Last Month
A bit of everything.
Strong winds continued for the start of last month with the last race of the Sam Cadman series fielding only three yachts in spite of the series having five starters. The series finished with ‘Volare’ first with a score of 15, ‘Centinella’ & ‘Out of the Blue’ scored 16 each. This demonstrates the importance of sailing in every race. If you came last in three races (4th) and second in one you would have won the series! So, get those weedy hulls off the piles and enter the next series, you’ve got a good chance even if you drink champaign all the way around the course! (not recommended). A big thank you to the race starters and timekeepers who sat out the choppy conditions bouncing around on the end of an anchor all day.
Tinaroo wooden boats – something different.
A small contingent of CYC members made the trip up the hill to Lake Tinaroo to enjoy a bit of fresh water sailing. Though not an official Club sailing day, Saturday saw a collection of wooden boats appearing from backyards and farm sheds around the district. Notable was a beautiful yawl of about five meters, recently finished. An excellent vessel for day sailing especially on the lake. Another stand out was a steam-powered boat, perfect for lake Tinaroo to consume those dead sticks of bygone forests to feed the boiler. Once again exquisite workmanship. In all about 10 boats ranging from canoes & rowing boats to trailer sailers graced the placid waters.
Steaming around Tinaroo, a wood powered steamboat and a beautiful yawl.
Ellis Beach
Teams from Townsville to Tinaroo made it up to fantastic Ellis Beach for the weekend. The expected strong sou-easterlies that had been blowing for months decided to desert the coast for the Ellis Beach mid-year regatta at the end of July. After spending the previous two, month-end Ellis regattas being tossed mercilessly into the sea, it was a relief to stay dry, though probably slightly monotonous, as the fleet drifted around the course. This regatta had two days of three races each and we were joined by crews from Townsville, Mission Beach and Tinaroo.
Race One – Dick Cater Series
Fitzroy Island race saw five starters rounding Cape Grafton into stiff winds and choppy seas. Wild Spirit took podium position on handicap and would have claimed the magnificent prize of two nights on Fitzroy Island if they had stayed to collect it. Close behind was Impulse only twelve minutes and Volare coming in 21 minutes later to take third place. Great to see Bellamara, a new boat join the fleet, coming in fourth with Anastasia gracefully taking fifth place. Unfortunately, some boats could not compete due to crew shortages.
Results – Fitzroy Island, Dick Cater series, race 1
Airlie Beach Race Week 9th – 16th
We have a cat contingent in the Leitner family and Wazza heading off to do battle from the 9th to the 16th at Airlie Beach. Rather than sail Leitning Storm down, they packed her up on a trailer and sailed the highway. (Upwind at 40kts always a good feeling). Not a small effort though as, not only does the mast have to come down, but the cross beams have to be unbolted to make the two hulls narrow enough for the road. It takes a good day to re-assemble the craft. Good luck and we look forward to some stories from this adventure.
Honey, I shrunk the boat
Club Membership – Renew or Join now
Great time to join, benefit from full 11 months of membership only $170 for an adult plus $85 for Yachting Australia Silver Card if you are racing and don’t yet have one. Be part of the most active sailing Club on the Far North, keelboats and dinghies to learn on and for hire. Two great locations, the Marlin Marina in town and Ellis Beach just past Palm Cove. Relaxed sailing every Wednesday from the Marlin Marina, sailing on Trinity Inlet. Keelboat races almost every second weekend and fun in the dinghies between Learn to Sail courses also Laser and catamaran sailing at Ellis at the end of each month. Great social gatherings after each event at the Boat Shed opposite The Salthouse restaurant.
MEMBERSHIP FORM HERE – Just bring it along to the Boat Shed and someone will sign your nomination.
Dinghy Learn to Sail – Fourth Course starts 11 August
With the popularity of the CYC Dinghy Learn to sail course on the increase we have decided to open registration for the course early. The course will be held on Saturdays from 8.30am to 2pm,
| 11th August | 08:30 AM | – | 2:00 PM | |
| 18th August | 08:30 AM | – | 2:00 PM | |
| 25th August | 08:30 AM | – | 2:00 PM | |
| 1st September | 08:30 AM | – | 2:00 PM |
The program which will go for 4 weeks and is designed to teach all the key skills required to sail a small sailing vessel safely.
