Marley Point success, TACKERS, parking changes and social events

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Webb Dock - photo by James D'Aquino

March 2017

End of summer

As many of us would be aware Hobsons Bay City Council recently introduced parking restrictions in several streets adjacent to The Strand and our Club. The committee of management has written to Council, including the Mayor and Ward Councillors to express our concerns and dissatisfaction at the consultation process. We urge all members to write similar letters to Council about the impact of this decision. We acknowledge that on-street parking is in demand. We are requesting that Council be mindful of other affected parties in their review and develop a common sense outcome that accommodates residents and adjacent sporting clubs and facilities.

The Committee of Management has begun a review of the Club’s current Strategic Plan which will guide us in developing the next Strategic Plan. A key part of the ongoing development of the plan will also be to include members participation in small workshops. A progress report can be found on our website.

In closing it’s great to see another TACKERS program being hosted over the April school holidays.

Simon van den Berg | Commodore

New 2 hour parking restrictions - we need your help

Hobsons Bay City Council recently imposed two hour parking restrictions on Stevedore Street. There is limited parking available on The Strand, so these new restrictions will make it difficult for members and guests to participate in club activities. Please write your own letter to the council, or download one to use, to urge the council to revise the parking restrictions.

Social news

Sunday 26 March - Social boat trip up the Maribyrnong River

This coming Sunday is the social boat trip to explore the Maribyrnong River. Currently the numbers of participants are quite low, so we hope some more of our fishing community will join in the event. We are looking for members who have boats with motors who can take some passengers, and also those members who would like to join in and don’t have access to a boat with a motor. There is a notice on the noticeboard near the canteen to indicate your interest, whether you have spaces on a boat, or for those looking for a boat ride to join in. We will co-ordinate places for people- make sure your phone number is on the form. The plan is for the flotilla of boats to leave the club by 10.30 am, so you need to be there by 10am to get organised. BYO picnic lunch and drinks – we are most likely to stop at Poynton’s Landing, where there are picnic tables, some BBQ’s and playgrounds. We would expect to return to the club between 3 and 4pm. Any enquiries, please email social@williamstownsailingclub.org.au or call Lois on 0412 341 223

Friday 7 April - social night

At our next Friday night social gathering on 7 April, we are pleased to say that we will have great live music again from local duo, Jen Hawley and Terry. Their diversity of music skills and variety of instruments were a great hit last month. As the warm weather may have moved on by then, we will once again tackle baking pizzas for the menu. Food, music and bar from 6.30pm.

Saturday 22 April - International food night

The country we have chosen for this year’s international food night is India - land of mystery, history, and Bollywood! We will have a mix of both mild and spicy foods catering to all tastes and ages. We expect to have some form of musical entertainment or even Bollywood Dancers - you just never know. For those with the odd sari or turban hiding in a wardrobe, feel free to add some colour and theme to the evening. This is a family friendly event. Tickets can be purchased at the canteen on Saturday mornings, or ordered through social@williamstownsailingclub.org.au. Tickets must be paid for by Wednesday 19 April to guarantee your spot and for catering purposes. Ticket are adults $30, children 5-18 $10 or families $75. So grab some family and friends, and book a table to enjoy another great social night at the club.

Keep up to date

To keep up to date with our social activities, visit www.williamstownsailingclub.org.au/social-events/

Office help needed

We are seeking the assistance from any members who can assist in the office on Saturday mornings. The role would be to assist the treasurer and acting secretary with general enquiries, welcome guests and tours of the facilities. Having another person in the office each Saturday between 10-11am means the club can welcome potential members and better service existing members.

Anyone interested can contact commodore@williamstownsailingclub.org.au.

Fancy a boat trip up the Maribyrnong River? This Sunday 26 March we have the social boat trip up the Maribyrnong. See the website for more details.

Image Ric Lamont

Success at the Marley Point overnight yacht race

This year was the 49th time this iconic race has been held. Next year is the milestone 50th. As a club Williamstown can enter 3 boats for a team trophy, be they Hartleys, Explorers, Ultimates or Gems. This year sadly Swallow was the only Williamstown Sailing Club boat and one of only two Explorers.

From WSC we also had Peter Yeates and his daughter Molly sailing in Phoenix (TS16), Joe Dorrington crewing for John Constable on Wakka6 (Hartley 18) and Ray Clinch crewing on Emily (the other Explorer 16).

The light to moderate conditions were ideal for an Explorer. Trevor always skippers this race and I crew in my boat Swallow as a thanks for his tremendous help in maintaining my boat and getting it down to the club each week.

We set off at dusk with 110 boats on the start line with only one start. We chose our course and began to self-doubt as we saw the majority of the fleet going to the north side of Lake Wellington, but then the wind died for a couple of minutes and subsequently changed direction (as predicted by the meteorologist at the briefing). In one tack we went directly to the Nicholson Straits followed by a former Williamstown boat Tarquin (Hartley 18). We promptly went aground and had to raise the centre-plate to get free.

The wind had become slight but the tide was taking us in the right direction. We put up our spinnaker which helped. When we popped out the other end of the straits the spinnaker became unmanageable as the wind was too shy, it had to be taken in. Good winds kicked in of about 10 knots allowing us to reach most of the way up Lake Victoria. When we passed Plover Point we poled out for the very last part, reaching our destination at 6.16am - still in the dark.

When we left Nicholson Straits and reached Lake Victoria, Trevor said we’re either doing really well or really badly as we couldn’t see the red and green lights of many other boats. You can get quite disorientated as to your position at night.

As you finish at Paynesville (GLYC) they supply a cooked breakfast at the club. It is there that they start to post the provisional results and as of that time we had won on class based handicap. We couldn’t believe it. Well done Trevor.

Sue Burke

TACKERS

April school holiday programs

Just a reminder that the club will be running a TACKERS 1 & TACKERS 2 sailing programs the first week of the school holidays- Monday 3 to Friday 7 April. These are fee paying programs. All details are available on the website or call Lois on 0412 341 223.

TACKERS Fleet Saturday mornings

TACKERS Fleet will continue to operate until Saturday 22 April where we will finish the season with a TACKERS and parents BBQ at 12.30pm after all the gear is packed up and put away for the season.

Please note there will be no TACKERS Fleet program on Easter Saturday.

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