News
To all Speers-Pointers,
I am sure you are all aware of the unprecedented measures imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and understand that the SPASC management committee had no option but to cancel the remainder of our 2019 / 2020 sailing season effective 25 March 2020. Accordingly, our clubhouse is now closed to members and third parties until the bans on social gatherings are relaxed. We would normally contact you at this time of year to invite you to our annual Presentation Function but, regrettably, that function has also been cancelled.
On a positive note, we are pleased to advise that the Lake Macquarie Stand Up Paddleboard Club have decided to relocate to SPASC and that we did manage to sail 30 of the 34 races planned for the season. The overall Pointscore and Club Championship results are here.
Throughout the season, SPASC has built on its reputation for successfully holding major sailing regattas, bringing many visitors to our region. During the last 12 months, we have hosted the following national, state and local regattas:
• 2019/20 Hartley TS16 National Championships
• 2019 Australian Weta Class NSW State Championships
• 2019 SPASC Annual Regatta (Monohulls & 14’ Cats)
• 2019 SPASC Annual Catagatta
• 2020 Hartley TS16 2020 Lake Macquarie Challenge
• 2020 SPASC Annual Marathon
Your management committee is working hard to ensure the club weathers this inclement period and is pleased to advise that we have been awarded a grant from the NSW Government to help pay for upgrade works under the 2019 Community Building Partnership Program. We are also hopeful that our ongoing negotiations with Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) regarding our lease with Crown Lands will result in LMCC taking over that lease and so enable future development of our site.
We thank you for your support and membership of SPASC and will keep you informed as events evolve. We hope that the 2020 / 2021 sailing season will start on time in early September.
Kind regards and please stay safe.
BILL SHARLAND
Hon Secretary
(on behalf of the President and members of the SPASC Management Committee)
April 30th, 2020
To all SPASC members,
I am sure you are aware of the unprecedented measures now imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Consequently, the SPASC management committee and I have no option but to cancel the remainder of the sailing season for 2019 / 2020, including the Anzac Day Regatta. The clubhouse is now closed to members and third parties until such a time that bans on social gatherings are relaxed. SPASC and Lake Macquarie Stand Up Paddleboard Club members may continue to access their boats and boards stored in the boathouse at their own risk, however.
Bill Gearing will prepare season results in accordance with the SPASC Sailing Instructions for email distribution to members. Regrettably, there will be no end of season Presentation function this year.
The committee are considering ways in which we may safely hold our AGM and are sincerely hopeful that the 2020 / 2021 season will start on time.
The above actions are disappointing, but I am sure you understand there exists no alternative given the current situation. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of you and especially our management committee for your understanding and assistance in this very trying time.
Please stay safe and keep practising responsible social distancing. I look forward to seeing you all again at the Club soon.
Kind Regards,
BRUCE GUNN
President, SPASC Inc.
March 25th, 2020
Considering the impact of COVID-19 on the community, we at SPASC confirm we are committed to keeping health and safety at the heart of everything we do and to closely monitor State and Federal Department of Health regulations.
In line with such advice, we currently plan to hold all remaining races this season, including our annual ANZAC Day Regatta. However, in doing so, anyone with symptoms of illness or who has recently been overseas is asked to not attend the club. Members and visitors who do attend are encouraged to comply with the following precautions:
• Apply recommended social distancing measures whilst on land, including not clustering around canteen tables;
• Implement thorough hand-hygiene practices and minimise contact with the kitchen, serving area surfaces, door handles and hand rails, all of which will be cleaned regularly and at the end of each race day;
• Only pre-packaged food and drinks will be sold at the canteen. Only one person will serve at any one time, placing orders on the counter for collection to avoid direct contact with customers. The till will be placed on the counter for access by customers for payment and change-collection purposes. The server will not handle cash while serving and the member responsible for emptying the till at day’s end must immediately and thoroughly wash their hands;
• Race briefings will be held outside, adjacent to clubhouse.
Our popular annual SPASC Anzac Day Regatta will be held on Saturday 25 April 2020 (NOR here) including some great prizes provided by our sponsors Ronstan and Boolaroo/Speers Point RSL Sub-Branch.
To register for the Regatta, please visit Australian Sailing’s revolutioniseSPORT.
Stay well, stay safe and see you out on the start-line.
Authorised by J. Hackett, SPASC Publicity Officer
March 20th, 2020
SPASC proudly hosted the 2019 Hartley TS16 National Championships and the Weta-Class NSW State Titles between 28 Dec 19 and 3 Jan 20. Both events were a resounding success and could not have occurred without the tireless efforts of our SPASC voluteers. Thank you all!
