A Cruise of Many Contributors, Many Stories and One Very Happy Fleet
What a terrific cruise and what a wonderful reflection of everything that makes our Cruising Division so special.
From the considered decision to delay departure for safety, through eleven memorable days on Lake Macquarie, this cruise delivered cruising at its very best, shared adventure, sound seamanship, laughter, generosity and genuine friendship.
Whether it was escorted passages with Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie, relaxed sundowners and dinners ashore, good-natured “competitive cruises”, long walks, short walks, birthdays, anniversaries, New Year’s Eve fireworks enjoyed from the water, or boats quietly helping boats whenever needed, the spirit of the group was outstanding throughout.
As the report notes, every single person was a contributor, and the camaraderie and participation were truly first-class. New friendships were made, old ones strengthened, and Lake Macquarie once again proved what a brilliant, boat-friendly cruising destination it is.
I really commend you to read the full report prepared by Rear Commodore Cruising, Greg Dunstan. It makes fantastic reading and beautifully captures the fun, friendship, seamanship and character of the cruise.
Congratulations to everyone involved, and sincere thanks to Greg and Margaret for leading such a well-organised, inclusive and thoroughly enjoyable cruise.
Well done Cruising Division.
Rob McClelland
Commodore, RPAYC
ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED CRUISE TO LAKE MACQUARIE 28 DECEMBER 2025 TO 8 JANUARY 2026
DISCLAIMER
All comments in this report are to be construed in the best possible way and completely as being said in jest and in the spirit of banter which prevailed on the cruise
28th December 2025
Cruise postponed due to the following announcement.
Dear Christmas Cruise. The swell on 28th is 2.3 m with 8 sec intervals from South a wind 17 knots from South. The bar cam today shows waves breaking across the bar. There will be windage and current at the bridge. The 29th is 1.3 m swell, 10knot SE wind and south swell. High tide is an hour later at 4pm. As the object of the cruise is pleasure rather than endurance, I think we are better served leaving on 29th.
Athena had already left on the 27th and Pecalin and Matakana decided that they needed the thrill and went anyway.
Cape Three Points on the 28th
Pecalin coming into Lake Macquarie (they reported that the trip was “uncomfortable”)
29TH December 2025
After delaying the cruise by one day due to sea state, wind and weather, the main body of the cruise started on the 6 hour journey to Lake Macquarie and a 3pm Swansea Bridge opening. The sea state this day was much more benign, and the crews seemed to be very happy with the departure date.
Lucid was delayed a day due to problems with their depth sounder (an essential element for anchoring and navigating on the Lake). Fortunately, they were able to have it repaired after getting a new transducer and were able to leave the next day.
Some even raised their spinnaker/code zero
At 4 pm the first group arrived at the Swansea Bridge except for MV Passport and Wind Cheetah who showed off their speed (for different reasons) and went through the earlier bridge opening.
First Gathering on Opening Night
Our first official social event was at the LMYC. Meals were pre-ordered and served promptly at 7.30 pm after an hour of drinks and socialising beforehand.
According to my record of pre-orders there were 27 gathered for sundowners that day. The LMYC was packed and there was an hour’s wait for orders (except ours which we had ordered in advance of arriving). Top marks to ‘Crusoes by the Lake’ who operate the LMYC Food and Beverage. Some enjoyed the experience so much that they went back for coffee and breakfast next morning.
MARINE RESCUE LAKE MACQUARIE
A special mention should go to the marine rescue volunteers. They escorted our main group in and out of the lake and many other of our members who booked separately. They were prompt,
professional and communicated with us in a timely way and with an assurance “just follow us we know what we are doing”. The RPAYC cruise owe them a special thank you. We were such a notable event for them that they posted a drone shot of our group as we entered the lake. A link of their drone footage can be found at (10) Facebook. To access the video hold control/click.
