up the concord and ryde sailing club newsletter ......concord and ryde sailing club inc. editor:...

UP THE Concord and Ryde Sailing Club NewsletterDECEMBER 2020 No. 207

RIVER

Top: Training Presentation for November / December course.

Bottom: The hardest bit about sailing... pulling the boats out of the water!

Bi-monthly magazine of the Concord and Ryde Sailing Club Inc.

EDITOR:Nicole Williams (m) 0438 418 405

[email protected]

CLUB POSTAL ADDRESS:P.O. Box 3061, Putney, NSW, 2112

0431 077 293 (Sat Only Sept to April)

CLUB LOCATION:Kissing Point Park, corner of Waterview St

and Yaralla Rd, Putney

WEBSITE: concordrydesailing.org.au

FACEBOOK: @CRSCPutney

INSTAGRAM: concordrydesailingclub

PRESIDENT: Chris Gildersleeve 0401 777 099

COMMODORE: Duncan McRae 0421 068 199

SECRETARY: Sandra Donovan 9816 5468

TREASURER: Keith Leslie 9868 5527

TRAINING OFFICER: David McClean 0417 254 330

PUBLICITY OFFICER: Kathy Gough 9743 2456

CLASS CAPTAINS:Cadet: Sophie Bredhauer 0438 384 651 Ella Donovan 0438 418 405

Catamaran: Paul Scotland 0419 502 286

Firebug: Ross Venner 0418 457 020

Heron: Allan Takacs 0459 184 305

Int. Spirals: Jacquie Lindstrom 0414 473 648

Junior Heron: Caroline and Caitlin Takacs 0459 184 305

Spiral: Tim Moors 0422 527 791

Tasar / NS14: Nick Brown 0488 450 918

9869 7002

Training: David McClean 0417 254 330

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without the written permission of the Editor.

The views expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or CRSC Management Committee.

Unless otherwise credited or implied, all photos are taken by

Nicole Williams.

Contributions welcome.

UP THE

RIVERContentsOffice Bearers for 2020/2021 __________________ 2President’s Report ______________________________________________ 3Commodore’s Report ______________________________________ 7Rules Corner _______________________________________________________________ 8Sail for Cancer __________________________________________________________ 10Did You Know? _______________________________________________________ 11From the Archives #45 ____________________________________ 12Attention Trainees _______________________________________________ 18Training ___________________________________________________________________________ 19Class Reports __________________________________________________________ 21

Cadets ________________________________________________________________ 21Junior Heron ________________________________________________ 22Intermediate Spirals _____________________________ 24Catamaran ______________________________________________________ 28Tasar / NS14 _________________________________________________ 32Spiral ____________________________________________________________________ 36Heron ___________________________________________________________________ 40Firebug _______________________________________________________________ 44Start and Rescue Boat ______________________ 45

Sail ing Rules _____________________________________________________________ 46Membership Report ____________________________________________ 49Honorary Membership Kent McDowall __________________________________________________________ 50Obituary – Ted’s Tinny ____________________________________ 52Double Take #1 _______________________________________________________ 54Double Take #2 ______________________________________________________ 56Blast from the Past ____________________________________________ 56

Cover: Training Optis getting help back to shore. Below: Frank Williams recently launched his model boat at the Club, attracting a bit of attention. Perhaps the Concord Ryde Model Boat Club could be something to look out for...?

2 UP THE RIVER DECEMBER 2020

President Vice President Craig Burwood 0477 757 728 [email protected] past President Craig Burwood 0477 757 728 [email protected] Captain Heron Allan Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected] Heron Caroline Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected] Caitlin Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected] Tim Moors 0422 527 791 [email protected] Other positions Risk Management Officer Bob Hindley 0423 202 308 [email protected] Training Officers David McClean same as previous same as previous Andrew Hoy 0424 878 150 [email protected] Boat Storage Officer Mark McConnell 0418 294 570 [email protected] Finishing Panel Michelle Burwood 0421 523 164 [email protected] Other amendments (deletions) that I know of: Training Officer - leave Jonathon Gough’s name on - can be emergency back up if required Ordinary Members on Management Committee - delete Tiane Burwood, John Taylor Race Committee - delete Jonathon Gough, John Taylor Starting Panel - delete Jonathon Gough Canteen Committee - leave Tiane Brwood on as she has said she will finish rest of season

OFFICE BEARERS for 2020 / 2021Patron: Mayor of The City of Ryde

COMMODORE: Duncan McRae 0421 068 199 [email protected]

VICE-COMMODORE: Ross Venner 0418 457 020 [email protected]

PRESIDENT: Chris Gildersleeve 0401 777 099 [email protected]

VICE-PRESIDENT: Craig Burwood 0477 757 728 [email protected]

SECRETARY: Sandra Donovan 9816 5468 [email protected]

TREASURER: Keith Leslie 9868 5527 [email protected]

CLASS CAPTAINSFirebug / ‘A’ Class: Ross Venner 0418 457 020 [email protected] / Optimist: Sophie Bredhauer 0438 384 651 [email protected]

Ella Donovan 0438 418 405 [email protected]: Paul Scotland 0419 502 286 [email protected]: Allan Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected] Spiral: Jacquie Lindstrom 0414 473 648 [email protected] Heron: Caroline Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected]

Caitlin Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected] / Tasar: Nick Brown 0488 450 918 [email protected]: Tim Moors 0422 527 791 [email protected]

Assistant Secretary: Jacquie Lindstrom 0414 473 648 [email protected] Treasurer: Ron Burwood 9874 0437 [email protected]: David Loring 9636 4370 [email protected] Management Officer: Bob Hindley 0423 202 308 [email protected] Editor: Nicole Williams 0438 418 405 [email protected] Officer: Kathy Gough 9743 2456 [email protected]: Wayne Spencer 9874 6977 [email protected] Officer: Graham Carrick 0407 405 724 [email protected], Discover Sailing Centre: Kay Williams 9631 4683 [email protected] Principal, Discover Sailing: Frank Williams 9631 4683 [email protected] Officers: David McClean 0417 254 330 [email protected]

Andrew Hoy 0424 878 150 [email protected] Gough 0424 535 222 [email protected]

Boat Storage Officer: Mark McConnell 0418 294 570 [email protected] Committee: Sharyn Carrick

Cathy Clapham Sonia Burwood

9676 3996 0403 166 243 0409 995 168

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Member Protection Officer: Chris Gildersleeve 0401 777 099 [email protected] Boat Maint. Officer: Andrew Hoy 0424 878 150 [email protected]


Website Manager: Chris Gildersleeve 0401 777 099 [email protected]: Ron Burwood 9874 0437 [email protected] Review Officer: TBAOrdinary Memberson ManagementCommittee:

David Bennett 0423 783 757 [email protected] Bob Hindley 0423 202 308 [email protected] Loring 0413 159 898 [email protected] Nash 9807 1957 [email protected] Ormes 9871 7897 [email protected] Roy 9888 1883 [email protected] Simpson 0417 285 884 [email protected]

Immediate Past President: Craig Burwood 0477 757 728 [email protected] Committee: Duncan McRae 0421 068 199 [email protected]

Class Captains, P.R.O. & HandicapperJames Chan 0408 852 537 [email protected] Clapham 0403 166 243 [email protected] Donovan 0407 006 632 [email protected] Gough 0425 339 918 [email protected] Gurr 0407 609 477 [email protected] Levi 0412 245 814 s.levi @optusnet.com.auChris Loring 0413 159 898 [email protected] Roy 9888 1883 [email protected]

Principal Race Officer: Craig Burwood 9604 6858 [email protected] Panel: Ron Bolton 9639 1193

John Glasson 0434 947 190 [email protected] Train 9639 3025 [email protected]

Finishing Panel: Ron Bolton 9639 1193Ron Burwood 9874 0437 [email protected] Burwood 0421 523 164 [email protected] Swindells 9624 6004Virginia Swindells 9624 6004

Canteen Manager: Sharon Carrick 9676 3996 [email protected] Canteen Committee: Tiane Burwood 0439 745 694 [email protected]

Melinda Hardman 0419 149 658 [email protected] Lindstrom 0414 473 648 [email protected] Williams 9631 4683 [email protected]

Life Members (showing year elected):

Don Melrose 1975Cathy Thompson 1983Sandra Donovan 1987Bryce Ellis 1990

Pauline Lowe 1990Chris Lowe 1990 Nick Brown 1991Ron Burwood 1994

David Loring 1999Sue Carrick 2004Virginia Swindells 2004David McClean 2006

Craig Burwood 2012Sonia Burwood 2012Keith Leslie 2012Murray Dismorr 2013

Nicole Williams 2016 Jim Simpson 2017Chris Gildersleeve 2019

Jim Hull, Edna Wilde, Kent McDowallHonorary Members:


PRESIDENT’S REPORTCraig Burwood 2019/2020 President

At the time of writing this report, it is before the AGM, which as we advised previously has been held off due to Covid and the restrictions on gatherings.

As this is my last official report as President, I would like to express my sincere thanks and congratulations to all of you.

