ITW # 22.11 - Friday 18th March 2022

Fellow Members,

IT’ S BACK - FRIDAY NIGHT MEMBERS” DRAW!

First up, I’m really happy to announce the return of our Club’s Friday Night Members’ Draw, after its being MIA for some time.

Starting at with a pot of $250 and jackpotting by $100 per week until it’s claimed, the Friday Night Members’ Draw makes a popular return to the Members’ Bar, and what better date to start it than 1st April! (It’s not an April Fools joke, but it does have a wonderful irony to it.) Same rules as before, with the main one being you have to be there to win it - 7.30pm is the allotted time for the draw each week.

Our new CEO, Karen Baldwin, addressed the 50 Year Members’ lunch today. By ALL accounts, Karen delivered an entertaining and informative summary of her previous experiences managing other yacht clubs and she was warmly and graciously welcomed by all who attended.

Karen’s comments around her interest in member wellbeing and benefit and her desire to create a “happy club” struck a chord with all in the room. She certainly made an impression on the room and I am sure that we have a lot to look forward to through her contribution.

Our dynamic Media and Marketing team was right across today's event: thank-you Spikey-Mikey for filming, editing and uploading a video of Karen's speech to the RQYS Facebook page and to Matt for holding ITW and reconfiguring my Comments to include this important reference for all our Members.

Last weekend was the first time the weather gods cracked a smile over Southeast Queensland, delivering (despite some nerve-wracking clouds of uncertainty) better conditions for a number of RQYS events. The Yacht Sales Co / Multihull Solutions Open-for-Inspection days attracted a steady stream of interested visitors and potential buyers to the vessels displayed at The Bill Kirby Jetty pontoons.

And crowd numbers were certainly up on Sunday - especially the beautifully sunny, breezy afternoon - for not only the laid-back 10-plus years membership awards (at which many glasses of tasty Chandon bubbles were dispensed) but also the resumed sailing and racing calendar of events.

Our redoubtable Volunteer Co-ordinator Nev Willis - a recipient of the RQYS 10-year pin like myself, our ITW editor and many others - remarked how great it was, looking out across the activity-filled ramps, rigging lawns and beyond, to see our Squadron facilities back in such full and varied use - and I couldn't agree more!

Linda and I had a thoroughly enjoyable time at the first ever 10+ years Member recognition - capping off a weekend which began with her Ladies' Sunset Drinks on the Friday evening which was well attended. Look out for the next event which is going to be a fantastic Pinot & Paella night, on the Boardwalk. It was also great to see so many people in the restaurant on Sunday as well, not to mention as well as in the Bar on Friday night. It feels like the place is returning to its former glory with many more members attending the Club. Thank you.

The following weekend promises to be a full-throttle resumption of RQYS activities afloat, with the Moreton Bay Multihull Regatta (Thu.24th to Sun.27th) and the Brisbane Etchells Fleet Championships on the Saturday and Sunday (26th/27th), and our own Div.Yacht Club Championships race on Sunday 27th.

Glen Scott and his Marina Office team have been busy auditing available berths for our multihull visitors and I understand that a number of our liveaboard Members have been providing valuable tips to the team's plans, especially for potential newcomers to our facilities; thank-you, everyone. All we need ask for are winds and conditions pleasant for the spectators of all events and stimulating enough to satisfy both multi- and mono-skippers on their respective courses.

Although it is disappointing that no suitable slot could be found for the postponed Myora Cup (Sailing) this year, prospects are firming up for other weather-delayed events, including the Myora Cup (Power/Navigation), and more updates will be forthcoming on these.

Beforehand, though, we wish our indefatigable Sail Cruising Group members all the best for this weekend's Sundowners Cruise down to Karragarra. The afternoon sou'easterlies will continue to set fresh but, if you can work with the conditions, you will likely pull off the first major RQYS cruising event of 2022!

Looking ahead, planning is already underway for not only the 2022 Brisbane-to-Hamilton Island and Brisbane-to-Keppel yacht races (starting @ RQYS on Friday 5th August) but also the Opening Day of our 138th Sailing Season on Saturday 3rd September. Powerful reminders that, weather, pandemics and generational changes of personnel notwithstanding, our Squadron's heritage and traditions - some of them more than a century old - remain strong and true.

