12/04/2023
Hi Skiffers,
Hope you all had a safe & enjoyable Easter.
Thursday evening is looking very promising for a good row.
BoM suggests :- winds 13-15 knots from the SE, with temps of 13 - 18 oC & negligible prospect of rain.
As our days are running short, I'll bring along some lights for a twilight creek entry. !!!
So get your gear ready, your dinner planned & sit back for a very pleasant evening of socialising.
Even if you cannot make it for the row we would love to have you there for dinner.
Unfortunately Easter's weather was very unpleasant to be out on the water, so we didn't manage to fit in a row.
Work has commenced on repairs to our bow stem & oar refurbishment.
We need to discuss this year's Anzac Day row, Tuesday 25th April, 8.00 am.
Last year we arranged thermoses and a shared morning tea & a family story relating to Anzac Day. Do feel free to BYO wreath.
We can arrange an earlier dawn start if the crew wish, this would be an even more moving memory. Does anybodies alarm clock have a 5.30am setting ?
We would sure to be the only craft out on Port Phillip.
Last year, It was quite a unique morning with lots of hidden emotions, with plenty of time to reflect on the contributions made by our past & current service men & women.
Do we have any current serving members within our families or MSC. ???
We can swap crews for the return row if we have enough rower.
There may also be other crews around Australia joining us for our early morning wreath laying row. Leading us into the Australian 5km row.
We have entered a mixed crew for the 'Australian 5'. Fri 21st - Sun 23rd April. Still time to enter a 'ladies or men only' rowing crew if interest is there.
This is a fun event to bring Australia's Skiffing community together
A 2.5 km return row on our own home waters, at any time over the three days.
For the real racers you can have as many attempts as you like , just entering your chosen time.
Most crews last year posted times around the 30 minute mark, Mordy Skiff with a short break & eventually remembering to turn off the timer App posted a time of just over 60 mins.
This is not a race, just a bit of fun & a great way of connecting with fellow crews around Australia.
Lorrie Harrison the coordinator has mentioned they have quite a few mens & ladies crews entered & are hoping for several mixed crew entries from WA.
So far we are the only mixed crew entered.
I'm wondering if this year we will make it to be -
AUSTRALIA'S MOST AVERAGE CREW ???
We have to set up a timing app & take a couple of photos to ratify our entry.
Basically a continuous 2.5km return row, with any rest stops included in the final timing. We could row down to Parkdale yacht club & return. We could row on Patterson river if weather conditions are not suitable on the Bay.
Our mixed crew entry needs to have a min of one male & maximum of two male rowers, anybody can cox.
Steamer Run early March, 2024. to include Lakes Entrance. ???
We had a National hook up last week to discuss details for next year's Steamer Run. There may be the addition of another day's rowing to include an additional leg up to Lakes Entrance or row back to Paynesville to take advantage of the prevailing winds.
Commencing Monday 26th Feb - Friday 2nd March.2024, followed by the two day Paynesville Classic Boat Rally.
The following weekend will be Victoria's March Labour Day Long Weekend with Royal Geelong Yacht Club hosting the Geelong Wooden Boat Festival.
That will make it two years since we did the Row the Rip in March 2022.
Community Bank Parkdale and Mentone East
Geoffrey Daniel
