| Middle Harbour Yacht Club 1960s |
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Middle Harbour Yacht Club 1960s
On the Movie |  The Spit Baths before their purchase by MHYC in 1963  Season opening at Clubhouse - mid 90s  Chart of Middle harbour On the Move From MHYC: The First 60 Years Article by: Doug Sturrock Published 1999 During the 1960s, the MHYC changed from a small yacht club to one of the largest in Australia. During the 1960/61 season, there were approximately 80 yachts racing and the club had 400members. The clubhouse, at that time, was the building now occupied by the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol. It soon became too small for the number of MHYC members and in the early 1960s plans were made for additions to the club premises. While these plans were proceeding, it came to the notice of the yacht club committee that the Old Spit Baths site would become available. Without doubt, the greatest advance in the history of the club was the acquisition of this site, which now provides us with a unique foreshore clubhouse. On August 7, 1963, the club obtained possession of its present site. It was appropriate that the club was about to celebrate its 25th birthday, and was under the chairmanship of HE Godden. It was proposed that a new clubhouse would be built at the southern end of the site, of concrete construction, but it soon became apparent that this building would not be large enough to accommodate the needs of the expanding club. The construction would also have been too expensive, and finally the finance for this project could not be raised. At this time, Saturday and Sunday working parties of club members came to remove corrugated iron surrounding the Old Spit Baths dressing sheds and tidy up the area, and attempts were made to use the outer part of the baths as a temporary marina. At first, the club office was in the downstairs section of the so-called 'old clubhouse', and locker rooms were provided in the current downstairs bar. The clubhouse occupied the upstairs section and various functions were carried on in this area. These arrangements were not satisfactory and later, the office of the club was moved to an area on the old baths site. Often, at high tide, and especially with a south-easterly swell, the office staff got their feet wet when the water sloshed through the floor! By the mid1960s the MHYC was experiencing financial difficulties, and it was obvious that improvements to the clubhouse were necessary. Because of general dissatisfaction with the committee, a completely new committee was elected, except for one member. This new committee was chaired by a new Commodore, Clem Susans, who was able to sort out the difficulties. A levy of 20 pounds, which was twice the annual subscription, was raised. Some members took out a decade of membership which enabled renovation to the old clubhouse to be carried out at a cost of about 8,000 pounds. 1965, associate members were encouraged to join the club and their membership added to the finances. It was now obvious that the remains of the perimeter of the Old Spit Baths were quite unsatisfactory to use as a temporary marina, and were in fact falling apart. The committee was anxious to put up a permanent marina and obtain as much space as possible for its construction. This involved many meetings with the Lands Department, the Maritime Services Board and the Mosman Council which, at first, would not agree to the construction. It was necessary to meet the council on two occasions to explain our plans and to provide aerial photographs of the area to convince them that we were not going to encroach on the access to the rest of the foreshore, nor were we going to obstruct navigation in the area. With some minor adjustments, approval was granted and the construction of our present marina was undertaken by Hornibrook Constructions, through the good offices of one of their executives who was also an active sailing member of the club. The marina was completed in 1968. It was apparent that a new clubhouse also needed to be built. At this time, racing within the club in all divisions was very successful. Most divisions raced with handicaps at the start, from the starter's boat, and the finishing line was off the yacht club. This was a spectacular sight and often attracted visitors to the club to witness the finish. One Saturday afternoon, to the immense confusion of race officials, it was estimated that 27 yachts from different divisions finished within one minute, with spinnakers up in a light south-easter. By 1966, the club had 716 members, including 100 associates, and a few junior members. There were 140 yachts in seven divisions and, for the first time, a Waiting list for membership. In 1968, Sir Roden Cutler, the Governor of New South Wales, and Sir Garfield Barwick became honorary club members. The decade ended with approval for building the present clubhouse and a start was made on its construction. Original ArticleGolden Jubilee Magazine 1989 (Slightly Different to that above).    |
Racing | In 1960, "Siandra" won the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's first Blue Water Championship. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, MHYC yachts and their crews took many racing honours with boats such as "Carmen", "Cavalier", "Cadence", "Moonbird" and "Janzoon II" all prominent winners. At the club's 25th anniversary a new race from Sydney to Brisbane was created to be a feeder for the Brisbane-Gladstone Race. Again, MHYC yachts were winners, with "Cadence" and "Carmen" coming 1st and 2nd in the inaugural event. In 1969, famous yacht designer and builder, Ron Swanson, on "Sundowner", made MHYC proud by taking out the double of line and handicap honours in the Brisbane-Gladstone Race. In 1972, the race fleet was hit by a cyclone and only six yachts finished with Peter Hopwood's, "Harmony" battling on through incredible 112 mph winds to win! In 1965, MHYC placed eleven members in the first Australian Admiral's Cup Team and internationally the club started to make its mark with many honours over forthcoming years going to names such as Ron Swanson, Doug Gilling, Hugh Treharne and Warren Johns.  1964 Ron Swanson and Leo Reily  Middle Harbour Yacht Club leads in the Blue Water 1961  Club Boats in International Events The Bluebirds Deryn Glas (Keith Jones) on Sydney Harbour in 1966 In the late 1960's, there were around 37 Bluebirds sailing regularly on a scratch start at MHYC. There sheer number and camaraderie helped saved this club during this period. At the end of the racing they used to all tie up at the MHYC jetty and have a rip roaring time at the club.
