CHRISTMAS RECESS

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We take a break from from our Sailing Program over the Christmas -New Year period.

Club Sailing will resume on Sunday 19 January with a River Runners event.

But for many of our Members, the Christmas recess enables them to travel to other venues to test their skills against all-comers. In the Christmas period, some competing in the SAIL BRISBANE event at RQYS, Manly.

Then in mid-January, quite a few of our young Optimist Sailors head away to the Australian National Optimists Championships, held this year also at RQYS, Manly, joining a fleet numbering in hundreds - comprising both experienced sailors, and those relatively new to the sport.

But to all Members and Friends of Maroochy, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

RACING RULES OF SAILING 2025 - 2028

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World Sailing reviews and amends the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) every Four Years.

The amended version comes into effect on 1 January 2025 and will be current through to 31 December 2028.

Sailors participating in Racing should have a knowledge of the Rules so that they can compete fairly and safely on the water, both for themselves and their fellow competitors.

Usually the amended Rules are not radically changed, but rather minor amendments are made to improve clarity and address issues that have become apparent!

Such is the case this year, with quite a number of clarifications, and re-wording of definitions. Actual Rule Changes are relatively few.

I’m providing web-links to -

  1. The new Official RRS with the Australian Prescriptions.

  2. Changes to the RRS that affect Competitors - Explanations and Descriptions.

  3. Changes to the RRS that affect Race Management - Explanations and Descriptions.


    PLEASE CHECK OUT AT LEAST THE CHANGE DOCUMENTS BEFORE OUR SAILING RE-COMMENCES IN MID-JANUARY.


OPTIS SAIL MOOLOOLABA BAY!

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Among our young Opti sailors excitement is building as they prepare for the National Championships, to be held this year at RQYS in Brisbane - almost our backyard!

They will face somewhat different sailing conditions at Manly than most are accustomed to on our Maroochy River courses..

To assist them to “acclimatise” to open water sailing, and develop a different skill set, last Sunday (23 November), they raced in Mooloolaba Bay after launching directly off the beach. Thanks to their Support group who set the race course and arranged on-water Official Boats for the youngsters. It was a very successful and enjoyable afternoon!

Hopefully there will be at least one more sailing session off Mooloolaba before they head to the Championships to test their skills against hundreds of other Optimists from around Australia in multiple divisions in mid-January!

DECEMBER TACKERS COURSES

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Two Tackers Courses will be held in the coming weeks, before Christmas.

Firstly, a Tackers 2 Course will be held on the first three Sundays in December for youngsters who have already completed Tackers 1. They will be full-day Courses from 9.00am to 3.30pm each day. The major outcome of this course is learning to sail the Tacker Dinghy solo around a simple Triangular Course, demonstrating all three basic aspects of sailing - reaching, running and tacking.

This Course was announced a month ago and sold out in a few days.

Tackers 1 - the Introductory Course.

A four-day T1 Course will be held from Monday 16 December to Thursday 18 December, 9.30am to 3.30opm each day.

Tackers 1 introduces children from 7 - 12 years to the Sport of Sailing and teaches them the fundamentals through a range of fun-based activities. Cost of the 4 day Camp is $350.

This Course is now SOLD OUT!

For more information about Tackers, visit our Tackers Page

In the future ——

Tackers 2 and 3 Courses are likely to be held during February - March on Sundays.

The next Tackers 1 Course is likely to be over the Easter School Vacation.

Our Tackers Page has links to our 3 Tackers Expressions of Interest Lists.

Contact :: Peter mscweb@optusnet.com.au

National Representatives

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After a fantastic effort at the 2024 Australian Nationals, Maroochy Sailing Club members, Sam D. and Henry W. secured themselves a spot on the Australian Optimist Development Squad.

The two boys have travelled to Thailand with the team to compete in the Eastern Seaboard Regatta, which will commence on Friday, 18th October 2024.

Congratulations Sam and Henry, everyone at the Maroochy Sailing Club wishes you the best of luck.

RACE OFFICER ROSTER

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While we all enjoy our Sailing in a variety of events on Sunday afternoons, we would not be able to run the afternoon program without the assistance of Race Officials and Volunteers who provide on-water Direction and Support to the Sailing Fleet, especially the younger sailors just starting their Sailing Journey.

All Adult Racing Members are expected to act as an Official a few times a year to run the afternoon program - essentially Starting and Finishing the Races from the Committee Boat. As Average Points are awarded for this task, no sailor is disadvantage when calculating Series Results at season end!

To provide some certainty, please nominate your preferred “Duty Day(s)” on the following Google Spreadsheet for the 2024 Spring Season — DUTY ROSTER

NOTICE OF RACE and SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

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The Notice of Race (NOR) and Sailing Instructions (SI)

for our 2024 -25 Sailing Season are now available.

Copies are posted on Our Documents page.


While we sail under the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) prescribed by World Sailing and Australian Sailing, the NOR and Sailing Instructions define our local Club rules and requirements. Racing sailors need to have a knowledge of our local rules!

Optimist News!

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Congratulations to the Queensland sailors who were selected for the Australian Optimist Development Squad. They'll be competing in Thailand (and maybe another location) later in the year. Last weekend they met their team-mates from the rest of Australia at a training camping in Sydney - everyone had a great time and learnt a lot in a beautiful (but chilly!) location.

From left are Addison Greenwood (Southport Yacht Club), Evie McGuire (Southport Yacht Club), Sam Darbyshire (Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and Maroochy Sailing Club), Monte Morse (RQYS), Reid Martin (Port Denison Sailing Club) and Henry Walker (RQYS and Maroochy Sailing Club)

MSC BOAT STORAGE

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MSC has some storage facilities for active Club sailors. Usually there are very limited vacancies!

The Club’s Boat Storage Policy (link) has just been updated for the 2024 -25 season.

  • Members with a boat stored at the Club should check and comply with the updated policy!

  • Persons wishing to join the Club and store their boats on-site must apply for and receive storage approval before any payments are made or boats moved into storage!