Michael Kent - Port Melbourne Yacht Club

http://www.pmyc.asn.au 

Email pmyc@bigpond.net.au 

INPORT 

The PMYC 

Newsletter 

MAY 2006 

Keep informed & join in decision making 

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING 

WEDNESDAY 

MAY 31 st 2006 7.30pm. 

The business to be transacted at the meeting is: 

• Confirmation of minutes of Previous Special General 

Meeting held Monday May 5, 1997 

• To receive a report on the progress of the Change 

Room Renewal Project 

• To discuss the funding mechanisms and parameters of 

borrowing, if borrowings are required 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 

WINNERS 2006 

PHIL JACQUEMIN AWARD 

CLUB MEMBER OF THE YEAR 

Michael Kent 

Michael Kent is probably well known to most 

members, being an active sailor at the club and 

competing in club racing most weeks of the season. 

He is a member of the sailing committee undertaking 

preparation of the club calendar, Notice of Race and 

Sailing Instructions for all club events. He acts as 

Officer of the Day and organises and sits on protest 

committees. He is a strong supporter of the 

youth/junior sailing programs at the club through his 

work on the sailing committee and encouragement of 

younger sailors. He has assisted in the Race 

Management of club racing as well as regattas and 

training events held at PMYC by the Hobie, Taipan, 

Flying Dutchman, JB, Sabot and Laser fleets and 

Top of the Bay. 

He collects information for publication in the In Port 

each year of the participation and results of club 

catamaran sailors competing at World, National & 

State championships. 

He has represented the club very successfully at 

Hobie 17 State, National and World Championships 

with a number of wins and high placings. 

He invented a new technique for sailing in light 

winds that was universally and loudly bagged and 

then universally adopted by all including the current 

World Champion in his class. 

He participates in numerous catamaran events at 

other clubs, always promoting PMYC as the place to 

sail and preferably to join as members. PMYC is 

always well represented at catamaran events and this 

is often due to his encouragement of our members to 

develop their fleet racing skills. Back at the beach, 

he is always quick to congratulate or commiserate 

with PMYC sailors as required or give a push up the 

beach. 

He welcomes sailors who take up his suggestion and 

come to PMYC, introducing them to other club 

members and offering moral and practical support 

while they establish themselves at the club. 

He helps others on the beach, appearing out of 

nowhere if someone is having difficulty rigging their 

boat, or packing up at the end of the day. His 

toolbox has every item ever thought of, including a 

number of his own invention, so he is often called 

upon to help with running repairs. 

The club is fortunate to have a member such as 

Michael Kent with his quiet and diligent support of 

other members on and off the water, and his 

continued promotion of sailing at PMYC. We 

congratulate him on this deserving acknowledgment. 

Affiliation Fees for 2006/7 For the 

next season the current rule 11 was agreed by the 

members meeting with combined YA & YV fees 

set at $58 for senior members, $32 for a partner, 

$17.50 for a members junior and $23 for a junior 

not related to a senior 

InPort – JUNE 2006 Page 1 The PMYC Newsletter

ALAN BYRNE TROPHY 

Junior Sailor of the year 

ANDREW GILLIES 

We are all very proud of this junior sailor who started 

with Port Tackers at its inception and has come up 

through the program. His results in competition sailing 

have steadily improved over the years. 

He represented PMYC and Victoria (one of 12 sailors) in 

the VSSA Senior team for the 2005/06 Australian 

National Sabot Regatta at Yeppoon Qld. 

In the 2006 VSSA Victorian State Titles he came 5 th 

He has been a great representative and ambassador for the 

club this year and will be sailing more regularly from 

home base next year. 

He even has the PMYC logo stitched onto his wet suit. 

