The hospitality of the members did us proud.
Fishing trawlers were also allowed these services.ġ985 The Squadron’s interim open-air clubhouse (Now the laundry and veranda area in the work yard) was used to host the inaugural Hamilton Island to Cairns Yacht Race.
In appreciation of the assistance given by Cairns Game Fishing Club, Cairns Motorboat Club we invited their members to use our repair facilities. The struggle to consolidate the venue, and repay debt was, unfortunately, at the cost of losing the club’s racing activity, our events and trophies, and our facilities that we now had to replace. Two members covered the expenses of the travel lift purchase from their own resources.Ī new viable business under the full-time management of volunteer OLLIE UPITE was established.
Cairns slipways free#
Debentures were raised to cover the cost of the travel lift and associated yard facilities and a great amount of work was carried out by members free of charge. Meanwhile work commenced on the Smiths Creek site. We supplied and manned the Radio Relay vessel. Our race planning for the Moresby event was run from a hired Cairns Harbour Board Social Welfare Club, and we used the Pier master’s office as a radio room. The Sailing Club became the Cairns Yacht Club and split the membership of the Squadron: a severe blow as it reduced membership and created much ill feeling in yachting circles in Cairns.ġ980 CCYS was given notice to vacate the site, firstly the slipway then in 1981, the clubhouse, as a tourist venture was imminent on the site. This was seriously debated, and the Squadron declined the offer. In 1979 a move was made to join Cairns Sailing Club as they intended to incorporate catamarans, dinghies and yachts. We had applied to the Harbour Board for a site in Smiths Creek where land reclamation was in progress, and although little could be done for many years our liquidity was established. We established swing moorings in the Harbour, available at a moderate rental. This lease was extended in 1978 to operate the slipway. Mid 1970’s CCYS leased part of the Harbour Board Slipway for an after work Friday social venue, installing showers and a bar, with the remainder as a work area for members and visiting yachtsmen’s projects. We also became the host club for the Gladstone to Cairns- Cairns to Port Moresby races. Weekend races around buoys, round islands, to Green Island, to Fitzroy Island to Port Douglas and Low Island became annual events. The facilities to service these yachts were very limited in Cairns.Ĭruises to the nearby reefs and islands were often arranged with 3 or 4 boats travelling in company. Slipping in the early days was available at Cairns Harbour Board Slipway (opposite the current Casino) or against 2 piles close to the Sea Cadet’s Hall, where the firm bottom and tidal range accepted vessels up to 4’6” draught. Steel and ferro cement were often the choice of the amateur builders of private yachts. In most coastal centres commercial boat builders worked with wood or GRP. This was the decade or more when it became common to see versatile back yard builders take up the challenge of constructing their own yachts in the adequate space of the 1⁄4 acre home block throughout Australia. Our interest was to promote offshore racing and cruising and we gradually built up a membership that increased year by year.
Our object was the promotion of yachting for boats other than the racing dinghies sailing from Cairns Sailing Club. Social functions were arranged on board members yachts rafted up. Meetings were held in a private house, then later at the Sea Cadet’s Hall. 1967 The Squadron was first formed, although waterfront land was scarce.
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