Meeting notes from meeting 13 Jan 15

 

Meeting notes RC 13/1/15

President Tom ... Started the meeting off with One minutes silence for Paris victims.

Jenny May introduced guests Visitors which included; PP John Norris, AG Dudley and PDG Marilyn Mercer, PP Les and Joy Walsh, Frankie Cartwright, Claire Climpson, the effervescent Betty Chapman, Jenny Rule, Ian and Jeannie Jagelman, Margot Hebbard, Chris H, Marina Shevlin, Malcom and Margo Macgregor, Andrew, David, Jennifer, and Kate May, Dr Sirocco, Barbara Palmer, Steve Newnham, Lisa Warren, Claire, Matt Connor, Matt Calousel, Alysha and Matthew Mace, Joy, Christabel Wescombe, Bob Willis, Dennis Rozechuck, Brent McCarthy, Alicia Hawkins, Sue Rutkowski, Alexander Shevlin, Geoff and Robyn Walker, Jenny Alexander, Annelise Hollestelle, Bruce Kops, Gillian Lloyd, Lalitha Warren and Megan O’Donnell.

 

Chris Curtis re international Committee:

Re NCT Indonesia small grants project...

Chris is bringing project into RAWCS to obtain tax deductibility to enhance fund raising. This a new and exciting step and has rejuvenated and invigorated an already inspiring project that will bring fresh water, sanitation and a much better quality of life to struggling farmers who are caught up in a rain shadow, and find it difficult to live at their traditional subsistence level with aircraft whistling overhead and massive tourist ships sailing by with nobody giving them a second glance.

 

Harry Clarsen

No further report on workshop yet. Full report from Dr Catherine Renshaw on 24th Feb.

The RC Yangon (formerly Rangoon) will be chartered on 2nd Feb. looking for people to attend. Contact Harry.  You might recall that the erstwhile Roger Wescombe initiated this magnificent project that has the ability to completely restore the fortunes - if not life expectancies - of many inhabitants of Myanmar (formerly Burma). Lindsay helped make the project possible by organising RI dollars for funding the major art of the event, along with club funds. Harry's connection with Burma goes back a long way. It is there where he led a group of Military tacticians to review the famous WWII campaign led by "Bill Slim" where he managed to defeat the Japanese military machine by using innovative tactics.

 

PP Lindsay May-Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2014

Up to his old tricks of detecting and riding on a north-South current, Lindsay had the advantage over his opponents by enhancing the wind speed. Love and War's Wooden hull, sailed by Simon and Phillip, the son and grandson of the original builder, Peter Kurts, under the guidance of Dad and Lindsay, was a sentimental handicap. Lindsay was their choice as navigator, having won the race on this boat as skipper in 2006, at the request of Simon, following Peter's Last Great Voyage.

 

Advantages of this boat

The age and Oregon/maple construction enhances their handicap while the appointments below decks reportedly made for a relatively comfortable journey, compared to yachting's equivalent of the racing greyhounds that were competing against her.

Starting off near the lead, he was surprised that he did not have to turn about and re-cross the line. Later, on watching the re-run, amazed that 3 other boats didn't get recalled. Loves heavy weather and sits nicely in the troughs with hardly any slamming.

Loves heavy weather.

 

Disadvantages

Can be out sailed sometimes in lighter weather.

 

The race

Lindsay gave an exciting race-call-style account of the race. His explanations of tactical manoeuvring around the winds and currents, the weather predictions of Roger Badham, the computerised route mapping were interesting.  Coming second in the high winds, the chicken chute lifted them along and had them surfing away.

Lindsay's footage of the race was exciting, taken by him and Tony Herder.  It was just like being at the movies, seeing the other boats jostling for position and the various coordinated activities of the crewmen. At 2.50 rounding the corner, Love and War was coming 1st!.

Going inside the Hippolytus for the first time in 42 races, the sudden headwind cost L &W 5 or 6 minutes.  We learnt about convection current from hot rocks creating reverse headwinds. Dodging the Venturi effect from the rocks, dodging hazards, we hit terrific winds and hopes of a win rose. And then it happened. The wind dropped in a little air pocket that they sailed into. Unbelievably, also at that time, an aircraft did a loop and dived straight into the sea. Lindsay was certain that old friend and photographer, Richard Bennett, was on board.

They motored back to the crash site to no avail, finding only a small bit of debris. They then resumed the race being fastidious to re-commence from their original position.

We saw fascinating photos of the other yachts and also of Richard Bennett whom Lindsay assumed had died in the lost aircraft. Got a major surprise when Tanya informed him that has still alive.

Their final results were outstanding winning and placing second as well as gaining high laces in other categories.

Lindsay then presented a fascinating movie made by overhead cameras of the race from beginning to end that was greeted by thunderous applause.

 

Andrew later suggested that Lindsay put on a single showing for Rotary and Probus in a theatre. The presentation was that professional.

 

Questions

Wild Rose had a pedigree? Was a former Wild Oats and renamed.

Life jackets go off by accident when wet due to the talcum powder plug dissolving and releasing the compressed air. Can go off at embarrassing times. Moral: always wear the PFD on the OUTSIDE of your normal gear. And DON'T call it a life jacket or a helicopter full of lawyers will descend on you out of the night.

Storm Bay was full of swirling winds as always. (Bob Willis, former merchant mariner, said, on the night, that his ship was stove to off storm bay for 36 hours once because of industrial motor machinery on deck). [Shows how willing the weather actually is].

Boats for the race are limited to a Maximum size of 100 feet.

Comanche twice as wide as Wild Oats. 155 tonnes of pressure on it's canting keel. So much pressure that it may eventually break up during work, despite design engineers' calculations. Has crew ballast like love'n war. Wild oats has water ballast. Downwind Comanche is a rocket.

 

How long did this presentation take to put together? 2 days.

[scribe: I have seen docos not of that standard that have taken a year!)

 

Andrew May heard to observe that following the race hourly on the website was highly exciting, especially when Love and War hit the front and looked to have the advantage because the boat at that time had a straight line prognostication and looked likely to round the home turn first.

 

Rtn Harry Clarsen Thanked Lindsay for pulling a big crowd with your exciting description of the big race again. This was a magnificent presentation, with all the excitement and real time imagery almost giving us the feeling of actually being in the boat. All in the audience were enthralled - old (and young) sailors, thespians, colonels and cricketers, bowlers, industrialists and nation builders alike - all stood as one and appreciated the sweeping excitement of the night.

 

Raffle Won by Lalitha Warren of RI. Jenny Alexander. Kate May- Jenny's daughter.  Vigorous denials from Lindsay that it was fixed.

 

Rtn Tania

Attendance: 21 Rotarians  and 36 visitors.

 

President Tom, Invited all to return as guests again to see how we operate.

Also announced: BBQ on Australia Day at the plaza- volunteers needed. Massive sponsorship involved.  Need professional tong tweakers.