Upcoming Events
- 24 June - Club Picnic Portuguese Beach
- 6 July - First Friday Sailing the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) Rally
- 7-8 July - Estuary Cruise at Patonga and overnight at Refuge Bay
- May – Oct 2019 Pittwater to Dunk Island RPAYC Cruise 2019
See all the Cruising Events on the RPAYC Cruising Events web page
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July First Friday – the ARC Rally with Mark Hellyer - BOOK HERE
The ARC is a ‘must do’ for many sailors, and attracts over 200 boats and 1200 people every year to sail 2700 NM across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia.The ARC is for everyone; families with children, tough racers, cruising couples, big boats and modest boats. Crossing the Atlantic together, but having their own adventures. More than just a boat race, the ARC is about friendships made ashore in the two weeks of pre-departure activities continued over the radio net at sea. It’s about arriving in Saint Lucia to be met on the dock with a rum punch and a chilled beer, knowing you have achieved something fantastic - crossing an ocean on a small sailboat.
Mark Hellyer, a member of RPAYC was fortunate to be able to take part in the 2016 ARC Rally on board a Nautitech 542, a 54’ catamaran. In addition he has just successfully competed in the 2018 Sydney to Noumea Race however that is for another time. Come along to hear some of his experiences from the 2017 ARC Rally on Friday 6 July, 2018. Click on the link above to book.
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Portuguese Beach Picnic Sunday 24th June
The Commodore invites all members and guests to enjoy a Sunday BBQ at Portuguese Beach. Casual race at 10am or just cruise at your own pace. After the race there will be a BYO BBQ on the beach. The Club will supply tender service from your boat to the beach.
Start Time 1000hrs ‘ish’
Start Boat Alfreds 1 (VHF 77 – 0458 787 500)
Course Start off Bayview – Towlers – Stokes Point (P) – Finish (Portuguese Beach)
Services BBQ facilities and tender service from 1100hrs – 1500hrs
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Estuary Cruise – Picnic at Patonga with overnight in Refuge Bay (7-8 July)
Unfortunately one of our popular cruising destinations, the Patonga Pub, is closed until November for renovations as it is now under the ownership of Boathouse Group. Instead Nicky and Don will be hosting a Picnic at Patonga followed by an overnight stay at Refuge Bay. You will need to bring your own provisions as all the restaurants at the pub are closed.
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June Cruise to Darling Harbour and Vivid
We finally made the trip to Vivid.
After waiting a week for the weather to subside Tickn, Veve, Fridays Child, Gypsy Princes, Bellissima, Heavens Gate, Jacks Back, Luna Paradiso, Lapse of Reason, Jazzamatazz, Nirvanas Kitchen spent a glorious 5 days at Darling Harbour Marina.
Two boats sailed down Monday, the balance sailed down Tuesday morning. There was not much wind and swell but we all made the 3pm Bridge into Darling Harbour. The marina staff were there to help and provided great service during our stay. That night we had dinner at the Black Bird Café.
Wednesday and Thursday during the day was spent enjoying Sydney and the surrounding area. We caught a ferry to Circular Quay and walked to the Art Gallery to see the Archibald. The Archibald is definitely worth a visit. A bit more cultural than Sexpo, which happened to be on at Darling Harbour at the same time. So many decisions on what to do but I made us go to the Archibald as we didn’t have time to fit in both. Lunch in the Botanical Gardens. Walks around Barangaroo. There is so much to do in the city.
Wednesday night we all meet a 5.45pm ( sorry Norm we changed the time) to catch the Ferry to Circular Quay to see Vivid. There wasn’t a big crowd as it was Wednesday. We all meet again at the Observer Hotel at 8pm for drinks and a meal. It was a wonderful clear night to see Sydney with the lights at its best . Drink and the meal at the hotel were going well until we were asked to leave at 10.30 (they said they were Closing ) but I am just thrilled that I can still get thrown out of a pub.
Thursday Night we all met for drinks on the marina and decided to go to Chinatown for a meal.