30th December 2025
Owen and Linda (Athena) led the onshore Green Point walk. A lengthy walk of 10,000 steps through natural bushland, rainforest, well-made bike paths and waterside boardwalks. At one point I was sure that we were lost but the intrepid ‘adventure duo’ of Owen and Linda got us back safely (eventually). Upon return to our boats, some of us spent the next 30 minutes cooling our feet in the calming coolness of Lake Macquarie.
In the meantime, David and Sonia and David and Jenny (Kailani) had sailed from Pittwater in time to join us for sundowners at the Belmont netted baths and picnic tables. Kailani, by the way is one of the four catamarans who participated in the cruise. The prize for the day was a participation award. Our eldest cruiser, Tony Clapham (83 yrs young) had completed the enduro walk that day up hill and down dale. He had also rowed the 500 metres to the shore to start the walk just to ‘keep fit’. He was the prime candidate for the days participation award but then did not participate in the Sundowners award ceremony. It was my intention to disqualify him but there was such a commotion from within the group shouting for his reinstatement that I had no choice but to give him the award and the prize. The excuse which he later offered was that he was ashore lavishing his wife Gail with lobster and other delicacies.
31st December 2025 (New Years Eve)
This was a very action-packed day, with Coffee at the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club followed by the Pulbah Classic Competitive Cruise, culminating in Sundowners onshore at Wangi with prizegiving and ringside waterfront seats on our boats in Wangi Bay for the Wangi Wangi New Year’s eve fireworks.
The Committee boat for the Pulbah classic was Passport with the competitive cruise committee being Ross and Jenny. Ross’s motor vessel was perfect for the task, but Ross wished to participate in the competitive cruise. There was uproar amongst his fellow cruisers until it was pointed out that Ross could participate but was not permitted to use his engines. At this juncture, Ross decided to give up his dream of competing in the Pulbah Classic and graciously became our start and finish boat.
For those who are not familiar with the Pulbah Classic, which is entirely possible because it was the inaugural event, it is a competitive cruise from north to south and from LMYC to a line between the western end of Pulbah island, and the finish boat. Ross was very liberal with his application of the rules and permitted cruisers to finish either side of Passport. The winner of the inaugural Pulbah Classic was Wind Cheetah, sailed by Darren and Margie. Wind Cheetah is one of our four catamarans. A monohull came second (Elysium) but everyone knows that there is no second prize! Sorry Nigel. The handicap event was a dead heat between Inky (Martin and Louise) and Lucid (Megan and Bruce). The winner of the Dinghy Dragger Division was Freewheeler who dragged his dinghy from start to finish and who was our only solo yachtsman in the event.
I would like to retire this division (the DDD) or at least not encourage it as I expressed during the cruise that they are just being lazy. However, it is such a popular division that I doubt this will be possible at any time in the near future. Perhaps at some time they will feel the shame and scorn of being too lazy to lift their tenders onto their foredecks. It will be later seen that in our second event, the Summerland to Rathmines dash, all four of the last four places went to dinghy draggers. I really don’t think they care, their division still gets a prize, and they don’t have to put their tenders back in the water after the finish.
In all seriousness however, every single boat participated in the event which was magnificent.
Josh was so enthusiastic that he put his spinnaker up on Follow the Sun going upwind. I think he was hoping for a big wind shift!
Back at Wangi Wangi the Committee Boat provided their report in relation to the event and provided valuable information about finishing on the correct side of the committee boat.
After this explanation I pretended that I was Rob McClelland and had my photo taken with every winner.
The Fireworks
After the presentations and failing to avoid making a fireworks donation to the local Wangi volunteers, we retired to our boats for the evening. Our boats were so close that some worried about the ‘fallout’ from the display and had to quickly check the prevailing wind direction. It was an amazing display.
