JANUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year to all Spiral sailors and supporters! Another year with a BIG month to start!

NATIONALS. Friday 21^st to Sunday 23^rd at the YMSC Canberra.  Please register but if you have a change of heart due to Covid, please let us know so we can accommodate you.  Registration is through the website.

Concerns about catching Covid are reasonable.  Issues we need to keep in mind at the Nationals:

• Maintain the precautions we are using every day of wearing a mask when inside or in close proximity to others, keep socialising simple, spaced and in well ventilated areas.
• We are blessed with an outdoor, socially distanced, sport.  Even the rules are designed to keep us separated.
• Suggest having delivered takeaway evening meals rather than going to the local clubs and pubs.

The Spiral AGM will be held at the YMCS Canberra at 5:00pm Saturday, January 22, at the Nationals.  Motions to be put to the meeting have already been raised in previous newsletters re mast thickness and diameter.  The changes are minor but are to accommodate supply and durability issues.  There will also be discussion of new rig options so we can all contribute our thoughts and inputs.  As always, COMMITTEE POSITIONS will be up for re-election.  We value new committee members, with or without positions.  If you would like to assist the class and management, volunteer to be part of the committee.  Committee meetings are on Zoom so you do not even have to leave home and your favourite wine, cheese and biscuits!

NOWRA MARATHON. Sunday 30^th January.  Heading south cross the bridge and immediate next left at the helicopter on the pole.  Start around 10.45.  Lunch and drinks are supplied at Shoalhaven Heads for competitors and any of your non sailing support crew.  If you are making a weekend of it on the beautiful South Coast, you can race Saturday at Nowra’s Round Pig Island race, start 14.15 or at Callala start around 13.30 but allow time to get to the start at Callala Bay.

USED SPIRALS.  Yet another club is looking for some Spirals for training boats so we really do need some!  Please, please, please if you know of any not being used or can chase one down, please let us know.  Steve LeBreton, our honorary auditor, came up with the suggestion the Association buy a few used boats to lease out to clubs wanting to try Spirals.  This idea was supported by your committee and will be discussed at the AGM.  We are always after broken bottom mast sections to use for the smaller rigs.  A break around the vang attachment point makes a bottom section for a 5.6, and at the goose neck makes one for a 4.5.  How is that for recycling.

Tin Can Bay yacht club in Queensland has ordered a sail for their old Spiral which they are going to use as a training boat.  Another Spiral in Queensland!

Keep well and maintain precautions.  Your committee is watching the Covid situation carefully.  It is unlikely Nationals will be cancelled or postponed.  However, the committee has agreed any change to this will be advised with at least a week’s notice.

Bill Jauncey.  Acting Publicity Officer.   billjauncey@hotmail.com