Committee. Hobart with Bruce gaining a fourth in Division 3. On the local scene, we had a As so well demonstrated during the number of boats participating in ORCV Optimist Championships, our volunteers Races to Tasmania. , Saltair, Soiree Bleu are always there to support our Club. My and entered the Westcoaster to Alien sincere thanks to all our volunteers. Hobart, and Afrayed Knot raced to Devonport. In my two years as Commodore and the years preceding it as a Flag Officer, I The COVID-19 restrictions have required have appreciated the great support from us to cancel a number of functions the Members of the Club and a strong spirit Club would normally hold during the of cooperation and commitment to the winter months, including Presentation Club. It has made my period as Night. The awarding of trophies Commodore rewarding and enjoyable. I required some rethinking on the part of have had the privilege of working with the Sailing Committee as most racing some great people, some of whom are after Christmas was postponed.