Thursday Snippets, 11th April

By Rod Thomas | Published: April 10, 2019

A scratch race will be conducted from 2pm on saturday 13th April provided there is no further drop in water level. Casual sailing option all day, with club Ozi Optis the only training boats available. The water level in Albert Park Lake continues to be well down on its maximum and barely suitable for boating activity.
As per the club program there is no club sailing on 20th and 27th April. There is a club working bee scheduled from 9.30am on the 27th, with all who can encouraged to come and spruce the club up before the winter season.

A number of our ASC juniors are sailing in the Victorian Youth Championships at Blairgowrie over the 13th/14th April weekend and we wish them good sailing.

UPCOMING
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The 2019 ASC winter season which runs from May to September is due to commence on 4 May. Commencement date and release of visitor registration link is dependant on an improvement in the Lake water level.
On saturday 11th May we have the ASC Annual General Meeting at 6pm, with nominations for 2019/20 general committee sought by the 4th. The AGM is followed by an informal Pizza and Pasta meal and the inaugural ASC Talent Night, Members, families and friends encouraged to register your attendance and/or your Talent Act via link on www.albertsc.org.au. The AGM will be preceded by a short presentation of trophies for 2018/19 Spring and Summer.

IN OTHER NEWS – The link to the latest Summer/Autumn Mudpuddler newsletter for Summer/Autumn has been activated on the home page of www.albertsc.org.au.

Rod Thomas
for ASC committee

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Thursday Snippets, 4 April

By Rod Thomas | Published: April 3, 2019

The published club racing program for April has been suspended. After a dry first 3 months of 2019 the water level in Albert Park Lake is currently well down on its maximum and barely suitable for boating activity.  ASC and APYC duty crews will conduct scratch races in the northern half of the lake from 2.30 on saturdays 6th and from 2pm on 13th April provided there is no further drop in water level. As per the club program there is no club sailing on 20th and 27th April, with a club working bee scheduled for am on the 27th.

For those wanting to take their boat away and sail on 6th and/or 13th April, you would be welcomed at a top of bay club such as Port Melbourne, Williamstown, Altona or Elwood. Rod Thomas plans to sail PMYC with one or two others on Saturday 6th. Ron Fergusson will be sailing his Aero at Black Rock YC in the Skiff Regatta on 6 and 7 April.

UPCOMING
     The 2019 ASC winter season which runs from May to September is due to commence on 4 May. Commencement date is dependant on an improvement in the Lake water level.
     Talent Night:  on Saturday, May 11 Following the AGM and a Pizza/Pasta dinner, join us for the inaugural ASC Talent Night .  To register your attendance and/or your Talent Act, please click here.
No junior school holiday program in April. The next program will be in September.
Details of Anzac Day Regatta at Yarrawonga Yacht Club, with camping available on-site, has been placed on their club website.

IN OTHER NEWS – The Summer/Autumn Mudpuddler newsletter was mailed out to members early this week. A copy for viewing online has been placed on www.albertsc.org.au. Well done again Naomi and Michael on editing and compiling the Newsletter.

Our ASC juniors continue to be active. Last weekend Hamish Gilsenan travelled, with 4 others from Victoria, to Gosford for the NSW Optimist titles. He won the first heat and finished 12th overall in a fleet of over 100 boats. We have a number of ASC juniors sailing in the Victorian Youth Championships at Blairgowrie on 12/13 April.

Finally, the April ASC general committee meeting is in our ASC clubrooms on Tuesday 9th April. All members welcome.

Rod Thomas
for ASC committee

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Thursday Snippets, 28 March

By Rod Thomas | Published: March 27, 2019

Club sailing planned for Saturday 27th with Club race at 2.30pm and junior green fleet sessions am and pm. There is a Member Information session in clubrooms at 11am.

The Lake water level is well down. The level was just sufficient for sailing with raised centreboards last week. With no significant rain this week it won’t have improved, but hopefully has not dropped further. A final assessment of suitability and format for club race will be made middle of day Saturday. Also on Saturday the only training boats available for use will again be the club Ozi Opti, Sabres and Laser boats.

