The Captain's Log
"The whole gory story goes like this ... !"
by COLIN SIMONDS (S.V.O.D. CAPTAIN 1995-2000)

In November 1997 I first sailed out the heads on a fine sunny day, and a crazy thought crossed my mind, ''It would be wicked to sail my Seaview Dinghy out the heads one day''. The absurd thought went back in the bottom drawer at once.

A year later I was sitting in the CYCA in Rushcutters Bay talking to the club manager and Commodore about bringing 10 plus Classic boats to sail there. They seemed keen to help, and the project got started.

2 years and a change of host later, (the CYCA dropped us in late 1999 as they did not think we could manage without a dinghy launch slipway?) we opened a container of 14 Seaview boats and rigged and launched them outside the RANSA club onto the same pontoons used by the Olympic classes a few weeks earlier. I simply could not believe it was finally happening. The boats - thank the Lord - were in great shape and had not dried out or cracked in transit, BUT it was still raining and had been for days.

Various emails were suggested to a club member (Robert of course) who had insured the boats - e.g. did he need the ashes of the three wrecked boats for the insurance claim - we used them for a barbie!!

None of this would have been possible without the help of expatriates living in Sydney and especially Hugh Dowling (THANKS HUGH), and the RANSA club (THANKS Lindsay).

Friday 17 November 2000
The container arrived on q at lunchtime, and the few early arrivers unload the boats in the afternoon and evening.

DAY 1 Saturday 18 November 2000
The whole team gets into boat rig mode, including the non-sailors. Lots of talk and a general undercurrent of enthusiasm despite the weather. Michael Warren and Nic work in military fashion and keep us all in line and on time! Just enough tools to share but not exactly new!! For the next trip Michael you are allowed to get some new tools!! The boats are all launched by late afternoon and a few maniacs go sailing in the rain despite their jet lag. The first boat off the dock and the first ever to sail in the Southern Hemisphere was ...? Hugh?.... The first to get out in the harbour and round a mark race fashion was Petronella Garton. Both later got awards for these firsts! Evening - a welcome Barbie in the RANSA and a few tinnies.

DAY 2 Sunday 19 November 2000
Sunday With the boats all launched we took a cruise and a picnic in the two 40 plus foot yachts ''attached or loaned'' to our group. Amazingly we had Nic Lykiardopulo's "Aera" (Swan 46) and Hugh Dowling's Dad Ric's "Starbuck" (45 footer) as well. Our UK group of 21 visitors spread themselves across the boats and we headed out to see the Bridge and the Heads which were our main race targets later in the week. Bonhomie and alcohol spread around generously in equal proportion, despite a fairly cool (fleeces essential) afternoon. Evening - Dinner in the CYCA clubhouse.

DAYS 3 & 4 Monday & Tuesday 20-21 November 2000
The International Series
Two days with three 40 minute races a day, two discards if 6 races sailed. Bizarre rules from a wicked and twisted mind decreed that no one could win more than one race trophy from the 6 races planned, and no one could win more than one of the three main trophies. More bizarre rules came later.

The weather varied from warm and cloudy force 2-3 to sunny and 3-4. Perfect sailing. And there they were, and there we were - yes it was that bridge and the opera house - right there where we were sailing. I almost hit the committee boat as I was just looking at the bridge all the time, and those dots of people climbing it. Then I rounded up on the wind for the first time and sat the boat out in the 10 knot breeze in my T-shirt and shorts. yes I thought of the office!! and those still in the UK winter, I smiled - inside and outside, or was it a smirk? Then I was just sailing, it was magic.

A gust on a gybe and we had our first swimmer on Monday, but with a little help from friends and without a rescue boat, the casualty was soon back sailing and Nigel did not hold up the races. On Tuesday the daily swimmer was Noel who fell in off the marina while boarding his boat to go to the start. A change of T-shirt and he just sailed out to the start - it was warm enough and a beautiful sunny day.

William Edwards was doing a 720 penalty within seconds of the start of the first race - nothing changes?

Race winners were Noel, Colin (3) and William (2) William joined the swimmers list by jumping into the sea to celebrate his double win. The engraved glass trophies went to Noel, Colin, Hugh, Caroline, William and Michael.

The overall went to Colin followed by Noel, William, Caroline, Nick FP, Michael Garton, and Pippa.

Bit thanks for the success of our opening regatta to Lyndsay on the RANSA committee boat (ably supported by Peter and Jennifer), and to Noel from the Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club who laid marks, transported our paparazzi and was otherwise incredibly helpful zooming around in his red RIB.

Evenings Monday Dinner in the Wharf restaurant on Pier 4 where the QE1 and the Queen Mary used to dock, and on Tuesday we dined at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron after appropriate fizzy drinks on the terrace, courtesy of Richard and Helen who were celebrating their 25th Anniversary.

