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Reflections The enemy By Alan Lucas, SY Soleares within The old saying 'cruising sailors get the from-home for weeks on end, the time wind free and expect everything else at was further reduced to just one day with the same price' is demeaning to our regular policing by a ranger. great majority, but it is regrettably true of a small minority who ruin our Reduction or total elimination of public eye their extreme behaviour is 'normal' behaviour escaped them for I reputation with their selfish behaviour. special services is the inevitable invariably linked to boating in general spent most of my time covering their Alan Their attitudes seem to be all about aftermath of these people's actions rather than tourists on floating holidays. tracks. A typical evening saw me putting personal rights and nothing about group who, in playing out their cruising I witnessed an early case of this at them ashore, clearing them with the responsibility, a classic case of which I dreams, destroy the very things they Hayman Island in 1978 when bare resort's reception, then returning aboard witnessed recently in a NSW port. presume to be their right to have. They boating had just started in the until called. don't understand that successful Whitsunday Islands. An obviously wealthy young lone- cruising depends on consideration for Towards dawn, I rowed over to find hander sailed into port aboard his very expensive, latest model Bendytoy and illegally anchored mid-channel smack bang in front of the marina. He then dinghied over to the nearest berth and wandered ashore where the manager politely told him that there was no public access through the marina. At that the lone-hander went ballistic, loudly declaring his right to go ashore wherever and whenever he so pleases. others, not personal rights that are really not rights at all. We are all judged by their culturally dirty wake, which includes ever-tightening rules and regs that impact on everyone. Irresponsible sailors are often new to the game, convinced that they have at last found freedom where, in fact, they have entered a culture that demands more responsibility and mutual respect Saying hello to Hayman Island's long- serving manager, Andre, to catch up on the latest news, I sensed he was not his usual welcoming self. After a few niceties, he said “Did you see what your mob's doing? - they're taking over the place: yachts tying up to our jetty without permission and obstructing our workboats. Some were abusive when we asked them to move”. them all wearing bathers and holding their clothes with towels around their shoulders. It wasn't until I poured them aboard that I realised the bathers and towels had been stolen from a guest's clothesline. In fear of my reputation, I rushed ashore, dashed from one donga to another searching for the most likely clothesline and re-pegged their spoils before slinking back to my yacht hoping the victim would not be too confused as He was so incensed that on returning to his vessel he fired off a vitriolic email to the manager reasserting his rights and adding a threat that the marina would be hearing from his solicitor. Regrettably - like police officers who are never there when you need them the local maritime officer was not around to fine him for obstructing a navigable channel. In another port there was a catamaran owner playing cat and mouse with the local authority for nearly a year, using a 24-hour courtesy mooring for days at a time, then anchoring for a night or two before returning to the same mooring for another lengthy stay. The owner constantly challenged the local officer with his 'right' to act that way, not once considering the many other boaties wanting to use the courtesy mooring. Then there was the free seven-day berth provided by one of those very rare councils that understands the monetary value of sailors when they enter port. Sadly, abuse of the time-limit by a minority of visitors soon reduced the seven days to three days then, after a few of them made it their home-awaythan anything they have ever experienced ashore. But if their behaviour can be described as thoughtless, the behaviour of a mercifully smaller group is even more worrying for the way it crosses into criminality. Kevin Lane, in his book Cruising West cites a disgraceful case of a cruising yacht reaching port where her crew proudly showed-off pearls they had taken from a cultured pearl raft and boasted that they had drunk two cartons of the manager's beer in his absence. Similarly, I know of thefts from oyster leases and lobster pots so brazen that I actually believe the culprits were too stupid to realise they were stealing. Thank goodness these incidents are extremely rare, but they are nevertheless a disgrace to the name of boating. Whilst thoughtless cruising sailors ruin our lifestyle from within, there are holiday sailors who wreck it from without. I refer to those bare-boaters whose sole aim is to have a holiday of unbridled fun regardless of how it impacts on others. Unfortunately, in the While rowing ashore I had noticed the yachts in question, but knew they definitely did not belong to 'my mob': they were bare-boaters with not a true- blue cruising vessel amongst them. When I pointed this out to the Andre I don't think he fully understood the difference, but we nevertheless parted in good humour and it was not long before the Hayman Island jetty, with its iconic Hayman Rocket, was pulled down in favour of a helipad and exclusive marina. Having worked my yacht in charter fifteen