From 10am on Saturday there will be a session on “Powerboat Operations” for interested club members. The session will commence with a short segment upstairs in the ASC clubrooms before moving down to the club pier where participants will be introduced to ASC powerboats before taking to the water for practical experience. All members welcome, both those with Victorian Recreational Powerboat licence and people interested in obtaining a licence. Expected duration is around two hours depending on weather and the number of participants. No fee and no need to register in advance. Bring gear for on-water activity, including covered shoes and a slicker.
For newer members wanting to go for a sail in a club boat our club training boats (Pacers, Lasers, Sabre and Optis) will be available from 10am to12 noon for use with a club RIB powerboat on the water.

The BOM site forecast says a low pressure system will “meander” around the Tasman Sea on Friday and Saturday. Shower or Two, Southwesterly winds 15 to 20 knots on Port Phillip, temperature range 9 to 15 degrees, both days

Commencing the beginning of June it is proposed to run a Better Sailing/ Racing sailing skills training course. Interested persons should contact Don McKenzie or email donmac35@bigpond.com.

The level of the water in Albert Park Lake should show some improvement with some rains in Melbourne midweek. Still around half full and sailing with centreboards raised ‘a bit’ will still be required. Plenty more rain is needed.

Members from Victorian sailing clubs are most welcome to join in with the ASC club fleet for our winter sailing season which runs to September. Go to Sailing tab on www.albertsc.org.au for details and online winter member registration.

Rod Thomas
Commodore

Albert Sailing Club rebates the licence cost for people obtaining their powerboat licence for use on Club duties. The essential Transport Safety Victoria information on recreational boat licenses is at : www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/recreational-maritime/marine-licence
If you let us know when you have your Recreational Powerboat license, arrangements can be made to hold a short practical course on boat handling to develop skills in use of the Club’s boats.

Commencing the beginning of June it is proposed to run a Better Sailing/ Racing sailing skills training course. Interested persons should contact Don McKenzie or email donmac35@bigpond.com.

The level of the water in Albert Park Lake is unchanged and is still at or just below half of its ‘normal level”. Sailing with centreboards raised ‘a bit’ is still required. There are again some predictions of rain early next week, but nowhere near as much as in Perth mid this week.

Visiting winter members from Victorian sailing clubs are most welcome to join in with the ASC club fleet. Go to Sailing tab on www.albertsc.org.au for details and online winter member registration.

Rod Thomas
Commodore

The Albert Sailing Club Annual General Meeting is on saturday 4th May at 5.30pm. There will be a ‘sausage sizzle’ operating on the upstairs decking from around 5pm. All members are invited to come along to receive reports on 2012-13 season and elect the 2013/14 ASC General Committee

The level of the water in Albert Park Lake is still at or just below half of its ‘normal level”, and sailing with centreboards raised ‘a bit’ is still required. We keep waiting for some decent rainfalls and inflows into the Lake.

On Saturday the 27th April we had a good cleanup of the club and some maintenance tasks completed at the Working Bee. Thanks to all of those who came along. A small fleet started the afternoon Trophy Race and a very small number of brave (stupid ?) souls finished in strong/gusty northerly winds.
On the morning of 11th.May there will be a short information session at 11.30am in our upstairs clubrooms on the subject of Powerboat licences.

Albert Sailing Club rebates the licence cost for persons using their licence on Club duties.
The essential TSV info on recreational boat licenses is at : www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/recreational-maritime/marine-licence
Once a Recreational Powerboat license is attained arrangements can be made to hold a short course on boat handling to enhance your confidence in use of the Club’s boats.

It is proposed to take one of the club’s Status trailable yachts to the Sauna Sail in the Latrobe Valley on the June holiday weekend. If you are interested in being involved please contact Don McKenzie.

Commencing at the beginning of June it is proposed to run a Better Sailing/ Racing skills training course. Interested persons should contact Don McKenzie or email donmac35@bigpond.com.

Finally, something ‘gastronomic to look forward to.The winter homemade vegetable soup will be available at the club canteen from May 11th.

Rod Thomas
Commodore

The level of the water in Albert Park Lake is still at or just below half of its ‘normal level”, and sailing with centreboards raised ‘a bit’ is still required. The water level will hopefully improve further next week with rain predicted on Sunday and Monday.

The Albert Sailing Club Annual General Meeting is on saturday 4th May at 5.30pm. General Committee nomination forms and Notice of Meeting are in the March Mudpuddler Newsletter.

