Newsletter - 10 September 2015

This email contains graphics, so if you don't see them, view it in your browser.

Lots of opportunities for volunteer work in this weeks' newsletter.  Perhaps there's something that appeals to you.....

but first...

SYC Secretary Jenny Bronkhorst becomes Jenny Purchase

We wish for it to be known that our secretary Jenny Bronkhorst is reverting back to her maiden name, Jenny Purchase. The reason for this is that last week, Zambian-born Jenny became a citizen of New Zealand.  Jenny has lived and worked in NZ for almost 18 years as a permanent resident, having come here to take up a teaching position at a time when there was a shortage of NZ teachers. She taught both secondary and tertiary students locally, at both Mahurangi College and Mahurangi Technical Institute, and later worked for the Tertiary Education Commission in adult training, before taking on the role of SYC Secretary when her three children flew the nest to take up their adult lives.

Jenny has been with us for seven years now, driving down from Marsden Cove where she has lived with her partner John Burns for the past four years, to do the job she loves - looking after 'us lot'. As before, Jenny can be contacted at the SYC office by telephone (425 9008) or email (sandspit_yc@xtra.co.nz).   Long may she continue to be our highly respected Secretary.

Membership

Keep a beady eye on your emails for an invoice from SYC for 2015/2016 membership fees.  Processing may take a while depending on the volume which comes in each week, so please don't despair if your handbook is a little late in arriving.  If anyone has a bit of spare time and would like to help process these invoices in a volunteer capacity, then give Jenny a call as she often appreciates a bit of help at this time of the year.

International Cruising Assn - Club night this Friday

For those who are members of ICA or for those who might be interested in seeing what they do, they have a focus on AIS at their club night this Friday, 11 September.

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is an automatic tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services for identifying and locating vessels by electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships, AIS base stations, and satellites. When satellites are used to detect AIS signatures then the term Satellite-AIS (S-AIS) is used. AIS information supplements marine radar which continues to be the primary method of collision avoidance for water transport.

WHAT - ICA - RNZYS Focus on Cruising evening - AIS Think you've seen all there is to see with AIS, Think again.
WHO - Jeff Robins of Vesper Marine, NZ Based AIS developers takes you on a fascinating and informative journey of where AIS is now and Where it's going into the future.
WHEN - Friday 11th September - 6pm Bar opens, 7-7:30 Dinner - $35pp Buffet
WHERE - RNZYS - Westhaven - Quarter Deck restaurant.
Jeff will be joined by ICA host Tony Whiting for the evening.

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL - Please contact John Martin, Director Island Cruising Assoc to see if spaces are available (bookings were due by Wed 9th).  Email john@islandcruising.co.nz.  Or visit their website www.islandcruising.org.

SYC Historian

We mentioned in the last letter our desire to find someone who might be interested in doing a few interviews with some of the older people who are or were once members of SYC, so that their stories and SYC history will be recorded.  So far, no one has come forward.  We have a lot of history already recorded, but we want more.   Surely there must be at least one of our 450+ members who will put their hand up to do this non-onerous role?  Please give Glenys a call on 4222-479 to find out more.

Centreboard Division

Learn To Sail

With the school holidays fast approaching, the Centreboard Division is gearing up for sailing in Term 4. The first Learn to Sail class starts on Sunday 11 October, the day before kids go back to school on the 12th.  These are 8wk courses, each 3hrs in duration, run on a Sunday with the more experienced ones doing their course on a Tuesday after school.  From 1pm each Sunday, we have 'Club Day' sailing, which is open to anyone who owns a small sailing dinghy, no matter the make or condition of the boat, age or experience of the sailor.  It's about having fun and the more people we get on the water from 1pm, the better.

If you're interested in knowing more about these courses or Club Sunday, please contact Learn to Sail Co-ordinator Mischelle Mills on 022 171 2550 or email sandspitlearntosail@gmail.com.

Have A Go... Sailing!

In Term 4, some of the local primary schools will be participating in the 'Have A Go' one-day sailing opportunity, a Yachting New Zealand initiative run in conjunction with our the SYC Centreboard Division for 9-13yr olds.

The schools will be using our Algies Bay facilities from 9am-2pm over 7 days in October and 1 day in November.  There will be one YNZ instructor and 12 children each day from schools as below:

Warkworth Primary : Tues 13 Oct, Fri 23 October and Mon 9 November.

Matakana Primary : Wed 14, Thurs 15 and Fri 16 October.

Mahurangi Christian School : Tues 27 & Wed 28 October.

Snells Beach, Tapora, Leigh, Tomarata, Ahuroa & Kaipara Flats schools along with Year 7 & 8 from Mahurangi College will be doing their Have A Go courses in Term 1 (Feb/March) 2016.

The Centreboard committee is not huge, and most of the members work so they are hoping that some of our SYC members might be able to step forward and help out on one or two of these Have A Go days.  Whilst there is often a parent accompanying these kids, they're not always sufficiently experienced to go out in the patrol boat and watch over the kids and help out if/where necessary.  And because they're using our premises, we'd like someone to be there to keep an eye on things and make sure the kids are fitted properly into their lifejackets, given a help with rigging etc.  If this sounds like you, even if just for one of the days (and as you can see, we have a few more days in Feb/March next year), it would be good to have a list of contacts for ad hoc occasions such as this.  Again, any support with this division is always very welcome.

As you can see from the calendar below, there are a number of regattas coming up, and volunteers will be needed to assist with the on-land and on-sea activities.   Nothing difficult, but extra hands and eyes is what is needed.  We'll keep you posted as time goes on.   If we can compile a list now of 'possible helpers', it will make our job so much easier as we get closer to these exciting events.  Thank you in advance for your consideration to help out.

SYC Christmas - Sun 6 December

This year, the SYC Christmas party will be a family affair.  It will be held at the SYC Algies Bay facilities in Gordon Craig Road, Algies Bay on Sunday 6 December from 4pm.  The clubrooms are very small (built as a starting tower) so we will be praying for sunshine and using the lovely grounds around the clubrooms in a picnic type scenario.  It would be nice to have a bit of help with organising this celebration and to discuss various options with as to how we might best do the catering, seating etc.  Please give Glenys a call on 4222-479 if you can lend a hand.

Calendar of Events

With just 15 weeks until Christmas, surely we can expect there to be a turn in the weather as we head into summer?  With the busy season of spring boating ahead, coupled with the usual increase in social activities as the weather warms, I felt it was time put a calendar of events in place.

Time to head down to the club shortly for a drink.  Nice place to be on a lousy day such as this.

Stay warm and take care.

Kind regards

Glenys Milne

Publicity Officer