Each and every one of you reading this is a part of our shared heritage, and we all have vital roles to play and skills to contribute as we look ahead to the next decade of striving for excellence at 'OUR' RQYS. And on that note, I have more confidence in - once again - closing by saying, I hope to see many of you out on our Moreton Bay.

Your Commodore,
David Redfern

Simple Sundowners Cruise Karragarra Island - The Sail cruise instructions can be found HERE for a simple sundowner’s cruise to Karragarra Island. Cruise Captains are Shane and Sue from Affaire. We will head to foreshore park near the vehicle ferry for sundowners and those that are interested can stay a BBQ afterwards. BYO everything. We already have a few people indicating their interest.

Dean and Sally Johns, Sail Cruising Chairs 21-22 | Ph: 0419 274 822
sailcruising@rqys.com.au

2022 Moreton Bay Multihull Regatta SAILING INSTRUCTIONS HERE

UPCOMING EVENTS - FOR LATEST SAILING EVENTS CALENDAR CLICK HERE

• 24-27th March: Moreton Bay Multihull Regatta
  
• 26-27th March: Brisbane Etchell Fleet Championships
  
• 3rd April: Squadron Champs 8 (Passage race 11)
  
• 21st-22nd May: Canaipa Cup
  

The Brisbane River remains off limits for recreational boating activities. Recovering personal property is the only thing you're permitted to be on the water for right now—that includes relocating your vessel, inspecting your moorings and recovering your pontoons. Please remember you should only go about these activities during daylight hours and be as prompt as possible, while wearing a life jacket.

At the Regional Harbour Master’s direction the Brisbane River remains closed to all recreational boating activities including fishing, sightseeing or any other on water activity. Domestic commercial boats are allowed to resume commercial activity (except for fishing).

MORE UPDATES IN THE MSQ NOTAM SUMMARY BELOW

ABC News reported, on Sunday 13th March, that the Brisbane River is still too dangerous for recreational users, two weeks after the city flooded, with large amounts of debris still being located and retrieved above and below the surface. Kell Dillon, general manager of Martime Safety Queensland (MSQ), said workers are pulling out pontoons, jetskis, yachts and trees from the water, among other debris.

"We're up to about 1,100 tonnes of material cleared off the river surface, but we're finding a lot on the bottom. We've had 160 unknown objects from Hamilton Reach down towards the Port," he said. "A lot of stuff is still to come out of the river yet. Some is harder than others. ... Getting it all off the bottom is quite a task."

Key points:

• 1,100 tonnes of debris has been pulled from the surface of the Brisbane River so far
  
• Navy ships are scanning the sea floor to report evidence of dangerous debris
• Recreational users are being urged to stay away to avoid hampering recovery work
  

READ MORE

(Images supplied to ABC News)

And ABC News reported on Wednesday this week (16th) that World Heritage-listed K'gari (Fraser Island) has become a dumping ground for rubbish since south-east Queensland's flood disaster, with everything from e-scooter helmets to pontoons washing up on the usually unspoilt beaches.

Key points:

• 40 cubic metres of flood debris has washed up on K'gari (Fraser Island) beaches
  
• Lime e-scooter helmets from Brisbane, pontoons and skip bins are thought to have been swept in from the south-east
  
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is using machinery to clear large pieces of debris
  

Resort manager Kerry Bell said he had not seen a mess like it in the 25 years he had been living on the island. "You are just dodging a huge amount of rubbish right along the beach," he said. "We were just zig-zagging in between all sorts of things that have washed up on the beach. "Mainly logs, but there is a lot of plastic." Mr Bell said most of the debris had made its way north from the flood areas, with some travelling more than 380 kilometres on the tides.