Under the restrictions that have been imposed on us, and the mandatory Covid Plan that we have to operate under, the way you have all embraced and assisted us by just adopting the procedures that we have had to impose, has enabled the Club to function virtually as normal.

Unfortunately, Australian Sailing, still has us under the “come ready to sail and then go home” ruling, so this has limited our ability to socialise as much as we are used to. However, I have been impressed by the number of participants that have come down to the Club since the season commenced and the numbers have been roughly maintained for each week since then.

Yes, this has slightly affected how we operate and what we sell at the Canteen, however we are looking into

how we can review this now that we have clarification from Australian Sailing, what category we operate under. This will take some work to review and finalise a separate Covid Plan for the operation of the canteen, but as we forge ahead – I am sure that the “salad rolls” will make a welcome comeback!! (better than Bunning’s sausage sandwiches!!).

This has also affected our Social Events – and while some of the scheduled events have been cancelled – we are hoping that maybe the back end of the season will be very busy socially.

Further to this, with the 75th Anniversary Sub-committee starting to plan the event for next year, they are also dealing with the issue of social gathering restrictions and how events can be held. Other ideas are flowing and hopefully soon, will issue details of the events planned. (subject to Covid restrictions being further lifted).

Beach Restoration – this is an ongoing issue, and we are still maintaining an open conversation with the Authority as to how often “regular” re-grooming needs to be undertaken to maintain the beach.

Renewal of portion of boardwalk deck near park and launching ramp –


thanks must go to Bryce Ellis who has stepped in to assist Graham Carrick, as Graham is undergoing a heavy workload at the moment, to assist in organising the timber for the new works to be undertaken. At the time of writing this report, the timber order has been placed.

We will be calling for volunteers to assist in this work, hopefully some of the “younger” members will be able to assist due to the requirement of some lifting of the timbers into place. This will be undertaken under the watchful eye of Bryce as supervisor. When the call is made, we as a Club

always respond positively, please let this also be another one, even if you can only give an hour or two.

In closing, thank you all for your support that you have shown the Committee and myself, through what has been a very unusual and trying time for all, but I would also like request that you provide the same support to the new incoming President, that you have given me during this period.

Regards

Craig Burwood 2019/2020 President

Chris Gildersleeve 2020/2021 President

The extraordinary times in

which we live led to a unique AGM

before the Marathon a few weeks ago,

delayed from our normal cycle in July.

Thus, the tiller has been passed to the

new Committee well into the season.

Congratulations and a big thank you

to all those who have agreed to remain

on the Committee for another season.

The changeover cannot pass without

acknowledging the continuation on

the Executive of Sandra Donovan

and Keith Leslie who are entering

their 38th and 20th season as

Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

Their ongoing contribution as the

backbone of our Executive, along with Craig Burwood who has moved to Vice-President, provides the stability needed by CRSC for our continuing success.

I would like to welcome and thank newcomers to our Committee: Alan Takacs (Heron Class Captain), Caroline and Caitlin Takas (Junior Heron Class Captain), Tim Moors (Spiral Class Captain), Bob Hindley (Risk Management Officer), Andrew Hoy (Joint Training Officer), Mark McConnell (Boat Storage Officer), Michelle Burwood (Finishing Panel) and Namita Biswal and Graeme Baker (Committee Members).

The end of the last and this season has been disrupted by Covid-19, yes,


we all know that! Keeping us on the water has required a lot of work to ensure CRSC meets what at times are confusing guidelines. I feel it is important to acknowledge the work done by Craig Burwood, our outgoing President, and Keith Leslie to guide us through the complexity. Keith will continue to lead our understanding of the changing Covid-19 Safe framework with ongoing support from Craig.

I’m looking forward to working to celebrating CRSC 75 years on the

water as we head to the back end of the season. You will soon see some celebratory banners arranged by Nicole Williams, our UTR editor.

I know many members will be taking advantage of open borders for family reunion over the Christmas period. My best wishes for a safe and enjoyable Christmas and bright start to 2021.

Fair winds

Chris Gildersleeve 2020/2021 CRSC President

South Coast Sails Tel: 4234 1583 or

[email protected]


COMMODORE’S REPORTIt is heartening to see the strong fleet numbers this season, despite any COVID misgivings. Sailing, at least, appears to have returned to normal.

Our beach is now a rocky shore, but appears to have settled into a fairly stable shape, and does not present the ankle-snapping hazards of the exposed rock shelf. Some may have noticed that much of the sand appears to have drifted out from shore, and now presents a somewhat shallower approach at low tides. Watch those boards!

Behind the scenes, I’d like to thank a couple of people who have been particularly active supporting the Club activities. Andrew Hoy has taken the bull by the horns in the training fleet, getting the crew organised every weekend; ably assisted by Kay Williams in the back room scheduling and booking, and Sophie Bredhauer up front of house on the water. As you are all aware, any day you can come down early and help launch the rescue boats or point trainees in the right direction with rigging or launching is much appreciated.

On the clubhouse and equipment front, “Dynamo” Bob Hindley has

been chasing up new floor materials

for the ramp, and constantly

addressing minor issues and

improvements with the rescue boats.

Thanks Bob!

We’re hurtling towards the end

of year, and will soon be into the

Autumn Season. Planning for

the 75th anniversary next year is

somewhat stalled, but we hope to

get it moving soon. Volunteers and

helpers welcome. Please come forward

with any ideas you may have for our

celebrations.

As suggested by a couple of members

(possibly after some on-water

shenanigans), we have a new rules

corner section in this edition of

UTR to prompt a bit of thought and

discussion on the rules. Feel free to

contribute your expertise, wisdom, or

neither in future editions if you feel

there’s an area of rules you can write

knowledgeably about. I’m looking

forward to someone explaining the

practicalities of 18.3.

Duncan McRae

CRSC Commodore


Before the start:All interactions are covered by Part 2, Sections A and B.

• Port / Starboard• Windward / Leeward (and of course Tacking and acquiring

right of way, changing course)

• Always be aware: there is no proper course before the starting signal; RRS 17 does not apply and a leeward boat can force you head to wind if he likes.

If you’re one of those sailors that is particularly adept at holding station, or even reversing your boat by backing a sail, be aware that when moving astern or sideways to windward while backing a sail, you have no rights over a boat that is not backing sails (RRS 21.3).

Handy tip (giving away secrets):If none of flags I, Z, U or black are being flown, you may start from above the line, then duck it after the start signal (though note 21.1, you must keep clear of other boats not doing the same). This is good to know if you get pushed over the line before the start, or think you may have been over the line at the start.

Most fleet racing starts with at least the I flag flown, in which case you need to be under the line at 1 minute, or go around an end. In a busy fleet when jockeying for position in the start sequence, the space above the line is mostly free of traffic, and a good place to be out of harm’s way. You can then duck below the line before the 1 min signal.

Lesson: Become familiar with the flags, and have them somewhere handy on your boat. Look at what flags are up at the preparatory signal.

The gun:Often, everyone wants the boat end. In the tiny fleets some of us race in at CRSC, competition is not too fierce. In a fleet of 50 or more boats, it can become a log jam. Being #1 at the boat on the gun is high risk - it is usually more successful to find clear air in the third of the line you want to be in (left, middle, right)... but I’m digressing into tactics and away from rules.

The most important point to remember if you’re at either end of the line, and particularly if you or another boat, are lining up to be ‘that

RULES CORNER

STARTINGwww.sailing.org/documents/racingrules


guy’ who barges at the boat end at the start, is that the whole of Section C - RRS 18 Mark Room, RRS 19 Room to Pass an Obstruction do not apply at either end of the start line from the time a boat approaches to start, until after it has passed them.

How does this affect you? Obviously, you cannot ask for room to pass the mark or start boat, so a boat with rights can force you to the ‘wrong’ side. The leeward boat can come head to wind if they like (no proper course) and force the barger up. If the leeward boat has to change course to avoid a collision with the barger, then they have a right to protest (but don’t forget RRS 14 says leeward must avoid contact if possible). If you see a late barger coming in, your best course of action is to tell them sternly that they have no room, well before they need to make that crucial decision to bail out.

Lesson: Do not be the barger. If you want the boat end, stay below the starboard layline. If you are the barger, bail out early if you need to!

DEFINITIONS:PROPER COURSEA course a boat would choose in order to sail the course and finish as soon as possible in the absence of the other boats referred to in the rule using the term. A boat has no proper course before her starting signal.

STARTA boat starts when, her hull having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull crosses the starting line from the pre-start side to the course side.

Cases worth looking at: www.sailing.org/documents/caseandcall/case-book.php- case 13, 28

ww

w.w

hitw

orth

s.co

m.a

u/c

omm

on-y

acht

-rac

ing-

flag

s-st

icke

r

Duncan McRae CRSC Commodore

SAIL FOR CANCERSaturday 30 January 2021

The time has quickly come around for our usual Sail for Cancer day and this is being held in conjunction with our Club Championship heat #5 to be held on 30th January, 2021.

