Thursday Snippets,

By Rod Thomas | Published: February 14, 2024

Club sailing program resumes with Club Sailing Days including Summer Season Races at 2.30 on saturdays 17 and 24 February and 2 March. We welcome Sue back for the Club Galley which operates at lunchtimes on saturdays. On sunday 18th Week 2 of the club’s Summer Learn to Sail course. The weather forecast is for mild summer weather across the weekend which should be good for sailing on the Lake after the burst of hot windy weather earlier in the week.

The annual Top of the Bay Regatta for dinghy sailing clubs from Elwood around to Altona including Albert Park Lake clubs was sailed in the waters between Williamstown and Port Melbourne on saturday 10th. A good fleet of 78 boats sailed the Regatta Race in a very pleasant 5 – 10 knot sea breeze with calm seas. Phillip, Rod and Gianne from ASC sailed their ILCA6 Lasers from Port Melbourne and finished just two and a half minutes apart in a race time of around 80 minutes. The 3 ASC boats plus 4 from Albert Park Yacht Club formed the Albert Park Lake team, which didn’t quite make the threshold of ten boats for an interclub team result.
Some interesting “nuggests of information” supplied by the hosting Williamstown Sailing Club race management team is included below.

Otherwise. Jaemie and David have sailed all week, except the windy tuesday, in the World Fireball Championships in Corio Bay off Geelong which conclude on saturday 17th.
The ILCA (Laser) Masters World Championship s concluded in Adelaide last weekend. The 20 or so competitors from Victoria in the fleet of 230 boats had good results with 3 division winners and a close second across the 9 divisions which included the Legends division for competitors 65 years of age plus.

Rod Thomas
for Committee and members
Albert Sailing Club

A few interesting nuggets from the 2024 Top of the Bay Regatta results:
* Port Melbourne with 9 of the top 20 placings narrowly won the interclub challenge trophy from Altona which had 5 of the top 10 results.
* Shannon Wilson from Altona in a Mosquito sloop catamaran took first overall individual placing.
* Biggest classes were Impulses and ILCA6s with 9 boats each
* Williamstown with 29 entries had the largest number of entries closely followed by Port Melbourne with 25 entries.
* 28 classes in total – only 7 had entries from more than one Club (Impulse, 125, ILCA6, Sabre, ILCA7, Pacer, Aero7). Shows that TOTB is a great event for mixed fleet racing
* Moving forward need to think about how to encourage Elwood and Albert Park sailors to join in so there is more contention for the interclub trophy.

Rod’s Boat 2024 Top of the Bay Regatta

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Thursday Snippets, 8 February

By Rod Thomas | Published: February 7, 2024


Saturday 10 February Top of the Bay Regatta at Williamstown Sailing Club. Boats launching from Altona, Williamstown, Port Melbourne and Elwood for racing area between Williamstown and Port Melbourne, No programmed sailing at Lake on saturday 10th,

Sunday 11 February ASC Summer Learn to Sail course commences for 9 new club members. Program am and pm for three succwsssive sundays, Finishes am on saturday 3rd March. A big welcome to our new members in training.

Saturday 17 February Resumption of Club Summer Series, with saturday afternoon races three successive saturdays.

ASC’s Jaemie Wilson and David Scammell are sailing at Royal Geelong in a fleet of 65 Fireballs in the Australian Fireball Championships until 9 February and then the World Fireball Champiosnhsips 11th to 16th. Go Jaemie and David.

Rod Thomas
for ASC committee and members

Photo of Jaemie and David in training on Port Phillip.






www.albertsc.org.au

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Thursday Snippets, 1 February

By Rod Thomas | Published: January 31, 2024



Saturday 3 February has Resumption of Club saturday Summer Sailing Days, with a forecast for warm, sunny conditions and an afternoon sea breeze.
* At 11am there will be on of our monthly Informal Race and/or non-competitive casual sailing sessions, with APYC and members from other clubs welcome. Arrive between 9.30 and 9.45 to rig or partially rig a boat prior to an Information session at 10.10 in our clubrooms. For ASC members without a boat or wanting to try another class ASC club training boats will be available.
* ASC-APYC Summer Series Race at 2.30pm with Information Session at 1,45 in front of APYC. Impulse sailors have a specific invite to sail the afternoon race in APYC’s “Mike Howell Memorial Impulse Race” After sailing members of ASC have been invited to join APYC members on their clubrooms decking for BBQ snags, drinks from the APYC bar and prizes for the Mike Howell Race.

