LSC has been advised that unfortunately Lysterfield NP is currently closed due to storm damage which severely impacted the park. This means the park will be closed for public safety reasons until further notice.
Unfortunately PArks has been forced to cancel our planned event scheduled for the 16th, 17th and 18th of February. (Permit 14368 – Hansa Class Vic Championship)
We apologise for inconvenience caused by this unforeseen natural event.
Thanks for all your interest, and we hope to either help the Hansa Association with a re-scheduled event or provide any assistance with moving the event to another yacht club as deemed best by the association.
Saturday June 22 dawned with the forecast blue skies materialising, moderate winds, no rain and not too cold. A perfect day for manning the safety boat on Lysterfield Lake as demand for our services would be low. Unfortunately, Andrew’s sore back put paid to that plan. Jarrod Zander quickly volunteered to fulfill Andrew’s duties on the safety boat with Lachlan, which is how I came to be doing my first ever OOD duty up in the tower. On the plus side, you get a fabulous view of our beautiful lake, on the other side of the ledger there’s little time available to enjoy it. It’s down to the OOD to log all the finish times while checking that all boats follow the designated course.
The excellent sailing conditions led to ten boats preparing to race on the shore while Glen patiently explained the many duties of the OOD to this tyro.
The start went well with Antony quickly piloting his trusty Aero into a commanding position at the front of the fleet, which he never relinquished. Simon and Rachel set off in hot pursuit in their Tasar, but Antony’s reading of Lysterfield’s quirky winds ensured his ultimate victory. Meanwhile, Luke’s catamaran had a problem (a broken tiller extension) but after a quick pit stop, he returned to the fray, making the start, then reeling in much of the fleet, and ultimately winning the Div 1 category!
Meanwhile behind Antony’s Aero there were some interesting tactical battles between Steve and Glen in their Lasers (line honours went to Glen) and Herman and Jarrod in their Impulses with Herman winning that tussle.
Honourable mentions are due to Allan in his Moth who started near the front but slipped a little as the quirky winds were a little unkind to the lightest (and most beautiful boat) on the water. It was also good to see the father and daughter team of Leslie and Bec extract every ounce of performance from a school Pacer (no easy task) to take fourth place on handicap.
And that brings me to Dalton’s Contender – the fastest boat in the fleet and a joy to watch for the first four laps as Dalton danced in and out on the trapeze. Up til this point, my tower duties had been performed flawlessly (perhaps adequately might be the more appropriate adverb) until I saw the Contender setting off on fifth lap without crossing the finish line. Had I stuffed up and miscounted the number of laps or had Dalton confused a five for a four. A quick conversation with the safety boat confirmed Dalton’s numeracy to be the problem and all was good in the tower once more.
If you’ve never done a tower duty, you should give it a go. Your rewards are a stunning view over our beautiful lake, some insight into our notoriously capricious winds, and the satisfaction of a job well done (hopefully). All you need is a detailed explanation of the duties from an old hand like Glen, and no numeracy lapses from the competitors.
Huge congratulations to Mark Ferguson, Mara Chacs and Shaun Ritson who travelled 368kms North of Lysterfield to take part in the Lake Boga Easter Regatta and were rewarded with a first place for Mark in his Nacra, a second place for Mara in her Arrow, and a third place for Shaun in his Impulse.
Shaun enjoyed even more success at Inverloch a few weeks earlier when he won the overall race series, again in his trusty Impulse.
Enjoy the pictures of our champions in action below and congratulate them when you next see them on the water, but you’d better be quick, or you’ll be left trailing!
Get to know a bit more about our members, what they sail and what they are interested in.
What made you choose this particular class of boat?
The Sabre suits my sailing currently.
Have you owned any other boats and what were they?
Early 1950s
I served my apprenticeship making up a three man crew on a V.S. ( A Vaucluse Senior. 5m Centreboard Sloop) on the Derwent up river from Hobart. My job was to keep boat afloat by bailing vigourously with a large fry pan.
