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

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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

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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

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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

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Camera
Clips |
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| Settling
in for Easter |
New
Tongmaster |
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| Easter
time |
Enjoying
Breakfast |
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| Voxnova |
Voxnova
Viewing |

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Notice
Board |
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Annual
Prizegiving 2008
Saturday 24th May
The Premier Social
Event in the Club’s Calendar!
Don’t miss it – even if you
are not on the honours list this year please join us.
Bring your crew, family and friends, support your
luckier fellows and enjoy a first class meal served at
your table.
The cost is very moderate - just
$35 per head with complimentary wine on each table.
Our caterer needs to know firm
numbers a week prior so the cut off date for tickets
will be Thursday 15th May. Late ticket sales will not be
possible.
It is anticipated that there will
again be a “full house” so please book by:
• contacting the Sailing Master, Bill Jaques, on 445
3061 or
• contacting Sailing Committee member Graham Pettersen
on 445 7481
• purchasing from the bar at the clubhouse
before the 15th May – positively no late entrants!
Dress for Prize Night is smart
casual. As it will be a full evening it is important
that every one is seated by 1900. May I suggest we all
assemble in the clubhouse from 1815 onwards. The cash
bar will operate as normal.
I do hope that you can join us for
this occasion. The evening is bound to be very popular
so please contact Bill or Graham or purchase your
tickets directly from the bar as soon as possible.
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Friday Nights
at the Clubhouse
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MAY
Friday 2ndMay A La Carte
Friday 9th May Hot & Cold Buffet
Friday 16th May Thai Menu (A selection of spiciness for
all palates)
Friday 23rd May Surf & Turf Buffet
Friday 30th May Kiwi Karvery
JUNE
Friday 6th June Italian Buffet
Friday 13th June A La Carte
Friday 20th June Welcome to winter (Lamb Shanks are
back!)
Friday 27th June Roast Dinner Carvery
JULY
Friday 4th July God Bless America
Friday 11th July A La Carte
Friday 18th July Hot & Cold Buffet (Hot soup and
Casseroles)
Friday 25th July Roast Dinner Carvery
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| Prices: |
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| 13
years and over |
$17 |
| 6
– 12 years |
$10 |
| 5
years and below |
No
Charge |
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Courtesy of: Chequers
Catering 4867165 |

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Book
Review |
BE YOUR OWN SAILING COACH
By Jon Emmett
Pbk, 170mm x 210mm, 276 pages,
full colour photos
and drawings.
Become your own sailing coach
and learn the 20 goals for racing success.
Become Your Own Sailing Coach is
unique: it shows you how to set your own overall sailing goals
and breaks them down into manageable - yet stretching -
mini-goals.
Jon Emmett breaks racing down
into 20 key topics and explains how you can highlight your own
strengths and weaknesses for each. It is written so you can dip
in and out of the chapters, each containing useful exercises, so
you can spend time on those relevant to your needs.
Use Be Your Own Sailing Coach to get to the front of the fleet,
whether your goal is to win at club, open, national or
international level.
• Get tips from successful
Olympic racers and their approach to each skill.
• Improve your sailing technique in manageable stages.
• Discover how to set goals and create the action plans to
achieve them.
• Detailed analysis of key techniques with a step-by-step
guide to how you can improve each skill according to your own
objectives.
NZ$46.00
Marianne Bosman
Boat Books Ltd
22 Westhaven Drive
Westhaven, Auckland
New Zealand
Ph: 64 9 358 5691
Fax: 64 9 358 5817
Email: crew@boatbooks.co.nz
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© Devonport
Yacht Club Inc
This page was last updated on
1/05//2008
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