Saturday 10 February Top of the Bay Regatta at Williamstown Sailing Club with 2pm start for members of clubs from Elwood to Altona including combined ASC and APYC club entry. Notice of Race and online entry at www.williamstownsailingclub.org.au/events/218302/  Sailing Instuctions are to be posted on the event site in the next few days.
Boats can be rigged at Port Melbourne or Williamstown with the course roughly midway between. Also Williamstown are likely to have a Green Fleet sailing session 9.30 to 11.30.   Any club members seeking more information on the day can speak to Rod at our club on saturday or via training@albertsc.org.au. 


On Friday 26th the club had a well supported and well received BBQ and Social Sailing Day.
A Short post event report and photos from Lisa, who was part of the organising group.
We were thrilled to have over 50 people (including members, family, friends and folk from APYC) come along to enjoy our inaugural ASC Australia Day BBQ and Social Sailing.🇦🇺
 
It was a really relaxed, fun and sociable day with a good number enjoying a morning sail, followed by a delicious BBQ buffet replete with eucalyptus leaves and Australian flags; a spot of Australia Day trivia (taken out by the “Yeah-Nah” team) and fittingly finished off with pavlova and lamingtons. (The big question based on previous BBQ’s is were there Onions on the BBQ Rowley!)
 
It was wonderful to see so many of our new members supporting the day (including several who had only joined the club in the last week!), and comments on the friendliness of people at the club.

Well done to those in the Social Committee Group who put it all together, and Commodore Greg for his on water support.

Rod Thomas
for Albert Sailing Club Committee and Members
 
 

 

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Thursday Snippets, 25 January

By Rod Thomas | Published: January 24, 2024


Friday 26 January Australia Day and Social Sailing at Albert Sailing for ASC members, family and friends.
A BBQ lunch will be served from 1.00pm @ $12 pp. Bar will be open. Good numbers of people have registered to date. Late registrations email Gai (moondogy@pac.com.au) with payment on the day.
The club will be open from 10.30am on 26th, with Social Sailing from 11.00am-1.00pm (weather permitting). Given the forecast two days out the availability of club boats for members to hire is uncertain with a decision to be made by Don McK at the club on Friday morning. THE BBQ WILL PROCEED IN RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE!

Saturday 3 February Resumption of Club saturday Summer Sailing Days with club open from 9.30 for Informal Short Race from 11am and Summer Series Race from 2.30. The afternoon race will incorporate Albert Park Yacht Club holding of the “Mike Howell Memorial Race” for the Impulse class., with an invite for current and past Impulse sailors. The APYC bar will be open along with BBQ snags and prizes to be awarded after the race on the APYC Deck.

Saturday 10 February Top of the Bay Regatta at Williamstown Sailing Club for members of clubs from Elwood to Altona including combined ASC and APYC club entry. Notice of Race and online enrty at www.williamstownsailingclub.org.au/events/218302/ Sailing Instuctions to be posted on event site in the next few days.

On the Australia Day weekend there are a number of regattas including :
Friday and Saturday  McCrae Yacht Club regatta for Off the Beach classes.
Friday Festival of Sails Passage races for keel boats from Melbourne and Morninton to Geelong starting at 9.30. Races in Corio Bay and Waterfront festival saturday and sunday.
Friday to Sunday  Yarrawonga Yacht Club Regatta for Off the Beach classes and trailables.
Friday and Saturday Buxton Cup  at Sorrento Sailing and Couta Boat Club for junior Off the Beach classes. ASC’s Kengo is entered to have his first race on Port Phillip in the Optimist Green Fleet division. Go Kengo.
Photo : On water shot from Sorrento SCBC.

Rod Thomas
for ASC committee and members

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Snippets 18 January 2024

By Rod Thomas | Published: January 17, 2024

This Saturday at the Club:

Saturday 20th January is Week 3 and the final week of the ASC-APYC Commodore Short Race Series, and the weather is looking fantastic with no rain and moderate winds. Two or three short-course races will commence at 2.30 p.m. and there will be a Green Fleet Division for less experienced people.

Whilst the Club Galley remains closed until early Feb, the BBQ will be serving the usual fare from 12 noon on the deck.  So come along and enjoy a wonderful day at the club.

Upcoming:

Friday 26 January  Australia Day and Social Sailing at Albert Sailing Club.

