www.ran-skilledhands.net

Hi Guys,
My intention is to be in Sydney for the IFR and Rocks Run first weekend in October. Will await decision on where the run will start. Missed it last year and do not want to do so again.

Dave Maxwell

My first look at the topic (sorry) has left me a bit confused. The first post by Col Kelson suggested bringing Frisco's and the RANSH Rocks Run, herein after referred to as The Run, back to Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of October so that attendees at the International Fleet Review (IFR), could seamlessly proceed afterwards with our great and proud tradition. It would seem that Col went ahead and booked a couple of extra days accommodation to this end. There appeared to be some agreement by others until about a month later when Shep referred to the change for The Run to be the first weekend in October instead of the second as previously suggested, and nobody blinked. At a later date, even though not attending, Ned refers to The Run being the 11th and 12th of October. Later still, SeeJay refers to our noble foray as being the 5th of October and a few others have said they will be in that. I might add, very few. Numbers appear to be down from previous years. Might this have something to do with the obvious clash between events if The Run takes place on the same day as what is seen as the main public event of the IFR? If it must be on the 5th, so be it, but I will be out on the harbour with my family. If the following weekend is decided upon, I'll see you at Frisco's.

Howie,
As you can see by my first post, I will be in town from 2 to 13 October. Shep and Chris are in town from 2 to 6. Your post re my intentions is spot on. Some have obviously planned trips away and planned to return in time for the normal November weekend. On the 5th I too will be on the harbour for the review till about 1400 then it will be catch up with whoever is there.
Cheers.

I appreciate all of the thoughts and suggestions that have been put forward around both the International Fleet Review and the 11th Annual RAN Skilled Hands Sydney Rocks Xmas Pub Crawl Smokey (it’s actually the 10th Xmas Smokey, numerically confounded by the Mid-Year Balmain Pub Crawl some years back, but hey, who’s counting...)

I probably owe you all a personal apology, in that; I wasn’t at all sure whether my personal circumstances were going to be such that I could commit to my participation in either the ‘Rocks Run’, or the IFR, or the participation of The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ in any of the IFR Events. I was somewhat comforted in the fact that with Ned and Seejay hosting the ‘Rocks Run’, this year I could quietly take a back seat until I sorted out a few personal issues...

Then, with Ned announcing that he was heading off overseas on a vacation which he’d committed to before it was suggested that the ‘Rocks Run’ be brought forward from the usual first week of November to coincide with the IFR in October, (whether that was going to be Friday and Saturday, 4th and 5th , or Friday and Saturday, 11th and 12th October,) it was going to fall back on Seejay and you guys to organise what was going to happen.

However, I’ve now found some temporary respite and I’m happy to announce that I will be able to join you all for the ‘Rock’s Run’ at least, just not too sure about the IFR just yet...

As far as a ‘Kick-Off’ point for the ‘Rocks Run’ goes, whilst Jackson’s On George is indeed up for sale, it doesn’t seem to have affected trading in any way, as their Facebook page would tend to confirm, so I presume it would still be the ideal (10:30 AM) breakfast point to start off the day...

BTW, you'll be happy to know I've been practising for this year's 'Rocks Run', albeit the 'Sydney to Surf' did take it's toll on me a few weeks back...!

But they brought me round... ...with an 'Ouzo 12' drip..!

Regarding the IFR, looking back on the effort that went into organising the last Fleet Entry outing on ‘The MOBI Yacht ‘Nirimba’ in 2009, it was done at a time when I could count on the considerable help and support of a number of people that I just can’t take as a ‘given’ any more... To be quite honest, the organising of screen printed ‘T’ Shirts, Windcheaters and Caps, payment in advance, the full breakfast at RANSA, not to mention a Crew, participants, dress ship, etc., etc., AGAIN... was all beginning to look like a mountain too far away...
...................
I’m happy to take the yacht out, but if we were going to do what we did last time, I would again need to have an indication of numbers willing to commit to the VERY early start, (i.e., breakfast at RANSA,) on Friday 4th October, along with a few willing helpers, as well as crew, and the outfits for the outing... I’ve had expressions of interest from three people so far, but I’ll throw it open for discussion now...

If the ‘Rocks Run’ is the first weekend in October, (Friday 4th/ Saturday 5th,) it’s going to be a big ask for volunteers to get ready for a early start for the ‘Rocks Run’ on the Saturday, after a VERY early start on the Friday for breakfast at RANSA, then spending all day Friday on the harbour for the Fleet Entry, then followed (no doubt) with Basin Trials at the Frisco...

If we were to hold the ‘Rocks Run’ on the second weekend in October, (Friday 11th/ Saturday 12th,) we’d end up with very few starters, as all of those coming any distance, (interstate/ country,) will have gone home...
You can see now why it was all getting a bit confusing all round...

Confusing it was, and the date just sorta happened......... We had lots of people looking at the topic, but few adding any input.

Shep and I will be in town 3rd - 6th for whatever festivities will be forthcoming, and I'll be at JB for a couple of days prior - just enough time to graffiti Ned's place and poison his rose bushes.

As for the run, my reason for attending is to drink way too much and have a laugh with - and at - mates.

In short, and being able to adapt to any situation, I'm agreeable to wherever the run may be, wherever it starts, and wherever it finishes.

Will anyone be at the Friscos on the 2nd for a beer and dinner????

I am afraid I am a non starter this year for those dates. I will be somewhere between Adelaide/Broken Hill and Noosa.

I am sure you won't need any encouragement to enjoy the day .

And I'll give the IFR Fleet Entry outing on The MOBI Yacht 'Nirimba' some further thought, assuming that
the 'Rocks Run' will be starting off at 10:30 AM at Jackson's on George, on Saturday 5th October...

I'll further assume that we'll be having Basin Trials at the 'Frisco on the afternoon/ evening
of Friday 4th, after the IFR Fleet Entry events (and any possible outing on the yacht...)

Rick, you'll have to count me out as far as the yacht is concerned, climbing on, in, and around it is not an option for me at the moment.

Seems that we are getting some clarity. I plan to do Basin trials at Frisco on Friday evening and the Run on Saturday 5th at Jackson's at 10.30am.

Cheers