Cheryl and her sister had headed with their Grandparents to (she thinks) Wye River and the girls had been itching to go to the beach. The Grandparents, whilst setting up the caravan, eventually consented but told them they were “not to go in the water”. The tide, however, had other ideas and at some stage during the late afternoon a large wave swept up the beach and dragged the two girls out into deep water, where they were floundering and in danger of drowning, despite their “rubber wings” that were supposed to help on such occasions. Coincidentally (or providentially?) a priest and his wife were passing by, saw the girls’ danger and plunged into the water, pulling them to safety.In spite of this possible near death experience, Cheryl recalls this incident as being tranquil.

Cheryl remembers that an early family holiday at Dromana was to have a lifelong impact on her love of boating. The family rented a house for several weeks from an old deaf gentleman, Mr. Brown, or “Browny” as the children called him. He had a fishing boat and took the family out from Dromana to fish and experience the bay.

The family fell in love with the place and soon purchased a block of land and built a house. Cheryl recalls that she spent many weeks cleaning bricks on a vacant block in Graeme Street Dromana. Despite that toil, the family soon acquired a bondwood inboard/outboard speed boat of their own, which they used for fishing. This boat was swamped by big seas when left moored overnight and washed up on shore, a wreck. They then purchased a newer fibreglass boat for fishing and water skiing.

At some stage Cheryl’s dad bought a Mirror and the family taught themselves to sail. When in her mid-teens, Cheryl remembers taking a friend out in a fairly stiff westerly. The friend wanted to skipper, which proved disastrous when the boat capsized and then turtled, leaving the girls in deep water with an upside-down vessel for company. Fortunately another yacht passed by and a fellow sailor jumped into the water to help them right their Mirror.

On another occasion, Cheryl remembers being out in the Mirror when the radio 3DB plane, the “flying tadpole”, flew low over the bay near them and dipped its wings, indicating a shark in the vicinity. All the boats in the area quickly headed towards them, presumably to help “scare the shark off”, but it must have seemed quite intimidating having so many vessels all converge on a lowly Mirror!

Some time later the family bought a Paper Tiger giving Cheryl experience sailing monohulls and cats. These days she paddles kayaks, sails in keel boats and also has a Laser, so she has experienced a wide range of vessels over the years. Two adventures in keel boats illustrate Cheryl’s tenacity, love of adventure and ability to cope with adversity.

Once, while crewing on a 52-foot Elliott she was trying to put away the long carbon pole that was used to “pole out” when someone prematurely unfurled the jib. The sail came across and threw her into rough, deep water, which was both dangerous and annoying (they were leading the race at the time meaning many other boats were close behind). Cheryl remembers getting on top of a wave and waved her arms so other boats didn’t run over her. She swallowed heaps of water and they took a long time to rescue her but once back on board, she continued the race, soaked to the skin.

Another even more hazardous incident occurred while tacking one day when the jib sheet caught her under the neck. She managed to grab the rope with her hands as it came across leaving her balancing on the lifeline resulting in a badly bruised back and a damaged kidney, which bled for 6 weeks.

Cheryl still sails keel boats most weeks out of Sandringham, usually in a 44-foot boat called “Skullduggery”.

She once had an amazing experience on a keel boat. She was on night watch during a yacht delivery to Pittwater and saw brilliant fluorescence in the water; the ocean’s breaking waves became bright green, just lit up. She threw an apple core into the water which made the splash sparkle green, presumably because some form of plankton was emitting bioluminescence. Although tethered to the boat Cheryl went up to the bow to take photos. She also remembers sighting whales in the bay on two occasions while sailing.

After marrying and establishing her own family with three children, Lauren, Michael and Callum, Cheryl became a white water paddler, taking her kids on the Yarra and joining the Kirinari Kayak Club. Cheryl’s parents-in-law used to stay at Riverview Caravan Park so Cheryl and her husband decided to make the move there for holidays. She recalls watching Peter and Brian Haymes in their Lasers and thinking “I would love to be out there…”

Having initially bought an old Laser from Peter’s brother-in-law, which always filled up with water inside, she later purchased her current boat (thanks, Peter Haymes) and enjoys it because it is easy to rig, can be managed solo and is still sailable and competitive in the shallow waters of the Barwon.

According to Cheryl, the 2021 safari was “a bugger”. She remembers doing really well and being pleased with her position before suddenly ending up in the water and being completely exhausted by the end of the race.

When asked what she enjoys about BHSA and racing, Cheryl replied: “I love the company of the girls: Jeannie and Sophie. We have our own race within a race - I try to beat them! I love the challenge. I am constantly thinking “what can I do to improve my sailing so I can be up there?””

Thanks so much to Cheryl for sharing her amazing experiences and how she still manages to find “peace on and in the water”.

Bruce Clements

Currently sailing a Laser Radial after moving over from many years sailing a Paper Tiger on the river.

Enjoys the safe sailing conditions in an idyllic location such as the Barwon River and the relaxed atmosphere of the Sailing Club and all its members.

Nigel Hocking

Sails a Laser and Mirror

To me sailing on the Barwon is a form of meditation: when undertaken it consumes one to the exclusion of all else. Participating in a race gives it form.

Jim Poulston

Sails a Laser radial

Enjoys the holiday oriented sailing schedule, the picturesque location to sail in plus the sentimental attachment to club where I learnt to sail as a kid.

Greg Robinson

Sails a Laser (full rig)

Enjoys the friendly competition and the combination of wind, water, boat and sail – magic mix.

Linton Roe

Enjoys the challenge of sailing on the Barwon - tides, sandbars, current, tight courses, all in a safe space with friendly mariners.