ASC members, family and friends are invited to come along and enjoy a fun day of good company and a tasty BBQ lunch on the clubhouse deck.

A delicious BBQ lunch (baked potatoes, grilled corn, salads, variety of meats and pavlova) will be served from 1.00pm @ $12 pp. Bar will be open. To assist with catering, please email Gai (moondogy@pac.com.au) with numbers or indicate on the list at the galley bar. Payment to be made on the day.

The club will be open from 10.30am, with Social Sailing from 11.00am-1.00pm (weather permitting). Club boats will be available for hire by approved members. Cancellation of sailing due to unfavourable weather will be advised on the ASC website the afternoon prior.

PLEASE NOTE: THE BBQ WILL PROCEED IN RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday 3 February  Resumption of Club Summer Series.

Summer Championship Race 6 takes place on 3 February for all Divisions.  The Impulse Division race will incorporate a Mike Howell Memorial Race for Impulse sailors from APYC, ASC and other Victorian clubs, organised by the Albert Park Yacht Club in memory of long term APYC Impulse sailor Mike Howell. The trophy presentation for this special race will take place after sailing on the APYC deck, together with drinks from the APYC bar and a BBQ.

Saturday 10 February Top of the Bay Regatta at Williamstown Sailing Club

For members of clubs from Elwood to Altona including the two Albert Park Lake clubs. Notice of Race and online entry for this annual event on the afternoon of 10 February is at https://www.williamstownsailingclub.org.au/events/218302/
This year there will again be a combined ASC and APYC club entry, and we need at least 5 entries from each club.  There will be no racing at the Lake on that day.

Aero National Championships at Mount Martha Yacht Club:

Ron Fergusson was against a tough fleet at these National Championships, including Krystal Weir, ex World Champion and Olympian.  Not surprisingly, Krystal won the Aero 7 title, with Ron in a very credible 10th position overall, including one 3rd placing.  Great effort Ron.

(Photo courtesy of the Mount Martha Yacht Club)

Recycling Cans and Bottles:

The club now has an account so that you can save all of those 10c recyclable containers and then donate the money to the club. If you want to collect/donate locally, full details of how to do this and the relevant bar-code/ID number are available from Cindy (admin@albertsc.org.au or at the club).  The kids/grandkids will love the process of feeding your cans into the machine if you have a local depot!

Alternatively, save and bring your eligible bottles/cans to the club and deposit them where indicated  in the marked containers near the upstairs door and downstairs near the bins.  Please check the eligibility mark on the can/bottle first and do not crush any cans.  Wine bottles are not eligible.This is an easy way to contribute to club funds as well as helping the environment.  Collect your own, collect from your neighbours, and let’s all get on board with this simple fundraising effort for our club.  If 50 club members each donated 1 container per day, the club would be over $1800 better of at the end of one year.  Very worthwhile.

Cindy Tilbrook

On behalf of Rod who is on a well-deserved break.

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Thursday Snippets, 11 January

By Rod Thomas | Published: January 10, 2024

Saturday 13th January is Week 2 of the 3 week ASC-APYC Commodore Short Race Series, Sail one, two or all three saturdays. Typically, two or three short races of 30 to 45 minutes duration from 2.30 each saturday of the Commodore Series, including a Green Fleet division for less experienced people. Club galley not operating at lunchtime in January, but will be an alternative of a BBQ from club BBQ on decking on saturday 13th

Upcoming
———–
Friday 26 January  Australia Day and Social Sailing at Albert Sailing Club. ASC members, family and friends are invite to come along and enjoy spending a pleasant day with others sailing and/or socialising. Put in your diary and stay tuned. More details soon.

Saturday 3 February  Resumption of Club Summer Series. This will incorporate a Mike Howell Memorial Race for Impulse sailors from APYC, ASC and other Victorian clubs being organised by Albert PArk YAcht Club in memory of long term APYC Impulse sailor Mike Howell. Drinks from the bar, BBQ and Trophy presentations after sailing sailing on the APYC decking.

Saturday 10 February Top of the Bay Regatta at Williamstown Sailing Club for members of clubs from Elwood to Altona including the two Albert Park Lake clubs. Notice of Race and online entry for this annual event on the afternoon of 10 Febrauary is at https://www.williamstownsailingclub.org.au/events/218302/
This year there will again be a combined ASC and APYC club entry, and we need at least 5 entries from each club.

