Event #4 of the HYC Club Championship Series- Sunday, 4 December

Event #4 of the HMYC Club Championship Series of 8 events gets under way this Sunday, 4 December.

Forming part of the series is the popular Hunter Class category where competition for the George Duffin Trophy ( scratch) and Hunter Trophy (handicap) is fierce..... as was shown during the first three events.
ONE event before Hunter Provincials. GET THOSE PROV ENTRIES IN !!!!!

Your scribe noted that certain members (who will remain nameless) of the Class had resorted to personal trainers, gym sessions and the like to ‘up their game’!!!!! And it appears to be paying dividends if their performance in November’s event is anything to go by!! OR was that effort just a flash in the pan???????

To all Hunter sailors and crew, let’s have a bumper season of sailing at HMYC this season. The competition fleet ( Gold and Silver) promises to be of good numbers with competitive crews sharpening their skills for the KZN Hunter Provs in December 2011 and the Hunter Nationals at HMYC in March 2012. Top sailing right on your doorstep!!!!!

HMYC Club Champs series events usually begin with Briefing at 10h15, followed by 3 races on each day of racing, course and marks determined by the Race Officer on duty.
DIARISE these dates and make a commitment to participate. ONE SUNDAY A MONTH.
Get other crews on the water. There are still too many Hunters at HMYC not being sailed!!!!

HUNTER PROVINCIALS – Friday 16 to Sunday 18 December; #5 – 8 January 2012; #6 – 5 February;#7 – 4 March; HUNTER NATIONALS -HMYC– Saturday 17 to Wednesday 21 December(tbc); #8 – 1 April.

See you on the water on Sunday !!!!!

MASTHEAD # 4 – November 2011

Bank Protection
Bank protection: a big thank you must go to Rob Bell, Peter Goble, Duncan Houston and Struan MacGregor for their considerable efforts with the stabilization of the eroding car park bank.  This work is now 95% complete, and soon we’ll be able to once again enjoy the open areas under the trees and the thatched shelters at the front of the car park.

Safety Equipment
News from SAS is that we can expect to be visited from time to time by the Water Police.  This means that they will be checking all boats for compliance with the National Small Vessel Safety Regulations.  All vessels over 7m in length must note the additional safety equipment which they are required to carry.  Details of this equipment can be found in the Regulations which are available on the SAMSA website – www.samsa.org.za.

Club Secretary
If you know of anyone who would like to step into the breach and become the HMYC Club Secretary for this season, please can you contact Rob Tarboton?  The duties include taking and writing up minutes of Committee meetings – these are held once a month – and dealing with general correspondence.

Boat Parking
The large gantry which is in the car park will soon be moved to the grassed area next to the University boat shed.  This will give us some more boat parking bays for Club members, and will also mean that boats which are being worked on will all be in the same area of the car park.

Sailing
Sailing-wise we’ve had a couple of regattas at the Club recently – one was the SAS KZN Youth Provincials which had an entry of 39 boats.  It was good to see Juniors at the Club, and by all accounts the regatta was enjoyed by the participants.  We also had the Rose Bowl mini regatta recently at the Club, and the reason for mentioning this one is because there were more dinghies sailing than keelboats!!

Don’t forget the SAS KZN Provincial Championships Regatta which will be held at HMYC from the 27th to the 30th of December this year.  It will incorporate the National Champs for the Sprog and Halcat classes, and will be the KZN Provincial Champs for the Finn, Laser and Mirror classes.  If you want to camp at HMYC for this regatta you should please book with Heather as soon as possible as we can only accommodate 60 people camping at the Club, and those who book first will be assured of a campsite ….

Camping
Your Club has been granted a concession by Ezemvelo Wildlife to allow camping in the club grounds only for organized events such as regattas and organized camping weekends.  As this concession is important to the Club and its members, members are requested to abide by this and not camp in the club grounds outside of approved organized events.

It should also be noted that the Department of Water Affairs does not permit overnighting on any craft on Midmar, as this Dam is a major source of public water supply, and there are no facilities for the safe disposal of effluent at Midmar.

General
Thanks go to Hes Hamilton for organizing the repair to the Clubhouse roof – this has been fixed for leaks and should be a lot better now.

If you know of the whereabouts of the padlock for the back door of the ladies toilets, please can you either put it back on the door or advise Heather .Marshal where the padlock can be found.

One of our members – Colin Cooper – is looking for a Laser or similar type boat to buy.  If you have a Laser for sale, you can contact Colin on 083 264 6393.