As most of our members know we have been holding this special day in our calendar for many years. Our Club has held this fund raiser to help the work of the Cure Cancer Australia Foundation in its search for a cure for that dreadful disease of cancer.

CRSC joins with other Sailing Clubs in a Sail for Cancer day and we request that you help support this work with your donation of $15 per boat race entry fee. If you can assist with a larger amount it would be much appreciated and would certainly be put to good use to expand on this research.

The usual sheets and sponsorship forms will be available from your Class Captain or myself from middle of December to early January to enable

you to get behind this very worthwhile

cause and hopefully as in the past you

will be able to get additional donations

from family and friends, maybe

workmates as well, to sponsor you.

Also the organisation for whom you

work may also be interested in giving a

tax deductible donation – you may be

surprised if you ask!

A receipt for tax purposes covering any

amount over $2 donated is available by

ticking the appropriate column.

On the day a specially marked

container will be placed near the sign

on sheets and you will be able place

your donations and sheets in this or

if you prefer just give them to me for

processing.

Many thanks for your continued

support.

Good Sailing!!!!

Ron Burwood

UP THE RIVER DECEMBER 202010


DID YOU KNOW...?Above board – Anything on or above the open deck. If something is open and in plain view, it is above board.Clean bill of health – A certificate signed by a port authority attesting that no contagious disease existed in the port of departure and none of the crew was infected with a disease at the time of sailing. Shore-side, it means in good shape.Figurehead – An ornamental figure placed on the front of a ship. Originally a religious and/or protective emblem. The custom continued but for purely decorative purposes. Hence the term figurehead – a leader with no real power or function except to ‘look good’ or appeal to a certain group.Footloose – The bottom portion of a sail is called the foot. If it is not secured, it is footloose and it dances randomly in the wind.Flying colours – To come through a battle with flying colours means a ship has come through relatively unscathed and with her colours (flag) flying.Give a wide berth – To anchor a ship far enough away from another ship so that they did not hit each other when they swung with the wind or tide.Keel hauling – A severe naval punishment during the 15th and 16th centuries. The victim, presumably a delinquent sailor, was dragged from one side of the boat to the other, under the bottom of the boat (keel). Tossed over one side and pulled up on the other, he was usually allowed to catch his breath before suddenly being tossed overboard again. Keel hauling lost favour at the beginning of the 18th century, to be replaced by the cat-o-nine-tails. The term still means a rough reprimand.Know the ropes – This is pretty obvious if you’ve ever seen a tall ship. It was such an important skill on sailing vessels that an honourable discharge from service was marked, at one time, with the term ‘knows the ropes’. Land-side it still means a person with experience and skill. Also, learn the ropes and show them the ropes.

Leeway – The weather side of a ship is the side from which the wind is blowing. The Lee side is the side of the ship sheltered from the wind. A lee shore is a shore that is downwind of a ship. If a ship does not have enough “leeway” it is in danger of being driven onto the shore.

Listless – When a ship was listless, she was sitting still and upright in the water, with no wind to make her lean over (list) and drive ahead.

Long haul – Operation on ship requiring the hauling of a lot of line. Also seen in short haul, an operation requiring little line.

Long shot – In old warships, the muzzle-loading cannon were charged with black powder of uncertain potency that would propel the iron shot an equally uncertain distance with doubtful accuracy. A 24-pounder long gun, for instance, was considered to have a maximum effective range of 1200 yards, even though, under the right conditions, a ball might travel some 3000 yards. Similarly, a short, stubby 32-pounder carronade’s lethality faded fast beyond 400 yards. Thus, the odds were against a hit when one fired a long shot.

Loose cannon – A cannon having come loose on the deck of a pitching, rolling, and yawing deck could cause severe injury and damage. Has come to mean an unpredictable or uncontrolled person who is likely to cause unintentional damage.

Mainstay – A stay that extends from the maintop to the foot of the foremast of a sailing ship. Currently, a thing upon which something is based or depends.

Overreach – If a ship holds a tack course too long, it has overreached its turning point and the distance it must travel to reach its next tack point is increased.

Taking the wind out of his sails – Sailing in a manner so as to steal or divert wind from another ship’s sails.

www.crewseekers.net/notices/three-sheets-wind-nautical-slang-common-usage


FROM THE ARCHIVES #45In starting this article, I have to point out that I made an error last season in the numbering of this series as #41 should have been #42. I have now rectified the numbering as above.

Following on from the last episode on Dick Norris from the UTR of February, 1990 our great writer Sandra Donovan wrote an article she called “’Hughie’ Strikes Again” which obviously is another story about a very stormy day. This one took place on Saturday 10th February, 1990 and was the 2nd heat of the Autumn Point Score and she wrote that it looked as though it was going to be just another normal race day in the life of CRSC. I will quote Sandra’s story as she wrote it better than I could rewrite it.

“The boating forecast was for moderate E to NE winds and as the 55 odd boats were rigging in the park, a light north easterly under hot sunny skies suggested that a good sea breeze would build up for the afternoon’s race. The air, however, was oppressively humid as the park was sodden from heavy rain overnight and earlier in the week, so much so that it was decided to close it to vehicular traffic.

As race time approached the breeze switched towards the SE and the No.4 course was set. Over the next half hour the south easterly gained momentum

and by the time the last class, the NS14s had started, most of the sailors were in ‘survival mode’.

Suddenly, the faint rumblings that had been heard earlier on the western horizon, loomed ominously close behind Ryde Bridge. Huge black clouds filed the western sky and as the wind started to die, there was an eerie feeling in the air as the thunder and lightning intensified and drew closer.

Some sailors felt a sense of ‘déjà vu’, remembering very well the storm that devasted the fleet in September, 1988, and quickly headed for shore. There was mild panic in the park as boats were hurriedly unrigged with lightning flashing all around.

With the thunder and lightning came the rain, and it fell in biblical proportions. A wall of water hit the fleet, encasing everything around. Visibility was down to almost zero. Crews were frantically bailing as boats filled up with water. Finding the buoys became quite a challenge! Some crews reported being disorientated, experiencing ‘white-out’ whilst others reported being ‘zapped’ by blue flashes of static electricity.

As the centre of the storm passed overhead, the thunder and lightning struck simultaneously, rocking the Club House, not to mention the sailors, to its


foundations. It did not let up for over an hour, dumping some 5 mm of rain in that period. ‘Hughie” was certainly showing his wrath.

During the deluge, one by one, cold and wet to the core, weary sailors were finding their way back to shore. The Club House was inundated with telephone calls from concerned families, reporting blackouts, flooding and hail as large as golf balls.

Down on the harbour, races were abandoned and the Water Police and Maritime Services Board were called in to usher boats back to shore. Not at CRSC! When the rain eased and a head count was made, there were still 5 NS14s and 4 Herons determined to finish the race! The runoff from the deluge flowed rapidly down the River in an easily defined current. One Heron was running downstream so fast he couldn’t keep his sails filled!

Who were these mad sailors? First to make it across the finishing line in the Herons was Peter Carrick followed by Don Robb some 21 minutes later! In the NS14s it was Les Donovan followed some 8 minutes later by Chris Lowe with Peter Eslick and Bruce Dunlop coming in almost half an hour later! Greg Deakin and Ron Burwood, after battling for some time to get around the Bridge mark to finish, eventually had to admit defeat as the wind died and the current took over. NS14’er Tony Powell suffered the same fate down in Fishers on the last lap.

He was half way to New Zealand, when the rescue boat caught up with him!

While everyone was having ’ fun’, the rescue boats were out there dragging boats out of the mud and chaperoning others home. Ted Kendrick and Alex Whittle were like ‘mother hens’, darting around checking on their ‘brood’. Nick Brown and Stephen Donovan backed up in the second rescue boat, picking up distressed crews. What would we ever do without them?

The quote of the day came from Bruce Dunlop: ‘You don’t have to be mad, but it helps!’”

Thanks to Sandra for another great story which brings back memories to those of us who sailed that day. Regrettably for our current sailors you will probably never experience a sailing day like this as these days the race would be called off before conditions got so bad – but boy did we have fun back then!!!! After typing the above, I found in my President’s report in the following issue of UTR I commented on Sandra’s article as being “a good story for the archives. If you have not read this, I suggest that you do.” I still stand by this comment from over 30 years ago!

In the May, 1990 Presentation Day issue of UTR we find that during this season we had a record of 88 new members during the season. Included in these there were 16 family


memberships which accounted for 62 of the newcomers and many came from the Training Class. A number of the parents amongst these new members took on the Rescue Boat Training Course as organised by Nick Brown. Our total membership for that season was 235 registered with 42 family memberships making up 64% of the total membership. We had a total of 98 boats registered comprising of 19 Cats, 21 Spirals, 13 NS14s, 11 Herons, 11 Moths, 9 Tasars, 9 Cadets and 5 “A” Division. A few more than the 73 boats we had registered for our last season, 2019/20 in our Senior fleets although there were a number of sailors who sailed spasmodically in our Club boats.