years earlier, this was a situation for which I felt a little sympathy for the charter companies whose customers don't always behave correctly. Most of my guests were darned nice people, but their periodic irresponsible behaviour always caught me by surprise. A classic example happened at another Whitsunday island resort. My guests were three intern doctors out for a week's fun and a more good- natured bunch of blokes you couldn't hope to meet. Yet somehow the connection between 'holiday' and to how their clobber got wet. Whether chartering or just lifestyle cruising, we're often perceived as pleasure-bent holidaymakers rather than individuals pursuing a responsible lifestyle. And whilst it is bad enough that we are often seen in this light, it is far worse that we are judged by the lowest elements in our ranks. Not that the lowest element is necessarily bad, often they are decent folk who simply haven't thought their actions through. Look at the single most common example of thoughtlessness: namely, the dinghydock syndrome. Dinghy-dock-syndrome is when people go ashore to a dedicated landing and tie their tenders fore and aft alongside where it not only occupies a huge area but it denies access for all others trying to get ashore. The answer is simple: leave your tender on a single, long painter so that other dinghies can work their way up to the dock for embarkation. Getting on with each other is really that simple. “Must Have” CRUISING GUIDES by Alan Lucas NEW! Sixth Edition $75.00 $75.00 “OFF WATCH” (a boatie trivia book) by Alan Lucas REDUCED PRICE! $20.00 OR Use your credit card to order online! go to: www.thecoastalpassage.com/storebooks.html Call us: (07) 4129 8720 We can now take your credit card payment via phone OR Send cheque or money order to: THE COASTAL PASSSAGE P.O. Box 7326, Urangan, QLD., 4655 all prices include gst & free shipping in Australia! SUBSCRIBE TO TCP? If you are silly enough to pay $40 a year for a paper you can get free at the marina or now the free “E” version off the net...Mate, you can sail with us! 1 year, 6 editions, 2 copies each issue - one for you, one for a mate! $40 inc. gst & Shipping in Australia Finally! Subscribe from the web site with your credit card! Which is even stranger when you think about it... going to the web site where the free papers are to pay for a subscription! TCP DEALS: 2011: Buy both Cruising Guides pay $130 Buy these three books - pay only $145 www.thecoastalpassage.com/subscribe.html OR Send cheque or money order to: The Coastal Passage P.O. Box 7326 Urangan, Qld. 4655 (07) 4129 8720
INSURANCE WOES IN THE WHITSUNDAY'S Notice to contributors: All contributions that purport facts in a matter of possible contention, should be ready to provide support for their assertions or additional information or the contribution may be refused at the discretion of the editor. Anyone disputing a matter of fact in any part of TCP is invited to respond as long as the discussion remains one of fact and the responding writer must also be ready to provide support for their assertions or additional information if requested. It’s about a fair go for boaties. As was reported in the last edition of TCP, “Insurer shows heart, bends the rules and comes to the table” a foreign LED SAFETY WARNING Dear TCP, insurer represented by local agent, (DG Marine) may have the clearest policies and do factor in live aboard To TCP Readers, We are club marine policy holders and have just renewed our insurance policy for 2011 2012. On receipt of the policy wording we have received the attached endorsement (TCP Note: see below). We were not made aware of this new ruling before they took payment. How fair is this for North Queenslanders? Especially those who take care to ensure their boats are well moored, anchored in the event of bad weather. Looks like once again those of us who take full care and are responsible pay the piper. Regards, Carol Draper vessels as a rate advantage. Readers that are confronting this kind of issue may be well served to read that account and compare requirements. Regards, Bob SHEILA NET NEWS Hello Bob and Kay, Here is a safety warning regarding some LED elements used in some yacht anchor, tricolor, or other masthead lights. Recently in The Coastal Passage some evidence emerged of interference of LED lights with VHF radio telephony. I have just found that on my yacht, equipped with LED anchor and tricolour lights at masthead, interference with HF SSB Radio reception, sufficient to entirely block some weather transmissions from CORRESPONDENCE TO CLUB MARINE: Sheila Net is up and running again for the 2011 cruising VMC on some frequencies and seriously degrade others. TO: The Underwriting Department, Club Marine year. Sheila net is run by a group of volunteer cruisers and can be heard on 8161 MHz HF radio at 08:00 AEST each The S meter on my radio clearly indicated increased signal strength when the anchor We have just received the paper work with the receipt of payment for our Pleasure Craft Policy Q161492. We note on the Change of Endorsement notice placed at the back of the policy paper work, that you will not cover boats permanently moored on Swing Moorings or own Anchor. We take it that this is in the event of a Cyclone only. Our permanent mooring is at the Mackay Marina however we do live aboard our boat and spend quite a bit of time overnight in Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour area. We do not take up moorings but anchor on our own anchor gear. I sent an email to the manager of Club Marine, after the Cyclone