This last weekend sailing

Very pleasant  days sailing .Wind blowing at about 10 knots initially east and then going SE in the afternoonThe conditions were very shifty with 20 deg shifts taking place at times..Georg and Clive were out early setting a windward leeward course of 2 laps each time.
Nice turnout of boats 7 Hunters,1 Beneteau first,1 Extra,1 Laser,and a L20.also Dynamite with Anton and Vaughn joining in the 2nd race.
The Hunters are getting more and more competitive with the interest shown from top skippers and crews in natal region.It shows by mere seconds seperating boats on the finish making hard work for bridge officers.
First race started at 11 sharp.Essex girl got away nicely at the start followed hotly by Hybrid and Bad news.An error on the run let Hybrid through and then Bad news took Essex by a mere second on the finish.
2nd race :The Ap was put up as the wind had clocked round to curry bay.The new course was set and away we went again.Essex had another great start and was nicely ahead at the top can .Followed behind by Hybrid and then Bad news.And this is how they finished up.
Last race saw Hybrid ahead at the top can ,Unfortunately Hybrid had a poor spin hoist and Essex gybed in behind them getting ahead.A great tussle continued with a reaching match down the one side of course then a slick inside gybe by Hybrid put pressure on Essex .However Essex kept their nerve and protecting the left got the inside advantage at the can.Essex just got Hybrid at the end .
Mark Patrick and Andy showing excellent pace in their new boat and well up in top half of fleet now!
So Georg Duffins shows Rob and Gregg on top with an excellent come back from last month ,leading by 2 points.2nd is shared by Paul and Tim with Luke and Byron on Bad news both on 18 points.Unfortunately Odin with Hank back did not pitch so they are now 4th.(Hope to see them back next month!!)The Hunter trophy on handicap odly is the same.
Silver Fleet is now seeing Mark Hultzer on top.
The Monthly Mug on boat and skipper handicap actually saw Pete Dommet take it on his laser ;so well done Pete.

November Senior Sailing Breeze.

A brief summary of the sailing calendar for the month of November 2011

Sunday 5th November
George Duffin Trophy Series:  Races,  (7), (8) & (9) This series is only open to the Hunter Class, but all other classes of yachts and catamarans  can compete in the Open Class Championships, this will be sailed over the same course, the start being five (5) minutes after the Hunter start. Both briefings will be at 10h15…sharp. A Monthly Mug award will be made based on the overall sailing results for the day.

Saturday 12t h / Sunday 13th November.
This is the first of the cruiser weekends organized by Marius and Caprice, there will be a briefing at 14h15 on the Saturday followed by a medium distance race ending with a braai on the foreshore. Sunday’s Long Distance Cruise around the lake, is scheduled for a 11h00 start. Cruisers you have been asking for this type of event for a number of years make the most of it, especially the fuller than normal moon. Remember all yachts may take part in this event and that this is a camping weekend.

Saturday 19th November
Partington Plate Series, Race (3). This will be the third of five (5) medium to long distance races, depending on the wind strengths and direction, which take place over a period of six months during the  sailing season. The series are open to all classes of yachts and catamarans, results being based on skipper and boat handicaps. Briefing will be at 13h15…..sharp . There will be a fleet start from between a start mark  and the jetty. The course will follow designated fixed marks.  Enjoy a social drink in the pub after the race.

Sunday 27th November
Ron Western Marathon (20 Miler), This ultra distance event is open to all classes of yachts and catamarans and results will be based on boat handicap. Briefing will take place at 10h15…sharp. Further details will be given in the Sailing Instructions available on the day. Camping will be allowed, please make sure you book ahead of time.
This is a fun event make the most of your club facilities and spend your weekend at the club.

General Information:
(1)    Club Members who wish to go cruising during any of the above events are welcome to do so, but PLEASE remember to keep clear of the racing area.       
(2)  Attendance at briefings is not compulsory, but it is advisable to attend them as 
even though course directions should be posted early by the race officer, last minute changes can be made. (This only applies to HMYC Club Events)
(3)     Camping in the club grounds is only permissible during organized events, sites 
       must be booked via the Club Administrators Office. Contact Heather Marshal
       on 0833127707 or 033 3304158 during her club administration hours.
             (or complete the camping form as per the Notice of Regatta)
(4)    Any member  prepared to give of their time to help with regattas and club sailing please do not  be afraid of stepping forward, we need your help and for the inexperienced, advice and training will be available , it can be fun and definitely better than just sitting on the bank. Please contact Rob Bell . 033 3442182

Last but not least, the warmer weather is here, make the most of the best yachting facility in the country and remember, the race officers and myself, are there to provide you with well managed sailing events, be it serious or social. Please approach us if you need help or if you are unhappy about something. We are willing to assist and will do our best to sort out your problems.

Fair winds and great sailing.,

Rob Bell      Tel: 033 3442182   Cell: 0739618006