Hi Everyone , Finally the heat of Summer is starting to abate making everyone,s sailing experience just that bit more comfortable especially for our open race fleet who have had the worst of the heat racing at 1.30 in the afternoon when its at its hottest .
8.30 Sunday Juniors ;
With the weather settling down and the predominately northerly winds predominate its perfect weather for our early learners to not only learn how to run their sail but it also gives them the opportunity to have a go at steering . With over half this present fleet girls its enchouraging to see them all step up to the challenge of steering with juniors like Addison really striving ahead in search of her dream of joining the racing group and to me she is just about there. There were the usual capsizes mostly on purpose just to cool down and have some fun !
10.30 Sunday Juniors ;
With the winds now settling in from the e/n/e at around 6/8 knots this group had perfect conditions for their practice racing and even though most everyone looked totally confused after Andrews and Mike,s briefing the still were keen to get out there and race each other . I had a pre race chat with a couple of sailors who I noticed the week before really struggling with the upwind which from what I could see really helped with Cody , Declan and Alec going very well but no one could catch Jonah who looks to be really enjoying the competition . 
Open Racing ;
With the winds building from the e/n/e up around 10/12 knots it was perfect for racing and with Mike and Peter handling the start it was a very intense start line especially after Tom did his usual and went early which created a bit of confusion for everyone when the start crew hit the hooter to call him back . John Townley who hasnt sailed in ages just took off and wasnt headed even though everyone tried their hardest including Tom who even though he started virtually last ( fleet of 16 boats ) and finished third couldnt pull him in . In the 4.7 fleet things are hotting up with Dallas coming to grips with not only his boat but also a new sail and also Pat who got a new sail also , I think with a little bit more tuning the will be right there with Casey . Even our new guy Ryan sailed much better and now that Sienna has a good working outhaul she looked more comfortable on the upwinds . The 4.7 fleet size is now 6 with Charlie and Dan rounding out the group it certainly looks good for the growth of the 4.7 fleet .
Volunteers ; Thanks again to everyone who helps every weekend without you people the club wouldnt be as successful at it is but we are still looking for more people to help so if you would like to become involved just give us a call , dont forget you will need a blue card !
Upcoming Events ;
Bendigo Bank Mid Winter Cup will again be on at the end of June with Laser 4.7 , Open Bic , Opti and Sabots being invited to come along and sail in this annual event which takes place before Youth week at Manly .

CU all on te water
​John Murphy

Hi Everyone , With another week of ever increasing heat it peaked over the weekend but luckily at least we had a sea breeze just to take the edge off . Our treasurer Andrew who lives on acerage west of here posted that it reached 44 degrees out there now thats hot !
We new that a lot of sailors would stay away because of the predicted heat and with the temperature already 28.5 at seven am it was certainly uncomfortable early.
8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
Wit high temperatures predicted we still managed to have 15 junior sailors sign on for the early class . Despite the heat conditions were perfect with the breeze predominately north at around 4/6 knots which is perfect fro beginners to learn their basic sailing skills . Abbey Roake ( with helmet !) sailed well with her new sailors as crew as did Addison who skippered a Tera for most of the session . Addy is already asking when she can start 10.30 racing ! Yes you guessed there was a lot of capsizing especially toward the end even Casey got her hair wet . 
10.30 Sunday Junior Training;
With the temperature now in the 30,s our usual numbers were down to nine keen sailors wanting to race train and practice . Andrew set a triangle with starboard rounds which caught everyone out at first as the upwind was difficult to make but after some frustration and a lot of on water coaching everyone managed to make it around the race course . Generally everyone wilted as the morning went on and eventually nearly everyone pulled out and went in to get in the shade . I did manage to spend some time with Declan and showed him the best way to get to the difficult mark and once he had a couple of goes with me away he went on his own .
Open Racing ;
Open racing is back next weekend ( 19/2/2017 ) and the first club championship race is on the 26/2/2017 . I think we are in for a good year of racing if the pre season series is any indication with noticeable improvements in everyone,s sailing skills from the beginning of last year , even the youth sailors are getting really fired up with Dallas getting his own Laser and Pat getting a brand new 4.7 sail .
Regatta,s ;
We are again looking at a mid winter cup for Juniors in Open bic , laser 4.7 , Opti , Sabot and Tera which will be discussed at the next committee meeting .
Volunteers ;
Thanks again to our hardy bunch of volunteers starting with Kerry who worked in the heat in the canteen then Kyle and Andrew plus the dedicated parents then our core group of Youth Instructors Pat , Casey and Dallas and our soon to be qualified instructor Charlie who turn up early and are the are the last to leave 

