FROM THE QUARTERDECK A Report from Rear Commodore Matt Kemp

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2012. A year which will be very important for the Club - more on that shortly.

I hope that despite the weather, you have managed to have a break. I have been lucky enough to arrange my holidays for the end of January/early February, and so far the weather has been very favourable. This has been my first lengthy trip away on Shango and I am currently writing this piece for the newsletter comfortably ensconced in North Cove at Kawau having been up here for the best part of the week. I am looking forward to heading across to Mahurangi tomorrow morning to watch the race finish and spend the weekend over there before heading home on Anniversary Day.

The Club finished a very successful 2011, and while many of us have been having a well earned break a number of members have been ensuring the Club continues to operate effectively. This has been particularly important during January as the Club has been hired for a couple of large weddings. A big thanks to those of you have been willing and available to assist over the Christmas break.

2012 will be a very important year for the Club, with the biggest task being the completion of the Clubhouse refurbishment project.

The Steering Group have continued to work on the project during the summer months and building work for Stage Two will be commencing in the first week of March. There will inevitably be some disruption during this period but the Club will still be accessible and usable for Club members.

You will recall that the Flag officers wrote to members late last year requesting that members consider making a contribution of $250 towards funding the completion of this important project. To date we have had a very encouraging response.

We have this week submitted further grant funding applications to assist in funding the completion of the project. We are keeping our fingers crossed that these applications will be favourably considered.

After allowing for potential further fundraising, donations and grant funding, in the event that we have a shortfall of funds the Club will be borrowing the required funds necessary to complete the project.

Matt Kemp

 

A HOLIDAY REPORT FROM SUE Commodore Sue Johnson

Hi everyone and Happy New Year to you from Bon Accord Harbour aboard Mary Terese. We’re looking forward to another successful Mahurangi Weekend over Anniversary Weekend to round off our Christmas cruise, with hopefully much better weather than we all had at the start of the holiday period. One would have to say though, that it was safer on the boat than on the roads this year, although the number of drownings were depressing and you wondered at so many being so needless. I am grateful for the way in which boating with the Club makes the family a lot more aware and wary of the dangers in and around water and this is possibly something that we can push a little more in our activities.

However, when the weather finally came right, it was very welcome indeed and we hope you all got a taste of it.

On your behalf, I have sent a message of congratulation to Jim Young, ONZM, on becoming an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his Services to Boatbuilding in New Zealand.

This was a great recognition of all that Jim has achieved for boating design, boat building and innovation in New Zealand and we at the Devonport Yacht Club have been all the richer for the legacy of many of his designs sailing in our competitions over the years.

Congratulations were also sent to Simon Gundry, QSM, who received the Queen’s Service Medal for his Services to the Community. We certainly have an appreciation of the work that gets done on a voluntary basis, involved as we are with the Club and its various undertakings, and Simon’s QSM was a wonderful recognition of his work on behalf of the Rugby Club and the many other enterprises in which he is involved in the community.

As soon as I get back from our cruise, I’m sure you would all like me to send congratulations to the members of Team Gallagher, who have just successfully completed – and I think, almost against the odds - their rowing ‘voyage’ from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. How many of you, like me, had a picture in your mind, of Sir Peter, sitting on a cloud up there somewhere and muttering to himself ‘Son, make sure it’s got a sail on it next time’! But it was great to think of all that it must have taken those young men to come through the adversity and adventure and pull it off against the odds, or at least against the weather that prevailed. And, how many of you, like me, think the NZ Herald deserves a brickbat for the complete lack of a picture of their finish under the Harbour Bridge in their Saturday, 22nd edition.

In a roundabout way, that brings me to the Club’s tribute evening on 2 December for Sir Peter Blake which was very warmly received by the friends and family of Sir Peter who gathered with members to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death. Pippa, Lady Blake, signed several copies of her book for members who purchased them on the evening or who brought along their own copies. I made the following speech to those gathered.

“It is my privilege and a great pleasure to warmly welcome you, Pippa, on behalf of the Flag Officers and Devonport Yacht Club members and also a warm welcome to friends attending this evening, to celebrate and acknowledge the completion of the first part of our Clubhouse renovations, the Lounge, which will be known as the Sir Peter Blake Lounge.

For all of us here, I am sure it would not be hard to recall where we were or what we were doing on the morning of 06 December in 2001 when we heard the unbelievable news of Peter’s death. Nor will we forget the deep sadness and loss that we felt with you, Pippa and Sarah-Jane and James at Peter’s Memorial service here in Auckland. Such a pointless and needless act against a man who had contributed so much and given so many of us a real sense of who we are and can be, as New Zealanders, and what can be achieved with the commitment and values that Peter displayed in all his endeavours. Endeavours, Pippa, with your support and more often than not – with you at his side.

Out of this tragedy, Pippa, you and the trustees of the Sir Peter Blake Trust have kept Peter’s aspirations alive for New Zealanders with the Sir Peter Blake Leadership and Emerging Leaders Awards made by his Trust. We congratulate and thank you for continuing Peter’s legacy of leadership and achievement that some might have thought lost to New Zealand, when he died.

We are delighted too, that you have continued the Blake family association and contribution to the Devonport Yacht Club continuing on from Peter as our Patron. We value your support and the connection with Peter’s involvement in the Club – and the links going back to Brian, Joyce, Tony and the family with so many of us here.

