The Compass Rose The Compass Rose
A newsletter for the MHYC Cruising activities
April 2024, Vol #44, no #3. Editor: Phil Darling

Guys working things out!  Pittwater Easter cruise destination.

Next Meeting:

Monday 15th April 7.30 p.m

Come and learn about Passage Planning from our very own Glynne Attersall


BYO BBQ from 6:30 p.m. 

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Captain's column

Hello fellow Cruisers,

Easter Cruise 2024 was a lovely event, we had 4 boats come along, the weather was definitely on our side, both for the trip to and from Pittwater, read more about it further down the Compass Rose.

Looking ahead the April monthly meeting. (15 April) is the next event and Glynne will be talking about passage planning following the weather talk by Kingsley at our last meeting.

Even if you are not planning a long passage any time soon, do come along and meet fellow cruisers.

Our events are published on the cruising website, do keep an eye out.

 A reminder that we are looking for contributions of articles to the Compass Rose, if you have anything you would like to share, and I am sure a lot of you have lots to share, please email this to cruising@mhyc.com.au and we will include them in the next Compass Rose.

And if you have nice photos to share, please send these to us too and they can be part of the Photo of the Month.

As winter is getting closer, many of the committee members are heading north, some to our warmer shores onboard a sailing yacht and some further north up the globe. Therefore, the AGM this year will be postponed until the August or September meeting.

If you would like to participate in the committee to plan events etc please reach out to us or fill in the nomination form from the website. We would be more than happy to have more people join the committee.

The committee is working hard on getting events planned, articles written and what Cruising at MHYC will look like in the future, especially now we have a new CEO taking charge of the club. Because of all this a survey will be sent out to all our members and I would really appreciate if you could fill this in as this would be most helpful.

Stay safe on and off the Water.

Sanna

Captain Cruising, SV RaRa

 

Past events
Member News

Welcome our latest new member - Shane Foley!

Shane has a beautiful Dufour 36, named Boadicca, which is moored just west of D arm. 

Next upcoming events

MHYC Cruising Events winter 2024.

The events are updated on the cruising website. Keep an eye out there for any changes.

Upcoming events April – September 2024

Date

What

15 April Monday 2024

Monthly Meeting MHYC 19.30

18.30 BBQ

Talk by Glynne on Passage Planning

20 May Monday 2024

Monthly gathering, MHYC

18.30 BBQ

8 – 10 June 2024
Saturday – Monday

King’s Birthday weekend

Destination TBA

17 June Monday 2024

Monthly Gathering, MHYC

18.30 BBQ

15 July Monday

Monthly Gathering, MHYC

18.30 BBQ

19 August Monday

AGM and Monthly Meeting MHYC 19.30

18.30 BBQ

16 September Monday

Monthly Meeting MHYC 19.30

18.30 BBQ

 

To note that the AGM will be at the August meeting. If you would like to be part of the committee, please send your nomination to cruising@mhyc.com.au

Winter meetings 2024 will be a gathering hosted by Phil. Come along to meet fellow cruisers and have a nice evening at the club. 

The Cruising Quiz, by Phil Darling

CD Quiz – April 2024 by Phil Darling

  1. What do the letters EPIRB stand for?
  2. Which Australian Sailing categories/events require you to have an EPIRB on board?
  3. What are the NSW requirements for carrying an EPIRB?
  4. What radio frequencies does your EPIRB transmit on, and for how long?
  5. What is the difference between an EPIRB and a PLB?
  6. In Sydney (say on Manly Beach), what direction does the sea breeze start from, and why (and in what way) does it’s direction change as it builds in strength?
  7. What is the difference between a masthead and a fractional rig?
  8. At night, you see a vessel approach with three white lights in a vertical line.  What precautions should you take when crossing behind it?
  9. When a cold front catches up to a warm front, what formed?
  10. What brand new technology did Admiral Nelson share with his Captains that helped win the Battle of Trafalger?
Feature Article
Calamity Corner
Anchor Problems in Chinamans!
by Martyn Colebrook Jeremy and Martyn to the rescue. It was the recent Long Weekend which saw KaiRani, Sanctum and, latterly, Flo anchored at Chinaman’s. The plan to moor at…
Read more...

