GULF HARBOUR YACHT CLUB Inc
1299 Laurie Southwick Parade, Gulf Harbour Marina, Whangaparaoa, New Zealand

Latitude: 36' 37.23 S  Longitude: 174' 47.06 E

 

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December 2011/January 2012

 Newsletter

  1. Bosun's Locker
  2. Calendar
  3. Club Clothing Club Clothing Order Form Excel Spreadsheet OR pdf file
  4. Club Notices/Events/News of Members (a.k.a. 'From the Engine Room')
  5. Commodore’s Log
  6. Cruising Committee News
  7. House Committee
  8. Safety Officer
  9. Sailing Committee News
  10. Sponsors News
  11. Wentworth Sailing & Outdoor Pursuits Club

The 2006/07 Adventures of Warren, Louise & Cadenza (archived)

Commodore’s Log

That’s it!  Election over and promises of half price diesel for boaties, 15knot beam winds for all races and doubled fishing limits to take advantage of the promised over abundance of seafood from now on (one can but dream!).

Our recent ‘Open Day/Boat Hop’… thanks to the efforts of so many members, was very successful with a great time had by all and many new members signed up to join the club.

To our new members… Welcome!

Now, when you next visit the club please make yourself known to us… and what better time to visit the club than Friday 16 December to experience our Grand Christmas ‘do’.

Rosa is putting on a special Christmas buffet meal where one may enjoy a fantastic range of hot and cold goodies, roasts, salads and indulgent desserts.  After the feasting, the dancing/partying goes on 'til late!

But wait there’s more!… The club’s last cruising race of the year - Saturday 10 December - finishes at Kawau Island where we all go ashore for a beach BBQ followed by ‘Carols by Candlelight‘… whoops… ‘Carols by Litestix’!

Please give Chris Biggs a call to order your Litestix… only $2.95… far cheaper than a fine by the ‘Guardians’ of Kawau for exposing a lighted candle to the environment!

Now… you don’t need to be in the raceALL members are more than welcome to join in… just be on the beach* by 5.30 with your BBQ stuff and singing voices.

*Listen on CH 66 to hear which beach the party will be taking place on.

Then, it’s soon off on the Christmas cruise… let’s hope that we occasionally bump** into each other sometime over the holiday period.

** Gently though and definitely not late at night!

PS: ‘Sun over the yardarm’ is now officially 17.00!

So… Christmas Salutations to you all and enjoy a safe Christmas!

May your anchors hold.

Howard Rowland
Commodore

Club Clothing

We have run down the clothing range as we review our holdings and styles etc.  So if you want something then get along to the club and buy it as there's not much left!

Also available:

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Club Peak Caps            @ $20.00

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Club Burgees                @ $45.00

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Club Transfer Stickers   @ $15.00

For more information contact the office.

Gillian Waite
Treasurer

Sailing Committee News

During November, six races were scheduled, but once again a ladies race was abandoned due to the wind conditions.  The month started with race 1 of the Brian Holgate Panelbeaters Two Handed series taking competitors around the Haystack and McKenzie Buoy in a breeze of 10 knots from the north east.  The second race in the series was held in winds of 20 knots from the south west rounding Tiri and the Haystack.

In the Warpaint series, race 3 was held in winds of 12 to 15 knots from the south west.  However, race 4 was more challenging for competitors with a downwind start and winds ranging from 5 to 27 knots observed on the start/finish boat.

For the Ladies, only one race was held during the month with 20 knot winds from the west, proving to be challenging for the first race in the session and those who haven’t sailed for a while.

Brian Holgate Panelbeaters Two Handed Series

Race 1 – 30th October 2011

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Line Honours – Planet X

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First on Handicap – Glory Days

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Second on Handicap – First Priority

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Third on Handicap – Prozac

Race 2 – 20th November 2011

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Line Honours – Planet X

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First on Handicap – Glory Days

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Second on Handicap – Prozac

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Third on Handicap – Whale Rider

Warpaint Twilight Series

Race 3 – 9th November 2011

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Line Honours – Planet X

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First on Handicap – Montrachet

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Second on Handicap – Platinum

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Third on Handicap – Blue Sapphire

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Great United Travel Manly Prize Pot: Platinum

Race 4 – 23rd November 2011

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Line Honours – Planet X

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First on Handicap – Platinum

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Second on Handicap – Glory Days

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Third on Handicap – Prozac

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Great United Travel Manly Prize Pot: Raiatea

Ladies Twilight Series

Race 2 – 2nd November 2011

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Line Honours and First on Handicap – Glory Days

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Second on Handicap – Rewi

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Third on Handicap – Special Lady

So the key dates in December are:

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Sunday 4th December – race 3 in the Brian Holgate Panelbeaters Two Handed series

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Wednesday 7th December – race 5 in the Warpaint series

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Wednesday 14th December – race 5 in the Ladies series

General Information
Details are now on the entry form page on this website including the sailing programme, Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, and entry form.  The following are some of the additions and changes made this year:

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Dinghy sailing – a new event for the club, two races of approximately 30-45 minutes will be raced each night starting at 1800.  We hope this event will encourage younger members and their parents to the club.  If anyone can assist in running this event, perhaps on Olympus, Chase or ground staff, we would be pleased to hear from you.  Please contact the office or a member of the sailing committee if you can assist on any night over the summer.

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The Firewatch Gulf Series and Brian Holgate Panelbeaters Two Handed Series are now two separate events with four races in each.  The Brian Holgate Panelbeaters two handed series now runs from 30th October 2011 to 22nd January 2012 whilst the Firewatch Gulf Series runs from 18th February 2012 to 1st April 2012, including the race to Marsden Cove.

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Warpaint and Lingerie World Twilight – following your feedback to the recent questionnaire, the starting line for these races will be close to the Marina entrance, either upwind or downwind, depending on the wind direction.  We have also included a time limit of 2000 hours for the first boat the finish, with all other boats having to finish within 30 minutes of the first boat.

As mentioned above, Entry forms are now available from the club and the GHYC website.  In addition to the pdf version there is also a Word (.doc) version on the website so you can download, complete and email to the club.  And of course, you can pay the entry fee via internet banking.

Graeme White
Sailing Committee

Cruising Committee News

Burnsco Marine & Leisure Summer Cruising Series Race 1, 22 October 2011

12 November – Joint event with Weiti Boat Club
A somewhat event full start of an “interesting” race.  Yours truly was without boat so the nice people on Raiatea invited me as a working passenger.

After a flurry of pre-start activity, the breeze died away at the last minute, causing a little consternation at the start line.  A couple of our skippers have exchanged insurance details as a result.

The wind lottery saw two distinct fleets of boats head for Motuihe Island.

The southerly bunch managed a tad more headway over the northern group.

Some of our normally 'Up-there' boats were missing at the head of the fleet, when Planet X advised the Weiti race committee of the distinct lack of wind.

The committee decided to shorten course at Waikalabubu, with Planet X as the finish boat.

At this point an old saying about the opera not being over, etc, came to mind.

Kairos was looking like leaving the good ship Raiatea behind!  But…..!  The rock hoppers tried valiantly to lay a course into Waikalabubu.  Our skipper decided the best way to the finish was to see if he could scare a couple of the anchored boats in the bay.  It paid off, the fastest logged speed all day to the finish line.

With a NE breeze filling in, most headed to West Bay, for a rest after the hard sail.

This changed to a SW later in the afternoon, which had the fleet heading for Waikalabubu again.

 Inclement weather conditions saw our traditional beach BBQ called off, with a presentation set for Sunday morning.

A good win to Glory Days with Planet X second, Special Lady third and Nureme fourth.

As a combined race, GHYC had 17 starters, WBC 9

26 November – Waiheke Race
Well, it didn’t happen.

The committee tried postponing the start till 12.00 noon in the hope the wind would abate.  Not to be.  The decision to cancel was made at 10.00 much to the relief of some.

Our next race to Kawau is the Christmas carols race.

All are welcome to this traditional event.  You don’t have to race to join in!

Cruising Race Finish Lines
As many of you are aware, we don’t currently have the services of Warren and Louise on Condrieu.

Warren has been laid up with some urgent maintenance, putting him out of action for a while.  We are thinking of you Warren.

In the interim, the finish boat duties will now be on a rotation basis.

At the next race, the first boat will take their own time and establish a transit mark.  They will then take the time of the second boat who will be given the transit mark details, anchor and finish the balance of the fleet.

The following race will be the turn of the 3rd boat, and so on.  This move will spread the task over a number of boats over a period of races.

January Cruise In Company
A group of Skippers are putting together a cruise in company to Great Barrier Island.  This concept is not a race, but an opportunity to join a group with experienced skippers showing the way to anchorages and places of interest at the Barrier.

If you would like to participate, get in touch with Mike Hilt, our club travel guru.  Timing is proposed for late January, early Feb.

See you all out on the water.

Thank you to our series sponsors: Burnsco Marine and Leisure, Manly United Travel, PIC Insurance, New World Orewa, HSE Ltd and Total Property Services

Chris Biggs
Cruising Committee

Firewatch 56
Just over three months until we conduct our Firewatch 56 race to Marsden Cove.  Our race will start on Friday 02 March at 1000 for non extras yachts and 1200 for those sailing with extras.