Congratulations Andrew 

CLUB CHAMPIONS 2006 

David English, Albert Mo, Deb Tyler 

Club Championship 

1 Icarus David English, Albert Mo, Deb Tyler 

2 Jolly royal Sid Gladman 

3 Voodoo Bob Wilson 

Miscellaneous monos 

1 Sebastian Colin & Myrtle Hughes 

2 Babes in Blue Jayne English 

3 Havoc Andrew Gillies 

Aggregate Cats 

1 AUS 173 George Hooper 

2 Catman 2 Mick Kent 

3 Catsize Marty Jones 

Laser Aggregate 

1 Schism Greg Steedman 

2 Ange Jim Temple 

3 Scuttle Butt Mark Howland 

Large Monohull Aggregate 

1 Jolly Royal Sid Gladman, Daryl Gladman Marlene 

Gladman 

2 Eccles Bernard Eade, Jason Keats Amber 

Fletcher 

3 Icarus Dave English Deb Tyler, Albert Mo 

Geoff Fletcher Series 

1 Scuttlebutt Mark Howland 


Gladman 

3 Bontosher Paul Jacquemin, Brendan Vaughan and 

Toby Lauchlan 

JB Championship 

1 Osprey Geof Fethers, Di Leighfield Sonia 

Aldons 


Toby Lauchlan 


Gladman 

JB Handicap 

1 Osprey Geof Fethers, Di Leighfield Sonia 

Aldons 


Toby Lauchlan 


Gladman 

Geoff & Joan Series 

1 Allegro Miro Giergja, Simon Potocnik, Hannah 

Irving 

2. No Name Mark and Phillipa Stitchbury-Cooper 

3 Misty Colin McLeod and M. Wood 

Most improved sailors 

Cat Sailor 

Flaming Red Joel Scarr 

Jollyboat 

Three’s Company Michele Meehan 


VOLUNTEER OF The YEAR 

Patricia-Rae Ferguson (pictured with Ray Duncan) 

She came to help out for an afternoon during the 

World Hobie Championships and is still here!!! 

RACING & RESCUE 

ROSTER FOR ALL IN 

The existing distinction and separation of the Racing 

& Rescue team and member sailors has been in 

discussion at Committee. It is not desirable that the 

management of racing is solely undertaken by 

volunteers; while we are extremely grateful for the 

work and availability of the volunteers it is important 

that those who are experienced sailors also have their 

skilled input in course setting, responding to 

emergencies as well as tower duties and race results. 

Too often sailors come to the club sail, and go home 

with no other contribution. Volunteers may be 

unrecognised, slighted and even verbally abused: but 

if we all worked together and knew each other we 

would have a better-integrated total membership. 

To this end it is planned that ALL members will 

be rostered on for duty at least once a year. 

All members will be required to assist the volunteers 

in race management on race days. This would 

include on water as well as on land duties. To 

conduct a race on any Saturday, we require a total 

number of 15 people. From next season this group 

will be made of 10 volunteers and 5 members. 

Members will be able to choose the day they would 

like to assist the volunteers. Duties will start at 12 

noon with a briefing and finish around 6pm. The 

roster will be made available once the sailing 

calendar has been confirmed. If all crew of a boat 

does duty that boat will be awarded an average score 

of its best 3 races 

It is expected that this roster will be developed in 

cooperation with the new CLASS CAPTAINS to be 

appointed. Comments and suggestions on 

implementation can be emailed to the club 

pmyc@bigpond.net.au 

PMYC consists of many committees, which assist in 

the running of the club. PMYC members serve on 

these committees and we encourage all members to 

take the opportunity to participate and have a say in 

the way our club is managed. Below are a few of the 

committees that operate at PMYC:- 

• Main Committee Flag Officers (minimum 

qualifying period applies) 

• Main Committee Non- flag 

Officers(minimum qualifying period applies) 

• Sailing committee 

• Facilities Maintenance committee 

• Social committee 

• Website committee 

• Grants committee 

• Sailing School committee 

• Finance committee 

Please email Margaret pmyc@bigpond.net.au if you 

would like to join any of the above committees. 

