Windward
Sailing at its best
January 2014
Contents
From the Commodore’s desk
Rear Commodore’s tack
Division 1 report
Division 2 report
Division 4 report
Division 3 report
Show sea rescue some courtesy
Division 5 report
Stop Press
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3
4
5
6
7
7
9
9
Paddy “masters” sailing
Why sail a Paper Tiger Catamaran
Sailing school news
Holiday activities
Bollywood comes to Somers
Getting to know you
The end of a sea rescue experience
Letter to the club
Club contacts
Somers Yacht Club Inc. No 7635, Alexandra Ave, Somers. Tel: 5983 5568.
Website: somersyachtclub.yachting.org.au
Editorial: Jill and Tony Duboudin. Tel: 5983 1360 or email [email protected]
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Windward page 2
From the Commodore’s Desk
THE Christmas period has been very busy as
usual at the club. Unfortunately the weather gods
have not been kind and quite a few of the sailing
race days have been abandoned due to strong
winds. Unfortunately a cloudy overcast morning
kept most sailors away from the Point Leo
Cruise. For the few hardy sailors who made the
effort, and other visitors, we again enjoyed the
hospitality of the Boat Club.
We have a number of our sailors away at national titles. The outstanding result to date is
Daniel Stone winning the national Mosquito +
spinnaker title. This event precedes the non spinnaker titles that at the time of writing were about
to start.
Father Christmas, who had a striking physical
resemblance to our immediate past Commodore,
kicked off festivities with a visit to the club on 13
December. Simon Boadle in an open top sports
car provided Santa’s transport.
The social highlight was New Year’s Eve Bollywood party. The social committee, under the
direction of Robert Bartholomew, decorated the
clubhouse in true Bollywood style. Particular
praise must go to Diana Nutting for the creation
of the superb decorations with the help of a large
numbers of volunteers all stepping in to make the
club look amazing! Michael Bailey, as usual, produced a beautifully made piñata, featuring Pepé
Le Pew. It took quite a few good whacks from the
kids for Pepé to disclose his contents. With the
band in full swing, guests kicked on well after
midnight.
The seafood night was, as normal, well supported and a great success. We continue to utilise Trybookings as our booking agency, and I encourage members to book early for functions as
we continually have frustrated members missing
out when bookings have closed. Please also remember that bookings can only be made by
members, and that members must accompany
their guests at club functions.
The Younger Set Disco was a fun night
planned and co-ordinated by Maddie Moore, her
many helpers and the younger set committee.
The trivia night was again well attended and
keenly contested. Tim Brock
tested our knowledge with his
thorough preparation and
presentation, ably assisted by
Nick Bailey as quizmaster.
Sailing school is again off
to a flying start with Emma
Morris and her team attracting a sellout following.
The fruits of the program are now being seen in
the solid Division 5 fleet which has been solidly
established, consisting of Optimists and Hobie
Hawks. Sailing school program now includes an
adult school, which begins in the middle of January.
One club race not affected by the weather was
the off the beach handicap event. Tim Brock,
splendidly attired, was in his element as the official starter, sending competitors racing down the
beach to launch their boats.
On Sunday 5 January the club hosted an open
day with 97 visitors registering. The event was
arranged by the sailing committee. Unfortunately,
the weather prevented us taking visitors out sailing. However, “Captain” John Copeland took out
many of the kids and their parents on the rib,
braving the conditions. The kids even managed
to sight some of the resident dolphins. The day
was well worth while, and we expect to achieve a
number of new memberships as a result.
This year’s Westernport Challenge is to be
held at Westernport Yacht Club on Sunday, 19
January. I encourage all sailors to participate and
assist us in retaining the trophy which we regained last year. I particularly wish to encourage
our younger sailors to compete for the Younger
Set trophies.
Finally, I wish to extend a big thank you to my
fellow flag officers Chris Gurney and John Tilleard, committee members and the members
who have given generously of their time over the
Christmas period. This period places added pressures on the many services that the club provides, and hence the many voluntary hours members undertake in organising and supporting the
club’s activities. Well done to all!
- Jeremy Pearse
Windward page 3
Rear Commodore’s report
HAPPY2014. It’s not even a week into the New
Year as I write this but……..phew!
‘Tis a great club community when you know
that you can rely on volunteers to step up every
time to every task. Thanks to all those who
helped with the success of the Discover Sailing
Day on 5 January. From the registration desk to
the sausage sizzle, the boat rides, rigged boats
in the yard and the indefatigable club hosts who
showed people around: we shared our club with
more than 100 visitors and signed up several
sailing families. Visitors loved the great relaxed
club feel and being shown around by their newest best friend! Thanks to all. It helps to keep us
an important part of the Somers community.
Speaking of new members, that means new
boats! The yard is full. Any remaining unauthorised boats, kayaks OR TRAILERS will shortly
disappear (probably without trace!).
Two very important events are almost upon
us: the Western Port Challenge at Western Port
Yacht Club on Sunday 19 January and the
Western Port Youth Regatta at Somers Yacht
Club on Saturday 18 January
Last year some excellent sailing across the
Somers fleet saw the Western Port Challenge
trophy return to its rightful place in our trophy
cabinet. And there it shall remain! Remember,
sailing is just for fun …. and it’s a lot more fun
when you are on the winning team. So let’s have
another great team effort this year.
