A Message from the Commodore

It is not always appropriate nor desirable to crow about one’s successes. However your Club is
receiving an increasing number of calls and e-mails congratulating our staff on good service, and our
F&B Manager and receptionist for their positive, polite and proactive approach to all queries and
functions.

Just recently the following was posted on a website – for the world to see – from someone who was so
impressed with your Club that they had to tell everyone:

“I approached the manager of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, Steve, asking if I would be able to have a
few guests over at the yacht club for my boyfriend’s birthday. Steve was so welcoming and assisted
me not only with a smile, but with such professionalism. A lady by the name of Chantal assisted me
with the same good spirit. For the event I had the choice of either a 2 or 3 meat braai with a selection
of delicious salads (catered for by RNYC). On the day the weather forecast predicted rain. I was
contacted by Chantal checking if I would still like to go ahead with the braai. When asking what my
options were Steve got on the line with a very impressive alternative – a 3 course sit down meal with
the most delicious options. The birthday boy was adamant that he wanted a braai so I declined the
alternative and went for the braai. On arrival at the Yacht club I found a large round table set with a
selection of salads, fresh rolls, sauces, butter and a tray of the finest cut meat. Next to this was a
blazing fire in a massive braai with all the utensils needed to start cooking. The staff were so friendly
and accommodating – the setting magical… right on the waters’ edge. Well done RNYC!

This is such a positive response, and one of many recently received, so congratulations to all our staff
and especially Steve Rawlins and Chantal for their dedication.

Your Flag Officers and General Committee set itself some tough goals to achieve this year. One of
those was to improve every aspect of the F&B side of the Club, and as you can see from the above,
this is being achieved.

Patronage was another area, and that too is improving every week. Our lawns have been full,
especially during the weekends, the Sunday Carvery in the Britannia Room is fast gaining the
reputation it once had as “one of the best carveries in town’ and booking is becoming more essential
with every passing week.

Our Club functions are bringing new faces as the Club Draw and Quiz evenings are ‘hitting the spot’
with members who enjoy something that little bit different.

On the sailing side our events have been attracting good entries of late, and the Vasco Race overnight
warm-up races we have held, have proven to be invaluable to those who have done them.

The Club will be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee anniversary over the 1-3 June weekend.
Watch this space for the exciting plans we have to mark this auspicious occasion.

There is an extremely positive momentum within the club and amongst members. Let’s keep it that
way.

Obviously there is always room for improvement, so I call on members to please be pro-active and
advise the Club management and Flag Officers of any matter they feel will improve our facilities.
Rather voice your feelings through the correct channels than whinge amongst yourselves. Our doors
are always open to all suggestions.

Finally, if you have not used the Club recently, please make an effort to come down and sample our
fare, or simply have a quiet drink of an evening as the sun sets over the harbour. As we are blessed
with wonderful facilities, I can only urge all members to share the facilities of their Club with their
families and friends. If you want something special, just give Steve or Chantal a call as they are always
up to a challenge.

Richard Crockett
Commodore

NEW MEMBERS
Please welcome the following new members to our Club and make them feel welcome.

Platinum Members
Jon Moller
Paul Erskine
Gavin Wadsworth
Grenville Wilson
Soobramoney Perumal
Gold Members
Simon Torgeman
Peter Smith
Ross McGill
Rob Main Baillie
Silver Members
Clayton Chinneck
Bronze Members
Chad Stevenson
Duncan Nairn
Explorer Members
Ryan Steyn
Robert Black
PC Blofield
Mario da Silva
Tracy Martin
Mervyn Attwell
Margaret Harris
Autumn Specials

Steve Rawlins has some great Autumn Specials on offer, so come on down to your Club and enjoy
them!