DAY 5 Wednesday 22 November 2000
The Heads Race
It is about 4 miles to the Heads from our base at RANSA. The race started with the boats lined up on the Olympic dock with sails up Le Mans Style. A vicious handicap system based on the results of the first 6 races set the order of start, with almost 6 minutes gap from the first to go and the last. No one in the last 4 to start really got back into the race at all - except Caroline got within a shout of the leaders at the end.

The winner was Elisabeth, with Hugh a close second after some questionable discussion about who had done what penalty turns where (being in front also earned penalties!!) and perhaps the quote of the week was from Elisabeth, that it was the best day of her life since her wedding day. I think for all of us the sail into and through the cliffs of the Heads was very special in a way that is hard to describe at all. Even William said it made the hairs stand on end at the back of his neck. For me was almost better than sex!! (I did say almost) The wind was about 8 knots - it was warm and sunny, and there was a huge but gentle swell running. The colours of the boats and the sails set off the background and the swell added a whole new experience to sailing a dinghy, with boats just ahead of you almost disappearing from sight behind the swell. I still could not believe we had come all this way and were doing this it was like a dream.

Lunch was in Watsons Bay...... A crisp golden beach in hot sunshine. we just pulled the boats clear of the water on the beach in front of the legendary Doyles restaurant, and sank into another generous lunch and a few beers in the sunshine.

Another swimmer today - poor Helen fell into the harbour off the marina - not funny at the time, but also won a swimmer award later.

The Wednesday evening was spent first at Michael Harrison's son Peter's fantastic apartment at Darling Point and then to dinner locally. The flat had an absolutely stunning view of the harbour and the only complaint was that having watched the sun go down over the city they could not organize a repeat!! Hordes of fruit bats swarmed in the sky far above our heads.

Day 6 Thursday 23 November 2000
The Bridge Race

We started the day with a photocall in front of the Opera house. Race won in a dead heat by Colin and Caroline. Really?? I thought Noel got to the RANSA finish line first? Caroline gets the trophy under the one trophy rule.

Lunch was in a restaurant on the quay at Darling Harbour and amazingly Hugh had found us somewhere to tie up after the race - the brand new Sydney Super Yacht Basin next to the Australian Maritime Museum (most appropriate!) and walk across the road to our lunch.

Report on race to follow Wasn't this on Friday???

Evening - Skiffs Outing.
Earlier in the week (at the RSYS dinner) we had met up with Peter xxxxxx, who had built a replica of a pre war design 18 foot skiff. He offered us a chance to go sail it with him and after we had stripped the dinghies, we set off in a water taxi to the other side of the Harbour to try it out. It was just amazing. We split into two groups and took turns to crew a very cool and unflustered ...... The boat had no Trapezes or even a kicker but it was lively in the 6-8 knot winds and we were all made to work hard. He only allowed us his small rig, and we had 8 in each boat designed for 6.

There was no social event on the Thursday evening and we all split to see friends or rels or just chill out.

DAY 7 Friday 24 November 2000
Spare day
This day was set aside for a trip somewhere or sailing by locals. In the event there was pressure form the group for more racing, so the RANSA gamely set up more courses aided by the Hunters as usual. The Hunters were not on board, but Andrew Edwards and Nic Warren was.

2 more short races with a rule that anyone that had not come first or second in a race started at the 1 minute. Sorry race officers forgot to tell you!! They were so chilled out by then that they did not even fire a recall.

Races won by Pippa and Michael.

Afternoon was boat stripping, and another great group effort all round. Prize giving in evening and dinner was a choice of Indian or Italiano. Drinks courtesy of Admiral Insurance (Thanks Robert)

Day 8 Saturday 25 November 2000
8.00 am was the time to load the container, and with another full turnout and in just three hours all the boats were tucked away ready to ship on Michael's hand made bullet-proof racks. The customs man came to see what we were up to and said he had to stay until we sealed the container in case we loaded drugs or booze.

Then to Doyles by water taxi for a really big lunch, and yet more of the local grape juice. No one had a bigger plateful than Elisabeth and Nigel. The mixed fish and crab and lobster and prawns and mussels and oysters was a towering mountain of food on a platter.

Back to the Hotel to pack, and then it all just ended, and I could not believe that either. So thirteen of us went up to Cairns to visit the rainforest and the Barrier reef and drown our sorrows for 5 more miserable days in paradise. But that is another story and my lips are sealed, the story of Tarzan and the three Janes frolicking in the forest pool while the forest dragon watched motionless will never be told.

No doubt there has to be another trip, and why waste time starting the planning, it takes 2 years and so I have started. Hope the class committee will permit it. Auckland here we come in early 2003, with a week in the South Island to drown our sorrows again. The Squadron there seem keen on the idea - watch this space. Let the America's cup watch out as we plan to steal the show and offer our own challenge. The British Cup in SVOD's. Limit on this trip 20 boats, I have one booking already that is not from the Australian party. Book early not to miss it.

Colin, Captain 1995 - 2000

With editorial assistance from .....