On the day before the Western Port Challenge, Somers is hosting the Western Port Youth
Regatta. Note our program shows a 1:00 pm
start but instead we will be coaching and racing
all day starting with a briefing at 10:00 am. I’m
pleased to say we have secured some very qualified coaches for the day including David White
for Division 5, our own Caitlin Davies (and Sean
Bly?) for the monos and Robbie Lovick for the
cats. If you are 21 or younger, please help make
the day a success by entering as soon as possible at
http://www.trybooking.com/ECPB.
Meanwhile our members have been producing
good results at regattas far and wide. The high-
light is Daniel Stone conquering the field at Meningie Sailing Club to win the National
Title for the Mosquito Spinnaker class with a consistent second place across all three
races in difficult, blowy conditions. Mosquito Guru Gary said of Daniel’s win:
“Daniel was incredibly consistent in difficult conditions, sailing more cautiously than me downwind but still put the spinnaker up more than
most for a deserved result”. Great effort Daniel.
Daniel’s brother Matt proved to be a little too adventurous with his spinnaker finishing down the
fleet after a few too many swims. The club is
very proud to have sailors of your calibre.
Back on home ground – that’s where we have
been! On the ground not on the water! We only
managed to sail two of the scheduled six races in
the Summer Cup. Threatening weather kept us
ashore for the rest of that series but we did manage two races on Boxing Day with a fleet of visiting Optis. A small fleet had a lot of fun with short
course racing on the first sailing day of 2014 and
the yardstick pursuit was popular as always. The
Sandy Point Cruise finished satisfactorily with a
fast return to base – for most! Congratulations to
all participants and place getters.
Special thanks to all the tractor/rescue boat/
race control volunteers over this busy period.
We would not be Somers YC without your continuing contribution. Same goes for all the other
things that just get done around the club.
Weather didn’t stop the Sailing School
though. By all reports the school just gets better
and better. Emma and all your helpers: your efforts are keeping the club young and vibrant. It’s
great!
Yachting Victoria have agreed to run a one
day Club Race Officers Course at Somers. We
are canvassing dates and participants for a Sunday in February or March. Please let me know if
you are interested.
Happy sailing.
- John Tilleard
Windward page 4
Division 1 report
SATURDAY 07 Dec - Another glorious day at
Somers for the first Championship race with
sunny skies and a light Southerly breeze. Matt
Stone arrived with Tash Van Rennes and two
Mozzies on the trailer fresh from the Whitsunday
Islands. Welcome back Matt and welcome Tash
to Somers yacht club. They were both setting up
with spinnakers to join Daniel at the front of the
fleet.
Andrew Robertson was also back and was
putting the mast on his refurbished "A" class
classic and rigging up for the race. Good to have
you back in the fleet again Andrew.
Barry Marmion had ditched the "Tee" foil rudders and was going conventional. Rumour is that
this won't be for long and that foiling centreboard
moulds are in progress and new centreboard
cases will soon follow. We all eagerly await the
next development.
Congratulations go to Michelle Bursa and
Chelsea Haynes who won the NSW Hobie 16
womens and youth state titles. They were also
6th overall from a fleet of 37. An excellent performance.
There were a couple of additional Hobie 16s
racing with new crews namely:
Dylan Holmes and Alexander Jurovic
Megan Bursa and Tegan Davies
Research revealed that there is a strong contingent of Somers Hobie 16 entered in the World
titles to be held at Jervis Bay at the start of Feb-
ruary with 496 competitors and 365 teams. Michelle and Megan Bursa, Tash Van Rennes and
Matt Stone, Emma and Simon Morris and Dylan
and Alexander have all entered. Good luck to all
competing. By the time you read this they will all
be close to competing.
14 Dec - Another glorious day with a 10 to 15
knot Southerly and mainly sunny skies. Matt,
Tash and Daniel had gone over the "hill" to Rye
Y.C. to contest the Mozzie Spinnaker State Titles so the numbers were down slightly. Maybe
Christmas functions also took their toll since
there were only eight division entries. Andy Griffin ably assisted by Chris Tuck won the race on
Yardstick and Handicap. A fine result. A warm
welcome back to Simon Boadle sailing his revamped Mozzie "Twice Bitten". Simon took 2nd
place on handicap and had a great battle with
Barry Marmion for the first race of his season.
Others in the fleet had their own contests and
battles.
Congratulations to Matt and Daniel were 2nd
and 3rd respectively in the Mozzie Spinnaker
state titles with 7 races over 2 days.
December Post Christmas Races
With Christmas dinners consumed there was
lots of racing scheduled. With lots of wind there
were plenty of great results, shortened courses
and abandoned races. A full listing of results can
be found on the website.
- Peter Foulsom
Windward page 5
Division 2 report
A beautiful Somers day with little wind blessed us
for the first Championship with a 100 per cent increase in starters over the pre-Christmas series.
All managed a good start with Malcolm reaching
the first windward ahead of Steph who moved
ahead downwind, not to be overtaken until the
last triangle by Stan, who went faster and faster
as the wind died to about 2Kts and who beat
Steph, Malcolm and Adam to the finish. It was
great to see Steve Schaper completing a triangle,
and who promises to be a starter from now on.
