The summer season of sailing is hotting up for Victorian female keelboat sailors with the combined launch of the ‘Synergy Alliance’ bringing together all the major female keelboat events on Port Phillip – Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series (PPWCS), Women in Sailing Challenge (WISC) and Brighton Lady Skipper Series (BLiSS) along with the recently announced Women’s Keelboat Training program.

Come and join us at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron on Friday 10th February to celebrate this new step forward, hear about the latest developments and take in the first of the AWKR Lecture Series 2017, with Kate Lathouras presenting on ‘Building a Team for Success’.
Kate will be known to many as the Event Communications Officer for Australian Sailing organisation. Starting out in various training and sailing administration roles at Mandurah Offshore Fishing & Sailing Club (MOFSC) in WA, Kate moved to Victoria in 2015 to commence a Masters Degree in Business (Sports Management) and took up the role of Communications Manager at the former Yachting Victoria, moving to AS in 2016 with the establishment of the new structure.

Not only as a sports management professional, Kate has also achieved an enviable sailing pedigree. As a member of the Australian Sailing Squad 2013-14, she took out the 49erFX National Champion in 2013 and Australian Women’s Match Racing Champion in 2014. On the international stage, Kate has been a member of the Australian team competing in the Busan Women’s Match Racing Regatta, placing 2nd in 2014 and 2015 events and taking out 1st place in 2016. Her keelboat experience includes the 2011 Sydney to Hobart as crew on a Sydney 38, various Race Week achievements including Hamilton Island and Port Lincoln and offshore blue water miles including Hobart to Fremantle.

What drives Kate in her sailing career?
‘Being able to be on the water is great, I love racing and trying to do whateveris possible to make the boat go fast. I also love that new ways of ‘going fast’ are always being created so it pays off to think outside the box.’

As Team Manager for the Australian Women’s Match Racing Team, how do you ‘build a team for success’?
‘Everyone has something to give and it’s only how much YOU want something will determine how far you will get with it. Learn what you’re good at and what you like to do and trust yourself and others in the learning process.’

What keeps Kate engaged in the sport both professionally and recreationally?
‘Sailing is a great sport that involves not just a physical component but a mental element. You also acquire a great sense of community being involved – I love that.’

Reflecting on community, there is a palpable groundswell of support from Victorian keelboat owners responding positively to the recent AWKR Roadshow visits to the S80 Victorian Titles and the Festival of Sails to support female keelboat sailors. AWKR Chair Lynne Wilton reports on her visits.

‘Many skippers donned pink t-shirts emblazoned ‘AWKR Floats My Boat’ at these events and have already committed their boats for loan for female teams to compete in the AWKR and lead up events.’

‘The S80 Association has been outstanding over the last couple of years with provision of the AWKR S80 Fleet Trophy established in 2015 and support with eleven boats already committed for 2017. To acknowledge their ‘community’ spirit, the AWKR Committee in turn has provided a competition draw for a new S80 spinnaker for those owners committing to the loan of their boat at the state titles and will continue the prize of a boom cover for the boat owner of the best performed S80 in the 2017 AWKR fleet.’

‘Think Global - Act Local’. Globally, the spirit of the Volvo Ocean Race major rule change for the 2017-18 edition saw 2014-15 winning skipper and Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker comment ‘If female (offshore) sailors ever want to compete at the same level as the best in the world then they need to train and race with the best.’

Locally, with summer in full swing, it's time to get on board for a fabulous season of women’s keelboat sailing activities on Port Phillip, ripe with opportunity for learning, training and coaching, competitive racing and ‘communing’.
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Join us for the Synergy Launch on Friday 10 February @ 6pm in the Harbour Room at RMYS. Bring along your friends, boat owners and mentors to meet your sailing community, experience the camaraderie and learn from the best. Dinner will be available after the launch so stay on and learn more about all the opportunities on offer and how to get involved.
See you there!
 
For further information about all events, click on the logos to take you to the websites.

I am looking for some on water and tower volunteers for the Classic Race 6 this Sunday.  

If you are available, please contact Danielle on 9534 0227 or racing@rmys.com.au

DATE: Sunday 5th February 2017
START TIME: 7:00am
FINISH TIME: 11:00am (approximately)

Please be advised of the following road closure details that may affect you:
Beach Road - Beaconsfield Parade, Jacka Boulevard, Marine Parade & Ormond Esplanade
From - St. Kilda Street, Elwood to Kerferd Rd, Middle Park from 6.00am to 11:00am.

