Hi Everyone , Well I have to start this weeks newsletter with an appology for last week wher everything just got away from me and the newsletter just didnt happen so I will try to catch up with two weeks worth of news this week . In general our numbers on Sunday mornings are very constant with between 25/30 budding young sailors arriving every sunday to learn sailing or practice their ever growing skills . As part of these great numbers especially for the middle of winter we have been discussing challenges for our sailors and some long term targets . We are currently beginning a learning program for two events next year with the first being our annual midwinter cup followed by Manly Youth week where we hope to send a team of both Bic and Laser sailors . The Midwinter Cup has grown in competitor numbers to always in excess of thirty competitors and Manlys Youth weekwhich exceeds 100 competitors and is a great learning event for all sailors . To start the ball rolling with our training group we have started practicing race starts and i must say everyone is starting to get the sequence down pat because the starts are so important overall so well done everyone for getting it done .

8.30 am Sunday Juniors 
Sunday week was so far back that I cant remember everything except teaching more new sailors steering and tacking in light conditions which are just great for our 6/9 year olds now once we have taught them steering the next step is to have them share with the crews ! sounds easy but it seems theres the superglue effect at times right Tristan? Last sunday was a totally different day as not only were the winds from the west but they were also very gusty with some of the newer sailors striking trouble in the shifty conditions . The safety boat was kept busy towing people back to the sailing area until the winds finally settled in direction but not before a few people got a bit frustrated trying to reach the buoys . Talyah who has just converted over to laser struck trouble but with her trusty instructor at hand ( me ) we went back to the basics and soon had her back on course . Guys like Ransom and Havoc managed to come to gripps with the conditions and Jack and Dean had their crews sailing around the course with no dramas . Tristan and Harvey came in as they just couldnt handle the gusty bits so Ben yes ben roake jumped in and showed them how its done who knows we might even get Ben back sailing again ?

10.30 am Training 
I wasnt allowed on the water so the safety boat crew had to put up with me on the radio constantly giving instructions . The conditions were a challenge not from wind speed but from the gusty bits and wind shifts but the crew soon had it under control well everyone except Dean who just wouldnt let go of the mainsheet in the gusts so went swimming ! yes in the cold water !!! his dad called him back in form a talk and he went out again so well don dad . It was pretty obvious that the rest of the group were coping so I radio,d the safety boat to set some practice starts with the pre start manouvering looking very good with Jack the standout with very sharp tacks and gybes even Ross was swinging around very confidently must be that new wind indicator right Ross ? Of course we should mention Jade who was lucky enough to recieve her new Bic and with the help of Charlie , Casey and Andrew that soon had it put together and she really had some extra pace on the water although I thought the giant smile might slow her down. All in all a great session !

1.30 pm Open Racing

With conditions generally west and a dead low tide the new race officer in training ( Charlie ) had a bit of a challenge but with a lot of thought a course starting at the top of crab and the A mark accross the channel near the boat ramps creating a challenging upwind for a couple of laps and then a run nearly to the top of Soverign for a couple of laps it looked a top course especially the section between A & C downwind because it was dead downwind and shifting bullets which had everyone scrambling from port to starboard as the winds shifted around . Adrian had a couple of swims at A mark but with a good tip about vang after the race we shouldnt have that problem in future . Greg was soon in the lead with Tom and Peter settling into a fight for 2nd and 3rd with some good boat speed especially on the reaches up to Soverign . Everything was going well and we had just anchored for the finish when I noticed a partially de rigged laser floating away from the club so you guessed it up anchor and off we went , By the time we got to the bridge Torin had paddled out in a kayak but she was getting away so we grabbed the laser and towed it and Torin back . Did we make it back in time to finish everyone ? well yes we did with Charlie driving Sarah C the fastest he ever has we just got their in time to finish greg while dropping the anchor at the same time . Who came in second Peter with Tom half a boat lenght and then Steve and John , definitely an exciting afternoon .