Chris also promised to have his boat fixed very
soon after a slight altercation at the State titles.
The second Championship saw six Div ll starters
on another perfect Somers day with 10 to 12kts
and sunshine. The start was won by Adam who
reached the windward just ahead of Malcolm with
Steph behind, then Stan, Barry and Steve
Shaper. The downwind legs didn’t see any
changes until the second last reach when Malcolm got in front of Adam who aggressively
fought back on the homeward reach, whilst Steph
was watching this with glee from a little distance
behind, and being fully powered up couldn’t believe his luck, and snuck to the finish line in front
of Adam, Malcolm, Stan, Barry and Steve, both
of whom completed their first race this season.
This is what sailing is all about- having good
competitive fun. Phil J was being entertained
watching from the beach.
Boxing Day regatta Race 1 started eventually
half an hour late while management was trying to
find where the wind was coming from, but eventually got under way with boats all over the place
in the starting area, so it was difficult to find a
way through. Both Phil in his beautiful work of art
“Philthy Habits” and Adam got a clearer start than
Steph, and reached the windward ahead of him.
They continued in that order until the last windward, when Adam pulled the cat out of the bag
with a perfectly judged tack to the windward
mark, well ahead of Phil and led to the finish. As
the second race started the wind took its revenge
on us by rocketing in at 20-25Kts, and the two
starters Adam and Steph, sheeted in hard to
flattened their sails, and just as Steph was hauling everything on, “crack” the shackle holding the
mast rotation/boom vang let go and his race was
finished, with Adam finishing as the only placegetter, and Peter Thompson got caught by the
wind change and ended up at Wilsons Point with
a cracked head and boat. The head is healing
and the boat is being fixed.
Summer Cup 1 was sailed in perfect Somers
conditions with a 12KT 190* breeze and sunshine! All four of us got away to a clean start with
Malcolm reaching the windward a little ahead of
Steph and Adam with Barry behind, when suddenly Steph found one of his rudders floating behind where it was supposed to be - the pintle attatchment screws having pulled through the transom. The second beat saw Adam take command
and Malcolm’s boat suffering a broken mast rotation bolt with Adam crossing the line ahead of
Barry after what could have been an interesting
battle. Summer Cup 2 and 3 were blown out and
the two contestants, Malcolm and Barry ,who entered didn’t start in the “Off the Beach race”.
Summer Cup 4 was sailed in the most perfect
Somers conditions with a 12 to 15Kt SW breeze
in beautiful sunshine. The trick was to judge the
lay line with the outgoing tide early enough to
outsmart your opponents. This happened on the
first windward when Steph got the better of Malcolm and didn’t lose his place, with Stan doing a
fine job keeping a little distance behind, and
Barry taking up 4th place, with Peter Thompson
not making the start. Phil was seen on the beach
without his arm in a sling, so we are looking forward to his return after New Year. There were
two entries for the short course races but no
starters as conditions were rather unsuitable.
Race 5 and 6 were abandoned due to strong
winds, as was the Yardstick Pursuit race.
- Steph Schwarz PT 3014
Windward page 6
Division 4 report
DIVISION 4 continues to have the largest fleets
in the club with several new Sabres joining as
well as visits from Division 3 skippers in borrowed Sabres and Sabres from other clubs.
Off The Beach
We gathered on the beach in sunshine and 10
to 15k winds. Tim R managed to capsize only
10m off the beach ,much to the entertainment of
the spectators, then retired before the windward
mark with a sore shoulder. Keith won easily after
Boxing Day Regatta
Race 1. The new trapezium course and shifty his 10 minute head start, with Harrison and Lachie not far behind. Joe, Colin and Bryan were
light winds proved challenging for some sailors.
visiting from Westernport and had a very close
The start line was long with an extreme pin end
bias. Tim and Wendy started up there on port but race with Wendy getting well ahead of them
only on the final two reaches Her mast came
a big wind shift suddenly put all the guys down
the boat end well in front, Tim managed to work down just before the beach with her only just
his way back into the race and passed Keith just managing to keep her boat off the rocks.
Race 4- There was a big Sabre fleet in sunny
before the finish. Colin Franke from Westernport
10-15
knots, including Stephen Teh in "True
was well in front of all the Somers boats. There
was a no show from the Solos in their ideal con- Blue" and Keith in his new boat "Catch-a-Turian",
ditions . Perhaps John Carter, as current Cham- Maddi P and Maddie H have improved rapidly
pionship Series leader is saving himself for the and Maddi P was nearly first across the finish
line.
important races?
