Last week's offshore races are done and dusted for another year and the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster (M2HW), the most patronised race by Royals yachts, provided our best results. Apart from One For The Road, who retired early in the race, all five Royals boats that completed the race finished in the fleet's top eight in PHS. Congratulations to all RYCV crews on Alien, Spirit of Downunder, Jaffa, Blue Chip and Soirée Bleu for a race well sailed!

Most notable were the excellent podium results produced by our M2HW sailors, with Justin Brenan and the crew of Alien taking the silverware by winning both AMS and IRC Divisions and coming 2nd in PHS. Lawrie Ford's Spirit of Downunder came 1st in Line Honours and 3rd in PHS after more or less leading the pack for most of the race and Terry Posma's Jaffa followed Spirit to come 2nd in Line Honours in a very tight finish with just 3 seconds separating Jaffa from the 3rd and 4th placed boats.

Read the full report...

Demonstrating the true worth of the sailing community, many of our Royals members generously put up their hands to volunteer with the Volvo Ocean Race stopover during the already-busy Christmas and New Year period. There were many familiar faces, (with unmissable orange shirts) helping out both in the Docklands village, and on the water, including our very own Race Director David Le Roy.

Despite the disappointment in the last minute cancellation of the Pro-am racing last Saturday, the yachts were a spectacular sight when they departed on Tuesday, lining up next to Thorsen to start! Thank you to all those who put their hand up to assist, and making it all possible! There are some great images going around from the day,including these, taken from above as they left the bay, by PC Mike Smith

The Magical Mystery Tour begins today 5 January and runs through to 11 January. The plan is depart and arrive at QCYC later in the day, departing through the heads early the following day - but it's not a race, so you crews are welcome to travel at their own pace.

The radio scheds will start 10.15am until just after 4pm each afternoon on VHF radio so we'll keep the lines of communication open with the mother ship 'Marnie'. The mystery location will be announced the day prior to the event, and will be dependent on the weather direction and conditions to ensure we have a pleasurable trip.

Contact SS Rendezvous Cruising Coordinator Ian Reichelt at 0455 286 399 or by email for more information and to let us know of your intention to join the fun.

The 56th Cadet National Championships concluded yesterday at Metung Yacht Club. We were well represented with RYCV's Spitfire coming in 5th, as the first Victorian boat. The 66 boat fleet also included Bullant (31st), Supersonic (39th), Jonathan L (47th), Thrill Seeker (56th) and Gotcha (61st). We look forward to hearing more about the championships when our cadet sailors return to Melbourne. The full results can be seen on the event website.

Do you know a child who would love to try sailing these school holidays? The RYCV Summer Tackers Program is kicking off on 15 January, with a $25 'come and try' introduction session and the Tackers 1 & 2 programs. Tackers 3 will commence for following week, on 22 January. Visit our website to register and contact the Club for more information.

The Club was buzzing on Sunday evening for the New Year celebrations. It was fantastic to see our lawn full of families enjoying a picnic in the sunny weather. Pier 41 put on a great spread in the dining room with a delicious 3 course meal. The DJ had everyone up dancing on the decking to some old and new favourites, until after the clock struck 12. It's hard to beat the excellent view of the Melbourne city fireworks from across the bay! We wish all of our members, their friends and family, a happy 2018! Feedback from the event can be submitted to the House & Social Committee.

Australia’s premier keelboat event, the Australian Yachting Championship returns to Victoria and will be hosted by Sandringham Yacht Club from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 January 2018. Racing will be held across four keelboat divisions and one Multihull division with up to eight races for keelboats across the three days and will be a combination of windward / leeward and passage racing. With the Festival of Sails returning to the Australia Day weekend, the timing of the Australian Yachting Championship allows crews plenty of time on the water at these two prestigious events. Entries are now open and the Notice of Race is available online. Marina and Hardstand Application Forms for visiting competitors should be sent in to SYC. Should be fantastic sailing – get your entries in early. Read more on the Australian Sailing website.

Don't forget that online entry for the Festival of Sails, taking place over the Australia Day long weekend, close next Friday. 12 January. Don't miss out on the 175th anniversary event! View the Notice of Race on the Festival of Sails website. If you're not sailing but you'd still like to be involved, the event organisers are looking for volunteers and would love your help - please register online.

