Two new boats have hit the water in Gladstone, one bringing in a new member and the other and old member looking for more speed.

Graham Mackay is a Kiwi, but we can forgive him for that.

Graham and his lovely wife have come to Gladstone with the wave of work from the LNG industry. Graham, a keen radio yachtsman, came down to the marina one weekend to check out the club and it wasn't long before he was steering the club boat BC around 'the cans' with precision. We all knew that this guy had what it takes to make a competitive yachtsman, so when we found out he bought a near new EVO design from top IOM sailor Dave Turton, there were a few members a bit worried about their pecking order. His boat 'Jatz Cracker' has only seen the water a few times, so far, as work and family commitments have kept him away but we're looking forward to seeing the blue boat on the water again after the holidays.

Commodore David Laurie has been hiding a secret. (No! not that…. even though you could be forgiven for thinking that, from the colour of his last boat!)

He was 'mentally scarred' when Steve Bray & Grant Cooper performed a well executed, slight of hand 'sting' when, without telling him, they turned up with new, fast boats leaving him with his mouth open, catching flies. Since that day he has been plotting his revenge……….

Last week, during race two, out of the left of picture, a pure white boat with unmarked white sails and bright hatch covers joined the racing without anyone seeing the person sailing it? Most GRCYC members thought it wasn't even an IOM as it looked shorter, narrower & just so different…. but then, our Commodore walked out of the marina gazebo with a massive smile... like those in the Medibank Private ads - The Tricksters had been TRICKED!!! Dave's boat is a Lincoln McDowell designed 'Blitz' and it looks radical. Now lets see how it performs...