Safety Beach Sailing Club NEWS 17th December 2025

Off The Beach News

Howdy gang.

Well, it might be nearly Christmas but there were no presents under our tree last Sunday, that's for sure. With an early start needed by the race team and the wind strong enough to blow Linda Wooley's dog off it's chain ( again!), and predicted to get even stronger by race time, the call was made to cancel racing for the day, Bah Humbug! I think a new Disney movie is in order, 'The Grinch Who Stole Sailing'. It couldn't be any worse than some of the others they crank out at this time of year!

Sailing put respectfully aside for the day, it was time to put on our dancing shoes and head upstairs for our annual Chrissy Party. Numbers were sadly a bit down on what was hoped ( curse that Grinch! ), but those there were treated to a fabulous feast, as usual. We even had a visit from Santa and his ageless Elf. I asked him about the wind and he said he only cared about the weather on one particular night and as there isn't a lot of sailing at the North Pole, he didn't give a rat's! Charming Santa, no cookies for you this year!

Thanks to all the people who called in to fill the spots on the RHIBs. Doc T(again) and Neil W drew the short straw to join Erik, Super D, Katrina and Simon. They were not too sad about the cancellation. I suppose you could say at least they all got an early present!

Okay, last week done, let's move on to next Sunday. Not only is it the last sail of 2025, and another round of the Southern Peninsula Community Bank Club Championship, it would also be the Birthday of our dear friend, Drew Mattingly. As you all know, Drew tragically passed away earlier this year and He left a sizable donation to the Club, to be used to purchase a new Pacer for the junior fleet. With that in mind, this week's race will be dedicated to Drew and a prize will be awarded to the sailor, or sailors ( or even race crew) that performs some outstanding feat (not necessary winning ), to be decided by their peers and awarded on the day. So please, please, make a huge effort to come this Sunday and remember our Friend.

This week's race team are Geoff and Super D on Start, Paul M and Moi on Woodsy and I'm hoping John Matheson and Rob Wells on Sutherland. Fingers crossed.

That's all for this week, see you Sunday, the weather will be perfect-ish.

Cheers, Pete Chippy

This Week’s Racing - OTB

Sunday 21st December 2025

Club Championship Series - Race 4

First Warning Signal	13.57H
Race Officer	Geoff Eldridge
Assistant	Deirdre Snooks
Duty Boat Woodsy - Driver	Paul M
Duty Boat Woodsy - Swimmer	Peter Chip
Duty Boat Sutherland - Driver	John Matherson
Duty Boat Sutherland - Swimmer	Rob Wells

Keelboats

The Friday Twilight breeze was an honest Easterly that veered a little during the race. It started a little under 10 knots but with nice gusts. Still haunted by the Ghost Mark, the Tower set a simple windward-return, no a return-windward, out to SB1 and back. It promised to be a tactical race, and it was.

With that wind we would expect a wind bend off the shore and shifts. And of course the Mussell Farm was bang in the middle of the course. So on the beat back to shore one had a decision to make as one approached – tack inshore to take the north end of the farm or head south for the lay line, where there seemed to be a bit more breeze. In my humble opinion Perception got it right (and won on AMS) when they tacked into the bend, whereas we on Little Ninjo took neither of the choices, avoiding the starboard tack parade to the south so stuck in the middle. Anyway, Balance crossed the line for third with Ghost eleven seconds ahead. Then came the treat. At the prize-giving Steve Twentyman announced that in all the Twilights he has sailed in this was the first time Shimmer had actually won!!!!!

Thanks to Elaine and Marrakesh for presiding over the race.

Now Sunday. Heat 4 of the Community Bank Southern Peninsula Club Championships. The bay was a cauldron of wind and wave. The Ghost Mark was again avoided by David Donaldson and Elaine, nominating Course 25. Little Ninjo motored out to the start but couldn’t see over the next wave, so went back in. We packed the boat up and went to Martha’s Table for a coffee. Just as we were being served in marched Pete Russell and his jolly crew from Vincitore. They had broken a mainsail car trying to get the main up. Rawhide, Marrakesh, Lumiere and Perception started the race successfully; but it was not all over. Lumiere broke a sheet car and Rawhide, who had rounded SB2 in good order and had (of course) launched their kite for the run to Pier, heard a mighty explosion from her stern as the rudder exploded. They limped on round Pier and heard the news that the course was being shortened (retirement not necessary), so they crosses the line less than a minute behind Unprecedented; who won on PHS with Rawhide second and Marrakesh in third. Rawhide beat Unprecedented under AMS to win, with Rawhide winning under ORCc as well to beat Unprecedented and Perception.

