Hi Everyone , Well firstly our efforts at replacing the caged area ( rust ) are slowly moving forward with the final documents being signed off this week in regards to our successful grant application and hopefully work beginning on the 25/3/24 which should hopefully be completed by easter ? . On sunday the 24th the plan is to store as many boats as possible inside the club with the powerboats staying on the pontoon , should be a bit squeezy but Iam pretty sure it will all fit.
We are also currently working with our insurance company to have approved the replacement of our roller doors plus upstairs carpet and boat mast replacement as everyone can understand especially those who have dealt with insurance its a slow process but Iam confident we will get there in the end .
DONT FORGET EVERYONE THE CLUB IS CLOSED NEXT WEEKEND AS CHARLIE AND I ARE AWAY DOING A INSTRUCTOR COURSE 
TREASURER , We are still looking for someone who would like to take over the role of Treasurer at the club as our current treasurer (Kelly ) is looking to retire from the position so if you think you can help just let us know !
8.30 am Sunday Juniors 
After a large influx of new sailors over the last couple of weeks we werent expecting many to turn up on sunday despite the favourable weather conditions but we still had 15 sailors signed on at 8.30 am . We soon had everyone signed on and geared up and out in the rigging area . We had a couple of new assistants as well in Halle and Leila who asked the week before if they could start helping , we never say no to these requests because we like to see our experienced sailors involve themselves with all the newbies . Conditions were good with a light ( 4/6 k ) s/e wind blowing and an incoming current . While everyone jumped on boats I stayed back and helped two new sailors learn how to steer which they managed to do all be it a bit wobbly by the end of the session . Our two new assistants in Halle and Leila looked a bit daunted but the soon overcame their nervousness and Halle even showed her group how to capsize and recover ! There were a few close calls with boats coming to close to each other but in general everyone went well , even the safety boat had a reasonably quiet day . 
11.00 AM Youth Racing.
Well after weeks of training the first youth race for 2024 was finally here and there were a lot of nervous faces rigging boats at 10.30 . We started of with a briefing where Charlie showed everyone on the white board the racing course with PORT ROUNDS ! and yes we had already practiced this course previously so we thought that it would be ok . The start was reasonably good with Harvey Reece Tristan Jack and Gemma away on time with most everyone else following along . Harvey was just flying upwind to A but Gemma actually beat him around the mark with a better lay line . The top mark rounding was definitely a struggle for everyone as the winds had increased to around 12-16 knots so the bearaway was a bit tricky with most people not getting far enough back and letting the sail out too far so yep there were some capsizes . The first retirement was zach as his outhaul just wouldnt hold so upwind was impossible but his boom is in the club getting a new outhaul ! All the boats either capsized our made course mistakes but overall Charlie and I agreed that considering the conditions they all really went well . The award for the best save goes to Jack how on a downwind lost control and should have really capsized as the boat was on its gunnel but it sat down and he managed to get it back Charlie and I thought he was gone for all money , all we needed was a camera ! 

UPCOMING 
Closed sunday 25/2/24
Race 1 Open Series 3/3/24
Juniors back 3/3/24

cu on the water
J Murphy

Hi Everyone , thank you to our council and our local councillor in regards to the support we received in applying for a grant to replace our rusty cage and this week we started on organising the trades necessary to undertake the works , its actually very exciting to finally have the old rusty supports and roof replaced so no more actually picking up the west gate to open up as its post rusted out about two months ago and yes we are even getting new gates!!!
The club will not be open for juniors and training on sunday the 25th of february due to no suitably qualified staff being available as charlie and I are off to australian sailing school for the weekend , should be fun as we have to be taught how to drive safety boats as part of our new qualifications so that we can run the australian sailing powerboat safety courses . Just as an explanation without suitably qualified staff the clubs insurance isnt valid hence why we will be closed . The other good news is that it looks like our insurance claim for carpets roller doors and boat damage is going to be passed as well , this equipment was damaged in the christmas storm so fingers crossed it will be finally approved within the next few weeks .

8.30 am Sunday Juniors 
Well with the weather on saturday slowly turning to rain and wind late in the afternoon it did not look good for sunday juniors and even at 2.00 am when the heavy rain woke me even I thought it would surely be cancelled but by 7.00 am the skies were clearing and a nice slow S/E wind was coming up the bay and with another large group of boys and girls booking in we were looking at a busy morning . We soon had everyone geared up and out in the rigging area learning how to rig a boat with charlie in charge while the rest of us ran around getting boats ready . Charlie and Harvey set a nice reaching course for the 4/6 knot winds and yes I even had a chance to sail a laser with three and four kids on board and my ankle didnt even play up , it was so much fun getting out there again and cruising around while charlie and harvey slowly towed boats back from under the bridge just like i did on saturday with the adult learn to sail group . All in all it was a great morning but I did make one mistake and that was I decided to do some submarining on the laser but I didnt know that she had a big hole in the bow? so yep by the time we got back in she was a bit hard to pull up the ramp and then we had to leave it draining for about 15 minutes so now its in the shed under repair. Apparently the other big hit on the day was the new twin milkshake mixer yep the old one died finally after at least ten years 

