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Issue 55, May-June 2018

Wha gwaan?

Another season is over and a successful one at that - we gained members; introduced new classes & saw resurgence in others; successfully hosted local & state events; held sailing, safety & back-office training; improved clubhouse & virtual facilities; and excelled in more than our fair share of titles. Wow!

So let's congratulate ourselves, we are great! (and don't worry about getting a big head, it increases hiking moment).

There's still lots of activity over winter at BSC to be involved in both on & off the water. No doubt there's plenty of repairs & maintenance being done on your own boats, rigging & trailers too. Have any advice you can share?

For those unconcerned with off season maintenance don't worry too much as boats don't sink very often. Usually it's only once.

I will follow up soon with advice on the new website and a request from our Commodore for a little assistance. So keep your eyes peeled.

Boyd Newton, missing half of 'Da Easy Crew, Editor.

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Important Info

Please look into the following as others may be relying on you to do so:

▪ Winter Sailing
▪ Rescue Boat Training - June 30th
▪ NSW Powerboat License
▪ World Sailing Olympics Review & Petition
Winter Sailing
Rescue Boat Training - June 30th
NSW Powerboat License
World Sailing Olympics Review & Petition

Dubious Info

Thanks to "he whom shall remain nameless" for providing a nautical themed joke this month. Unforunately due to our family audience I can only provide the punchline and leave it to your imigination...

"It's your turn in the barrel"

New Members

We are lucky to have ten additions to the BSC family this month.

▪ Joff & Martha Finlay and children Maisie-Belle, Darcey and Freddie - Tasar.
▪ Gabrielle King - Junior Windsurfer
▪ Alijee Vanderveken - Windsurfer
▪ Saravana Ghandi - Race Official
▪ Amelia Quinlan - Windsurfer
▪ Adam Linton - Contender
Joff & Martha Finlay and children Maisie-Belle, Darcey and Freddie - Tasar.
Gabrielle King - Junior Windsurfer
Alijee Vanderveken - Windsurfer
Saravana Ghandi - Race Official
Amelia Quinlan - Windsurfer
Adam Linton - Contender

A warm welcome to you all. We'll soon see you out on he water.

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Volunteer of the Month

Only in their element in the ocean, it's ironic the 'Penguin' goes to a club member who has shown outstanding terrestrial talents to the club over the past 12 months.

Winning the Penguin Award this year is Marco Teering

A recent addition to Balmoral’s board, Marco has taken on the task of bringing some of us dinosaurs on the board and in the club into more modern times, taking on the role of our technical guy.

Issuing the club’s first ever IT report for every board meeting, Marco has either developed or is in the process of developing new ways for us to run, race and recap our activities both on and off the water!!

He’s had the patience to help some of us luddites get on board with newer technology, setting up a proper cloud for the club’s files and automating the clubhouse calendar. Marco has been working with another valuable board member Anita Daum to automate the signon and race results process and to keep track of the maintenance needs of our safety boats.

And Marco’s not done yet; next year he’s promised to help us simplify membership and other areas of the club! Stand by for the launch of our new BSC website in time for next season.

I am told that these comments represent only the tip of the iceberg of Marco‘s contribution to Balmoral and its sailing, so I am honored to be giving him this award.

Graham Hanna, Commodore

Know someone we should recognise?

Email Boyd details of someone quietly working away behind the scenes.

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Friends, Romans, Countrymen, ...

Vollies paella

Lend me your Volunt ears;

A delightful lunch was had by all when our volunteers demolished a Paella served in a dish that Parkes Observatory would be proud of.

Vollies speech

The commitment of our volunteers is amazing and was captured in a speech given by Melanie Webb on the day that I would like to share with you all here.

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Expert Tips

Like to be at your best for the next regatta or creep up club rankings next season?

Me too, so I asked Rob Douglas for advice we can all benefit from. Rob is a multiple World, National & State champion and will soon compete in the Tasar Nationals in Darwin. Here's what he's up to...