Managed Crossings of Course:
Beaconsfield Pde – Cowderoy St/Pier Road to access Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron & St Kilda Sea Baths
Marine Pde – Dickens St to access St Kilda Marina

The nearest disposal site for such waste is the Port Phillip Resource Recovery Centre, 78 White Street South Melbourne.  
 
Thankyou for your cooperation.
​

During the Festival of Sails there was also a teams event, which was awarded based on the best 3 results on performance handicap, in the AMS cruising division.
Our three boats that were entered from RMYS were, How Bizarre, Weekend Option and Addiction.
RMYS took out first place!! The first time to win it since 1972.

The team won from SYC (2nd), RYCV (3rd) and RGYC(4th).

​Well Done RMYS!! 

Marine Radio: We offer the internationally approved VHF (Short Range) or VHF + HF (Long Range) courses with a focus on the practical exercises using our ICOM marine radio equipment.
Our next courses are scheduled for March and April

​Contact us on 9534 0059 or training@rmys.com.au
Go to our web site for more information
http://www.rmys.com.au/marine-radio--other-courses.html

RMYS S411 S80 yacht Rock n Roll performed consistently at the 2017 Victorian State Championships to win the very prestigious "Most Improved Performance Trophy".

RMYS was well represented with two more S80s,"Mood Indigo and Esspresso"contesting in the Championships.

The "Most Improved Performance Trophy" includes names of yachts that have gone on to win the Championships. 

Every year the S80 Championships change locations and this year's host, the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, produced a very professional event with very clear instructions and support.

Each S80 carried a tracker, that was promptly downloaded by the S80 Association after the day's racing, for a chance to review the tactics and see opportunities from the race.  

The championships are the highlight of the S80 racing season and this year,18 S80s fiercely contested the seven races held over three days with Skip Jack from HBYC taking the honours of overall match race winner.

The S80 Association are very active and creative, making for a fun and very welcome championship.

Stephen Barker

This weekend HBYC is hosting the next race in the Port Phillip Women’s Passage Series.

HBYC Lady Skippers’ Passage Race
Sunday 29 January
Mornington to Hobsons Bay
Notice of Race and Entry Link can be found here: http://www.hbyc.org.au/racing/lady-skippers-races.html
Sailing Instructions coming soon
Further enquiries to racing@hbyc.org.au

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​From 3-10 January the RMYS 12ft Cadet Team participated in the 88th Stonehaven Cup, held at Royal Brighton Yacht Club, along with young sailors from Brighton and King Island. Our crews (C160 Mollie G: Nelson Dean, Patrick Walby, Tara Cartlidge, C169 OAM: James Moeller, Adela Nebesky, Aurora Davey, C174 Catani: Sally Davis, Timo Phillips, Nicholas Glauser-Edwards, reserve: Alex Ward) enjoyed a fantastic week on the water with conditions from frustrating 0 knot postponements to bathtub sailing, and caught up with old friends from previous regattas.
 
From the two Invitation Races it was clear that the cup would be hard fought for with tough competition presented by all three participating clubs. This was followed by a morale boosting performance by Mollie G of two first places in the first two official heats. Our other two crews enjoyed the larger fleet experience while Alex got the opportunity to sail in Brighton boat C184 Kittiwake IV.
 
Outside of the on-water competition there were a number of social events, ensuring the traditional Stonehaven comradery and sportsmanship. With four of seven races out of the way we enjoyed a much welcomed rest day, giving those who weren’t consigned to fixing the boats a chance to recharge.
 
By the last race Mollie G sat one point behind C183 John Akhurst (RBYC Clare Carew, Darcey Holmes, Rosie Murray), runners up of the previous Stonehaven Cup. In a spectacular final downwind run, during which John Akhurst and Mollie G sat in 2nd and 3rd respectively, a 180 degree wind shift gave Mollie G the edge to pass John Akhurst and secure the regatta victory on countback.

All participants can agree that the week was a great success. Cadet sailing is open to anyone from 12 to 19 years of age, with the Stonehaven Cup held during January each year in either Victoria or King Island. For enquiries contact racing@rmys.com.au. 

Nelson Dean - Junior Club Captain

Sailing Rules & Etiquette
Members, please remember after crossing the finish line, do not sail back between the clearance mark and the breakwater.  These actions could interfere with RO visability of other finishers through the line.
Also when retiring, operators must advise "squadron tower" or sailing administrator of their plans at the time of electing to withdraw from the event.
As to avoid calling out search and rescue operations should concerns exist.