2006/2007 PMYC is offering free training to all its 

volunteers, as well as any members who wish 

to assist on a regular basis. We are very short 

of qualified training, so why not take up the 

offer and became trained. 

Please see training schedule page 5 

CLASS CAPTAINS FOR 2006 

/07 

All sailors at PMYC are invited to discuss among 

their fellow sailors to appoint a CLASS CAPTAIN 

for each class at the Club: Laser, Jollyboat, Hobie, 

Taipans,(or all cats), other monos. The 

responsibility of this position would be to: - 

• Represent the Class at all Sailing Committee 

meetings 

o The role of the sailing committee involves such 

things as developing the sailing calendar, 

organising all aspects related to sailing 

events, reviewing available resources, the 

training of club members and volunteers, etc 

etc. 

• Provide Class input re courses, regattas, and 

events. 

• Assist with decisions re storage. 

• Develop class racing and Rescue Roster in 

conjunction with other Class Captains 

• Encourage new members into your class 


Commodore’s Report 

After the well-attended Presentation night, it can 

now be said that season 2005-2006 is officially over. 

Congratulations to all those who acquired new 

silverware and trophies. 

With each passing season things just seem to go 

quicker, and for good reason. Reflect upon the range 

of on-water activities that the club had organised or 

provided assistance for at other venues. Here’s a 

snap shot: 

Club based 

Other venues 

- 46 club races 

YV’s Schools Team racing regatta 

- Top of the Bay 

YV’s Access Classes Aust & 

Intern’l Champs 

- FD State championships SM 

06 World Windsurfing Champs at ESC 

- Laser State championships 

Paper Tiger Intern’l at ESC 

- Travellers series, Hobies and Taipans 

- Monohull demonstration day 

- Training weekend for Taipans & F18s 

- Weekly Port Tackers, junior training & 

inaugural junior champs 

- Special weekend clinic for junior sailors 

- Adults sailing school courses 

- Albert Park Secondary College sailing 

programme. 

In addition, throughout the season there were several 

evening classes by invited speakers on various 

sailing topics, 2 Open days, a Get Involved day 

sponsored by COPP, race management training, and 

more ……… Of course this doesn’t just magically 

happen and we should thank our resourceful and 

highly trained group of volunteers, who continue to 

make a significant, ongoing contribution to all facets 

of race management. 

However, the off-season will not be a period of 

hibernation. Most members would be aware of the 

necessity to upgrade and improve the functionality of 

the dinghy shed, particularly given the urban context. 

This project is well overdue and was considered 

some 20 years ago. How time flies. The works will 

involve removal of internal asbestos sheeting, 

replacing the glass windows and re-sheeting the flat 

roof section. 

The other major project of course relates to the 

change rooms. In order for the club to move forward 

it is critical that we have appropriate facilities and 

amenities. Experience with many sporting clubs 

around the City of Port Phillip has demonstrated that 

appreciable growth in membership can be achieved 

when facilities are modernised. The design of the 

change rooms has accommodation for growth. 

Tenders for the rebuilding have been received and 

are being assessed. Full details will be provided at 

the Special General Meeting on 31 May. It is now 

up to club members to put in the effort required to 

make this a success. 

Michael Broise 

What Future the Sailing School? 

Sunday 28th May 

A meeting to discuss new ideas about managing and 

running sailing schools for our adult members as 

well as juniors and Port Tackers will be held shortly. 

If you have ideas or wish input please advise the 

club by email pmyc@bigpond.net.au 

A report will be available in future InPort 

MEET & GREET 

As part of a way to ensure a 

friendly face to the club when 

potential new members arrive, 

we are exploring the idea of 

having a designated ‘meet and 

greet” person. We have 

discussed the idea of rostering committee on to do 

this but it becomes problematic when they are also 

wanting to rig their boat, go sailing, working in the 

tower, etc. Having rotating people do this, also 

means that each week someone has to fill them in on 

the answers to possible questions. … easier to do it 

yourself! 


