J24

A GLIMPSE OF HISTORY

Most yacht clubs traditionally attract members who own their own dinghies and yachts, and who bring friends and family along to share the excitement of round the buoy races or sea voyages. In return, they share some of the maintenance tasks that boat ownership entails.

In tropical North Queensland, some far-sighted sailors combined their efforts to combat our small population base, and reducing club membership base. These members (NQ Sailing Inc) were inspired to raise funds to supply training dinghies for junior fleets, thereby relieving the financial burden confronting new sailors as a major limitation. Pacers, Lasers and vagabonds were acquired, with a resulting upsurge in active dinghy clubs sailing, competing with each other, and with some schools accepting sailing as one of their approved sports.

This development trend is on-going with Tinaroo Sailing Club now sailing a growing fleet of O’pen Bic dinghies.

The initial incentive to encourage sailing in keel boat clubs, although faced with the need for a much larger acquisition budget, has also achieved a similarly successful response.  Purchase of 6 J24 yachts for the area has seen many new sailors joining the sport, and with several students progressing in confidence, to purchase their dream boat.

Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron provides mooring for 3 of the 6 J24’s as a regular contribution to the development of sailing, and they are available to affiliated sailing club members at moderate cost. (see rates below)

J24 PROGRAM:   The fleet of 6 boats are used to conduct Introductory Sailing Courses for Adults, with an organised curriculum that exposes students in a “hands on” experience. The rudiments of boat management and safety issues are a focal point.

Four courses per year are scheduled. Each course is conducted on 6 consecutive Saturday afternoons from 1.00pm until the boats are moored again and all ship-shape by 4.30pm. Guidance and instruction is arranged with a “volunteer instructor” on each vessel with 3 students. A qualified instructor supervises the program.

Students join the affiliated club and pay a boat maintenance fee of $60.00 prior to enrolment.

All expressions of interest should be made directly to phydah@bigpond.com  or phone 40 362 996, or sailing@ccys.com

PROPOSED DATES of courses in 2010 as follows:   30th January to 6th March
                                                                             1st May to 5th June
                                                                             31st July to 4th September
                                                                             9th October to  13th November

WHITE SAILS: During the year informal “races” are organised regularly to allow further experience for new sailors within the harbour. A calendar will be published soon. The cost per person is $15.00 for the afternoon sail.
The fleet is surveyed as training vessels, and are maintained at Category 6 safety equipment. Therefore they are only able to operate during daylight hours, in partially smooth waters.  A boat Safe licence is a requirement of the operator of the vessel. J24 WHITE SAILS SUNDAY SAIL TRAINING AT CCYS click here for more details

RATES FOR MEMBERS:       
      Single use:  $75.00 per day.
      Block booking of 6 uses: @$60.00per day = $360.00 in advance.

Club races usually fit these pre-requisites so block bookings are encouraged to competitors in races.

One design racing as well as handicap competition has been a feature of these events.
(2010 Annual Combined Club Racing Calendar published soon.)

MAINTENANCE DAYS:
Aspiring boat owners, student sailors, and sailing crews turn up and share the grotty jobs of cleaning boat bottoms, checking equipment, and servicing parts, rigs, and outboards; making light work for many hands. Many are surprised at the valuable knowledge gleaned in this extra experience.

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