Cooby Capers - August 2014 Page 1 of 6 and DARLING DOWNS SAILING CLUB INC. August 2014 Information regarding the Darling Downs Sailing Club can also be found at www.ddsc.com.au
Cooby Capers - August 2014 Page - 2 - of 6 From the President From the Secretary DARLING DOWNS SAILING CLUB INC. PO Box 2114, Toowoomba Qld 4350 Welcome Members and Friends to Cooby Capers for the end of August. Firstly most of you will know that at the AGM a new committee was elected and is now embracing their various roles. Although we have very big shoes to fill after the reign of Jason Elliott who deserves the BIGGEST of thanks for the time and effort he has given to the club over the last three years. We also wish to warmly express our thanks to those who supported him in his role. Following on from Jason's ideas, if anyone has information or contacts in related areas that can assist with gaining members and growing the club, please email the club or a committee member so we can look into it. eg: Learn to sail/school holiday programs, Junior development days, Afternoon sailing or sponsorships. We need your ongoing support to ensure our club thrives and develops. I love this special place and have since I was a small child eagerly watching my father racing and hoping to get to go out on the water myself. Which I did and know my own children are enjoying it as well. It was great to see a granddaughter out on the water last race day and hope we see her again and maybe some of her friends as well. Do you have photos of the old days? Are you willing to share them on our website, facebook page or in Cooby Capers? Let us know as we are keen to show what we used to look like, and I'm sure a lot of people are keen to see them or have a trip down memory lane. One photo we have already shared had a sailor from a Brisbane club reminiscing about the regattas he used to attend at our club, which was very exciting to see. Spring is now here and hopefully warmer weather brings everyone back out to sail. See you all on the water or the foreshore. Bronwyn Not sure what I let myself in for but I must say I look forward to giving back to the club which has given me so much pleasure over the past three years. At the outset though, I would like to acknowledge Jason for all of the work he has put in over the past three years. Firstly he got the DDSC on its feet again and then performed the wide range of tasks required to keep it going, from mowing the grass on weekends, to negotiating government grants to improve club facilities. We, as a committee, look forward to building on Jason s hard work, and to support our incoming President, Bronwyn, to provide a vibrant, stable club for all members. We invite all DDSC members to enjoy our little patch of paradise and to get involved with club activities. The committee is available at any time for any suggestions or concerns. Our new Cooby Capers editor, Peter Humphry, has thrown himself to the task with gusto, as you will read below. Despite what you read, some people do stay upright! Please support him with any stories or photos of your own. That is all for now see you on the water..or in it! Peter Mullins
Cooby Capers - August 2014 Page - 3 - of 6 Upcoming race days 2014 WINTER SAILING Race Times are 10.00am and 2.00pm Date Event Officer of the Day Winter Series September 7 Sun Fathers Day Brian Gales Trophy Race Yardstick Event Justin Clarke September 14 Sun Vice Presidents Trophy Race Handicap Event Ben James September 21 Sun Sailability Day social sailing welcome Helpers needed September 28 Sun Social Sailing ask for key October 5 Sun Social Sailing ask for key October 6 Mon Labour Day October 7 Tue Term 4 begins holidays end October 12 Sun Club Championships Heats 1 & 2 Ian Templeman October 19 Sun Sailability Day social sailing welcome Helpers needed October 26 Sun Patrons Trophy Handicap Event Steve Norris November 2 Sun Social Sailing ask for key November 9 Mon Club Championships Heats 3 & 4 Peter Collins November 16 Mon Sailability Day social sailing welcome Helpers needed November 23 Sun Club Championships Heats 5 & 6 Alison Tweedie November 30 Sun Social Sailing ask for key WINTER SERIES HEATS 15 AND 16 Winter Series Heat 15. A special mention would have to go Ian Templeman who managed to capsize his Taser, not once, but twice in Heat 15 on Sunday 10th August. The worst part of the event was the first capsize happened at the very start of the race, which meant a cold and wet sail for Ian to try and catch up to Terry in his Tasar. Ian must have tried to push the boundaries again because on the Western Markers spectators go to see Ian floating upside down again, yet again. It was later heard back on shore that Ian was not a happy camper... but I am sure he has not been the first to capsize on Cooby Dam
Cooby Capers - August 2014 Page - 4 - of 6 Mentioned in Dispatches Winter Series Heat 16. Our thoughts go out to Alison Tweedie. Alison was leading Heat 16 in the catamaran category with a very good lead over Peter Humphrey and Peter Mullins only to be suddenly pipped at the post by Peter Mullins. It was on the final leg of the race. Alison was on her Cobra and seemed to be doing everything perfectly. As Alison was setting up her last and final tack to cross the finish line, the wind suddenly changed direction. This left Alison in irons. Peter Mullins (who still admits he had no idea what he was doing) hadn t undertaken a change in direction yet and happened to notice that he could just steer directly towards to finish line. As Alison was trying to get her catamaran moving again Peter Mullins just waved at her as he cruised on towards the finishing line. Alison later stated that the wind at Cooby Dam can be very frustrating at times. She too, was not a happy camper that afternoon. WINTER SERIES HEATS 17 AND 18 Winter Series Heat 17. Everyone knew Heat 17 was going to be an exciting race, with winds blowing an average of 15 knots and gusts up to 20 knots and water temperature apparently very, very cold. Everyone was determined not to capsize, and so everyone decided that today was going to be a day of taking it easy. Unfortunately the first to capsize (pitch-pole) was Peter and Karen on their Nacra (pictured right, seconds before disaster). Thankfully they were able to right the boat themselves and get back into the race. Very cold and wet, but still going. Next to capsize was Ian and Olivia. Unfortunately Ian was not able to right the boat himself and had to get the OOD (Rusty) to jump in and help him. I don t know what happened out there in the middle of the dam, but somehow, Rusty ended up sailing Ian s boat back and Ian ended up in the rescue boat with Olivia. They too were very cold and wet. Ian decided to call it a day after the capsize and became the OOD for the rest of the afternoon whilst he tried to warm himself up and work out a system to right his boat by himself.
