| ... if you're not from around here, allow us to tell you a little about the waters we sail on this side of the sphere.
Melbourne is built at the northern end of a bay called Port Phillip. It isn't big enough to qualify as a Great Lake, but it's certainly bigger than a Lesser Lake. Around 25 miles north to south and the same east to west.
That may imply a regular sort of shape, something like a circle or square, which it's not. Think of the head of Mr. Punch drawn on a map of the bottom right corner of Australia. His neck is where the Bay opens to Bass Strait, his nose points south west into the prevailing wind and the city and suburbs of Melbourne itself are as his shoulder-length hair blowing in the wind. (Is there a song in that?)
Salt water. Big tides at the heads where the bay intersects the ocean. More fast than high through a narrow channel where much shipping has come to grief.
The bay itself is mostly shallow, 30 feet or less. In a breeze it comes up in a trice.
Typical weather? Melbourne is famous for its four seasons in a day, its "You don't like our weather? Wait five minutes." routine. Along with about every other city on earth, we imagine we're unique in this. We even imagine the aphorisms are home-grown.
The Etchells fleet in Melbourne usually numbers in the high 30's. It may be a little down on that this year due to raiding parties from Mornington and Blairgowrie, further down the Bay; offset to some degree by some new boats joining us.
We sail out of Brighton, around 10km (6 miles) from the city centre. Our skills range from the Bertrands and Drennans and Sheards and Savages through to some who are still getting started. Around here there are trophy cabinets groaning under the weight of America's Cups and Olympic medals and World and National Championships but, almost regardless of the level you're at, we can offer you a race.
We have programs to help those who are new get up to speed; and we talk more than act about programs for the quicker people.
We try to give people with experience in other classes experience in Etchells and help to find them permanent spots in crews; but most of our crews are fairly settled, so finding places is not always easy.
We're also, through events such as the South Pacific Women's Etchells Championships (click on Kerry Dickeson), encouraging more women to join us.
Away from the water? Our social program could be better (we're working on it). The events we do hold tend to be much enjoyed by too few.
And ...
We sail practically every weekend of the year.
If you'd like to know more, click on Jake. |
