Join us for a fun-filled racing rules trivia night on Saturday 3 May 2025.  Whether you're a seasoned sailor or just starting out, come and enjoy an engaging evening of trivia while delving into sailing rules.  Cost is absolutely free - Plus enjoy light finger food on us!

 

Gather your crew or we'll join you with a team on the night for a lively pub quiz format, presented by the esteemed Rob Ware - 2023 Lifetime Achievement Awardee in Sailing.

 

Don't miss out on the fun and camaraderie.

 

Howdy Gang.

Well, there might not have been any OTB sailing at Safety Beach over the Easter weekend but as most of the fleet made the trek up to Lake Boga, we actually had more SBSC boats on the water than we had for any week at home this season!

   

I made the trip up for the first time in 12 years, with Tim B. We arrived with one boat on the roof, one in the trailer and enough gear to provision a safari to Africa, only to find we weren't even close to having the most stuff! Some of the long time Boga goers really were organised. From getting there super early to secure their rightful spot on the waterfront, with guard dogs and anti aircraft bunkers, down to those set up in the ghettos at the back. There were enough tents, awnings, caravans, solar panels and camp kitchens to rival a major disaster relief site. Bec R and her girls Mika and Jaidah had a tiny tent that was like a Tardis, with three double mattresses, a jacuzzi and a theatre room, amazing!

 

Speaking of major set ups with guard dogs, Mt Martha YC arrived in large numbers to challenge the SBSC superiority ( they did very well with their juniors ). Their guard dog was the off leash variety, with a talent for laying land mines everywhere. One in particular was set right at the bottom of one of our sailor's caravan steps ( name withheld) with the expected result. All it needed was the flaming paper bag. Just saying Mt M, if you're going to do it, do it right!

 

In among all this frivolity there was some actual sailing too. The weather was perfect, (not always the case I'm told) and 132 entries hit the water for the first race on Friday afternoon. The wind was fairly light, around 8 knots but with lots of localised gusts that would send your rival, two boat lengths away, zooming off into the distance and you sitting there scratching your head. I'm told Mono got hit by a willy willy that spun him around twice (or was he just doing a penalty?).

 

The light wind suited some (me, best result, peaked early, should have stopped), not so others, like the two Luke M's, who went out two up on a Cobra Cat with a combined weight over  200 kg. Gingerbread Bill M in his Impulse had some issues as well when he lost his main sheet, but still didn't come last.

 

Back to the beach for some serious partying. Quietest party ever! I was told things really went off at Boga, but it was not the case on Friday. Perhaps it was a religious respect thing, because it was a different story on Saturday night with the SBSC Disco in full swing. With flashing coloured lights, conga lines around the fire, some terrible karaoke, even worse jokes(sorry) and questionable senior dancing(sorry again)- this was more like it! I don't think it was the free wine and cheese tasting put on by the LBYC but it might have helped!

 

Oh yeah, there was some sailing on Saturday too. Much better wind as well, with all of the SBSC boats doing well, except Katrina M, who lost a side stay (again) but made it back to the beach without dropping her mast (again), and the Lukes. They decided the wind was going to be light again and didn't go out in the morning, big mistake. They went out in the afternoon and picked up a third place.

 

Sunday morning arrived shight and briney, with narry a hangover and even stronger wind ( shame on you Glen G). This was going to be Jamieson F's day. He had crossed the line first in every heat so far but had to give up 8 minutes handicap penalty to his arch nemeses (and science teacher) in a Mirror from Mt M. In a clear sign of determination, Jamieson back bottled, then swam under the boat to save time and was up and away in less than 60 seconds. Two firsts for him, take that Mr G! Not so lucky, the Lukes. With the stronger wind and their extra weight, they managed to pull the side stay chain plate clean out of the Cobra and had to paddle all the way home. Did I mention that the cat course was way over the other side of the lake? SBSC was well represented in the Tasar division and they were all looking good with two firsts for Mark and Will B, and Ross and Tash M hanging in there.

 

Bill M and Tim B were fighting it up for third place in the Impulses, while SBSC was dominating the 420's, with our sailors filling the top spots, except first, that went to Will and Stu Rose who won every heat. This was their first time in a 420 and Will was helming under the watchful eye of Dad Stu as he's only 9 (and already 125 State Champion at 8!). Stu and Wife Karen are really good friends of Tim B, so I think we'll claim them too. 

 

All of our kids in the 420s swapped boats and crew so much that they nearly did a full rotation! Sorry to say that of our 3 Sabres, only Fi M was showing any promise of being in the top half, but hey, we were having fun- until Monday!

 

With a quiet night around the fire (more bad jokes) and a dump of rain predicted for 1.30 am, most people packed up what they could and bedded down for the night. The rain came (not too much) and with it some honking wind. After packing up everything except the tents, Tim and I decided that an early getaway was in order( and they could post out our trophies ha ha!). But then the sun came out, the wind eased a bit and like a few of the others, we decided that it would be a good idea to sail, as that would give the tents a chance to dry out.