The next round of the Port Phillip Women's Championship Series (PPWCS) will be the Women in Sailing Challenge (WISC) to be hosted by Sandringham Yacht Club on Sunday 11 February. WISC information and race documentation can be found on the SYC WISC webpage and updates on the WISC Facebook page. A full calendar of PPWCS dates and information about the series are on the WGIS website.

The Gold Coast 2018 Queen's Baton Relay will be making a visit to Williamstown at around 2.30pm on Saturday, 10 February. RYCV are looking for ideas on how we can activate the waterfront and participate. Email [email protected] if you have any suggestions. The route for Williamstown can be seen on the QBR interactive map.

House & Social

Where were you last week Silke Gebauer? The Friday Night Draw will return later in the month, with a jackpot of $300.

Bookings will be open soon via TryBooking for the Summer Gala Dance, to take place from 7.30pm on Friday, 23 February 2018. Dress in your best summer/ tropical gear and join us for the themed event, with The Sensational None of Your Business providing live entertainment.The cost for the evening is $50 per person for dinner and the show OR $15 per person for a drink and the show.

We received high praise this week for our food and beverage providers Pier 41, who recently hosted a 50th birthday party at the Club.

"The staff and caterers at the club couldn't have been more helpful and assisted me in pulling off an amazing party. The catering was fabulous and even the most picky guests were astonished at the helpfulness of the staff and quality of the food. A big shout out to Harley and Roger who were amazing on the day" - Lynda

If you're considering holding your next function at RYCV please contact Pier 41.

Membership

We are pleased to announced that RYCV has now reached its capacity for Social Membership! The limited offer for $125 membership was snapped up quickly, but interested persons are welcome to add their name to our waiting list. Expressions of interest for the waiting list can be handed in to the office or emailed to [email protected] Thank you and welcome to our new social members!

Communications

It's summer - the perfect time to go and travel our own backyard, or maybe even further abroad! Get involved in the Royals Burgee Challenge by sharing a photo of yourself with the Burgee at an interesting location, whether it be local, interstate or overseas. Pictures should be sent through with a description to the editor and we'll add it to Enews, our gallery online and on Facebook (please make sure the Burgee is facing the right way for the camera). You can read more about the challenge on our website

In 2016, the Royals' Communications Committee asked for your feedback, and as a result we made some changes. The time has now come to check in and see how members think we're going. Complete the survey and let us know what you think. The survey will be open until Monday, 12 February 2018 to allow you time to complete it over the holiday season. Last year we had 146 participants - and we'd love to top that in 2017!

Portarlington Sailing Club is hosting the Portarlington Mussel Festival Cup to coincide with the ever popular Portarlington Mussel Festival on Saturday 13 January 2018. Sailing is open to all keelboat and OTB classes and consists of the choice of one or two events - the Mussel Festival Cruise Trophy and/or the Mussel Cup Race. The Notice of Cruise, Sailing Instructions for both events and further information can be found on the Portarlington Sailing Club website.

RBYC invite you to join them in a cruise on Saturday, 3 February 2018 from Fawkner Beacon at 4pm, to Royal Brighton Yacht Club for a BBQ at the RBYC clubhouse. Meals, meat and drinks can be purchased, salad to be provided. Marina berths will be made available if you'd like to stay overnight. RSVP by Wednesday, 31 January 2018 to Jenny Collins on 0409 936 377, and fill out the form to arrange a berth at RBYC.

There's no Club racing this weekend, but to kick the year off, the Wednesday Afternoon and Twilights recommence on 10 January and the S80s take to the water on Friday 12 January for next weekend's 2018 S80 State Championship..

The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought the master, Captain John Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo's position was LAT 0º 31' N and LON 179º 30' W and the date was 30 December 1899.

"Know what this means?" First Mate Payton broke in, "We're only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line."

Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of the opportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime. He called his navigators to the bridge to check and double check the ship's position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark. He then adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather and clear night worked in his favour.

At midnight, the Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line! The consequences of this bizarre position were many. The bow of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere in the middle of summer. The stern was in the Northern Hemisphere in the middle of winter.

The date in the aft section of the ship was 31 December 1899. Forward, it was 1 January 1900. This ship was therefore not only in two different days, two different months, two different seasons and two different years but in two different centuries - all at the same time!

The full story of this unusual incident can be read on the Company of Master Mariners of Australia website. There is also another earlier and similarly unusual story about the SS Warrimoo which was recorded by author, Mark Twain.