A good turn out enjoyed the ample afternoon tea and a quiet drink as the rain rolled in on Opening Day 2016-17 on Sunday.

Those members who were unable to join us missed an insightful presentation by Bruce and Marg Douglas as they declared the season open.  Their presentation note are reproduced here for your enlightenment.

Thanks Marg and Bruce for your contribution to a memorable day.

WYC

Opening Day

Foundation of club - 1960

 Driven by interest of a number of fishermen and sailors in Balnarring.

Until this time fishing interest were catered for over the beach as Mason Smith Rd.

Key players - Fishermen

               Tom Hazelgrove

               Mark Mudford

               Alf Flatman

               Bert Black

               Alec Patching – Cheerio Store Proprietor

               Jim Douglas ( Snr)

Bryant Weber

Sailors

John Fethers,

Jim Williams

John Wilkinson

Molly Brain

David Hughes

Serious efforts started in Summer of 1960 and by April of 1960, the foundation of the winch house had been poured – concrete for this which is the paved area in front of the men’s toilets is 300mm thick!!

Public meetings to generate interest and raise funds saw work on the clubrooms commence later in 1960.

 The clubs first auditors appointed in April 1960 were Frank Ray and Jim Douglas (Jnr).

 The yard and ramp were paved with CR and fenced

Second hand building materials were procured ( begged, borrowed and appropriated!!)

Work advanced rapidly – usually ahead of permits which caused some anxiety with the FSC.

Clubrooms -- Footings for the clubrooms being erected around the winch house were dug in July 1960.

Balcony and Toilets added in 1961.

My dad was Yard Manager for the summer of 1961 and we camped I the yard for the holidays and I remember one very high tide and storm event when waves  driven by a howling gale, were crashing through the gates and yard was covered with water and foam – very exciting for a 9 year old!!

 Flat top trolley and rails were installed in 1962 – and are still in place but buried.

 The high level Sailing Race Box was added in 1963.

 Lyell Williams took over as commodore in 1963 and planning for the Jetty commenced, it took 4 years to get approval and was constructed under the leadership of Commodore Alan Ramsay, being completed in 1968 at a cost of around $6000.

 It was added to in 1978. By the mid 1990s the sand had built up to such a level that the trolley, rails and jetty were largely buried and useless. More recent attempts in the early 2000s sere not successful in securing grants for the jetty upgrade, then costed at $200k.

 Around the early 1980s there was a large demand for moorings for keel boats, fishing boats  and TYs – this was before the marinas were built

 Concrete boat shelter designed by Terry Edwards ( Architect and Cat sailor) was built in 1967 – designed for a second storey – yet  to be added!!

 Like all good architectural projects this one progressed well and was completed for $8000 -  only 30% over budget!!

 Clubrooms were further modified with a western stairway and kitchen, lounge (bar) improved toilets and storeroom in 1970.

 The additional timber shelters – 2No , were built one since removed in mid 1970s

 Trolley and winch  were upgraded and brought into legal compliance in 1976

John McPherson, Ken Jackson, Vic Weatland, Ken Robinson.

 In 1989 investigations by  the forward planning committee – lead by Errol Phelan discovered that the main support columns ( ex-SEC telegraph poles were badly rotten and needing replacement.. Much of the work to replace these poles with brick columns was done by Ray Zani – cub member and keen fisherman.

 Other familiar names were heavily involved at the time and included;

Eric McGee,  Brian Clague, Ron Cleaver, Ron Miller and Geoff Spencer, Tony Sinclair

 Concerns were expressed about veg removal for yard and ramp – some issues remain the same!

 From the original 57 members in 1960 the club to its largest size in the 1980s, of around 1100 members  dropping back to 700 members in 1990.

Numbers declined further but for the past decade have remained fairly static around 400.  Much of this trend is due to the development of marinas in Hastings and Tyabb and improvements to public launching facilities around the peninsula butut is fair to say that off the beach sailing has waned somewhat wince the heady days of the early 1980s.

