29er Calender Dates

29er  EVENT  SCHEDULE  2011 – 2012

@  Georges River 16ft Sailing Club

Contact:    Yachting  NSW   8116-9800     www.yachtingnsw.com.au

@ Georges River S.C.

Contact:     Mark  Long   0438-692-627     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(President – NSW 29er  Assoc)

@  R.Q.Y.S.   (Brisbane)

Contact:   Yachting  Australia     www.yachting.org.au

@  R.Q.Y.S.  (Brisbane)

Contact:    Roberta Matlock   0405-413-458   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

@ Woollahra S.C.

Contact:      Stella Jones   0416-159-165     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(Secretary – NSW  29er  Assoc)

OTHER  IMPORTANT  CONTACTS …

DAVID  PRICE  -  President … Australian  29er  Class  Association

0409-884-380   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

IAN  GREENTREE  -  Secretary ... Australian  29er  Class  Association

0400-466-405 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Useful Dates for BIC Sailors

 27-28 Jan

NSW - States 2nd Round - Port Stevens

6-9 April (Easter) 2012

The Aust Open BIC Cup - Noosa - the big one!

The full Australian Open BIC calender is available here

Useful Dates for MJ Sailors

4 Feb

Class development day - Avalon. Meet 9am

18 - 19 Feb

NSW - States 2nd Round - Point Wolstoncroft (plus Rookie Regatta)

The official MJ calendar is available here

2011-12 Centreboard Results

Avalon Sailing Club

Club Championship

Opening Day - Scratch

Opening Day - Handicap

Spring Series Pointscore - Scratch

Spring Series Pointscore - Handicap

Summer Pointscore - Scratch

Summer Pointscore - Handicap

2011  SPRING  BLUE  GROUP  ROSTER

Hi  everyone

Please  find  below  the  roster  for  the  Blue  Group  spring  sailing  season.

If  you  have any  questions  regarding  the  roster  please  let  me  know,  however,  if  you  need  to  change  your  rostered  dates  for  any  reason,  please  contact  one  of  the other  parents  that  has  the  same  duties  as  you  and  try  to  swap  dates.  You  have  been  given  3  dates  for  duty  during the  spring  season.

For  a  full  description  of  the  role  you have  been  allocated,  please  go  to  the  website.  Go  to  ‘ Centreboards’  across  the  top,  and  then  look  for  the  drop  down  box  that  says  ‘Sunday  roles  blue’.  You  can  print  this  off  if  you  would  like.  I will  also  have copies  at  the club  each  Sunday  for  you  to  refer  to.

You  are  all  on a four  week  rotating  roster.  As  i  mentioned  last  Sunday,  this  is  so  each  person  can  get to  know  each  role  well.  For  the  second  half  of  the  season,  beginning  after  the  Christmas  school  holidays,  you  are  welcome  to  change  roles.

There  are  2  people  on  the  lists  that  didn’t  get allocated  a  role,  please  use  them  as  subs  if  you  are  unavailable-

David  Edgley  0418208278

Andrew Roberts 0425314980.

Thankyou.

SUNDAY  25^TH SEPTEMBER

ADMINISTRATOR- Rhona  Barker 0422134169

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR-Colin  Stewart  0412502077

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR- Richard  Dooley  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR-Spencer Lock 0403172391

CANTEEN-Adelaide  Webster  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OCTOBER  2^ND-  PUBLIC  HOLIDAY,  NO  SAILING

OCTOBER  9^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Helen  Waters 0438790073

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR- Geoff  Bell 0403331739

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR- Stacy  Waddell- Legge 0423367619

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Gary  Smith 0434600122

CANTEEN-  Nuala  Stewart  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OCTOBER  16^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Alice  Hudson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR-  Juliet  Lock 0414272210

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR-  Ralf Moller 89190149 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Paul  Webster 0416012344

CANTEEN- Tracy  Palombo  0410145650

OCTOBER  23^RD

ADMINISTRATOR- Paul  Webster 0416012344

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR- Brendan  Delaney 0424301900

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR-  Darrell  Legge 0450184317

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Richard  Dumas 0418732068

CANTEEN-  Max  Compton 0414666021

OCTOBER  30^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Rhona  Barker 0422134169

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR-Colin  Stewart  0412502077

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR- Richard  Dooley  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR-Spencer Lock 0403172391

CANTEEN-Adelaide  Webster  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NOVEMBER 6^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Helen  Waters 0438790073