1st January 2026 – New Years Day
The event on this day was a great event. David Williams successfully persuaded the local Sir William Dobell Museum to open on New Years Day. The curator agreed provided at least 10 people attended and that each paid the $10 entry fee. 31 of us turned up and enjoyed a very informative and
interesting presentation on the life and art of Sir William Dobell and were able to enjoy his paintings and enjoy the significance of those paintings in the story of his life. One such story was a court case about whether he had legitimately won the Archibald Prize. His painting was alleged not to be a
portrait but a caricature. He won the case, but it nearly undid him as a person. The museum itself is his actual home in the precise condition it was in on the night he died. Even the whiskey flask and glass he was drinking on the night of his heart attack is still on the table.
2 DECEMBER 2026
On 2 December 2026 the cruise moved from the northern developed area of the lake to the less developed southern end. Destination Brown’s Point Bay which was far enough away from Wangi as to justify putting up the main and having a sail down.
This bay is small but beautiful with good anchorage. Apart from the natural setting, one is serenaded by a cacophony of bell birds that echo over the still waters of the bay.
Peter and Judith (Andeluna) initiated a walk (another long walk for goodness sake!) to Catherine Hill Beach with a drink stop at the local pub. Margaret, Phil and I are missing from the next photo as we were not as intrepid as the hardy trekkers in the photo, and turned back earlier in the walk. (By Sundowners at 5 pm they had only just returned)
The photo below appears in the chronology at this part of the report and has been inserted because the message read “Does anyone have one of these or an o ring selection” and someone did. This phenomenon of boats in need being assisted was common and reinforced the benefit of being in a cruising group, especially a large one like ours. This request by David was met with a response from Megan (Lucid) and also from Darren (Wind Cheetah) “I have a big selection of o rings if you want to come get them”.
I also made the following entry on our cruising whatsapp,
I have just been informed by Jim Cormack that he has sliced the pad of his foot on his boat. He will be temporarily absent from the cruise whilst he visits Belmont hospital for assessment and possible stitches. In the meantime, he let me know that Monica has dressed his wound and that he is sufficiently mobile to still operate his boat and transport himself to LMYC and Belmont Hospital (which was just up the road from the LMYC). He will keep us informed of the outcome of his visit but intends re-joining us after his ordeal. We have offered assistance, if required but he advised that at this stage it was not necessary but wished to give a huge thank you to Monica and Gary for their assistance. Monica is a GP and Gary is not. I am sure Gary provided terrific moral support (my comment in relation to Gary should be read as literary use of irony). This again shows the benefit of cruising together as we have so many special and talented people in our group. There is almost no need that cannot be covered.
Jim’s wound received stitches and treatment at the Belmont Hospital, and he did in fact rejoin the cruise and play an active role.
Facilities at the Lake
One of the features that we all observed in respect of the Lake was that no matter where we anchored there always seemed to be a waterfront park with facilities. At this Sundowners we were surprised that the walkers to Catherine Hill Bay still had the energy to participate. Sadly, the leaders of that great trek (Peter and Judith – Andeluna) had to sail back to Sydney the next day. Early next morning they quietly raised their anchor and slipped out of the bay. Peter and Judith are great contributors to cruises that they attend and their continuation on the cruise was missed as were Ross and Jenny (Passport) who also decided to return the Pittwater.
Sundowners at Browns Point Bay (near Nords Wharf)
Andeluna (Peter and Judith) offshore on their way back to Pittwater with Judith ‘trimming the sails’ wonderfully.
No sooner had Andeluna and Passport left than Marilyn and Greg (Albatross) and John and Pru (Fin) arrived to replenish the loss of our cruising compatriots Andeluna and Passport.
Breakfast the next morning was a short walk to the Nords Wharf Trading Post after which we headed back to our boats and motored off in a rather stiff north easter to Point Wolstoncroft.
3rd January 2026
Point Wolstoncroft was the perfect location for protection from the North Easter and had plenty of room for all of the fleet to anchor in the lee of the peninsula. We also enjoyed the added bonus of being serenaded again by the bellbirds.
This was the only location where there was no park in close proximity and so sundowners was held on Heavens Gate.
little faster.
