Memories: When a fire gets loose in the jetties all hell breaks out.
Do any of you remember the fire on B jetty back in 1979? Well you want to keep in mind that a lot of the cruising power boats were petrol powered in those days and it was fortunate that the fire occurred on the long weekend in January, when a number of boats were away from their pens.
Fortunately club member Don Northover was able to retrieve his launch from an adjoining pen thanks to timely warnings from a club member who had been sleeping on his boat at the club, but it was thanks to the assistance of the attending firemen who played water over his boat as he reversed out of the pen. Alas, five boats were destroyed and there was severe damage to a section of the jetty, but the boats on the other side of the jetty were saved by the work of the firemen present.
The managing secretary, Colin Wilson did a sterling job and was in attendance from the report of the fire and had power and light restored with the jetty made serviceable by the end of the day. He also worked with the insurance assessors to have the remains of the burnt craft recovered in order to minimise the inconvenience to the members.
The club was looking forward to hosting Labour Day Centreboard Regatta followed by the Easter Regatta for trailer- sailers and the Way 79 Billy Run was noted as a success with the fathers of two current members congratulated as excellent organisers. They were John Abbot (Brad Abbot) and Ian Higham (Chris Higham). Of course the ladies had their Filly dinner at the Hunting Horn Restaurant (where the Indian Restaurant 7 Spices is now) and there was the curious arrival at the ladies dinner of a husband who couldn’t get away to join the lads at Rotto. He was welcome, but paid a fine to be allowed to join the ladies.
And to finish the memories with a quote included in the 1979 March Soundings.
“The gods do not detract from the span of life of man, the hours spent boating”
From the Archives and History Group.
