The new sailing season gets underway this weekend at the Port MacDonnell Sailing Club with an open day starting at 12:00 pm on Saturday 24 October 2009.

All hands were on deck for the last two Saturdays, with club members scrapping barnacles, swabbing the decks and polishing the brass bell in preparation for the start of this year's sailing season.

"We are hoping for calm seas and a brisk wind to christen the start of our 2009/10 sailing season" said Dave Evans, Club Commodore. "We welcome all mariners and potential mariners to come along to meet our friendly crews and find out about sailing and our club events."

"Our first event will be a novelty race This will provide the opportunity for crews to gain their sea legs, it will be used as a training event to hone the skills that skippers and crews will need in the coming season," Dave explained.

The winter provided a valuable break for the club members to refurbish their yachts as well as provide the time to service and clean the committee boat. High winds and rough seas resulted in the cancelling of several events last season so the club is looking for a more favourable start to this season.

Regular racing commences at 1:00 pm, with members who sail on trailable yachts rigging up at the boat ramp car park, whilst the dinghy sailors rig up on the beach in front of the club rooms.

For those not familiar with Port McDonnell, the Sailing Club rooms are located on the foreshore on the eastern end of Port Mac. Local races and events are conducted in front of the club rooms, where a dedicated band of members monitor the fleet through binoculars whilst keeping in radio contact with the committee boat, all the while holding a stopwatch in their third hand.

So if you are a visitor, spectator or interested to try sailing, you are most welcome at the Port Macdonnell Sailing Club. There is a fabulous sheltered viewing area (on terra firma) for any land lubbers or those who suffer from seasickness. So come along and have a look.

Here's to smooth sailing for the club through the season, or as pirates say, Arrrgghh!