Summer

Melissa Yeomans

Discover Sailing Launch was today

Today I had the opportunity of heading down to Canberra for the Launch of Discover Sailing.   It is a new initiative by Yachting Australia to increase the participation in our sport.  It was great to see Mal Page take out Kate Lundy who is the Minister for Sport.  During the games myself and a few others were following her tweets eagerly awaiting news from Weymouth!  Today she got to go for a short sail in not much breeze with Mal and see what it was like.  We were joking around for a bit that due to the light air he should have taken something out a bit sporty.  Trapeze maybe?  Next time.

I also finally got to see Liesl Tesch in person and give her a great big hug!  It was pretty cool to stand there with friends and compare the different Gold Medals.   The Paralympic’s Medal is labelled Sailing versus Mal’s which says which class it was for instance.  Yes we had a discussion on which was best!  Oh and then out came a Beijing Gold!  Size difference!!!  Liesl was tempted to go grab her other medals…  But there was a launch to be done!

Here is what it is about:

Page and Tesch to launch Discover Sailing

Craig Heydon, Yachting Australia

Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Kate Lundy, London 2012 Olympic Games sailing gold medallist Malcolm Page and London 2012 Paralympic Games sailing gold medallist Liesl Tesch will launch new participation program, Discover Sailing, at Canberra Yacht Club on Friday, 19 October.

The recent success of Australia’s sailors at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has raised the profile of the sport to a new level. Yachting Australia, with the support of the Australian Sports Commission, has developed Discover Sailing, a new participation initiative designed to bring new people into the sport across Australia.

The Discover Sailing Program features a new website,www.discoversailing.org.au, and incorporates a number of key programs, including; Tackers, designed for children aged 7-12, Sailability, a program for people of all-abilities and Discover Sailing Days, Experiences and Courses, to be delivered by Clubs.

Images from Today

 

It was worth the drive to Canberra and back!  Bring on Sailing Chix with Nix in the morning!

Melissa Yeomans

The future of sailing rocks with chix like these

 

Yesterday I had two young Teenage chix on the start boat with me at NLSC.  One has some knee trouble so couldn’t sail.  The other is her good friend and has recently asked me to spend some time with her so she can go get her powerboat licence.

I got to do the horn for the start sequence. Yep that was it! Didn’t do times, didn’t do flags, didn’t call the line, didn’t lay the line, didn’t drive the boat or pick up the marks. I just had a nice day on the start boat watching everyone enjoying a great breeze.   It was great to hear the girls talk about what sort of start line they wanted for the conditions they had.  Big shifting breeze they wanted a nice length line and tried for pin end bias.

Today one of them turns 14. Happy birthday Georgia!

The two girls are so awesome and our sports future is lucky to have young chix like them!  Not only could they run a start boat with out any problem but they were also watching competitors and discussing what they would do.  Along with directing rescue boats when we had our top Heron capsized.  It wasn’t easy conditions out there!  It certainly was a test when it was time to pick up the marks at the end of the day.

 

Melissa Yeomans

My week so far

I have just spent the last three days doing the instructors course at Middle Harbour Yacht Club.  It was nice to finally tick that off the list as it is something I have been meaning to do for a long time but just not had the chance.  Having already done the Powerboat Handling and First Aid this was the next thing on my list.  Great to be able to say after over 20yrs I now can call myself an Instructor.   The course was certainly beneficial especially for someone like me who does not remember learning how to sail.   So trying to put myself in a learners shoes is not something I can easily relate to.  So to have the guidelines to go by will certainly make it a whole lot easier for me to help out those new to our sport!

I must admit that yesterday I was pretty lucky to be on the water.  Great blue sky and even better was the fact that it was a Nor’easter!  

BRING ON SUMMER!!!

Now to pack the van for Belmont and the Yachting NSW Youth Championships, unpack a Liros Shipment this afternoon, go to the rules night at the club tonight for a refresh, pack myself for Belmont. Then head up to the youth states on Friday.

At this stage there are 196 competitors for the NSW Youth Champs.  That is amazing!  Dad is the RO for Course Area B and at this stage I am on the Pin boat.  We have the Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, Flying 11, 420 and 29’er fleets!

29er 15

420 13

Bic Techno 293 3

Flying 11 43

Flying Ant 4

Laser 4.7 17

Laser Radial 20

Open BIC 8

Optimist 45

Optimist – Silver Fleet 5

Sabot 23

 

Bit on….

Check out the Youth Champs Website.

Melissa Yeomans

For the love of sailing

This summer due to my Hyper Mobile I have not been sailing much.  But to keep myself on the water which is like a drug for me, I have turned to jumping in a Rescue Boat or Start boat at the Local Club.  In the mornings they coach the kids and some new adults wanting to get into the sport.   Then in the afternoons the racing for the older ones and adults goes ahead.   In the mornings you often have Sabots, Herons and Lasers.  In the afternoon there is always a good fleet of Herons and Lasers.