Aero Class National Championships at Mt Martha YC from saturday 13 January. Photo of Aero and Laser class star at ASC 2023 Regatta, whcih includes ASC’s Ron Fergusson who is ailing his Aero 7 in the Aero NAtionals. Go Ron !

Finally, Recycling Cans and Bottles: the club is setting up an account so that you can save all of those 10c recyclable containers and then donate the money to the club. Full details will be provided as soon as our account is set up. In the meantime, please save all of the relevant containers and/or bring them to the club and deposit them where indicated both upstairs and downstairs. This is an easy way to contribute to club funds.



Rod Thomas
for Albert Sailing Club committee and members

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Thursday Snippets, 3 January

By Rod Thomas | Published: January 2, 2024

Start your sailing in 2024 with the ASC-APYC Commodore Short Series Sailing Days on the first three saturdays in January. Sail one, two or all three saturdays.
The BOM forecast 3 days out for 6 January looking promising for some summer conditions, finally !
* For the Commodore Series two or three short races of 30 to 45 minutes from 2.30 each saturday, including a Green Fleet division for less experienced people. Club galley not operating at lunchtime in January, but will be an alternative of a BBQ from club BBQ on decking on saturday 6th.
* On 6th January there is an Informal Race and/or non-competitive casual sailing at 11am. Arrive between 9.30 and 9.45 to rig or partially rig a boat prior to an Information session at 10.10 in ASC clubrooms. For ASC members without a boat or wanting to try another class ASC club training boats available for hire and use in morning and/or afternoon short races on 6th. Stay on for drinks from Doug’s Bar later in the day.
* ASC Summer Learn to Sail program is scheduled to commence on sunday 11th February. Details on Learn to Sail tab of www.albertsc.org.au with expressions of interest required at the latest by 20th January.

The Christmas period into the New Year has seen lots of dinghy class championships in the southern states. More to come in January with Tasar Worlds and Aero Nationals in Melbourne and Laser Worlds and junior Optimist Nationals in Adelaide. These are some of the largest dinghy class events in Australia this year with 60 entries in the Aero Nationals and over 100 in each of the others.

The 2023/24Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, particularly for the 100 foot Maxis was a classic. There was the close port-starboard coming together near the Sydney Harbour heads. The leader Scallywag broke her bowsprit in Bass Strait and needed to retire. And the race up the Derwent with Law Connect coming from 2 kilometres behind to catch Andoo Comanche 3 kilometres or so from the finish, then engage in a gybing duel to the finish. The duel to the finish reminded us of some of the dinghy class races we have in light airs on Albert Park Lake. Highlights packages on You Tube show the action up close and the final 51 second win by Law Connect.

Happy New Year

Rod Thomas
Rear Commodore
for ASC Committee and Members

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Thursday Snippets, 7 December

By Rod Thomas | Published: December 6, 2023

Saturday 9th December is the final club sailing day for 2023, with the club open from 10am and two for the price of one race at 2.30 – the combined clubs Summer Handicap Series 5 and the Life Members Trophy Race. Presentation of ‘ trophies’ for the Winter Season and Bill Hooper Series in September will be at the Information Session at APYC at 1.45.

Following sailing on the 9th we look forward to the catered Festive Season/Christmas function in our ASC clubrooms from 6pm. Doug’s Bar open for drinks a little earlier.

The forecast for the 9th is similar to that for the first saturday of the month with the Melbourne Metro forecast for winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h (a little stronger forecast for Port Phillip) and 95% chance of rain (hopefully, mainly in the morning as for last week ?)

The final club social sailing event for the year. is Twilight Social Sailing and BBQ on Wednesday 13 December. The clubhouse will be open from 4pm, with sailing from 5pm-7pm.
Sign on for sailing and BBQ on list at top of stairs in clubrooms on the day. Hire of a club training boat for club members, subject to approval and weather conditions on the day. Join the social group whether sailing or not on the balcony for a BBQ dinner ($10) and/or social drink from Doug’s Bar. Any change in arrangements, such as cancellation due to weather, will be notified on the home page of ASC website by 7pm on the preceding day (12th).

A reminder on Parking in Albert Park Reserve
If you are parked in the Reserve near the club and have an annual Parking Permit no cost for parking any day of the week. ASC stamped forms for permit application are available at the club or download from ‘car parking in Albert Park’ and provide proof of your current membership from your membership sign in on the Albert Sailing Club Wild Apricot site.
Otherwise purchase a ticket from one of the parking meter machines and display on the car dashboard.
* Weekday hourly rate (8 am to 5 pm): $5.80 per hour, with 3 hour limit in Aquatic Drive,
* Weekday evening rates (5 pm to 9 pm): $5.80 flat rate
Option of parking at no cost in Albert Road service lane after 6pm on weekdays and any time saturday or sunday.

