GBBC NEWSLETTER. Mid Winter Dinner 16 July 2016, 6.30 for 7 pm Carvery plus Dessert $25 Booking to Karen

Transcription

1 GBBC NEWSLETTER July 2016 geilstonbayboatclub.com.au Issue No. 8 SLIP REFURBISHMENT STAGE 0NE COMPLETE Recently members would have noted a lot of activity around the slip yard as work was undertaken to replace the rails on No2 Slip and load test both slips. Tas Marine Constructions undertook this work under the everwatchful eye of our project manager Mike Lever. The next stage of this project is to refurbish both cradles. Work is expected to commence on this within the next month so that the slips can return to full operation as soon as possible. Further to the recent invitation to members to be part of a slip syndicate to assist in funding the project it is pleasing to report that several members have indicated that they are prepared to offer the financial assistance necessary to enable this important infrastructure project to be completed. The Club is indebted to these very generous members. From the Clubhouse As of 1 July 2016 Wednesday meals will cost $12 Mid Winter Dinner 16 July 2016, 6.30 for 7 pm Carvery plus Dessert $25 Booking to Karen Notes for you diary 20 August 16 - Presentation Dinner (Saturday) 25 September 16 Opening Day 10 May 2017 GBBC 50 th Anniversary RAFFLE BOOKS MUST BE RETURNED BY WEDNESDAY 13 JULY as draw takes place at the Mid Winter Dinner NOMINATIONS FOR FLAG OFFICER AND COMMITTEE The AGM is to be held in August and nominations are now being called for flag officer and committee positions for the 16/17 year, to be elected at the A.G.M. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Secretary at the bar. In accordance with the Club s Constitution all flag officers have to be nominated on an annual basis. i.e. Commodore, Vice-Commodore and Rear Commodore. Also as a number of current committee member s terms will expire they need to be replaced. Those to be replaced are Keith Bolton, Nigel Grey, Sue Hardwick and Fred Van Tuil. Please note that only full members are eligible to nominate and be nominated. Being on the Committee is not an onerous task and it is hoped that eligible members will give serious consideration to playing a more active role in running the Club.

2 GIFT TO THE CLUB On Wednesday 29 June Henry Boeschoten, a former member of GBBC, made a gift of his yacht ADASTA and its mooring located in Geilston Bay to the Club. New Members The Club welcomes the following new member: Social Member: Glen Pears FRIDGE DISPOSAL The Club has an old domestic fridge that it wishes to dispose of. Any member interested should contact Laurie Dean. It would be suitable for a shack or shed. Around the Club Henry presents Commodore Lauie with Deed of Gift Although no decision has been made as to the future of the vessel it is likely that the boat and the mooring will be sold with proceeds going towards the slip refurbishment project. Although there is a lot of gear onboard, the vessel s motor is inoperable, it has not been slipped for many a year, and it is in a very run down state. Despite that, it is considered that with a little bit of volunteer work it can be made ready for sale. Henry s generosity is greatly appreciated. If anyone is interested in the boat and or mooring please contact Nigel Grey. 'Days Like This' perhaps one of the last vessels to use Cradle No 1 in its current form. Some of Dad's Army doing what they do best. New recruits are always welcome. ON THE WATER PIEROTH WINE TRIFECTA Race 2 was held on 12 June and saw six boats competing. Line honours winner was Footloose with the handicap winner and second across being Patience. Seven boats took part in the third race held on 3 July in quite strong gusty winds. Line honours in Division 1 were shared between Patience and Footloose closely followed by the handicap winner Pyxis. Bahloo was the overall handicap winner and also gained line honours in Division 2 ahead of Pinta, Tara, and Elsewhere. The overall winner of the series was Tara. Next race to be held on Sunday 7 August is the Boat Sales Tas Series Race 5. This will conclude the 15/16 season. Preparations are also well underway for next season and the proposed program is attached to this newsletter. As mentioned on previous occasions the program has been scaled back and will focus on the popular twilight series with sail days reverting to the first Sunday in the month. If anyone wishes to comment on the program please make then to either Keith Bolton or Nigel Grey.

3 From the Crows Nest Pieroth Wines Competitors 3 July 'Pyxis' (Chris Hadrill) 'Patience' (Bob Grey) 'Bahloo' (Nigel Grey) Slipway No 2 works Mike Lever oversees operations Scorpio II s Adventures by Richard Hewson (continued) After exploring the northern cost of the Wessel Islands we cruised along the Northern Territory coast towards Port Essington, which was one of the original sites for European Settlement in Northern Australia. The settlement Fort Victoria was disbanded in 1849 and a few ruins remain. From Port Essington we cruised along the coast then sailed through the Vernon Islands and onto Darwin which would become home for the for the next six months. Emilie and I worked in Darwin thought he wet season, making some fantastic friends amongst the Dinah Beach and Darwin Sailing Club communities. Scorpio II enjoyed the Dinah Beach Wet Season Races and with our rowdy and very entertaining crew. To top off our fantastic time in Darwin we managed to win Division 1 racing in the Dinah Beach Series. Whilst we were living aboard

