36 of the best Optimist sailors in Australia gathered in Adelaide on the weekend for a training camp.
The AOST team included FOUR of our talented Tam MYC Juniors. They were Lachie Weber, Zach Hayes, Sophie McKenzie and James Jackson. One of the activities was team MYC taking on the Rope Course, a flying sabot and even lots of sailing! The coaches included Olympians and guest speakers from the AIS. Photos thanks to Noel Heyes .

 and Stev Bolton18 boats left Mornington at 10am for what was to be one of the most enjoyable day of racing.
Russ and Di Kemp left their boat on the roof.

Div 1 Winners AMS Javelin - Mark Nicholson PHS Windsong - Jim Watson
Div.2 Winners AMS YT2 -Stuart Gooley PHS Sanjuro - Wayne Ross
Div.3 Winners PHS and CBH Heaven Can Wait - Keith Bayliss, 
Click here for results

​Photos thanks to Kevin Woolerton and Steve Bolton

Series Results are provisional (subject to race Committee hearing) but Under The Pump Joe Etherson Quantum leap Chris Jackson are currently clear leaders. It was great to have GT (Aust Etchell Champ)  out racing with his son Digby and Rhett Gowans (Aust Laser radial Champ) sailing with Cam McKenzie on an Etchell for the first time.

Click here for results

The Special Sailing Instructions (SSI's) for the Hovell Pile Race have now been published.

Use the Sailing drop down menu and navigate to >>Race Documents >> Special Sailing Instructions or, for your complete comfort, you can click here for the Hovell Pile Race SSI's

Hi MYC

RBYC is running the 6th Property Industry Foundation Sailing Challenge on Friday 24th of March  - details are attached.
 
Last year we raised around $125k for homeless and disadvantaged youth through Open Families / Light house Foundation, etc.
 
I need some more big boats (mono-hull and cats) from around the Bay – might you maybe be able to give me some leads or shoulder tap them directly?
 
It’s a great day with all hospitality for the owner and crew covered by PIF.
 
I will treat and all details with the utmost of respect and would only use it to send the polite invitation copied below for this year’s event only… 
 
Click here for Poster
Click here for NOR
Kind regards,
Eric Wegman
General Manager
ROYAL BRIGHTON YACHT CLUB
95923092  [email protected]

Congratulations to all that sailed tonight
It was so great to see the dolphins welcome nearly very every boat on the water.
The race started in a  strong easterly and by the last boat finished  there was no wind.
Those that went right seemed to have the pressure the longest
Congratulations to:
1st Messin About - Paul Copeland
2nd Sanjuro - Wayne Ross
3rd Sirocco  Barry Mills and Julia Barker
The Rocks Prize :  1 sec First Light Again ...

Our special guest was Lisa Walton, Publisher of The Mornington Peninsula Magazine. A huge thankyou as the  30 that attended really enjoyed.

Photos thanks to Silvana Donnoli

Sailing on the Mornington Peninsula can be one of the most exhilarating experiences. Always ready for a new challenge, University of the Third Age (U3A) Mornington proved that it is never too late to learn. A happy group of 9 members completed a series of four training sessions this summer with the Mornington Yacht Club. “They are keen sailors and really good fun” said Bruce Carter, Sailing Instructor at the club.

After a briefing with Bruce, they quickly checked the weather forecast and prepared to sail. Wearing life jackets, flat shoes and sunscreen, they quickly climbed two at a time into the five Access 303 sailing boats for their final training session. With the wind in their sails, they headed out of the harbour checking their radio link with Bruce following in the Safety Motor Boat.

Passing the magnificent sailing yachts in the harbour, Glen talked about his experience of teaching U3A members. “Well, they are very independent. I have had to adapt my style as I have been teaching school groups who don’t question instructions quite so much!” said Bruce.  Leaving the calm of the harbour, we head into light winds on the bay. Bruce keeps count of the 303s now moving in different directions with the fresh breeze and sun on their sails.

Bruce calls all boats on his radio and warns them of a wind change. “There is a lot to learn and training in the small 303s provide the basic experience needed to sail even larger boats,” said Bruce. Quickly noticing one of the group sail into the distance, Bruce said.

“Hold on tight, they are on course for Geelong! Revving the engine on the safety boat he speeds out after them. As a passenger, I feel and smell the salt water spray on my face. This is fun!”

Back at the Yacht Club, Michelle Pickford, Training and Development Manager offers the group the opportunity to help crew several of the yachts competing in the Twilight Race that evening. Michelle said, “They have been a ‘spunky’ group and our yacht club members will welcome them.” 

Join us at U3A Mornington. www.u3amornington.com.au. Live, Learn, Enjoy.
Photos thanks to Silvana Donnolli

The club has generously been donated a new LG G4 phone by a very kind member.
LG G4 0 H815K
16MP 32 GB
Brown leather Case

Between now and next Thursday the MYC office is selling  raffle tickets for $4 each or 3 for $10.
The winner will be drawn after sailing on Thursday 9 February.
All proceeds will go towards the Pacer Project. Currently $37,000 raised. Target $72,000.

​1st prize LG G4 phone
2nd prize: Frozen Chook
3rd Prize: Bottle of Scotchmans Hill wine.

Normally not  a race with great photographic opportunities but the photos taken by Bill Bennett on Phoenix are  magnificent. See below.