Also in this issue there was another article by Sandra headed “OLD CRSC SAILORS NEVER DIE ….. THEY JUST HAVE DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR.” Part of this article went back to the very old days of the Club and as it was quite historical back then it is worth repeating here as now it is more like a piece of sailing antiquity so here it is.

“When ‘old’ CRSC sailors get together the conversation inevitably goes back to those cavalier days of wooden boats with swinging planks and spinnakers; the black nor’easters that ‘blew the oysters off the rocks’; the out of control shy reaches under spinnaker wondering how on earth they were going to turn around when they ran out of river at the other end; the days of ‘real’ sailors, sailing all year round in

just a pair of football shorts and an old woollen jumper – they had no luxuries as wetsuits, bootees and gloves or even buoyancy vests!

Of course, they conveniently forget to mention soaking in a Dettol bath every Saturday night to get the mud out of lacerated feet and limbs, the bleeding blistered hands and backsides and the hours spent scrubbing the mud and oil off the sails. Even the best sailors regularly hit the brine but no one ever thought that drowning was a possibility. Perhaps it was the sharks often sighted in the River, or the occasional nip from a cranky eel who resented his territory being invaded that instilled a very strong sense of self-preservation in all CRSC crews. Ah, these were the ‘good old days’!

‘What’s lacking in the Club today’, the conversation usually goes. ‘is a high performance two- handed class with a spinnaker, for the kids to aspire to. In OUR day every kid wanted to sail a Skate’. The rationale goes on: ‘Most sailors in the Club today have never experienced the thrills (and spills) of sailing a spinnaker class. What’s needed is someone to introduce such a class.’

At the last Club Sausage Sizzle at the end of the season (i.e.1989/90 season), the conversation was no different. However, this time it was suggested to a particular ‘old’ CRSC sailor that actions speak louder than words. With little encouragement he took up the challenge, although I think he’d forgotten that 20


years had passed since he last flew a spinnaker down at Concord-Ryde!

Before any self doubts could surface, an appropriate class was decided on, the boat ordered and it has already been launched! Is this the start of a new era at CRSC or just one ‘old’ CRSC sailor with delusions of grandeur?

This new boat is called a B14 or EXOCET. It is a one design class developed by Julian Bethwaite and at first glance looks a little like a scaled down 18 footer. Hull length is 4.25 m by 1.66m wide and 0.5 m deep. However the addition of wings gives it a sailing beam of 3.18m. 16.5 sq ms of working sail sits aloft an aluminium mast with a fibreglass top which reaches up 7m into the sky above the deck. Add to this a 22.5 sq ms asymmetrical spinnaker, set from a retractable bowsprit and it looks a rather awesome sight.

Who are these mad sailors attempting to sail such a craft in the tricky waters at CRSC? With a grey and white hull and a name like FIREFOX, you guessed it, Les Donovan with son Stephen up the front doing all the work. Already they have been training every weekend down on the River, providing some entertainment for the locals.”

Thanks again to Sandra for a very interesting piece of our history which did not pan out to a new class for CRSC. Not sure as to how her menfolk reacted to the article but I am sure that they enjoyed the experience. This boat did sail in “A” Class the following

season

season and if you want a look at this boat you can find some on the internet and they look like they are a bit of a handful. When you see Les or Stephen around the Club you may like to question them about this adventure from the past.

Nick Brown wrote in his Training Class report that they had been kept busy at the start of the season with 20 to 30 keen beginners keeping himself, Stephen Donovan and Chris Loring busy each Saturday and Sunday morning. So it was a great time for our training people.

The final Cat class report by Gary Ormes indicated that there were 23 financial Cats on the books with an average of 12 to 14 boats each race. It

Les and Steve Donovan with their new Exocet, which was featured on the cover of the March 1991 UTR.


would be nice to see this many back on the water now.

This Presentation Day issue contained the first of my annual statistic charts that I have included in Presentation Day issues ever since. That season we sailed 30 races out of the 32 planned with the largest fleet being 69 boats and the smallest 30. Our average fleet size was 48.6 boats from our 6 main classes. I did not include the Junior Fleet and “A” Class boats. Only 2 skippers sailed the full 30 races and they were both from the NS14s, Sandra Donovan and Bruce Dunlop. Our predominant course was course #2 with 12 races. This first effort on my part was only on basic facts and did not cover what I now include in these reports.

This rounds up the season of 1989/90 and our AGM for the 1990/91 season was held on 18th July, 1990 and was held in our Club House. This saw the same people re-elected to the executive positions as for the previous season. Ian McMaster was elected as Commodore, Ron Burwood as President, John Quinlan as Treasurer and Sandra Donovan as our Club Secretary.

At this AGM we saw 4 members being honoured with Life Membership – these being Alex Whittle, Bryce Ellis, Chris and Pauline Lowe. The full story about their efforts can be found on the Club website under the Club History section for Life Members so I suggest that you go there to have a

read about these great CRSC people and their efforts for our Club.

The first issue of UTR in August,1990 indicated that our magazine was celebrating 25 years with the first issue coming out in August 1965, a copy of this first one was inserted into the centre of that current issue. That initial issue was basically a foolscap sheet handwritten on both sides by the then President, Don Melrose. He mentions that there were some improvements to the old Club House on the South side of the River – new roof, shed improvements, more racks, hot shower and extra lights. A new starter’s boat was being acquired and the Heron Division was being established and this would “give scope within the Club for sailors from 7 to 70 years”. This Class has served the Club well in the 55 years since then.

There were other extracts quoted from the first couple of issues from all those years ago and it is interesting to note a few familiar names of then members who are still associated with the CRSC. The names mentioned were Les Donovan (non- sailing), Chris McDonald (non-sailing member), Barry Roy (still in an NS14) and Don Melrose (Life Member) and I guess that most Clubs would not have such current links with those of 55 years ago. What a history of CRSC they have seen!!!!

I was interested to read in my President’s Report in the October,


1990 issue of UTR about an outreach effort CRSC participated back then and of which I had forgotten about, so to make it easy I will quote my comments:- “Some months ago, we received a letter from the Hornsby Shire Sporting Trust asking for help. This Trust was helping to design and arrange for the construction of a special boat for handicap people. This was to be for the enjoyment of these people and to allow them to get onto the water for angling and so on. Help was being given by the students at Meadowbank TAFE in the fitting out but the components were rather expensive and hence the request for help. After some discussion, your committee felt it was appropriate to donate $100 to further this project and to bring some aquatic enjoyment to those who are not able to participate in the same way as we do.”

So that was one of the ways we have helped organisations outside of our Club over the years. As well we asked members if they would also like to personally contribute to this very good cause.

In that issue the Cat Class Captain, Bob Simpson, in his report mentions John Taylor, our current 2020 season Cat sailor, having to get off the water just after the start to talk to one of his patients. John came off and attended to his patient and was back into the race and sailed particularly well to catch up with the Class leaders. Bob

went on to say that in his 25 years of sailing only once before has he seen someone recalled to shore so urgently and that previous time it wasn’t good news. The Class Captain humorously made up a special list of fees for John to charge should something like this happen again and these fees went from $50 to $500, amongst them he included “Standard Consultations at $50” and another “On-board- remote – downwind at $125” – obviously all pretty strangely funny! Remember this John?

This time I will leave it at that, and pick up from here next issue.

However to close, I would like to quote the following because these words from back then are quite true for today’s members as well. Stephen Murphy, the Publicity Officer, from the first issue of UTR as mentioned earlier wrote “to make sure the monthly newssheet is a success, anyone who has news of interest to other members should see me”. As I often say in my articles all of you will have seen something around the Club or during our races that would interest others so you should write an article about it for our magazine. Everything about the Club, its people and its events etc will be of interest to others now and in the future so please submit something to Nicole for inclusion.

Good Sailing!!!! Ron Burwood


Attention TraineesCongratulations, you have completed your “Learn to Sail” course

at Concord and Ryde Sailing Club (CRSC).

Want to continue sailing?Here’s how...

• Join the Intermediate sailors at 11am and learn social racing skills every Saturdayin the same type of boat you have been learning on (Club Spiral, Opti or Firebug).*

• Join the Afternoon race at 2pm in a Club Firebug, Optimist or Spiral single handed dinghy.*

• Become a crew member in a two person dinghy (eg. Heron, NS14, Tasar).**Subject to availability.

All of these above options are FREE to you for the rest of the current season.

ORIf you want to be even more independent, why not consider buying a boat of your own.

Any one of the Class Captains / Representatives would be happy to discuss your options and advise what is available.

Firebug (single handed): Ross Venner 0418 457 020 [email protected]

Cadet / Optimist (single handed): Sophie Bredhauer 0438 384 651 [email protected]

Catamaran (single handed): Paul Scotland 0419 502 286 [email protected]

Heron (two person): Allan Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected]

Intermediate Spiral (single handed): Jacquie Lindstrom 0414 473 648 [email protected]

Junior Heron (two person): Caroline & Caitlin Takacs 0459 184 305 [email protected]

NS14 (two person): Barry Roy 9888 1883 [email protected]

Spiral (single handed): Tim Moors 0422 527 791 [email protected]

Tasar (two person): Nick Brown 0488 450 918 [email protected]

CRSC is a family friendly club, which welcomes new members.We have many social gatherings such as dinners on the balcony each month, Presentation Day and Christmas parties.

