Ahoy there! The end of this year troublesome year is fast approaching so here's a chance to celebrate in the Best Company! The America's Cup Lounge has been hired for us, with staffed bar. Please book and pay through TidyHQ asap to secure your place. Price, including required room hire, is: $42 pp for 2 course meal, plus desserts can be ordered, and paid for, on the night as required. $52pp for 3 course meal. See menu below. In response to member feedback, wines are not included. All drinks can be purchased at the AC lounge bar. It has been suggested that we pre order by Dec 1st.  Please email your choices to me at paulinedilley@hotmail.com There will be plenty of room, so lets have a huge turnout, spouses and partners very welcome, and have a great time. And of course, Christmassy attire and Silly Hats are most welcome and encouraged :)) I'm standing by.. Pauline Dilley Social Secretary Tuesday night Wardroom Entrée Tempura prawns, Thousand Island dressing Homemade soup of the day, sourdough Garlic bread, spicy tomato chutney Mains Treeton farm strip loin, gluten free chips, steamed seasonal vegetables, peppercorn sauce Cone bay barramundi, brocollini, dill crushed potatoes, lemon cream Amelia park lamb shank, cheesy polenta, roasted parsnip, lamb jus Mahogany creek roasted chicken, whipped potato, roasted carrots, paprika cream Butter chicken curry, steamed rice, roti bread, yoghurt Leek & potato parcels, sautéed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, pistou dressing Dessert Sticky date pudding, salted caramel sauce, whipped cream Bread & butter pudding, brandy custard, ice cream Apple crumble, ice cream          

For our last social event of the year, come and enjoy a buffet meal in great company, and help celebrate another year of great comradeship. Meet at 1800hrs for pre-dinner drinks. Galley opens at 1830hrs. Price $40pp, includes meal and partial bar tab, payment on booking will secure your place. Old Gaffers Association  BSB 325 185 Account 0132 7680 Please include your surname as reference. And of course, festive wear is encouraged!

Come and join an early evening historical walking tour led by our members, Mike and Joy Lefroy, meeting on the lawn beside the Round House and finishing at Kidogo Art house at Bathers Beach. It promises to be an informative and entertaining evening in great company, with a sunset supper option. For further information contact Pauline Dilley on mobile 0417 124 187

Here is a chance for all members and partners to enjoy a get-together in daylight hours, in a known venue with water views and great food. The menu is available on coastportbeach.com There is plenty of parking and good access for all. As a focus I suggest we make it "Boats I have known". Photos, stories and artifacts are encouraged! I have booked a table for 20, could you please email me by August 15th so that I confirm numbers by August 17th. Any queries, paulinedilley@hotmail.com   

After a successful Raid in 2017 The Old Gaffers are returning to Lake Dumbleyung as the good news is there is still plenty of water to sail on this remarkable lake. The plan is to arrive in Dumbleyung on Friday evening and meet up at the Grande Olde Dumbleyung Inn and plan the Raid over a few quiet drinks. On Saturday we will sail on the Lake that only occasionaly has water in it but like last year it is in good order. We will have another get together in the GODI that evening and plan the Sunday activities. The RFBYC St Ayles Skiffs are also planning to join us so it should be a great weekend. Book early at the GODI (98634817 or 0427157151) and tell them you are from the Old Gaffers as they are holding all the rooms for us until September 15th. There is also a good camping ground.

The OGA of WA is planning a raid to take place exploring the magnificent waters and rivers of the Nornalup Inlet in the South West.This is planned for the 2 days prior to the Regatta in the Trees event held at the Walpole Yacht Club over the March Long Weekend. This picturesque inlet will be explored at a leisurely pace with much conviviality in a cruising in company mode. This is a terrific opportunity to explore what is one of the premier sheltered cruising grounds in Western Australia and to do so safely in the company of other boats. E-mail secretary on molarman08@bigpond.com to express an interest and we will keep you up to date as organisation progresses. 

Come and celebrate the festive season with all your old OGA friends with drinks and a buffet meal. Meet on the Club Veranda for pre-dinner drinks from 1800 to 1830 Then be seated in the Wardroom and enjoy the RFBYC buffet style evening meal with wine and coffee.   Deserts availble at extra charge on the night. Please note that this event is very popular and seats are limited.  Booking is essential. Pay via the linked on-line site. $45.00 per head (use the 'Buy Tickets' button). Or by internet transfer to the OGA bank account, include your name and reference 'Christmas'. Old Gaffers Association BSB 805-022 Acc. 98690 Or mail a cheque to: Social Events Coordinator, 37B Carlisle Street, SHOALWATER, 6169 If not using the on-line registration and payment link, please email your intentions to  social+oga-wa@mail.tidyhq.com