Snippets takes a break till the start of January prior to the 3 saturday club sailing days from 6th January including the Commodore’s short race series over 3 weeks.

Best wishes to members, and friends of Albert Sailing Club for the upcoming Festive Season

Rod Thomas
for ASC committee
sailing@albertsc.org.au

Postcript

ASC members Marc and Felcity Bernstein (Architects and Interior Designer) have written and curated a coffee table book called “ 99 Green Ideas ” to help people make their life a little bit greener. Many of the ideas would make wonderful gifts , but the book is also a gift in itself. The promo from Mark folows and includes a great discount offer for books purchased before  the book launch on 14 December.
99 Tips Book promo

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Thursday Snippets, 30 November

By Rod Thomas | Published: November 29, 2023

Last two saturdays of club sailing for 2023 on 2nd and 9th December, with club races at 2.30 both days.
On the 9th there is the ASC Festive Season and New Member Welcome Dinner. A catered and informal dinner with bookings required by 2nd December online via the link on the Home of www.albertsc.org.au or the list on the Galley bar in our clubrooms. This is a great opportunity for members and their families to get together for some end of the year cheer, whether active at the club in recent months or not. The social committee group have pulled arrangements together and look forward to a good turnout.

The new club members undertaking the Spring Learn to Sail course have their final two sessions on morning of saturday 2nd and afternoon of sunday 3rd. A Summer Learn to Sail course is being planned for February/March with more information on the Learn to Sail tab of the club website.

Finally, join us for our final club social sailing event for the year. with Twilight Social Sailing and BBQ on Wednesday 13 December. The clubhouse will be open from 4pm, with sailing from 5pm-7pm. Join the social group whether sailing or not on the balcony for a BBQ dinner ($10) or social drink.
Hire of a club training boat for club members, subject to approval and weather conditions on the day.
Any change in arrangements, such as cancellation due to weather, will be notified on the home page of ASC website by 7pm on the preceding day (12th).

The multi-class regatta season in Victoria is well underway. The Sail Melbourne regatta runs Thursday 30th to Sunday 3rd at Royal Beighton for Olympic classes and a number of invited classes including Tasar and junior Optimist classes. Over 150 entries including Olympians and Australian sailing team members will be in action in monohull dinghy, foiling sailboard and kite classes.
Then Australian championship events in a range of classes in the Christmas – New Year period in Victoria and interstate.
There are two laid back and less competitive regattas to mention early in the New Year. The Australia Day Regatta at Yarrawonga Yacht Club from 26th to 28th January, with option of cheap camping next to the club on the foreshore of Lake Mulwala. The 10th Inverloch Classic Dinghy (Sailing) Regatta on 17th and 18th February includes boat displays, novelty races and social events. A number of Albert Sailing Club and Albert Park Yacht Club members and their boats have featured over the years. Details on these two upcoming Regattas are on the websites of Yarrawonga and South Gippsland Yacht Clubs.
Photo below of ASC member Steve Dunn’s Impulse “Grumpy Boy” which he built in his home garage and awarded best sailing dinghy in original condition at the 2018 Inverloch Regatta.

Rod Thomas
sailing@albertsc.org.au

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Thursday Snippets 23 November

By Rod Thomas | Published: November 22, 2023

Thursday 23rd Twilight Sailing followed by BBQ at Albert Sailing Club from 5pm. Register in advance for BBQ or club boat via email to admin@albertsc.org.au
Another busy weekend on 24th and 25th November with club sailing day on saturday, including APYC-ASC Summer Series race at 2.30 from APYC, and Week 2 of Learn to Sail program all day Sunday.
Upcoming
———–
Saturday 9th December last club sailing day for year and Festive Season Dinner from 6pm. For catering register by 3 December, preferably online via link on www.albertsc.org.au, with list also on club galley servery.

Short break in club weekend program from mid December to early January with resumption on saturday 9th January with 3 week short race Commodore’s Series. There is a Hall Hire on Christmas Day with upstairs clubroom and decking booked for a private function from 10am to 5pm.

Rod Thomas
sailing@albertsc.org.au

ASC Sping Learn to Sail Week 1 on 19 November

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