4th January 2026
Summerland Bay
This was a day to remember. Jim Cormack rejoined the group, a significant birthday was celebrated, and the fleet survived a massive storm cell which hit the bay in the late afternoon. And also, it was the day before the big ‘competitive cruise’ to Rathmines. The second in our series of competitive cruises.
Birthday BBQ
On the 4th January 2026 all boats departed Wolstoncroft Point for the short distance to Summerland Bay and the picnic ground, despite a weather warning that at 2 pm there would be thunderstorms.
All boats securely anchored in Summerland Bay with that in mind. Summerland Bay is not a large bay and already has a number of boats on permanent moorings. There is also a channel through the bay to the lagoon at the end of the bay so that to find a place to drop anchor takes some thought and manoeuvring. A number of us anchored and re anchored a number of times to get it right. At that stage we were anchoring in north easterly breeze with the catamarans anchoring in the shallower water close to the shore. Sonia and Tania had made birthday cakes and everyone gathered in Summerland Park for the celebrations. The local coffee truck was on hand and had stayed beyond its departure time as our ‘forward scouts’ had informed the Barista that a large number of potential customers were about to descend upon the park. Some of us who had forgotten our wine glasses
purchased a cup of coffee just for the paper cup to drink our wine from! The picnic included a BBQ. It is typical of the Lake that most parks of the many on the lake, have free public BBQ facilities.
As the day progressed the approaching storm was monitored by the group and at about 2 pm Greg (Albatross Greg) addressed the group and explained the nature of a storm cell v a weather front.
Being suitably informed, we all then packed up and returned to our respective boats. Greg’s warnings were indeed justified. As the storm cell approached, we were hit by a rushing mighty wind that in our case, flung our 48 ft catamaran to the north with such force that I wondered if the anchor would be
jarred out of its holding. It was not jarred free and reset beautifully to the new strong southerly wind. Many of us turned on our engines just in case. In Heavens Gate’s case the new set of our anchor and chain brought us within 20 metres of the lakefront jetties and close enough to the foreshore homes that we felt like we were almost on their front lawns.
During the storm Boree Creek (Gary and Monica) had taken Phil (Freewheeler) back to his boat at Wolstoncroft Point. During the storm those in Summerland Bay heard a huge lighting ‘crackkkk’ just over the spit dividing it from the Wolstonecroft area. Gary and Monica, who had stayed there after dropping off Phil, reported that the lightning did not strike them but disabled all of their instruments which instantly went dark. Fortunately for them, when they rebooted their system, it came back on line.
This caused me to comment upon the benefit of the seamanship acquired by the members of our group after many years of cruising, that they knew how to anchor in a way that their anchors did not move an inch during the storm and neither did they panic. I will give credit to Leon, a former Rear Commodore of cruising and Vice Commodore of RPAYC who continually drilled into us during his tenure the importance of having the right anchor. After many sleepless nights in our early years
Margaret and I ditched the plough anchor that had come with the boat and purchased a big heavy Rocna anchor. We now sleep soundly at night.
Another point that I think should be made is the intrepid nature of cruisers who turned a potentially calamitous event into a photo competition. Following the storm, we had 27 entries in the ‘pop up’ photo competition!
Some more photos are below.
5th January 2026 – Summerland Bay to Rathmines Competitive Cruise
This competitive event was at first going to be ‘started’ by Wind Cheetah as the fastest boat in the fleet, who would then follow on after the rest of us and try and reel us in from last place. Jim
(Pecalin) however could not participate in the sailing due to the many stitches in his toe and so he negotiated a deal with Wind Cheetah that he would start and finish the event instead. Instructions were given to Jim to handicap Wind Cheetah with a 10 minute start behind the fleet. It was then advised by Jim that he had negotiated a 5 minute handicap with Wind Cheetah but Wind Cheetah could only use only a headsail (or so I was told). At the award ceremony Jim changed his story to say that Wind Cheetah had agreed not to use its main. This was because there came to light photographic evidence that for a period of time of unknown duration Wind Cheetah was sailing with two headsails (a jib and a code zero), not a headsail. I am not sure whether Jim failed to accurately report the terms of the ‘deal’ or was being too nice and was trying to save Wind Cheetah from disqualification.