What we are looking for, and we ask you to talk to 

friends, workplace or family, someone who 

• Is interested in sailing (they may need to 

spend time looking at the boats and the 

races!) 

• Is friendly and has a relaxed manner 

• Is comfortable in approaching “looking lost” 

people 

• Is available Saturdays 11-5 pm 

• Can learn all the bits of information needed. 

• Wants to be involved in a Club. 

WEB SITE 

DEVELOPER 

The club is seeking help in 

customising the Club 

website from the 

Yachting Victoria 

template. We will want to 

have weekly updates, 

results, a story and picture 

page and generally making 

the site a living and useful asset. Mark Gregory who has 

been working on the site, is finding it hard to find the time 

in his busy workload, and we want to do more 

development, rather than just adding items as needed. 

Rats in the Racks. 

Following member correspondence about (possible) rats 

in the Dinghy Shed the Committee advises that 

there has not been a sighting of a ‘common rat’ in the 

dinghy shed since the move of Saturday activities to the 

new clubrooms. The ‘rat’ we see is most likely a water 

rat, and members are advised not to dispose of food in the 

dinghy shed bins to lessen the risk of attracting the water 

rat 

The most likely culprit for droppings in the shed is the 

PMYC resident possum. There have been numerous 

sightings of the resident PMYC possum., including it 

being disturbed by the electrician, who provided a great 

aerial escape route to the nearby roof via his arm, 

shoulder and head. 

As we all know possums are 

protected- laying of baits would 

endanger the possum, native water rats and 

also dogs, thus the laying of baits is not 

appropriate. Even if the situation were one of ‘common 

rats’ - which it is not - laying baits in the off-season would 

not address the sailing season. and we cannot lay baits in 

the sailing season. It is recommended that any member 

concerned should consider a boat cover which provides 

extra protection to a stored boat. 

The Committee also warns members against leaving and 

refilling water bottles left in boats. Plastic bottles exposed 

to sun and water - exactly the conditions refilled plastic 

bottles left in boats endure - are, from current health 

advice, potentially carcinogenic. 

WINTER TRAINING 

- PMYC - POWERBOAT HANDLINGAND RADIO COURSE - TIMETABLE – 

Date 1830 - 1930 1935 - 2115 2130 - 2230 

Rules and Regulations For Safe Power-boating 

Wednesday10 

/5/06 Intro / Admin Basic Safety State Law 

Saturday 

13/5/06 

0830 – 1000 1015 - 1200 1230 – 1310 

Prepare and Plan a 

Powerboat Activity 

Rules and Regulations For Safe Power-boating 

The Craft / Engines COLREGS / BOUYAGE Safety Equipment 

1310 - 1400 1400 - 1700 

Prepare and Plan a Powerboat Activity 

Saturday 

13/5/06 Rope-work Navigation 

1900 - 2030 2035 - 2230 


Thursday 

18/5/06 

Sunday 

21/5/06 

Prepare and Plan a Powerboat Activity. 

Weather Emergencies/ Coastal Waters 

Perform a Safe Powerboat Activity 

0830 – 1700 

Practical Boat Handling – Course Closure 

Carry Out Trip Preparation and Planning 

Thursday 

25/5/06 Revision Examination 

STUDENTS NOTE: (a) Practical work is conducted even if weather is inclement. Please ensure you have 

adequate wet weather gear available. 

(b) Students are required to supply and wear a PFD at all times whilst in boats and in the vicinity of the water. 

VHF MARINE RADIO COURSE. 

Date 1830 – 1955 2000 - 2050 2100 - 2230 

Thursday 

8/6/06 

Tuesday 

13/6/06 

Basic Radio Theory Distress Urgency and Safety Messages 

Operating Procedures General Regulations Coast and Limited Coast Stations 

1830 - 1955 2000 - 2230 

Thursday 

15/06/06 

Tuesday 

AUSREP / G.D.M.S.S. Digital Selective Calling (DSC) 

20/6/06 Practical Radio Session Setup / Calling Etc. Revision. 

