Issue 73, Spring's Sprung 2020

Our sailing season is looming and the Spring preseason racing kicks off this Saturday. Beyond our Clubhouse improvements you'll find new Courses, Members, Boats and Class Captains all set to make a great season.

Wuhan to Woo-hoo..!

It's fantastic news that BSC is able to start the season on time (woo-hoo!) but to ensure we keep this privilege we must adhere to new and strict COVID rules.

It is very important to get right down to the nitty gritty of these changes so please read on for all the details. It is less important (but more entertaining) to get right down to this nitty gritty - click here

Boyd Newton, Da Easy Crew, Editor.

Important Info

Dubious Info

Dinghy sailors tend not to be superficial. But when it comes to choosing the best hiking crew, thighs matters.

New Members

More folks are joining in the fun this season:
* Philip Malcolm - sailing an Aero
* Robert Pullen - social member
* Justin Smith - social member
* Nick & Stephanie Hart - social members

And while we're talking membership, a reminder to put their invoice number as a reference if paying fees by EFT otherwise the payment will not be properly credited to you. Plus it makes life much easier for Murray Freeman.

Degustation Menu

This season introduces multiple races on new courses, and better alignment to the breeze will let us sample more of the delights available within Middle Harbour too.

Preseason Race Days

The OUTER courses have been designed for Tasars, Es and Contenders when there is good breeze. Otherwise all classes will share the INNER course and benefit from closer racing.

This Saturday is your first opportunity to experience the new courses and for the race management team to set the marks and test manage the two races per day format.

The order of the day is:
1145 - Briefing of Class Captains
1200 - Class Captains to brief their class
1250 - Balmoral will display the appropriate flags and course number
1300 - 1st Warning Signal > a minute later the start sequence commence

Briefings, COVID and Sign-On

COVID regulations limit our gatherings to less than 20, so each class will have its own briefing.

Everyone must follow COVID safety limits:
* 4 in the change rooms
* 20 in the common room
* 6 in the bays
Do not come if you have:
* cold or flu symptoms
* been in direct contact with a known case of COVID-19 within 14 days;
* travelled from Victoria within 14 days
* travelled internationally within 14 days
* a high risk from a health perspective

Sailors must sign-on via the BSC website. The link will become available a day prior to the race. We can't use the BSC tablets for COVID hygiene.

Sailors must also sign-off using the link and their phones.

Saturday is a test event for all of us and we hope to learn lots and adapt ready for the new season in October.

Nick Collis-George, Club Captain, BSC

Balmoral Juniors Program is looking to appoint a new coach for the upcoming season.

We would like to congratulate our juniors coach Niall Powers for his new role running the coaching program at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. This creates an opportunity for a new Juniors Coach at Balmoral this coming season and we are on the lookout.

Prospective applicants should have a passion for teaching kids to sail fast and be available Saturday mornings throughout the sailing season. No boat is required.

We ask members to think through their networks and send qualified candidates in the direction of Andrew Dent.

Andrew Dent
BSC Juniors Class Captain
*e: juniorsailing@balmoralsc.com.au*

This is my third season at Balmoral as a Race Officer and, wow, am I hoping for third time lucky!

In my first season, each time I was rostered on we had strong (near gale force) winds, then Balmoral sank, then while using Bruce’s Meldrum’s yacht for a start boat a 40knot westerly hit in the middle of the afternoon. Last season, smoke filled skies, winds too strong, winds too light, then COVID 19!

Fortunately through all this there has been a fantastic team of dedicated volunteers cheerfully turning up each week regardless of the weather and providing fabulous support.

Last weekend we held the annual rescue boat training day. Thanks Daniel Marlay for running this and Stephen Johnco for his on water training. Everyone who attended found this day very beneficial and, in what I hope is a good omen, the weather was perfect!

The volunteer roster for the first half of the season is done with only a couple of blanks where we could do with a volunteer or two. We will be welcoming several new volunteers, new courses and a new boat.

Let’s go season 20/21.

Karen Savery, Race Officer, BSC

A Rich Girl’s Nip and Tuck

An interesting story about our USA Tasar colleagues, Jonathan and Libby McKee - click here. It served to remind me how therapeutic sailing can be.

TLC for a CLT

If a little tender loving care would improve your crappy looking Tasar, between us there's a wealth of experience, know-how, and equipment to deal with most maintenance challenges - centrecase upgrades, daggerboard packing, rudder bushes, new stays, soft shackles, whisker poles, trolley & trailer tweaks, and almost anything made from wire, webbing, rope or dyneema. Ask around, somebody could likely help you out.

Pia Lehtonen-Davies, Tasar Class Captain, BSC

Tasar 2578 for Sale, 'Southern Stars' - $5000
Good condition underweight boat with alloy trolley. Past NSW State champion boat owned by Shane Guanaria. Mast under 3 years old. Includes 3 mains and 2 jibs (Mylar). Inspect at BSC.
More info - click here.
Contact: Richard Shaw m: 0422234203 e: ricshaw@bigpond.net.au

Tasar 2770 for Sale, 'Trouble' - $7000 neg
Affectionately known as 'Trouble' and campaigned in many Championships by Michael Quirk and Marise Hannaford - inc. 4th in Nats & top 20s Worlds.
More info - click here.
Contact: Marise on 0408 253 925 or Michael on 0419 970 934

National E for Sale, 'Honalee' - $5000
More info - click here.
Contact: Phil on 0400 399 226 or Claire on 0425 250 322

National E for Sale, 'Alphaglassy' - $3650
More info - click here.
e: Michael Corr - michael.corr@propertyrecruitment.com.au

Have gear for sale or looking for something specific?

Send details to e: whalestales@balmoralsc.com.au