No jackets this week, but a rather awkward similarity in dress between about five of us with pale chinos, and half zip dark blue sweaters. A slightly subdued Nooka (perhaps relieved the Dentist wasn’t present to photograph him) reported 23 members and Maria. My pen snagged on my serviette just as the footy tipping report was given and I missed the details. Someone’s leading on about 71 by one from two others….and your anonymous correspondent one point further back.
Chicken schnitzel arrived. Thank heavens we’ve adopted the half serve. So much more comfortable to tackle.
President Matt struggling towards the finish line, asked Maria whether she had given a report on her Safari last week when he was away, and whether she was in a position to give her a PowerPoint presentation today? All this revealed that he hadn’t read the bulletin and was unaware that Maria has been forbidden by Greg (overseas) to give her report until Greg was back. Matt’s excuse was that he’d been away on a boys’ weekend and only just returned. Fair enough. Good on Maria for holding the line with a smile. She’s getting the hang of the club.
Hutto reported on his and Margaret’s return to health after a week in Melbourne with a third dose of Covid for both of them. Nasty! He reported on the wrap up of the Race Week with the Myeloma lunch and the can collection. He thanked all those who helped and supported both lines of fund raising, and was acclaimed by us all for the enormous effort he himself puts in to bring it all together.
Malcolm McP took the chair for the AGM which concluded inside 2 minutes. Great work! Thanks and congratulations to Bono (Pres) and Paul R (Pres elect) and all those who’ve agreed to serve again for the forthcoming year. There is a joint Board meeting at Madala 134 restaurant 7pm next Tuesday 3 June, and as the new board is virtually the same as the current board, President Matt said any other members should feel welcome to join the party.
Our proposed guest speaker was unable to attend, and after some enjoyable O’Brien time we had a fascinating impromptu address from Ian McPhail being the story of his near death experience several kilometres of the rocky cliffs at the very southern tip of Tasmania! Amazing what you find out about your own club members.
For those that missed it, on 29 Dec 1992 Surf was a crew member on a Port Fairy yacht taking part in the rugged West Coaster Race from Queenscliff to Hobart, via the West Coast of Tassie. Reefed down in exceedingly strong winds they were flying along at 20 knots. Incredibly fast for a regular ocean racing yacht. In the morning they were at the bottom of Tassie when Surf and three others were sent to the mast to deal with a problem with the main. All were secured by harnesses given the rugged conditions. At one point the helmsman was obliged to luff up so as to make the job easier, and just as they were broadside to the waves they got clobbered by a big one. The three others were swept back to safety in the rear of the yacht, but Surf’s harness broke and he was swept overboard. Unbeknownst to anyone the stainless steel wiring or the harness had frayed in a position which could not be detected. The massive swells were 200m apart with 2m waves on there crests. Wind 60 knots. Ferocious! Wearing full wet weather ocean racing gear, but no life jacket (they were only made compulsory in light of Ian’s adventure!).
Luckily the experienced crew dropped a Dam (?) Buoy over the side immediately they lost Ian, being a large flag which floats upright and has a life buoy attached. The prevailing mist had dissipated and the sea was now brightly sunlit. At the top of the swells the wind was howling and the spray blinding. But the swells were so deep that at their base the water was calm and there was no wind. Up down up down. He figured that at least sharks were unlikely to be close to the surface in such conditions, and at the bottom of the calm sunbathed troughs it crossed his mind that if he was to die, it seemed weirdly heavenly.
He could see the flag and tried swimming towards it, but couldn’t make it. He’d lost sight of the boat, but the crew were able to locate him and rip him aboard. He thinks he was probably only in the sea for 15 minutes or so, but what a time that must have been.
As the yacht came alongside to retrieve him they slightly overshot, and had to use the motor to reverse a short distance. Without being too harsh, Surf’s rescue cost them a place, as starting the motor results in disqualification.
An extraordinary story. I quizzed Surf after the meeting and he told me he sailed ocean racing boats for 15 years, and logged over 8,000 nautical miles. He brought his log book to the meeting, and told us it had take three weeks before he’d sufficiently recovered his equilibrium to allow him the make the relevant log entry of this incredible adventure!
Thanks for sharing the tale Ian.…What one learns…
The lucky lunch prize was drawn before we all departed. Number 69? Who else? Surf.
Cheers.
