Yamba - Maclean Hobie sailing cruise 2011

Author: josh

Category: Trip Reports

Created on Monday, 14 February 2011 18:58

Written by Josh

A really great day was had by all who joined us on our Adventure/Tandem Island sailing cruise on the Clarence river on Sunday, where we traversed over 30km of water starting at Yamba and ending up at Lawrance, a few km upriver from Maclean. Just past the half-way point we landed at Harwood to indulge in a bar meal before moving on. All told there were 22 Islands on the water, which was an impressive sight to behold; a little too impressive actually, but I'll get to that in a moment. 

The group consisted of Island owners coming from as far south as Port Macquarie and as far north as the Gold Coast. We were joined by numerous Yakass.net members, including Capt Max (and daughter), Steve Foster and Holger. While a few of us did pack our rods and did do some trolling, for the most part we were really just focused on the sailing. With fairly light winds backing up against a steady out-going tide, our progress was relatively slow for the most part, which although not terribly exhilerating, was a fabulous opportunity to soak up the river surrounds. The Clarence really is a beautiful river, one that truly deserves it's 'Big River' moniker. It's a shame that certain authorities and incoherent laws and legislation conspire to deter people from enjoying it.

At one point during our run from Yamba to Harwood, a NSW Maratime official approached Doug, insisting that we needed a licence to be doing this because we were, he insisted, holding a regatta. Doug informed the official that no, this was not a regatta, simply a bunch of like-minded people sailing together from A to B in their kayaks on the river (which is precisely what it was). It was at this point that Doug was told 'keep arguing and I'll hit you with a $1500 fine'.

That, my friends, is enforcement by intimidation, and I'm pretty sure thats illegal. I'm certain these guys have the right to impose fines for anyone breaking the laws they are charged to police, but not for debating a point. Although we are for sure moving ever closer to an Orwellian 1984 reality (where almost nothing will be freely legal anymore), I'm fairly confident that Maritime authorities do not have jurisdiction on matters of thought-crime. It is perfectly legal for anyone to question the laws that they are being accused of breaking. I mean... who enters a regatta and trolls lures? 

Every instance of the definition of the term 'regatta' that I can find describes it as: an organized series of races of yachts, rowing boats, etc. This trip was 'organised' in so far as we simply told a bunch of people we were going to sail from Yamba to Maclean and that they were welcome to join us. Thats pretty much it. But ok... we'll grant the phrase 'organised' probably could be argued in this instance (though disorganised could also be fairly used). But the concept of racing was never even discussed, let alone contemplated. So no... not a regatta. And thats the point Doug was debating, ending up seeing him threatened with a large fine simply for that reason. I wasn't there to see it, but my minds eye sees South Parks Eric cartman, screaming 'RESPECT MY AUTHORITAR!' 

So today I rang the NSW Maratime office today to get their own personalized definition of the phrase 'regatta'. The first person who answered the phone did not know, put me on hold and never returned (I gave up waiting at the 5 minute mark). The second attempt also reached an operator who had no idea, so off she went to check, returning minutes later to inform me that they class a regatta as a race or organized event that could be perceived to hamper others usage of the waterway. Now with those sails standing tall, 22 Islands is an impressive fleet to behold. But on a river as big and wide as the Clarence, is hardly any kind of obstruction to anything. We were fairly well spread apart pretty much the entire time and there isn't a single boat on the Clarence that would have ever had a hard time navigating past us, at any stage. *Sigh*

OK then... NSW Maratime has a different definition of 'regatta' than a good google search through various online dictionaries and encyclopedias would otherwise elucidate. Lesson learned. The lesson has also be learned that some of these Maratime authorities really need to reconsider their methods of enforcement and re-think the intimidation routine. If the local municipality really wants to encourage tourist activity usage of the river, it would do well to tame the chest-beating authorities our tax-dollars are paying to manage it. Its a real shame I wasn't there to see it when it occurred because I would have loved to get this on video, (for certain I'll be sure to be recording when I do finally get approached). 

As it turnes out, a licence to legally hold such an event isn't terribly expensive, so for future events like this, no big deal really. But it is a law that clearly has grey areas and one to keep in mind for anyone even thinking of ringing up their buddies for a group kayak fishing trip.