Race 2 The wind blew up to 20k+ between the
races. Tim, Bart, David and Alison headed for
Short Course Regatta
shore and the WYC guys went home leaving
The weather was cloudy with 15 to 20k, so
Bernie, Keith, Wendy and the two Maddies in
only Div 4 and 5 went out in the morning with a
their Laser 4.7s, Bernie retired after one lap.
few Div 3 boats joining us in the afternoon when
Keith was in front but lost track of the laps and
the sun came out. Mike Sandiford gave us a
finished too early. Wendy just sailed carefully but dose of Sandiford sailing medicine in "Old Tiger".
slowly and got in front when the 4.7s capsized
We hope he will be our secret weapon in the Sagoing downwind. It is nice to be in a Sabre, not a bre States! Chris Gurney sailed “Moondance” He
Laser in those conditions!
struggled with gear failure in the first but nearly
snuck past Wendy at the finish of the second
race. Harrison and Lachie sailed well into 3rd
Summer Cup
Race 1 We started in perfect conditions, 10 to place for the series despite a capsize. Good luck
Harrison at the Optimist Nationals!
15k with some nice waves to surf on. Tim and
The rest of Summer Cup was abandoned due
Wendy had a close race with Wendy only getting
to strong winds leaving Bernie first on handicap
comfortably in front on the last lap. Poor Keith's
and Wendy first on yardstick. Fingers crossed
mast came down during the last lap when he
that we have seen the last of this wild stormy
was leading the back half of the division.
Race 2&3 The back to backs were abandoned weather and can look forward to some great sailing for the rest of the season!
due to the predicted 40k gale which arrived as
- Wendy Wilson
some of us were cooling off in the shallows on
the only hot day so far.
Windward page 7
Division 3 report
THE past month has seen the usual tightly fought
races that we have come to know and love in Division 3.
So far we have sailed two championships and
there are three Tasars in the lead for Yardstick
with 4 points each – Michael Vandenberg and
Caitlin Davies, Mike Sandiford and Bridget Robinson, and Amanda Nutting and Lisa Tuck.
John Tilleard in his Laser and Nick and Bodie
Carter are not far behind – stay tuned for more
updates!
Handicap in the Championships so far is led
by the Nutting sisters with Steve Clifford second
and Nick and Bodie third.
Boxing Day saw two very different race results with Mike and Bridget winning the first race.
Then the wind blew up and seven crews headed
for hot showers and the bar.
Chris and Alistair Gurney won the second
race- closely followed by Mal and brother Rod
Otto, then a great performance by Janease Graham in her Laser radial for third.
Because of very blowy conditions the summer
cup was decided on only two races with Chris
and Alistair resoundingly winning on both yardstick and handicap.
Chris and Alistair thus take out the Summer
Cup with Steve and John both on five points
each for second place.
Mike and Bridget were second on yardstick
with Amanda and Lisa third.
The Off the Beach Handicap event was a lot of
fun with Rob and Jon Briggs taking the hooter,
Nick and Morgan Carter second and Libby Moore
and Wendy Davies third .
We look forward to seeing Caitlin Davies on
the water again, now she is back from sailing in
the laser nationals .
- Amanda Nutting
Show sea rescue a bit of courtesy
WE all know that Christmas and New Year is a
busy time with family and friends. It is also a busy
time at the club with many races.
With a 10-race program from Boxing Day to
January 2 this presents a big task for sea rescue,
finding nine for three boats for every race.
This is not helped when people don’t let Tony
Duboudin or me know early enough that they
can’t do their duty so we can find a replacement.
Up to New Year’s day we have had people
ringing with less than 24 hours to say they can’t
do their rostered duty, others who say they have
sent an email pointing out they could not do a
certain day but the email mysteriously can’t be
found and yet others who just go away overseas
or interstate and don’t bother to respond to the
initial roster and when they receive their reminder
text just say they won’t be there.
This sort of behaviour is UNACCEPTABLE
and shows a lack of courtesy.
Taking a turn on the patrol boats is part of be-
ing a member of the club. We ask people to
nominate days they might be unavailable before
we draw up the rosters, we try to avoid rostering
people who are well placed in championships or
other events … we bend over backwards to be
accommodating – we expect similar treatment
from other club members.
All we ask is when you receive the roster you:
Read it and hit the return receipt button so we
know you have received it.
If you are unable to do a duty let Tony know
as soon as possible.
If possible arrange a swap with someone
else.
Don’t leave your response to the last minute
unless it is unavoidable.
The message is simple: we try to help sailors
but you need to co-operate and help sea rescue
crew three boats every race day. We also expect
to be shown a measure of courtesy by other club
members.
- Norm Dewar
Windward page 9
Division 5 report
SUMMER is finally here and Division 5 boys and
girls (mostly girls!) have been out on the water in
force. In fact, Division 5 had the most sailors in
several races. The highlight had to be Boxing
Day when a heap of Optimists and Hawks had a
great day of racing with VIODA head coach
David White visiting to pass on his tips.
The Championships have begun with Taylor
Poon establishing an early dominance with two
wins. Lucy and Elly are keeping her honest with
the racing being very tight.
The Summer Cup was also tight with Lucy
pipping Taylor on a count back while Elly led the
way in the Hawk. Elly had a great win in the offthe-beach race!
Five Somers sailors are still competing in the
Optimist National Titles at the time of writing.
Harrison and Lucy are working hard in open fleet
(140 entries), Taylor performing really well in the
intermediate fleet (111 entries) and Courtney and
Hayley going well in the green fleet (84 entries).
A full report will follow next month.
- Nick Ede
Stop press: Michelle and Chelsea are youth champions
WE are so rapt to be the 2014 Hobie 16 Australian Youth Champs! It's been a big week of sailing ranging from 25 knots + to really light and
shifty.
