Over the past few cold windy and wet months Bill Wilson (Mr Merchandise – MCYS), Clare Murphy and Geoff Steele have been experimenting with and trialling courses for Nav Rallies which we plan to introduce for boating season 2024/25.
After a number of trial runs at different fixed speeds and different course legs we have developed a number of Nav Rally courses which will test our navigating and boat handling skills.
A trial run of the Dromana to Mornington Mussel Farms course 108 had been conducted in mid September when we and discovered that the recent extreme strong WNW and NW winds had moved some of the marker buoys, requiring a slight adjustment to the coordinates of out virtual marks. Authorities have been advised.
On the afternoon of Thursday 3rd October we experienced one of those magic days on Port Phillip Bay. Slight spring breezes, warm full spring sunshine, calm and beautiful turquoise water – everything to enjoy about being out on the water.
Ian Bond, Russell Warmington and Geoff Steele joined Bill Wilson (who in his spare time manages the MCYS merchandising) on his comfortable boat “Sea Child”. The allocated starting time was 14:00 and we went over the line 14 seconds early (exuberance no doubt). Bill was skipper, Geoff recorder and Ian and Russel were observers who called “NOW” when we passed each virtual mark.
It went remarkably well and demonstrated that Sea Child seemed to perform best at 20 knots on the day.
We completed the course within 20 seconds of the estimated arrival time.
All in all it was a fabulous trial. Most of the marks were easily identified and the course was easy to follow on i-Sailor software on Bill’s iPad display mounted on his instrument binnacle.
A few fishermen will probably still be speaking about the determined power boat that passed between them while they fishing off Mount Martha and returned later with the same determination.
After completing the course we anchored off Dog Poo Beach and enjoyed a cool drink or two and a lot of friendly banter, and resolved that we must do that more often.
And we will.
Please go to “events” etc in the web site and see the dates we are proposing for regular Nav Rally Events in 2024/25. All boats with motors are invited to participate, join in the fun, and win if they are are able to lose the least number of points for being either early or late arriving at each nominated “way point”compared to your estimated arrival times based on your elected constant speed for each leg.
More information about Nav Rallying will be provided at our next social evening in late October.
Geoff Steele,
Power Subcommittee
0412 749 544