• 300g Sirloin Steak, Served with Chips and Crispy Onion Rings @ R 69.95
• 400g Spare Ribs, Served with Chips and Crispy Onion Rings @ R 69.95
• 350g T-Bone Steak, Served with Chips and Crispy Onion Rings @ R 69.95
• Chicken Fillet with Spinach and Feta, Served with Chips and Crispy Onion rings @ R 69.95
• 12 Tiger Prawns, Served with Chips or Rice @ R 69.95
• Hake, Calamari & Mussel Combo, Served with Chips or Rice @ R 69.95

SAILING MATTERS
By Gregg Dobson – Rear Commodore

Vasco Build Up Overnight Race 10 March
5 yachts set off on the final overnight warm up race for the Vasco da Gama Race (starting on 26 April)
at 15h00 last Saturday. The yachts headed up the coast in a pleasant 10 knot SE’ly breeze to a turning
mark set 3 miles off the coast just north of the Umvoti River mouth. Rain squalls with SW’ly winds
gusting up to 30 knots made for smart sail changes as the boats beat back to Durban.
First over the finishing line was Palluci skippered by Warren Clark, 2nd was Zap with Graham Rose on
the helm and 3rd was Aquavit skippered by new RNYC member Ross McGill.
The overnight races have been successful in that the boats and crews have had an invaluable shake
down period before KZN’s premier Blue Water race the VASCO da Gama staring on the 26 April.
More of these races will be held next season, before the start of next year’s VASCO.

Results
1 Palluci Warren Clark
2 Zap Graham Rose
3 Aquavit Ross McGill

Flyer Brad Rayson RTD
Kimaya Willy Vandeverre RTD
Vasco da Gama Race

7 ENTRIES NOW
Start – Thursday 26 April

Since the last newsletter we have received a further official entry, this time from:
Aquavit Ross McGill L34

This now takes the entry count up to 7. There is lots of bar room talk about who is entering the Vasco Race and who is not, so instead of so
much talk, let’s have some entries? From the talk around it looks as if the entries will be in the 10 – 15 range – so come on all you bluewater sailors out there, ENTER NOW.

Entries to date:
1. Kimaya Willy Vandeverre Fast 42
2. Spindrift John Banfield R&G 40
3. BMA Stuart Ritchie Beneteau First 40
4. Phezulu Leo Kroone Fast 42
5 Alkistis Paul Erskine & Stefanie Greenhalgh Jeanneau 40 Sun Odyssey
6 Gazza Garry Warren Catamaran
7 Aquavit Ross McGill L34

Remember that the race starts on Thursday 26 April in Maputo.
Information from Chantal in the RNYC Office (tel. 031-301 5425 or club@rnyc.org.za)
Hunter Nationals 17 & 18 March 2012

Good Luck to all RNYC sailors competing in this event this coming weekend. Fly the flag high.

Laser National Championships
The 2012 Laser National Championships are to be hosted jointly by the Point and Royal Natal Yacht
Clubs offshore Durban from 27 April to 1 May.

All of us know that Durban is among the best sailing venues anywhere but this fact is not as widely
known as it was and we need to put ourselves back on the map. The organising committee has been
hard at work behind the scenes and, if the buzz on Facebook is anything to go by, we are in for a
bumper event. But now we need your help. If you can assist on any of the days in any of the following
ways please let us know:

• Skippers for mark layers, rescue boats and safety boats. In order to go to sea under the
new regulations you need both Durban Operators Certificate and a Powerboat Skipper’s
qualification (minimum Day Skipper). We will offer training in the techniques of rescue and
streaming of marks for those who are unsure of these.

• Crewmembers for the above boats. The requirements are more simple: some brawn, not
much brain and it helps if you don’t get seasick. (Even I could do this one!)

• Bridge Officials are a super-special breed! They spend all day bobbing at anchor and can
still write and count at the end. Any takers?

• Administrators to take entries, organise prizes, be nice to guests and generally make our
visitors feel welcome.

• First Aiders. It’s a tough world out there and we need at least one person on site at the
beach each day.

• Launch & Recovery. It’s often not easy getting a Laser off the beach and sometimes a
nightmare getting it back on in a north-easterly at high tide. We need brave, waterproof people
with local knowledge to help get boats on and off the beach. The last thing we need is to have
a visitor get a fright and be put off.

Even if you can’t help with any of the above, how about popping down to the beach site and flying the
flag? Durban in general and our clubs in particular will be on show and we need your support.

