IRBs at Collaroy

This year saw a very full complement of carnivals at Collaroy and with that plenty of IRB support activities. Stalwarts and new faces were called on to assist as drivers and crew for the East Coast Masters, the Young Guns Boat Carnival, Sydney Northern Beaches Junior Carnival and the Sydney Northern Beaches Open & Masters Carnival. The IRB was also in action during the Narrathon event in April.

As ever, regular patrol work saw the IRBs being used to help out swimmers and kite-surfers, and to provide water safety on most Sundays during Nippers.

The still new Arancia and the older Gemini were put through their paces, and the Club was also fortunate enough to be able to trial the catamaran prototype, theAurora. New fittings were introduced into the IRB shed, and that has helped to create a bit more order for tools and other equipment.

The first IRB racing event of the season was moved fromNorth Narrabeento Collaroy over the Easter Weekend because of large swell. That occasion gave Club members fresh reasons to think about Collaroy again becoming active on the racing scene, and that question will be firmly on the agenda in the lead-up to the summer of 2011/12.

Newly-qualified drivers this year were Sam Redward, Mitch Trim, Kendrick Louis and Howard Louis. New crew persons were Fiona Hall, Andre Perko-Marshall, Jodie Trim and Ali Naylor. Congratulations to them all, and we look forward to seeing them in action next season.

Many thanks to those who put in extra efforts with IRB work at the carnivals, including Bill Marynissen, Patrick Renard, Sam Redward, Fiona Hall, Holly Spender, Craig Stephens and Phil Mickan.