The Club Championship Progressive has Rawhide and Unprecedented on 9 points, Perception and Marrakesh both on 20, then Ninjo and Empara on 23. Plenty of sailing still to do, but most of us can’t afford another drop.

Boat of the Week is awarded to Shimmer for her epic win in the Twilight.

Next Friday will be Heat 2 of the MARGARET HOLLAMBY. Better be some wind this time. A pursuit for the other boats will also be run.

Sunday will be Heat 1 of the Shark Bay Holiday Series (Tower start), then it will be the Petersville regatta at Blairgowrie and then 2025.

Results

Friday Twilight Pursuit Series - Race 9 PHS

1st	Shimmer	Jac & Steve Twentyman
2nd	Ghost	Glen Collings
3rd	Balance	Mark Bulka

Friday Twilight Pursuit Series - Race 9 AMS

1st	Perception	Fiona Jones
2nd	Shimmer	Jac & Steve Twentyman
3rd	Rawhide	Cameron Barwick & Graeme Sergeant

COMMUNITY BANK SOUTHERN PENINSULA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – Race 4 PHS

1st	Unprecedented	Andrew McGrath
2nd	Rawhide	Cameron Barwick & Graeme Sergeant
3rd	Marrakesh	Neil Hawker

COMMUNITY BANK SOUTHERN PENINSULA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – Race 4 AMS

1st	Rawhide	Cameron Barwick & Graeme Sergeant
2nd	Unpredented	Andrew McGrath
3rd	Perception	Fiona Jones

COMMUNITY BANK SOUTHERN PENINSULA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – Race 4 ORCc

1st	Rawhide	Cameron Barwick & Graeme Sergeant
2nd	Unpredented	Andrew McGrath
3rd	Perception	Fiona Jones

This Week’s Racing - Keelboats

Friday 19th December 2025

MARGARET HOLLAMBY FEMAALE HELM - PHS and AMS – Race 2

Race Start Time (AEDT)	17:30H Pursuit Start
Race Officer	Mark Bulka
Duty Boat	Balance
Set Up/Results	Di

If you would like to participate in the Female Helm Series and haven’t yet entered, please get your entry in prior to 5pm on Thursday evening and make sure that the name of your female helm is listed in your SailSys Entry.

If you would still like to sail on Friday evening but do not have a female helm there is also a Pursuit Race being held at the same time. Please get your entry in now if you are planning to sail.

NO ENTRY / NO START TIME!! To enter CLICK HERE

If that isn’t enough fun for one evening, we will also be keeping an eye on this week’s start times and will be handing out a nice bottle of something for the boat with the BEST START of the night. If you think you might be in the mix make sure you or one of your crew are back at the club for the post-race presentations.

Sunday 21st December 2025

Shark Bay Holiday Series Race 1 – PHS and AMS - Tower Start

Race Start Time (AEDT)	09.55H Tower Start
Race Officer	Lynlee Coutts
Duty Boat	Dawn Clark
Set Up/Results	Dawn & Lynlee

Shark Bay Holiday Series

The 2025-2026 Keelboat Holiday Series (including the Race to the Middle) kicks off with the first race this Sunday the 21^st of December. Please get your entry in NOW so that we have plenty of time to get them processed.

Click HERE to enter

Changes to SI's

Change to Keelboat Sailing Instructions #2 is now posted on the club website.

To view please Click Here

Petersville Regatta, 27–30 December

This year we have 3 boats heading to Blairgowrie to compete at the Petersville Regatta which is being held from the 27th to 30th December.

We wish the crews on Perception, Vincitore and Rawhide (assuming they can get their delaminated rudder sorted in time – see below) a wonderful and successful regatta.

ORCV

Full calendar of events can be found here: www.orcv.org.au/calendar

Cock of the Bay (26 December 2025)

This popular race on Port Phillip is held each year on Boxing Day, 26 December. The traditional course of ~21nm starts near Station Pier in Port Melbourne and is designed to sail past major bayside location

s for sailors and spectators alike to view. Besides being a great classic race in its own right, the event serves as a feeder for the blue water classic Melbourne to Hobart ocean yacht race.

Click here for information and to enter the race today. Early bird entries close on Monday 8 December.

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