The Club is open every Saturday during the Sailing Season from September to April. Bring a friend, buy lunch and a cold drink, and enjoy the afternoon watching the sailing from the balcony.

www.concordrydesailing.org.au

Firebug Optimist Cat Heron Spiral NS14 Tasar


We have had a great response to

our training courses since starting

back after COVID. A big thank you

to Andrew and his band of willing

helpers who attend every Saturday

morning. The trainees seem to have

a great time and many have sailed in

the intermediate race or crewed for

someone. Always heartening to get

return trainees and new members in

the Club.

Kay Williams

Training Principal

TRAINING

Ella Donovan – one of the crew of helpers with Saturday morning training.

Great to see Andrew Hoy getting a hand on Saturday mornings – Steven Deare and Dylan Dooner helping Andrew with a Trainee in an Opti.


Robert Barnes on a slow ride to the finish.


CLASS REPORTSCadetsSophie Bredhauer and Ella Donovan will be sharing the Cadet Class Captain role for this season. Please see them for any assistance with the Cadet fleet. Ella and Tim Donovan will be sailing their new Flying 11 in the lunchtime race, hopefully being joined by a few more.

Congratulations to Oli Sturwohld for winning Cadets Scratch last season, and to Ella Donovan for the Junior Clubman Award.

Sophie Bredhauer Cadet Class Captain

Oli Sturwohld – 1st on Scratch Cadets, and winner of the Bail Bucket Encouragement Award.

Ella Donovan – Winner of the Chris Lloyd-Owen Junior Clubman Award.

It’s been a while since a Flying 11 was launched at CRSC. Ella and Tim Donovan with their new boat 1282.

22

Junior HeronHello Junior Heroners. Happy

New Season. Caroline and Caitlin

Takacs have taken over from

Kathrine Spencer as Junior Class

Captain. We would like to thank Kathrine for her

great efforts over the last couple years.

We both have sailed at Concord Ryde with Dad (Allan

Takacs) crewing and teaching us to sail since we can

remember. We both couldn’t wait to sail our own boat

with our friends and now sail with Sachi Clapham and

Xenobia Elali. We have lots of fun on the water and

on sure and enjoy our time on the water with a family

rivalry that pushes us to improve.

This season has started off with a bit rough in the

morning with either no wind or to much, so we stayed

on sure and had a ball. When we did sail, we had

great completion with Scarlet Sturwohld Maximum

Mischief and Andrew Whorlow in Little Tacker Too

plus Dad has started sailing with Mathew Harris in

Hard to Get.

It would be great to see more Intermediates start to

sail Herons in the morning race and crews from the

afternoon race start skippering on the morning to start

and develop their skippering career as we did. Then we

kicked dad out of the boat to sail with our friends.

In the coming weeks we look forward to kinder

conditions for sailing to allow us to gain more

confidence and encourage new skippers to give it a go.

Please don’t be afraid to ask your Skipper (Dad, Mum,

Grandma or Grandpa) to have a go at the morning

race. Would be great to see you all out there.

Caroline & Caitlin Takacs

Junior Class Captains

Xenobia Elali with Caitlin Takacs. Photos by Nick Brown.

Above: Caroline Takacs with Sachi Clapham. Below: Wayne and Katherine Spencer.


Junior Heron Presentation. Photo by Nick Brown.

Allan Takacs and Mathew Harris. Photo by Nick Brown. Caitlin Takacs and Xenobia Elali. Photo by Nick Brown.


Intermediate SpiralsWelcome back to the 2020/21 season. This has been a season unlike any other under the shadow of corona virus and the restrictions that come with it. We have been really lucky in NSW in that we had only a short 6 week shutdown earlier in the year. Many winter weekend sporting competitions ran shorter, later seasons while waiting for the sporting associations Covid controls to be defined and put in place. The result of this was a lot of kids starting the sailing season late.

So we begin the season with sign in sheets, physical distancing and a cash free option in the canteen. Social events such as Class Social nights have been cancelled and the yearly Christmas party will be looking very

different this year. It’s great to see everyone sticking to the rules to ensure we keep ourselves and each other safe and avoid another lock down.

We have seen good numbers of boats sailing in both the intermediate and B class races. We welcome Ollie Sturwhold to the Intermediate class, Ollie has moved up from the Cadets where he was Club Champion last season. Well done Ollie and welcome!

Our Presentation Day had a very different look this year with each class holding smaller events separately. This doesn’t take away from the great achievements of our Intermediate and B Class Spiral sailors last season. Congratulations to our Club Champions James Crisp for B Division and Deepak Biswal Intermediate Spiral. Great to see other awards going to newcomers Joshua Clement-Churn, Jordan Fazio-Nagy and Namita Biswal. Well done all, they have come a long way in a short time.

We are in the middle of the second Learn to Sail course with 8 adults and 4 kids enrolled. The first week was a baptism by fire with strong winds coming up as soon as the trainees got onto the water. This provided some early capsize practice for all! It’s good to have so many people from the Intermediate and

The Finishing Panel. Photo by Jacquie Lindstrom.

25

Spiral classes coming down every

week to help Andrew Hoy and Sophie

Bredhauer with the many activities

needed to run these courses such as

getting rescue boats on the water and helping get boats out. Thank you all.

Jacquie Lindstrom Intermediate Spiral Class Captain

Intermediate Spirals Presentation. Jacquie Lindstrom Class Captain (L) and with President Craig Burwood (Bottom Left).


Top: Jacquie Lindstrom making sure her Intermediates are in order. Bottom: Great to see the Intermediate sailors having a go in heavy weather.


Alas... there are often casulties. Not sure the Mid-Week Working Group can fix this one...


CatamaranYou may be forgiven for thinking Cat Corner was a sleepy place this season but there has been a lot going on under the covers.

The big news is the impression Jonathon Talbot has had.

He has come to Cats (back to his roots) after being crowned National Champ in Spirals. He is campaigning on his newly painted fully tuned Red Dog and he certainly looks the part with his new technology clear sail. Performance is the key though and after a tentative few races has hit his stride and is regularly giving Steve Levi a run for his money as they tussle with each other all the way around the course. A truly engaging competition each race.

Steve Levi also has a fresh look with a new North Sail as used by the current National Champion. He is managing to hold his own for now as he becomes used to the new engine as leader of the pack.

Ian Hoffman on 8 Ball continues to improve in the mid fleet and managed a creditable third in the last Club race. We will look for more

consistency from Ian in the second half of the season.

Paul Scotland has made cosmetic changes with a new paint job and a new Regatta Graphics name but this has not translated into any performance. Watch this space.

Jim Simpson is our Rock, here every week on his Stray Cat and the light weather this year has not been to its liking.

Garry Ormes has become a guest sailor this year but keeps turning up so the force is still strong in his heart – it great to have you along Garry!

Chris Stevens on Satdays has just made his first appearance in the last race after a long bout of illness. We’ll see him pick up the pace as he gets healthier.

Sadly we have seen the sudden departure of John Taylor, citing difficulty getting around his boat. Certainly he has a creditable sailing record in the Club and has been a long standing member for almost 30 years. Best of luck in your sailing retirement John.

Paul Scotland Catamaran Class Captain


CRSC Secretary Sandra Donovan (middle) as the official for the Cat Class Presentation. (L to R) Steve Levi, Paul Scotland, Ian Hoffman and Jim Simpson. Below: Steve Levi. Photo by Nick Brown.


Ian Hoffman showing what Cat sailing is all about. Photo by Nick Brown.

(Top) John Taylor with Jim Simpson and Edna Wilde in 2016. (R) Chacarin giving John a great ride in 2013.

John Taylor circa 2018.


Tasar & NS14Two new NS14s and the return of a Tasar has boosted our fleet this season. Dylan Clapham and Josh Passafarro have purchased NS14s and James McMaster and Robert Lees have returned with Helianthus.

But we have had a rather poor start to the 2020-21 season and hope it will settle down in January. There has been a mixture of good and bad news. On the Tasar front Bryce Ellis has stopped sailing Kermit but Tony Passafarro and Josh Passafarro have taken over. John Bombell has suffered an injury and hasn’t sailed so far, but the return of Helianthus offsets this. The NS14s have also had some problems with Duncan McRae injuring himself leaving Unplugged on the sidelines while Dylan Clapham has arrived with Meltdown. Given the couple of days of strong winds, injuries and boat damage we have managed to field 7 boats in the Spring Point Score (4 NSs and 3 Tasars) with an average of 46% participating; none of us have sailed all the races. Josh and Tony have the best score finishing 3 out of 4 races, so he is well ahead in the point score.

Next year we should have John

Bombell and Duncan McRae back on the water and a bigger fleet!

