Hi Everyone , after a good weekend weather wise old mother nature has brought back those wild S/S/E winds and squally rain that has caused a bit of havoc to our sailing opportunities . With wind gusts in excess of 35 knots at the seaway the Broadwater has been very rough with large waves and driving on shore winds , it was so rough that public nuisance started to drag its anchor at the jetty and I can tell you it was wet windy and slippery climbing on board to reset her.
 


​8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With a much cooler day forecast it shaped up as a more pleasant start to the day with light winds from the s/s/e. Andrew set a good reaching course and with the tide still coming in it was perfect for our learners to hit the water . Things did start a bit hectic with some of our new steerers doing the old round and round in circles thing while a few others thought the would have a look under the bridge . Tianna grabbed a couple of new sailors and worked on their steering while we ran around pushing capsized boat s whose masts were stuck in the mud back wards out of the mud . Casey took a group on the laser and charlie worked with his name sake Charlie in the bic but it was a bit windy for her so we ended up chucking her on with Casey . Edwina also had to jump on a boat and help a fellow sailor who was struggling with the course so yes you could say everyone had a busy start to the day .

10.30am Sunday Juniors ;
With a good group again signing on for this advanced class and the wind settling in at around 10 knots gusting 14  it was always going to be interesting on the water as the conditions were starting to get a bit choppy with the outgoing tide but everyone sailed well even if there was the odd swim . Kaleb seems to have found his spot in lasers with a good effort even if his tacks were a bit dodgy and Eddy with her dogged determination including a couple of swims in the laser as well continues to impress . Addy again showed her style even if there was a couple of capsizes but apparently they were Tiannas fault because she told her to gybe . Sam had some trouble tacking but still sailed well but occasionally didn't listen but we think  it was because we were calling him Kyle ?? which again I blame Tianna for because she agreed with me when I accidentally called him Kyle??
We also at the briefing mentioned the mid winter cup at the end of june which everyone seemed keen to put their name down for especially the green fleet section .

1.30 pm Open Race ;
With the winds settling e/s/e at around 15/17 knots and the tide really starting to run out I decided to set a start just south of the club with a mid rounding buoy and a top buoy down at runners creating a good upwind and broad reach return . Ben nearly stole the start coming in on port but was 2 seconds too early so he had to come back if not he would have creamed it perfectly . It was a great race all round with plenty of action from the 4.7s , Radials and Full rigs . Tom broke away early with Greg in pursuit James just couldnt take a trick with several capsizes until I gave him a tip about more vang downwind , Steve decided to slow his boom in the gybe with his head it worked but the bump was substancial . Casey and Charlie had a real battle with Toms daughter Tara in the 4.7s with Tara managing to break away with Casey having a capsize and Charlie needing to work on his gybes ? and by the way Tara is a coach at RQ so she should have won and she was in my boat !
Tom was first Greg second Tara third Casey fourth then Steve Charlie Simone Roger Ben and James.

After racing a few sailors sailed down to the seaway and a couple of us went down in sarah cooper to check out the foiling Trimarans which once the finally started was pretty spectacular even if the course was a bit short .

​Training ;
Another of our young sailors was up at Manly over the weekend working on his assistant Instructors certificate which I believe he passed with flying colours so well done Brendan I wonder who will be next ?

Volunteers :
With another adult signing up this week to help at the club we still need help especially on the water and canteen so have a chat with us and see where you might be able to help your club .

CU on the water
John Murphy

Hi everyone , yes I am a day late with the newsletter this week but I blame the heat as it just got too hot yesterday to be in the office so I decided to try this morning while its just under 30 degrees !

8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With the sun beating down and the winds light and variable it was always going to be a busy morning and as predicted it did not disappoint with again nearly thirty budding junior sailors signing on for this session .

With 5 tera's two lasers and the Taz rigged by the juniors with help from the instructors and kids wanting to be tested for their next level it took us until just after 9.00 am before we could have a briefing and hit the beautifully cool water . Andrew set a reaching course from the club down towards the canal and away everyone went . Jack and Dean sailed on the Taz which had a bit of trouble with the sand banks as did a few others and with both rescue boats busy guiding and towing people back that had drifted south with the current it turned into a busy morning . We had a couple of junior windsurfer kids come and try out as well and they did very well steering the lasers even if they did have some help from our on board instructors . Of course it was inevitable that there was the odd capsize , falling out of boats and water splashing towards the end but hey it was hot right !

10..30 AM Junior Training ;
With the wind settling in from the n/e east at around 4/6 knots we set the group off on a downwind and easy windward return but once everyone got settled in we increased the course and set a more difficult upwind starting down at the second green . Generally everyone went well with Ollie , Aidan Addy and Eddy really nailing the upwind . Eddy had her first go in the 4.7 and really nailed it and she looked really comfortable in the bigger boat even if she did sit too far down the back occassionally . By far the best especially on the upwind was Ollie whose sailing in recent times has really improved , must be all that hiking out and reading the sail . Mason had his first go at a open bic and as per the normal introduction to bic,s he did a lot of swimming so his capsize drill is really good now all we have to teach him is how to stay in the boat !

1.30 pm Open Race ;
​ With a couple of the guys away at the laser masters we still managed a fleet of ten boats on the water in what started out as light conditions at around 4/6 knots and a bit flukey . We set a course starting down just north of runners with mark A set out towards Straddie because of the e/n/e wind . We didn't set a very long course because of the tide and light wind so you guessed it no sooner had we started everyone that the wind filled in to around 10 knots and very solid . It was a great race for Steve Russell Casey Charlie Roger Torin Ryan and Brendan with some really close racing throughout what turned out to be a really close race up front with Steve just beating Casey ( sailing a radial ) over the line and Russell third . Even Charlie had a go at a radial and when he learns to pull the vang and downhaul on who knows he might go even faster right Charlie ? Torin sailed much better as well as he gets used to our racing format and it was nice to see Ryan back after his school holiday break .