The Victorian Secondary School Championships are on at RYCV, Williamstown from 28th – 30th March. There are a number of ASC juniors competing, in particular for St Michaels. Event details on https://www.sailingyouth.org.au/vic-school-sailing/race-documents-/

Rod Thomas
for ASC committee

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Thursday Snippets, 21 March

By Rod Thomas | Published: March 20, 2019

The F1 Grand Prix infrastructure is being dismantled and so we again have access to Albert Sailing Club and the Lake. There is club sailing planned for Saturday with Club race at 2.30pm and junior green fleet sessions am and pm. The Lake water level is down and is a further 5cm lower than two weeks ago ; now at 2.40 metre above sea level at launch decking which equates to 0.8 metres depth in that area. This should just be OK for sailing and patrol boat use, with a final assessment to be made by the Race Officer at midday on Saturday. Also on Saturday the only training boats available for use are the club Ozi Opti, Sabres and Laser boats. Rain and storm water inflows are desperately needed to replenish the Lake water level. One or two further hot days without rainfall will see further deterioration in water level and see the lake become unsuitable for club sailing and powerboat use. Updates will be provided through Thursday Snippets and our club website.

Rod Thomas
for ASC committee

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Thursday Snippets, 7 March

By Rod Thomas | Published: March 6, 2019

The club has no sailing programmed on the 9-11 March Labour Day weekend and the following Melbourne F1 Grand Prix. On the morning of saturday 9th there will be a mini working bee at the club from 9.30. lead by Mark Snell with a number of tasks including the completion of painting of the boatyard gates. Over the long weekend there will be ASC members sailing in State Championships for Optimists at Brighton, Impulses at Altona, and other locations. Other clubs welcome visitors, Event details on class association and club websites. 
   Note that the Albert Park Reserve will be closed from 11 to 18 March, with no access to the clubrooms or boatyard over this period. 
   The Newsletter editor is seeking items for the Summer/Autumn edition of our club Mudpuddler Newsletter by 14 March. Send items to mudpuddler@albert sc.org.au 
   We hope to resume club sailing on Saturday 23rd March, but with the water level in the lake below 1.0 metres we need some rain otherwise the lake is unlikely to be suitable for sailing and operation of powerboats. Keep watching Snippets and the club website for updates.

Rod Thomas E : sailing@albertsc.org

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Thursday Snippets, 28 February

By Rod Thomas | Published: February 27, 2019

On Saturday 2nd March there is a club race starting at 2.30. From 9.30am we have the final session of the Summer Learn to Sail program, and an Optimist rigging and sailing session lead by Jon Rawlings and Hamish Gilsenan. Also a sailing committee meeting from 11am. Then on sunday morning there is a Better Sailing session for past graduates of Learn to Sail programs, with Don McKenzie.
The club has no sailing programmed on the two weekends in the middle of March, with the Labour Day weekend followed by the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix. No Snippets planned for those two weeks.There will be ASC members sailing in State Championships for Optimists at Brighton, Impulses at Altona, and likely some other locations over the Labour Day weekend from 9th – 11 March, with details on class association and club websites. Note that the Albert Park Reserve will be closed from 11 to 18 March, with no access to the clubrooms or boatyard over this period.
In Other News
* The March general committee meeting is in our clubrooms on Tuesday 5th at 7.30, with all members welcome to come along.
* On the morning of saturday 9th there will be a mini working bee at the club from 9.30. lead by Mark Snell with the key task the completion of painting of the boatyard gates.
* The Newsletter editor is seeking items for the Summer/Autumn edition of our club Mudpuddler Newsletter by 13 March. Items can be on ASC events, training programs, club boats an sailing adventures away from ASC. Send items to mudpuddler@albert sc.org.au by 13th March.
We also look forward to some rain in March. January and February have been very dry. The water level in the lake has dropped to below 1.0 metres and will become unsuitable for sailing unless we have two or three good rains.

Rod Thomas
E : sailing@albertsc.org

  • This Snippets, and last week’s were prepared and published on Wednesday evening. Yet to determine why delay in email out to subscribers.
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Thursday Snippets, 21 February

By Rod Thomas | Published: February 20, 2019

There is a full program of sailing and other activities at Albert Sailing Club over 3 days from Friday 23rd February, Casual social sailing and get together with catered BBQ from late Friday afternoon into the early evening. Members, families and visitors most welcome. Summer season club race Saturday afternoon, and junior green fleet sessions am and pm. Then a social sailing day and Learn to Sail program session from 10am to 4pm on sunday.

Club training boats will be available for use by members for the Friday and Saturday sessions, with approval by a committee member on the day. Only some single handed adult and junior training boats available on sunday, due to the large Learn to Sail group.

A powerboat ‘jockey’, without powerboat licence is needed for Saturday afternoon due to a late withdrawal. Also looking for ideas and/or volunteers to assist with a picnic day on a sunday likely late March. Send an email to Rod via sailing@albertsc.org.au if you can help out with either item.

