Newsletter 2 April 2015

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As the newsletter didn't quite get completed last week, I've simply added to and updated it this week so my apologies if some info appears to be a bit 'old'.

The Cricket

Well, it dominated our lives these past couple of weeks - we can be very proud of our boys.  Unfortunately Friday 13th March was the night chosen to do some volunteer dinners at SYC.  Should have known with it being Friday 13th - it was a fizzer - and most likely due to the NZL/Bangladesh game on that night. 

Russell from Lees Boatbuilders had his leaving party with his mates and a few other SYC faithfuls turned up so it wasn't too bad.  Thanks to those who did support the evening or phoned to apologise for not being able to.  The meals, as it happens were very tasty.

We've not been able to find a suitable caterer to carry us through 2015.  In light of SYC being a work-site throughout the forthcoming winter, and with the expansion of on-site operations gearing up to take over a larger portion of the available parking around the club rooms, it has been decided that perhaps it's best not to pursue a cater. 

Please therefore be advised that there won't be any regular Friday evening dinners at SYC for the greater part of this year.  We do still intend to have the odd function happening down there, just not on a regular basis.  We'll keep you posted on that front.

All Friday night bar-staff are therefore allowed to have some time off.  The Thursday night volunteer bar-staff are very much in need of support so if the Friday volunteers or anyone else for that matter feels like helping them out, it would be appreciated.  On Thursdays, the bar opens at 4.30pm, closes at 7pm or thereabouts so a 4pm start would be needed to set the bar up etc.  And on that note....

House Manager

It is with regret we advise that the SYC House Manager Robert McRae has stepped down from this role.   Robert started mid-April 2014 so we've been lucky to have him helping us this past 12 months.   We do appreciate his input and helpfulness throughout this time.  He leaves us to fullfil other obligations and ease up his workload a little.  Thanks again Robert.

The good news is, we've managed to find another house manager.  New SYC member Les Marsh will be taking up the reins and begins duties tonight.  Les has a background in all manner of things and one of them was running a pub for a number of years so I think we've lucked out with his appointment!  Les will be in charge of all that happens within the clubrooms and will be overseeing the volunteer staff too.  We wish him well in his new role and are very pleased to have him onboard.

Look out for the Speights Cider (in bottles) which has been added to the bar cabinet, and try the Villa Maria Rose' which joins the extensive list of wines available.

8 Brick Bay Drive

Further operations have begun on the 8 Brick Bay carpark.  As such it is closed until further notice.  What happens next is that the ground will be further flattened, a tough plastic surface laid, grassing and the planting of some 1000 trees needs to be undertaken.  We will shortly be advising of a date for a working bee whereby we will require some 'rakers' and some planting folk to help us in the final step towards the completion of the carpark.  

Sandspit Marina

Plenty of spoils movement now with two tugs in full operation meaning we can achieve 'two barge movements per day, ie one barge comes in empty and another goes out fully loaded across one tide.  The digging is well underway on the second marina finger. The pontoon fitters are due at the end of the month so it's all systems go.  Keep an eye out on the updates at www.sandspitmarina.co.nz and stay in touch with Graeme and Elspeth down at the marina office if you'd like any queries answered.

Centreboard Division

It's was a colourful spectacle as the Auckland Regional finals for the college teams 420 races took place at Algies Bay two weeks ago.  This was followed by the SYC Centreboard Division Club champs, together with the Mahurangi College Club Champs last weekend.

The Mahurangi College team heads to Taupo for the Nationals of the 420s taking place 13-17 April.  They'll be competing against about 30 other schools under the guidance of new team manager Dave Nicholls.  We wish Dave and his team of seven students all the very best for a great week.

The Algies Bay Residents & Ratepayers Centreboard race was held three weeks ago with a natty formula applied to the race which enabled equal opportunity for all sailors, be they professional or amateur.  Ten-year old old Chloe Sutherland won the impressive trophy in her Opti. 

There's a lot of new kids coming through the Learn-to-Sail training so let's hope that next year, knowing that the race can go to anyone, we get a huge turnout of all to this fun race, be they big and old or young and small.