Richmond Yacht Club will be starting their race from downtown at 1000 so the fleets should come together along the way.

Opua Cruising Club has just announced it will also start a race at 1000 Friday for the Bay of Island yachts racing to Marsden Cove

Friday night meals will be available and hopefully we will be able to have prize giving for the three feeder races.

Saturday the 'Clash at the Cove Regatta' will give a choice of 'windward leeward' or 'around the islands' racing.

Saturday night in the big marquee will be food, entertainment and prize giving for the best combined results of the Friday and Saturday sailing for Gulf Harbour, Richmond, Onerahi and Kerikeri Yacht clubs.

All boats will receive a hospitality pack on arrival and Marsden Cove is happy for skippers to leave their yachts free of charge for a limited time.  The marina is a little over 100kms from Orewa.

We have nine yachts so far that intend to do the race.  Some intend to carry on in cruising mode after the weekend.  Check your diary.  It should be a fun weekend.

John Allemann

Calendar

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01 July - mid December 2011 - Shakespear Open Sanctuary Animal Pest Eradication - includes poison drop info

 
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Saturday 03 December - Children’s Christmas Party

 
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Sunday 04 December - Brian Holgate Panel Beaters Two Handed Race 3 - Rangitoto

 

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Wednesday 07 December – race 5 in the Warpaint series

 
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Saturday 10 December - Burnsco Cruising 4 - Carols at Kawau

 
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Wednesday 14 December – race 5 in the Ladies series

 
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Friday 16 December - Christmas Buffet meal at the GHYC restaurant

 
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Saturday 17 December - GH Radio YC Xmas BBQ in GHYC 1530-1730

 
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Monday 16 to Saturday 21 January 2012 - 6 day 'Learn to Sail' programme with WSOPC

 
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Friday 23 March 2012 - Rotary Regatta

House Committee

Nothing this month!!

Jim McElrea
House Committee

Safety Officer’s Report

Nothing this month!!

Capt'John Briand
Club Safety Officer

Club Notices/Events/News of Members (a.k.a. 'From the Engine Room')

Welcome to new member Amanda Herbert.  Also to all the people who came to the Open Day and decided to join the club:

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David Bell and Kay Harrison

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Valda Black

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Ad and Monique Blankenstein who own the Lotus 10.6, aptly named Lotus on G7

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Kevin and Eve Borley who own the Easterly 30 Galapagos, on the canal

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Kristofer and Muriel Brink who have a trailer Plylite called Catfish Sam

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Craig and Robyn Davis who also have a boat on a trailer named Offishal Business

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Russell Hobbs and Robyn Layne who own the Vindex 37 Sarina on E75 (until early December)

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Peter and Heather Jackson who have moved to GH from Christchurch

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John Kirikiri and Gaye Harding, who need no introduction.

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Larry Mitchell, like wise, who has re-joined.  Larry owns the Young 88 Instep on E2

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Murray and Fran Evans and their son Richard

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Murray and Kate Pollard

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Errol and Vicky Poole who have the Pelin Apollo named Pronto on L19

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Jaco van Tondue who is a keen kayaker

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Jim and Clare Rouse who own Rasputin, a Spencer on K5

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Ray Hunt and Debbie Gillanders

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Anna Waters

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Belinda Whitchurch and her young twins.

That is a nice long list isn't it!  A very warm welcome to you all.  In case it was too much info to take in at the Open Day, a reminder that the club is open on Wednesdays from 7.30pm for drinks and burgers etc, Thursdays just for drinks from 5pm till around 7pm and Fridays from 5.30pm for drinks and meals.

For those keen fishermen/women amongst you, GHYC has a continuous fishing competition, with a prize and cup presented at the Summer Prize-giving.  You just need to fill in one of the forms from the club foyer and provide a photo as evidence of the huge fish you have caught.

On Saturday December 3rd it will be the children's Xmas Party, starting at 10.30am.  In the evening the bar and restaurant will be open as Devonport Yacht Club and Ponsonby Yacht Club will be visiting GHYC.  All welcome.  It would help Rosa to cater if you let the office know you are coming.

On Friday, December 16th we are going to have a Xmas buffet, RSVP's essential.

The office will close on Monday, December 19th and re-open on Monday, 16 January 2012.

The ladies racing will resume on January 18th with the bar and restaurant open for light meals and as normal on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th.

If I don't see you at the club – Happy Holidays

Gill Waite 

A Big Thank You from Michael Green to the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club

For the support of the club and those members who attended and helped at the launch of

Blood ROOTS

  The Sequel to ‘Blood Line and ‘Blood Bond’

The day proved a great success with the target for donations to Lifeline achieved.                          