In any event it did not matter because Elysium won line honours even against a Wind Cheater, I mean Wind Cheetah.
Below are the results. The event started at 10 am and the results count from 11 am (the winner taking 1 hour 37 minutes and 20 seconds. 39 seconds behind was Wind Cheetah, then 41 seconds to Belissima and 51 seconds to Heavens Gate and so on. Note the 3 seconds between Kailani and Lucid and the 1 second between Athena and Inky with Follow the Sun squeezed in between those 4. Note also where the ‘dinghy draggers’ came and where they might have come had they not dinghy
dragged! If any dinghy draggers are unsure, these comments are said in jest and because I know that all of you have broad shoulders and a good sense of humour.
Below are some photos of the event. It was particularly pleasing how much our wives said that they enjoyed the event. It was not of course subject to the usual jockeying and close quarters buoy roundings of a race but it had enough ‘edge’ to make it interesting and some commented that it gave them an experience and sense of what racing might be like (and they enjoyed being part of such a group sail).
Exhibit A - Wind Cheetah caught with 2 sails up!
Follow the Sun – the only boat with a three person crew
The Fleet in Elysium’s rear view mirror
Heavens Gate – took half the race to work out what sheets went where on their spinnaker
Wind Cheetah catching up (with only one headsail)
Lucid – I think I see a dinghy – but Jim your results make no mention of this?
Kailani – lucky Lucid were dragging their dinghy with only a 3 second win ahead of them!
Wind Cheetah catching up (with only one headsail)
Spinnaker up so late in the event that it was only for the photo opportunity.
Belissima – who got the ‘cry baby’ award for claiming Heavens Gate were forcing them into shallow water!
The competitive cruise 200 metres from the finish.
The Awards Ceremony
After reaching our destination at Rathmines, the award ceremony was held.
According to tradition the committee boat (Pecalin – Jim Cormack) provided a report of the results of the race and notable close finishes.
First awards were in the photographic competition. Judith Clewett was awarded first place (she also won third place with another photo). Margaret Dunstan won second place and Megan was escalated from fourth place to third place because we could not have Judith getting two places in the same competition.
There then followed the competitive cruise awards. Nigel and Julie were clear winners by 39 seconds coming first across the line in Elysium. Second place was controversial. Apparently, Margie had to
scale the mast to untangle a spinnaker on Wind Cheetah, for which Darren published a high commendation on our whatsapp page. There was of course the 2 sail incident from which gentleman Jim Cormack as the race committee tried to save Darren and Margie on the basis that the agreement was only that they would not use a mainsail. This was not accepted by the judiciary and Wind
Cheetah was disqualified from the handicap competition notwithstanding that there had been no protest. It had to be explained to a very dismayed Jim that racing rules do not apply in cruising and protests are not required for extra judicial sinking of a boats place in the results. Margie was however awarded the heroine award for climbing the mast in the middle of a competitive cruise. The outcome being that Margie got a prize and Darren did not (which he would not have got anyway because he only came second).
You may recall that in the Pulbah Classic there was a dead head on handicap. Lucid and Inky. On this occasion Lucid was beaten by 3 seconds by Kailani and Inky was beaten by 1 second by Athena.
Based on the logic that Lucid and Inky were the reigning handicap holders and each had only been beaten by seconds, their conquerors, Kailani and Athena, respectively, were declared equal handicap winners. Note that these rules bear no resemblance to racing methodology and never will.
Winner of the Dinghy Dragging Division, Fin, was awarded first prize in its division, being exactly the same prize as every other winner. It may not be the case but Jon seemed to have a wry grin as he received his award.
