2 POB and 1 4-paws

(A story of a Tas Maritime Radio and a Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania Member.)

by Sheenagh Neill, Vice Commodore, CYCT, April 2017

I am a proud paying member of this volunteer group. TMR is my connection to others on the water.

We always register our trips or longer transits leaving individual details with them. Our standard communication once contact is made on CH16 and switching to a operating channel is "2 POB and 1 4-paws" ( dog on board), giving our current position and destination for the night or longer transit.

Last weekend, 15 boats had registered for the CYCT annual Clean Up Australia weekend cruise in Great Bay. Due to the strong wind warning this number dropped off and the date was moved from Saturday to Sunday 2 April. In total we had 7 boats complete the clean up on the day. Four yachts ventured out on Friday 31 March from their various ports around Hobart to rendezvous for the start of the cruise and sail down the Derwent together. As is always CYCT practice we communicate to members using a CYCT call out on Channel 16 then switch to a free working channel such as 72, 73 or indeed 77 to relay the messages and talk. Never on CH16. The first 4 yachts anchored at Rosebanks waiting for the tail of the low to pass. Dennes Point registered gusts of 41 knots so Rosebanks was a good place to be.

When the wind eased in the late afternoon and shifted SW, a few members went out in their tenders: one went fishing and others explored Burial Point. The rest of us watched the KBC Barnes Bay Regatta racers brave the gusts going around the course in Barnes Bay, before moving into Quarantine Bay for Post-race socialising.

Early the next day the 4 yachts departed Rosebanks for various destinations in Great Bay. I used VHF CH16 then 73 to call up several boats that were joining us from Kettering. Once we had connected we all sailed down to Great Bay. Each skipper made their own call as to where they were to clean up. Missionary Bay, Stockyard Point, Adams Bay, Porpoise Head, Isthmus Bay, Simpsons Bay, Simpsons Point and Aikens Bay were all cleared of as muchrubbish as members could remove. We found hats, shirts, shoes, gloves, drink containers and packaging. Predominately, however, we found rubbish from marine farms: ropes long and short, feed bags, black plastic buoys, huge lengths of piping too heavy to remove, oyster baskets and more rope.

About 90% of the collected rubbish was rope. After the morning activities all members gathered for a BBQ lunch at Simpsons Point. A presentation of certificates and gift vouchers was made to the two youngest helpers, who helped their Grandad. They spoke of how you should always take your rubbish home when out on the water, and they are right.

At all times I kept TMR up to date with our CYCT Cruise movements and overnight destinations. Their job is never-ending and I know our club members are grateful to them everyday they are out on the water for that reassuring "please go to 67, 68 or 69 depending on your location".