If you could not attend and would like a book please visit www.mgc.co.nz

Note: stocks of all three titles are now very limited – (first come, best served).

PUBLIC NOTICE - Shakespear Open Sanctuary Animal Pest Eradication

The Whangaparaoa coastline from Army Bay to Okoromai Bay will be closed to public entry from 1 July until approximately mid December.  Three aerial applications of cereal bait containing brodifacoum, each approximately two weeks apart will be undertaken as part of a pest eradication programme, east of the pest proof fence. Application dates are weather dependent. Measures are in place to prevent bait entering the coastal marine area.

Vessels will be patrolling the coastline during days of aerial applications.  Please follow all instructions and stay clear of the coast.

Although we do not expect this activity to affect marine life, as a precautionary measure we advise that people avoid collecting and eating seafood from this area until the all clear is given following testing.

Notices to mariners will be broadcast on the Nowcasting channels 20, 21and 22

For up to date information on the fishery status and park closure contact the Auckland Council on 09 3010101, visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/regionalparks or email open.sanctuary@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Wentworth SOPC (Sailing & Outdoor Pursuits Club)

The Wentworth Sailing Team launched into the new sailing season during the last school holidays, attending the School Team Sailing Spring Regatta at Algies Bay.  After 3 days of sailing in fairly trying weather, our team performed really well to finish 3rd in the Silver Fleet.  We would like to thank GHYC for your support in allowing us the use of your chase boat at this regatta – it was much appreciated.  Our next regatta is at Keri Keri in mid-December and students are looking forward to another opportunity to improve their sailing skills as well as having fun on the water, camping out and getting to know other students from all around the country.

WSOPC Team members at the recent GHYC Open Day 19 November 2011

We continue to work at establishing this group and have managed to acquire some much needed equipment.  We are now the proud owners of a new set of bright orange teams racing sails and a double dinghy road trailer thanks to the support of NZCT and our sponsor bulletin.net.  You might have seen the sails on display at the recent Open Day.  We also hope to complete the purchase of a third ‘pre-loved’ 420 in the near future.  This will mean that we’ll have all the basics required for team racing and will no longer need to borrow boats and sails, etc, when competing at regattas.

Our next mission is to establish a 'Learn to Sail' Programme.  We have our first course scheduled as a holiday programme during January so please spread the word.  We hope that this will help grow our group and introduce the younger generation to GHYC.

'Learn to Sail' flyer and application form page 1 & page 2

Helen Hughes
WSOPC

Club For Hire
The club is available for hire by members for private functions.  Phone
Dawne on 428 0664 for details.

Key difference in the New Rules 2009 - 2012

By John Doerr, IJ GBR (and abridged by YD) Courtesy YNZ

The most significant changes in the new version of the Rules of Racing are to the mark and obstruction rounding rules.  In total, there are well over 100 changes to the rulebook.  These are the ones that really have an impact on how we go racing.

Passing Marks - The Zone
The most obvious change is the size of the zone around marks increasing from two hull lengths to three, still of the boat nearest the mark.  However, beware!  Rule 86.1(b) now permits the sailing instructions to change the zone back to two lengths, or even increase it to four lengths!

Passing Marks - Mark Room
A new definition of 'mark room' has been added.  It reads as: 'Room for a boat to sail to the mark, and then room to sail her proper course while at the mark.  However, mark-room does not include room to tack unless the boat is overlapped to windward and on the inside of the boat required to give mark-room.'

Now, it no longer matters if you are the right-of-way or give-way boat inside at a mark.  Whenever you are entitled to room you can take the room needed to make a proper course rounding.

Passing Marks - Clear Ahead at the Zone
A boat that arrived at the zone clear ahead instantly became the right-of-way boat under old rule 18.2(c) even if she was on port tack and her opponent on starboard, and of course, the right-of-way could well reverse again once the boats had completed their rounding.  Those changes of right-of-way are history.  Instead of changing the right-of-way, the new rule 18.2(b) simply requires the boat astern to give the boat ahead 'mark-room'.  In many senses this change has no real effect, but is a good deal simpler to understand.

Passing Marks - The Windward Mark
In practice, not a great deal changes at the windward mark, but it is just a bit harder for a boat to pull off a port tack approach and tack within the zone.

The 'zone' around the mark is now three hull lengths of the boat nearer to it, but rule 18.3 now 'turns on' when the tacking boat passes head-to-wind rather than completes her tack.  So, the overall effect is to increase the scope of the rule about an extra half boat length, a critical distance if you tack just below the layline outside the zone with the hope of shooting the mark.