 

It was a good idea too, until it wasn't! Soon after leaving the beach, the wind increased in strength to at least 70-80 knots with gusts of 120 or more( well that's what it felt like to me). Probably more like 25 with gusts over 30. I couldn't believe how waves could get that big on such a small lake. After a screaming, and I do mean SCREAMING, reach out to the middle, not daring to turn at all, and seeing the underside of boats everywhere, I thought " bugger this" and headed back. Then there was a lull, and I thought "well, I'm already wet", so I turned back again, only for the wind to blow up even more and tip me straight in. Hanging on to the centreboard, feeling the boat going through the water faster than when I'm upright, I was saying my prayers (and a few other things). I heard the start boat hooter and thought that I'd missed the start so headed carefully back to the beach. I've never been so happy to see 'Our Man on the Sand' Jamie F, pulling all the drowned rats back onto shore. Even Gingerbread Bill said he finally had his Impulse "Out of control". Tim B went over at least four times and ended up with his mast stuck in the mud. When the rescue boat arrived, their engine conked out and Tim ended up rescuing them! Multiple SBSC helpers took his trolley and fished him out of the reeds half a km around the shore. And ashamed I am to admit, I was secretly pleased when Ross M said that he went for a swim as well, only to find out that he had jumped in to help another Tasar crew that were in trouble, while Tash sailed their boat around single handed, and then went over to pick him up! 

 

And that hooter? That was the abandon the race signal, as there were way more yachts in trouble than the rescue boats could handle, good move. Half an hour later, that squall had blown through and some people even went out for a last recreational sail- not this little black duck, I was just happy the tent was dry!

 

Off to presentation and SBSC did OK. 

In the 420 States ( held at Boga after the fizzer at SBSC)

That's about a wrap for Boga '25, there was plenty more than what I've put here. Sorry if I've missed out on anything, but basically, if you weren't there-Sucks to be You! See gallery at bottom of newsletter

 

Cheers, Pete Chippy

Mika Robinson, Most improved 420 crew, well done  

Keelboat Members - please use the link above to booking your spot at the Trivia night on Saturday 3 May - we need to get an idea of numbers now so please book!

 

While there's no SBSC racing for the next two (long) weekends, the MYC Hovell Pile Race is on Saturday 26 April - 10.00am start at MYC. Please look up the details on the MYC website HERE if you would like to enter (via Sailsys).

 

Race Report, Club Championship Race #9, 6^th April 2025 (Sorry that I forgot to add this on time Till)

Well, summer seems to have gone. At least on the race course that is. The stronger autumn winds are back, making up for any lack of wind throughout the season. The OTB sailors waived the white flag early and decided to stay on the beach rather than off the beach. For the keelboats (Club Championship Heat #9) it was game on though. Seven boats ventured out into gnarly conditions with a strong westerly gusting into the low thirties. And hang on, what were those two little lasers doing amongst them? Looks like a couple of the OTB sailors could not resist the temptation to set new speed records. Good on them! Back to the keelboats. 15 minutes before the start time the Tower folks did a final check on the wind conditions: 25 knots windspeed were borderline close to abandoning the race. But who wants to spoil a good party? Off to the start line. Ready, set,… oh no, what is 2Extreme doing on course side before the start signal? Well, back you go and try again, Clarky. Close behind, Shimmer is charging full steam ahead, crossing the start line with no second to spare. Call that perfect timing – Americas Cup style. With all boats on their way, Amanda (Tower duty) decided to get us a coffee and she returned 13 minutes later, no boat other than the two laser sailors from the OTB gang were seen. Where had the rest gone? Ah, there they are, flying on the horizon from R1 to SB1. Shimmer, Rawhide and Vamanos setting new speed records whilst surfing down the waves. Shimmer at 17.6 knots – (almost) American Cup style. After half an hour, Shimmer rounds the half-way mark (SB1) heading towards the Pier mark, closely followed by the rest of the fleet. I remember races from this summer when it took me half an hour to get from the start line to the yellow pile, let alone getting to R1 and SB1. And by the time I wrote this paragraph, Shimmer was already approaching the finish line…crossing with line honours in just 1 hour, 1 minute and 6 seconds. Vincitore next, then followed closely by the three Adams10 Rawhide, Vamonos and 2Extreme. Mr Bojangles and Marrakesh completed the rear with all yachts finishing within 12 ½ minutes of each other. Well done to all sailors who were not put off a good sail by a stiff breeze. My highlight though were the big smiles on the faces of skippers and crew when they returned to club after the race – exhausted but exhilarated. That’s what sailing is all about!

Congratulations to the winners of today’s race on Performance Handicap:

Last but not least, a BIG thank you to Amanda for managing the Tower and the race admin (and for the hot coffee). These races would not be possible without our volunteers.

Fair winds to all,

Till 

 

 

Coming up on the ORCV Calendar 

 

The ORCV Beyond The Bay program is a 20-week course designed to give boat owners, crew, and aspiring sailors essential information and practical skills to plan and complete an overnight cruising passage or participate in a race. The program includes on-water training, plus Safety & Sea Survival, Weather, and Navigation courses - all at a competitive price of $995 for ORCV members and $1,295 for non-members.  

Reserve your place here: https://www.orcv.org.au/training/beyond-the-bay 

 

The Apollo Bay Race is a Category 3 race starting at Queenscliff and leaving Port Phillip Heads before turning right along the coast to Apollo Bay. It is an ideal race for those new to ocean racing with its shorter length, 52 nautical miles, and proximity to the coast. Early bird registration is open until 3 May 2025. 

Register here: https://www.orcv.org.au/apollo-bay  

 

More photos on the club Facebook page, 

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