Following is an extract from the Hartley TS16 newsletter:
“The 2019-2020 Australian Hartley TS16 Championships has concluded with a strange sail that started in 3 knots southerly and ended in 8 knot north easterly. Two boats did their research and chose the left side of the course which the wind-change favoured while the rest painfully drifted on the southern shore. Benni and Precious had nearly an entire leg lead on the rest of the fleet at the first mark but Sandman and Sinister were close on their heels. The wind shift made the wing mark the only mark upwind and the rest were reaching legs. [The regatta saw] 21 boats sailing in seven races in differing conditions which allowed the best sailors to show their skills.
The Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club were great hosts and professional in all aspects of the regatta. Also thanks to NSW association Officials Paul Pritchard Race Secretary, Andrew Penfold Race Measurer and Glen Nolan (SPASC) for starting the whole process.”
The second half of the season is now off and running with the eagerly-anticipated Marathon scheduled for 8 Feb (NOR here), the 2020 Hartley TS16 Lake Macquarie Challenge on 1 Mar (NOR here) and the season-closing Anzac Day Regatta, 25 Apr.
To register for upcoming SPASC events, please visit Australian Sailing’s revolutioniseSPORT.
May you all have fair winds and following seas. See you on the start-line…
Authorised by J. Hackett, SPASC Publicity Officer
February 1st, 2020
Happy New Year!
SPASC proudly hosted the 2019 Hartley TS16 National Championships and the Weta-Class NSW State Titles between 28 Dec 19 and 3 Jan 20. Both events were a resounding success and could not have occurred without the tireless efforts of our SPASC voluteers. Thank you all!
The second half of the season is now off and running with the eagerly-anticipated Marathon scheduled for 8 Feb (NOR here), the 2020 Hartley TS16 Lake Macquarie Challenge on 1 Mar (NOR here) and the season-closing Anzac Day Regatta, 25 Apr.
To register for upcoming SPASC events, please visit Australian Sailing’s revolutioniseSPORT.
May you all have fair winds and following seas. See you on the start-line…
Authorised by J. Hackett, SPASC Publicity Officer
January 11th, 2020
SPASC proudly hosted the Tasar Association of NSW Travellers’ Trophy No. 3 on 7 Dec 19 with 4 visiting crews competing with 5 locals for the prize. James and Tara Burman (Little Miss Magic) just pipped Hugh and Emma Tait (Seredipity) at the post, taking line-honours in challenging conditions.
SPASC will next host the 2019 Hartley TS16 National Championships and the Weta-Class NSW State Titles between 28 Dec 19 and 3 Jan 20. To view the Notices of Race (NORs) and register for these events, please visit Australian Sailing’s revolutioniseSPORT.
A printable version of the Weta-Class NOR is also available here.
May you all enjoy a relaxing and safe Christmas.
Authorised by J. Hackett, SPASC Publicity Officer
December 10th, 2019
The 2019/20 season is off to a flying (and floating..) start!
The annual SPASC Monohull and 14′ Catamaran Regatta, and the Catagatta for the big cats saw some fierce competition in challenging conditions.
Coming up, SPASC will proudly host the Tasar Association of NSW Travellers’ Trophy No. 3 on 7 Dec 19.
SPASC will also host the 2019 Weta-Class NSW State Titles between 28 and 31 Dec 19. To view the Notice of Race (NOR) and register for this event, please visit Australian Sailing’s revolutioniseSPORT.
A printable version of the NOR is also available here.
May you all experience fair winds and following seas.
Authorised by J. Hackett, SPASC Publicity Officer
November 6th, 2019
The 2019/20 season is off to a flying (and floating..) start!
The annual SPASC Monohull and 14′ Catamaran Regatta is scheduled for Saturday, 28 September 19.
To view the Notice of Race (NOR) and register for this event, please visit Australian Sailing’s revolutioniseSPORT.
A printable version of the NOR is also available here.
The big cats will be contesting their Catagatta over the weekend of 26-27 October.
May you all experience fair winds and following seas.
Authorised by J. Hackett, SPASC Publicity Officer
September 22nd, 2019
Calling all sailors,
The 2019 / 2020 sailing season begins Saturday 31st August 2019 with a Sweepstakes Race.
The first Point Score race will be held on Saturday 7th September.
Time to polish up those boats in preparation for another awesome SPASC season.
See you all out on the water very soon!
Authorised by B. Sharland, SPASC Public Officer
August 15th, 2019
The 2018/19 season closed yesterday with our ever-popular presentation day. Thanks to all in attendance, to those who prepared the spread and to our special guests: Greg Piper MP, State Member for Lake Macquarie, Mayor Kay Fraser, Lake Macquarie City Council, Lyle Dalton, Boolaroo/Speers Point RSL Sub-Branch and Peter Watson of Teralba Amateur Sailing Club.
Congratulations to our class champions and to all competitors for a wonderful season. We’ll see you again very soon.
June 2nd, 2019
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