Tuesday, 10th November 2015
SYC Cruise in Company – October 31 – Nov 3 – 2015
Weather forecast for the trip to Geelong was not perfect – warm but rainy.
Early Saturday a strong band of thunderstorms passed over Melbourne bringing northerly winds and heavy rain which persisted until around 12 noon.
But things improved as the strong fleet headed past Fawkner beacon and those, with the capacity, hoisted sails and began enjoying drying decks and a following breeze.
The motor boat fleet made excellent time to Geelong and provided a warm welcome to the yacht fleet as it arrived.
The award for the days’ best lunch menu was a tie between Trim and The Secretary. No prize was given, they just had to settle for the admiration and envy of their peers. There was much laughter as Bill Stubbs conducted the Trivia Quiz and a recital was given of two poems (I use that word very loosely here) penned by Simon Hemmingway (he does have the name of a writer at least). See below.
“Ode to Mal”
A bluff character a little bit scraggy
Large as a tree and with a face slightly craggy
Often thoughtful-he will contemplate
But when he speaks his words carry weight
But Mal is our man we love him so
And Gill clings tight never to let go
In the dark at King Island he fell when on his lonesome
Fiddling with his tender he broke his leg on the transome
Too many reds and beers stuffed his co-ordination
Too many waves he fell and needed traction
He lay in state like Cleopatra but less sexy
Gill and Teryle managed the fleet-but by proxy and sexy
Richo was there but what use was he
Navigation and trim-it’s all a big mystery
So when the wind blows and the waves start to climb
Don’t panic or worry or drive yourself blind
Cruise in Companyeers you may sleep safe always knowing
Mal is deck checking which way the wind is blowing
Dinner in Geelong was friendly and most, realising these cruises are a marathon not a sprint, retired early.
Except our beloved commodore and her noisy mates on Uluwatu who did some serious damage to a bottle of scotch before getting up at 6 am to catch the train back to Melbourne for an official SYC function. After a little sleep on Geelong station platform Commodore Kate was back in top form for her duties. The dedication of our commodores has to be seen to be believed.
Most boats departed Geelong at around 8 am
The yachts enjoyed a fine reach in a beaut Northerly down Corio channel while the motor fleet made excellent time and quite a spectacle as they passed by.
Then a weird thing happened. AIS alarms started beeping incessantly as an “Australian Submarine” appeared on the screens.
A Collins Class sub then made a spectacular appearance heading down the channel to Geelong with friendly waves from the crew on the conning tower as they passed.
As Bill Stubbs said over Channel 77 to the entire world, “That’s not something you see every day”.
Most of the fleet then turned the corner at the Prince George Bank pile and cruised down the Coles Channel, keeping a close eye on the depth sounder over some of the shallower parts.
Breaking waves on the left midway down Coles Channel were a very visible reminder that while large, Port Phillip Bay is mostly very shallow.
As with any fleet action there are casualties.
As we got to Prince George Bank the smallest boat in the fleet, Pekeri, helmed by Amo Rizzuto, opted not to battle the southerly change and headed back to SYC. His little 5 hp outboard might have been challenged by the new breeze.
George (Steve Aulich), Markeeta, (Phil Burke) and Trim (Phil Atkins) stayed some extra time in Geelong before heading back to SYC.
In a surprising twist, SYC’s resident diesel engine maintenance lecturer, Hugh Pilsworth, radioed for assistance after suffering engine problems. One might have assumed that Blue Flyer’s engine would be a paragon of maintenance virtue, but an apparent impeller failure and subsequent overheating alarm failure left a few wondering.
Peter Sutton in Perfect Sense came to the rescue and took Blue Flyer in tow completing a nice piece of boat handling in the narrow confines of the QCYC basin to put ‘Flyer’ alongside into the hands of willing helpers.
Most of the fleet arrived by 3.00 pm, last in being Mel Kerridge Artemis II who soldiered on solo despite some instrument issues.
Eric Clark in the aptly named Endurance also made it in rather late after a couple of minor engine issues.
A major effort by Eric the day before the cruise saw a total gearbox rebuild and refit and left many impressed. The prospect of Eric going home from QCYC in reverse, as he recently did from Beaumaris Bay is not worth contemplating.
Then the hooter sounded signalling the QCYC bar was open and the party started.
Dave Tilley from Oasis was having a lovely time but had to retire early – the excitement may have been a little too much.
Pizzas for dinner in the QCYC pizza oven was a popular dinner choice but Robyn Brooke from The Secretary excelled with a leg of lamb roast and all the trimmings. George Shaw could easily get used to being treated like an emperor, calling for servie with the merest raising of an eyebrow.
Understandably Monday breakfast was pretty late.
The planned raft up Monday lunch was cancelled due to a strong southerly and cold, drizzly weather and all were pleased to be able to enjoy a quiet day of reflection and recovery over coffee in the clubhouse.
Happily Port Phillip turned on a nice southerly for the trip home.
While sailing home was an option Chris Thompson opted for a tow from Blue Flyer which had overcome its engine issues, only to rescue Chris who suffered overheating problems.
By evening everyone was home completing possibly SYC’s most successful cruise in company.
Many thanks to Cruise manager, Mal Billings, and all the other helpers, rescuers and volunteers.