Rod Thomas
Commodore

The ASC Social and Annual Trophy Presentation night is in our clubrooms on saturday from 5.30pm. All club members and families welcome. This will be an informal night, with a catered meal at $10 per head, and an expected finish before 9pm. The list of attendees is still open, and if you have not already signed on send an email with names Thursday or Friday to vicecommodore@albertsc.org.au

The level of the water in Albert Park Lake is still below half of its ‘normal level”, and sailing with centreboards raised ‘a bit’ is still required. The water level showed a small increase with rain earlier in week, and should improve further next week with rain predicted on Sunday and Monday.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* ASC trophy race on Saturday 27 April, with 2pm start. There is a club working bee in the morning from 9.30am to 12 noon. Main areas for attention will be cleaning of windows, removal of leaves from gutters and boatyard, cleanup of Status boats, possibly some painting. Usual many hands distribute the work and produce a better result.

* The ASC Winter Season commences on saturday 4 May, with visiting winter members most welcome. Go to Sailing tab on www.albertsc.org.au for details and online winter member registration.

* The Annual General Meeting is on saturday 4th May at 5.30pm. General Committee nomination forms and Notice of Meeting are in the current Mudpuddler Newsletter.

* Melbourne’s Tall Ship Enterprize has a Pirate Weekend in Geelong on 4/5 May. Enterprize has a port transit Motor Sail leaving Geelong at 1pm on Monday 6 May, sailing up Port Phillip, arriving Melbourne Docklands at around 8pm. You can organise your own travel by Vline train to Geelong on a 10am or 11am train, with a 20 minute or so walk from Geelong Station to Steampacket Pier in Geelong to board the ship. This is a good opportunity for an extended half day trip across an afternoon into early evening on Melbourne’s authentic wooden Tall Ship Enterprize. There is a discount price of $95, which includes a light dinner. Bookings on www.enterprize.org.au. or speak to the Commodore for further information.

The level of the water in Albert Park Lake is still below half of its ‘normal levels”, so that Sailing with centreboards raised ‘a bit’ is still required.

Our club secretary and Coast Guard Radio man, Bill Avallone sighted David Bock’s cruising yacht sailing through the Port Phillip heads on webcam earlier in the week. Bill spoke to him on Coastuard channel, with News that David was returning to Melbourne after two months away crusing Victorian and Tasmanian waters. David’s green Sabre may again hit the Albert Park Lake waters soon.

UPCOMING ASC EVENTS

* The ASC Social and Annual Presentation night from 6pm on saturday 20 April. All club members and families welcome. From 5.30pm with catered meal at $10 per head Place names of attendees on listing on club bar or send to vicecommodore@albertsc.org.au

* The ASC Winter Season commences on saturday 4 May, with visiting winter members most welcome. Go to Sailing tab on www.albertsc.org.au for details and online winter member registration.

* The Annual General Meeting is on saturday 4th May at 5.30pm. General Committee nomination forms and Notice of Meeting are in the current Mudpuddler Newsletter.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

* There is a free session on Marine Weather and Forecasting at Albert Park Yacht Club (100 metres south of ASC) at 7pm for 7.30pm on wednesday 17 April. Organised by Melbourne Trailables Club, wih TSV presenter.

* Melbourne’s Tall Ship Enterprize has a Pirate Weekend in Geelong on 4/5 May. Enterprize has a port transit Motor Sail leaving Geelong at 1pm, sailing up Port Phillip, arriving Melbourne Docklands at around 8pm. You can organise your own travel by Vline Line train to Geelong on a 10am or 11am train, with a 20 minute or so walk from Geelong Station to Steampacket Pier in Geelong to board the ship. This is a good opprtunity for an extended half day trip across an afternoon into early evening trip on Melbourne’s authentic Tall Ship Enterprize. There is a discount price of $95, which includes a light dinner. Bookings on www.enterprize.org.au. or speak to the Commodore for further information.

regards

Rod Thomas
Commodore

Albert Park Lake was re-opened to recreational Boat Users on Tuesday 26 March, after a 3 weeks temporary closure due to water quality issues.. Parks Victoria have continued with their weekly testing of water quality in the Lake. The testing has shown a steady decline in excessive E Colli levels detected in mid March to aceptable levels by 26 March. The email received from Parks Victoria on 3 April indicates “Parks Victoria completed further lake water testing on Tuesday 2 April. The results show that the E.Coli level has continued to decline and returned to normal levels.” Also there is a reminder from Parks Victoria that white buoys are still in place in ‘the Narrows’ to aid in the identification of concrete slabs on the lake floor. To ensure the safety of all lake users Parks Victoria continues to advise lake users not to enter “the Narrows” section of the lake.

The Lake still needs more water. On Easter saturday the water level was at 2.4 on the scale at end of the launching boards, and with further inflows it should now be a little higher than it was at end of February. Sailing with centreboards raised ‘a bit’ is still required.

UPCOMING EVENTS
* The April General Committee meeting will be held in the ASC clubrooms from 7.30pm on tuesday 9th April. All club members welcome.
* The ASC Social and Presentation night from 6pm on saturday 20 April. Place names of attendees on listing on club bar or send to vicecommodore@albertsc.org.au
* The ASC Winter Season commences on saturday 4 May, with visiting winter members most welcome.
* The Annual General Meeting is on saturday 4th May at 5.30pm. General Committee nomination forms were in the Mudpuddler Newsletter distributed over Easter.