Josh has just purchased an NS and will have a chance to compare it with the Tasar. It is interesting to look at why the two boats have the same yardstick (108). They have the same length, beam and within a couple of kilograms the same hull weight. Minimum crew weight for the Tasar is 130 kg compared to the NS at 120 kg, but this is a difficult parameter to manipulate! The major difference is the sail area with the Tasar mainsail 15% bigger and the jib 26% bigger, so the Tasar has a significant downwind advantage if sail is all that counts. Of course the hull shape is also important, and while the Tasar design is frozen in 1975 the NS has developed over the years. Both hull and sails have been optimised for speed so both boats now have the same yardstick.

Hope to see everyone sailing in 2021.

Nick BrownTasar / NS14 Class Captain


Presentation for 2019/2020 season (L to R) Ella Donovan, Sandra Donovan, Tim Donovan, Oli Sturwohld, Barry Roy and Emma Richard.

Dylan Clapham has a new addition to the NS fleet – Meltdown. Above with Henry Szenczy and below with his sister Sachi. Photos by Nick Brown

35 UP THE RIVER DECEMBER 2020 35

Launching the new NS14 Meltdown, into the tropical waters of CRSC! concordrydesailingclub instagram

A very wet Sandra Donovan with help from her grandkids / rotating crews Ella and Tim Donovan. Photo by Nick Brown.


SpiralFirst, as a new Class Captain, I would like to thank Andrew Hoy for his magnificent effort since 2017 as Class Captain. Apart from his culinary skills in making hand-made cheese platters for events such as Presentation Days and in raising the bar with exotic class BBQs, he has also helped our class grow in size numerically (not just around the waist), and continues to do so by leading the training for new sailors. Thank you!

Our class has certainly grown recently, with fleet numbers in the high twenties regularly hitting the water in the season so far. Graham Biehl has joined us at the pointy end of the fleet, e.g. coming 2nd in the most recent race at the time of writing, and it has been good to see several sailors stepping up from the B Division to join the Spiral afternoon race, including Daniel Train, James Crisp and Steven Deare. While a few people have been sidelined due to medical issues, we’ve had very few people leave the class, with the notable exception of Jonathon Talbot, who must have a regular appointment to keep after racing since he is no longer content as 2019-2020 class champion to lead the Spiral fleet and finish early, but has decided that he needs to start 10 minutes earlier with the Catamarans. Good luck Jonathon.

We’ve experienced a range of conditions, from still waters leading to the Oct. 24 Spring race being shortened to strong

winds two weeks later producing 11 DNFs in the fleet of 25. We’ve been very lucky to have had only one race abandoned early in the season due to a strong westerly, and the weather gods have frequently defied the forecasters by providing gentle breezes when both dead conditions and when storms and strong winds have been predicted. However, after a relatively dry Spring, recent wet weather suggests that La Niña has now set in, so we may have a wet summer ahead.

The Spiral Association ran a coaching course at Concord-Ryde over two Sundays in late September, in which 10 of us (limited due to Covid-19) eagerly listened to Shane Conly’s insights into how to get around the course, and then had the opportunity to practice and develop those skills on the water. Our sailors have also been active in the Association’s Traveller’s Trophy events, with eight of us at the first event at Jervis Bay, five at the second event in Canberra, and a sizable contingent lining up for the States in Taree.

As a new Class Captain, I’d like to hear your thoughts about how we might improve Spiral sailing at CRSC, and please tell me if you haven’t been receiving emails from me - Bigpond users didn’t receive initial emails due to Bigpond filtering.

Let’s gyrate!

(Gyrate: “Move or cause to move in a circle or spiral, especially quickly.”)

Tim Moors Spiral Class Captain


Top: November start, photo by Nick Brown. Below: Spiral Presentation – COVID Style...


Spiral Training Day earlier this year.

905 Sunday Morning with Graham Tindall. TIMe well spent with Tim Moors and MK2 with Mark McConnell.

Photos by Nick Brown.


Spirals launching in September 2020. Photo by Nick Brown.

A very slow finish in October 2020. Photo by Nick Brown.


HeronHello All Heroners. Happy New Season and as you may already know I (Allan Takacs) have taken over from Sonia Burwood as Class Captain. I would like to thank Sonia for her great efforts over the last 3 years and hope to live up to the high bar she has set for the Club in this role.

A little background on myself – I suffer from “Long Term Heronitis” as I have been sailing Herons since I was 6 years old starting with the Legendary Mel Pickman at Middle Harbour Heron Sailing Club (Sundays) also sailing here at Concord Ryde Sailing Club every Saturday we could spare. I left Herons when I was 18 years old to sail in Yachts out of Parramatta River Sailing Club with Jim Marriott and Alex Milne until my Daughter Caroline Takacs came of age to start crewing in a Heron (8727 Little Tacker). Since then I have sailed with my youngest daughter Caitlin Takacs and now with my son Luke Takacs as both my girls now have their own Herons (Hocus Pocus & Choppsy’s Seahorse) and have developed into great little sailors in their right. My “Heronitis” is well and truly out of control now and highly infectious with 4 Herons in my family and at my worst 6…

I love coming sailing with my family every week at Concord Ryde Sailing

Club. To be a part of the Concord Ryde family and have fun doing what we love with who we love… Can’t get better than that!!!

This season has started off with a bang… Coming off the back of a long COVID-19 winter break we have come back to sailing in drifters to 20 plus knot winds. It has been great to see so many Herons out this season with 14 boats and potentially 20 boats of all come down that are on the sign on sheet. It’s great to see Malcom Lloyd Owen with his grandson Jackson Lloyd Owen (Magpie) coming back to the class as well as Alex Milne with his daughter Edna-Rose Milne (Adept) who has just reached crewing age, and John Burwood (Wind Stalker) with his 2 boys Riley and Brodie Burwood sailing with Dad and Grandma Sonia (Sonal).

It is fantastic to see others becoming 2 Heron families with Steve Donovan sailing Grumpier and Nicole Williams sailing Bluey plus Kate and Scarlet Sturwohld picking up a new boat (Shhh it’s a secret yet to be revealed) hoping Scarlet will give my girls Caroline & Caitlin a good run for their money in Maximum Mischief. Is Heronitis spreading???

Adding to the above we have some new boats that have come into the fleet with Cathy Clapham upgrading to Raphael, Andrew Hoy coming across from Spirals and Billy Blue to Black Duck and Andrew Whorlow in Little Tacker

41 UP THE RIVER DECEMBER 2020Bob Hindley with flags a flying. Photo by Craig Burwood.

Too coming up from the Trainees and Intermediates.

There has been a change in the rules from the National Heron Association where along with 1-piece Alloy masts and booms we can now remove the back seat and floorboards. This can take as much as 8Kg out of an average Heron and has been done by myself a number of members over both Fiberglass boats (Cirrus, Bluey, Hocus Pocus, Choppsy’s Seahorse, Hard to Get, Raphael) and Timber boats like Chris Gildersleeve in “Flying Circus”. This is a worthwhile modification but please note that re-enforcing may be required to ensure Hull integrity. Should anyone wish to investigate it please don’t hesitate to ask advice. We are all happy to discuss what may be required.

Now that I have come across like a totally crazy man can I say to all that read this if you are interested in spending a Saturday out on the

water with members of your family (As Jen and I do with 4 of our 5 kids and I’m working on the 5th) and on shore with a great bunch of people Herons at Concord Ryde is the place to be. We have a great Learn to sail program and Club Herons available to hire if you want to try it out. We have a Cracking fleet this year with Chris Loring (Icy Pole), Steve Donovan (Grumpier), Wayne Spencer (Cirrus), Kate Sturwohld (TBA), Malcom Lloyd Owen (Magpie) and Allan Takacs (Hard to Get) all swapping the lead with any one of us getting a win with the rest of the fleet not too far behind and ever improving.

If I may share my 3 rules of sailing in closing:

1. Big Stick Up

2. Don’t Hurt Yourself

3. HAVE FUN!!!

Allan Takacs Heron Class Captain

Before removal of seat. After removal of seat.


Top: Sachi Clapham and Caroline Takacs having a great time as usual. Bottom: The Spencers in Cirrus. Photos by Nick Brown.

Xenobia Elali with Caitlin Takacs. Photos by Nick Brown.

Ten boats from CRSC competed in the Heron State Titles at Saratoga on 28/29 November 2020. Three races were held on Saturday, with racing cancelled on the Sunday because of heavy winds. Congratulations to Peter and Joel Vaiciurgis for winning the 2020/21 NSW Heron Titles sailing their new boat 10353 ‘Wise Old Owl’. Congratulations also to Chris and Jessie Loring for 3rd Scratch; Nicole Williams and Tim Donovan for 1st Handicap;

Cathy Clapham and Olivia Loring for 2nd Handicap, Caitlin Takacs and Xenobia Elali for winning Junior/Junior; Kate and Scarlet Sturwohld for First Lady Skipper and they also came 7th on Scratch.