WEATHER FORECAST SUNDAY

OK everyone the conditions over the next couple of days are predicted very windy so I suggest all our Junior sailors keep an eye on wind speeds for sunday remember of 12 knots consistant you dont sail and our Youth sailors over 16 knots but we can do knots and theory YEAH! any concerns on the day give me a call 0407145397

Upcoming :
Try Sailing Hospital Fundraiser Sunday 13th december , We are approaching both our local member of parliament and our local council member to see if we can gain support for this worthy event especially with the current pandemic in Australia 

Club Xmas Party Sunday the 20th od December , not sure of the theme this year so if anyones got any ideas just let us know .

CU on the water
J Murphy

Hi Everyone With the weather generally being perfect for our young sailors with blue skies and light winds our junior and youth sailors have been enjoying the opportun ities to stretch their sailing skills without worrying about loosing control and going for a swim , so we now have everyone tacking and gybing in the 8.30 junior class and even steering reasonably straight lines . Our Youth sailors who sail at 10.30 have been doing the same with I must say a great deal of improvement from everyone to the stage where now we are starting to practice race starts , yes there is the odd bit of start line confusion but thats the learning process . 
Covid 19 ; We are still asking everyone to book in for sailing on sundays so that we can keep control of numbers even though restricitions have eased in queensland but with whats happening in Vic and Nsw at this time I think its better to play it safe so thanks everyone for persevering .

8.30 am Sunday Juniors :
With very mild conditions for this group and a couple of new sailors signing on for their first try at sailing again it was just perfect well except for the water temp which was well at least to me freezing . With fourteen starters and nearly running out of masts we soon had the fleet on the water and with the winds at of the west early at around 2/4 knots Charlie set a course basicall straight up and down the waterway . Jack and Dean were out helping some mates learn to steer and Mason was out with Willow helping her rekindle her sailing after some time off , actually we werent sure hom much teaching was actually going on there even though we could hear a lot of talking but willow told me later taht they were mainly talking about computer games ? oh well at least they were having fun . The wind slowly shifted more south so there was a bit of towing back as the tide was going out but generally everyone read the wind changes well and managed to keep their boats moving . Now we need an increase in wind speed so we can really get everyone going which shoud start happening by september.

10.30 am Youth Training:
In recent weeks this core group of sailors has really progressed in all their skills through practice and determination where in recent weeks all the challenging courses and activities we have set for them thay have each time to understand the courses and sail accordingly , the improvements in everyones sailing is awesome from Dean to Kaia and even Jade who is the most experienced , even Ross hasnt broken any masts lately ! With everyone constantly improving their sailing skills I felt it was time to give them a target goal and that is not only the 2021 June P.P.S.C Mid Winter Cup but also the Manly July Youth Week Regatta what a great advertisement that would be for Paradise Point Sailing Club and our great bunch of Young Sailors . Sure we have a lot of work to do but Iam sure our group of Youth Sailors are up to the challenge . Well back to business we decided to set a start line from the pontoon and a rounding mark down at the yellow 6knot sign . The first few starts were a bit of a shambles well except for Abby who with her past experience nailed the starts and finished first even when her dad told her to go the wrong way ? The main focus was to have everyone at the pin end as it was the best angle for the course because if you were too low it was too tight an upwind and luffing up was common right Ross , Mason ? but generally everyone went well with lots of smiles and there is a rumour that Kaia might jump out of a Bic into a Laser next Sunday !

1.30 pm Open Race 

With the winds shifting more around to the e/s/e our budding new race officer ( Charlie ) needed a bit of outside assistance ( me ) setting a suitable course so we decided on a start near the runaway bay public ramps with an upwind straight accross the channel and then a run up the soverign channel dropping a rounding buoy opposite the ephriam / soverign channel .
The start line did favour starboard start but a port was a possibility even Greg was thinking about it but with 12 lasers (fleet of 13 ) starting on starboard he made a wise decision and started with everyone else . The outgoing current made it a bit of a struggle to get to A but after three laps of windward leeward the were all soon off upto soverign for two laps of basically reaching . Abbey came out for a run as did her dad and it was nice to see them on the water . Greg soon built a gap and wasnt headed even though Peter was there and Steve they just couldnt bridge the gap . We did have one exciting part and that was Chris trying to take me out with his boom as he got a bit lost heading for the finish line and had a last minute gybe over the bow of sarah c where I was sitting lucky I know how to duck !

Upcoming
December Xmas Party20th Try Sailing &Hospital Fundraiser 13th

CU on the water
J Murphy