READ MORE

(Images supplied to ABC News)

Our LOCAL MARINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE member for the Southern Great Barrier Reef 'SpikeyMikey' has arranged for a variety of ZONING MAPS and Reef Information to be available again at Reception. Please select only what you may need for the upcoming season if you are heading North. More will be available shortly - like the Anchoring/ Mooring brochures and Eye on the Reef information that helps us all protect and manage our magnificent resource which is the Great Barrier Reef and our Marine Parks. Best get the latest and updated versions.

Both Pip Fenwick (Power / Myora Cup - Nav) and Kate and the Sailing Office (Brisbane Women's Keelboat Cup) and their committees want to let Members know that they are still busy working on new dates for these events - click on the respective graphic blocks below to email all enquiries to the right people.

Please bear in mind that dates of any on-water events in the near-term which are mentioned in ITW are subject to post-flood safety assessments and government directions and may be subject to change.

Bastille Day (July) events will be on us sooner than you think - you can read the latest QFYOA news HERE

After the success of the first ever Maritime Trail in April 2021, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival team is presenting the event again, on 9th and 10th April 2022.

This year the program will include tours of boatyards, short workshops and other activities. The motivation for the event is to promote the wooden boat industry and to celebrate the craftsmen and women behind the wooden boats. The majority of the events in the 2022 program are in the Huon Valley and the Channel regions, encouraging ticket holders to not only attend their selected event, but to also pop into the local coffee shop and visit the corner store.

The entire event has been designed around being COVID-safe and all efforts have been made to ensure the safety of ticket holders, operators, volunteers and staff. Join us once again to celebrate wooden boats around Tasmania! Full program and tickets available 1st March 2022. READ MORE

Ahoy, cruisers!

There are no plans for an organised trip north this year, however I know that many of the group are starting to plan their journey. I’m happy to create a list of those intending to head north and make it available to those heading off. Cruising in company is always fun and it offers an extra level of safety. Those that are interested please send me the following details:

• Boat name
• Crew names
• Contact details
• Estimated dates
• Expected northernmost point.

Here’s the next lot of events and dates.

April Easter Cruise, 15th-18th - Nothing has been organised so expect a late call for a tour of Moreton Bay. Watching the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race start is always a great way to kick off the Easter weekend.

May Cruise, 14th-15th - I am working on a cruise that will help people prepare for the cruise North as well as just better prepare your boat for normal sailing around Moreton. We have lots of experience amongst the group so I plan to use that experience during this cruise. I’m also working on a presentation for the Friday evening beforehand about Lithium Batteries so I’m hoping for plenty of interaction from the audiences to share their experiences.

Sail Cruising AGM, 10th June

June Cruise, 11th-12th - Quentin and Barbie will be back from the cruise south and are planning a Charades event. This was a lot of fun last time and had one of the highest attendance for a cruise last year so pencil in the dates.

Dean and Sally Johns
Sail Cruising Chairs 21-22
Ph: 0419 274 822
sailcruising@rqys.com.au

Pour some bubbly, splash some juice get ready for our Mother’s Day (Sunday 8th May) Mimosa High Tea! Indulge on a gourmet high tea, extensive tea and coffee station with all the luxury extras, and a two-hour bottomless sparkling mimosa buffet from 10am to 12noon. Sit back and enjoy the stunning waterfront views from the Waves (Flags) Lounge with Mum. Happy MIMOSA - oops! - Mother’s Day!

TICKETS: Adults $65/pp | Children $45/pp

FOR BOOKINGS CLICK HERE

Please email functions@rqys.com.au with any dietary requirements. Please select a ‘GROUP NAME’ if you wish to be seated with a group of friends that are booking tickets separately.

I strongly encourage and invite Members and Volunteers to nominate fellow members and volunteers for any of the above award categories. Nominations close at 5:00pm on Friday 22nd April 2022. Nomination forms are available HERE or by clicking on the thumbnail above. Members, volunteers, family, and partners are encouraged to attend the function to acknowledge the award winners and all who contribute to the success of the Squadron in so many areas.