We also had Chris Gildersleeve and Freddie Chan, Wayne Spencer and Justin Chan, Allan Takacs and Luke Takacs, Caroline Takacs and Jamilia Elali, Steve Donovan and Ella Donovan (10th Scratch).

HERON STATES – SARATOGATop: Heron CRSC Presentation.

Peter and Joel Vaiciurgis – 1st Scratch..

Nicole Williams and Tim Donovan – 1st Handicap.

Chris and Jessica Loring 3rd Scratch.

Cathy Clapham and Olivia Loring – 2nd Handicap.

Kate and Scarlet Sturwohld – 7th Scratch and 1st Lady Skipper.

Caitlin Takacs and Zenobia Elali 1st Junior/Junior.

Firebug ClassThree Bugs are sailing regularly at this point in the season. Tegan Franklin has been sailing 1230 Fire Up, James Chan has been sailing 1304 Tyler G and Ross Venner has been sailing 1305 Life of Riley. The latter two being the Club boats built during winter 2018. Ross’s own boat is being completely refurbished after 14 hard seasons sailing.

Honours have been shared evenly with each boat having wins in some races and most races being contested between all three boats. The exception being the windy 7th November and we are grateful to Nick Brown for these photographs…

Ross Venner Firebug Class Captain Ross Venner. Photo by Nick Brown.

STARTER AND RESCUE BOATSIt has been an interesting start to the season, and from the Starter’s boat, it has been very impressive to see the number of people that have been down at the Club sailing. It has been many years since we had this many boats consistently on the water from the first week.

We have also had everything so far this season, from drifters to strong winds from southerly’s to westerly’s (sometimes in the same race) with the occasional easterly thrown in. I cannot remember setting Course 1 this frequently over many seasons.

We have broken the prop guard and damaged the prop on the new boat [not bad for only a couple of outings] and I would like to express my thanks to all those who enabled the repairs on that to occur and be completed within the week so that is was ready for the next week.

Thank you to all those who have also stepped in to assist when we have been

a man (or two) down on a couple of occasions.

This does highlight one small issue, that we do require more people who are willing to make themselves available to assist us. We welcome anyone who has attained their boat driving licence to come out and “use it”. This will ensure that if you have that you do not lose your touch.

If the rescue, portion of the use of the boat is worrying anyone, do not worry, we always are happy to educate and run through all of this if it happens. We will always try and have an experienced person in this area on board on all rescue craft.

If you are interested, please come and see either John Glasson or me.

See you on the water soon!!

Craig Burwood CRSC PRO

Weighted rescue ladder, courtesy of Bob Hindley.

Ross Venner. Photo by Nick Brown.


Whenever we head out to race we need to be aware of our fellow competitors. Over many years, the world body governing sailing has introduced and continues to refine the rules which we should know and abide by when we race. The current Racing Rules of Sailing (the ‘Blue’ book) will be updated again in 2021 to attempt to keep the rules simple, efficient and fair.

Our current rules are very different to those of the Royal Yacht Club in 1828. Most of their 13 rules concerned the starting procedures (all boats starting from anchor!), the permissible number of sails and the use and moving of ballast. Only one right of way rule existed…

“That vessels on the larboard [port] tack must invariably give way for those on the starboard tack, and in all cases where a doubt of the possibility of the vessel on the larboard tack weathering [crossing] the one on the starboard tack shall exist, the vessel on the larboard tack shall give way, or if the other vessel keep her course and run into her”

Many iterations of rules arose through the 19th century, however the first IYRU (International Yacht Racing Union) set of rules appeared in 1907. These were largely based on the English initiated Yachting Racing Association which first met in 1875 to come up with a comprehensive set of rules dealing with when boats meet.

Whilst our blue book contains a lot of information, the key rules that we need to know are rule 10 through to 20. So, how hard can that be to commit 11 rules to memory and know which rule applies to each encounter we come across during a race. Sounds easy! In reality, the 11 becomes something like 34 by the time all the sections and subsections of some of the rules are counted.

Around 40% of these relate to rounding marks! (rule 18). Paul Elvstrom, one of the greatest dinghy sailors the world has seen, became so successful for many reasons. He pioneered off water physical training techniques but he also knew the rules of sailing perfectly. This was very beneficial when sailing at the elite level. You can still buy the rules companion book, ‘Paul Elvstrom Explains’.

Unlike Elvstrom, I struggle to remember which rule/section/sub-section applies to every situation. In an attempt to keep it front of mind I have a summary of the rules stuck on my Spiral so I can refer to it as I sail.

Tim Moors, Spiral class secretary, set aside a chunk of time during the COVID lock down to improve his knowledge of the sailing rules. In true Tim style, he has created a truly amazing pictorial presentation of the main 11 rules. He and the Commodore

SAILING RULES


suggested that perhaps a piece on the

rules should feature in UTR.

Over the coming editions it would be

great if we can have Concord Ryde

sailors contribute a piece on one of the

rules of sailing.

To make a start, it seems appropriate in

this COVID world to feature Rule 14.

Avoid Contact. This rule first appeared

in the 1997 major rewrite of the rules

and aims to ensure that sailing is

a non-contact sport! The current

wording of the rule reads...

“A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible .

However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room

(a) need not act to avoid contact until it

is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and

(b) shall be exonerated if it breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or injury.”

Clearly this rule is intended to avoid

boats colliding and is ‘reasonably’ easy

to follow.

However it contains several conditions

(some quite equivocal) which, as the

following comments highlight, can

lead to some disputation. Note that the

rule does not simply say ‘if you cause

contact with another boat you are in

the wrong and can be disqualified’. If it

were worded in this way then it would

effectively remove any advantage a

right of way (ROW) boat has.

One half of my rules summary stuck on the boat.


This rule applies to ‘A boat’ which means all boats in the fleet irrespective of whether it is, at that time the ROW boat of the Give Way Boat (GWB). It applies to any and all parts of the sailing course.

Whilst ‘if reasonably possible’ is open to interpretation I think it is fair to say we get what it means. To argue that ‘I couldn’t bear away as my crew might have gotten wet’ would not hold up!

The phrase ‘until it is clear the other boat is not keeping clear’ is far from prescriptive. It is therefore the most difficult part of the rule to administer. Note that it doesn’t state, for example, a certain distance (like the 3 boat length zone). We have all been on starboard wondering WHEN the port boat heading on collision course to you is going to ‘KEEP CLEAR!’

It is very important to be aware that once the ROW boat realises the GWB IS NOT going to keep clear, the ROW boat must take its own action to avoid contact. If the ROW boat does not and they collide they have broken Rule 14. In this case the GWB should be protested under Rule 10 and they in turn can protest the ROW boat under rule 14.

If the ROW boat does take action to avoid contact (or it was not reasonably possible to) and they collide then Part (b) of the rule MAY help as it exonerates them. Great! The kicker is that they are only exonerated if there is no damage or injury! Sounds very much like we are back in 1828!...

“the owner of the vessel on the larboard tack shall be compelled to pay all damages and forfeit his claim to the prize.”

The governing body sees damage as where the boat’s “value or usefulness is at all reduced”. Could be a little difficult to figure that out on the water! The two boats need to have a quick chat, decide yes or no to the above and do the penalty turns required.

Mostly common sense and rational thinking prevails and Rule 14 works. Sometimes these episodes are overlaid with a level of assertiveness that precludes this. So, If in doubt, do your turns!

Fortunately, despite the non-prescriptive nature of aspects of this rule, collisions remain rare. Behaviours that help reduce these instances include;

• Making your intentions clear well before action is required

• Having a dialogue with the boat(s) that will potentially be involved in contact

• Leaving more room than perhaps necessary incase conditions change

• Don’t rely on part (b) to gain exoneration as no one wants damage and/or injury in sailing

• Always try to show good manners and sportsmanship to avoid breaching Rule 69

So in the era of COVID, remember Rule 14, (a) and (b).

Grahame Tindall Spiral 905


MEMBERSHIPHugo Barnes Junior TraineeOscar Barnes Junior TraineeRobert Barnes Adult TraineeGraham Biehl Adult SpiralHannah Biehl Adult SpiralAnnabelle Birtles Junior TraineeCharlotte Birtles Junior TraineeEmmaline Birtles Junior TraineeJosephine Birtles Junior TraineeTobias Bruckert Adult IntermediateOlan Chen Junior Trainee School HolidayMaya Cole Junior Heron Ari Crisp Junior TraineeDerek Du Junior TrainingEmma Du Junior Trainee School HolidayGiuseppina Gagliano Adult TraineeGrace Galea Junior Trainee School HolidayLiam Gosney Junior TrainingLiam Gosney Junior Trainee School HolidayJoshua Graffi Junior TraineeEr Yu He Junior Trainee School HolidaySofia Xiao Yi He Junior Trainee School HolidayPaul Hecker Adult Division ANeal Hozark Adult SpiralAlan James Adult TraineeChristos Kambourakis Adult TraineeGeorgios Kambourakis Adult TraineeStacey Lamble Adult Trainee

A very warm welcome to the following new members this season.

