** No Juniors or Club Racing this weekend - Come down and support your club members in the youth regatta!  We have a number of entries from people at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and Southport Yacht Club so will be a great fleet.  **

Hi Everyone , Firstly there is no Sunday Juniors this coming weekend due to the annual Junior Midwinter Cup being held on both Saturday and Sunday but even though there is no general sailing on come along anyway and cheer on our own sailors who are taking part in the event . In the open fleet we have Casey, Charlie and Brendan in Lasers and in the Open Bic we have Addy then in green fleet we have Eddy and Kaleb in lasers , we are trying to convince a few more to give green fleet a go so who knows . The club canteen will be open both days so you can come down and watch while having a coffee and a snag off the barby or a nice hot pie.
 
8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With bright sunny skies and a very light westerly wind it was always going to be a struggle finding a good spot to lay the course buoys . With Casey and Charlie on the beach getting everyone ready to leave I finally settled on a reaching course roughly north south and gave them a call to start launching , the water was apparently pretty cold as all I could hear was Charlie moaning as his feet hit the water . Once everyone was out there drifting around I pick up the instructors and showed them how to do push sailing ? push sailing is when you bring the rescue boat up to the transom and push the boat forward , its easier than towing . Taine kept yelling for a tow but his boat was the only one that didn't need it as he and Dean were actually sailing . Finally the wind came in and everyone took of even Marcel who was having his first go in a Bic and didn't even capsize just had a bit of trouble with popping his battens in the tack even with Addy's helpful instructions from the safety boat . I think by next year there will be a few more of our junior sailors signing up for mid winter cup !

10.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With a few people suffering rigging problems in their lasers it took a little while to get everyone ready for the session but we finally got everyone out there for a pre regatta training run . I mistakenly sent the start boat out without me to set a reaching course with a start line in the middle as this will be the configuration for green fleet sailing next weekend and yes you guessed it they couldn't agree where the buoys went but after a few radio calls we had something reasonably right . It was interesting to see the total nerves from everyone except Teegan and Addy who have raced before but once we got them started everyone was all smiles as they raced each other around the course especially if they got a top three finish place . As expected Addy was the quickest and most consistent but as the session moved on the whole fleet started really giving it a go with Edwina ( eddy ) really getting her laser motivated . OK there was the odd mess at the rounding buoys but hey its racing !

1.30 pm Open Racing ;
Thanks to the sailing gods by the time I had set the triangles and windward leeward course just south of the club we had a consistent wind from the S/E at around 7/7 knots I set the start down near the canal with a nice long upwind to A mark . Everyone behaved this week at the start with no recalls just good starting . Tom and Greg were keen to try out their new full rig sails and with everyone else in full or Radial except for Casey they were all powered up for a good race . Again Tom got in the lead with Greg right behind him but just couldn't seem to haul him in might have been the new sails as they seemed to have a big wrinkle in the middle with Greg's looking a bit worse the Toms . Right behind them everyone else were doing well and Michelle with my full rig bottom was right up the front giving the boys what for . Despite her only sailing a 4.7 Casey still did well on time handicap but just remember everyone once she does youth week in July she will start sailing Radials so look out . Finally you have to know its cold when Roger wears a wetsuit !  DON'T FORGET NO CLUB RACING THIS WEEKEND

Upcoming ;
John Murphy Invitational Mid Winter Cup , Even if you aren't competing come along and support your club and also don't forget to book your spot for the Saturday night party including barefoot bowls at the Paradise Point Bowls Club its always lots of fun ! Trophy presentation will take place around 3/4 pm Sunday with special guests on hand to present the trophies and prizes so come along and cheer everyone on !

To book your spot for dinner on Saturday night - click here.

​To enter the regatta - click here.

CU on the water 
John Murphy

Hi Everyone , Firstly a reminder that there is no Sunday Juniors on the 1st of July because of our annual Junior Regatta The John Murphy Invitational Midwinter Cup but we would still like to see as many of our young sailors and their families come along and check out what the future holds if they continue their sailing adventure . Also don't forget that we are having a get together on Saturday night at the Paradise Point Bowls Club with dinner and barefoot bowls (always lots of fun ) which will include the drawing of the raffle prizes, tickets are available at the website or at the sailing club .