Thursday 

22/06/06 

Examination. 

First Aid Level 2 

Date Time 

Friday 

28/7/06 6pm till 10 pm 

Saturday 

290/7/06 8am till 5pm CPR update 1pm till 3pm 

Sunday 

30/7/06 8am till 5pm 

Refreshers Course 

Date Time Comments 

Friday 

1/9/06 

7 pm till 10 pm Revision of theory 

Saturday 

2/9/06 

9am till 1pm GPS theory (on the beach) 

Saturday 

2/9/06 

1pm till 5pm On water practical using GPS and course lying 

Saturday 

5pm till 10 pm Night exercise 

2/9/06 

Sunday 

3/9/06 

9am till 3pm Advance On water training 


Date 

Tower training and internal race Management 

Time Comments 

Saturday 

8 am till 5 pm Computer training 

8/7/06 

Saturday 

15/7/06 

Starting Procedures 

By Sean Bly 

To determine which rules are being used in whatever 

regatta, a sailor must read the Sailing Instructions (SI). 

Sailing Instructions are regatta-specific rules that apply 

for that regatta ONLY. Although most sailing instructions 

are the same from regatta to regatta, it is important to 

study them every regatta in case there is a change from 

previous regattas. 

You can always tell what rules are in effect by looking at 

SI 1 – Rules. 

1. RULES 

1.1 The regatta will be governed by the current 

rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing, 

the special regulations of the AYF, the rules 

and by-laws of the International Laser Class 

Association (ILCA), the Notice of Race 

(all as amended by these sailing instructions) 

and these Sailing Instructions. 

According to this, the Laser State Titles were governed 

by:- 

• Racing Rules of Sailing 

• Special Regulations of the AYF 

• Rules of the ILCA 

• Notice of Race 

• Sailing Instructions 

However, the key sentence that must be read is 

“(all as amended by these sailing instructions)”. 

This means that all the above documents (RRS, NOR, 

Class Rules) can be changed and amended by the Sailing 

Instructions, thus changing specific rules for that regatta. 

A common change that you can generally find in most SI 

is:- 

6.1 When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘1 minute’ 

is replaced ‘with not less than 30 minutes’ in 

race signal AP. 

However, the biggest change in the RRS made by the 

Sailing Instructions that can confuse even the most 

experienced sailors is the rules regarding starting, 

and in particular, starting penalties. 

9am till 5pm Basic Race Management 

The RRS 29 & 30 stipulates the rules regarding recalls 

and penalties. The ones that were specific to the State 

Titles, and to the majority of regattas are: 

29.1 Individual Recall 

When at a boat’s starting signal any part of her hull, crew 

or equipment is on the course side of the starting line or 

she must comply with rule 30.1, the race committee shall 

promptly display flag X with one sound. The flag shall be 

displayed until all such boats are completely on the prestart 

side of the starting line or its extensions and have 

complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, but not later than 

four minutes after the starting signal or one minute before 

any later starting signal, whichever is earlier. 

29.2 General Recall 

When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to 

identify boats that are on the course side of the starting 

line or to which rule 30 applies, or there has been an error 

in the starting procedure, the race committee may signal a 

general recall (display the First Substitute with two 

sounds). The warning signal for a new start for the 

recalled class shall be made one minute after the First 

Substitute is removed (one sound), and the starts for any 

succeeding classes shall follow the new start. 

