Some information about an event I am trying to organise down under. Lake Dumbleyung is an inland lake in Western Australia where Donald Campbell broke the world water speed record many years ago in Bluebird. Donald Campbell set the world record on the 31 December 1964 travelling at 276.3 miles per hour. The nearest town is Dumbleyung. You may like to check their web site. http://www.dumbleyung.wa.gov.au/ It is the largest open lake in Western Australia’s southwest at 13km in length and 6.5km wide, covering an area of 5200 hectares. The lake depth varies up to 15' It has been dry for many many years however this year they have received record rainfalls and the lake is filling. Back in the days when the lake was full Dumbleyung had its own yacht club for it is a huge lake. Most yachts in the area were or still are rather small surf cats and dinghies. There is a yacht launching ramp however it has been of little use over the past for the lake has been bone dry. Anyway I live in Albany on the South Coast of WA with Lake Dumbleyung being about 200k North and 267 k South from Perth. It appeared to me some time ago that I should organise a get together of yachtsman (and their yachts of course) on Lake Dumbleyung over the long weekend in September in WA. It is not meant to be a race weekend but more a weekend so that like minded sailors can get together and enjoy perhaps a once in a lifetime experience. Many years ago when the Dumbleyung yacht club was going, people from as far away as Albany, Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury,Busselton and many many other areas in the state used to go to the lake to enjoy sailing. My idea is that everyone would need to nominate their yacht and crew and pre-book meals etc etc so that local service clubs may benefit. People could arrive on the Saturday in time for the beach barby and party with cooked brekkies each morning. Sunday would be "race day" however in fact there would not be a race as such but a yacht rally where people would need to sail a course and identify certain aspects at each compass point and then hand in their completed form to be eligible for a prize. The one thing is though everyone gets a trophy for part of the entry form will ask that all people wishing to enter must BYO their own trophy, to be pooled and handed out at the completion of the weekend 
. So the rally would commence at about 8 or so on the Sunday morning and finish at about 5 or so in the afternoon. It should be a real hoot and am hoping that I might even get over one hundred yachts there in September. I asked our local sea rescue group in Albany if they wouldn't mind taking up one of their rescue craft and they are more than happy. And I think from memory that's a 30' NIAD As mentioned I live no where near Dumbleyung and have absolutely nothing to gain from this event other than to enjoy the company of other sailors in what I hope will be the biggest inland yachting regatta in Western Australian history. I am however prepared to work hard to make it work and along the way help the Dumbleyung community. The locals seem to be pretty excited about the whole idea. To this end is there any chance at all that you might be kind enough to "come on board" and help me promote this event in someway or another or by sending a copy of this to people you know. This could even attract trailer sailors from the Eastern states. Really look forward to hearing from you. In case you ever thought you might like to speak with me my number is 08 98429911 or A/H 08 98423945 MOB 0428429911or failing that this email address is fine. yachtsman@westnet.com.au Kind regards from Albany Western Australia Mark McRae
. So the rally would commence at about 8 or so on the Sunday morning and finish at about 5 or so in the afternoon. It should be a real hoot and am hoping that I might even get over one hundred yachts there in September. I asked our local sea rescue group in Albany if they wouldn't mind taking up one of their rescue craft and they are more than happy. And I think from memory that's a 30' NIAD As mentioned I live no where near Dumbleyung and have absolutely nothing to gain from this event other than to enjoy the company of other sailors in what I hope will be the biggest inland yachting regatta in Western Australian history. I am however prepared to work hard to make it work and along the way help the Dumbleyung community. The locals seem to be pretty excited about the whole idea. To this end is there any chance at all that you might be kind enough to "come on board" and help me promote this event in someway or another or by sending a copy of this to people you know. This could even attract trailer sailors from the Eastern states. Really look forward to hearing from you. In case you ever thought you might like to speak with me my number is 08 98429911 or A/H 08 98423945 MOB 0428429911or failing that this email address is fine. yachtsman@westnet.com.au Kind regards from Albany Western Australia Mark McRae