that damaged boats in Hinchinbrook this year, to clarify in the event of Cyclone we would be covered if we choose to secure our boat in a creek (Included with the email were photo's of our boat moored in the creek). It was confirmed in writing to us that in the event of cyclone etc this type of care is accepted and appreciated by Club Marine. We feel that Marina's are not the place for safety to boats in Cyclone Conditions. “Does this new declaration mean that we MUST be in a marina to maintain cover in the event of a storm/cyclone?” We would like clarification from you, that in the event we find it necessary to anchor in Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour and have to leave the boat for a period of time what your ruling would be. Your early response is appreciated. morning. It is meant for cruisers travelling both off-shore and coastal to call in and give their current position and weather conditions. It also is an opportunity for cruisers to find out current information about the cruising grounds they might be visiting, for example Customs and Quarantine clearance and prices in Louisiades. We have decided to try something new this year; after all the boats are recorded on 8161 the co-ordinator switches down to 4483 in order to pick up local cruisers that are better heard on 4 mHz. We look forward to hearing from you cruisers out there. Sheila net co-ordinators are always in demand, as coordinators move onto other places. It is a great volunteer job and gives you the chance to talk to the many great cruisers on the water. We have an electronic copy of procedures and guidelines to assist new co-ordinators. Come and join us or just log in. Cheers, Jeanette, Always Cruising on Reeflection Email: sheilanet@thecoastalpassage.com light was switched on. All frequencies on which I could hear the weather broadcasts were either entirely inaudible (0/5) or contai ned significant additional static (degrading audibility from 4/5 to 2/5 roughly) with the anchor light on. My aerial uses the backstay with isolators. My location is Airlie Beach (on anchor, not in marina). The tricolour light, in the same location and sharing a common negative power wire, and also using a similar LED, had no noticeable effect. No other LED lights on my yacht had any effect (almost all my lighting is LED, including navigation lights). My mast is about 20metres and constructed of aluminium. Thus it appears that some, but not all, LED elements can leak significant RF radiation sufficient to interfere with SSB reception. John Skaller Regards, Mal & Carol Draper Dear Carol, WHAT IS SHEILA NET? Here is the wording for endorsement 5.6: 5.6 Moored Boats on Swing Moorings at Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour: The cover provided under this Policy will not apply to any claim for loss or damage whilst your Boat is moored on a swing mooring or Your own anchor and tackle at Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour unless we agree to extend cover in writing.(TCP’s emphasis) Note that the Boat's permanent mooring location must be declared and agreed to by us in writing and that the agreed mooring location will appear on Your Policy and Renewal Schedule. You policy states your permanent place of mooring is Mackay Marina. If in the event that you are travelling and you drop anchor in this area for a night or two - it is your responsibility to be up to date with weather forecasts. If you intend to travel north and spend a longer time, we request that you contact this office and advise time frame for your travels and it is then at the discretion of management to accept this circumstance, this is dependant on the time of year etc. I hope this explains a little clearer this particular endorsement. In the year 2002 a group of American Cruisers who had gone around part of the world together arrived in Australia and continued their scheduled net to stay in touch. Also before Australia they gave their net a name appropriate for the area; the net was mainly operated by girls. They found the name Sheila for girls hilarious so they called it that. Several of the Australian cruisers from that year on kept the net going. In the Louisiades it was called the "Dim Dim Net" (dim dim = white people). In Vanuatu it is called Regards, Underwriter, Club Marine Namba Net (protective clothing for man, to say it nicely). We were at Lizard Island in Further to correspondence above, an UPDATE: 2002 and met the group, a nice bunch of people. One of the We have changed our insurance as Club Marine as at today's date - will NOT cover boats TEMPORALLY ANCHORED IN THE AIRLIE BEACH & SHUTE HARBOUR REGION. All touring vessels need to be aware. organisers was on Blue Banana. In the year 2003 most of the Americans were still around, but Regards, Carol Draper after that they slowly went on and we lost touch, however the Sheila Net stayed and has Hi Carol, Yes, we have been getting many these reports concerning several insurers. Funny how they seem to develop similar policies in unison... We were served many who travelled further than the east coast of Australia. expecting some reaction to the losses at Airlie Beach over the last couple of years but unsure of what they would be. Yours is a clear and well documented case study and will be valuable for the fleet's understanding. John and Mariet Prium, Triple Zero Jeanette, at Zoe Bay, Hinchinbrook Island, August 16, 2011. We love to publish ‘feel good’ photos like this. Send us yours! www.goldcoastmarinecentre.com.au
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