Rod Thomas

Commodore

Of course the water level in Albert Park Lake is still low, at about the level of early March. It is just OK for sailing with boards up “a bit”. Let’s hope the rain predicted, and more, falls on Albert Park and surrounding areas and makes a difference.

There are no club activities programmed over Easter. The last month of the club’s “summer season” commences on saturday. 6 April. Week 6 of the junior and senior Learn to Sail courses in the morning, Green fleet sailing for Juniors late morning/eary afternoon, and Commodore Series 1 at 2.30pm.

The Club’s quarterly Mudpuddler Newsletter was mailed out in the last week of March. There are details of many club activities in the autumn and winter months. Some to specifically note are the ASC Social and Presentation night on saturday 20 April, the Annual General Meeting on saturday 4th May, and the commencement of the Winter Season on saturday 4 May, with visiting winter members most welcome.
I will continue to provide updates to members through the ASC website and our club’s Weekly Thursday Snippets.

Have a good Easter.

Rod Thomas
Commodore
Albert Sailing Club

Hopefully, the predicted rains for Melbourne and surrounding suburbs fall over the coming days and with consequent water inflows into the Lake the water quality improves and Parks Victoria reopen Albert Park Lake. There is no club activities programmed over Easter. The next scheduled sailing on the club program is on the weekend after Easter – 6th and 7th April when we have a Trophy Race scheduled for the saturday, and Learn to Sail programs on the saturday and sunday mornings. Check weekly Thursday Snippets emails and the club website www.albertsc.org.au for details of the current advice from Parks Victoria on the suitability of the Lake for recreational boating activities.

As background. On 7 March Parks Victoria issued emails which advised sporting clubs using Albert Park Lake and the general public of water quality issues with the Lake and its temporary closure to water recreational use. Parks Victoria tests conducted early in that week indicated a high E. Coli reading, which posed a health risk for Lake users. The low water inflows into the Lake across Summer, and the storm water inflow associated with a rain day in late February was considered the likely cause. Parks Victoria sent emails to Albert Park Lake Reserve sporting clubs, and a press release, notifying of the situation and the temporary closure of the Lake to recreational users. Parks Victoria are providing weekly, and in some weeks, twice weekly updates.

Upcoming Events
————————-
* The Victorian School Team Sailing Championships are to be sailed from Royal Melbourne Yacht Sqadron at St Kilda on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March from 9am both days. Spectators are most welcome, with travel down to St Kilda by tram recommended as car parking near RMYS is limited and expensive.
* On 23/24 March the Victorian Laser Class Championships are being held at Sorrento Sailing Club.
* Over Easter there a number of Regattas in country Victoria with the most popular at Lake Boga and Lake Bolac in the Western district.
Good sailing to ASC members sailing in these events.

The Club’s next quarterly Mudpuddler Newsletter is due out late March/early April. There are details of many club activities in the autumn and winter months. Some to specifically note are the ASC Social and Presentation night on saturday 20 April, the Annual General Meeting on saturday 4th May, and the commencement of the Winter Season on saturday 4 May, with visitng winter members most welcome

Rod Thomas
Commodore

On 7 March Parks Victoria issued emails which notified sporting clubs using Albert Park Lake and the general public that due to water quality the Lake has been temporarily closed to water recreational use. Parks Victoria conduct weekly water quality tests, and tests in that week indicated a high E. Coli reading. Testing on tuesday 11 March indicated that the E. Coli level is still high and thus the temporary closure of the Lake to recreational use continues.

The Sailing Regatta scheduled for Sunday 17 March has been cancelled. Parks Victoria will provide an update on the water quality and the availability of the Lake after their weeklu testing early next week. The Albert Sailing Club program has club training and racing scheduled to resume on saturday 23 March, before a break for Easter. A decision on sailing on 23 March will be made mid next week after we receive the Parks Victoria update. If the water quality and water depth in Albert Park Lake continues to be unfavourable we will look at options for sailing at a top of the bay sailing club in early April. For updates continue to access our weekly Thursday Snippets and our albertsc.org.au website.
Upcoming Events
The Victorian School Team Sailing Championships are to be sailed from Royal Melbourne Yacht Sqadron at St Kilda on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March from 9am both days. There will be a team entered from Melbourne Boys Grammar School who have been training at Albert Park Lake with Don McKenzie – we wish them well. Spectators are most welcome at this event. Suggest travel down to St Kilda by tram if attending as car parking near RMYS is limited and expensive. On 23/24 March the Victorian Laser Championships are being held at Sorrento Sailing Club, so good sailing to ASC members sailing in that event.

Rod Thomas
Commodore
Albert Sailing Club