Looking forward to presentation and then
partying with great competitors and friends.
Thanks to all our supporters, especially our
coach Robbie Lovig and to Dave Holden for the
lend of our support boat. Congratulations to all
the 2014 Aus Youth Champs in other classes
also. Yeeeeew!
- Chelsea Haynes and Michelle
Windward page 10
Paddy “masters” the art of sailing
IN March 2013 Patrick went to Split in Croatia
and completed a RYA Yacht Masters certificate.
He then took part in the Yacht Week Skipper
academy in order to become a skipper for the
“Yacht Week “ which is a Swedish company
based in London. The company operates yacht
charters in Italy, Greece, Croatia the British Virgin Islands and Thailand. Chris Wierzbowski from
Merricks Yacht Club has been working for this
company for the past year and introduced Pat to
the opportunity.
Pat followed this with an STCW95 course in
The Isle of White which is sea survival, firefighting on a yacht at sea and first aid at sea.
This allowed him to become a commercially endorsed skipper.
He skippered in various boats ranging from
43-53 foot Yachts for the Yacht week in the Adriatic from July until September when he went to
England and raced a First 40 in the Dartmouth
Week Regatta. This was followed by racing from
Southampton in England to Cherbourg in France.
In November he skippered in Thailand and it was
during this time that Pat made contact with
Gordon Ketelbey who is the owner of ZEN, the
Sydney 38 which he crewed on in the 2013 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race .
Pat has enjoyed all his sailing experiences
over the past year. The most frightening moment
during the Sydney to Hobart was when sailing
across Bass Strait at 15 Knots with the spinnaker
Zen, hit a Sun Fish on the keel and the rudder.
The entire crew anxiously looked for the rudder
at the back to ensure it was still there and were
most relieved as they expected the worst .
The most exciting part of the race was the
start in Sydney Harbour and the finish which involved a tacking duel with an Archibald 40 up the
Derwent to the finish.
Next stop is the Contender Nationals and
World titles in Belmont, Lake Macquarie during
January .
-Libby Moore
Windward page 11
Why sail a Paper Tiger Catamaran?
FOR many years the slogan for the Paper Tiger
Catamaran Association was “The excitement machine” and it was a good description of the fun
that it was sailing a Paper Tiger. But fun and excitement is not all that Paper Tigers are renowned for. It has been the starting catamaran
for a lot of sailors who became world, international, national, state, junior and lady champion
skippers. Glen Ashby was the junior and national
Paper Tiger champion as a 16-year-old. Simon
McEwan, the world champion big catamaran
sailor who sailed “Yellow Pages” to several wins
of the Little America’s Cup, (this was the world
championship for Catamarans in the 70s and
80s) bought Paper Tigers for each of his three
sons. David Hart, A Class and Tornado sailor
was the Paper Tiger state champion as a late
teenager. All these guys went on to sail “ A “
Class catamarans with distinction.
What about our own Club sailors, our current
Commodore Jeremy Pearse started Cat sailing in
a Paper Tiger, as did Janus Karnowski, Mal Otto,
Norm Dewar, Brian Gristwood, Matt Stone,
Daniel Stone and Carly Stone, In the early days
Stan Byrne, Colin Gurney, Dick White, Kerry Dewar, Michael Morse, Rod Austin, Gary Grist, Vlad
Bunyevich, Ben Carroll, Larry Dell, Don Knox,
Noel Danne and many more all sailed Paper Tigers.
We all started on Paper Tigers as an easy cat to
sail, easy to handle in any sailable weather, easy
to handle in and out of the water and up the
beach into the boat yard. The gradual develop-
ment of the one design cat has added to its longevity as the preferred small cat for budding
catamaran champions. The Paper Tiger has
more sail and rigging adjustments that can be
made on the water as the sailing conditions
change than any other cat I know. This is great to
work out what makes your cat go quicker than
the opposition in every race. You can fiddle to
your hearts content to see what sail shape you
want that day, and what mast bend and rigging
tension you need.
We have had many good lady skippers in Paper
Tigers, this cat is friendly enough that brute
strength is not the determining factor.
As an added incentive you can sail in an international Series against New Zealand. It is sailed
two years out of three, every third year in New
Zealand, so you can, become an international
sailor. There is a 10-man team chosen from the
top finishers in the national championships, but
other Paper Tiger sailors can join in the competition but their results do not count for the official
team.
It is also a boat that can be sailed competitively
by any reasonably fit person, the current age
range for our own Paper Tiger fleet is from 20 to
79 years old. And the oldies still give the young
turks a run for their money.
If you want to try sailing a Paper Tiger, speak to
me in the boat yard, my Paper Tiger is Wonderful
World. You could just be starting a new chapter
in your own sailing career.
- Malcolm Kemp
Windward page 12
Sailing school news
OUR first Start Sailing course for the season has
been completed with 17 very enthusiastic students. With early starts at 9am, five mornings in a
row, full concentration was needed throughout
the course and we certainly exhausted the lot of
them. They all took on a heap of new knowledge
about water safety, forecasts, points of sail, parts
of the boat, knots, capsizing, launching, retrieving
and how to sail a boat.
