Somewhere in Sweden - Niclas and Sanna Westling

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G’day Cruisers

At our last in May meeting Gavin and Sammy Randall gave a great presentation of their cruise out to Lord Howe Island and back. They talked about preparation, the crossing and what to do when you arrive. There's a link below to the slides they showed on the night and I wanted to say we very much appreciated them taking the time to talk to us.

The King's Birthday weekend was a bit of a washout in terms of cruising unfortunately with the weather not being very kind to us. With west or north westerlies blowing up to 30 knots outside we decided to stay inside. The temperatures at single digits at night didn't help either.

Jenni and I again spent the Saturday night in Bantry Bay. Lots of other people had the same idea so it was a fairly crowded anchorage. The temperature was ok as long as you stayed out of the wind but chilly when the gusts came around the spray dodger.

Some very happy news from the cruising group but also some sad news this month. Jean Parker a long-term member of the cruising group passed away 30th May. Phil Darling has written a few words about Jean later in the newsletter. Only a few days later another past member Jann Gaaske also passed away. Jann's boat was Come by Chance and she was a member from the 1980's to 2000 or so. I didn't know either of these ladies but condolences to everyone who did.

On a much happier note, Jeremy Clarke and Kristin Kool-Clarke welcomed a new grandson Jackson. He and mum Greta are doing well, congratulations to all.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 18th June and the plan is to have our normal BBQ and then discuss the calendar for the next year hopefully agreeing dates for events like the Tapas Tie-up, Christmas party etc.

Look forward to seeing you all there.  

Cheers

Gerald, SV Serenite

Lord Howe Island Cruise presentation 

At our May meeting Gavin Randall and his daughter Sammy gave us a presentation on their cruise to Lord Howe Island in January this year.

Here's a link to the Powerpoint presentation they spoke to and some photographs from the night.

Thank you both for taking the time to talk to us.

Vale Jean Parker

It is with sadness we report the death on Friday 30 May 2025 of Jean Parker, long a stalwart of the Cruising Group at Middle Harbour.

Jean was born in Minnesota, USA, but after meeting a handsome rugby player on tour she relocated to Australia and married Noel Parker.

Noel and Jean joined the Cruising Division in 2005, sailing on many events in their Catalina 42 Ballymagirl.  They later upgraded to a Catlina 442 Sanctum.  Both vessels were in commercial survey, and Noel had a Master V ticket and used to take charters out on them.  Sadly, he came down with cancer and died about 6 years back, Jean sold the boat (to Evan and Kelly, so it is still in our group) but continued to come along to meetings and social events.

Always cheery, with a bubbly personality and often an individual approach to issues, she will be sadly missed.  

1.     What are the three corners of a triangular sail called?

2.     What are the three sides of a triangular sail called?

3.     Where would you find a Throat Halyard?

4.     Once you have located the throat halyard, what is the other halyard used in conjunction with it?

5.     What is MARPOL?  Does it apply to small boats?

6.     What is the Angle of Vanishing Stability?

7.     You have two fire extinguishers available – one red with a white band, and one red with a black band.  What types are they?

8.     The whale watching season has just begun.  How close can you approach by ship to a whale?

9.     In what circumstances would you let off a white flare?

10. What is a Turk’s Head?

A bit further along the shore of somewhere in Sweden - Niclas and Sanna Westling

Send your photos to Mike McEvoy to enter into the 2025 Cruising Division Competition. Each Month the best photo received will be published and, in the running, to win a new Mystery Prize at the end of 2025. 

Send your best photos (as a JPG / JPEG) - Remember … to be in the running to win the prize you must be in it. Hint …. Give your favourite photo a Title and Place taken. Submit your photos to mmcevoy@bigpond.net.au

Good Shooting …!! Mike.

No entries emailed to Mike this month. Need to submit them to be in the running for the annual prize. 

Gerald van Hulsen, a long term Cruising member, has a Multipurpose sail for sale. He used it on his Swanson 42 but it has been in storage at home.

The sail is 1.5 oz cloth and dimensions are; luff 15.1m, leach 14m and foot of 8.75m.

He is happy to help anyone interested in trying it out on a day with less than 3 knots of wind.

No price set, make him an offer.  0418619433  

1.     Tack (front), Head (top) and Clew (the “other” corner, usually at the rear).

2.     Luff (front), Foot (bottom) and Leech (the “other” side, usually aft edge).

3.     The throat halyard is attached to the inboard end of the gaff on a gaff rigged boat.  It is used to raise the end of a gaff nearer to the mast

4.     The Peak Halyard which is used to raise the other end of the gaff (it may not actually be at the end of the gaff – usually only part way along).

5.     MARPOL (sometimes referred to as MARPOL 73/78) is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978.  It is enacted in Australia under a number of national and state statutes and governs the discharge (or not) of everything including sewage, garbage, debris, oily wastes and many more.  The various acts definitely apply to small vessels as well as to large.

6.     The AVS is the angle of heel beyond which, in calm water, a boat will continue to roll rather than returning to the upright position.

7.     Red with a white band is a dry powder extinguisher, whilst red with a black band is a carbon dioxide extinguisher.

8.     No approach from behind a whale and no waiting in front.  You can approach to a minimum of 100metres from the sides (300metres if a calf is present).  In the caution zone (between 100 and 300 metres from a whale) vessels must travel at a constant slow speed and leave a negligible wake.

9.     To indicate your position at night, and especially to avoid collision of another vessel which does not seem to notice you

10. An ornamental knot with a number of interwoven strands, forming a closed loop.  Often used to denote the “straight ahead” position on a ship’s steering wheel, but other uses can include anti-chafing protection and to give a better grip on a pole or post.