SAIL THE BREATHTAKING GREEK ISLANDS AND TURKISH COAST WITH OUR EXPERIENCED AUSTRALIAN SKIPPER

AND ESCAPE THE MELBOURNE WINTER
 
Our Sailing Business offers customised Sailing Tours in Greece and Turkey taking you to some of the most beautiful locations in the Aegean Sea.

Aboard TAG, a classic and meticulously maintained BeneteauOceanis 473 Clipper, skippered by owner and experienced sailor, JB, you can be involved in the sailing as much or as little as you like. Our tours explore hidden coves, picturesque villages and ancient sites. There will be many opportunities to enjoy traditional Greek cuisine at the numerous tavernas.

We offer a personalised service, allowing you to tailor your holiday to your preferences. Whether you want to sail to tourist hotspots or quiet bays our team can create a unique experience just for you.

Typically, our customers spend 7 days/6 nights on board our fully equipped comfortable 3 cabin yacht.

(Shorter 3 or 4 day tours or longer 2 week tours can also be arranged)
For further information visit our website
SailingTag.com or phone Justin on 0433 151 455

MYC Hoodies
We will shortly be placing another order in for out popular Hoodies! If you are interested in purchasing one please let the MYC Office know by Monday 20th March - thank you!
Adult Sizes  $60: S | M | L | XL | XXL and Kids $55 Aged 8 | 10| 12 + 14

Footy Tipping is back!
 To enter register your name and pay entry fee to MYC office or to Andy Whitbourne by the 1st round which is this Thursday the 16th March.

Former long time member Murray Preston passed away peacefully at home in Alice Springs on Thursday March 10 cared for by his wife Jennifer. Murray had been a barrister and solicitor who worked variously in Mornington, Frankston, and the City, and later in Alice Springs.

In the 70’s and 80’s he co-owned the S&S 36, “Maria,”, initially with Jim Watson and later with Denis Kelly. A half hull model of Maria hangs above the door in the MYC bar. Maria sailed in three Sydney Hobarts, a Westcoaster, numerous Devonports, and multiple Bass Strait races with Murray as her skipper. Maria’s exploits encouraged many MYC members to see that they, too, could venture outside. Maria’s guiding sextant is enclosed in a stand in the Quartermasters Store downstairs.
Upon moving to The Alice Murray missed his sailing. Nobody but Murray would dream up such an audacious idea of creating the Alice Springs YC , with the intention of competing in another Sydney Hobart. A membership was quickly organised, with the NT Government being convinced of the benefits tipping in significant funds towards the charter of a yacht. Naturally, Murray based his campaign from MYC, instead of a logical Sydney. Murray was highly intelligent, but as his close friends will attest, he wasn’t always logical. The Alice Springs YC went on to do a number of Hobarts, and later, incredibly, a Fastnet.

Murray, was a great sailor who loved his sport. In The Alice he used his sometimes obsessive character to become an admired golfer at the Alice Springs Golf Club. He was a flamboyant character one minute, and quiet, deep thinker the next. It would be easy to describe Murray as bordering on the eccentric, but that would be selling him short. As said before he was highly intelligent, had a great sense of humour, and the ridiculous, and an enormous appetite for life.

Murray will be sadly missed, but never forgotten, by all his mates here at MYC who send their best wishes and condolences to Jennifer and his children.

This Labour day long weekend Mornington Yacht Club hosted the 2023 Optimist Dinghy Victorian Championships. We hadn’t hosted a Victorian Championships since 2013, that event preceded the 2014 Opti Nationals where MYC was host to over 300 competitors.

We had 78 entries across the three Optimist fleets, and with Victoria currently having the majority of the top Optimist sailors, competitors came from WA, SA, Tasmania, NSW and all over Victoria including Geelong, Indented Head & Cairn Curran for the three day event.

After some very challenging weather for the Schnapper Point regatta four weeks earlier this weekend had the Open & Intermediate fleets competing in winds ranging from 5-18 knots. They completed 8 championship length races which provided plenty of opportunity for everyone to shine.