We had some very competent sailors in this
group also learn some more advanced skills
about racing around a course, the cardinal
marks, and even controlling their boat sailing
backwards.
Our keen teenagers were all available and of
great help in assisting with the students, teaching
them the skills they learnt not long ago themselves.
- Emma Morris
A little bit of history-SYC footie team 1971
Windward page 13
Christmas and holiday activities at the club
Clockwise from right:
Members enjoy the club’s seafood
night.
Excited children prepare to take a ride
on the rib during Discover Sailing Day
at the club.
Santa Claus weaves his spell with the
children.
IN HOME CATERING
FOR ALL OCCASIONS
VIC CRUST
Tel: 5973 6096
Mobile: 0450 784 969
Fax: 5973 2708
Windward page 14
Bollywood comes to Somers
FROM Tower Hill to Luxton Drive, Sandy
Point to Promenade, they came to Somers
Yacht club, to celebrate “ Bollywood “ and
100 years of Hindi films from Raja Harishandra (1913) to the Grand Masti (2013).
The Lumiere brothers, who produced the first
Indian silent movie in 1896, would have been
proud of the turnout.
There were really two performances on
the 31 December 2013.
The first session of Bollywood comes to
Somers started at 10.30am and was directed
and choreographed to the minute, by the
amazing Diana Nutting. Mr Taylor and half of
Bollywood in Somers.
Somers primary school.
Props included 25 gold plated wands with
foil streamers, orange glowing vertical slot
Chinese lanterns, horizontal fishnet stockings
hung ! Chrissy, Anne, Libby, Lisa, Amanda,
supported from the trusses on garters of blushing Wendy, Helen and at least half a dozen other
pink, orange and red, there were oriental bamboo gems and Jules accurately recreated the
coloured tissue balls, Steve Clifford kept check- magnificent crown of palaces the (Taj Mahal)
ing his iPhone for Mandarin/English translation of before our eyes .
There was massed Bollywood singing includinstructions on how to assemble and muttering,
give me something cerebral, I don’t get this prac- ing the pop hits ;
There goes another one , to the accompanitical stuff. (P.S. Simon, it’s time to take him under
ment of an exploding balloon,
your aeronautical wing and give him a lift.)
Posters were positioned, streamers were
3 blacks, 4 lattes and who wanted the weak
strung, balloons were inflated and curtains were chai soy, was also popular
Steve Schaper was razor sharp with a solo to
Keith with his head in the fridge how are we off
for Coopers, do we need more Moore.
Bart did a solo rendition of sausage roll or coffee scroll?
Whilst AJ with Keith Moore on strings performed the duet are my balls well hung.
It must be said that some magnificent spaghetti carbonara was created by Sparky Peter
between the existing hanging lights and the
three-tier pyramid lantern. Fortunately nothing
was cooked during the evening.
There were many outstanding performances at
the morning session, thanks to all of you, the
scene that was, you set!
Continued next page
Barry and Di Price with Kenn McIntosh
Windward page 15
Continued from page 14
The second set started at 8pm, the costumes had changed .
Andree and Steve got the night under way
with the perennial favourites from our washed
denim youth and produced a wonderful nights
entertainment of nostalgia and reflection. For
many of us, the limbs no longer move as
once they did and such songs re-establish
the synapse between mind and movement,
which for me can be Hazardous.
What a turn-out, there was the father of
the Indian political dynasty of the Nehru –
Ghandi line, Gangadhor Nehru ( Bart) in
white linen top and pant with legendary hat.
Phil Johnson with his harem!!!
There were beautiful women in sarees and
two piece salwars, with gold embroidered
would win this years Bollywood Hun Gama
trim, in exotic hues of the saffron, magenta,
white , tumeric and green symbolic of the Indian Award.
There was a spectrum of onesies with Briggsy
national colours .
There were Target textile tops complemented and Carolyn looking like a gold Hun Gama couple and Jeremy in bronze blended in well with the
with haute couture and millinery from Kmart.
There were a dozen or more red spot specials marine environment.
Tim Brock was making sure that everyone
wearing turbans, dastars or veils all with the
wore a bindi on their forehead to signify they
name of Ghandi.
The SYC tractor controller Rudi, in khadi and were wedded to the sailing club for life.
Just because his boat is yellow he decided
matching turban, accompanied by his beautiful
that the rattling (collective noun) of Sabre sailors
wife Sandy, discussed with Malcolm and Noel
would all wear yellow dots.
who was wearing a intricate Persian print, who
Under the direction of Vic, Brenda, Carol, Niall
Simon and
and Ethan weaved a diverse selection of scrumpMadeline
tious finger foods, included vege options through
Boadle enjoy the crowd, through out the night. Thanks.
a glass.
For me a highlight of the night was Mike Bailey’s, Pepe Le Pew (WB. Looney Tunes 1945).
The lost and lonely middle aged romantic skunk
from southern France in endless pursuit of Penelope, “you are my piñata” (PLP is odour able 26
Dec.2010.), ended up as the piñata of 2013, a
victim of sailing club’s w’acker tacker program.
New Year’s Eve at SYC is a special time in a
magnificent setting amidst enduring friends.
This is yet another spectacular summer in Somers for Shore! Thanks to all.