There is a large off the beach regatta at Royal Brighton Yacht Club across the weekend with a number of ASC juniors sailing in the Optimist division. Good sailing to them, and also to those sailing at the Lake.

Rod Thomas
for Albert Sailing Club

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Thursday Snippets, 14th February

By Rod Thomas | Published: February 13, 2019

On Saturday 16th the club’s summer sailing season resumes. There is a Summer Learn to Sail program session in the morning, and junior Green Fleet sessions am and pm. In the afternoon there is a Summer Series club race from 2.30pm. Some of our juniors are sailing in the Snapper Point Regatta at Mornington on Saturday and Sunday.

Last weekend saw all sailing on Port Phillip cancelled on saturday due to gale wind warnings, which included the Top of Bay regatta at Port Melbourne and state titles for Sabre an Laser classes. Sunday then had ideal conditions which worked well for the second session of the adult Learn to Sail program and the various state titles.

Upcoming
———–
On Friday 22nd February there is another casual social get together at ASC, with sailing option in your own boat or for members in a club training boat. The club will be open from around 4pm, with BBQ dinner food and drinks on club decking overlooking the Lake from 6/6.30. Sailing and non sailing club members and visitors welcome.

Planning is commencing for an ASC Picnic Day for all ASC members, families and friends on sunday 31st March. Speak to Rod Thomas or send an email to him via sailing@albertsc.org.au with ideas for activities or an offer to help out with organising the Picnic Day.

The F1 Grand Prix at Albert Park is on 16/17 March. Parks Victoria have advised that people driving into the Albert Park Reserve travelling in from southern suburbs should note that Lakeside Drive, which runs down the eastern side of the Lake, will be closed on weekends and non-peak times on weekdays from mid February till end of April

Rod

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Thursday Snippets, 7 February

By Rod Thomas | Published: February 7, 2019

Plenty on this coming weekend. Friday from late afternoon there is a social get together at ASC, with sailing option where you have a boat. BBQ dinner food and drinks on club decking overlooking the Lake from late afternoon.  On Saturday 9th there is a Regatta for Top of the Bay clubs at Port Melbourne, with boats rigged late morning and Regatta race from 2pm. Notice of Race on ASC website. There is a group of boats from ASC sailing the event, and would welcome a few more to make up a club team of 10 boats.
At ASC there is no club race on 9th, but still plenty of activity. Mark Snell is continuing with painting of boatyard gates from 9.30am and is looking for 4 or 5 people suitably attired to to assist with the task. There is morning and afternoon junior green fleet programs, and some other juniors down for casual sailing on the Lake., as might some other members in the afternoon. On sunday our adult Learn to Sail group has an all day session from 9.30. On sunday the St Kilda Festival takes over in St Kilda, such that anyone coming down to the Lake from the South is best to come down Nepean Highway and Punt Road, as the Esplanade and Fitzroy street areas will be closed off to traffic.

The club’s next programmed sailing day on the Lake is on Saturday 16th with training programs in the morning and club racing with social sailing option in the afternoon.

Rod Thomas
for ASC Committee

E : sailing@albertsc.org.au

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Thursday Snippets, 31 January

By Rod Thomas | Published: January 30, 2019

After a few hot days this week the forecasts look good for a classic Melbourne day for sailing at ASC on Saturday 2nd with an afternoon sea breeze and maximum of around 30. There is a full program on saturday. In the morning the Summer Learn to Sail and junior Green Fleet programs commence, and there is a Try a junior Optimist session. Then club Summer Series race at 2.30 and an afternoon junior green fleet session. Club training boats available for member hire in the afternoon.

February and March is going to be a busy period in the Albert Park Reserve. On Saturday 2nd and 3rd February there is Victorian Little Athletics championships for field events at Lakeside Stadium behind the club. Car parking behind the club may become tight late morning/early afternoon. There will be parking turnover. If there are no roadside parks, and you have an annual parking permit, you can park on the gravel areas either side of the club. Otherwise we will try to purchase some spaces behind the club and put out bollards to indicate. On Sunday February 3rd and 10th there will be St Kilda Festival events in Fitzroy Street past the southern end of the Lake.

Upcoming
———–
Saturday 9th February, the annual Top of the Bay Regatta at Port Melbourne, with notice of race on ASC website, and no club racing or supervised sailing at ASC.

Tuesday 5th February ASC committee meeting in clubrooms from 7.30. The club treasurer has advised that the Paypal gateway for payment of ASC Invoices has finally been restored after problems last few weeks.

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