4 throughout the wet season, we carried out another refit including re painting the decks, re sealing all fittings, removal of the hydraulic steering and replacing it with a more traditional line steering, a new cockpit floor, and the removal of the engine room in place of an engine box to give us more storage. Amongst refits and racing we enjoyed cruising Bynoe Harbour with friends on long weekends. At end of the wet season, we made the decision to leave Darwin and head for the Kimberley. The Kimberley offer some of the most amazing and isolated cruising in the world but is not for the faint hearted. I had worked through the region early in my seagoing career, and had always wanted to return in my own yacht so I could have time to explore and enjoy the scenery. Much of the Kimberley is uncharted and the land unmapped so a good aluminum dinghy with a depth sounder is essential. Dinghy choice is also essential for cruising in this remote area. Inflatable boats get eaten by crocodiles, and some tides ranging to 10m, it is important to find a dinghy that is light enough to lift onboard and carry over rocks, yet large enough to keep the occupants at a safe distance from the crocodiles, sharks and other large man eating animals. We bought a 12ft Aluminum dinghy in Darwin at a bargain price of $125 and I fitted it out with a bimini, carpet seats, rod holders, a hand held depth sounder, and a large amount of safety equipment. The disadvantage with our new tender was we could not stow it on deck, so had to tow it, but the advantages of such a solid boat were well worth it. A well-planned cruise through the Kimberley should not exceed 30nm a day, and timing of tides is essential. As many harbors and river mouths are uncharted and have moving sandbars, a prudent navigator will make his or her own survey in the tender ahead of the yacht. Fremantle Sailing Club provide an excellent guide book for cruisers and take a lot of the guess work out of the cruise and is highly recommended. Cruising the Kimberley is like going back in time hundreds of years. Rock formations continue to amaze their observer, and if you look hard enough you can find some amazing Aboriginal artwork but the explorer must be careful only to explore approved areas and have respect for traditional sacred sites and burial grounds. Our highlights were King George River which we enjoyed all to ourselves and offers waterfalls deep enough to give your yacht a shower, Mitchell River filled with crocodiles and some of the most amazing waterfalls and swimming holes we have ever seen, Crocodile creek where you can fill your water tanks from the waterfalls, and the hundreds of other secluded anchorages that offer endless beauty and wildlife. Other cruisers meet in the Kimberley are the most amazing people, all with interesting stories about their adventures, crocodiles, aboriginal art, favorite anchorages and where they have run aground, or near misses from hidden bommies. After a couple of month exploring the Kimberley as far as Crocodile creek we sailed to Broome for more supplies and to pick up my father before returning to explore the more western region on the Kimberley which was just as breathtaking and an amazing experience. During the sail south we experienced the beautiful presence of hundreds of humpback whales and their calves, and to our surprise even spotted a pod of Orca s. After another 10 days of cruising with Dad, we returned to Broome to re supply for the trip down the west coast. Emilie was finding that being pregnant and sailing to windward were not a good combination and so we decided she would fly to Malta to enjoy time with her family before our first child was born. Dad flew back to Victoria and we arranged to conduct daily radio skeds as I sailed Scorpio II the remaining 3000nm of the circumnavigation around Australia back to Hobart solo. On the sail south I was joined by the hundreds of Humpback Whales that were also swimming south. Scorpio and I visited Montebello Islands and enjoyed its crystal clear waters, and a few close shaves with migrating Humpback Whales. One whale breached less than 50m ahead of Scorpio, which was both ore inspiring and terrifying at the same time. After the Montebello Islands I sailed onto shark bay and the famous Monkey Mia where we swam with the dolphins and anchored in a sheltered harbour anabling me to do a quick rig check prior to encountering the stronger southerly winds. From Monkey Mia I sailed Scorpio down the east coast of Dirk Hartog Island, then through a narrow channel and back out into the Indian Ocean.

5 My original passage plan was to sail towards the Abrolhos islands to enjoy some diving, surfing and explore the site of the infamous Batavia disaster, however, anchorage in the Abrolhos was not reliable enough with the forecasted winds so I diverted my course to Geraldton to weather the storm alongside. Two days later, after the storm had passed I had a good weather window to sail to Fremantle where I was welcomed with open arms by the Fremantle Sailing Club in the port where Scorpio II was built. (to be continued) FOR INFORMATION OF SAILORS Bureau of Meteorology defines wind strength as follows: Strong wind Gale Storm force 26 to 33 knots 34 to 47 knots 48 to 63 knots Hurricane force Over 64 knots The Watch System Name of Watch Duration in Naval time Middle 0000 to 0400 Morning 0400 to 0800 Forenoon 0800 to 1230 Afternoon 1230 to 1600 First Dog 1600 to 1800 Last Dog 1800 to 2000 First 2000 to 2400 CHRIS GRAY BRICKLAYING - Phone This month we feature Chris Gray Bricklaying. Unfortunately this business has been missing from our list of sponsors for sometime so it is only fitting that it receives some extra promotion. Some examples of Chris work are seen in the following photos. MAJOR CLUB SPONSORS: Brierley Marine, DJ Motors, Boat Sales Tas and Pieroth Wines OTHER SPONSORS: Chris Gray Bricklaying, Rockcote, Mechanical & Marine, Roof Coatings Tas, CED Williams Glass, Lindisfarne Service Centre, Nibbs Electrical, North Sails, Cranes Combined, Boat Biz, McDonald Builders, Custom Curtains & More, Masters Contracting, Quilt and Pillow Factory