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR- Geoff  Bell 0403331739

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR- Stacy  Waddell- Legge 0423367619

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Gary  Smith 0434600122

CANTEEN-  Nuala  Stewart  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NOVEMBER  13^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Alice  Hudson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR-  Juliet  Lock 0414272210

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR-  Ralf Moller 89190149 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Paul  Webster 0416012344

CANTEEN- Tracy  Palombo  0410145650

NOVEMBER  20^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Paul  Webster 0416012344

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR- Brendan  Delaney 0424301900

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR-  Darrell  Legge 0450184317

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Richard  Dumas 0418732068

CANTEEN-  Max  Compton 0414666021

NOVEMBER  27^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Rhona  Barker 0422134169

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR-Colin  Stewart  0412502077

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR- Richard  Dooley  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR-Spencer Lock 0403172391

CANTEEN-Adelaide  Webster  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

DECEMBER  4^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Helen  Waters 0438790073

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR- Geoff  Bell 0403331739

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR- Stacy  Waddell- Legge 0423367619

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Gary  Smith 0434600122

CANTEEN-  Nuala  Stewart  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

DECEMBER  11^TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Alice  Hudson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR-  Juliet  Lock 0414272210

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR-  Ralf Moller 89190149 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Paul  Webster 0416012344

CANTEEN- Tracy  Palombo  0410145650

DECEMBER  18TH

ADMINISTRATOR- Paul  Webster 0416012344

ON-SHORE CO-ORDINATOR- Brendan  Delaney 0424301900

ON-WATER  CO-ORDINATOR-  Darrell  Legge 0450184317

MARK LAYING  SUPERVISOR- Richard  Dumas 0418732068

CANTEEN-  Max  Compton 0414666021

Centreboard sailors for 2011~2012  (so far) :

You can update your details here or send updates to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Centreboard Trophies

(to be updated)

SUBJECTIVE PERPETUAL TROPHIES

RESULTS DECIDED PERPETUAL TROPHIES

Sailing Progression

Sailing is a sport that can be enjoyed in many different ways.

here is one opinion of some methods and paths:

• Yachts
• Dinghies
• Cruising
• Racing,

so many choices and combinations

Racing against similar boats is certainly one way to develop your skills but sailing simply for the enjoyment is valid too.

Yacht owners are often looking for friendly adults to sail as crew, this can be a permanent or part time and is often a low cost way to get into a boat.
The more knowledge that you have, the more you will be able to pick and choose the best rides.

Dinghies can be for children or adults and is an upfront way to learn the specific skills of sailing,
get them right or get wet with a capsize (noting that capsizes are perfectly normal as boundaries of skills are pushed and can be fun too)

Focusing on dingies and children for a moment ...

When you start to sail, there is much to learn and it can be all a bit confusing.

Learn to sail "Blue Group"

At Avalon the focus is on introducing sailing principles and having fun.

It includes things like how to:

• know where the wind is coming from
• recover from a capsize
• basically set your sails ... fully in when going upwind, fully out when going downwind and halfway in between.
• balance your boat as the wind increases.
• steer the boat in a basic direction
• change directions by tacking.
• understand that the boat needs to "zig zag" upwind.
• Wind strength range is about 0~6 (8) knots
• Allow 3~6 mths in Blue

To fast track the learning

Try to get a crew spot in a gold fleet boat, race and learn.
After a season or 2, you may be able to jump to skipper in novice or Gold fleet.
The more time spent on the water, the better.

Continue building skills in "Red".

buy a boat or team up with someone else
In my experience, sharing the role of skipper rarely works.
Needs to be 1 primary skipper (normally also the boat owner) week after week, and the other does it occassionally.

Red is about building skills.

• Tacking and gybing,
• sailing competently upwind
• balancing the boat effectively, rarely capsize up to 8 knots,
• tasteing 10 knots occassionally with support.
• Allow at least a season in Red.

time to move up to "Novice".

If you interested in developing racing skills and starting to consider spinnakers ...
Novice is about

• understanding the rules
• Starting basics
• Balancing the boat in upto 12~15 knots (both children on side and hiking)
• Looking for gusts and sometimes seeing them.
• Helps to get into more focused training
• Allow a season in Novice

Progress to "Gold" Racing ... and never stop ... it has no top end ...

