Geelong Yacht Club aids Country Yacht Club

by Bob Appleton OAM on 5 Jun 2008 Following the disastrous fire on February 27th. which destroyed close to $160,000 worth of boats and equipment belonging to the 46 year old Bendigo Yacht Club, the woes of the water deprived club seem to multiply. The Club hasn't been able to sail effectively on Lake Eppalock since 2006.

Destroyed in the blaze were three rescue craft, nine training boats, a tractor, 12 boats belonging to members, a ride on mower and all of the club's racing marker buoys.

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Then, out of this sheer disaster, a 'fairy godmother' arose, (looking very much like the Commodore of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club) who took immediate action when told of the Bendigo Club's plight.

After quick discussions with his committee, a rapid stock take was conducted and it was decided to donate approximately $20,000 worth of boats and equipment to the Bendigo Yacht Club.

So far, a number of International Cadet yachts have 'land sailed' to Bendigo and just last Saturday, the Commodore of the Bendigo Club, accompanied by other members of his club were very happily taking possession of the last of the donations, the RIB, or 'Rubber Duck', that the Geelong club had affectionately name 'Donald'. Completing the craft and clamped firmly on the stern was a comparatively new 40 HP outboard motor. This made the gift an immediately functional piece of much needed equipment.

Mr. Gillies said, 'First to get the five training craft, which immediately filled a void, and now to get a rescue boat as well is generosity to the extreme.'

'We were simply being citizens in the yachting world,' Graeme Ritchie said.

The Royal Geelong Yacht Club recently won the Yachting Australia's national award for promoting the sport of yachting.