We know that there have been many occasions when Peter was present in this Clubhouse, not in its present configuration perhaps, but here nevertheless with friends and family to enjoy prizegivings and presentations and just to drop by for a beer. I’m sure he would approve of these enhancements to the harbour view from the lounge we have named after him.

Pippa, on behalf of the Flag Officers and members of the Devonport Yacht Club and friends joining us this evening, thank you for taking the time to be here with us and for your continued association and contribution to the Devonport Yacht Club. Can I on behalf of all present, wish you well with your book launch and all that the future holds, both for you, for Sarah-Jane in her recent marriage and success to James and the Team Gallagher crew who have just embarked on their rowing venture across the Tasman. Safe journeys to you all.”

We’ve barely another week out here, before it’s back and into 2012. Hope you’ve had some wonderful R & R, great sailing and enjoyable catchups both on the water and off and that you are ready to join us, in whatever capacity you can manage, to help us however you can, to get another successful year of activities underway for the Devonport Yacht Club.

Look forward to seeing you.
Sue

 

STORIES FROM THE PAST Chris Leech

Some old naval sayings, which will intrigue all and offer an explanation as to their origin.

Did You Know

His Name is Mud - this saying for someone whose reputation is dubious came into use after the American Civil War. Dr Samuel Mudd, a doctor in Virginia in April 1865, reset the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth, the man who had assassinated Abraham Lincoln. Booth never told Mudd what he had done but Dr Mudd was arrested and sent to prison for six years for his actions in helping Booth.

Arsenal - this term for a stockpile of military equipment or a facility that produces military hardware came into English use from the French which in turn came from the Italian word Arsenale, which was the Venetian state dockyard where its navy was kept maintained.

Drab - this was the original name for khaki when it was adopted as a service colour. It comes from an Old French word drap or cloth.

Beret - these hats were first worn by Spanish troops in the nineteenth century and then adopted by the French. In 1924 the British Army introduced them in different colours for different units, e.g. red for the Parachute Regiment or green for Commandos. The word is French which has its root the Latin word birrus or hooded cloak.

CR Leech ED*
Past Commodore

STORIES FROM THE COCKPIT Chris Leech

Some humorous old nautical sayings, which will intrigue all and offer an explanation as to their origin.

Pratique - Technical maritime term for customs procedure on entering foreign waters. When passing through customs, particularly in the tropics - the most common foreign destination for NZ pleasure craft - it is customary to display a small amount of that country’s official currency in a conspicuous place and to transfer it to the officer who examines the boat’s documents during the parting handshake. A nice sharp slap on the back as the captain effects the transfer shows he cares about appearances. And it is by no means out of place for the skipper to add a friendly word or two, such as “Here, Sparky, this is for you. Why don’t you go out and buy yourself some joy juice and get stupid?” incidentally, these inspectors are justly proud of their educational attainments, and the savvy boat owner can win some fast friends by remarking with surprise and admiration on their ability to read and write.

Privileged Vessel - The vessel which in a collision was “in the right”. If there were witnesses, the owner could bring an admiralty court case - know as a “wet suit” or a “leisure suit” - against the owner of the other boat, and if he proves “shiplash”, he could collect a tidy sum.

Propeller - Underwater winch designed to wind up at high speed any lines or painters left hanging over the stern.

CR Leech ED*
Past Commodore

NOTICE BOARD

We all took the ferry across on a blustery overcast day and did the island walk, talked to the birds and generally explored this amazing wilderness. It is fantastic the see the results of many years efforts by volunteers. We can now only await the continued growth of the other Hauraki Gulf Islands, and over the years, and even more recently there have also been many of us volunteer to plant trees, clear and maintain tracks on some of these islands, notably Motutapu late 2011. Won’t it be grand when all of the islands are a veritable haven for all our native flora and fauna? What a legacy to leave our children and grand children.

CR Leech ED*
Past Commodore
eMail: dds@kcbbs.gen.nz

In 2006 I purchased a 54 ft wooden ketch, the “Manureva” in Sebana Cove Malaysia, where it had apparently laid for some years.

It was the property of a deceased estate, so obviously I wasn’t able to learn anything of it’s history from the previous owner. I am informed from records found, that she was built in Hong Kong in 1970 by the David Cheung boatyard, which is no longer.

I am desperately keen to learn more about her history. Some weeks ago, I met a yachtsman in Bundaberg, Queensland, who told me that he saw her, washed up on a reef in the Cook Islands in 1985 and he remembers her being bought by a New Zealander, named John, after which she was patched up with ferro cement and towed to New Zealand, apparently to Kerikeri, where she was rebuilt.

I would be most grateful to hear from anyone who knows something of her history.

Thank you,
Peter Watson
peterwatsonandpaula@gmail.com

We are a group of enthusiasts who own the above design and are now putting a book together. There were about 60 built in the late Sixties, early Seventies in Auckland by Sea Nymph Boats.

Do you know of anybody who has owned, or owns one of these splendid vessels?

We are trying to create a roster of current boats and their whereabouts.

Past owners may have correspondence that relates to the earlier days that we could scan and include.

This is a link to my page http://dolphin24.org/summer_wine.html

I appreciate the current confidential society we now live in and would appreciate if you could forward my details on to any lead you may know about. Perhaps you could post it on a notice board?

Giles Grimston
1469 Southland Road,
Hastings
06 8734988
grimstons@xtra.co.nz