Calamity Saved!

This is to save a calamity happening when Sisu is at sea. Whenever, she rolls the drawers and lockers fly open and the cutlery needs washing, again.

The saver is to simply use the spare venetian blind cord to tie the drawer and locker knobs to the tap.

Cheers Mike McEvoy

 

Photo Competition

Photo of the Month - April 2024 by Susanna Westling

Waking up on the MHYC Mooring in Amercia Bay on a foggy morning

Send your photos to Mike McEvoy to enter into the 2024 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 2024.

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.

The Cruising Quiz answers

CD Quiz – April 2024 – Answers

  1. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.
  2. Categories 1, 2 & 3, as well as Category 4 if you are going to be more than 2 miles offshore.
  3. In NSW waters if you're on open waters and more than 2nm from the shore, you must have an EPIRB. Even within 2nm, it's recommended.
  4.  An EPIRB transmits a distress signal on 406 MHz. They also transmit a lower power signal on 121.5 MHz to allow search and rescue teams to home in on them. Once activated, an EPIRB transmits a distress signal for a minimum of 48 hours.
  5. A PLB is smaller than an EPIRB. It's designed to be carried on people rather than on the vessel, and may also be carried on land by bushwalkers, 4 wheel drivers, cross country skiers etc. They use essentially the same technology but PLBs are usually to a lower specification eg they have a shorter battery life and usually do not float. PLBs are registered to a person whereas EPIRBS are registered to a vessel.
  6. The sea breeze starts blowing directly on-shore, ie as an easterly. As it builds in strength it goes to the left (in the southern hemisphere) and becomes a north easterly, due to the influence of the Coriolis Force (which is a result of the earth’s rotation).
  7. In a masthead rig the forestay is attached to the masthead. In a fractional rig it is attached below the masthead.
  8. This is a vessel with a long tow (greater than 200 metres). Take very special care not to cross between it and the towed vessel (that could be fatal).
  9. An Occluded Front.
  10. They used a new set of flag signals so that they could change tactics as the battle progressed, whereas the French/Spanish fleet could only stick to their pre-determined plan.
Notice Board

ARTICLES FOR SALE

HARKEN WINCHES: Two manual Harken 46 two speed winches taken off a jeanneau 42 for an electric upgrade they haven’t seen much work

Asking $2500 for the pair (or nearest offer)

Contact Jeremy Clarke. See also FB post

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

Some recommendations based on good experiences with these suppliers, by Mike McEvoy:
  • Upholstery   I recently had the seats in the cockpit reupholstered by AAQT design and upholstery at 47 Wellington Street Rozelle 2039
    Tele: 9555 1700  Proprietor: Ara Arakelian, who advertised in the AFLOAT magazine    Email: aaqt@aaqtdesignandupholstery.com.au  He matched the colour very well with the  existing seats in the saloon, which are at least 19 year old.
  • Trimmer    Jim Hessey at Empire Bay Marina, of J & J Boat Trimming, Bobbin Head.  Tele: 9457 7088 Mob: 0419 467 163
    This is the second time I have used Jim, His work is excellent, but it is a good idea to give him lots of notice as he is always very busy. Each time I have had the boat at hand to make measurements easier and more accurate.
  • Trimmer local. Alex Robison of AR Marine Trimmers at Fergusons Boatshed at The Spit. Tele: 9968 1849   Mob: 0412 470 877 He insists on coming to your vessel to do the measuring and always does a good job.  I have used him for about 20 years.
CRUISING DIVISION OFFICE BEARERS 2023 – 2024

Here are the current members of the committee:

Cruising Captain Susanna Westling 0476 152 799
Secretary  Kelly Nunn-Clark 0457 007 554
Treasurer Niclas Westling 0476 152 800
Safety Coordinator Phil Darling 0411 882 760
Committee Member Martyn Colebrook  
Committee Member Evan Hodge  
Committee Member Jeremy Clarke 0412 601 911
Committee Member Dallas O'Brien  

Opinions expressed in the Compass Rose are those of the contributors, and do not necessarily reflect opinions of either Middle Harbour Yacht Club or the Cruising Division

Middle Harbour Yacht Club
75 Lower Parriwi Road, The Spit, Mosman NSW 2088
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