Newsletter - April 2024

GHYC

From The Commodores Desk April 2024

As the sun sets and the sails are stowed on another memorable summer season, I want to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic experiences, the exciting sailing events and the cherished memories we've shared together at Gulf Harbour.

Celebrating Success.
From exhilarating racing to relaxing sunset cruising, our club has been buzzing with activities all season long. We are proud to have hosted a variety of events that have brought together members of all ages and skill levels, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie both on the water and ashore.

WOWW

Our WOWW weekend was a resounding success, with thrilling racing and impressive displays of skill from our talented ladies (over 130 of them).

Congratulations to all participants for their tenacity as well as their sportswomanship, and a special shout out to the winners for their outstanding performances.

Social Events.

Beyond the races our social calendar was busy with all sorts of opportunities to mix, including the new Sunday Brunch's and Sail GP viewing.

These events provide an opportunity for members to relax, unwind and connect with fellow boating enthusiasts, as well as locals and invited guests.

Gratitude to members and Volunteers.

None of this would have been possible without the dedication and support of our members and volunteers. Whether you helped to organise events, assisted with race logistics, or simply brought your enthusiasm to the club, your contributions have made a significant impact and are deeply appreciated.

Looking Ahead.

As we bid farewell to summer, lets carry the memories and learnings of this marvelous summer into the next season.

Lets continue to build upon the strong sense of community that defines Gulf Harbour, we have exciting plans in store for the upcoming months.

Stay Connected.

Remember to stay connected to GHYC via social media (email, website, whatsapp and bookface) and please join us for upcoming events.

Please take this personal invitation to be involved at our club as we move toward our upcoming AGM in August, we would love of some fresh faces and new ideas on all the current committees, please ask how you can become more involved.

Fair winds and smooth sailing

Phil Shaw

Commodore GHYC

Snippets from the Rear Commodore

The position of Rear Commodore is the person responsible for House Matters, and that seems to cover just about anything that isn't happening out on the water!

COASTGUARD BOATING EDUCATION COURSES are now being offered at the club, with tutor Mike Pignéguy enthusiastically promoting boating knowledge and safety. Coming up in the next few months we have:

• MARINE VHF OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE: Saturday 13 April
• DAY SKIPPER: 5 evenings: 17, 19, 21, 24, 26 June
• BOATMASTER: Sat/Sun 7 & 8 September and Sat/Sun 21 & 22 September

'Whatever your Waka' these courses are for you or anyone else who goes out on the water in a boat, kayak, on a paddle board or jet ski. Please spread the word to anyone who you think might benefit from attending. Visit the CBE website to find out more and register: https://www.boatingeducation.org.nz/

The recent MEMBER SURVEY has now closed and the responses made available to the Executive Committee so they can identify recurring themes and potential areas for action. Once the review has been completed the outcomes will be advised to all members.

One recurring theme in your responses to the survey is that you would like more speaker events. We would welcome contact details, and their suggested subject, of anyone who you think would make suitable speakers. If we receive lots of names then some may need to be carried over to next year. Email: admin@ghyc.co.nz

The Annual Prizegiving will be held on Saturday 18 May so do make sure to put the date in your diary

Last month on the BIG SCREEN we showed day 2 of SAIL GP in Christchurch. Later this year we will be showing delayed coverage from Barcelona of some of the racing in the lead up to and during the America's Cup. If there are other sporting events that you think we should screen, then please let us know and we will find out if it is possible. Email admin@ghyc.co.nz

Some of you will have noticed that the CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA has been closed off. During a recent assessment it was found to need some remedial work and a few days later we noticed some intentional damage to the slide that has made it unsafe to use.

What's coming up on the Social Scene

SUNDAY BRUNCH as a new monthly initiative has proved very popular so do come and join us from 11am on Sunday 14 April. Then as we move into Winter when it gets a little chilly to sit on the deck, we will be trialling a SUNDAY ROAST each month.

In May we will do Brunch or a Roast on Sunday 12^th May, Mother's Day, exact format to be decided nearer the time when we have a weather prediction:

warm = brunch cool = roast

Whatever the weather, save the date to treat your Mum, grand mum, or anyone else who deserves a day off dishes!

The ANNUAL PETANQUE TOURNAMENT for the BRIAN HOLGATE MEMORIAL TROPHY will we held at the club on Sunday 14^th April, from 2pm. This is a friendly knockout competition and anyone can play partners are drawn from a hat (or bucket!) on the day. Please email the club in advance if you would like to join in so we can make plans accordingly.