The Bluebirds by Keith JonesThe Early Years MHYC: The First 60 Years Article by: Keith Jones Published: 1999 The Bluebirds In the mid-1960s the Bluebird Division was a powerful force in Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Cruises were made to further flung yacht clubs for the state title series. Bluebirds went as far as Port Stephens - perhaps further. At least one Bluebird competed with the Junior Offshore Group. In 1961 I bought a 22-foot Bluebird-class yacht. It was purchased as a fibreglass shell and delivered using a truck from Firefighting Equipment 'commandeered' by Alan Keirle to 22 Lavoni Street. Ateam of friends carried the shell up the front lawn where it was set up on a concrete patio built for the purpose. I named it Deryn Glas, which is Welsh for bluebird. Timber interior fittings, bulkheads and so on were built over a two-year period. My late cousin, Les Atkins, a carpenter and cabinet maker, was of great assistance. Others who were to form the crew - Bev Bashford, Alan Keirle, Alan Ponton, Alan Underwood, Peter Polman and Vic Halloran -contributed time and labour. In late 1963, having missed the start of the season, Deryn Glas was taken to Clontarf where John Jeffress fitted the cast-iron keel. When collected from the foundry the keel was over 100 pounds too light. To compensate for this, the lead ballast, put in the bilge for compliance with the waterline measurement, was removed. Plaster of Paris moulds in boxes of sand were made. John MacCallum assisted Alan Ponton melting the lead and making 'plugs' in the moulds. These fitted the appropriate areas very well and added to the yacht's stability. The aim of reducing windage was taken into account when building the cabin hatch and other deck fittings. The main sheet hawse was designed with a curve to encourage the mainsheet to be more central when on a wind, but to run out towards the gunwales when running. There had been stories of Bluebirds having trouble rounding up on spinnaker shy runs. For that reason I took the plan's rudder design and enlarged it significantly in all directions. It also had a beautiful aerofoil cross-section and a square, non-breakaway edge along its bottom. The mast and rigging were made by Peter Cole, then in Marrickville. He also made us a beautiful suit of sails. Deryn Glas was launched on 16 November 1963 (the day on which in the President Kennedy's assassination was reported in Australia). From the first moment putting the yacht hard on the wind, it was evident to me that we had something exceptional. She was beautifully balanced, responsive to the helm and a sheer delight to sail. This was proven subsequently when a number of other skippers won races in the yacht, on occasions when I was unavailable. The first start was a Wednesday afternoon race (in days when a larger fleet turned out than today). Deryn Glas won on handicap. The first start in the Bluebird Division resulted in a third place in the scratch start event. She went on to win the Autumn Point Score of 1963/64. The Bluebird Division of those days provided great racing. The little boat could be used for racing, day sailing and even holidays aboard. Accommodation aboard was cramped and on Deryn Glas we used a boom cover which allowed greater use of the cockpit and even allowed that area to be used as the galley when anchored. We customarily spent a week or more aboard at Cowan Creek just before Christmas each year - two adults, three children and a dog! Bluebird Division racing was great, with Ron Ewen (Karalee II) being champion in the early 60's. Tim Wilson was very competitive but departed for greater things in mid-1960. Toni Redstone (Mandy) was always to the fore. He went on to win a World Title in the Thunderbird class in California. Albert Byrom (Erps Kwerps) was great in light Weather. Doug Brooker built a timber Bluebird with a lead keel in the mid-1960s, and although he acquitted himself very well, the craft could not always pace the fibreglass version. Other famous Bluebird names were Bill Liddell, David Noakes and Hewan Greenwood, who was exceptionally good. There are several still racing with MHYC - Keith Poole and Ben Nossiter for example. John Conroy Snr commenced sailing at an advanced age and went through some traumas in his early learning period, but tenaciously honed his skills to become the best Bluebird sailor in the Division in Lotchen III in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the aid of his son, John Conroy Jnr, who still sails with MHYC. About 1964 there was a Saturday afternoon race held in Sydney Harbour in a north westerly which was recorded at the Sydney Observatory Weather Bureau at 84 knots! Only two divisions of MHYC completed the course. One was the Offshore Division. The other was the Bluebirds. Deryn Glas won from Mandy after having to cover Mandy (in atrocious conditions) on one Work up to Fort Denison. Coming up Middle Harbour towards the finish, Deryn Glas was flattened by a gust which put the spreaders in the water and forced in the coach house windows. Alan Keirle fell vertically from the weather gunwale into the water to leeward, without hitting any part of the boat on the Way. The cockpit ropes then fell onto him, and as the boat righted itself, he could not get his head above water. Alan Ponton, with great presence of mind, reached over and pulled him head and shoulders above the water surface. Deryn Glas took a lot of water, but finished without further trouble. More robust coach-house windows were fitted. Deryn Glas won only one state title, in 1966, though she was placed in five. (Difficulty beating Gerry Garrett of RPAYC was the problem.) She won a total of 134 races. 1972 was the last state title in which she competed, coming third. MHYC 1962 April 7th List of Competitors 1962 MHYC List of Competitors  1962 MHYC List of Competitors List of Competitors
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1960 Jottings | One of the first MHYC newsletters found.  Yachting Jottings - MHYC  Yachting Jottings - MHYC  Yachting Jottings - MHYC  Yachting Jottings - MHYC  Yachting Jottings - MHYC  Yachting Jottings - MHYC |