Saturday had our biggest turn out for the season when we had 20 boats signed up to sail. We were helped, of course, by the five Fireballs who came to check out where their State titles were being held but nevertheless had 14 of our own and one guest nearly on the water. David May (Laser) was a welcome guest in addition to Sabres sailed by your scribe, Tony C, Geoff D and James D. Lasers of various denominations were sailed by Peter E, Aidan S, Callum S, Rod S, Peter C and Manfred. Numbers were rounded up by Paul S (Aero 6), Mike W (OK) and Opti’s sailed by Harry C and Bobby F-W.

It looked to be a great day as the learners finished up in 10 knots and we all rigged.

Let me say that I feel somewhat thwarted. I reckon I can drift with the best in the business and the breeze was, some might say, moderating. Others might say dropping to zero; and they were probably right. Your scribe left the beach at about 1.40 and arrived to within 30 metres of the start at about 2.50 having drifted for about an hour and 10 minutes and sailing, maybe 500 metres. Having arrived in the vicinity of the start boat I was able to be in a prime position to watch race officer Lucy hoist an ‘N’ flag. This is the blue and white chequered thing and technically means race abandoned return to start. Apparently Lucy didn’t have an ‘A’ flag to put under the ‘N’ which means racing abandoned –go home, but we got the message and drifted back to shore for an hour to join those who had been wise enough to de rig and open a beer.

Lucy set the course with the assistance of new member Peter C (not the old member Peter C) while Peter V was the crash boat. Molly spent the afternoon dragging Opti’s to the start, watching the crews dive from the Rib and then towing three Simmons boats down the bay to home. Julie was as busy as always and Alex did the control tower.

Coming up:

Saturday 7 March 2026.
1400 Bengalut Balug series commences

Saturday 14 March 2026.
1400 Bengalut Balug series continues.
0900 Junior and Senior L2 Sail

With no sailing over the winter your scribe had a bit of spare time which he put to use by borrowing a couple of books from the Club so he could learn to navigate. Here are some of the things he learnt:
When an object of known height is in view a bearing can be taken and its distance off calculated from the vertical angle measured by sextant to its top.
• Observe the bearing from the object
• Measure the vertical sextant angle to the top of the object and calculate its distance off.
Distance off (miles) = Height of object (metres) X 1.86/sextant angle
• Plot a straight position line to lay off the true bearing obtained from the object
• Plot a circular position line at the calculated distance about the object
• Read off the fix from where the lines cross