Rear Commodore's Message

Welcome to the Carrum Sailing Club 2009-10

In an attempt to get the Off the Beach Classes more active and at their request we are conducting their races on Sunday mornings. Off the Beach racing will use the Cambur Motors Challenge course so they can also take the opportunity to win some cash. The number of laps sailed is dependant on the yardstick of the craft. The Off the Beach boats can also compete in the afternoon using the same course as the trailerables.

The Series for the trailerables will be held in the afternoon. The triangular courses of previous years will continue to be used with the slower boats sailing a shorter course.

The number of members on duty each week has been reduced. Only one boat crew will be rostered each week. They will need to be at the club early to get the morning course laid and to start that race. In the afternoon they will have to lay the course and return to the start line in time for 3 starts. They will be assisted where necessary by the trailerable fleet who will either crew a second rescue boat or use their own boat for duty, so it is a possibility that the start boat could be a trailerable, look for the flags.

While on the subject of duty my predecessor Greg Dougherty put a lot of time into his duties last year. One of his achievements was the introduction of a check list for the duty crew to ensure that all equipment is on board and serviceable, please use it.

The three starts are to be at 1300, 1315 & 1330 hrs. The first two starts are for those wishing to get practise at starting. To avoid confusion with the official start both will have the General recall flag raised. On seeing the General recall all boats are to return to the area of the start for the next start.

I urge you to read the sailing instructions carefully. There are no tricks involved. In the past some members, particularly those on Bushrangers, have not sailed the correct course while others have confused start time and arrived on the course late.

Good sailing

Eric Clark