Our next BOAT BITS & CAR BOOT SALE will be held on SUNDAY 28 APRIL.

The last sale was a great success, with bacon & egg butties and fresh coffee proving very popular and a huge variety of all sorts of items for sale from the 20+ car boot sellers. This is a COMMUNITY EVENT so tell all your friends and neighbours and make sure to pop the date in your diary now. And remember that most sellers only accept cash.

Sailing Committee Corner

Summer Programme

Our Summer sailing events are almost all over now - one more Burnsco Cruising race and the last B&T two handed, still to be sailed. What glorious sailing weather this year and what a contrast to the previous summer. A big "thank you" to everyone who took part in our summer sailing programmes both as participants and helpers.

A highlight of the summer was the WOWW Regatta, which involved over 130 participants and 22 boats and was a great success, not only on the water, but by all accounts, at the social events also! We look forward to WOWW 2025.

Summer Prize Giving will be Saturday 18th May prize giving/dinner buffet/music. Please note in your calendars and make it a great social occasion at the club.

Safety Briefing

There was a 'MOB' incident during WOWW. Racing that day was under "Y" flag conditions i.e. that life jackets were mandatory. Thankfully the crew person was picked up by Chase", our Safety Rib, within three minutes, and was okay and returned to her boat. Credit to all involved for the very successful outcome.

The Sailing Committee will be reviewing this incident as although 'things went right', there are always safety improvements to be learnt, implemented and on-passed.

Winter Series Join the Fun

Notices of race are in preparation.

The Brin Wilson Winter Racing Series first race is Sunday May 19^th.

The You Travel Winter Cruising (Pursuit) Series first race is Saturday 1st June.

Both these series are very popular amongst members the Racing Series is an opportunity to enjoy competitive and/or social racing all in the one series.

The Cruising Series has proven very popular in its pursuit format as with the staggered individual starts by handicap, all boats finish more or less at the same time.

We look forward to seeing you out there over winter.

Calling ALL Motor Launch & Power Boat Owners

Executive Member Mike Pignéguy is keen to harness the enthusiasm of launch & power boat owners who are interested in navigation rallies and other organised events. If you haven't already heard from Mike, then please give him a call on 027 338 8248 or join him and other like-minded boaties for a drink and chat this Sunday, 7^th April at 4pm at the club.

Evolution Sails Women on Water Weekend 2024

A weekend of two halves!

Over 130 women, aged from 15 to 78, on 22 boats took to the waters for another successful Evolution Sails Women on Water Weekend (WOWW) hosted by Gulf Harbour Yacht Club. The three-day event focuses on encouraging women to take up the sport of keelboat sailing in an environment where they feel supported and able to meet fellow female sailors who are keen to share their knowledge and experience. This year the event included a team from Australia who skippered a boat from local Gulf Harbour Yacht Club member, Peter Strathdee.

Friday gave all crews an opportunity to meet each other and boat owners, many of whom had little or limited experience. Then on Saturday the challenging weather provided an exhilarating three races managed by our local Race Officer, Celia Carson and was beautifully captured in images by Live Sail Die. Sunday however, witnessed the boats sitting like ducks in the water as no wind equated to no racing. Instead, the crews took to the water for an Autumnal dip before heading back to the clubhouse for final prize giving. Great to see Gulf Harbour member, Kim Dovey on Korora take the trophy as series winner for the non-spinnaker division and past member, Cherry McIvor take the spinnaker division trophy on a visiting yacht, Pace.

Events like these could not be possible without the generosity of both our sponsors and our amazing club members who supported this event both on and off the water. On behalf of the WOWW committee a massive thanks to everyone who played a part in making this event a success.

RESULTS:
Division A Series Positions: 1^st Pace; 2^nd Fez, 3^rd Azure
Division B Series Positions: 1^st Korora, 2^nd Rene Chance, 3^rd Glory Days

Events like these could not be possible without the generosity of both our sponsors and our amazing club members who supported this event both on and off the water. On behalf of the WOWW committee a massive thanks to everyone who played a part in making this event a success.