- Andrew Jamieson
Windward page 16
Getting to know you - Amanda Nutting
What division do you sail in?
The mighty Division 3
What do you sail?
Tasar 2656 Ultraviolet with my sister Lisa ( supercrew!)
How often do you sail?
As often as I can depending on family commitments - weekly in the season at Somers.
I also joined Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron
last year and crew on a keelboat (owned by exSomers YC sailors Murray McCutcheon and Michael Morse) on Wednesday afternoons throughout the year.
How old were you when you started sailing?
Nine years old – crewing for Dad in our Mirror
NUTSY. We raced in various places with the
Mirror Association and joined Somers because it
had the biggest Mirror fleet in the Southern Hemisphere – about 90 then! I was often very scared
of the waves and the seaweed hanging off the
fixed metal buoys. Also I was scared when Dad
would let go of the tiller when we gybed, so I
would always remind him not to! Soon after that
I wanted my own boat so I stole Dad’s new Mirror
from him and sailed it with my sister Diana. Dad
and Lisa moved to a 125. Lisa refused to crew
for me back then because I yelled at her!
Whereas Diana would just yell back! (I think I
have now controlled that bad habit and Lisa is
happy to crew for me again).
What is your most memorable sailing moment?
Having a full-speed head on collision with Don
Lee and Ted Shaw in their FJ in about 1976 –
and completely demolishing the side of the Mirror
from the forestay to the side stay. Amazingly the
mast didn’t fall down and we had it repaired for
the next weekend’s sailing.
I have been thrilled in the early 2000s when, for a
couple of seasons, all five of our family were sailing in various boats in the same races at Somers.
I am very lucky that Steve has taken up what is
really my passion .
Where is the best
place you have
sailed?
Somers of course!
Love the fresh breeze
and open waters. I
have also sailed various regattas on Sydney Harbour (very
stressful with the ferries!) and elsewhere.
More recently I have
enjoyed bareboat sailing in the Whitsundays and
Croatia.
What is your best result at Somers?
Club Champion of the division several times in
the late 70s with sister Diana in our Mirror TUNA
(a nut backwards) and then with son Simon (then
aged 9) in our Pacer in 2005. Tim Rintoul thought
it was unfair that I had such a light crew- but I
was hampered by the fact that Simon would want
me to “drive over there Mummy” and would haul
in huge pieces of kelp. He would then sit on the
floor putting all the little sea creatures in the bailing bucket and would not co operate by putting
up the spinnaker nor tacking when I wanted to.
How long have you been a member of the
club?
Since I was a 10-year-old in 1969 - but with some
missing years when I was too busy with young
family and career commitments
What are you known for around the club?
As a member of the Nutting family which has
been involved in the Club for decades.
Also I hope to be known as one of the women in
their “mature years” who are prepared to get out
there and give it a go with the men! (but not over
20 knots!)
What is it that you like about Somers Yacht
Club?
Friendliness, family values, good competitive
sailing but down to earth people.
Continued next page
Windward page 17
Getting to know you continued
who would it be?
Kay Cottee – first women single hander around
Any suggestions about how the club could be the world in the days of not much back-up.
improved?
Do you have a hidden talent?
Coaching clinics for improving skills of intermedi- I play the piano rather badly and I am an expert
ate sailors and more people volunteering to help at lighting a room with candles- I have three
spread the load.
drawers for my candle collection at home.
What is your worst sailing habit?
If there was one sailing rule you could change
Getting anxious at the beginning of the race and what would it be?
oversheeting and wondering why the boat won’t Ladies before gentlemen!!
go! Also slow boat handling, not hiking out
If you could crew for anyone in the world who
enough and poor mark rounding – I could go on would you choose?
Olivia Price – skipper of the women’s match racand on.
ing team that won silver in the London Olympics.
If you could choose to be any sports star,
The end of a sea rescue experience
AT the end of the season 12/13 I stepped down
from sea rescue after 11 years. I joined the club
in the first season after it was rebuilt from storm
damage and in doing so kept a promise to a late
friend. Robert Bartholomew brought me down to
the club and signed me up, so blame him!
I grew up in a seaside suburb and the beach
was my second home. I snorkeled, surfed and
later crewed for many years on a family keel boat
racing out of Mornington. I clocked up a lot of sea
time cruising and delivering boats in Australian
coastal and international waters. Neither am I a
stranger to dinghy sailing. I therefore immediately
saw sea rescue as the perfect place for me to
serve Somers Yacht Club. In my early days my
mentor and dear friend was the late Rob May.
Among the many things he taught me was the art
of navigating through a fleet of sailing dinghies,
an art that some members don’t think I mastered.
I watched sea rescue become the polished organisation it is today at the hands of Norm Dewar
and many other dedicated volunteers, too many
to name but who you see every race day at the
club working to ensure another successful sailing
day. Allow me one tip in parting; it is sea rescue
standing orders that a rescue boat “stands by” a
capsised yacht. Over the years we have seen the
simplest “spill” rapidly spiral into near disaster.