 From our family’s perspective the club has been a great focus for our enjoyment and watersport.

 I had a crack at the Commodore job Adam Smith now has and was also involved with the hand over of Westernport Rescue functions to the VMR.

 We had an Explorer 16 from 1972 until only a couple of years ago when it was “upgraded” and replaced by Glen’s Compass Careel – well it’s a bit bigger!!

 We have also had Sparrows,  a Laser, a Dolphin, a Paper Tiger, a Tornado and  Hobies – soon to be converted into an A Class Cat and a Corsair which never got wet actually.

 Serious sailors raced Herons in the 1970s, the Dolphins in the 1980s then Impulses – which are making a return and some are being sailed by the same people (Joe!!)

As a family we have been able to enjoy sailing at both a National and International level  competing in World Titles in France and Mexico.

Glen has competed in the European Class 1 regatta series leading towards the Athens Olympics.

My best effort was 7^th in the Hobie 16 -World Masters championship in Mexico.

My efforts pale into insignificance against those of real champions  and the club has had quite a few and is still providing  opportunities for the development of world class sailors. It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that the club has produced close to 100 State, National and International Champion sailors over the period until now, with more to come!! 

In regard to fishing boats, I briefly had an inboard ski/fishing boat for a couple of years until it broke off a mooring and got trashed on the beach in a storm.

 Then I took over custodial responsibilities for Jimmy’s 14’ Half cab Savage Tasman  -Billie which we have only just upgraded to an  18’ Whittley  with onboard facilities including stove, washbasin and toilet – suitable for our more gentrified standing as a statutory Senior! 

I have regaled you with snippets of information from the past and now Marg is going  to give you an outline of her involvement with our children learning to sail  and racing in regattas around Australia and  in recent years and currently in Sail training.

Marg’s

My Family joined in 1970.  A non- sailing family  after spending many years visiting friends in the area. Since the late 1950’s

My father was Secretary for a couple years and the editor of Westport Bound in the mid seventies.

The Younger Set was very active in these years. It was basically run by the older youth members most of who were Uni students but they included activities for younger people as well.

Bruce and I met here after I had been a member for 3 years already and we have just this year celebrated our 40^th Wedding anniversary. Several marriages have occurred between members over the years.

We both learnt to sail in Sparrowsas did our children some  25 years later.

Our children took their sailing further than we did. They made some very good and life long friends here and had many sailing trips around Australia and the World with these friends. (And Mum and Dad providing the transport).

Parent participation is vital. These friendships were supported by very active participation in the club by the parents who helped plan various sailing and non sailing activities.

At one stage WYC had1/3 of Victorian Youth sailing team -

We travelled to various place around the world for sailing regattas.

Both our children have silverware from State and National titles.

Glen crewed for Robbie Lovig on a Hobie 16 They were selected for the Australian Youth Team – in the ISAF Youth Worlds  in France. Here they won the bronze medal. A very proud moment for us and it was great to be there to watch.

World Youth Champions in Noumea- The following year they took themselves to Noumea to compete in the Hobie 16 Worlds. They won the Youth World Championship.

The boys moved on to a tornado and with the Australian Sailing team sailed in Europe for a few months.

Sailing is not all about winning. I have never won a race in my life (well not many) but I love being on the water.

Bruce and I were on Committee for around 10 years in various roles. We then stepped back to let others have a go.

At this stage I took on the role of Tackers Coordinator. A very busy but rewarding role. We put through around 80 children each season.

It is always good for a club to look at ways of doing things better. One thing that is very obvious to me is our follow up and retention of young sailors. A problem which many, many clubs grapple with.  We need to look at what we are doing to help this. We should have lots of kids running around. Given the number of children completing Tackers. The Coaching program is helping but we really need something else which is ideally supported by the parents of the children.

You get out of a club what you put in.

Being a part of a Yacht club is very satisfying. People of all ages mix and are friends. From the toddlers to the Great grandparents.

We now have 5 grandchildren – who hopefully will develop a love of sailing.

THANKYOU FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP.

 We regard it as a great honour.