MYC’s Optimist team was in full flight, in Open division Leigh Harvie 17th, Josh Bacon 30th, in Intermediate division Louis Coates 3rd, Josephine Lott 14th, Zac Oakley 15th & Lila Donnellan in 17th. For the fun Green fleet division led by MYC’s Sail Training Manager Immi Weber & ably assisted by Sophie McKenzie & Anna Cripsy, 20 entrants competed in 11 races in the more sheltered waters off Red Bluff, Linley Jones 8th & Evie Taylor in 12th.

For many of our MYC competitors it was their first regatta and a great opportunity for them to begin their competitive sailing journey on home waters. With this year being our third year running the SLM training program, Junior & Youth OTB sailing at Mornington is well on its way back to its glory days of large participation on Sundays & mid-week and also plenty of up and coming talent to fill the cockpits & bows of our keelboat fleet. The training and development committee are very passionate about Mornington Yacht club being inclusive for all sailors and especially today’s youth who will hopefully be tomorrow’s keel boats owners, committee members & maybe Commodores. The opportunity to run an event which is well attended by inspirational young athletes has hopefully shown our young members that the competitive and more so the social side of sailing can be far greater than just Mornington Yacht Club and this is a lifelong passion.

Leading up to this weekend I thought that one of the key measures of success was the number of participants you had and felt we failed before the weekend had started as we didn’t meet our targeted entries. Boy was I wrong, the key measure is the enjoyment it brings to everyone involved. The amount of families that approached me across the weekend and especially yesterday to tell me how the parents and children had a great weekend, were made to feel welcome, couldn’t believe how organised and well run the weekend was and how it was one of the best they had been to in a long time as the atmosphere was relaxing. As too, many coaches and sailing professionals who are traveling to events all over the world commented that it’s not often you see a club that operates together so well as a team. I have thought that we use the word team lightly sometimes, but the amount of our members who turned up for one or three days, don’t have kids participating or for that matter don’t even sail themselves anymore and members who cancelled other events just to help and participate is one of the greatest definitions of team I can think of. Every person that helped over the weekend and leading up to the event does it without arrogance or attitude, is happy to do whatever is asked of them and always has a jovial approach.

These events don’t happen without some external help as well and Peter Merritt from McCrae YC kindly gave up his time to be the Race Officer for the Open & Intermediate fleet on Alpha course. John Maclurcan from SailSys came down from Sydney to assist with the regatta registration through the SailSys program and John was on the finish boat entering the finishers straight into the SailSys and publishing the race result well before the competitors were back on shore which is also brilliant for a junior regatta where a large number of parents are observing from the shore. Sorrento Couta Boat & Sailing Club also lent boats, marks & other equipment which takes a huge burden off us.

Thank you again to everyone who was at the club over the weekend and if you weren’t around maybe next time we host a regatta be part of the volunteer family or just come down to the club lounge and soak up the great atmosphere that is created when our club is in full swing.

The 55th Marlay Point  Overnight Race  was held over the the Labour day weekend  on the 11 March.  It was sailed from the dusk start in Lake Wellington in the typical light E to NE conditions. Four Mornington boats competed this year. 

In the sports boat division;

• David Eikemeyer in Rush was first finishing at 4.35am followed by Tim Donellan's Zippier in 2nd place.
  

Ian Smith placed a credible 10th in division C in his castle 650  Black Jack with Moonshadow  placed 31 , finishing at about 11.23 on the Sunday morning after the slow sail around Raymond island to the GLYC finish at Paynesville.
The 12 knots  Easterly died  with the moonrise, in the McLennan straight with the  1 1/2 knot current providing the only motive power for  3 hour drift.   Puffs of 6 knot breeze, drifts tacking and shy spinnaker runs  made up the rest of the race. One can only feel sorry for the sideways trimaran  bouncing from one bank to the other  with no way to do anything else, photo credit to Kai  Dean! 
Thanks to the Marlay Point and  Gippsland  Lakes Yacht  club for again putting on a great event , and to all of the 87 Competitors who make the event so special .    Well done Dynesy, who didn’t compete this year but wasn’t put off after being bogged and eaten sliver by sandflies at his campsite in McLennons straight . Dynsey still managed to get on the water at Lake Wellington  in a tinny .  His yells  of encouragement to the departing Mornington boats was a sight and sound to behold !