Great fun for all the family. for more information please contact the office on cyc@cairns.net.au
Fees of $200 per student for the full course or if you are a family group please contact the office
TO REGISTER, FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW
Keelboat Learn to Sail
We now have a beautiful little J24 available for hire and to conduct sail training on keelboats. We already have had four people complete the course this month. Contact Bill Munroe, 0408 072 152 if you want to organise a session.
Coming UP – This Month – download nomination form here
Saturday 11th August – Dick Cater Series Race 2, the third Bay Race this year. Briefing at 9am at the boatshed.
Saturday 11th August – Learn to sail course starts, be at the Boat Shed at 8:30am
Saturday 18th August – Workshop for CYC Float for Cairns Festival Parade – 12-4pm, to prepare costumes, boats & trailers.
Contact Graeme Mudge 0416 176 556.
Sunday 19th August – Dick Cater Series Race 3, third Double Island Race.
Saturday 25th August – PARADE is on Sat 25th Aug, (we’ll be getting ready from lunchtime).
AFTER PARTY back at the Boatshed when the parade finishes. Burgers for $7, cold drinks of course, and FIREWORKS at 7:30pm. Best view in town from our club!!
Sunday 26th August – Ellis Beach, off the beach racing, a perfect day out for the family at this beautiful location.
Saturday 8th September – Dick Cater Series Race 5, the third Inlet Race this year, Series presentation after
WAGS – Every Wednesday. A fun sailing day with others, stress-free and a chance for non-members to sail for the day, just $20 gets you on a boat. Be at the Boat Shed at 12. No need to call anyone, just turn up. Backpackers welcome, the best value day out on the water you can have in Cairns.
Connect to the calendar HERE; you can download a .pdf copy to your phone or sync the calendar.
Commodore’s Command
I managed to secure Sea Swift to donate a Hanse 303 to the Sailability group which is a fantastic coup considering the lead time and presentation that Andy put together for the group. Ports North have indicated that they were keen also to donate likewise so now they are in my crosshairs.
I have to say from my association with Ports and various business identities around Cairns the SWD program has certainly lifted the profile of CYC and can only be beneficial to the learn to sail, discover sailing and junior sailing, also WAGS.
Maintenance dredging is scheduled to commence May -July 19 and the planned channel widening to commence July- Sept 19, they still haven’t got Federal approval but are taking bookings for vessels in the 300 m length with 38.7m beam for September on so showing confidence of getting the tick in the box.
Registered depth is proposed to be at 8.8 ALW
Hopefully, the area that is showing the CYC concern re shallow water will be addressed in Novembe18?
David Good, the P/N operations manager and very supportive of the CYC had his last day on Thursday. He has accepted a job in Melbourne as the CEO of Superyachts Australia. Andy, Roo, and I had a couple of sherbets with him at Hemming ways after WAGS to wish him all the best.
The talk was how fantastic it was to watch the yachts sailing WAGS coming in close to Hemmingways setting the atmosphere, even over the lead up to the state of origin. They told me more eyes were on the yachts than the big screen, which suggests, while there are no vessels alongside the main wharf we make a point of doing the close sail by to get more interest in the CYC.
Davids replacement is Richard Stephenson, who is ex-Navy and, I was told worked for the Sultan of Bruni in a past life being was in charge of Port security among many other things.
I have an excellent relationship with Richard also, so feel the CYC has every chance of moving forward with his support.
Yachtstay, from what I’m hearing, is no longer trading and some vessels have been sold.
ED: Got a story/ drama/adventure to share? Put it down on paper (USB stick?). Anyone can have a go. Please call the editor, Hew on 0409976888. Perhaps you can tell me your story over a drink or two? Email at iwantone2@icloud.com (We can fix spelling and grammar slip-ups)
Cairns Yacht Club Newsletter 