Whats important for a major championship?

The short answer is Preparation.

What are your goals?

▪ Don’t be shy but don’t be unrealistic either.
▪ Prepare to meet them.
▪ Start with your weaknesses. Are they in boat handling, communication, strategy, starting? Address each issue to the best of your ability. Does this mean coaching, practice, fitness or reading. Do what you can. Keep a log if you are at the upper end of the fleet or would like to be.
Don’t be shy but don’t be unrealistic either.
Prepare to meet them.
Start with your weaknesses. Are they in boat handling, communication, strategy, starting? Address each issue to the best of your ability. Does this mean coaching, practice, fitness or reading. Do what you can. Keep a log if you are at the upper end of the fleet or would like to be.

Venue

▪ Have you been to the venue before? If yes what did you learn?
▪ Who do you know that you can talk to about the venue?
▪ Get on Google earth and check the geography and topography.
▪ Make some maps of the race area (maybe 20).
Have you been to the venue before? If yes what did you learn?
Who do you know that you can talk to about the venue?
Get on Google earth and check the geography and topography.
Make some maps of the race area (maybe 20).

In practice

▪ Get onto the race track (the actual area you will race on) and ensure you have a feel for local wind and tide information.
▪ Record what you observe on the map sheets you prepared.
▪ Talk to the locals about what you have observed and test your theories.
Get onto the race track (the actual area you will race on) and ensure you have a feel for local wind and tide information.
Record what you observe on the map sheets you prepared.
Talk to the locals about what you have observed and test your theories.

On shore

▪ At the venue make sure you are comfortable with where everything is.
▪ Be aware of Regatta notices and flags.
▪ Go over your boat from top to bottom. That means every screw and bolt from the top of the mast to the transom.
▪ Where you can leave spares and tools if something goes wrong.
▪ If there is a breakage to another boat check your own boat for the same weakness.
At the venue make sure you are comfortable with where everything is.
Be aware of Regatta notices and flags.
Go over your boat from top to bottom. That means every screw and bolt from the top of the mast to the transom.
Where you can leave spares and tools if something goes wrong.
If there is a breakage to another boat check your own boat for the same weakness.

Example - next major event

So my next major event is the Tasar National Titles in Darwin commencing 18 July 2018. We have been there 4 times sailing so know it well.

My goal (along with my longstanding crew Nicole) is to win but we have our challenges.

Due to work commitments Nic will not be available until 2 weeks prior to the regatta. Her work involves sailing media and so her mind is always on the topic which is a plus. I will also be very busy and away from sailing for a considerable time pre regatta. No excuses though – just deal with it.

The main weaknesses are therefore time in a Tasar together and fitness. The next best thing for me is sailing with other crews and/or other boats. I have a Tasar, Flying Dutchman and a Laser I can sail quite readily once I get back to Australia in June. I will do as much as I can before I go to the hardest of the training mechanisms – the hiking bench. Before I get back it will be walking, the gym and bike.

Once Nicole lands in the country we are heading straight to Darwin to deal with the main weakness – that we have not been able to sail together.

We have a billet organised for extra accommodation pre regatta. Being in the venue early creates time to chat to locals and prepare fully. We will also have time in the boat to get rid of all the excuses that inevitably build in up in unprepared crews.

Good tools

One of the best tools I have heard (and used) is to tell people you are going to come X in the regatta. Where X = your (best) goal. That way you tend to put the effort in to make it happen. So there I have said it!!

Good sailing

Rob Douglass, President - Tasar Association of NSW

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The Award goes to...

MAYORAL AWARD

Winner - Tasar Class
Awarded to the group that contributed most over 12 months they:
* consistently had the most boats competing every Saturday.
* had largest participation rate in the Traveler’s Trophy series
* had most entries from any club at the State Championships.
* display great cohesion and competitiveness, strengthened by a weekly Dribble email, written by a different Tasar sailor that has raced or tried to race in the club’s Saturday sailing competition. The Dribble is a bit instructional, a bit humorous and has a some ribbing that makes it always enjoyable to read!

