Obituary

It is with great sadness I have to report the passing of Lyn Zerner.

Lyn was one of the characters of QMYC before amalgamation and her zest for life was wonderful to behold. I was lucky enough to compete in two Brisbane to Gladstone races with Bob and Lyn on 'THE BOSS' - but not in 1993! I'll never forget Lyn's enthusiasm in the Calcutta prior to a Brisbane to Gladstone Race - I think she bid on nearly every boat and even out-bid Bob for some. Bob's face told the story, but a great time was had by all!! Her log of the 1993 race gives us an inkling of her character and is worth repeating. My sympathies to Bob and family.

Richard Jenkins
Commodore MYCQ

THE BOSS SPEAKS... THE GLADSTONE LOG OF LYN ZERNER

Bob and Lyn Zerner raced their Arber 38 cat THE BOSS in this year's Gladstone Race. It was a new experience for Lyn who kindly shares her thoughts with us through her log written during the race.

Friday 9 April 1993

0730 Arise - a few last minute adjustments before our crew began to arrive. Neil Gray first, then Ron Davies who had just dropped Liz off at the airport for the flight to Sydney to join family for Easter. Don McWatters was followed by Dudley Young who began feeding the GPS and last but not least Duff Tennant.

0800 Departed Manly and motor-sailed to Shorncliffe starting line with winds to 20 knots.

1100 Start Gun sounds for monohull fleet. The yellow is hoisted for the multihulls - 10 minutes to go and we're off! What a start! 25 knots with water everywhere: the guys are all rugged up in wet-weather gear.

1200 Reaching in 30 knots true wind - the waves coming over the top. NW12 rounded and we are enjoying a comfortable spinnaker run when suddenly the radio bursts into life - bad news. TUSK capsized; all crew okay.

1320 Lunch is served. The first sked is being called. Rounded NW2; very lumpy seas and the water is back over the top.

1420 Bob takes the helm - Ron has done an excellent job from the start. Still the waves persist in coming over the boat. Duff heads off for his second nap.

1500 Point Cartwright off to port - waves persist although the true wind is only 22 knots.

1510 Ron and Neil down for a nap.

1515 The small kite blows out! All hands on deck! Unfurl the headsail. Huge swells - oops! One has just landed on my feet as I sit writing. Everything on the table is wet - even this page.

1520 All back to normal - Don is at the wheel - big swells persist.

1715 Like the rest, I have had a nap but looking outside I wish I was still in my bunk. Huge Swells - it is just like being on the big dipper - UP! Down and DOWN! We're off Rainbow Beach - like about 7 miles off. Don still at the wheel; speed 14 - 17 knots. Only two monos to be seen - that is occasionally between the seas.

1740 Dudley takes the wheel. Darkness is falling. The waves haven't changed.

1820 Dinner is served!!

2000 I can tell you it's not very pleasant here.

2030 At sked time, I had risen from my bunk. After a few bites of dinner it was a mad rush to the bathroom - I don't have to tell you what for!! The seas are 4 to 5 metres and our speed is 19.6 k - as I said, NOT REAL PLEASANT .....Oh! 23.2k!!

"It was a mad rush for the bathroom I don't have to tell you what for!!"

2140 I've had another lie down. We're 20 miles south of Indian Head. The guys tell me another reef was put in the main as the wind reaches 40k true. Neil has been at the wheel for some time.

2145 Don is back. You wouldn't believe it not only big swells but now it's raining time.

2345 The rdio bursts into life: KIALANI has broken a rudder and is making slow progress just off Indian Head. I must have dozed off - the weather has been the same all day.

0350 We have passed Breaksea Light. Things have improved. We have dropped the main as the wind is is right up our bum. Now sailing under twin headsails. Speed up to 15knots but quite pleasant as the seas have dropped off. We cqn see a masthead light - perhaps it is SHOTOVER?

0515 We are back to a reefed main with headsails wing and wing. Speed 10 knots with the wind gusting to 20 k. 4.4 miles off Lady Elliot Island.

0530 Lady Elliot clearly seen to port - rather pleasant conditions with speeds to 14k. Now off the northern end of lady Elliot surfing down the waves like board riders - 20k at times.

0600 The sun has just come up over the horizon: how beautiful! Slowly disappears behind the clouds.

0630 Gusting to 33k. Still on the surfboard.

0650 A rain squall has passed to the south and wind has eased to 20k.

0815 Guess what? The waves are back. That is three over the top of the boat in a row. Poor Neil - a shower each time. 3 to 5 metre seas and the wind to 29k. Boat speed 17 knots. 27 miles to S2 - bit who's counting? Estimated time to go to S2 2 hours 10 minutes 20 seconds.

0900 Bob has gone below for 40 winks as he hasn't had much all night. Don also having 40 winks. 21.7k down a wave with 26k true wind speed, double reef in the main. Neil at the wheel.

1026 I tell you what a little nap helps. The sea has died down; wind 20k; boat speed 14k. I can almost see Gladstone. Our first sked just called Estimated TTG: 2hours 30 minutes

1115 Rounded S2 conditions much better. 10k boat speed. 13-15k wind. S9 passed. S15 and on to S31. Finish line here we come.

1210 Very slow compared with what we've been through.

FINISH LINE! YEAH 13-07-50
THE GUN SOUNDED

EPILOGUE

You know, they say every sailor must do a Brisbane /Gladstone Race at least once. WELL THIS IS MINE! And I can say I'm mighty glad to be here. I must thank Bob and al the guys for letting me sail in the record breaking race

LYN ZERNER

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