10.30 am Youth Training 
We I must say this group is definitely rising to the challenge as each week they are getting better . Charlie each week sets them new sailing challenges starting with explanations on the white board before hitting the water .
Last sunday was box sailing starting with figure eights then off to box roundings which included tacking / gybing / bearaway and dead down wind sailing . It all sounded easy but mother nature started to play a hand with the wind speed increasing to around 12-14 knots and gusts of another 4 knots so yes you guessed it there were a lot of capsizes well except for one wich was harvey who didnt even look like capsizing so well done mate . I have to also single out captain capsize ( Tristan ) not for capsizing but for sailing with an injury which was severe gravel rash mixed with salt water so well done mate !! I as was charlie was really impressed with everyones effort as conditions were a bit rough but no matter how many times they capsized everyone just got their boat back up and sailed on . The reaches were awesome with the fastest boat being Zach with Hallie as crew just for a try out and yes she loved it they had spray everywhere despite a very dodgy outhaul .
Dont forget everyone next sunday is your first race for 2024 so lets hope for good winds , race starts at 11.00 am.

Upcoming
sunday 18/2 first youth race 2024
Sunday 25th club closed due to staff training weekend
​Sunday 3/3/24  first open race 

CU on the water
J Murphy

Hi Everyone , Firstly the club is looking for someone to take over the Treasurer duties at the club as Kelly has asked to be excused due to other commitments , the position entails keeping our financial records and working with the secretary and president probably a couple of hours per week depending on whats happening at the club so if you think you can spare the time and would like to help the club just let us know and we can have a chat !
The big news is that we have been successful with our grant application to council to replace the caged area which has a serious rust problem , we patched it up about ten years ago but its now beyond patching and with the support of our council division 4 representative Cr Shelly Curtis we have been granted the funds to carry out the repairs and we are even getting new gates so charlies welding job during the upgrade will just be a memory , it was a good weld to and its still holding ! 
The club 2024 sailing calendar is out with all the basic events listed including open racing and youth racing , other sailing club events will be added when information becomes available .
8.30 am Sunday Juniors 
Compared to the previous weekends weather the forecast was good all week for sunday and with parents booking in as early as wednesday it was definitely shaping up to be a big morning . By Saturday evening there were 14 new and experienced sailors signed on so all we needed was reasonable weather .
Sunday morning started with light rain but it slowly cleared by 8.00am with a roughly westerly wind prevailing .
We ended up with over 20 yes 20 sailors signing on with the large being girls which was great to see . Guy was in charge of the safety boat while Charlie took on all the new sailors with he and harvey doing a rigging demonstration and ne doing a capsize drill .
Guy set a nice reaching course and with the wind only around 2/3 knots from the west it was perfect for beginners , there were some capsizes early and apparently they were accidental ???? but at the end we let everyone give capsize a try just in front of the club with lots of laughter echoeing accrocs the water . The pack up was just as good with everyone pitching in even young Toby was into it even if his hose work was occassionally a bit random.
10.30 am Youth Training 
Well this group never ceases to amaze me with nine sailors turning up for training . Charlie has really taken them under his wing and is really getting everyone involved in this session . The rigging is getting faster and the asking for help part is also diminishing . After a chat about the previous week we set them on box sailing starting with figure eights which I have to say looked good from the shore with good boat speed shown by everyone . The box sailing was a whole new level especially coming to a stop at a buoy with confusion at first but as everyone slowly got the idea there was some good boat control shown . I had a perfect seat on the shore so that I could watch everyone and when they all returned to the shore I managed to give a few people tips on how to improve now all they have to do is remember for next week right! halle Leila Zach , Jack , Kiera ?
Apparently there was a bit of whinging after about half an hour of drills about being bored and can we do something else but charlie stuck to his guns and said no and surprisingly most everyone managed to complete the on water task who knows they might even be able to use these new skills when they start racing on the 18th of feb.
Open Racing 1.30 pm
As I said earlier the club sailing calendar is out and it shows Open Racing starts on sunday the 3/3/24 , we wer going to start the week before but Charlie and I will be away on the 25th feb at a australian sailing course.. Before I forget good luck to Greg Phillips as he is in SA at the moment competing in the Laser masters , with over 200 competitors its sounds awesome fun.

Upcoming
18 feb 2024 Youth Racing 11.00 am start
Open racing 3/3/2024 1.30 pm start
Club Closed Sunday the 25 / 2/2024 ( no sailin at all )

CU ON THE WATER
J Murphy