Passing Obstructions
Passing obstructions now has it own rule, new rule 19.  In concept, there is no 'zone' around obstructions but that would cause a problem when the obstruction is also a mark.

Rule 19 applies between boats at an obstruction except when the obstruction is also mark the boats are required to leave on the same side, however, at a continuing obstruction, rule 19 always applies and rule 18 does not.

An outside boat must give room to an inside boat, if at the time the overlap began she is able to do so.  If the obstruction is a continuing one the rule has not changed.  The outside boat only has to give room if, at the moment the overlap was established, there is room for the boat that was clear astern to pass in safety.

Passing Racing Boats
Racing boats can still be obstructions - and are when; other boats are required to keep clear of her, give room to her or avoid her - but they can no longer be 'continuing obstructions'.  It is important to read this in conjunction with the change that removes the potential switch of right-of-way when a boat clear ahead enters the zone.  Also, remember that there is no 'zone' around obstructions.

Proper Course
Rule 17.2 has been deleted.  It prohibited a boat from sailing below a proper course when another boat was steering a course to pass to leeward of her.  So, it used to be that you could protect yourself, by luffing, from a boat trying to pass to windward but you had to accept a faster boat overtaking to leeward.  Now, if you see her coming and provided you can keep clear as you do so, you can bear away across her bow so forcing her to sail even lower or risk going to windward and being luffed.

Outside Help
Now, if you receive help from any source, even when in danger, you break rule 41.

Race Management
A few things that had become common in sailing instructions have found there way into the rulebook.  Hopefully, sailing instructions will now be shorter as a result.

The use of gates has increased dramatically and they are now included in rule 28, Sailing the Course.  A boat must always pass between the marks of a gate from the direction of the previous mark.

A shortened course must now be signalled before the first boat has crossed the finishing line.  It was never recommended practice to do otherwise, but it was not an improper action to do so.  Presumably this will make it easier for boats to be given redress if the race committee does shorten the course too late.

The pretty pages with all the race signals in colour now include the full set of options (green triangle, red rectangle, plus and minus signs) for changing the next leg of the course.  The words in rule 33 have been changed from 'lengthened' and 'shortened' to 'increased' and 'decreased'.


Burnsco Marine and Leisure,
who have kindly sponsored our cruising series for several years, have chosen Gulf Harbour Yacht Club to be one of the clubs to benefit from another generous sponsorship scheme.  A lot of you are probably already Burnsco cardholders and enjoy the discounts this affords.  Now, in addition to those discounts, every time you shop at any one of the Burnsco stores or online at www.burnsco.co.nz the club will earn sponsorship dollars in the form of a monthly rebate.  In order for this to work, I need to let Burnsco know the names and cardholder numbers of people who are members of GHYC.  I would appreciate it if you could let the office have these details.  If you are not happy to give your cardholder number, your address will suffice.  In these straitened times we need to support our sponsors where we can.

Gillian Waite
Treasurer

Gulf Group Marine Brokers Ltd now has 10 branches with the opening of new offices in Picton and Tauranga.

We are brokers for PIC Marine insurance and Marac finance.  We can quote on your boat insurance with PIC GHYC already uses PIC for all their insurance needs (see below).

Call Nigel or Howard on 09 424 1633 for a quote, and if you accept the quote, the club will benefit in the form of a cash grant at the end of the year.

Ring Gill Waite on 09 424 2118 to learn more about this deal or call Nigel and Howard direct.

Gulf Group Marine Brokers with branches at Whangarei, Tutakaka, Gulf Harbour, Westhaven, Pine Harbour, Westpark, Tauranga, Wellington, Picton, Fiji.

Nigel             021 242 4448

Howard         021 242 4446

PIC Insurance Brokers Winter Series
Well the Winter sailing is underway again!  Please note that with it is our renewed sponsorship of the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club for another year.  This year we are also giving a percentage of Insurance Premiums back to the club on top of our usual Sponsorship. This is to fund projects each year to help develop and strengthen your club.

We are also offering substantial discounts on House, Contents and Vehicle covers to all members of the Gulf Harbour Yacht Club.  This is an exclusive benefit and is only available to Yacht Club members and their families.  We will make the transition from your existing insurer easy.  In most cases we will not require new proposal forms and documents.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us, on 09 478 8495, to see how we can help.

Kind Regards

Daniel Garner
PIC Insurance

Racing Rules
Sailing Series' are governed by the new Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012.  The website www.ukhalsey.com/RulesQuiz/quiz_list.asp is worth checking out to follow examples of incidents and the correct interpretation of the rules.

Bosun's Locker

Nothing this month!

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