Today Sailability Mornington and Mornington Yacht Club  launched the newest boat of the 11 boat Sailability fleet. A very fast RED Access 303 Dinghy and named Guiseppe.

The boat's colour and the name of the boat is the inspiration of Guiseppe Cristaudo a long term and active participant of Sailability for over 10 years.

Guiseppe can be seen sailing the boat (#2769) with another long term participant and volunteer Krista Bailey in the pictures below and in the gallery.

Sailability has been operating at Mornington Yacht Club for over 16 years currently led by Graeme Lyell and Noel Heyes for the past 5 years and with a dedicated group of over 40 Volunteers.

Sailability Mornington offer sailing on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to organisations and individuals  with special needs.

Our Commodore Sheryl Schumacher officially named and launched the boat today and thanked Rotary members including President John Parkinson and The Mornington  Lions Club  member including President Stan Fear for their contributions to  Sailability and their interest by attending the day. Also other supporters thanked were the Sunshine Foundation and The Good Guys Mornington for their recent contributions.

It was a great day for sailing  and there were plenty of smiles on everyone's faces. 

​Click here for the full gallery

2017 GILL Australian & Open Optimist Nationals
ENTER NOW
With 239 entries and more still flowing things are starting to hot up for the preparation of the Nationals.  

OPENING PARADE: We have heard on the grape vine that a number of States are well underway with preparation of their outfit for the Opening Parade.  This will be a great chance to get the kids dressed as a team and make an entrance. 

SIGN-ON/OFF PROCESS: Thank you to those who have been updating any missing/incorrect information from their entry details.  We will be actively using the parent contact information and medical information as part of the sign-on/off system so please ensure you have listed the details of the parent of guardian who will be present at the regatta. If you need to update anything please email support@optimist.org.au

REMINDERS: 
1. GREEN FLEET: The Green Fleet at this years Nationals will be a fully coached regatta to provide the safest and most enjoyable first regatta experience for a young sailor.  Our Green Fleeters are the future of our fleet and so please help encourage new families with starting the journey. ENTER GREEN FLEET

2.  CHANGE FLEET / DETAILS - If you would like to update or correct your entry please email support@optimist.org.au with your change request.  This will save you time updating at registration and provides LBSC with accurate planning data.   

3. SUPPORT BOATS - Please remember to register your support boat prior to the event.  REGISTER SUPPORT BOAT. 

4. ORDER Additional Official Regatta T-Shirts are still available and orders close on the 9th December. 

ENTER NATIONALS

OptiAUS SHOP
Boat Measurement Booking System
ALL BOATS as part of registration need to pass a measurement & safety check.  This year we will be trialling a booking system to enable you to book a time slot for the measurement of your boat.  This will assist in minimising the long queues for measurement and to help families plan their arrival and pre event training.   Available times are as follows:

• Monday 2nd January: < >09:00am - 10:00 am  (NOTE: Teams Racing Boats Only) 10:00am - 5:00pm Tuesday 3rd January: 9:00am - 12:00pm

Each time slot is 10 minutes, and there will be a small group of boats in each time slot.
 
BOOK BOAT MEASUREMENT TIMESLOT

On the 3rd of January LBSC have organised a welcome night under the stars.  Join us for a gourmet BBQ with a feast of fresh local produce.  All competitors receive a ticket to the welcome night as part of their entry.
NOTE: Additional tickets for parents and siblings can be purchased via the OptiAUS website.
Buy Welcome Night Tickets

XSP Charter Boat - BOOK HERE
HELP! I need to update my Nationals Entry:

How can I change FLEET?  
How can I change SAIL NUMBER?
Update my EMERGENCY CONTACT details? 

Please email support@optimist.org.au 
REGISTER COACH & SUPPORT BOAT:
All support and coach boats MUST be registered with Largs Bay Sailing Club. Please register as soon as possible to assist with club logistics.
SUPPORT BOAT REGISTRATION

SUPPORT BOAT STORAGE AND LAUNCHING:
Largs Bay Sailing Club (LBSC) in partnership with Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia (CYCSA) are pleased to offer a support boat launching, marina berth and trailor storage solution.   This payment is for storage at CYCSA, it does NOT register your boat for the regatta.  
All Support Boats MUST also be registered via the OptiAUS Shop.  A support flag will be issued to you at the event registration desk with a $50 compulsory flag deposit.
Dates Included: 2nd January - 9th January    (To discuss additional storage days please CONTACT LBSC)
The CYCSA Support Boat Bundle includes:

• CYCSA Launching
• CYCSA Marina berth
• CYCSA Secure Trailer storage 
• $50 fuel card
• $20 CYCSA food and beverage card.

NOTE: Additional fuel and F&B cards can be purchased at the event.

CYCSA Boat Storage & Launching

Save time and energy and pre-order your lunches for the Nationals.  LBSC are providing a delicious range of lunch options for sailors and parents.
ORDER LUNCHES

BOOK TALLSHIP DAY SAIL
NATIONALS WEATHER LINK

The whole of Cranbourne West Primary School will experience a sail with us over the next 3 days! Below are a couple of lovely photos from yesterday of 2 out of the 350+ children having fun at MYC.

Racing on Sunday saw 20 Optis sailing 2 Races.
After 3 Races but very early stages leading overall are:

Green Fleet Speedy Lego #1554 - Digby Taylor
Great to see Sebastian and Sassy winning races

Open Fleet Lucky Buoy #1670 - Lachlan Weber.
Congrats to Thomas and Lachlan for winning the races.

420/Laser/Bic Fleets -
well done Voodoo Child  Denver James 185789 Laser Radial
And String Theory 1969 Sbare  John Tadich winning both races.

​Welcome to Hugo Vandame and Daniel Laverty  to Mornington YC and sailing really well.