Mid 50s
I got myself a job and bought my first boat (a Moth Sail No. 200 ) the previous owner was Peter Attrill. A 56 Olympics sailor.
Late 50s
I built my first boat (a Moth Sail No. 756 ) and was lucky enough to represent Tasmania in Australian Moth class championships at Yarrawonga. We were badly outclassed by mainland Boats.
Early 60s
Moving interstate, family and other interests, kept me away from competitive sailing until recent times, although I kept a small keelboat which I cruised out of Hastings Marina. I had a few years as forrad hand on a Tom Lauren ( 8m keel boat) out of Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and ran week long cruising holidays for groups on Gippsland Lakes utilising 10 metre rental yachts. I sailed the Whitsundays several times.
2000
My more strenuous interest were becoming difficult so I joined Lysterfield sailing club and bought an Impulse ( Sail No. 476) This boat proved a little large for me so I swapped into a Sabre (Sail No. 1222). Then in 2005/2006 I built my dream boat ( Oughtred designed ‘Little Tern’ 4.5 m double ended gaff rigged sloop ( Sail No. 99) I became a volunteer sailor for sailability when it commenced at Lysterfield sailing club in early 2000.
2020
I bought another Sabre (Sail No. 1706).
What got you interested in sailing?
Serving my apprenticeship on the Derwent up river from Hobart.
What do you love about Sailing at Lysterfield?
The club, the conditions at the lake.
How long have you had your Sabre?
Current boat about three years (Sail No. 1706).
When you’re not sailing, what do you like to do with your time?
I make replica models of boats
If you’d like to join Colin Fleming sailing at Lysterfield, we’d love to have you and can cater for any Dinghy up to 16ft and Cat up to 14.5ft. Get in touch if you’d like to be part of it!
Get to know a bit more about our members, what they sail and what they are interested in.
What made you choose this particular class of boat?
Initially I wanted a cat but was wisely advised to sail a mini before a Ferrari. I can sail it in most weather which I love. There is other Sabres in our club and she has taught me a lot about boat ownership.
Have you owned any other boats and what were they?
Nik Nak is my first boat. I also have an interest in a 125 that James and I attempt to fly a kite on and I would like to buy a Laser.
What got you interested in sailing?
It’s been in my life always. Dad built a boat in his backyard ( I am named after her) !! They bought my brother a Sabot (not me) but it was really finding myself surrounded by water while living on the Isle of Wight that it became part of my life. I have then let sailing take me on adventures; living onboard a ‘Spray’ in Queensland, getting a train to Port Fairy and delivering a boat back through the heads and a few Melbourne to Hobart races.
What do you love about Sailing at Lysterfield?
The people in the club, the beautiful lake with it’s kangaroos and native wildlife and the location is good for me. I like being a ‘wind whisperer’; and chasing it around the lake.
How long have you had your Sabre?
About 4 years.
When you’re not sailing, what do you like to do with your time?
A bit of renovating with James, painting and everything artistic, eating and cooking with family friends. Teaching sailing.
If you’d like to join Paula Ewington sailing at Lysterfield, we’d love to have you and can cater for any Dinghy up to 16ft and Cat up to 14.5ft. Get in touch if you’d like to be part of it!
Get to know a bit more about our members, what they sail and what they are interested in.
What made you choose this particular class of boat?
This particular boat – combination of mid-life crisis (I’m going to buy a flashy red boat before I’m too much older) and wanting to show the kids that sailing can be heaps of fun. But Cherubs in general have been on the top of my boat wish list since a teenager. First designed in 1951 by John Spencer they were revolutionary in being light, cheap and high performance, based on kit ply construction. They’re a development class which means the designs constantly evolve within a rule structure that stops the boats from becoming too hard to handle or too expensive to make. Some of our most well-known sailors have sailed and designed Cherubs, including the Bethwaites (Taser, 29er, 49er), Iain Murray (18ft skiffs, Australia II), Farr (yacht design) etc. (I have a 1980s Murray designed hull siting in the yard right now that I really should take to the tip…) Unfortunately there aren’t many Cherubs still sailing in Victoria, but NSW and WA have strong fleets, and SA and Qld some too. Its refreshing that current fleets have a 50:50 gender split. There is a real resurgence going on in NZ too, driven by parent and kid combos and a new kit available for home builds.