Putting things straight

Correction to a point in the last newsletter whereby I omitted to include mention of a vital member of the team.  There were in fact six boats in the recent Route 66 race, the 66 miler from Auckland to Marsden Cove.  Young-gun Mark Noyer and his yacht Rattle & Rum were also in the race.  He was joined by crewman brother David, sister Alice and David's friend Andy.  These guys sailed a very tough race to finish along with only one other Sandspit yacht, Floyd (Jeremy Noakes and crew).    The funny thing was, it was Mark who had supplied me with most of the information about the race, yet I'd failed to include him in mentioning it!  My apologies to Mark, his crew - and his Mum Gay Noyer (!)

Thank yous

The Music in the Gardens team would like to extend a huge thanks to everyone from the sailing and boating fraternity who supported the “Music in the Gardens” event on 14 February at Kawau Island.  They wish to thank all the sponsors and ticket purchasers, and have pleasure in advising that money raised has been shared between Kawau Volunteer Coastguard, Kawau Boating Club and the Kawau Emergency Rescue Trust.  The next Music in the Gardens will take place on Saturday 13^th February 2016.

The Warkworth Lions Club would also like to thank all those boaties who helped out with their boats and their time for this event which took place on Sunday 22 March.  The kids had a ball  with their day culminating with a very generous prize-giving at SYC in the early afternoon.

What a cracker of a day it was (22 March), with a massive 3.7M high tide at 9.43am which had all those on the wharf captivated.  There was no room under the jetty whatsoever and it was fun being able to scoot right into the dinghy locker afloat!

  

Sailing Division

There's been plenty of great sailing over recent weeks with the SYC Sailing Division.

Friday night racing 20 March brought a good fleet out for a sail and was followed by an enjoyable BBQ back at the clubrooms.  Saturday was the much-anticipated Fred Lidgard Memorial Cup race which saw most of the same Friday boats back out, joined by a few extra SYC boats.  Some were in it for the race, some for the cruising division of the day.  This cup is gallantly fought out each year between a contingent of Clearwater Cove boats from West Harbour and SYC sailors.  Yacht Nimble is always a favourite, with crew comprising of four generations of the famous Lidgard family, headed by John, the late Fred's 84yr old son who keeps this race alive.   It really was a super day's sailing and a most enjoyable and sociable evening back at Kawau Boating Club for the prize-giving and dinner.

Photo below shows two raftups (foreground and background) and the other shows John Lidgard and his son Duthy enjoying themselves a KBC with friends.

The camaradarie within this division has really grown over the past few seasons and its a joy to get out there and sail and then catchup for drinks and a chat in the evening.  Kawau Boating Club is an ideal destination although we do enjoy our bbqs and prize-givings together on the beach too.  KBC makes it easy with the all-weather clubrooms complemented with the availability of a great range of well-priced food and drinks.  It's awesome that we have a growing group of launches who come out and support the sailors for the after-match function.  A case of "the more-the merrier".

The last of the six Summer Series races was sailed along with the Lees Trophy race last weekend 28 March.  Another excellent turnout of yachts for the longer distance race.  After a great start, the wind began to ease off and made it a very long day for some, with a handful finishing in the black of night after a 1000hrs start!  It's all good fun.

A contingent of SYC boats are heading over to the Barrier this weekend. Due to the forecasted lack of wind, some boats are heading off today (Friday). There is no "official" start and it is anticipated that most will have to do what those launchy guys do, motor!  If you're heading over that way, come and join everyone  for the bbq taking place at 1700hrs at Kaiarara Bay.  Bring whatever you like to eat and drink and get your Easter off to a sociable start.  The weather looks promising, even if there's not a lot of wind of the immediate horizon.

Fly your Sandspit flag and stay in touch with us via convenors Conway & Jude aboard Kittyhawk, on mob 027 296 0480.

That's all for this week.  Have yourselves a super Easter break and take care out on the seas.

And don't forget - the SYC bar is open today from 4pm for drinks.

Glenys Milne

Publicity Officer