SIBS - Racing to cruising to Messing Around - Andrew Phippen

by Nancy Knudsen on 21 Jul 2013 Andrew Phippen, one of the speakers in the Sydney International Boat Show Cruising Masterclass, 3/4 August, is the Commodore of the Coastal Cruising Club of Australia.

Andrew, who holds a degree and post graduate qualification in geology and has worked in the IT&T industry for some 30 years, is more than usually acquainted with sailing the Whitsundays, the subject of his seminar.

Before retiring, he worked for large multinationals and for small Australian companies wishing to export their technology. As a result he has extensive experience in a number of geographies.

Andrew had over 45 years of sailing experience. He started in dinghies, VJ and Fireballs and moved on to ocean racing. He competed in a range of ocean races from Sydney Hobart to Sydney Montague and countless offshore races based from both Pittwater and Sydney Harbour.

Andrew has also been active over the years in the club racing scene. He has been a member of Bayview Yacht Racing Association (BYRA), Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC )and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS). Nevertheless, he finally saw the light and turned towards cruising.

He retired in 2009 specifically to cruise to the Whitsundays and, along with a number of shorter cruises along the east coast of Australia, has done the full coastline twice since.

Andrew and his wife, Chris, sail Phlat Chat, their 10.5m Lightwave catamaran, as often and much as they can with all the competing demands of friends, family and especially their four grandchildren. To that end Andrew and Chris are planning to return to the Whitsundays for the 2014 cruising season.

Today Andrew is a committed cruiser calling on the skills learned racing and claims that 'nothing more is more enjoyable than messing around in boats.' (with apologies to Kenneth Grahame).

In Andrew's seminar he will speak about the specifics of sailing to the Whitsundays, covering the New South Wales coastline and its sometimes dangerous bars, then about the journey north. He'll discuss what's needed for such a journey, the enjoyable anchorages, the dangers and offer his best advice about preparation, sharing some of his experiences. As an extremely experienced cruiser and an excellent speaker, Andrew's seminar will be full of interest - no matter how many times you have sailed to the Whitsundays!

Other subjects to be covered include:

Passage Planning
MOB
Rigging and sails for cruising, incl heavy weather
Vessel systems, water, fuel, power options
Short-handed cruising
Applied Navigation
Multihulls vs Monohulls,
Cruising with kids
Insurance for cruising
Anchoring techniques and equipment
Cruising to Tasmania - anchorages, dangers, timing

Attendance is free for the inaugural Masterclass, but registration is essential to reserve your place as space will be limited.

For the full program and further information about the Cruising Masterclass, http://www.sail-world.com/index_d.cfm?nid=109962!click_here.

For ask for more information about, or to register for the Masterclass, http://www.sydneyboatshow.com.au/activities/cruising-masterclass/index.html!click_here

The http://www.sydneyboatshow.com.au/!Sydney_International_Boat_Show runs 1-5 August.

About the www.coastalcruisingclub.org.au!Coastal_Cruising_Club:
The Coastal Cruising Club of Australia Inc (or Triple C), was founded in 1969 and is one of Australia's largest organisations devoted solely to cruising in yachts.

It originated in Sydney and boasts over 350 members and some 175 yachts of all shapes and sizes from 20 footers to over 50 feet. We have both monohulls and multihulls in the fleet.

The club's members regularly cruise both in Australian waters and overseas, and range from blue water sailors through to those new to sailing.