When will Summer ever arrive?  The cold and windy morning conditions  did mean for a smaller fleet.
It was the second race of the Series and although early on those leading the way are:
Div.1 Windsong - Jim Wtson
Div.2 Buccaneer - Lucas Otto
Div. 3 Tub Thumper - Geoff Heard and Anthony Creed​

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Congratulations to our new MYC 2016 Lady Skippers Tace 1 Champion Julia Barker on her new yacht Sirocco and all 6 boats that competed on a lovely Sunday afternoon. The next race is January 14th

Our list below of the finalists for naming the new RHIB to replace Scotty. 

Thanks to Alan Clark the new tender racks are installed. We have numbered the racks 1 to 37 racks CLICK HERE FOR THE TENDER ALLOCATIONS. Anyone else requiring tender racks need to contact the office.

Mornington Yacht Club and Sailability is launching it’s newest Access Dinghy 3.03 to be named Guiseppe after one of our longest serving participants. Guiseppe has asked for a red boat as it will be the Ferrari of the fleet.
Key stakeholders of Sailability have been invited from Rotary, Lions, Sunshine Foundation, Shire Council , Local press and all members are welcome and invited also.

The new Constitution was passed unanimously at the meeting. It is certainly a historic occasion for MYC as the previous Memorandum of Articles has existed since 1961.

Thank You especially to Simon Purcell, Honorary Solicitor and the Governance Sub-Committee Stephen Bardsley (Chair), Simon Treptow, Tim O'Grady and John Underwood for their tiring and tedious work in bringing the club into the 21st Century.

Click here for a copy of:
The Minutes
New Constitution
​EGM Presentation

Sundays are as busy as Saturdays these days.
A great fleet of Junior and Youth and Dolphins every weekend.
4 races so far in the series and leading are:
Opti Green Fleet - Racer X Sebastian Thompson
Opti Open Fleet - Lucky Buoy, Lachlan Weber
OTB - Twin Thing - Matilda and Lily Richardson
Dolphins - Flipper
Click here for Full results
Thank you to all the Volunteers 
Jacko

​Krista Bailey and I had the pleasure  of attending the 25th Anniversary of Sailability Victoria recently (Nov. 19). Krista attended on behalf of the volunteers and participants at MYC Sailability, while I attended in my role as the MYC Sailability Co-ordinator.  Sailability Victoria came into being in 1991, and it was in 1999 that the MYC formally introduced Sailability down at Mornington.
 
The first part of the anniversary celebrations involved sailing out of Williamstown on the tall ship Tenacious. Tenacious is the world’s largest wooden hulled, three masted barque and is owned and operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust in the UK. Tenacious is one of only two tall ships in the world designed to be sailed by a crew with widely varied physical abilities.  Every aspect of shipboard life is available to all, from setting the sails, going aloft and helming the ship. Passengers are expected to contribute to crewing the ship, which can involve something as short as a day sail on local waters, to much longer transit journeys, around parts of the Australian coastline, or across the globe.
 
The second part, and more formal, was the evening component where invited guests joined the day sailors on board Tenacious for delicious canapes and drinks. Many speeches were made, the most notable being from the current President of Sailability Victoria, David Staley, and the Chairman of the Jubilee Sailing Trust in Australia, Harry Cator. And what a setting, being on the deck of the Tenacious, overlooking Hobsons Bay and the city skyline, as the sun set after a perfect sailing weather day.
 
Our thanks go out to Sailability Victoria for organizing such a wonderful day.
 
Graeme Lyell
MYC Sailability Co-ordinator

The mid week Sailability program is now in its 13th year and from a stand up start where we borrowed boats we now have 10 yachts.  2 x 2.3 and 6 x 3.3  Hansa Yachts previously known as Access Dinghy's and 2 Liberty Yachts for competition.  This week we take delivery of our seventh 3.3 Dinghy which will assist getting more people with disabilities on the water.

We actually have a waiting list of people with disabilities wanting to join our mid week program and this new dinghy will facilitate some of these people.

Although we have some 30 + volunteers mainly may I say from other Mornington Peninsula yacht clubs we desperately need more sailors.

Our mid week program runs every Wednesday and Friday - Dear Members if you can find some time to assist - believe me you will be made most welcome and the satisfaction you gain from helping these lovely people makes it all worthwhile.

If you would like to be involved please contact either myself Noel Heyes on 0418 686 571 or Graeme Lyell on 0411 514 81 - We will love to hear from you!                                                     Thank you, Noel

Click here for Results
Click here for the Picture Gallery.
Leading the Series are Etchells - Quantum Leap - Jacko and Flying Fifteens  - Joe Etherson

A great list of competitors and perfect conditions to enjoy the whole of Port Phillip.
​Welcome Beau Ceil to MYC!
Click Here for Results
Click here for the Picture Gallery

A pleasing 34 boats entered on a really pleasant evening but with unpredictable conditions.
The late starters and etchells  appeared to have the advantage watching boats that started before them fall in a hole close to shore. Thewind never filled in and stayed 5 knots Northerly to North Easterly the entire race.

Congratulations to
1. Javelin - Mark Nicholson with our newest member Kevin Corstens on board. 
2.  Trim - Tony Grundy
3.  Free Advice - Ben Switzer our 2nd newest member and newest boat in the fleet.
Closest to Start Line - First Light - Andrew Weber
Series Leader after 6 races - Phoenix - Bill Bennett
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Commiserations to our other new members Belligerent Brynn and Max Lynch for being first across the line but 10 seconds over the start.
Also welcome new boats to MYC racing last night
Runamuk - Jon Phillips and Jim Harris
Apache - Tony Donnellan and Scott White
Sirroco - Julie Barker and Barry Mills .

Click Here for Results