Jubilee Regatta – 16 June

The traditional 16 June regatta is to be named as the Jubilee Regatta. This is to mark the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee. Many Clubs in the UK are holding special regattas to mark the occasion over the
weekend 2 – 4 June. Although our event is some two weeks later, it is fitting nonetheless that we still
mark the occasion on the water.

It is envisaged that a pursuit race, and a there and back race, will be held. However the Sailing
Committee invites any suggestions as to alternative formats for this event.

TIP OF THE WEEK
Go on a sea survival course. It might save your life one day. Make time to practice emergency
procedures, like man over board, or deploying safety gear, such as life rafts and flares. When real life
drama strikes on a dark, gale-torn night, it’s not the time to try and read the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Quiz Question
VHF normally has a range of:
a) 10 – 15 miles
b) 15 – 25 miles
c) 25 – 50 miles
d) 50 – 100 miles

The answers will be in next week’s Royal News.

Last week’s question and answer.

What are the immediate actions to be undertaken on entering a life raft? There are 4 standard actions.

CUT – Cut the painter as close to the sinking vessel as possible.
STREAM – Stream the drogue
CLOSE – Close the openings on the life raft e.g. door flap
MAINTAIN – Maintain the integrity of the raft e.g. sponge out water and post lookouts.

Racing Rules of Sailing
In recent weeks there have been some close incidents during Wednesday evening sailing.
Competitors are reminded that the Racing Rules of Sailing and the ‘Colregs’ are in place to ensure
that boats do not collide with each other and to keep them apart on the race course. Every boat (crew)
has a duty to ensure that they avoid a collision with another competing boat. Skippers are reminded to
read the RNYC sailing instructions for Wednesday evening sailing which are on the Sailing Notice
Board.

ROSTER
Garmin Twilight Wednesday Night Sailing
Racing on these evenings is made possible thanks to members who give of their time, and a race
once a season, to ‘do their duty’. My thanks, and those of the Sailing Committee, to those kind enough
to make this hassle-free.
The Wednesday Duty Officer has the responsibility of providing bridge crew and safety boat drivers, as
well as running the race. Should anyone not be able to do a duty it is their responsibility to swop with
someone else and to ensure that personnel are available on that day. Thanks to those who have
already done their duty. Should anyone have a query regarding their duty, please contact Chantal
(031-301 5425 or club@rnyc.org.za) or Gregg Dobson.

The duty roster which has been on the Club sailing noticeboard for some time now and is reproduced below for easy reference:
Race Officers Duty Roster
Esprit Brad Rayson 083 631 5375 28 March

Quote
“He who lets the sea lull him into a sense of security, is in very grave danger.” Hammond Ines

Let’s enjoy our sport safely! See you on the water!

AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO CRUISING
SAS senior sailtraining examiner, Kelvin Thomas and his wife Sue will be on their boat ‘Sawubona’ in
the Ionian Islands in Greece this coming summer. They have space for 2 couples aboard in double
cabins for 2 weeks in August.
So if you are interested, or you may know of some nice sailing people who would enjoy the
experience, Kelvin will skipper/host them. He and Sue have 10 years of experience in the area to
share.
This is a great opportunity for someone who isn’t ready to do a bareboat charter yet, and would
appreciate the whole sailing/exploring/cultural experience with a couple like us.
Contact Kelvin Thomas at: kelthomas@mweb.co.za

Quiz Night
Friday 23 March
The RNYC Quiz Evening are becoming extremely popular – so book know and come down for a good
meal, a little brain exercise, and a pleasant evening all round. The cost of the evening is R75.00 per
head inclusive of dinner.

Menu
Greek Salad, Potato Salad,
Chicken Curry & Rice
Double Cheese and Macaroni
Roast Hip of Beef,
Seasonal Vegetables, Roast Potatoes,
Selection of Desserts
Cheese & Biscuits
Tea/Coffee

GENERAL CLUB NOTICES & REMINDERS
Parking Discs for 2012
These are now available at R360.00 for the year. They can be collected and paid for during office