10 Boats entered and all started at 8pm.
Javelin at finished just after midnight and all by 1.30 am.
An easterly kept the fleet moving.

Congratulations
Div 1 and 2.  Javelin,   Mark Nicholson 1st AMS  and PHS
Div.3. Times r Tuff , John Underwood  1st PHS and CBH
Click here for results

The SSI's for the Queenscliff destination race have been published. You can go to the Sailing menu on this website and find SSI's under Race Documents, or for your complete comfort, you can click here.

We are shifting all of our data and there will be a period of time where some pages - ie the WeatherCam - will appear to stall and may even disappear.

This is normal; please be patient it will finish propagation soon!

For those with a technical inkling, about one half of our web resources are being moved today - via what we are calling phase 1 migration.Everything associated with morningtonyc.com.au. ie the weathercam, sailing results, newsletter systems etc is involved. No data will go missing - just some up time.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any issues.

Stephen Bolton

For anyone thinking of  learning to sail or improve their skills from 7 years up;

MYC also are proud that we have the best Learn to Sail Instructor Michelle Pickford and her team on the bay.

This weekend we have vacancies for:

Tackers Sunday Feb 5,12, 18. Mar 5, 19
Tackers 1 Having Fun (7-12 years) 8.30am -12.30pm Click here to book. Feb 5 , 12 
Tackers 2 Trick and Techniques ( 7-12 years) 1pm - 5pm. For those that have already completed Tackers 1  Click here to book.
Those interested Tackers 3 course please contact Michelle on 0449508963.

Adult learn to Sail. (13 years and over) Saturday Feb 4,11, 18
Start Dinghy Sailing 1 For those just starting  8.30am - 12.30pm Click here to Book.
Start Dinghy Sailing 2 For those with some experience  1pm - 5pm Click Here to Book 

Following on from the Commodore's message the club will be conducting a Safety Audit, Licencing and and Membership check on Thursday 9th Feb prior to the start of the Twilight race.

For the above reasons and other such as insurance, legal  obligations  etc. every week Members and visitors  need to follow and appreciate sailing club rules and State regulations. The 11 items raised below are areas the  Committee, Sub Committee and staff continually need to deal with.

1. All to wear a PFD when on a tender going to and from their boat. I recommend a PFD becomes part of any crews sailing attire.
2. ​​Tenders are to carry the legal maximum capacity of that vessel only. Members need to support the tender drivers in respecting this law even if it means one crew  member missing out on  travelling to the vessel with the rest of the crew. Something I witnessed being respected at Sorrento SCBC in January.​
3. Be asked to present membership tags at the bar,
4. Visitors (excl Day Pass member) must be signed in by another member on Club sign in sheets provided at the bar and bar entrance and present this visitor pass to the bar if purchasing drinks.
5. Visitors new to the club this year and sailing will need to purchase or present their up to date Day Pass.
6. When purchasing from the Bar, Bar staff are to be treated respectfully at all times and acknowledge their responsibilities under the  Responsible Serving of Alcohol regulations. 
7. Visitor Clubhouse access is limited to 5 times per annum
8. Recent past members are not permitted to sail  more than 3 times this year and will need to re join the club if sailing more than 3 times in a season. ​Personally I have real difficulty understanding those that love sailing, take advantage of  crewing on members  boats  but do not pay.  And why  some boat owners do not enforce their regular crew sailing in club activities from joining their club.  Too many crews use the club on a regular basis and do not pay for the services provided and why should boat owners be lumped with most of the club fees. All Membership categories are now at pro rata rates for the rest of 2016-2017 and I strongly recommend those that are not members and that do sail regularly join.  
9. Those visitors sailing and new this season to the club will need to have a Day pass and pay the relevant fee ($10  per sail 1-  6 sails, $20 per sail  7-12 sails)
10. Kindred Club members of neighbouring clubs such as McYC, DBYC, MMYC, SBSC, SYC, ORCV, BYS, SSCBC, RYCV and RBYC sailing do need to pay and register $10 per sail when sailing at MYC more than 3 times.
11.  Under the Australian Sailing Members protection and code of conduct policy which MYC has adopted members are requested not to publicly portray criticism to other fellow individual members. Click here for a copy

All of the above is difficult to police on a regular basis without new structural measures and / or being labour intensive and so whilst the office staff and committee will endeavour to do their best I would expect members  all supporting this.

It has nothing to do with "money grab" but rather making the Members club prosper as a well managed club  and providing value and service to its members. Again all Clubs exist for the benefit of its members and to ensure all enjoy the services and facility the club provides. If you are part of a club you all should expect to pay. I and the Committee  would be interested to know what other successful club allows regular sailors to not be a member of their club?

What is written above is not Mornington Specific but a common culture issue amongst sailors not being members of a club. Those Sailing  clubs that have addressed the issue and managing it well are seeing the benefits of turning this culture around.

Thanking you for your cooperation.
​Rod Austin

Welcome to the past Egyptian Ambassador to Australia and 30 years in other Egyptian Govt. roles, Dr Hassan El Laithy to the club.  Hassan has recently retired and is moving to the Mornington Peninsula. I would be fairly confident  Hassan is our first ever Egyptian Member in 71 years. Our next New Members Breakfast is to be held Saturday 18th February.