Viking III leads the send-off flotilla toward the heads

Niclas Westling

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G’day Cruisers

Another busy month for the cruising division in March and again sorry for the late edition of Compass Rose.

At the end of February Gavin Randall, who presented at our February meeting, set sail for his circumnavigation aboard Viking III, his Hallberg-Rassy 38. Dallas organised a get together in Berry’s Bay for the Friday night and then a flotilla down the harbour to the heads to see him off and he has provided an article and photos which I’ve included below. Niclas got some great drone footage which is where the cover photo above came from but getting the drone back on board was tricky. We wish Gavin all the best for the journey ahead, safe sailing mate and look forward to another presentation when you’re back.

On the Saturday night it was the Barefoot Beach Party with lots of us attending. A great night and I’ve included a couple of photos although I don’t have many from the night.

At our meeting on 18^th March we had a fantastic presentation from Richard and Alexandra from Hawkeye who have been sailing around the world since leaving Italy back in 2019. I’ve included a bit of a write-up later in this newsletter and a photo. We recorded the presentation and I’ll upload that to the Cruising Division website. It was great to have them as part of the division, even if only for four months. They’re planning to meet with a few of the cruisers as they head north.

Niclas on Rara has headed north again with Dallas and David helping out to Southport and I’m heading to Brisbane on Friday to help, probably as far as Tin Can Bay. So, Serenite will miss the Easter Cruise but a trip to Pittwater is being arranged with Glynne and Gill maybe then going on to Lake Macquarie on Simply Irresistible. Let Dallas know if you’d like to join, at the moment looks like 4 boats heading to Pittwater for Easter.

And finally Shibumi and Slac’ n’ off had great results racing in the Sydney Harbour Regatta with Shibumi 1^st in Performance Spinnaker Div 2 and Slac’n’off 1^st in Division 3 Spinnaker.

Cheers

Gerald Nicholls, Serenite

Bon Voyage Gavin

Our good friend Gavin Randall has dropped his lines and set sail for a circumnavigation on his beautiful blue-water yacht, a Hallberg Rassy 38, called Viking III.

A flotilla of 5 yachts gathered in Balls Head Bay to give Gavin a farewell party on March 27.

Take-away pizza was ordered from a nearby Waverton pizza restaurant, which delivered to the shores of the Bay, and a dinghy was dispatched to collect the cargo.

Those in attendance at this lovely evening were Flo, Salty Lady, Viking III, RaRa and Kai Rani.

We met his sole crew member David, who flew in that same morning from London.  David’s wife will join the crew at The Whitsundays.

The following morning the flotilla increased to 10 yachts as we were joined by Sanctum, Simply Irresistible, Serenite, Expresso & Boudica.  We all escorted Viking III down the Harbour to Sydney heads.  I can assure you, there was not a dry eye in the house, as his daughter Samantha bid her dad farewell aboard Salty Lady.

A series of farewell wishes over channel 71 ensured that Gavin will never ever forget his send-off.

Gavin is bound for Darwin before heading west to South Africa.

We continue to track Viking III on Marine Traffic and discover at the time of writing she was safely berthed at Coffs Harbour, after spending a few days at Newcastle & Port Stephens

Dallas

Sv Salty Lady

Barefoot Beach Party

On the evening of the 28th the club's Barefoot Beach Party was held with 400 or so people in attendance. A huge success and lots of fun had by all including a large group of Crusiers past and present, although I've not got many photos to prove we were all there.

March Meeting - Presentation from Richard and Alexandra from Hawkeye

Richard and Alexandra have been with us since late last year staying at the marina aboard Hawkeye during their circumnavigation.

While they showed us many photographs from some of the beautiful places they've visited so far, their presentation was more on some of the things that have gone wrong along the way. A really entertaining presentation with around 40 people present.

The questions from the assembled crowd went on for almost an hour and it was great to hear and take tips from their experiences across the Atlantic and Pacific. 

Hawkeye has since left MHYC and headed north, eventually to the Whitsundays and will then be on across the top to Indonesia etc. At the moment they are in Port Stephens, I believe waiting for the Cat Stephens Regatta. 

You can follow Hawkeye on No Foreign land at  https://www.noforeignland.com/map/boat/yachthawkeye

The story about when we saved a skipper who was lucky, we arrived at the anchorage when we did. 