30.3 Black Flag Rule 

If a black flag has been displayed, no part of a boat’s hull, 

crew or equipment shall be in the triangle formed by the 

ends of the starting line and the first mark during the 

minute before her starting signal. If a boat breaks this rule 

and is identified, she shall be disqualified without a 

hearing, even if the race is restarted, resailed or 

rescheduled, but not if it is postponed or abandoned before 

the starting signal. If a general recall is signalled or the 

race is abandoned after the starting signal, the race 

committee shall display her sail number before the next 

warning signal for that race, and if the race is restarted or 

resailed she shall not 

Now, if we look at the Sailing Instructions, then we can 

see some changes to the rules… 

11. STARTING PENALTIES 

11.1 In alteration of RRS 29 the following penalty 

will apply to all Code Flag P starts. 


“When Code Flag P has been displayed as the 

preparatory signal, and any part of a boat’s hull, 

crew or equipment is identified within the triangle 

formed by the ends of the starting line and the first 

mark during the minute before her starting signal, the 

boat will be disqualified from that start without a 

hearing.” 

11.2 BLACK FLAG RULE 

A boat whose number is displayed in accordance with 

RRS 30.3 shall leave the racing area immediately and 

shall not attempt to start in any subsequent re-starts of that 

race. A BOAT THAT FAILS TO OBSERVE THIS 

INSTRUCTION MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM ALL 

RACES IN THE REGATTA (Amends RRS 30.3). 

The first line of the rule, we can see that RRS 29 has been 

changed. This means that SI 11.1 now supersedes RRS 

29. 

If anyone has been involved in a big Laser start, they 

would know that with the amount of general recalls that 

used to go on, it could take up to an hour or more just to 

get a single start off, simply because there was no real 

penalty for breaking the start. 

Rule 11.1 now says that if a boat is in the starting triangle 

in the one minute before the start, that boat shall be 

disqualified from the start. This makes it very much like a 

black flag start. 

However, the difference between the Laser P start and the 

Black Flag start is that if there is a general recall, then no 

boats are disqualified, and all boats are allowed to restart. 

In a black flag, if a boat is identified as over, and there is a 

general recall, then that boat cannot restart. 

This may seem like a harsh rule, but the point to 

remember is that: 

If you are over the line at the start, then chances are 

YOU WILL GET DISQUALIFIED!!! 

In Summary: 

• Sailing Instructions CAN alter normal Racing 

Rules 

• Make sure you READ the Sailing Instructions 

• If it’s a Blue Peter start, and you are seen over 

the line within one minute of the start, unless 

there’s a general recall, you will be disqualified 

• If it’s a Black Flag start, and you are seen over 

the line, then you will be disqualified, regardless 

of whether there is a restart. 

Anchors Aweigh for 2007 

Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong! 

Anchors are up, the foredeck is clear and planning 

has commenced for the second biennial 'Whyte 

Just & Moore Lawyers 

Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong'. 

Hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, the 

Festival has been set down for the Victorian Labour 

Day holiday weekend of 10/11/12th of March in 

2007. 

The program will 

duplicate the very 

successful 2005 

Festival format and 

comprise a full range 

of on-water and hardstand 

displays including a 

Concourse d’Elegance, racing for the Corio Bay 

Classic Wooden Yacht Cup and the Couta Boat 

Trophy on the waters of beautiful Corio Bay. 

The very popular Grand Parade and Cavalcade of 

Sail will also be featured, together with a 

Presentation Dinner and many social events. 

With limitations on mooring and marina pens, entries 

from on-water exhibitors will be limited to 75, and will 

be accepted on a first-in first-served basis. There are 

no limitations on entries for hard-stand displays. 

Entry forms and Notice of Race will be available from 

September 2006 from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club 

Office, or they can be downloaded from 

www.rgyc.com.au 

Those who were entrants in last year's (2005) 

Festival, will automatically receive 2007 Entry Forms 

by mail in or around September. All entries will close 

on Friday 15th December 2006. 

Full details of the Festival are available from the 

Royal Geelong Yacht Club 

website www.rgyc.com.au or from the R.G.Y.C. 

Office: Telephone (03) 5229 3705, Fax (03)5223 

2768 or info@rgyc.com.au

Michael Kent - Port Melbourne Yacht Club

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