Local News

Mackay Model Mariners ended their sailing year with a Xmas break-up and presentation of trophies held at the Gooseponds. It was great to see an excellent roll up of members, all keen to sail in the social days events. It was nice to see three visitors from the Whitsunday Club join us for a some fun. The first event was a teams relay event with the two boats racing each other around a set course, then as soon as they were finished, they tagged their team mate who then had to launch his boat and race the same course. It was interesting to hear the comments from each team as they tried to upset the opposition. In the end Team A was the better team and were very comfortable winners. After the presentation of trophies a social sail of triangles was conducted , and the Whitsunday Crew went home the winners after the local club allowed them to win the last few races. All in all the day went very well, and the club would like to thank Alan Anderson for the beautiful trophies he made for the Club winners, Graham Shanks for presenting the awards, and a big thankyou to all the members who came along and enjoyed themselves.

The Year 2000 Club Scratch Champion - Ross Anderson, 2nd - Col Cameron, 3rd - Michael Barfield.

The Year 2000 Club Handicap Champion - Trevor Smith, 2nd - Neil Eggleton, 3rd - Ian Rhodes.

Congratulations to the winners, and we look forward to beating you guys next year. The Club will officially start on the 20 th January 2001, with our AGM followed by a social sail.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Col Cameron,

Commodore, Mackay Model Mariners

Mackay Model Mariners sailed the last official race for year 2000 on Saturday afternoon. Six yachts competed for race five of the Mackay Hobbies and Models series. A square shaped course made sailing very interesting with all sailors enjoying the course variation. Presentation of trophies for club champion, handicap champion and series winner will be conducted during a social gathering on Saturday 02/10/00. Club members, family and friends are invited to this social sailing and Christmas get together at the Gooseponds.

Graham Shanks and Ross Muller, members of Mackay Model Mariners displayed various scale boats on Saturday morning at Mackay Hobbies and Models. This display included a scale model of the "African Queen" and various scale tug boats. Some of the spectators ventured to the Gooseponds on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning to see these craft in action. Even with the threat of rain the scale boats were in action on Sunday morning at the Gooseponds with members from Mackay, Townsville and Whitsunday clubs participating in many activities with these miniature craft. Points were scored for their skill in steering these craft with some of the visiting skippers displaying their ability to be highly competitive. Mackay Model Mariners have been invited to Townsville and Whitsunday for further steering competitions with their scale boats.

The wind on Saturday was light and shifty making sailing conditions tough but manageable. The course laid by race officer Ross Anderson was a triangle, windward return with a half triangle downwind finish. The starts were interesting as all yachts had to run downwind to start making it harder to get a perfect start. The scores for the handicap races were calculated on the yachts and not the skipper as many skippers exchanged yachts to try their skills on another yacht. The racing was of a high standard and all skippers appeared to have an enjoyable afternoon.

This coming weekend will be a full weekend with a scale boat display at Mackay Hobbies and Models on Saturday morning. Whitsunday club will join Mackay club on Saturday afternoon for a social sail at the Gooseponds. On Sunday morning Mackay club will be joined by Townsville and Whitsunday clubs with a scale boat demonstration at the Gooseponds. Any interested person is invited to any of these displays or sailing venues to see these wonderful craft on or off the water and to chat with our very dedicated scale boat enthusiast.

Three members from Mackay Model Mariners visited Whitsunday club at Strathdickie last Saturday. The wind was pretty strong for most of the afternoon making sailing fast and exciting with the odd tangle thrown in to make things more interesting. Mackay skipper Col Cameron won the day with a yacht borrowed from Rod Pattemore as the wind was too strong for Col's yacht. Ross Anderson came in second again, thinking what do you have to do to beat Col Cameron. The competition between the two clubs is great with every one having a good time. Mackay club members would like to thank Tim Parker for being race officer.

Mackay Model Mariners who sailed in Mackay had a nice social stress free afternoon sailing at the Gooseponds. Race results for the visit to Whitsunday Club are :- Col Cameron 1st 18 points, Ross Anderson 2nd 22 points, Greg Hammon 3rd 26 points, Alf Scully 4th 45 points, Col Scully 5th 48 points, Rod Pattemore 6th 53 points, Bruce Purdie 7th 74 points Tim Arland 8th 85 points.

Race three of Mackay Mackay Hobbies and Models series was raced on Saturday with nine yachts competing. The wind was pretty constant all afternoon making it easy to tune your yacht and make some good tactical moves on the opposition. The racing between the members of the club in the handicap and scratch races has been very close especially in this series. There are a couple of members building new yachts which is good to see. This Saturday at least four members will travel to Whitsunday Club to give all sailors some interclub sailing as the Whitsunday club have some fast yachts. There will also be social sailing at the Gooseponds this Saturday for any members or interested persons. The club would like to thank Ian Rhodes for being race officer. Race results:- Col Cameron 1st sch 2nd hcp,Gary Smith 2nd sch 3rd hcp, Ross Anderson 3rd sch 1st hcp, Michael Barfield 4th sch 4th hcp, Trevor Smith 5th sch 7 hcp, Neil Eggleton 6th sch 5th hcp, Peter Humphries 7th sch, Ian Rhodes 8th sch, Rod Pattemore 9th sch 6th hcp

The last round of the Marblehead Tri Series was held on Saturday in Townsville (approx 400 Kilometres away). Fifteen yachts competed on the day with five yachts from Mackay club, one from Whitsunday club and nine from the Townsville club. The wind was hardly there 0 - 5 knots. There were plenty of wind shifts and holes around the course making it hard to get everything right. But if you did, you won a race, if you didn't, you could go from first to last in one leg of the course. Mackay Club members Ross Anderson and Michael Barfield held up the flag for Mackay by coming second and fourth over the ten races. The sportsmanship of all the skippers that competed was great making it an enjoyable afternoon. Pity about the wind that never turned up. Mackay Model Mariners will sail race three of the Mackay Hobbies and Models series this coming Saturday.

Seven yachts from Mackay Model Mariners set sail on Saturday afternoon. The ' T ' shaped course set by Gary Smith made the skippers concentrate on their sailing. A few close calls early in the afternoon were soon sorted out and the skippers enjoyed the afternoon's sailing. The brisk breeze had most skippers sailing with their smaller rigs although a few skippers ventured to larger rigs. Visiting yachtsman James Ingle showed his experience keeping the regular sailors on their toes. It was good to see Kim Thorp back sailing after a long break from the sailing scene. The club wish the members travelling to Townsville this weekend all the best in the Tri Series with Townsville and Whitsunday clubs. Social sailing will be held at the Gooseponds this Saturday afternoon. Results for race two Mackay Hobbies and Models series :-Rod Pattemore 1st sch 3rd hcp, Michael Barfield 2nd sch 2nd hcp, Peter Humphreys 3rd sch 7th hcp, Trevor Smith 4th sch 1st hcp, Kim Thorp 5th sch 5th hcp, James Ingle 6th sch 4th hcp, Ian Rhodes 7th sch 6th hcp.