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Here's the latest Newsletter; NORs and Entry Forms can be reached from the Calendar page.

JULY 2005 NEWSLETTER

Sadly, the association has recently lost two iconic members. We commemorate them here:

Bruce Lucas 1943-2005

Bruce’s sailing career began many years ago in skiffs but it wasn’t until daughter Jemma got a taste of sailing at school that he was able to persuade any of his family to join him. His first Mirror was WasteSaver an indestructible clunker painted beautifully and if you didn’t pick it up it looked pretty good. NSW were the hosts for the Nationals that Christmas and he came to Gosford for a look. The World Titles were going to be in Tasmania the next year and a neighbor, Michael Spies, convinced him that he couldn’t possible miss the chance to sail with the rest of the world at his own back door. But first he decided to build a new Mirror and became part of an avalanche of new boats in NSW, 4 of them in 2001. Bruce loaded WasteSaver II onto the car and with wife Jennifer and Jemma set out for Hobart . He had a ball. The following year the Nationals were in Brisbane . The big question there was how to spread the Mirror good news story. Publicity was to be part of the answer. Bruce took to it with a vengeance, and photos and articles about Mirrors started appearing in the local papers and the Mirror fleet at Hunters Hill grew to 20 boats. Last year he approached Bing Lee for sponsorship of the 40^th NSW International Mirror Class State titles. Mr Lee was generous and Bruce responded with enthusiastic publicity which saw visitors traveling from as far away as Bateman’s Bay. He took over as State President of the IMCANSW in 2003 and in 2004 agreed to become National President. This job he attacked with customary enthusiasm and dedication supported as always by Jennifer. It was only one facet of his life. In addition he was a councilor with Hunters Hill Council, on the board of the Brain Injury Respite and Development Service; he worked with the scouts and the Gang Show and was a tireless supporter and contributor to Jemma’s school.

With the 40^th National Titles to be held in Canberra he once again approached Mr Lee with a proposal to sponsor both the State and National Titles. He canvassed support from Steve Walker , from Bob Cruse , from Zhyk. All and more fell captive to his good humour, his persistence and his overwhelming belief in his cause. He was thrilled beyond measure to be able to support Jason Rope and Ethan Atkins in their preparation for the World Titles this year in Sweden .

It was only when his back was hurting so badly that he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to sail that he took himself to the doctor. He told friends it was just back problems, sure that treatment would have him back on the water in no time. He still came down to the Club, just seeing how things were going, making sure that Daniel his new young crew was looked after. But there was to be no recovery. Bruce died on October 15^th. He was 62.

At the State Titles the NSW committee announced the commissioning of a new trophy from Bob Cruse for the State Champion to be known as the Bruce Lucas Trophy.  

We will remember him, a dogged competitor and a good friend. Goodbye Bruce.

Profile of a sailor: Ray Butler
by Sarah Butler

What is sailing good for, apart from frustration and battle scars? It’s a tremendous provider of stories and tales. Dad has been sailing for probably half of his lifetime, which means all my life I’ve been bombarded with endless tales of disasters, near-death experiences, miracles and victories.

I can vaguely recall Dad retelling his first experience in a boat. I’m unable to remember all the finer details, but I’m pretty certain that it involved Dad running his cousin’s Heron into a pylon of one of the bridges along the Parramatta River . In Dad’s defence, apparently there was a pretty strong tide and not a great deal of wind. Needless to say, Dad would never have done that to a Mirror.

Many years after this incident, the idea of sailing re-emerged for Dad. Spending another uneventful weekend visiting Dad’s parents with his wife and new baby girl Belinda (my eldest sibling) at Tuggerah Lakes (no bridges there), Dad decided that there must be something better to do than sitting around for the entire weekend. He decided that the best thing to do with a lake was sail on it.

Now inspired, Dad set off to the first boat show he could find, and upon entering, he came ac ross an NS14. After very quickly deciding that it was far to complex, he went in search of the Heron. After viewing the Heron, Dad turned and beheld the ‘Mirror Dinghy’. The lighter brother of the Heron instantly appealed to Dad’s injured back, and little did anyone know, an obsession had now begun.

Loving nothing more than playing with toys and building things, Dad bought a kit, and built his first boat ‘Wisequack’.

My mother, being the great philosopher she is, said to Dad, “you’ll want to race that thing”. “No, no” he reassured her “I only want to muck around with the kids.” Five minutes the boat had been in the water, when Dad spotted a red sail on the horizon. The competitive beast within him could not be subdued, and knowing that the red sail could only mean one thing, Dad was off. He’s loved nothing but racing since.

Wisequack was eventually not quick enough for Dad; it was too heavy to be competitive. It was replaced by ‘Popar’ (Pile Of Ply And Rag) named but not built by Dad. After a rather nasty encounter with a Paper Tiger (no need to speculate who won that battle) Popar was re-invented, and became ‘Spectrum’. It was a spectacular looking boat, with all the colours of the rainbow splashed along the side. It even was awarded the ‘Best Presented Boat’ at a regatta in Wagga Wagga.

It was in this boat that I was introduced to sailing. It was the day before Spectrum was sold; the three of us (Dad, Spectrum and I) went down to Kogarah Bay for its last sail. I’ve got to hand it to Dad, he chose the most horrible, blustery, windy, rainy day I have ever known and I was petrified beyond belief. It’s a wonder that he ever managed to get me near a boat again, but I’m really glad he did.

Dad continued to shock us when he arrived home with the sorriest excuse for a boat I think I’ve ever seen, it was barely staying together. He must have seen some potential though, because after many months of hard work, ‘Bob’ was born. The only way it can be described; ‘a bloody good boat’, and by far, Dad’s very best project.

Anyone who knows Dad will tell you that he lives and breathes sailing. If you open his wallet, the first photo is of ‘Wisequack’, you actually have to remove it to find the photo of his family. When asked the question of religion, Dad will reply without hesitation or sarcasm, “sailing”. As I mentioned, he’s super competitive, and loves to win, but even more then this, Dad loves to help people. All through Dad’s time in the sport, whenever and wherever he could, he helped people fix their boats, change to better systems and give advice to make others more competitive. I know it is this that gives him the greatest feeling of satisfaction, to have helped people, even if in the smallest measure.