Have you owned any other boats and what were they?
Growing up we had quite a few boats and sailing boats in particular. I’m originally from Canberra but we had a block of land on Lake Macquarie (NSW) on the waterfront where we’d go for holidays. It was pretty basic (pit toilet, kerosene heater/cooking) but had an asbestos shed on it which gradually filled up with boats. Dad had built a Mirror before I was born but didn’t like the performance and sold it to my cousin (who soon sold that and built his own Cherub, before moving to a Javelin, 505 and 49er). Instead Dad bought a swinger, which was a 11ft boat designed by Bob Miller (later changed name to Ben Lexcen – Australia II designer). It was a great boat with jib, and main, with optional spinnaker and trapeze (hence ‘swinger’ – very 1970s). We spent lots of time sailing that as a family. Later I used to sail it solo – it was a bit heavy by then but in a breeze would really move on a reach with the trapeze. We also had a Seasprite (?), Scow Moth, Laser, Tasmanian Tiger (a larger laser rip-off), NS14 and a few Windsurfers. I also did up a very old Gwen 12 for a school project.
What got you interested in sailing?
Aside from sailing with family I started crewing on some competitive NS14s from early high school. At that time NS14s had really large fleets across NSW and the racing was very exciting. I convinced Dad to buy an old NS14 and started skippering this with various school mates. Went from the front of the fleet to the back, but also took it to various class and school titles across NSW, banking lots of memories both on and off the water. I’ve never owned a really competitive boat myself, but my experience is that it doesn’t seem to hurt the fun factor. Ended up skippering a new Cherub owned by a school mate for a couple of years and we did OK at the Nationals in 1989, but always felt there was unfinished business. Didn’t own a boat again for 30yrs.
What do you love about Sailing at Lysterfield?
Sailing a Cherub anywhere can be quite challenging (so many ropes, so little time to untangle them…) and our Cherub is old so things can break etc. So my first priority was to find somewhere reasonably safe with a shore within swimming distance. But now that we’re keeping it upright (well, more so than Jarrod anyway…) and the boat is a bit more reliable I’m really enjoying the sense of community in the club, and that everyone is willing to have a laugh about what they’re doing. Also I like (on good days) the challenge of lake sailing, although trapezing and kite work can be challenging with the wild wind swings.
How long have you had your Cherub?
3-4 years, can’t actually remember. But I do know that there’s a lot of team work in sailing, particularly a Cherub, and that my son Max and I are getting better at it. Hopefully, before I’m too much older, I we can swap roles and I can have a go at crewing – I want that reach on trapeze with the kite up and Max smiling, preferably overtaking Herman….
When you’re not sailing, what do you like to do with your time?
Anything outdoors with my kids and wife, like cycling or walking. Also tinkering in the garage. But otherwise its mainly work…..
If you’d like to join the Harvie family sailing at Lysterfield, we’d love to have you and can cater for any Dinghy up to 16ft and Cat up to 14.5ft. Get in touch if you’d like to be part of it!
Get to know a bit more about our newer members, what they sail or what boats they are interested in.
Have you sailed before? if so when?
I had been out few times in a friend’s trailer sailor on Port Phillip in 2017-2018, but had no idea what I was doing. Prepare to tack you say?
What got you interested in sailing?
I think the sailing on Port Phillip lit a flame deep down that never really went out. COVID-19 fanned those flames, as I yearned to do something outdoors, something that was environmentally friendly and something my wife and I could learn and do together.
What do you love about it?
There is something calming about being on the water. I love the teamwork of sailing double-handed – having someone else to blame is useful!! I love that sailing forces me to tune into the weather and the world around me (yep, checking wind forecasts daily is a thing). I love that it wasn’t hard to learn to sail confidently with my wife, but that there is a lifetime worth of skills to learn and fine tune.