In Moreton Bay, we sailed to Peel Island to stay the night out of the NE winds before heading to a marina for haul out the next day. 

As we approached the south side of the island, we picked a spot to anchor, with not many boats around. Looking ahead we saw a person oddly hanging off his bathing platform - as we looked closer he waved at us, it looked more frantic than a hello. We motored past his boat and spoke to him, he told us he could not get back onboard. 

We quickly moved away to set the hook and get the dinghy in to go over and assist - I don’t think we have ever done this that fast (well co-ordinated crew onboard Rara). 

To be able to assist in getting the person up, we brought a few bath towels and a spare rope. 

Using a bath towel turned out very well, it is hard to lift a person by the armpits, especially if wet and slippery, and using a rope can be very uncomfortable for the one being rescued. The towel provides both support and protection.

When we got to the boat, a motorboat with a stern platform and a dinghy on davits, we tied up our dinghy and got onboard. The boat captain was just able to hold on to the platform, unable to hoist himself up - the platform was about 15 cm above the water.

It turns out he had just picked the boat up from the yard where it had a full repaint, and when replacing the swim ladder, they mounted it backwards, which could not be noticed as he jumped in, and when he went to put his feet on the ladder rungs the ladder just swung underneath the platform, making it impossible to climb. 

The skipper thought he had been in the water for about 30 mins (we thought longer, he was very cold) and was very grateful that we arrived when we did.

We stayed with him for a while to make sure he was ok, he did serve sundowners and was very grateful we arrived when we did. 

All turned out well and he waved us goodbye next morning as we left.

Lessons learned:

Always have a backup to get back onboard, especially when you are alone - and if that means hoisting yourself up onto a sugar scoop or bathing platform, practice this to ensure you have the strength.

If not, hang a rope that you can reach, preferably with a step or a loop on to put your foot in.

Sanna SY Rara

Alex Comino

March 2026

1. These flags are always flying off the wharf at HMAS Penguin, plus sometimes at other points in the harbour.  What are they, and what does the combination mean:

2. Still on flags, this combination is very important.  What do you need to do when you see it?

3. Final flags – you should know this one.  What is it and what is you obligation once you see it?

4. You receive a message that “the wind is backing”.  What does this mean?  

5. Does a normal Sydney sea breeze back or veer?

6. What is a Hard Eye, and when would you be likely to use it?

7. Someone says ‘you should mouse that shackle’. What do they mean? 

8. What is the Angle of Vanishing Stability?

9. What it the minimum Angle of Vanishing Stability generally required for offshore racing in Australia?

10. What lights should a vessel Not Under Command but Making Way display?

Over the weekend of 7th and 8th March, at the Sydney Harbour Regatta, Bryan Moore on Shibumi was 1st in Performance Spinnaker Division 2 and Slac'n'off was first in Division 3.

Send your photos to Mike McEvoy to enter into the 2026 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 2026. 

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.

Rainbow after storms when hauled out in Queensland

Sanna Westling

1. R (Romeo) over Y (Yankee). Keep clear no wash.  Often displayed near work zones.

2. N (November) over C (Charlie). This is a distress signal, equivalent to a mayday. You are obliged to render all possible assistance without endangering yourself.

3. A (Alpha). Diver down. You must keep well clear of any divers and vessels must keep 60 metres clear if possible (if not possible, a safe speed and distance must be maintained).

4. A wind backs if it swings left or against the compass while it veers if it swings right or with the compass.  For example, an easterly breeze backing is tending more to the north.  

5. Backs. Typically starts as an easterly then as it strengthens it becomes more north-easterly.

6. A Hard Eye is an eye splice with a metal (or other rigid) thimble inside the eye. It is often used in anchor lines and other cases where a chain or similar has to be secured to a rope line.

7. A ‘moused schackle’ has had it’s pin secured by non-corroding wire to prevent it coming undone. 

8. The angle of heel beyond which (in calm water) a boat will invert rather than returning to the upright position.

9. 126 degrees – so significantly more than horizontal.

10.The vessel is not under command, so should display two all-round red lights one above the other where they can best be seen.  It is also making way so should display side lights (red & green) and a stern light (white). It should not display any steaming light.