Kind regards,
Madison Lockyear
Membership Co-ordinator

Members and readers well-versed in the temperament of our Brisbane River will be unsurprised to note that MSQ has identified around SIXTY damaged or destroyed beacons, buoys and other navigational marks, mostly in the lower reaches, and significant ones are noted on this week's MSQ page - in addition to Spitfire Channel buoy S1 being unlit: 116(T)

A reminder that NOTAM 110(T) this week updates and supersedes the preceding Regional Harbour Master Direction 103(T) closing the Brisbane River to non-essential vessels and watercraft - now up-channel from the Entrance Beacons (yes, this includes the Coffee Pots and everything upstream: fishing prohibited). In addition, a number of specific Exclusion Zones, across several different NOTAMs, have been declared in different stretches of the Brisbane River - READ MORE HERE

Of more hydrographic than operational interest is that MSQ has also been able to investigate the new 'southern northern Bribie bar' following the break-through in the storms a few weeks ago, with survey findings described in NOTAM 123 - albeit with no suffixed letter as it's early days yet whether this will be a temporary or permanent development.

Click on the chartlet extract from page 2 of N123 below to view the enlargement.

Remember that you can check recent ITW editions on the RQYS website's Publications page as many of the MSQ NOTAMS reported may remain current.

That's the round-up for this week but always remember: the onus is on skippers to visit the MSQ webpage and inform themselves of relevant issues. Remember, too, you can also sign up to the Commonwealth Government's free email advisories about changes affecting your choice of local charts and publications, both paper and electronic.

Just when we thought we'd have to confect a 21st Century replacement for "a Mrs Trellis of North Wales" a thundering torrent of no less than three readers' comments has landed in the ITW inbox in the past week or two.

Sean got in touch to ask about your now-flightless editor's aviation terminology in referring to MSQ "NOTAMs" but, after exploring NOTOMs, NOTMARs and the unpronounceable "NtM" the decision has been reached to stick with the widely-familiar aeronautical acronym for now. Suggested nautical equivalents welcome.

Much-appreciated feedback from Tony, who always enjoys reading ITW: "keep up the good work, I am sure many Members appreciate it."

And (not entirely sure how he did it, given that Peter Ludlow's latest MUSINGS has only just been published above), we heard from Shawn, who mused:

"Who’d have thought there was coral in Raby Bay in that quantity. That said, we have small brain coral growing on the rocks in Raby Bay Harbour and small reefs are still to be found at Peel, Macleay and other Islands. I was told by a marine scientist that the calcium carbonate material used for the gateway construction was in fact native oyster shell reef dredged from Moreton Bay (and these are all but gone because of it) and there is currently a project to start restoring these in various locations by depositing used (from seafood outlets) oyster shell bundles in metal cages. Ultimately the metal rusts away and nature takes its course. The volunteers undertaking this task work from some vacant land for which the Port allows use."

DOCUMENTS AND POLICIES

Please CLICK HERE to view RQYS Documents and Policies, as many have been reviewed and updated in recent weeks: files with 'Last modified' dates from November 2021 to January or February 2022 are especially noted.

In recent weeks we have had another amendment to the Marina Rules & Regulations

• Clause 2: Management - Paragraph 2 - new inclusion regarding membership
• Clause 12: Visitors - Paragraph 1 regarding membership moved from Clause 8 to Clause 12

Importantly, the RQYS Child & Young People Safety Policy has also been reviewed and updated, with particular attention drawn to the following clauses:

• Statement of commitment
• Code of conduct
• Recruitment, selection, training and management
• Reporting disclosures and suspicions of harm
• Managing breaches
• Risk management plan for high-risk activities
• Managing compliance with the blue card system
• Communication and support.

The RQYS Marina Rules and Regulations has recently been reviewed, now with the addition of Clause 5(g) - Care and Cleanliness and Clause 12 - Marina Visitors - read more HERE

APPROVED TRADESPERSONS

Please CLICK HERE to see the Approved Trades & Contractors List.

You can also check our MAINSHEET 2021's expanded TRADES and SERVICES Directory in the fully-searchable, interactive 'one-click-contact' eMagazine ONLINE HERE

Place your advertisements on the RQYS website for free! To view current adverts or to add your own CLICK HERE