Wednesday 18 January
Congratulations to Arcadia in first place in the Troubleshooters L.A Nangle Pursuit race, with Ellipse second & Revenge third.

In the Henri Lloyd Terry Hill AMS series was Portofino in first place.

Race 2 of the Horizon Sails Spinnaker series II, AMS results Salamander III placed first, Silhouette in second and Xit Strategy in third. IRC results Salamander III first, Rock n Roll second and Matador in third.  The PHS results have Rock n Roll in first place, Salamander III in second & Tigris third.

The Best Start on 1 second went to Revenge and the Banks Group Award went to Silk for tenth place in the tenth race.

Big thanks to our race management team of Ian Guyett, Selwyn Stokes & John Taylor.

For Full Results

Saturday 21 January
On Saturday our members were off bright and early to the Festival of Sails.  We will have final results next week but if you would like to keep up to date follow the link the the Festival of Sails website.

For Full Results 

We wish to welcome Sandra Bailey, to her role in accounts at RMYS.  

Sandra has previously worked for a non-for-profit organisation for 15 years and has already started to bring much of her knowledge to refining our accounting systems.

She looks forward to meeting you all.

For the remaining trolleys and wheelbarrows, please ALWAYS ensure that they are tired to a cleat when not in use.  Further, as we now have less trolleys available for Member use, if you are not returning to your pen on the same day if you take a trolley out, please return it to the yard so it is available for others to use.
 
Thank you, Damien. ​

​***WIN A SPINNAKER TO THE VALUE OF $5,000***
 
On behalf of the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta, we would like to thank you for your on-going support of our regatta.
 
As you know, RMYS is the home of the AWKR and this year the regatta will be held 10-12 June, 2017, on the Queen's birthday long weekend.
 
Like you, we are committed to growing our sailing skills and competitive edge and the AWKR is shaping up to be the largest all female regatta in the world; certainly in the Southern Hemisphere. However, with so few women owning boats, we need the continued support of all boat owners on Port Phillip. 
 
The AWKR are offering skippers who opt into lending their boats for the regatta an opportunity to win a spinnaker to the value of $5,000, most generously donated by our sponsors ENGINE PROPERTY GROUP & DOYLES SAIL MAKERS.
 
This winner of the spinnaker will be drawn at the AWKR & PPWCS Synergy Launch Cocktail Party on Friday 10th February at the RMYS which starts at 6.30pm click here to attend the party.
 
Because of your on-going support for the AWKR, we are giving you the opportunity to be in this draw. Please notify the Chair Lynne Wilton with your boat name and details by 4pm Friday 10th February by email to awkr2017@gmail.com and she will place your name into the draw.
 
As you know, last year, the AWKR piloted the ‘Boat Buoy’ concept, which was a huge success. We have already had three companies ask for sponsorship of this concept early on, due to its presence within the regatta.
 
The Boat Buoy concept is a dedicated shore team who looks after the boats as they come and go from the pen. They are there to assist with any questions that the teams may have or deal with any issues that may arise and are on hand for any emergency repairs.  We will be growing our Boat Buoy concept this year to further support both the boat owners and the women.
 
In some cases last year the Boat Buoys were boat owners, or regular and trusted crew of the loaned boat with intimate knowledge of keelboats. The resounding success from the Boat Buoys was clear, providing both the owners and teams more security through the regatta, ensuring that both parties had a good experience and were thoroughly engaged to their desired level.
 
Our recent survey showed us that 93.5% of women in the regatta sail once or twice a week and resumes, along with supporting competitor history, is available to any boat owner considering opting into this remarkable and well-supported event.
 
All you need to be in the draw for the spinnaker is to register your boat for the AWKR at the before Friday 10th February, so please email Lynne at awkr2017@gmail.com to be in it to win it!

The weeks up coming menu will now be a weekly feature from Food & Desire, check out tomorrow night's Twilight Dinner Menu.
 
Char grilled porterhouse steak(250g) , pomme boulangere, roasted vegetables, garlic butter and jus $28.00
Slow cooked pork shoulder, tom yum sauce, steamed rice and asian herb salad $25.00
Prawn and smoked fish potato pie, baby spinach and celery salad $22.00
Rag pasta, grilled cherry tomatoes and asparagus, goats cheese and kale pesto $20.00

We hope to see you there.

Members,​
​The next Members Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 2 February 2017 @ 1900hours.  

Meals will be available for purchase prior to the meeting. Please book.