​Visitor ;
We had Tianna at the club on Sunday and it was great to see her back doing what she has always loved teaching kids sailing , she is back next Sunday as well then she is off to uni in Melbourne again .

Volunteers ; If you think you can spare some time on weekends we are always looking for help with both on water and on land volunteers , we especially need people to help with racing in the afternoons as start boat crew and in the mornings for our canteen which financially supports our club in all its activities . If you are interested just have a talk with us !

Bendigo Bank Youth Cup 2018 ; Yes its on again and its set for the 30th of June and 1st of July weekend , This event always attracts a good crowd of Young Sailors and we are hoping to have a big group of both 4.7 sailors and Open Bic sailors from our club competing .

CU on the water
​John Murphy

Hi Everyone , Well as you all know all Juniors were cancelled last Sunday due to mother nature deciding to bucket down rain first then bring the wind in from the South at anywhere from 10 to 20 knots but mostly 20k . I must admit I hate cancelling sailing as its always great watching everyone out there have fun and learning but safety always comes first and Sunday was just not safe to send the kids out .




​Two of our adult sailors went out and even they had to be rescued by Andrew and Ben after being caught in a rain squall and getting blown towards the bridge and Ephriam rocks .

Lets hope next weekend is better .

1.30 pm Open Race ;
Although we cancelled all juniors we did after consultation with the open class sailors and checking the wind speeds at between 16 and 20 knots we decided to set up a basic windward leeward course just in case it blew harder once the race had started . Eight boats lined up for the start and with the winds touching 20 knots it was a fast start with everyone getting over the line safely and heading for the top mark but the conditions getting worse causing a few sailors to drop out ( Ben exhausted from capsize , Simone old shoulder injury , Steve water in hull and Roger just not heavy enough ) but Casey Greg Tom and Peter battled on with Casey ending up in the lead at one stage because the rest went the wrong way and was she smiling although they did catch her except Tom who had a big swim but only just . Greg sailed well coming in first but so did the rest in conditions reaching 25/28 knots and waves up to a metre making life difficult for everyone even the safety boat as even we were drenched after copping large waves over the bow which reached into the steering station .

All in all an exciting race and thanks to Brendan for giving me and Charlie a hand with both the racing and occasional rescue .

Oops almost forgot that Charlie had his first go in a radial sailing bens boat back to the club in 20plus knots and I can honestly say that I have never seen his eyes bulge so much as when he did a bearaway and just took off ! I told him radials are fast !

Footnote ; Always ring the club ( 55774855 ) on Sundays from 6.30 am if you are not sure Juniors is on and check Facebook or our website for updates .

CU on the water
John Murphy

Hi Everyone , There goes the first month of 2018 and lets hope the rest of the year has as much good sailing and many favorable days of sailing weather . With cyclone season upon us we should generally look to the north for those intense lows which can be the pre cursor to cyclones .

8.30am Sunday Juniors :
Again as the team and I set up for Sunday morning we as usual discussed the possible numbers and the general thought was that our numbers would be down as school had restarted and like previous Sundays we were totally wrong with over twenty junior sailors signing on for the session so it was a mad rush to rig enough boats so that we could get everyone on the water . We got all the boats on the beach then a big squall came in so we just left the boats on the beach and waited till it passed  With the winds starting n/w then going north around 4/6 knots it was just perfect conditions especially for our group of first timers who thanks to Charlie and Casey had a great first experience at sailing with many having a go at the main sheet and some even trying out steering . Even Pat was into it coaching on the water in the yellow rescue boat ( banana boat ) with his new boat license and like Andrew he did have to do the odd tow and right capsized boats .

10.30 am Sunday Training :

This session started with a discussion about getting boats ready so that we could get the on water started before 11 am which didnt happen as everyone was either sitting down eating or wandering around and I had to chase everyone up and get boats rigged and go . When we finally got on the water in winds around 6/8 knots s/e and a short course set out front everyone really got their act together and sailed well , sure there was the odd capsize and one or two collissions but everyone handled themselves well with some really crisp tacks and good speed from hiking out . Eddie found new grip in the bic after waxing the deck and it really showed . Abbey sailed well until she ran into the sand and followed her brothers head but the boom routine although I must say Ben did listen and wore a helmet . I think its time we started to stretch out this group and start sending them on some good long reaches and runs as they are starting to show some real skill in their sailing . Dont forget guys on the water by 11!

1.30 pm Open Racing ;
With conditions perfect for racing with the winds settling in e/s/e at around 12/15 knots I decided to send everyone of with a couple of windward leewards first and then a run up the other channel the back to the start for a finish . I was praying for a clean start as I was on my own and wouldnt have had enough hands for the recall flags but everyone behaved and had a generally spot on start . It was pretty close in the first lamp but by the end of the second Greg had gotten in Front with Tom second Steve third and Casey fourth . Tom had lent Greg his carbon top and it really showed especially on the long run up to soverign with greg pulling out a good lead that is until the sand bank bit him and Tom ducked around him . The best battle was Casey 4.7and Steve 5.7 which finished with Steve just beating Casey over the line by 4 seconds , not bad after fifty minutes racing .
Our new youth sailor Tarin tried hard but ran out of puss and Simone and Roger had a good run followed by Charlie . Pat decided to try a radial and you guessed it with no training and little experience the conditions were just to strong bringing him home last .

Upcoming :
February Adult Introduction to sailing course booking essential 
June 30th Bendigo Bank Youth Cup
November 2nd Pan Pacific Masters Games 

CU on the water
John Murphy