RESULTS:
Division A Series Positions: 1^st Pace; 2^nd Fez, 3^rd Azure
Division B Series Positions: 1^st Korora, 2^nd Rene Chance, 3^rd Glory Days

Women and sailing [goes after Sarah's bit on WOWW]

SheSails New Zealand is a partnership forged between YNZ and Australian Sailing. It offers an incredible opportunity for all Kiwi sailors to work together and uplift and empower women and girls in sailing. https://www.facebook.com/SheSailsNZ

Lowry Bay Yacht Club, Wellington Wellington Women's Regatta, 27^th & 28^th April 2024. More info and to register:

https://www.lbyc.org.nz/wellington-womens-regatta

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Women's Day Out. Saturday 24^th August 2024. A celebration of women on the water and a chance to network with fellow women sailors. https://www.rnzys.org.nz/rnzys-events/womensdayout/

Waikawa Women's Regatta in the Marlborough Sounds. Probably the longest running Women's Regatta in NZ , this year it is extended to a fantastic 4 days of sailing and wrap-around events. 12^th 15^th September 2024. https://waikawaboatingclub.co.nz/womens-regatta/

Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club Women on Water programme. Although not a regatta, TYPBC has a very strong women's programme with some great ideas and resources. https://yacht.org.nz/women-on-water

GHYC Quiz: Questions

• 1. You are sailing at night and you have the mast-top tri-colour navigation lights on. The wind drops and you decide to motor-sail. What changes, if any, should you make to your navigation lights?
• 2. Who should you have your EPIRB registered with?
• 3. What 2 frequencies does an EPIRB transmit on and why?
• 4. What is the best way of checking the offset of your depth sounder?
• 5. If the wind direction changes from NE to SE, has it backed or veered?
• 6. What is the Tiritiri Lighthouse light characteristic?
• 7. What do the yellow buoys at the end of the Whangaparaoa Penla. mark?
• 8. How did the Noises get their name ?
• 9. At what height does cloud form over Little Barrier, and why?
• 10. What is a Tidal Diamond and what can it tell you?

Answers

• 1. You have now become a power-driven vessel and should show the lights of a power driven vessel of your size: a) if under 12m in length: an all-round masthead light with sidelights at deck level. b) if over 12m in length: a white steaming light (vis from right ahead to 22.5 ͦ abaft the beam on either side) on your mast, and sidelights at deck level. In both cases the tri-colour light should be extinguished.
• 2. Your EPIRB should be registered with the Rescue Co-ordination Centre of NZ (RCCNZ). Go to beacons.org.nz to register for free.
• 3. The EPIRB has 2 transmitting frequencies: a) 406 Mhz which goes to a satellite and down to the RCCNZ in Wellington. b) 121.5Mhz which acts as a homing frequency for searching craft and helicopters.
• It's best to have an EPIRB with a built in GPS so that your position is immediately recognised.
• 4. When at your berth or at anchor, tie a small weight on a line and drop it over the side and lower it until it just touches the sea-bed. Note the level of the water on the line, then pull it up and lay it along your deck. Measure the length of wet line. Check this length against what your depth sounder is showing. The difference is the 'offset'.
• 5. The wind has swung in a clockwise direction and it has therefore veered.
• 6. One white flash every 15 seconds, visible all-round.
• 7. They mark the old degaussing cable lying on the seabed. A degaussing station was set up on the peninsula during WW2 and a strong electric current (up to 20,000 gauss) was sent through the cable. This created a strong electro-magnetic field that could neutralise the magnetic field around a steel ship. This would make the ship safe if it got close to a magnetic mine, for a few months anyway!
• 8. In 1827 the French explorer Dumont D'Urville named them Les Noisettes,(The Hazelnuts) as he likened them to a scattering of hazelnuts on the water. Kiwis couldn't handle the French stuff and corrupted to The Noises!
• 9. When air rises in the atmosphere , like when it rises up the side of the mountains on Little Barrier,it cools and is under less pressure.
• As it cools its temperature will drop below its dewpoint , the point at which water vapour turns to water droplets (it condenses). This will be visible as the cloud base. On the leeward side of the island the air mass will drop down the side of the mountain, and in doing so it will warm to a temperature above that of its dewpoint, and so the water droplets now evaporate back into a vapour. That is the cloud base level on the leeward side of the island.
• 10. A Tidal Diamond is a magenta coloured diamond with a capital letter in it and can be found on a marine chart in various locations.
• There will be a table on the chart that has tidal information about that location, such as: direction in True degrees of the tidal stream; rate in knots at Spring Tide; rate in knots at Neap tide; and the time that these occur in relation to HW, normally at the nearest Standard Port (Auckland for the Hauraki Gulf)

Have fun out there!

Mike Pignéguy

E: gannet61@yahoo.co.nz

Answer to Mystery Anchorage:

Hobbs Bay at Tiritiri Matangi Island