• developing racing skills and tactics
• Boat handling in various winds from 0 to 25 knots (30knots if front of fleet)
• Read, talk and do everything that you can.
• Finish gold racing when you can't get around the boat fast enough ... say about 75 yrs old!
• If you want to compete at a world level or Olympics there are more options (not covered here)
• Avalon is lucky in that we have a number of National and World Champions amongst our parents, the skills are there to learn.

Considerations when teaming up a crew and skipper

• Size and weight match is good ... MJ's about 50~60 kg, F11's 70~100
• Generally skipper is larger or equal (not smaller) than crew in MJ & F11.
• They need to go for a trial sail / race ... to see if they are compatible.
• Discuss commitment level, eg which regattas are they going to ?, Are they prepared to miss a party on the night before ? What training will you go to ?
• Agree that looking ahead for 12 months is hard, but vital for potential front end (of fleet) boat.
• Siblings can sail together ... sometimes it works (really well), sometimes it doesn't, depends on the children (and the parents)

Crew path

• A new crew can potentially step into a front of fleet boat, but normally it takes a season or two and lots of practice to build and refine good crewing skills.
• Some people (including some skippers) think that the crew is stupid or doesn't do much ... wrong!
• Crews are an integral part of any boats success, if they do their job well, it allows the skipper to focus on other things.
• I recommend crewing for at least a season for everyone, it gives some compassion and understanding as to what the crew does.

Skipper Path

• Spend a season or two as a crew above (is preferable, but not essential), then, skipper with lots of work takes minimum of 3 years to get seriously competant as a skipper.
• Add an extra year or 2, if doing Blue and Red first. Unless very committed and seek out role models.

Can I do Both? (Skipper & Crew)

Yes, but ...

• Doing both, can be a great pathway if the child really enjoys spending the time sailing. eg Skipper an MJ & Crew on a F11.
• Suggest that if they do both on a Sunday then may need to cut back a bit (or relax the pressure) on the training committments for one or both of the boats.
• Still need to manage the regattas, as to which ones will you go to?
• What do the kids want to achieve  ? and how burning is their passion? Will they give up a friends party on the saturday night so that they can be fresh for Sunday ?
• Are the parents ready and able to step back a bit and "chill" if things are not going to plan?
• I do NOT recommend doing both in the same season with the same other person in same boat, Too full on and hard for the kids to work out who is making decisions.
  Sharing skipper role in the same boat with same kids, rarely (if ever) works.
• If child really wants lots of sailing, have they considered other extras ? eg school sailing, other clubs on different days, yachts on other days etc.

Sailing is a game of knowledge,

• listen to the instructors / coaches and try to do (and remember) what they suggest.
• Many children are held back by failing to take on suggestions.
• Your club and its members are here to help each other, including you. Fees are to cover costs, not make a profit.
• It is all about helping.
• Children also need to take responsibility for their learning and looking after the boats.
• If you don't want to learn, no one will force you.

Parents can Help

• An integral part of children's success is the parents taking an active part. Sailing generally does not "fall onto a Plate" for you.
• It takes some effort to achieve success.
• Prior knowledge helps but is not essential. Talking, learning and helping does.
• If the parent can be an active part of the organising, it makes a huge difference to everyone (including your children as you "learn the ropes"), some roles do not require any prior experience.

Finally,

some sailing parents can have high expectations of their childrens skills and learning pace,
unfortunately too much pressure can have the opposite effect and turn them off forever.  Tread carefully,  after the line is overstepped, it can be impossible to step back.

What Avalon tries to do

Avalon tries to avoid too much pressure by keeping things fun and engaging more experienced teenagers into the learning process,
it is not perfect but has had some great results.

If you seem to have a problem, talk to other members, maybe we can help each other resolve it. Very likely others will have faced something similar.

Just remember that the adult helpers are all just volunteers, trying to help you and continue to build a great club.

Have fun and learn safely ... sounds like a good idea.


Kingsley Forbes-Smith

Sailing Camp

Run over two weekends (usually in November) this is a great way to introduce your child to sailing.

The weekends are both exciting and fun. More info on 2010 camp, link

Can you Help? ... please call John Nell  ... 0400 832 975

Fully chaperoned by volunteer parents the children can "camp" at the Clubhouse and be ready bright and early for the next days training. The training itself is mindfull that the students are novices and they are gently led towards becoming competent sailors. Plenty of games around boats and sailing.

The final Sunday is usually topped off by a "surprise". In recent times the children have sailed on race yacht Wild Oats ... of Sydney to Hobart fame. 

Be aware that the sailing camp is very popular and books out early...preference is given to club members.