February 2018

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Back to Work

And get ready for some great sailing in 2018. Every keelboat has a chance at ELEVEN major prizes.

Choose the column or row you have the best chance in and give it a shot. As we saw last year, the boat that participates the most has the best chance of picking up the most prizes.

Normally a boat’s handicap reverts to the starting value after each series. This year we will carry the Top Yacht adjusted handicap forward to the next series for the first two series (six months). This means if your boat (or your crew) doesn’t perform as well as the starting handicap you have a good chance of picking up a prize especially if you sail all races. You have to be in it to win it!!

This year race nomination fees are remaining the same as last year.

Fitzroy Island are, once again, generously sponsoring races to the island with their fantastic two nights in an Ocean View suite including breakfast & dinner. However, to win it your boat must stay overnight at Fitzroy Island to collect the prize. If you can’t manage that you’ll still get the points for the series but the prize will be raffled. We have four of these prizes to be won but you can only be awarded one each year. This means that coming second on handicap is really worth the effort if you just can’t get past that fast boat. In any case, second and third prizes are a bar tab at Roxie’s Bar on the night so that makes it worthwhile staying too.

Looks like the whole crew could join you.

Get ready for racing

It’s important to remember that we race under the authority of an Aquatic License which can easily be revoked if we don’t abide by the rules. Boat owners are ultimately responsible for the conduct of their vessel.

This means you must have…

  • A written safety plan on board
  • All items on the Cat 6 checklist checked as applicable especially…
  • A copy of the Yachting Australia rules (can be on an iPad or phone)
  • A First Aid kit
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • VHF radio in working order capable of monitoring Ch16 and Ch72 for starts. (One person on board must have a marine radio license)
  • Buckets on a lanyard
  • An anchor
  • Some other stuff. Check out the Cat 6 Checklist.

You also must have insurance with public liability of at least $10m

When sailing in the inlet remember, you must give way to commercial vessels. The commodore has more to say on this below.

Last Month

WAGS has valiantly continued with bottles of rum, vodka and wine liberally handed out to those that do well. Congratulations and it was good to see up to eight boats participating.

Dinghy Learn to Sail

The first Learn To Sail course continues each Saturday until the 24th Feb. Make sure you are there at 8am to get the boats ready. We have 20 buddying sailors 18 of which are adults. So keelboat skippers, if you need crew, that’s where they’ll be.

School Team Sailing starts on Tinaroo on the 25th Feb followed by Cairns on the 4th March and finally Mission Beach on Sunday 11th. Help is always needed, especially in Cairns. Call Scott on 0410 477 166

Coming UP – This Month

Sunday 11th Feb – Half yearly General Meeting. Come along, be informed and have your say, tell us what’s gone well and what could be better. In the Regatta Room at 11am, a chance to buy a new CYC Polo Shirt.

Saturday 17th Feb – Lindsay Joice Series kicks off our sailing season with a Bay Race. Briefing at 9am, start at 10 or otherwise as advised in the sailing instructions.

Sunday 18th Feb – Discover Sailing Day (or Try Sailing). We need volunteers to show newbies the ropes, take them for a sail and, hopefully, get them to sign up. Remember, if you are having difficulty getting crew, here’s your chance to get them on board.

Saturday 24th Feb – Lil Cortis Memorial Race Day. Dress code is pink, boats & crew. You should also have a skipper that looks like a lady even if she doesn’t behave like one.

Saturday 3rd March – Lindsay Joice Series Race 2 which will be the first Fitzroy Island race. (Fantastic prize on offer)

Saturday 11th March – (In case the newsletter is delayed) Lindsay Joice race three, the first Double Island race.

WAGS – Every Wednesday. A fun sailing day with others, stress-free and a chance for non-members to sail for the day, just $20 gets you on a boat. Be at the Boat Shed at 12. No need to call anyone, just turn up. Backpackers welcome.

Connect to the calendar HERE, you can download a .pdf copy to your phone or synch the calendar.

Commodore’s Commands

Stamping out bush fires again. A reminder that sailing vessels have to give way to a commercial vessel in a restricted waterway in a commercial port. Apart from displaying ignorance and poor seamanship here’s what will happen if you get too close.

The bow pressure will initially force the yacht away from the ship. As the flow tracks along the ship to midships there is a tremendous suction created which would suck the small boat into the side of the ship and hold it there until it is spat out at the stern.

Large vessels transit the channel at 10 Knots. The reason is to increase the under-keel clearance and reduce squat which is what happens when the ship slows. In some tidal situations, this could mean grounding.

The Master will have you sighted and call on Ch16. It is imperative that you have a radio on and tuned to Ch16 so if you are called you can make your intentions clear. These transmissions are recorded. You should also make your intentions clear by clearly changing course.

Not anyone we know?

All skippers, owners or at least one crew member should hold a radio license

VHF Radios should be on at all times

If the radio is below and can not be heard top sides, the ship’s radio must be operable from the cockpit, or a hand-held should be carried in the cockpit at all times.

All vessels are deemed unseaworthy if they put to sea without a suitable VHF, especially within port limits.

We may have spot inspections and any vessel that does not have this very basic requirement cannot partake in CYC yachting events which includes wags.

When there are large ships you must GET OUT of the channel as some of them need a clear passage especially between markers C16 to C20. Preferably, sail to the west of the channel as you will get stuck in the mud inside the channel around C18 and that would be a BAD look. As a general principle, think of manoeuvrability. Large vessels have no room or agility to manoeuvre whereas it’s easy for a yacht especially as you could use your engine. Finally, indicate your intentions on Ch16 and at least be listening on Ch16.

Want crew??

There is a new crop of sailors doing the dinghy Learn to Sail course. 18 of these are adults and would love to have the opportunity to crew on a bigger boat. I suggest to be at the boat shed on Saturday lunchtime and make your wishes known.

Keelboat skippers and crew – if you want to broaden your experience there is an easy way to find boats that need crew or an easy way to find crew. Get the “SailConnect” app on your phone. It’s free from Yachting Australia. (Click here to load on an iPad). Click here for an overview.

Cyclone Season

Review the Ports North Cyclone Contingency Plan. Click this link.

Feature Story

Where’s Wazza?

 

Next adventure was breaking a rudder at 20 knots fully powered up. We have to wait ’till next month for that.

Kerry D is heading off to Adelaide for the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race and the Port Lincoln Week Regatta. Have fun Kerry. P.S. Don’t get in the water, apart from it being 10° too cold I hear there are BIG sharks down there. Ed.

ED: We’d love to have your stories too. Please call the editor, Hew on 0409976888. Perhaps you can tell me your story over a drink or two? Email at iwantone2@icloud.com (We can fix spelling and grammar slip-ups)

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