Winners are Grinners
Judith Clewett – First Prize for ‘Storm Cell’ in cruising photography division
Nigel and Julie Elysium – first across the line
Kailani (left side of photo) and Athena (right side of photo) – joint winners on handicap
John and Pru – winners of the Dinghy Dragging Division looking very pleased with themselves
Margie from Wind Cheetah receiving the Heroine mast climbing award.
Josh up the mast trying to win the heroine award for mast climbing.
Margaret, (not Margie) not realising that the RPAYC photography competition had concluded decided to enter the following photo of Josh up the mast. Josh not realising that the heroine award for
climbing masts had already been awarded to Margie decided to climb the mast of Follow the Sun. As an aside – Follow the Sun was the only monohull in the fleet with a crew of 3 with all other crews, excluding dogs, only having a crew of 2 (one really in many cases – see photo above of Judith on Andeluna asleep mid passage). Kailani, having a crew of 4 was in the catamaran class so that is still only 2 per hull (and everyone at RPAYC knows that catamarans don’t count anyway), even though we contributed 8 hulls to this event. We catamaran owners have come to know and accept our place, but spare a thought for the poor power boat members. The cruising division is the only place where they can find any love at all. (Unless they create huge bow waves. All that power and not able to use it! It would be like boating continually in a no wash zone).
6 January 2026
This was a tranquil day of walking to Rathmines, breakfast in the local café, relaxation on our boats, reflection on our survival of the Summerland Bay storm cell and what had been achieved in the great ‘race’ (and what had not).
Phil ‘loses’ his Tender
After breakfast at Rathmines, the group returned to our tenders at the Rathmines jetty only to later find out that Phil (Freewheeler) was still standing on the jetty without his phone, without his tender and with all others having returned to their boats. It was only by happenstance that Elysium needed to replenish their fresh water supply at the jetty for Nigel’s bi-daily showers, that Phil was even discovered standing there waiting to be found. Shame on us for not invoking a buddy system! Phil’s tender was eventually located on the southern shore about 20 metres away from Heavens Gate. We like to think that Phil’s tender came loose from the jetty and was blown to that location rather than that he just forgot where he left it.
The sun set on this day with almost a divine blessing upon our journey.
Sundowners this day had been led by Owen and Linda (Athena) at the Rathmines Catalina club. This club is located adjacent to the flying boat ramp. Sundowners morphed into dinner and by sunset the group had still not returned to their vessels. It was reported that the Thai meal was delicious
7th January 2026
This day was almost as event packed as the Summerland Bay day. It was Judy’s birthday, Sonia and David’s wedding anniversary, the Australian 16ft and 13ft skiff titles and our last day and night on the lake with us departing the following day.
It was planned that, that evening we would all anchor back at the LMYC where we had first started and end the cruise with a meal at the same place where we had started the cruise. It was determined that we should also celebrate both Judy’s birthday and Sonia and David’s wedding anniversary and two cakes were purchased for the celebration. This proved that we can buy cakes even though Leon was not on the cruise to buy them for us.
During the day some had a swim at Pelican Beach and others watched the Australian 16 foot skiff championships from the vantage of their anchorages in Belmont Bay between the LMYC and the Skiff Club.
File historical photo in Jan 2019 at Pelican Beach supplied by David Williams before he had grey hair. Note the boats in the background anchored at the edge of the shallows.
Tony Clapham (Matakana) decided to solo sail back at 3pm that afternoon to Pittwater which he did, arriving at Barrenjoey at 9pm. There were quite a few of us who watched his passage on Marine
Traffic and who monitored his Whatsapp reports of his progress with not a little fear and trepidation for his safe return. Thankfully all was well and he berthed safely at RPAYC that night. We can only assume that he was missing Gail so much (Gail having returned home from the cruise with their son Brett on the 4th January for their daughter’s birthday the same day) that he could not wait another day to return to her. Such is love at 83 that every day counts (I suppose).