Hi Everyone , Another fantastic weekend of sailing weather with e to n/e winds up to 16 knots and blue skies plus a few dolphins and the occasional turtle popping their heads up  .
Sunday Juniors 8.30 am ;
With as I said blue skies and winds light from the n/e and around 15 budding sailors and a couple of newbies everyone had their boats rigged and ready by 8.45 am so it was off to the class room for a briefing and a few questions about what to expect on the water . By 9.00 everyone was out there in a combination of Tera,s Bics , Taz and lasers with everyone really enjoying the reaching conditions . Kyle actually put a third buoy out for a triangle which everyone managed to get around  even if there were a few capsizes at the gybe ! at least everyone got a chance to cool down .
Sunday Juniors and Racing 10.30 am ;
With the winds settling in to the N/E around 8 knots it was perfect for Andrew to set his race course starting at the club pontoon and setting off around a triangle and finishing back at the pontoon . Alex and Jonah had a great contest in the Bics with Jonah coming out on top but I reckon that Alex with a bit more practice will be looking back not forward . Everyone in general sailed well with also some good racing between Cody Declan and Brendan who were really getting into it . Brendan came out the overall winner probably because he was running a full rig sail but the others werent that far behind him . Overall it looks like this new learn to race format is going to be a winner .
Open Racing ;
With the winds increasing to around 16 knots from the n/e I sent Ted and Peter off to set a course that would take everyone up the Ephriam side plus in our channel , the boys got a bit exuberant and not only set the start line down near Runners but the put the top mark right up towards the top of Soverign which even I couldnt see in the rescue boat at first , once I spotted it I set off up the  track so that Greg and Tom who were in the lead could see where it was ! and the rest of the 15 boat fleet could follow . We did loose two sailors early both with rig problems but everyone else completed the course . The leaders were Greg , Tom Steve , Russel and Casey who all sailed extremely well and we wont mention Dallas,s start stuff up as promised .
Upcoming Events 
With no racing this weekend as its a lay day weekend the Club Racing Series starts on Sunday the 19th of Feb with the first Club Championship Race taking place on Sunday the 26th of Feb .
Volunteers 
We are still looking for volunteers for our canteen so if you can spare a bit of time while your kids are sailing let the girls know in the canteen and they can show you how it happens . We are also looking for a start boat volunteer who doesnt mind spending the afternoon watch everyone race .

CU ON the water
John Murphy

Hi Everyone , We missed a news letter last weekend mainly because of Australia day on the Thursday so we better catch up with the news this week .
8.30 Sunday Juniors ; Wit perfect summer weather but very little wind early it was a very slow start to the session with the boats barely moving so we decided some early capsize practice was in order . There were a few who seemed to hesitate a bit but with Mikes help everyone was soon wet and cooled down . Finally the wind came in from the s/e around 3/5 knots and everyone just sailed around the marks perfectly , even Ava was out there in a Tera on her own cruising around the reaching course . Thanks to Casey and Pat for taking a few newbies out and showing them how it all happens .
10.30 Sunday Juniors ; With this class now split into two sections there were only a couple of sailors out there practicing their tacking and gybing while the bulk of the group were having their first go at racing . The winds for both sections was still light from the s/e but still good enough for the learners to cruise around the course .
Sunday 10.30 racing ; As this was the first day of this new format there was a bit of rushing involved with both people turning up late and boats missing parts ? so while Andrew , Kyle and Mike had a briefing and got everyone on the water I ran around on shore hurrying people up and fixing boats but finally we got everyone out there and racing . It was a triangle course just south of the club and at first everyone had some trouble getting around it but slowly but surely most everyone managed to navigate around the course and finish races , well done to everyone who had a go !
Open Racing ; With the winds finally building from the e/s/e at around 6/8 knots and a fleet of 15 boats it was a perfect day for racing . The first start was a bit of a shambles with at least 5 boats over at the start so a general recall was called ( everyone forgot the outgoing tide ) So with a clean restart they were all off sailing into both increasing winds and a more easterly breeze . Up the front Tom Peter and Greg were having a great battle until the long reaching section where peters new mark 2 full rig sail just powered him away leaving Tom and Greg to battle for second and third with Steve holding fourth . We had a couple of new laser sailors who battled it out with Maurie Mike Simone Pat Casey and a new boy Ryan all in all it was great racing with some very quick reaches over the ephriam side making for an exciting race .
Updates ; The club now has a new caretaker couple in Geoff and Wendy and we look forward to them settling to their new home and becoming part of the family.
Who forgot to duck in the 10.30 class last Sunday and ended up with a very red ear ?