Not being able to sail has been interesting but I have found that I have really enjoyed the opportunity I have had this season to help out with some coaching and course laying.  Having not done a great deal of coaching I am happy to stand back and let the guys who have been doing it for years take control and help out where needed.   I have noticed a few of the wives coming to me as I stand quietly aside.   Realising I know a little they then start to ask questions.   With husbands or children into the sport it is great to see them wanting to learn and get involved.  It is even better when they start to ask even more questions as they start keeping up with the fleet.

ImageThere is nothing better then seeing a big smile on someones face as they simply enjoy their time on the water!

To those who started sailing this summer welcome to our awesome sport!  See you on the water soon!

Georgia Sailing past with a big smile!

Melissa Yeomans

Another birthday gone

Over the weekend I celebrated another birthday.   Not sure that celebrated is the word though.   I spent it with friends out on the water which was a nice way to do it.   I was lucky enough to be surprised by a friend who was over from WA as well!  Being the only day off last week it was a really nice way to spend the day.   How nice is the view at the end of the day!

The breeze from the South around 15 knots with some stronger gusts certainly had us on our toes with plenty of action on the water.   Plenty of capsizes and unfortunately one broken mast.  They almost managed to sail home as it was bending but we ended up towing them the last little bit when it completely broke.   Nice boat handling!

A few of the Heron Sailors were missing crew and decided to go out one-up which was fun to watch in that breeze!  They did an awesome job especially the young girls!   Nice work girls!  I am about to load the videos to our YouTube page.

I made myself a yummy cheesecake to celebrate and it went down very nicely for lunch with those who joined me.   There was a plain vanilla/lemon one and a cherry with chocolate base version.  Big thanks to Goughy, Liz, Kate and Ben who dropped in even though they weren’t sailing!!!

There is so much going on at DeckHardware at the moment.  I really need to duplicate myself I think!   Phil is back in the office for the week before he heads off yet again this time to Melbourne!   Then when he gets back he will be at the Access Worlds and I will be at the Combined High Schools Regatta.   So much to prepare to get ready!   Lots of signage and stock to pack.    Oh and yeah we are also still working on website as always.

Did I mention Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show is coming up?  Good friend Ben is coming up to stay in the house we have rented to help us out for the second year on the stand!  Thanks Ben!   There is a bit of work involved in getting ready for this one with sooooo many new brands to show off!  I can not wait!

ps.   Don’t mention the Manly game last night….

Melissa Yeomans

The Juniors show us how it’s done

There is no question when you look at the photo to the left that these young teenagers can sail.   As I said last week there were four boats fighting it out at the front of the fleet for the Junior Heron States.     All four of them took a race win with Georgia and Samuel taking two.   Jerome Watts and crew Katrina taking out First Place overall.   Georgia finished second with Emma and Matt close behind on equal points.  Proving that any of them could have won this event on their best day.   Georgia’s capsize last weekend no doubt cost her a great deal but these are the things that you learn from to make you better sailors and as she finished with two race wins there is no doubt she has learnt her lesson.  Sailing is something we do because we love it.   Forget about the pressure and stress just go out there and enjoy yourself and the results will follow!  Georgia is not only a good friend but one of our DeckHardware Ambassadors.

The weather certainly made it interesting for those of us setting the course.  Huge thanks to my good mate Goughy for keeping me company in the RIB.   The breeze on Saturday luckily held off changing from the east to the southeast just as the last boats finished the first race.  Meaning we had to do a course change in between races as well as making sure everyone had enough water to drink on the hot day.  With the southerly also came some breeze and there was one reach in particular that it was great to watch the little ones in the Junior / Senior fleet getting up on the plane.   Sunday was back to being a light easterly.

The smiles on the faces of everyone young and old was fantastic and there is no doubt as to how much this event is loved by these sailors.  A huge congratulations to all who competed!  Especially those who were skippering for the very first time!

Photos from the event that I took from the RIB:

Album 1

Album 2

Album 3

 

 

Melissa Yeomans

Heron Junior States Heat 1 and 2

There is something special about watching a young sailor “get it”. On Sunday I had the pleasure of heading out on a RIB to watch the Heron NSW Junior State Titles at Dobroyd Aquatic Club. This coming weekend I will be doing the same at Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club where I spend my Sundays. After some terrible weather recently we were so lucky that the rain only came as we were all headed home which meant we had a great day on the water. The breeze started light and gradually built to around 15knots. Perfect for the little skippers who were for some giving it their first attempt.

The Heron class do such a great job of fostering young sailors. There was the first start which was for Junior / Juniors then a second start for Juniors with their Senior crews. A big hats off to all the adults who jumped into the front of the boat! Now to my point of seeing young sailors “get it”. Up the front of the Juniors there are four boats who were so evenly matched and all pushing it hard it was just fantastic to see. The Skippers Jerome Watts, Emma Harris, Matt Doyle and Georgia Llewellyn. Not only are they fantastic young sailors but they also have a great attitude and respect for each other on and off the water. Watching them have close racing around marks and tacking on top of each other and sailing clean at the same time was a joy to watch. The skill in boat handling was evident even as Georgia unfortunately capsized and Matt had issues with his pole. They both showed the skill and maturity to deal with the situation they were in and stay on the water and try their hardest. Fantastic to see.  The other three skippers all wished Georgia better luck next weekend after her swim even if they did make fun of her choc top.