8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With a temperature of only 8 degrees at my place at 5.30 am it was certainly a cool start to the day with even Charlie wearing a jumper . The sun was shining though and the water was clear if not a bit cold but the down side was the wind was a westerly which means wind all over the place . I set a course for everyone angled from the club to the bridge and luckily the wind was generally fairly light conditions . Casey again had the junior/ junior sailors on board teaching them some very funny steering moves I think their called circles? while both the Taine's just cruised around the course and Charlie under her new coach Addy worked on her tacking technique ,yes apparently Charlie Bratton has been given the flick as Charlie's coach not sure what happened there maybe it was a difference of coaching style ? All in all it was a great session which was followed by very warm showers. Oh I almost forgot there is a rumour that Casey may have a new nick name thanks to a well placed booger by one of her students but you will have to ask her what it is !

10.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
By the time we got underway with this session the dreaded westerly had picked up in strength and was becoming very bullety with quite strong gust coming through making it very difficult to sail. Flinn and Kaleb in lasers had a bit of trouble at first with the gusts resulting in a few capsizes but after some instruction from Casey and Charlie B in the safety boat they started letting the main off earlier and hiking out which generated more speed and stability . Addy and Ollie in the bic,s just cruised around the course showing their improved style over the last few weeks which is looking good for the Mid Winter Cup . Eddy had some trouble with the gusty conditions which were not helped by her turbo laser being out of action which resulted in her not being able to flatten everything out so to her her along her coach sailed with her during the session and no I didn't get wet or fall out NO WAY TOO COLD !! both Eddies and Kalebs laser have been repaired and should be ready for a practice run on Sunday prior to the Mid Winter Cup.

1.30 pm Open Racing;
With bright sunshine but a very cold N/W wind at around 2/ 18 knots I set a start down near runners with a top mark just past the canal and a third mark over near the boat ramps at runners so that I could get some windward leeward and triangles in . Yes after recent start line experiences the first start resulted in a recall with my count of seven boats over at the start and how early were they, well lets just say they were all looking back at the start boat when the horn went . Start two wasn't much better with a collision at the start between Tom , Casey , Greg and John P which was at speed but amazingly no injuries or damage . Casey was forced down by Tom who had nowhere to go so effectively they were both barging and Greg came out the worst starting last and a bit cranky . I have to say that cranky works well for Greg as he just sailed the pants of his boat and yes you guessed it he came first over the line after an hour and twelve minutes and just 3 seconds in front a truly awesome comeback . There where a few swims due to the massive knocks and a lot of very cold looking sailors at the end and I have no doubt everyone slept well on Sunday Night !

Upcoming ;
John Murphy Invitational Mid Winter Cup 
Pan Pacific Masters Games 

CU on the water
John Murphy

Hi Everyone. Firstly just a reminder that there will be no Sunday Juniors on July 1st due to the club conducting our annual Mid Winter Cup . The club and its committee would still like to see everyone there on either Saturday or Sunday to check out what sailing activities and types of boats are available for your children's future sailing pathways . Don't forget also our junior sailors who have entered the event need a cheer squad so come along and support your club sailors.

8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With again blue skies and clear water it was a perfect morning for Junior sailing especially beginners to learn more about the great sport of sailing . With the winds coming in at around 6 knots from the north early we set up a long reaching course which was just perfect for people like Taine and Charlie to practice both tacks and gybes . We were focusing on getting everyone to pull the sail on just before tacking and gybing to make the turns more efficient and with the teras to stop having the mainsheet catching on the transom which was generally successful even if occasionally a capsize occurred right Taine . Casey took a couple of new sailors out on a laser and even had them doing a bit of steering which was a bit tricky as the wind slowly swung south .
Speaking of capsize Charlie went for a swim towards the end of the session and how do we know well it was probably the scream as she hit the cold water !

10.30 Sunday Juniors ;
This group has dropped of in numbers in recent weeks which is a bit sad but its also good for those who turn up as they get more personalised training . Addy was back after being ill the week before and with Charlies help she got to use the new mast , sail , boom , rudder and centreboard for the first time on the Bic . Addy reckons the new gear made the boat faster but I think it was the coaching from her instructors which she followed perfectly. Even our new sailor Teegan went well and gained more speed in her opti through understanding what her tell tales were telling her to do with the sail set . Our only laser out was sailed by Kaleb who is using this session as practice for the Mid Winter Cup and he seems to be listening more especially in the hiking out department . Well done everyone !