The 2023 CYGNETT Victorian and Open Optimist Dinghy Championships Sailing Instructions have now been released.

You can head over to the Regatta HQ via the 'Sailing' menu item on our website to download the SI's - or you can click here

Team MYC was out in force at Sail Peninsula and MYC boats and crew were well represented across the divisions and the results.
 
MYC boats competing included Apache, Black Jack, Endless Advice, Ginan, Himalayan Women, Javelin, Mixed Nuts, Moonshadow, Morning Mist, Panther, Remedy, Rush, Summers Lease, Trim, Tub Thumper, Unprecedented, Y Knot & Zippier.
 
It was great to see Morning Mist out competing in her first regatta.
 
Summarising the MYC boats that placed in the overalls:

• Endless Advice – 1st CBH, 2nd EHC Div 2
  
• Himalayan Women – 2nd CBH Div 2
• Rush – 1st Sports Boats

There were lots of MYC boats and crews racing, Rob Harrison did very well and won trailables overall!

On Sunday MYC won the AMS Teams Challenge race, which is the first time that MYC has won this trophy.  See below history of clubs winning the AMS Teams Challenge.  

The AMS Teams Challenge is calculated from the scores of the top 3 performing boats in AMS in Div 1 from each club for the Sunday Margaret Crittenden Memorial Challenge race.
The top three performing boats under AMS from MYC were:

• Ginan (1st place),
  
• Rush (4th place),
  
• Javelin (5th place).

MYC youth sailing on Rush (Jack Eickmeyer, Lachie Weber) and Ginan (Jack Vermeer) helped win this trophy.

Foundation Lunch - Raffle Tickets available
Raffle tickets are available to purchase now for the Lunch. 
There are some great prizes and you don't need to attend the lunch to win - we will contact you!
You can purchase online, at the office or on the day.
Please support the Foundation and purchase some now - CLICK HERE to buy online

Ocean Sailing Events:

ADOPT-A-DOLPHIN
Adopting a dolphin is one of the most special ways you can help to protect Victoria's most loved creatures and their marine environment.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO>>

ORCV Overview
We conduct a regular, on-water practical tour of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The ‘pincers’ of the two peninsulas are known collectively as The Heads and comprise of Point Lonsdale in the West and Point Nepean in the East. The Rip is the passage of water between these two points.

During the ORCV Rip Tour, very experienced offshore navigators and yachtsmen provide expert commentary. This makes for an informative and enjoyable day for all yachties and their families. Since it's beginning, the Rip Tour has grown in popularity with all manner of boaties, fishermen, historians, beach walkers, surfers and holiday makers alike, so come along and get set to enjoy a memorable day out on Port Phillip Bay. Please also remember that this is an on-water, outdoor activity that is subject to weather conditions and sometimes postponements, so your co-operation and understanding is very much appreciated.

‘The Rip’ is the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay and the only access for shipping to the ports of both Melbourne and Geelong. More than 4,000 commercial vessels transit this gateway annually, where underwater reefs limit the navigable entrance to just 0.6 of a nautical mile.
This narrow entrance acts to restrict the tidal flow within the Bay, which holds some 25km3 of water therein and sets up a difference in the relative water levels between Port Phillip Bay and the Bass Strait. Consequently, the tides can run very fast in both directions and when you add some of the strong winds the area is famous for, it all brings about some very interesting and precarious conditions, where the tide can be up to six knots and the water can stack up to over a metre and sometimes three!
The Heads are governed by the Port of Melbourne from Point Lonsdale Light, more correctly known as Point Lonsdale Signal Station or Lonsdale VTS (VTS = Vessel Traffic Service). They close the Heads when conditions are unsuitable.