By unanimous choice we recognise the Tasar sailing class as one of the key reasons for Balmoral Sailing Club’s success

JUNIOR SAILING AWARD

Winner - Rowan Hughes
The Junior Sailing Award is presented to a member of our Junior Sailing Program who has excelled in the areas of race results, increased sailing competency and skills development along with demonstrated sportsmanship.

An inaugural presentation with the growing strength of our Junior Sailing Program, the Junior Sailing Award becomes one of our flagship awards.

STIRRERS AWARD

Winner - Nick Collis-George
Awarded to the BSC member, who has succeeded in stirring things up and getting things done for the greater good - we can associate more than $17,000 extra revenue for the club this year thanks to Nick's efforts.

Nick introduced the Aero class with several new members coming on board, was an integral part of the racking project, submitted grant applications to several local councils to fund our junior sailing program award and fix the leaking roof.

ROGER QUINN MEMORIAL AWARD

Winner Division A - Matt Mulder
Winner Division B - Cullen Hughes

In memory of BSC’s Moth Sailor and awarded to the winner of the Marathon event, on yardstick results.

27 boats started on a beautiful sunny Saturday, March 11th. A tricky race this year with the Skiffies States off garden island and a large destroyer parking off HMAS Kattabul.

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Winter Sailing

Tiwesdæg

Intrepid Aero and Laser sailors are still at it over winter and welcome new recruits. Aero fleet also meets on weekends.

Did you know we have an Aero for test sails and there is a club Laser for hire?

They meet at 10am on Tuesdays and are back on land by 2pm. Weekend sailing is weather dependent with times by agreement among the group.

Nick Collis-George, Aero Class Captain

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Rescue Boat Training

BSC is holding training on Saturday 30th June 2018

This full day event will cover theory and practical, including towing sailing boats and rescuing sailors.

Training is for current and prospective rescue drivers and crew. If you know anyone who would be interested please pass on the information. We would like as many people as possible up to speed as additional safety boat drivers are needed next season.

Numbers are needed before the event to ensure everyone receives the opportunity to develop their skills.

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NSW Powerboat License

Interested in getting your NSW power boat drivers licence?

The boating handbook and logbook are available online and require the applicant to go on several outings with a licensed driver and cover off all the skills.

Our preferred method is a logbook. There are many licensed boat drivers at BSC happy to help if you ask. Going out on BSC patrol boats easily covers off the logbook requirements plus you'll gain real world skills.

The rescue boat training session in June will cover some of the material and give the first lot of practical experience. Just bring along your logbook.

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QI

World Sailing reviews 2024 Olympics

The Executive Committee of World Sailing intend to bring major changes to the Paris Olympics of 2024. It is paramount that those who are in a position to defend our sport and its character, starting at club level, understand the impact this will have on the future of our sport and what may be at risk.

More info and the petition to the World Sailing Executive

World Sailing Council has the following events under review for the 2024 Olympics:
* ​Men's Windsurfer
* Women's Windsurfer
* Men's One Person Dinghy Heavyweight
* Men's Two Person Dinghy
* Women's Two Person Dinghy

Australian Sailing position statement in relation to the Olympic program

The following events were retained with their current equipment for 2024 (subject to a separate anti-trust review based on restrictive patents, copyright and commercial licencing arrangements and other anti-competition practices):
* ​Men's One Person Dinghy
* Women's One Person Dinghy
* Men's Skiff
* Women's Skiff
* Mixed Two Person Multihull

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Important Dates

Calendar

30 June : Rescue Training Day
18-25 July : Tasar Nationals
5 Aug : AGM & Working Bee
20 Dec : Boydmas
26-30 Dec : Mirror Nationals
31 Dec - 6 Jan: Mirror Worlds

And forget post-race sausage sizzles as they over for the season. It's sad, but ain't the Wurst thing that happened in May - that was Eurovision.

 
 
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