The Slocum Spray Society of Australia Inc.

News

The Slocum Spray Society, held the first NSW get together for 2010 at the Kirribilli Club, Lavender Bay, Sydney on Sunday 15 August. The Slocum Spray Society promotes cruising whether single handed or crewed. Membership is open to everyone interested in cruising. You do not have to be a Spray owner to be a member. Fun social events are held in both Queensland and NSW. The next NSW event will be in November, at the Central Coast. It is planned to hold a Sydney get-together two or three times a year, rotating around Newcastle, Central Coast and Sydney.

Contact either Roger Borrow 0424 190 341 rborrow1@bigpond.com or Geoff Robertson sunlitseas@gmail.com

Some of our Sydney members (and some Queensland visitors) enjoying lunch at the Kirribilli Club on 15 August.

At the AGM on Saturday 12 June, the Early Bird prize for those who got their membership renewals in by the end of May was drawn. The winners were Rex and Gael Bidgood. The prize, very kindly donated by Fine Line Boat Plans, was a very nice book entitled "The Sailmakers Apprentice" Well done Rex and Gael.

Presentation of Burgee to Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

On 20 January 2010, six members of the Slocum Spray Society, four being founding members of the Society, met with officials of the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club to present the SSSA Burgee.

The Burgee was presented to the NCYC to be added to the very impressive tribute to Joshua Slocum and Spray which adorns the bar area at the entrance to the club.

Left: Life member of the SSSA, and first president, David Mann, (right), presents the SSSA burgee to Ernie Thirkell, Club Captain NCYC. Note the painting and model in the background. (click on photos to enlarge)

Newcastle was the first port of call in Australia by Joshua Slocum during his historic solo circumnavigation in 1895-98.

A member of the Club, Mike Eggelston, painted a magnificent canvas of Josh and Spray entering Newcastle “in the teeth of a gale” in 1896. Mike also built a delightful scale model of Spray, fully rigged, which sits in a glass case below the painting.

The NCYC has many club burgees adorning the walls around the bar area, but the SSSA burgee will take pride of place with the other Slocum and Spray items.

Slocum Spray Society members, Geoff Robertson, top left, the artist Mike Eggelston (blue shirt), NCYC Club Captain Ernie Thirkell (holding burgee) together with David & Ann Mann and Lyn & Barry Hunt, right. Judith Robertson not in photo.

Upcoming Slocum Spray Society Events for 2010

For the latest sail-away information, please contact Barry Moore - Ph 07 3880 0444.

Sprays, and any other cruising sail-boats most welcome.
Call Barry on (07) 3880 0444 to signal your intentions.

Click here to read about a recent Moreton Bay Spray sail-away.