Brisbane/Gold Coast/QLD Owners Club

[camheat]

Hi Aussie Members,

Interested to see if there is enough interest in forming a Mac owners club in the Bris/Gold Coast/or QLD area. I am on the Gold Coast and have seen many Macs on the Broadwater. Thoughts?

Cameron
MacGregor 26M
"Day Release"

[puggsy]

Can you post some pics of your " Broadwater"...Never been to Qland but surely would like to....Puggsy

[davidbagnall]

Yep I would be up for that....
I had some thoughts for a Mac event which I tried to float a while ago on www.trailersailerplace.com.au with not much interest.
This was my thougts for a MACgatta

I have been pondering an event for all of us “dark siders” for some time now. Basically a long weekend dedicated to everything for a power sailor and their family.
Much of which will be social with a strong family involvement.
Proposed Activates
Race: With an altered triangle course containing a smaller windward leg and longer reaching legs which better suit the Macgregor.
Combo race: Same as above but one final leg (under power)
Drag race: Who is the fastest over 500m (bonus points for dressing in drag, or anything “out of the box” which provides entertainment for onlookers)
King of the Mods: Everyone votes on the boat with the best or most novel modification.
Treasure Huntin: Follow the clues to find the hidden treasure (finishing in BBQ)

Puggsy I have some pics of of the Broad water, Morten Bay and lake Coothrarba here http://davidbagnall.spaces.live.com

[puggsy]

I did enjoy the pics...but what river/ estuary was that...What I know about the east coast you could write on a pinhead. I might get there one day. Puggsy

[davidbagnall]

The Pics I think you are talking about are from Lake Cootharaba which is north of Noosa and about 2 hrs drive north of Brisbane. http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=- ... 7&t=h&z=12
Some of the photos are in the Noosa Everglades which feeds into the lake. The water up there is so stained with tannins from leaf/plant matter it’s almost the colour of coke. This makes the water on still days go mirror like. You can motor a fair way up before the overhanging trees start to make life difficult.
The lake itself is mostly fresh water and is really shallow. You have to walk out 50m before your knees get wet. The lake is reasonable in size (about 12K long and 6K wide. It’s a pretty good place to sail and camp and I sail either my sailboard, cat or Mac up there. Actually I sail there more than anywhere else.... Did I mention it has a good pub at Boreen Point?

The photos with a huge sand hill are taken at the Sand Hills on Morten Island http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=- ... 4&t=h&z=14 which is another favourite place although it can get exposed if the wind turns (my first trip in the Mac with all of my mistakes is on the blog). The hills are huge and we always bring a boogie board and have a hoot sliding down.

[rockman]

Sounds like a great idea - maybe just start with an Australian Group?
I wrote to Phil King about starting a site for his business and we could add a forum to that - or continue using this site? Even though we get a bit of crap from some of the TSP members - when you meet them, you come to realise that none of it is said with malice.

October at Lake Mac is always a great meeting - we always get a few boats from Brisbane and Canberra coming along.

[Blue Reef]

I am just about to start the process of redesigning and upgrading my website, http://www.bluereefyachts.bigpondhosting.com . It is a small business that imports Mac26Ms. Towards the latter part of the year i will also be supplying spares for X and Ms to the Aussie Market. If beneficial to the Mac community i would love to set up a forum on my site which i would happy to moderate. I also live on the Gold Coast and would support a SE Queensland/Aussie club that i would love to be a major part of. I have sold a few Macs to Brissy and SE QLD customers and i am sure they would love to be part of this group also.

Any thoughts or comments please PM or email me.

Cameron

BTW Pugsy, have a look at googleearth.com for photos of the Broadwater. Some amazing pics there with the bonus of seeing the location where they were taken.

[standfast]

I would be interested in being part of a SE Qld group. We have recently moved to the area (Sunshine Coast) from the ACT where we were members of a club (some time ago now) that catered for trailer sailer cruisers so you might be interested in some of the activities we conducted which proved to be popular. I must admit my wife and I are not racing types, although fun races were held that provided an excuse to get onto the boat.

Trips were organised to various waterways, both local and a little farther afield. A nominated 'trip leader' proposed a location and found out what facilities were available. We then typically towed in convoy (not compulsory) and generally sailed in loose company meeting up at a designated overnight spot. Once everyone was settled we then visited each others boats for afternoon drinks using the tenders to meet other people and discuss mods, locations and anything else of interest. It was a great way to discover new waterways and learn a few tricks. It also enabled members to assist one another if difficulties were encountered. It was a very supportive way to sail.

When we were sailing inland waters we would also go ashore to have BBQs and do some short walks depending on the location.

Do these sort of activities strike a note with anyone else? There are some great waterways to explore up here and doing this in company is a relaxing way to sail. I must admit we have been mainly inland lake sailors in the past and there some great lakes and dams that would suit the Macs.

Cheers,

[davidbagnall]

Welcome aboard Standfast!

Love your ideas! Any excuse having a get together with fellow sailors sounds like a treat.

Have you made it to Lake Cootharaba yet? The Mac goes quite well up there (shallow draft makes all the difference here). I launch form Boreen Point http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=- ... 7&t=h&z=18 (click on Street View and you can see the ramp up close). It is shallow ramp (even for a Mac) however I haven’t had too much trouble launching. There is a tree that overhangs part of the ramp so you have to be a bit careful. I am easily persuaded to crew or dunk my boat in if you want some local knowledge here. Drop me a line if you are interested.

Back on the Club front… We have had a few people interested (thank you). Are there are any more Mac owners out there who are interested?

[kadet]

You can add me to the number in and around moreton bay.

[camheat]

So. We have some interest. Can we get some suggestions of dates for the proposed get-together. October is good with me.

Cheers

Cameron
MacGregor 26M
"Day Release"

[kadet]

I am heading over to the big sand hills on the southwestern side of Moreton on the 14th and again on the 20th of September (weather permitting). Depart Nudgee between 7-8am return late afternoon.



I will be monitoring VHF channels 16, 21 and 73 while on baord.

[turtonr]

Count me in for QLD Owners' Club. I'm Moreton Bay based but reckon a QLD group would be good with "sub branches."

[davidbagnall]

I was up fishing just north of Tipplers resort and there was a 26X overnighting. Was that anyone here or a someone new?

[rockman]

I have often wondered about how do you get those "missing yachties" into the fold - to share the friendship. I have left some postit notes on some boats. They have worked well.
Can I suggest you point them towards this site (and hopefully TSP). The more Mac owners we get on TSP the more we can pick on the Castle owners