It is with great sadness that we advise all club members of the passing of Lenny Young, Life Member of SLMASC, on Monday 10th December 2012.

Len, or Lenny as he was affectionately known to most of us, has been a stalwart of the club since his involvement began way back in 1972. Lenny was intimately involved in most facets of club operations for over 40 years in both the dinghy classes and then also as a foundation member of South Lake Macquarie Yacht Club in 1980, which he, Val and others, operated from his home at Sunshine prior to the yacht’s being formally accepted by SLMASC as a class in 1991.

A master boat builder who would assist anyone in need with boat repairs or construction advice, and a skilled handicapper who loved the banter of yachties complaining about their handicaps on a Monday night at the club, Lenny was both directly and indirectly responsible for helping to introduce generations of local sailors, including myself, to the sport, and for the inclusion of the yacht division in the club sailing program. His passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter in the clubs history, and is a great loss to his many friends and sailing ‘mates’ as well as to the broader club and the sport of sailing in general. Lenny was truely one of a kind ….. ‘Unique’ …. (also the name of several of the speedy Lenny designed and built home made yachts that he raced for so many years at the club).

The sincere condolences of all SLMASC members and crews go to Val and their three children, Cathy, Ian and Alan, and their families at this very sad and difficult time.

As a mark of respect, flags on the club will be flown at half mast from this Friday through until Sunday evening, and all sailors and visitors to the club are encouraged to remember Lenny and give their own private mark of respect as they cross the start and finish line this weekend.

Information regarding further acknowledgement of Lenny’s ‘Unique’ contribution to SLMASC will be advised in due course.

Well sailed Lenny ….. fair winds and smooth seas always.

Phil Evans
Vice President
SLMASC

Over recent weeks SLMASC has introduced it’s new Learn To Sail program, and just two weeks into the six week course it is proving to be a real hit with all participants, both young and young at heart alike.

The current course covering Levels 1 & 2 Learn to Sail, commenced immediately following the hugely successful Try Sailing Day held at the club on Sunday 4th November, and offers a structured Learn To Sail course that follows the YA teaching syllabus, with participant log books being completed to verify skill levels attained and enabling sign off and graduation at the end of each course segment.

A great deal of planning and preparation has gone into the launch of the new program, including training of Instructors and Assistant Instructors, preparation of course documentation and materials, printing of participant log books, and promotion of both the new course and also Try Sailing Day, which was a key element in the launch of the new program. The timing of the program launch was planned to immediately follow Try Sailing Day to allow those who attended and tried sailing for the first time, to sign up on the spot for a structured learning program that would start the very next week. This opportunity proved to be very popular, with particpant numbers having to be capped, and resulted in 15 new members joining the ‘Sunshine Sailing Team’ and the club on Try Sailing day, with these new members and their families now attending Learn To Sail classes each Sunday morning, with both adult and junior classes being held concurrently for the first time.

Sunday mornings are indeed quite busy at the club, and we have been blessed with perfect weather for Try Sailing Day and also the first 2 weeks of the program. Let’s hope this continues as it’s great to see so many new faces all enjoying the experience, with many nervous faces leaving the shore only to return with wide smiles as confidence builds and new skills arebeing mastered each week. Feedback from participants has been extremely encouraging, with many already asking about future training opportunities at the club and also discussion about access to and purchase of suitable boats.

Upon completion of the current Learn To Sail classes in mid December, it is planned to introduce both the Better Sailing and also Learn To Race (Level 1 & 2) programs in the new year to allow this new crew of keen sailors to continue to take their sailing to the next level, continuing to follow the YA teaching syllabus. The Learn To Sail Level 1 & 2 course will also be repeated, with the detailed schedule and planning yet to be finalised.

SLMASC Learn To Sail and Junior Development program sponsors Centennial Coal and The Bay Hotel have been instrumental in supporting the launch of these new local programs, with funding provided going directly towards formal Instructor training, program materials and syllabus, and also the purchase of an additional laser training dinghy for use in adult Learn To Sail lessons. A great deal of thanks and admiration must also go to our crew of enthusiastic and now fully qualified Instructors and Assistant Instructors who give their time each week to share their passion for the sport of sailing. Well done and thank you to all involved.

If you or your family and friends are interested in particilating in future Learn To Sail activities at the club, contact the club for further details or call in and have a look at the classes in action over the coming weeks (Sunday’s 10am-12pm) as the program for the second half of the season will be set shortly, including the possibility of a school holiday ‘sailing camp’ in mid-late January covering the Better Sailing course syllabus (perhaps a great Christmas Present idea?).

Learn to Sail at SLMASC …… LEARN, SAFE, FUN

Sunshine Sailing Team