Terry Fisher Double-Handed Series 2008-2009
[results and photos]

The series was created by Kim Jamieson in 2000 in memory of his friend Terry 'Fish' Fisher. Terry had a long sailing career on many yachts including Western Union, but it is only later in life that he took a strong interest in double-handed sailing. This is one of the most popular series in the summer season. It consists of six races sailed once a month on Sunday morning, usually with a easterly and flat seas, to finish around mid-day with a sea breeze pushing us home.

It was created with only Division 2 and 3 doubled-handed, but over the years, more divisions were added and there is now fully crewed Division 1and 5 for big
and smaller yachts. This year, it attracted a total of 38 boats, ranging from 18 to 50 foot in length. Division 2 is by far the most popular in numbers and makes for very competitive sailing. It would be nice to attract more yachts in the Division 3 (double-handed under 32') to make it more challenging. So, if you want to have fun, join us and have a go! It is sponsored by 'Club Marine' and 'Vic Sails Western Australia' (Tony Bewsher and Tim Milsom), and we are grateful for their support.

The event would not run so smoothly if it was not for Gabby Williams, our Offshore Captain who works very hard in organizing the events, including the popular free sausage sizzle that everyone enjoys after the race (onions peeled and sliced courtesy of Tim Jones). Finally, thanks to the race control team, Amanda Ward, Avril Ward, Karen Jamieson and Barbara Lippiatt and the team from the Bosuns Section who drive Success and the ribs. We hope to see you all again next summer, and we encourage new comers to join us. It is a relax way to race, and to meet great people afterward. If you are interested and want to know how to go about joining the fleet, contact the FSC Sailing Administrator Vanessa Cornwall on 9435 8809 or me, Isabel Law on 9339 1552 for more info.

Catalina 375 Winner 2009 " Best All-Purpose Cruiser", 30 to 40 Feet

When it came time for the Boat of the Year judges to settle on the Best All-Purpose Cruiser, thing 30 to 40 Feet, it was the devilishly clever details that designer Gerry Douglas packed into the Catalina 375 that settled things.

The 375 replaces the popular Catalina 36, and the new boat's design relies heavily on feedback collected from owners of its predecessor. Customers. for instance told Catalina that they like to entertain, so the 375 has a big, roomy cockpit for doing just that. Below, the main saloon is a versatile living space where friends and family can gather around a port side bulkhead-mounted fold out table that can be opened wide to seat a crowd or left smaller for a more intimate dinner. Or when a couple is alone, they might sit to starboard in comfortable seats and enjoy a light meal on a cocktail table that can be dropped to make a settee or sea berth for a small crew member. Other interior details that impressed the judges were cedar-lined drawers a cabinets and a file drawer for keeping ship's papers. Judge Stacey Collins also noted that from the well-laid-out galley, it would be convenient to pass food up to the cockpit. Even the silverware drawer, she added, is well positioned: It can be opened and the table set without disturbing the cook.

Many Catalina owners, says Douglas, also enjoy working on their boats, hence the 360-degree access to the 40-horsepower Yanmar diesel and drains set at the low point of the water system so that when it comes time to winterize, the tanks can be emptied into the bilge sump.

On deck, Seldom in-mast furling and a Schaefer genoa furler are standard equipment, as are the Garhauer blocks and traveler.

Roomy fore and aft cabins have well-proportioned double berths and real mattresses: one head with a separate shower- complete the layout of the 375.

In their deliberations, the judges concluded that the 375 is noteworthy for its solid construction and the evident attention to amenities designed to make onboard life more comfortable.

Judges' Notes:
*A split anchor locker can easily store two rods.
*Catalina constructs its shower curtains from lightweight spinnaker cloth, which dries quickly.
*When the 375 is under way, a bench/footstool for the saloon folds and stores at the head of the aft berth.