These sailors truly are showing such skill it is hard to remember they are still so young and can improve so much more.  Looking at their sail trim, mark roundings and so much more it is obvious they enjoy their sailing and take pride in doing the best they can.   It is obvious too by the banter on and off the water that these four skippers push each other to further their sailing.

I am so looking forward to watching the last three races this weekend and have no doubt the winner will not only be deserving but that the others will also celebrate with them. As a sponsor this is something that is fantastic to see and as a sailor it is why we love the sailing community so much.

The Heron class have apparently been doing this for years.  Letting their little crews have a go at steering in a regatta is just such a fantastic idea and the parents have done such a great job of fostering this talent into little skippers who turn into skippers of their own boats as they get older.  It is no doubt a tribute to the adults in this class that:

These young sailors get it.

Melissa Yeomans

Funny how life changes

So a few years ago I was happy working two jobs and sailing 3 -4 days a week in Summer and 2 days a week in winter.  Then everything changed.  I got a call that changed my world and went to work for DeckHardware full-time.   It was not long after this that my family made the decision that we would like to purchase DeckHardware and that would change my life for ever.   I would end up working even more jobs to help grow the company and doing more hours and unfortunately have to sell my beautiful Animus so that we could buy more stock and bring in new brands.

As much as I miss the girl she has gone to a flat water home that she deserves after 30 years of hard racing out of Middle Harbour Yacht Club on the sound.  In an easterly she was unbeatable as one of the softer and oldest hulls still racing.   I was so lucky to be the third owner of such an awesome boat and it truly was a privilege to be allowed to drive such a fantastic yacht. It was also a sad day when she left our extended family as back in 2002 with good friends, my father and uncle aboard we had won the Adams 10m Nationals.   It was not long after that I bought her from family friends the Whites.

Owning DeckHardware has changed my life completely.  I have had the chance to travel to Europe multiple times visiting Ireland twice, London three times, Germany twice, Amsterdam Twice and Paris.  I have also had the chance to go to America several times visiting California as well as Washington DC and Annapolis.   I found myself until last year pretty much working 24/7.  Which is how I have found myself sitting here on a beautiful Saturday working away on the laptop instead of being out on the water. Seeing DeckHardware grow and change has been worth it even if it has been one hell of a ride and continues to be.  Along with all the experiences and friends I have made as a result.

I now make sure I do spend time on the water which has reminded me why we bought DeckHardware in the first place and why I love being a part of the Sailing community.

My parents tell me as a kid my personality would change as we approached my grandfathers yacht.  I was lucky growing up as one grandfather had the ocean racer and the other the 1920’s ketch with bowsprit and all which we restored.  The 1920’s yacht Thistle was kept on a mooring and apparently when I would step from the carpark to the grass to row out to the boat I would change completely in personality.  I even worked out how to go Wednesday Sailing for School sport with Adams 10 legend Pat Carroll during my teenage years acting as my coach.

For me I am at home on and near the water.

So sitting here with my laptop looking out at the ocean I better get back to work so I can enjoy it tomorrow…  Enough reminiscing and reminding myself why I push myself and work two jobs.   As my crew who are still in my life always say to me when they help out at Boat Shows and in the warehouse: one day you will own a boat again for us all to go sailing on.

In the meantime I have a pretty awesome company that I believe in and love to work for that needs all my attention to keep growing and I am proud of that.

Melissa Yeomans

Sailing Photos that rock

Some days you just know there will be the chance for some awesome photos.  Looks like yesterday in the 18’s was just one of those days.  This photo of Thurlow Fisher Lawyers who won Race 3 of the Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour is just one of those shots that everyone is talking about.

Check out the other images

or read the story on MySailing

I was lucky a few years ago to spend a day on a headland filming the 12′ skiffs.  It was one of those days that I could not decide between video and still images.  The 12’s are another class which are known for getting just a little bit of air.  They even have a miners trophy.

To read more on the 12′ skiffs visit their website

Photo album of some 12 action that I took.

I think it is time I tried to find another one of these days and hit the water or closest headland!

Melissa Yeomans

How important is coffee to your day?

I have a coffee machine at the warehouse and one at home and I know I am pretty lucky.  They are the same machine so that I can make the coffee with my eyes closed.

The weather in Sydney lately has been pretty predictable.   It will rain at some point each day without fail.  In fact the storms coming through each day have almost been like clock work.  So this morning I had to feel sorry for someone who clearly was so desperate for Coffee he had gone across to the mall and not taken an Umbrella.   That was a big mistake as it is not under cover at any point and crossing a pretty busy road as well.   Needless to say the rain came through pretty heavy, so much so that there was minor flooding on the roads around the mall.

I just hope his coffee warms him up…

Over the weekend I drove back from Gosford in very heavy rain on Saturday afternoon and Sunday we were packing up after sailing in the rain.   Sunday was a beautiful morning but even still I took out my wet weather jacket on the RIB just in case.  I thought myself crazy but it was needed after all.

You would think we are getting use to it but then again this is meant to be summer in Sydney Australia.