1.30 pm Open Racing;
With the winds settling in from the S/E at around 10/12 knots I decided to set a course starting in our channel but then heading off up the soverign channel for a couple of laps . The start was another hotly contested affair and with 15 boats signed on it was certainly busy especially throwing the 420 into the mix . Ben had a shocker starting late which is probably my fault as I told him to slow down a bit as he is always a couple of seconds early and then Simone called starboard on him just to compound the problem . With Greg , Tom and Peter out front closely followed by Maurie , John P , Casey and Steve it was a closely contested first couple of laps with any mistakes quickly punished by Kate , Michelle , Charlie and Roger . Teegan pulled out in the opti as it was only a practice run and the 420 just couldn't get the jib on hard enough allowing Torin to pass them and tack on to the back of the fleet .,Heading for home Greg lost ground and Peter and Tom battled out first place with Tom coming home first then Peter and then a close call between Kate and Casey with about half a metre in it with Casey just scraping home in front . all in all good racing and great weather conditions .

Upcoming;
John Murphy Invitational Mid Winter Cup 30th June 1st July registrations are now being taken and don't forget that the Saturday night we are holding a barefoot bowls dinner at Paradise Point Bowls Club so even if your aren't competing still come along and meet everyone it should be a fun night ( details on the website )

Public Nuisance ;
Nearly made it this week but broken the water pump drive belt , should have a new one for next week .

CU on the water
John Murphy

Hi everyone , After a dry spell the rain has returned coming up from down south pushed along by strong winds to absolutely deluge the coast overnight ,  the good part is that it fills the dams and water tanks the bad part for me is I hadn't mowed the lawn so now it will go wild ! 

8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
After Saturday mornings single digit start to the day Sunday actually started quite mild I didnt even need track pants . The day dawned with blue skies and light winds and with conditions like that it was going to be perfect for Juniors . We had a solid group of 10 budding sailors in the group including a couple of newbies and after a short briefing we lined up everyone on the beach and prepared to send them off so you know what happened yes the wind dropped out so everyone struggled around the course that was until the southerly showed up which caught everyone out sending a few boats under the bridge with flapping sails ? I haven't towed boats back for a while so I was kept busy especially after Charlie jumped on the Taz replacing Dean who was having trouble with the jib and tacking . Lucas and Tain had to get a tow as well but that was from Kelsie crashing into them then she ended up under there as well and her and Blake drifted all the way to the pool before I got them and dragged them back to the club side . I should mention that the wind speed was 6/7 knots from the south so it wasn't really a drama . Generally everyone sailed well even Kelsie despite her under bridge excursions and Simca who just cruised around with Taylor , all in all a great session.

10.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
With Addy , Eddy and Aidan out of action sick and Kaleb away we only had Ollie and Teegan for this session and I offered them a combination of theory and then on water practice . It was decided to discuss gybing techniques and tactics with even a couple of senior sailors listening in . What did we discuss ? well mainly gybing procedures relative to both an upwind mark rounding and then a reach rounding but mainly it was about commitment to the manouvre from the start . Finally we hit the water with Ollie going out first in his Bic in around 8 knots of southerly . The deal was that he had to do 12 gybes before he could come in even when he capsized at number 8 he went back out and completed the task well actually he did 15 gybes luckily I was counting. We then sent Teegan out in her opti yes opti as she is a new junior sailor at the club and I soon found that more than work on her gybes we worked on telltales as she wasnt really sure how they worked resulting in her gaining better boat speed which improved her tacks and gybes with more flow in the boat . 

1.30 pm Open Racing;
With nine boats rigging and a forecast for even stronger winds I set a start just short of the canal and set two buoys down south creating atriangle course  which included a couple of windward leewards and triangles . The start was as usual hectic and as predicted Ben broke first well actually Tom broke first confusing the 1minute signal for the start and setting off in clear air only to have to cvome back and start just behind the fleet . Casey had one of her best starts ever being right up with Greg and Peter and would you believe Tom after starting last was third to the top mark . Charlie had a blinder of a start as well but faded towards the end when the radial became just to much hard work . Michelle and Ben had a good race as well with Michelle really getting back into sailing after a long break and Ben looks smoother every week . By the final lap Peter was out in front and seemed unbeatable but as I said to Pat my crew, Greg who was coming second never gives up and true to his style he managed to comee from behind and with a final helling hand gust from mother nature beat Peter over the line by less than a meter and yes that did make him smile . The best determined effort for the day went to Torin because despite I believe 9 capsizes he still managed to finish the race so well done Torin

Upcoming;
30th June John Murphy Invitational Mid Winter Cup ( should be a great weekend !

CU on the water
John Murphy