Oldest Cruising Division Turns 30

by Maralyn Miller/Sail-World Cruising on 30 May 2006 In 1939, a couple of local Sydney sailors, Togo Middows and George Griffin invited a small group to Togo’s home in Mosman and suggested forming a sailing club. One of Australia’s most successful sailing clubs - Middle Harbour Yacht Club – is the result.

However, it was a full 37 years later before anyone thought about the sailors who aren’t there for the competition (they say) but just love being on the water. Even as such an afterthought, it is still said to be the oldest cruising division in Australia. (Any challengers?)

Founded in 1976 with member Tony Rickards as the leading light, the idea caught on, and soon increased in membership and activity. Commodore at the time was Tig Thomas, who is still an active member, and still sailing his super-successful boat Plum Crazy.


Today most of the cruising members sail with a husband and wife crew of two, regularly sailing ocean passages to Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens or Jervis Bay, as well as weekends to Broken Bay and just, well, cruising on Sydney Harbour.

This year the Cruising Division is celebrating its 30th birthday, and doing it in style. There’s to be an Anniversary Dinner on 16th June, with both founding Cruising Captain Tony Rickards and Commodore at the time Tig Thomas as guests of honour – a night of anecdotes, cruising stories and lots of other big lies no doubt.

The Middle Harbour Yacht Club Cruisers are a sociable crowd – they have played host often to visiting clubs. Just last month a contingent of 13 yachts from Lake Macquarie Yacht Club visited Sydney Harbour, staying overnight at the Club’s marina. We’re sure it was the fine welcome and good company that attracted them, although the hot shower, sunset visit to the bar and evening dining at the bistro wouldn’t have gone down badly.

There’s rarely a dull weekend for cruising members who like a challenge. Easter saw a fleet of cruising boats headed for Pittwater to enjoy the RYYC Bistro, the Church Point Yacht Club and the vagaries of rubber dinghies (must be a story or two there). In June there’s a hedonistic weekend in the Harbour planned – there may be some really tough sailing to anticipate between Middle Harbour and Blackwattle Bay…

There’s another more serious fleet headed for the Whitsundays in July, and if you’re interested, some are still looking for extra crew. October there’ll be more events, including participation in the Combined Clubs Cruising Event, hosted this year by the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Port Hacking and held (of course) at Port Hacking.

A great sailing club is Middle Harbour, with 30 years experience in cruising and a wide range of activities for the cruising sailor. Enquiries about membership and events should go in the first place to Bill Humel, the Vice Commodore Cruising:

Middle Harbour Yacht Club Limited
Lower Parriwi Road,
The Spit, Mosman
NSW Australia 2088

Postal: P.O. Box 106
Seaforth
NSW Australia 2092
Website: www.mhyc.com.au
Telephone: +61 2 9969 1244
Facsimile: +61 2 9969 3326
Email: info@mhyc.com.au