Preliminary notice and more details to come but SAVE THE DATE! A wonderful way to spend a Sunday cruising up the Swan River to a picnic area where we can enjoy company and food. All are welcome. Come by boat or drive and join us. Contact Chris Robinson to confirm your attendance.  rockdoctor46@bigpond.com 

Program: It is planned to launch at the Bayswater Ramp (Katanning Street) and journeydownstream to a picnic lunch location at Bayswater Riverside Gardens off Milne Street and justupstream from the Garrett Road Bridge.Schedule:Bayswater Ramp – briefing, launch and ready to depart at 10:00 a.m. Boats may travel upriver ordirect to the picnic site. Return to ramp at 15:00. Bayswater Riverside Gardens – plan to arrive at 12:00 – 12:30. Boats will pull up on beach justsouth of the Cool Breeze Café Comments: This will be an easy sail with the intention of lunching at a location where others canaccess by car and join OGA sailors for a light lunch and fellowship.Planning to attend: Please contact Chris Robinson at rockdoctor46@bigpond.com to advise yourattendance. Any queries please call me on 0409 553 870 but by e-mail is preferred.

Dear C-Fleeters and friends Winter Murray River Cruise – Saturday 17 June 2017 (or as weather permits) Following the success of last winter's Murray River Cruise, James Bennett is again organising a cruise on the Murray River, but this time going downriver rather than up, aiming to picnic near Windmill Point on Cooleenup Island, returning via an essential refreshment stop at the Ravenswood Tavern: image004.png Where: The ramp on Ravenswood Road, upriver from the Ravenswood Bridge (it’s on the very edge of chart WA 848)When: 10:00 for a 10:30 departureHow to get there: Freeway – Forrest Hwy – Pinjarra Rd – Murray Bend Dr – Ravenswood RdWhat to bring: Yourselves, your picnic, some suitable clothes, your boat with motor (or several galley slaves), a sense of adventure image002.png Last time all boats were motored, with no sailing rig, and that is expected to be the order of the day this time too, but could you sail part of the way? The Ravenswood Bridge has only 3.1m clearance but then the new Windich Bridge has 9.1m so if the wind suits, perhaps! Unfortunately I won’t make it myself (I'll be overseas), but feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or James Bennett on jamesb@austal.com or 0419 969 405. Please advise James during the week beforehand if you intend to be there, and provide him with contact details so that he and advise you of any last-minute changes of plan. All the best JIM BLACKWee BirlinnOGA C Fleet Captain+61 418 918 050jimblack.marine@iinet.net.auSkype: jamesmblackwww.gaffrigsailinginwa.org

The highly entertaining sea shanty singers The Lost Quays will perform in the historic Whalers Tunnel.Tickets are available at www.ticketbooth.com.auThere is an option for members to meet at the nearby Bathers Beach at 1230hrs for lunch. Please contact me, Pauline Dilley on 0417 124 187, sms preferred, to let me know your plans and/or for more information.When I have numbers of lunchers I will book table(s) and advise accordingly.Parking- public transport or car sharing is recommended.

Upcoming OGA of WA General Meeting 24th May at RFBYCAttention all OGA members and interested parties:If you have not renewed your membership please do so as soon as you can as our upcoming General Meeting has so much to offer. It will start at 7.30pm on Wednesday 24th May at RFBYC.Dave Cliff will be presenting news and photos from the recent Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart. A number of our members attended and a few of our boats even made an appearance. Come and see what makes this event the biggest Wooden Boat Festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a photographers dream and the quality and range of boats has to be seen to be believed.Also at this General Meeting we will be discussing a number of social sailing events, including an upriver Swan River picnic/winery cruise, a Swan River Raft-up, as well as a sail along the Murray River that is planned for June. So come along to find out about these great opportunities to shake the barnacles off the boat over the winter period.Those of you that sailed in the Swan River Retro Series should note the upcoming dinner and prize presentation to be held at RPYC on Saturday the 27th May. You can book directly:Please RSVP to Tracey at Reception, RPYC on (08)9389 1555 or reception@rpyc.com.auPayment maybe made via RPYC Club Card, Credit Card, Cash or Cheque at the time of booking Please let the President Chris Robinson know if you wish to be included on the OGA of WA table(s)Earlier that same day (Saturday 24th May), the OGA of WA has a lunch and entertainment event featuring the "Lost Quays" performing a Sea Shanty concert in Fremantle. This performance will be preceeded by a lunch for those who wish to join us at Bathers Beach at 12.30pm. Contact our Social Secretary, Pauline Dilley, for more information at the e mail address here: paulinedilley@hotmail.com Everyone is welcome, so all please come along for the fun.Andrew BochenekSecretary OGA of WA