Most of us decided to stay Friday night and sail back Saturday - what a great decision it was! On Saturday we caught the 10.30am bridge and sailed in a freshening westerly. It was around 15 knots as we left and by the time we reached Bungan, we had gust of around 25knts on flat seas. What a great sail back and a way to finish a fantastic 5 days.
We will definitely be returning to Darling Harbour.
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June First Friday – Q&A with Phil Ross Editor of Cruising Helmsman Magazine
Our thanks to our guest speaker at June First Friday Phil Ross, who is the editor of Cruising Helmsman Magazine. Phil kept the audience entertained with a wide variety of cruising experiences as well as answering questions from the floor.
If you are interested in subscribing to the magazine, here is the link to Cruising Helmsman magazine
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June Long Weekend Cruise to Bobbin Head
Saturday provided six boats on a cold but calm day for the stunning trip to Bobbin Head. Although heavy rain was promised and delivered to many parts of Sydney, the cruise was almost completely untouched by it. We began with drinks on board Nirvana’s Kitchen and, unusually for our events, we made it an Aussie BBQ-style affair when the ladies sensibly retired to the warmth below while the guys initially stayed topside for drinks. Sunday started slowly before two more couples made the road journey to meet us for a BBQ ashore and then a walk around to Apple Tree Bay. Monday morning had a breakfast at the café ashore and another short walk before everyone headed home or, for some, down to the Harbour for the Vivid cruise.
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Meet your Cruise Committee
Murray Glase began his association with the Alfreds in the early 1970s when his father joined the Club and introduced his very young family to sailing on a 23 foot yacht. That introduction proved to be the genesis for a lifetime's love for sailing in all its forms. Murray returned to sailing in his late teens when he bought and raced his first boat, a Tasar dinghy. Thereafter came a B14 and then an 18 foot skiff which he raced for a couple of seasons out of Kirribilli's SFS.
While maintaining dinghy and skiff racing on Sundays, Murray returned "home" to the Alfreds and spent many years during the 1980s and 90s racing offshore Saturdays, also competing in Sydney to Coffs and Sydney to Southport races.
He bought his first yacht, a Catalina 34, in 2002. He's since owned a Catalina 36 (the same boat twice, but that's another story!) and now his beloved Catalina 40, Gypsy Princess.
Murray is aged 54 and is an actuary (it seemed like a good way to finance a boat). He's served on the Cruise Committee since 2017 and is a member of the Club's Finance and Audit Committee. After 35 years of dreams he'll be sailing in the Club's Pittwater to Dunk Island Cruise next year.
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Tip's of the Month
Life Jacket Regulations - There are recent updates to requirements for wearing life jackets. This is an important matter for all cruising sailors including kayaks and tenders.
The following new requirements are relevant to many cruisers:
In vessels less than 4.8m all persons must wear a lifejacket:
- at night
- on open (ocean) waters
- on alpine waters
- when boating alone
- when the boat is used as a tender more than 400 metres from shore
Persons in canoes/kayaks must wear a lifejacket when greater than 100 metres from an accessible shore in sheltered waters, and at all times in ocean waters.
For those who cruise longer distances it is also important to be aware that the requirements differ from state to state. Some of the requirements are shown below to highlight the differences
Queensland
- all occupants of open vessels less than 4.8m while navigating coastal bars
Tasmania
- all occupants in an open area of any recreational motor boat or motor propelled tender that is under 6m in length and underway. Note unlike NSW no exemption when more than one person in the tender
Victoria
Note unlike NSW no exemption when more than one person in the tender;
- all occupants of power driven vessels up to 4.8m in length when underway and in an open area of the vessel.
- at times of ‘heightened risk’ (e.g. crossing ocean bars; when operating alone or at night) in vessels between 4.8m and 12m in length
- all occupants of a canoe, kayak or rowing boat
- all occupants of a recreational tender.
Please email your clever ideas to us at cruising@rpayc.com.au.
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If you have any questions or suggestions for cruise activities please contact one of the cruise committee:-
Leon Wilson Rear Commodore, Murray Glase, John Groves, Nicky Walter, Megan Nixon, David Williams, Doug Coombes
Or email us at cruising@rpayc.com.au
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