Mike's Watch A Report from Commodore Mike Strong

A nice wet May to start the winter with, I am sure it will only approve from here! A big thank-you to all who attended the working bee on Saturday, I am sorry I was unable to attend due to family commitments in Christchurch, and yes I am looking forward to a weekend at home without the need to go tripping around the world!

While walking along Lake Michigan on the way to the conference in Chicago last week, I came across a very interesting yacht club called the ‘Columbia Yacht Club’, and I happened to meet the Chief Engineer. I spent a most enjoyable hour looking over the Ship which was their clubrooms, now that is the way to house a yacht club. We now owe them a burgee! The following day I took shelter in a shop along the main street, which just happened to sell chart plotters, where I met some members from the Chicago Yacht Club who were about to watch a demonstration, sorry no chance for a burgee swap this time.

A couple of days later I was fortunate enough to spend some time at the Herreshoff Marine Museum and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in Bristol, Rhode Island where I was able to see many fine crafts either restored or in the process of being restored. It was interesting to note that most of their visitors seemed to be Kiwis or Aussies!

Now enough of the dreaming and back to the real world as we know it… the AGM is coming around very quickly and it is a good time to make yourself available to join the committees which do such a fine job to ensure that all our activities are well run, so that we all enjoy ourselves to the full. There are a large number of jobs, both small and large, which are required for the smooth running of the Club. I have always said that the more you put into the Club the more you get out. Also many hands make lighter work!

We have a very unique Club in a prime location and we run a very successful family oriented cruising race programme with a great de-briefing session over a beer and BBQ. Our Club is exactly that; ‘Our Club’ and what we all do and the effort we put in is what makes this Club what it is today.

So come down on a Club night, spin a few yarns, soak up the sights on the harbour, and get to know your fellow Club members!

Cheers

Mike

Columbia Yacht Club	Columbia Yacht Club Dining Room
Herreshoff Museum restorations and a dinghy that looks very much like the NZ Frostbite.	Herreshoff Model Room.

 

The View from the Rear A Report from SueJohnson

Winter, one could say it is only just around the corner. I am already planning next summer cruising, I love the sun and the warm weather so here’s hoping that the winter will be short and sweet with just enough rain for the ones that need it.

I am recovering from a bout of a flu/cold plus a cough which has kept me quiet for a week so the poor old brain is a bit slow in putting this together.

I attended the ANZAC day commemorative service in Devonport and looking around was quite surprised to see how many of our members either in the parade or attending the service. Just not the older members that served in the forces but the next couple of generations giving their time as volunteers in the community. I recognised faces from the club with the Calliope Sea Scouts and the Devonport Volunteer Fire Brigade just to name a few. At the service we were addressed by Commander Margaret Weller, RNZN her speech was brilliant and delivered so well with real emotion. It just got you thinking.

Now, I guess that I should discuss Yacht Club matters. Rules, don’t we love them. Over the years we have been bending the rule in regard to the hire out of the club rooms and bringing in wine or champagne. In trying to be fair and understanding that on some special occasions people may like to bring in a special bottle or two for a bridal table or whatever. Corkage was charged to cover costs of bar staff, glasses etc. However, over the last year in particular and on more than one occasion this privilege has been abused by members whereby larger quantities are being brought in plus soft drinks, orange juice and water and then in some cases even arguing about the corkage fee. If one looks at the member’s hire rate of $300 for Saturday night, the break down of costs to the club is as follows: One bar staff (5 hours) $125.00, Cleaners $80.00 that is only leaving a balance of $95.00 to cover the smaller running costs i.e. toilet paper, soap, electricity and bar and club licenses. Do we make a profit from this, not really. Plus your committee which are all volunteers are taking the bookings and help in organizing the opening of the club and sometimes even in setting it up for you.

So the long and short of this is that at the last committee meeting a ruling was made that there will no allowance given in bringing in any beverages whatsoever. We are going to stand firm on this so please do not hassle Kirsty or any of the bar staff they are only following instructions. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Meals at the club are still outstanding and if you have not been down on a Friday night then you are missing out on a treat. The food is outstanding, plus the catering and bar staff are not too bad on the eye and then you have great company with members. There is also (well most of the time) a Flag Officer present should you have a need to discuss any issues about the club or anything else.

Well must go and do some of Kevin’s bookwork or I will be getting fired again.

Take care
Sue

Sailing Master A Report from Bill Jaques

The end of yet another sailing season at the DYC! Where do they all go? And what will I write about next month?? Final cruising race on the 5th – nominally to Waikalabubu Bay but unstable conditions dictated the alternative to Islington Bay. Not very imaginative but it made for a pleasant sail in sheltered waters. – and there was quite a good turn out in spite of the shaky weather forecast – 5 boats in B and 10 in A. A warm welcome to first-timers Douglas and Anne in Scot Freed (promise to lean on the handicapper to give you more help next time!).

Pleasant, if rather select, group of about 35 on the beach for a very pleasant BBQ on the last night of daylight saving. Great to see regular friends Wright Flyer and Magic Express who joined us.. Thanks to Roaring Forties for doing the honours (at short notice) and to the sponsor – Scott Richardson our local locksmith.

This race completed the cruising series – full results elsewhere in this issue. Congratulations to both winners. Lambretta whose invariable appearance on the start line and very focussed sailing gave Richard and Femke a win in A Division by a country mile. This result was never in doubt. In B Division Mike and June in Memories just pipped Idle Hour by one point and Bill was close behind. The outcome for this division was still in the balance till the final race was over.

And congratulations, too, to all who participated during the season and contributed in various ways. Not always easy to commit the time to sailing with all the conflicting pressures and activities of today. I hope you felt it was worth the effort and will be with us again next year. It is the participating that really counts.

So the final sailing adventure for the season will be the Annual Prizegiving on Saturday 24th May. A rather more formal dinner this year served at your table – to Gay’s usual high standard. Plaques will be presented to all who gained places during the season and trophies plus a surprise prize to race or series winners – and the usual acknowledgements of those who contributed especially to the Club or made the most monumental boo-boos. You don’t have to be a winner to enjoy the evening - look forward to seeing lots of you there.

B J

 

Club Captain

Well April has been one of the busiest I’ve had for some time, mostly due to various weddings on Saturdays and lately with the Latin American band we had as our guests on the 13 April.

For all those who came along for an afternoon’s quality music and entertainment we are planning on having them back at some point in the future as it was such a success.

The Sunday basically comprised of about two hours of music provided by Voxnova who describe themselves as something along the lines of ‘buena vista social club meets gypsy kings’.

Catering was provided by Gay Larner from Chequers at $10 a head for ‘tapas’ whilst the entry cost was $15. When you combine the Club bar prices with the music and food you end up with a good afternoon’s entertainment for $25 plus drinks.

This seemed to go down fairly well as there was only standing room left and at last count we had approx 110 attending this function. I’ll try and get the flyers out a little earlier for the next event which will be sometime during the depths of winter.

Regards
Carl

 

Camera Clips

Settling in for Easter	New Tongmaster
Easter time	Enjoying Breakfast
Voxnova	Voxnova Viewing

 

Notice Board

 

Book Review

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