Outcomes
To provide for well planned and executed transits of Port Phillip’s Heads, with an emphasis on doing so in low-powered vessels (like yachts) and provide information to participants on the numerous navigational aids and strict procedures required for safe passages through.
• Knowledge of safety procedures
• Identification of navigational aids
• Familiarisation of the leads and use of safe water channels
• Understanding radio protocols
• Awareness of expected inbound and outbound traffic and obligations
• Confidence in traversing The Rip either during day or night with identification of leads and tidal flow
• Weather conditions and their effect on tidal streams

Rip Tour Content
This course begins when the ORCV vessel steams from Sorrento Pier to collect the other passengers from Queenscliff, where there will be commentary on certain key elements of the area. Once the other passengers have boarded, the instruction by experienced offshore navigators and yachtsmen will begin. This covers:
• Underwater topography
• Points of interest
• Major channel beacons, marks and navigational aids
• Traffic data and radio protocols
• Queenscliff lead lights and shipping channels
• Tides and tide signals
• Identification of safe conditions and/or dangers
• How to perform a correct and safe passage in both directions
• Pertinent historical facts and points of interest
From the instruction, you will learn about patterns in tidal flow, how to set up for safe transits of the Rip and experience the correct channel protocols in use. Favourable conditions will either be observed or described depending on the day, as well as learning how to anticipate and therefore avoid, dangerous situations.
You will also traverse the leads under Shortland Bluff and depending on tide and traffic, there may be the opportunity to venture seawards to view the effects of ‘The Rip’ before returning to disembark at your nominated port.
During the course, all participants will receive a copy of ORCV’s Rip Guide.

Qualifications
The ORCV requires the sailing master of any yacht entering an ORCV race for the first time to have demonstrated an understanding of navigation protocol at Port Phillip Heads, either from experience within the last six months or by completing this course.

Course Registration Information
This course is weather dependant and requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead.  If unsuitable conditions are forecast, registered participants will be notified by telephone on the morning of the scheduled tour.
Bookings are essential, as there is a limit on the number of passengers the vessel can take.
We require one registration for each person accompanying you, as this also allows us to inform all of you if there is a postponement due to weather or the like.
For your convenience, you can board from either side of the Bay in Sorrento or Queenscliff. Click here for a map of both boarding locations. You must nominate which Boarding Location you would like to embark/disembark from when you register. The ORCV vessel will be departing on time, so please ensure you are ready to go, ahead of schedule.
Once you have boarded, you should NOT disembark until after the tour is completed and only disembark at the scheduled times in Sorrento and Queenscliff.  Toilets and cafeteria are located onboard for your convenience.  Timing of the tour is critical including scheduled arrival at the Rip near Slack Water.  The ORCV will not be responsible for anyone who is not onboard by the scheduled departure times.
What to Bring• Weather appropriate clothing including non-slip footwear
• Snacks and water
• Binoculars, notepads, Dictaphones and cameras are optional at your discretion
• Life jackets will be available on board


Course PresentersVery experienced ORCV offshore navigators and yachtsmen will provide not only commentary, and will also highlight points of interest, provide aide-mémoires and include any pertinent historical facts or points.
Location InformationA boarding location map of Sorrento Pier and Queenscliff Marina can be found HERE. Please remember to be ready ahead of time as the vessel is on a strict timeframe.
"Transiting the Rip". An article written by ORCV Member, Nick McGuigan, for the 2010 RBYC Short Tacks magazine. Click  HERE.
If you have a question, please email us at orcv@orcv.org.au or alternatively, phone 0493 102 744

The Special Sailing Instructions for the MYC to SBSC Thursday Pursuit Race have now been released.

You can find the SSIs on our website under the menu 'Sailing>>Club Race Documents>>Special Sailing Instructions' or you can click here to download.