The Last Dinner Celebrations
That night’s birthday and Wedding anniversary celebrations went off without a hitch. Happy birthday was sung with gusto. Nobody knew a happy anniversary song so we simply acknowledged Sonia and David for their 42nd year of marriage and that it had been a big year for them with the wedding of their daughter.
Owen spoke on behalf of the group in appreciation of the cruise and presented a bottle of Moet as appreciation. This was not expected but was appreciated by Margaret and myself.
I would also like to thank the management of Crusoes on the Lake at the LMYC who welcomed us and were very happy to cut and serve our cakes without the usual ridiculous ‘cakeage’ charges of many other restaurants.
8th January 2026 The Passage to Pittwater
The return to Pittwater was in 3 groups. Group 1 at 10 am, group 2 at 11 am and group 3 at 12 noon.
The largest group was the 10 am bridge opening group which was met at the drop off by Marine rescue to escort us along the channel to the Bridge which is about a half hour traverse along the
channel. They met us at the drop off at 9.30 am and could be seen beforehand sounding the depth of the channel at the dog leg. It was about mid tide with very little current. Each boat took their place in the procession according to the depth of their draught, which had been previously determined with
the shallower draught going before a deeper draught boat. This was so that if a boat with a deeper draught became stuck on the sand they did not create a log jam. Fortunately this did not happen to any of us. After the bridge, marine rescue continued to monitor our progress using a jetski and guided us to the leads to cross the bar.
The Starboard turn at the dog leg. A sharp 80 degree turn and traverse across the channel and then a sharp port turn back up the channel
Note how little current there is.
This marine rescue jet ski continued to escort us to the bar and the leads
THE CRUISE TO PITTWATER
Some of us were highly competitive; Josh, Tony and Nola on Follow the Sun
(And some us were not.)
Greg White on Albatross watching the Cricket
Some published their boat speed
And others couldn’t care less
And others were just glad to get back to Pittwater and have a rest
Cruising Contributors
Cruising Contributors
Elysium – Nigel and Julie
Wind Cheetah – Darren and Margie
Belissima – Greig and Tania
Heavens Gate – Greg and Margaret
Kailani – David and Jenny, David and Sonia
Lucid – Megan and Bruce
Follow the Sun – Tony, Nola and Josh
Athena – Owen and Linda
Inky – Martin and Louise
Boree Creek – Gary and Monica
Fin – John and Pru
Albatross – Greg and Marilyn
Way to Go – Gene and Judy
Matakana – Tony and Gail and Brett
Freewheeler – Phil, Alex, Cassie, and his two grandchildren
Passport – Ross and Jenny
Andeluna – Peter and Judith
Pecalin – Jim and Clem
Cariad – Derek and Sue
Conclusion
I have described us all as “contributors” because each and every person attending contributed to the success of the cruise. If any one of you had not been there, the cruise would have been diminished by your absence. As was said at the final dinner, many new friendships were made and many old friendships were consolidated. I do not think it an overstatement to say that the camaraderie and participation during the cruise was 10/10.
Many were surprised by how boat friendly the Lake was and how large a waterway. We were there for 11 days and did not even go close to doing all of the things that could be done on the lake. We did not go to Shingle Splitters, we did not explore Dora Creek, we did not visit Murrays Beach or the Hotel resort at Cam’s wharf, we did not go to the Valentine Board walk or anchor at Green Point. We did not even get near Toronto, Croudace Bay, Warners Bay, Valantine or Marmot Point and many other destinations.
Many expressed to me that they would like to come back to the Lake and complete their experience.
It was also a fantastic competitive cruise location because the Lake runs north south and one can sail downwind from one end to the other in the relevant wind on any given day. It has both a mixture of cosmopolitan conveniences at the northern end and areas of nature and natural beauty at the southern end. And it is only 6 hours from Pittwater.
Thank you to all of the members who came on the cruise and joined in full participation throughout the cruise.
Many thanks
Greg and Margaret 20 January 2026