Gre

g Fr

yer

and

Ril

ey w

ith

VJ 9

096

Big

App

le I

V.

Chengyu Li Junior TrainingEdwin Li Junior TrainingYat Leung Li Adult TraineeMalcolm Lloyd-Owen Adult HeronMichael Lowery Junior Trainee School HolidayThomas Lowery Junior Trainee School HolidayEduardo Monreal Garibaldi Adult TraineeMauritius Moran Junior TraineeAnthony Nomikos Adult TraineeSevasty Nomikos Adult TraineeJosh Passafaro Adult TasarNashala Pickles Junior TrainingRajina Pillay Adult TraineeSusan Read Adult TraineeBen Shepherd Junior Temp. CrewLily Shepherd Junior Temp. CrewOakley Shepherd Adult Temp. CrewAngela Shiang Yu Junior TrainingJulie Sposari Adult TraineeAndy Wang Junior TraineeOriana Wang Junior TraineeVivian Wang Junior TraineeDeclan Wong Junior Trainee School HolidayKarsten Wong Junior Trainee School HolidayCatherine Chenlin Yu Junior TrainingChristopher Haiyung Yu Junior TrainingTangtang Zhang Junior Trainee School HolidayTheoharis Zografos Adult Trainee

https://youtu.be/_FrL8BlKQ5Yhttps://youtu.be/zSM0bCkR-FA


HONORARY MEMBERSHIP for KENT McDOWALL

Our Club has a number of different forms of membership, one for those who sail (Adult and Concession), one for those who don’t (Non Sailing), one for non sailing Club Officials (Associate) and one for those who go above and beyond (Life Membership). However we do have another very special category, Honorary Membership. The only current members of this special category are former Mayors and Councillors of Ryde City Council, Edna Wilde and Jim Hull who over decades have supported our Club in many ways, both when they were on Council and the many years since they have retired from Council.

At the June 2020 Management Committee Meeting it was passed unanimously that Honorary Membership be bestowed on another (often anonymous) supporter Kent McDowall. This was at the time the Club took delivery of our modern new rescue boat funded partly by a federal government grant but the Club’s obligation was also partly funded by a generous donation made by Kent McDowall through the Australian Sports Foundation. It was noted that this was not the first generous donation made to the Club by Kent in past years and these have helped in funding the

Bryce Ellis Boatshed and other Club projects. Also, who could forget the Skate Reunion in 2009 to celebrate 50 years since the Skate first appeared at the Club. Kent was the co-ordinator and about 120 former Club Skate sailors and friends had a wonderful day sharing old photos and telling stories of tales past.

I think that Barry Roy, Les Donovan and the writer are the only current members who knew Kent. He was President of the Club when Les joined in 1963 and Barry, my brother Chris McDonald and I joined in 1964. Other members since have got to know him as he always visits the Club whenever he is in Sydney. Back then the Committee was comprised of young Skate sailors, and they brought a new dynamic to the Club. But it was after a trip to Perth for the Skate National Championships that Kent decided to go west to make his fortune and the Club lost him for a number of years.

In thanking the Club for Honorary Membership Kent wrote:

It has been my privilege to assist the Concord Ryde Sailing Club that altered my journey through life. It was what I found there over 60 years ago that raised my horizons so greatly. It has also been wonderful for the last 25 years since I reconnected to the Club at the


Kent is sitting on the deck in the second row in about the middle in the green/blue shirt just behind the two blokes on their own in front. All these guys sailed Skates at the Club back in the day. Les Donovan is there in the shadows, so is Barry Roy.

50 years celebrations to meet so many

Club stalwarts and old sailing mates.

I read each year how things have been

moving along. I believe that CRSC is an

amazing organisation and it has thrived

when the modern idea seems to be to

commercialise everything including

community based organisations. You

stalwarts are simply amazing. Your

results surpass anything I know of in

all of Australia. I am honoured to be

considered a worthy friend of you all.

Thank you for the photos of the rescue

boat. It made me compare with the old

original rescue boat we worked on every

year in the early 1960’s to simply have a

boat to help us lay the courses and assist

us when we broke gear. The infamous

old converted 18ft skiff with its single

piston engine that vibrated through the

boat whilst in use. It was always trying to

shake the hull to pieces but we treasured it and the people who manned (including young women) it, each week of the season. Then to fix it up yet again each off season. It was at the heart of the Club.

I am regularly in touch with Don Melrose. Our friendship redeveloped when we met up again at the 50th, now 25 years ago. We still meet in Tassie, WA or NSW each year. We are looking forward to somehow joining in with you if and when you celebrate 75 years of promoting Community Sailing on the Parramatta River.

May 2020/1 season of sailing be one to be always remembered by the upcoming generation of sailors. Regards to all.

Thank you Kent for your generosity over the years.

Sandra Donovan


OBITUARY – TED’S TINNY (28/9/2005 to 19/10/2020)

It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of Ted’s Tinny, or TT as she was sometimes known. After long and faithful service, TT passed quietly through the pearly gates of the boat ramp on 19th October and was taken from us to a new home in Heaven or, as the locals prefer to call it, Jervis Bay. There she will be reincarnated as a fishing boat, under the ownership of Colin the local plumber. I am sure we all hope and pray that TT delivers many a great and Godly catch for Colin and that his own piscine prayers are answered.

I have assured Colin that TT will be as reliable and as faithful a servant to him as she was unto us and if not, since Colin is built bigger than a brick boathouse, he should refer any complaints not to me but directly back to our Treasurer.

During her illustrious career, TT endured many bumps and knocks and wore her battle scars with pride. She wasn’t the prettiest boat on the river but, if boats could talk, she would have many a tale to tell, of races won and lost and of daring rescues undertaken in the worst of conditions. It is rumoured that our Principal Race Officer was overcome with grief at her passing and had to be dragged away from her in tears. If you believe that, you probably

think there are fairies at the bottom of

the boat ramp!

TT has been replaced with a young pup

of a boat made of plastic. TT would be

turning on her mooring if she knew she

was being replaced by something made

of recycled milk bottles. Still, some of

our members never thought motor cars

would replace the horse and cart. The

Lord works in strange and mysterious

ways, Amen.

You may wonder why she was called

Ted’s Tinny. Well, Ted Kendrick was

a long-standing member of the Club

and, when he could no longer sail, he

manned the Start Boat religiously, for

many years. He became synonymous

with the boat and so, when the boat

needed a name, by law, “Ted’s Tinny”

was the obvious choice. You can read

all about Ted on our website under:

Club History, Life Members, Page 8.

We can only hope that Ted is looking

down on his beloved old boat and

thinking that soon, they will be

reunited. So the next time you see a

shooting star cross the night sky above

the river, ask yourself, could that be

Ted, driving his battered old boat to

that great finish line in the sky?

Bob Hindley


Ted’s Tinny, now a fishing boat in Jervis Bay.

Ted Kendrick. This is how most Club members remember Ted, with his loud speaker every Saturday announcing the race. “Now hear this... Course Number 2” (As it always seemed to be 2 for some reason.)


DOUBLE TAKE #1

Keith Leslie and Paul Gurr in a pickle in December 2020.

An unidentified fallen comrade.

Capsizing is never part of the plan.

Dylan Clapham and Henry Szenczy managing to break the new boat a little bit.

DOUBLE TAKE #1

55

Above: Swan dive near Yaralla. Below: Maria Nash proving that capsizing can actually be neat and painless. All photos by Nick Brown.

UP THE RIVER DECEMBER 2020

BLAST FROM THE PAST

DOUBLE TAKE #2

Steve and Tim Donovan giving the new Flying 11 a test.

It’s raining and they are in the wrong boat, but Chris Loring and Ella Donovan seem to be having a great old time. Photos by Nick Brown.

Craig Burwood in Spiral Rebel circa 1991/1992. Sonia Burwood, or Sonia Swindells as she was known in the 1988/1989 season.

Top: The Training fleet coming in from their last session for the November / December course, with help from CRSC volunteers.

Bottom: Presentation for the November / December Training Fleet.

Obligation free advice offered to all CRSC members.

Australian Financial Services Licence No. 502391 MKW Insurance Brokers

mkwib.com.au Commercial | SME | Trades |Private | Life

Corporate | Professionals | Marine

Martin Wiblin Principal

11 Thornleigh Avenue, Concord NSW 2137P.O. Box 166, Concord NSW 2137AFSL No. 502391ABN 53 617 495 495

Phone: (02) 9746 6273 Fax: (02) 9746 6255Mobile: 0414 944 404Email: [email protected]: www.mkwib.com.au

MKW Insurance Brokers

MKWmkwib.com.au Commercial | SME | Trades |Private | Life

Corporate | Professionals | Marine

Luke Wiblin Director | Insurance Broker 02 9746 6273

0438 637 843

[email protected] P.O. Box 166, Concord, NSW, 213779 Lofberg Road, West Pymble, NSW, 207311 Thornleigh Avenue, Concord, NSW, 2137

up the concord and ryde sailing club newsletter ......concord and ryde sailing club inc. editor:...

Documents