Cooby Capers - August 2014 Page - 5 - of 6 Would you believe, with less than 20 metres to the finish line and coming in for a final tack to cross the line, Jade slipped whilst out on the trapeze and fell off the side of the boat into the water, just as Bronwyn was performing a tack. All hell broke loose on the boat as Bronwyn had to try and help Jade in the boat and also deal with a strong gust that had just hit the boat. The inevitable was just seconds away. Everyone on shore watched as the boat sailed backwards, got stuck on the bottom of the dam and then tipped over. Unfortunately the OOD had to go out and recue both Bronwyn and Jade. Somewhere out in the middle of the dam Terry and Jan were floating around upside down too. I am not sure who went first between Ian and Terry, but they sure were keeping the rescue boat out on the water and the OOD on his toes. Thankfully Ian and Jan were able to right the boat and they were able to continue on in the race. This just left Bronwyn and Jade the only competitors who had not capsized and they were sailing a fast and furious race, and taking each tack carefully and methodically. So they said. Winter Series Heat 18. Over lunch Jade had re-organised everyone into different sailing groups in order for her to avoid going out on the water again. In Heat 18, Rusty sailed with Bronwyn, Ian was still trying to get warm, so he didn t go out, but Peter, Karen, Terry and Jan (although still wet and cold) decided to give Heat 18 and Cooby Dam another go. There were no regrets for as soon as the horn blasted for the start, the wind dropped down to about 7-8 knots, and at times, the sun even came out. Heat 18 was a much more enjoyable race. The afternoon winds were steady and predictable which also meant some nice good finishing times by all those who went back out on to the water. I think Jade was still on shore wrapped in a blanket somewhere and Ian was trying all sorts of wiring systems to be able to right his boat on his own. They missed the best part of sailing, good wind and predictable gusts. Hopefully September will bring out a few more sailors as the weather starts to warm up.
Cooby Capers - August 2014 Page 6 of 6 Nautical Terms Lift and Headers. Rhythmic wind shifts around Cooby Dam cause fluctuations in the direction of wind, but not always change its strength and speed. These are known as Lifts and Headers and can last up to at least 5 minutes. An example of a Lift is when you are sailing into the wind with your sails pulled in close to the centre of the boat, with you pointing as close as possible into the wind (close hauled) when suddenly the wind swings around to the rear of the boat. Normally you will be able to keep you direction by adjusting your sails so that you are now sailing downwind (Running). An example of a Header is when a shift in the wind suddenly brings your boat head-on into the wind and starts to force your boat either into a tack, or into irons. If this happens it is best to make the tack in order to keep the momentum of your boat moving, rather than trying to outlast /outfight the wind change. You can always re-tack when the wind re-adjusts itself. Rhythmic winds are very common in in-land sailing and especially around Cooby Dam. Funnies Ian was doing up his Taser and was ready to do the final coat of paint. He had picked out a nice blue colour but wasn t sure how many litres of paint it would take. Knowing that Terry had a Taser and had recently re-painted it, Ian decided to give Terry a ring. Hey Terry, you just re-painted your boat, how many litres of paint did you buy? asked Ian. I brought six litres of paint said Terry. So Ian went out and brought six litres of paint. Ian spent the weekend painting his boat, but discovered even though he applied at least two coats of paint he still had at least three litres of paint left over. Ian quickly jumped on the phone and rang Terry. Hey Terry, I have just finished repainting my boat, and I even gave it an extra coat, yet I still have three litres of paint left said Ian. So did I replied Terry. Gossip The internet is flooded with concerns regarding safety chains and shackles when towing a trailer. Because there is no legal requirement for shackles to comply with a particular Australian Standard, the Department of Transport and Main Roads recommends that the shackles used on trailers should have a break load limit of at least one and half times greater than the ATM of the trailer.