I have seen some spectacular sailing, met
some wonderful
people crewing on
board, and heard
some great stories. I
leave with a sailing
bag full of anecdotes. Near the end
of last season a stiff
northwesterly wind
convinced the race
officer to cancel division five, (the
younger set). In SA1
we were called in to help get the sailors and their
boats back to shore. They were spread along the
coast from the club to Point Williams. The jump
crew gleefully sailed Georgia Wood-Freeman’s
Sparrow back to the landing zone. We took
Georgia aboard and delivered her into the waiting
arms of Nick her father. Later while we were
cleaning the rescue boats Nick and Georgia appeared. Georgia thanked me for helping her out
that day. Believe me I was humbled and deeply
moved. Such simple words spoken from the
heart by this gracious young lady. It was one of
those moments that stays with you forever.
I wish all sailors, sea rescue and race management volunteers many safe and happy seasons.
- Lindsay Pullin
Windward page 18
To dredge or not, that is the question
The following letter regarding the dredging of Westernport Bay was
received by the yacht club and is repeated below for your information
with permission of the commodore and the committee of Somers
Yacht Club.
Dear Somers Yacht Club,
My name is Kevin Chambers. At the tender age
of 66 I am a lifelong visitor/resident to the SE
eastern corner of Western Port Bay. Initially with
family holiday homes at San Remo and have resided at 41 Woodland Close The Gurdies since
2008.
I deeply love Western Port and her wind and
tides. No two days of being out fishing on the Bay
are ever the same. I have been a member of
Newhaven Yacht Club since the early 80s and
my family have strict instructions to "feed the
fish" when my time on this mortal coil expires. I
will be "joining" both my parents when this event
occurs, preferably not for some time yet....
Please find on line locations for local paper articles concerning the proposed Hastings Port development. As is evident, they have been written
from the perspective of what will happen to
Cowes/Phillip Is/Bass Coast if our beloved Western Port Bay is dredged to the extent to allow it to
become Denis Napthine's "This will be Hastings
in 20 years". (Channel 7 news when he was in
Shanghai recently). AKA 3,000 ships/9 million
containers PA
All I'm asking you good people to do is read the
attachments and then imagine it all, but with a
reverse tidal flow.
WARNEET.
The "firehose effect "aka an incoming winter
spring high tide with a big SW gale behind it.
Throw in the reclaimed land sticking out into the
bay with a bloody big swinging basin dredged off
it to allow the 14 metre draught of the ships to
use it. Not only make the tide run faster, via less
"searoom", but also give it more depth to run
even faster. (Bass Strait will be looking to
"equalise"). What fate awaits the mudbanks from
Rutherford Inlet east????
Very surprised Yaringa is not screaming their
heads off. They will be by far the worst affected.
SOMERS
You are currently "protected" via the sandbars on
the western side of the shipping channel. If they
dramatically "open up" the existing shipping anchorage off Tortoise Head, give it a stiff autumn
SE and an outgoing and dropping spring high
tide, how long is your "protection" going to last??
What I find especially disturbing is the condescending attitude to this whole matter by the Port
of Hastings CEO, Mr Mike Lean.
EG. No jack barges during the summer holidays
off Cowes now, but 60,000 tonne container ships
are OK in five years time. He's had four dredging
companies in his office, but "he does not know
where we will have to dredge"
The local papers are the South Gippsland Sentinel Times and the Phillip Island and San Remo
Advertiser, the "Sth Gippy" article is available on
line at http://www.sgst.com.au/?p=3715
Premier Napthine release on his visit to the
Shanghai Port can be found at
http://export.business.vic.gov.au/news/news/
shanghai-port-of-yangshan-visit-provides-insightinto-world-class-port-operations
If you agree with what you read, please, please,
start circulating this material amongst your members and contact your local papers. Mike Hast at
Western Port Times and Danielle Galvin at the
Pakenham Gazette/Cranbourne News are already well aware of this proposal
Yours sincerely,
Kevin Chambers 0418 127748
Windward page 19
Club Contacts
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Commodore
Vice-Commodore
Rear-Commodore
Treasurer
Secretary
Jeremy Pearse
Chris Gurney
John Tilleard
John Hatton
Roy Higginson
0419 804 349
0413 433 620
0419 517 193
5983 5898
0408 838 057
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Social Coordinator
Bar Management
Membership Secretary
Sea Rescue & Safety Officer
Rules, Legal & Finance
General Committee Member
Stephen Brown
0407 334 018
Margaret Tilleard 0409 003 136
Norm Dewar
5983 1690
Tim Rintoul
5983 1116
Grahame Tiplady 5931 3301
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
OTHER ESSENTIAL CONTACTS
Clubhouse Booking
Facilities Manager
Race Management
Liquor Licensee
Web Site Manager
Sailing school
Windward Editor
Friday Night Dinner
and Yacht Club Catering
Bar Roster
Yard Manager
Madeline Boadle
Simon Boadle
Mark Graham
Rob Welch
Grahame Tiplady
Emma Morris
Tony Duboudin
Vic Crust
0417 583 902
5983 5561
0417 530 230
9592 2597
5931 3301
0425 784 877
5983 1360
0450 784 969
Di Nutting
John Carter
0458 200 778
5983 1381
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
(Bookings to be made by Thurs. 5 pm)
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Return address:
Somers Yacht Club
PO Box 129
Somers Vic 3927