How long have you had your boat?
Only a month or so. Tasar 2079 came home to us from Bendigo. I wanted my own boat about two weeks into sailing school, but for once i thought I would do the responsible thing and actually sit on the decision while I was gaining experience.
What made you buy a Tasar?
One of our instructors, John, let us take a quick spin in his Tasar, and my wife and I both felt comfortable in it. It was much faster (and more unstable) than the sailing school Pacers. I felt it was something that would be fun and take a long time for us to properly master. I wanted our ability to be the limiting factor, rather than the boat.
When you’re not sailing, what do you like to do with your time?
Think about sailing. I like to do a little bit of wood working and general tinkering. I try and get my camera out every now and then. Camping, hiking and being outdoors as often as I can, which is unfortunately not often.
If you’d like to join Jarrod sailing at Lysterfield, we’d love to have you and can cater for any Dinghy up to 16ft and Cat up to 14.5ft. Get in touch if you’d like to be part of it!
What made you choose this particular class of boat?
I was new to sailing & the Sabre had a reputation of being a stable and forgiving boat in most conditions.
Have you owned any other boats and what were they?
I purchased an Impulse about 2 years ago which is better suited to me but heavier than the Sabre.
What got you interested in sailing?
I was chatting with one of the other Dad’s at my sons soccer game and he mentioned that he sailed. I was intrigued and wanted to learn more so I challenged myself to give it a go. My only regret is that I didn’t take it up sooner.
What do you love about Sailing at Lysterfield?
Close to home. Those great northerlies and an incredible place to spend time.
Good sense of comradery, light hearted approach and the ability to have a good laugh.
How long have you had your boats?
I’ve had the Sabre for six years and the Impulse about two years.
When you’re not sailing, what do you like to do with your time?
Church, volunteer work, reading, being active and trying to keep fit. Spending time with my amazing wife (I’m batting way above my average but after nearly 30 years together she still hasn’t worked that out yet).
If you’d like to join Jarrod Beaumont sailing at Lysterfield, we’d love to have you and can cater for any Dinghy up to 16ft and Cat up to 14.5ft. Get in touch if you’d like to be part of it!
It is with sadness that we have learned of the passing of Mara’s father Elmars Chachs on the 31st March 2022. Elmars, although less active within the club in recent years, has had a long association with the Lysterfield Sailing Club.
Elmars and his family of two sons and daughter Mara together with his wife Val Joined the club not long after it started and would travel from Tullamarine each Saturday to Lysterfield Lake to compete.
Elmars was always willing to help out at the Club, giving advice, and encouraging the younger members by building six “Darta” class dinghy’s for the juniors to sail. He later built a small trimaran that he sailed himself.
When he wasn’t able to continue sailing, his passion for the sport didn’t end. He turned to building remote controlled sailing boats.
In the past few years as his health deteriorated, he would still come to the lake on a Saturday to watch Mara Sail.
Elmars presence will be missed at the Club and our thought are extended to Val, Mara and all the family at this difficult time.
[editor translation – for now that’s a club boat…]
Get to know a bit more about our newer members, what they sail or what boats they are interested in.
Have you sailed before? if so when?
No. It is something that I have always wanted to try and after the intro to sailing I feel that it is something that I will keep doing for as long as I am able.
What got you interested in sailing?
Always have been interested in sailing boats . I read a book by someone sailing across the UK in a mirror dinghy. I can’t remember the title but this peaked my interest still further.
What do you love about it?
Being outdoors (not always in ideal conditions) and having to try and attune yourself to the conditions.
How long have you had your boat?
Currently I’m sailing Club Boats.
When you’re not sailing, what do you like to do with your time?
Gardening and bird watching.
If you’d like to join Leslie Rasmussen sailing at Lysterfield, we’d love to have you and can cater for any Dinghy up to 16ft and Cat up to 14.5ft. Get in touch if you’d like to be part of it!