Royals Yearbook 2019/2020

stayed until about four, and then
They
to Queenscliff, where the race
sailed
was about 7pm Christmas night when I
It
another phone call from Hedley,
received
that the Navigator had missed the
saying
he was expected to fly on, and the
plane
he would arrive at Tullamarine
earliest
be the next morning, barely over
would
hour before the race was due to start
an
Queenscliff. Hedley was depressed,
at
he felt he would have to cancel
because
being without his right-hand
racing,
I told him I would see what I could
man.
to help. It seemed impossible,
do
being Christmas Day, with
especially
and everybody closed or
everything
rang a colleague at the Aero Club for
I
He gave me the name and
advice.
of an aviator who ran a small hire
number
business, though he did not really
plane
much hope that this man could
have
me. help
luck would have it, not only did he
As
the phone, but said that he would
answer
the Hobart plane the next morning
meet
fly the person to a small airfield near
and
He gave detailed instructions
Queenscliff.
to how to find him and his plane at
as
far so good, but our friend was still not
So
Queenscliff. It so happens that because
in
had made radio friends with the
I
Keeper at Point Lonsdale.
Lighthouse
ventured, I found his home
Nothing
and again good fortune indeed
number,
smiled. He was home and full of
asked him if he knew of a reliable local
I
driver, and he gave me a name and a
taxi
Again, I was lucky and booked
number.
to meet a light aircraft at Barwon
him
airfield, and to take a passenger
Heads
to the pier at Queenscliff.
quickly
these arrangements were relayed to
All
who in turn contacted the
Hedley,
in Hobart and gave him all the
navigator
instructions. I doubt that any of
necessary
slept that night – there was so much
us
could go wrong.
that
few weeks later, I received a very
A
picnic set from Hedley and the
generous
boys, with a note of thanks addressed to
“Maker of
the
Miracles”.
was no miracle - I was just lucky to
This
friends and to know people who
have
R Y C V Y E A R B O O K 2 0 2 0
(NOW KNOWN AS THE ‘WEST COASTER’)
Charles Treleaven
INAUGRAL MELBOURNE
TO HOBART YACHT RACE - 1972.
would start the next morning.
Christmas cheer.
relaxed.
next morning it all worked like clockwork,
The
and the navigator was aboard the
Lass” in time for the race to start.
“Huon
Surely it could only happen in
PHEW!
Australia.
Tullamarine Airport.
could help.
of the frequency of sailing at the Heads,
P A G E 7 7