Greenwich Flying Squadron

The annual Gfs Prize Presentation is at the GFS clubhouse on Saturday June 06 commencing at 3.00pm.

The May edition of Humbug has a listing of prize and trophy winners. Please consider attending to collect either a trophy or skite plate to celebrate your success.

All are welcome irrespective of being a winner just to socialise and enjoy the company of fellow sailors.

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All about ropes – register your interest here 

West Harbour Winter Series

The entry to the WHWS is via Balmain Sailing Club and SailSys. Please upload your Proof of Insurance and Equipment Audit form from your file library as part of your entry.

Series entry fees  are waived for boats from the Drummoyne Sailing Club (DSC), Greenwich Flying Squadron (GFS) and the Parramatta River Sailing Club (PRSC) who have entered and paid the 2025-2026 season race fees for their respective club.

Sailing Instructions – click here

Additional information (Divisions and Start Times) – click here

West Harbour Courses – click here

 Please ignore any dates published on the GFS program at the start of the season

There is a Gale warning for Sydney Enclosed waters for Saturday. We are monitoring the situation and a decision as to whether racing will be abandoned will be made around 10.30 to 11.00 am on Saturday morning.

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Many hands….

Volunteering at GFS is fun and rewarding.  The community spirit is one of our Club’s great strengths.

With a month till Twilights end, it’s time to consider if you might be able to contribute to the running of your sailing club.

For example, our wonderful Secretary James Kearney is stepping down and we’re looking for someone to take on this important job.  The new person will receive lots of support and assistance to learn the role.

Other Committee members are considering stepping down should a suitable person be interested.  Areas such as Junior Sailing and Women’s Sailing are looking for volunteers.  Other options include IT and admin tasks, events, projects, training, jobs around the Clubhouse and many more.

Have a think…

• What are you interested in doing?
• What experience or skill do you bring?
• What sort of time do you have?
• Or would you just like to know more?

For more info, get in touch with a Committee member https://gfs.org.au/contact-us/ or

contact Leigh McLaughlin vicecommodore@gfs.org.au

Please note there have been the following changes to the GFS Sailing Instructions, effective immediately –  from February 17, 2026.

The changes relate to shortening Twilight courses after the start and communication to competitors.

SI 14 Part ‘b’ will now read –

b. For Twilight Racing

i. Twilight Courses can be shortened after the start by the Race Officer.

ii. A shortened course will the notified by VHF radio announcement.

iii Yachts will be notified of the final mark to be rounded before proceeding to the Finish Line.

iv The Finish Line will be advised by VHF.

SI 20 Part ‘g’ will now read –

g. If a Twilight Race is shortened after the start, see SI 14(b).

SI 25 Part ‘s’ will now read –

All competing yachts must carry either a fixed or hand-held VHF receiver/transmitter. This must be monitored on the boat at all times in GFS events. VHF Channel 73 will be used for communication during races.

The Sailing Instructions on the Sailing Racing Information page of this website incorporates these changes

We sadly share news of the passing of a fellow sailor, Ray Craigie. Ray died peacefully on 31 December 2025, aged 89.

Ray emigrated from England in 1964 to work as a Qantas pilot. In his ‘retirement’ he flew Kerry Packer’s private plane and later trained pilots on the Qantas Simulator, giving up his professional career at the age of 72.

Sailing was a favourite pastime between his demanding job and raising a family. Starting out with a trailer-sailor, Ray moved on to a share in Negative Gearing at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron then raced at CYC on a Cavalier 28, Marabou, before he commissioned his pride and joy, On Y Va, built in Caloundra in 1996 by Queensland boat builder Bob (Robbo) Robertson.

Ray was active at GFS for many years. He was also a regular in the RANSA winter series. Among his regular crewmates was Bill McLaughlin (whose daughter Leigh McLaughlin is GFS Vice Commodore). A Hunters Hill local, Ray was a regular visitor to rigger Joe Walsh’s workshop at Woolwich Marina for a cuppa and a chat.

On Y Va, a Robertson 950, is today a member of the GFS fleet can still be seen racing most Wednesdays in Gold Division. She is now owned and skippered by Bruce Hilliard. In a neat coincidence, one of the crew members, Bill McIntosh, lives two doors down from Ray and Jenny’s home in Hunters Hill.

Our sincere condolences to Ray’s wife Jenny, their children and grandchildren, friends and family. Ray’s life was celebrated at a service held on 19 January.

Rest in peace, Ray.

Today’s race at GFS (Jan 17) has been abandoned. It was also a Mick York race.

Join the 2026 Sydney Pride Regatta for a friendly twilight race celebrating diversity, inclusion and community.  GFS boats Cardinal Syn and Restless are among those participating and everyone is invited to join in the fun.  No need to be LGBTQ+!  Friends, families and supporters are all welcome.

The regatta is on Friday 13 February as part of the RANSA Friday Twilight racing, with a special Pride division.  Entrants will fly the Pride Flag and racing will be relaxed but competitive in a welcoming, positive atmosphere.  Afterwards, everyone will head to the Pride Regatta Village at RANSA for drinks, food and post-race stories.

Whether you want to enter your boat, support fellow sailors, or just enjoy the harbour vibe, it would be great to see GFS well represented in this colourful display sending a message of inclusion from Sydney Harbour.

Register now or find out more at:

 www.prideregatta.com

Proudly sponsored by Helly Hansen, supported by RANSA, Australian Sailing (Sail Our Way), GFS, Pride in Sport, Balmain Sailing Club and CYCA.

Please review this information which was presented at the 2025 Rules Night to ensure you are mindful of what was discussed.

The information is on the Sailing – Racing Information page or via this website or via this link.

Saturday Summer Series Race 4 is this Saturday – January 3.

Well done to Chris O’Neill and Jason King for completing the 80th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in the Double Handed Division.

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The Twilight Colour Coded Course Sheet has been updated. Previously it was missing Course 50. See Sailing – Yacht Racing Information or this link – Twilight Course Sheet V2.

12 months ago a fatal accident occurred during a Friday night Twilight race on Sydney Harbour.

GFS offers condolences to the families and friends affected by this tragedy.

An Australian Sailing Inquiry into the accident found crew on the yachts involved had difficulty explaining their exact location when calling Triple Zero.  The Inquiry recommended all skippers download the Emergency Plus app https://www.emergencyplus.com.au/ on their phone so they can provide a precise location in the event of a serious incident.

There were other apps recommended in the report, such as What Three Words, however, for national purposes, Australian Sailing recommends Emergency Plus.  This is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency services with their Government and industry partners. The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to help a caller to Triple Zero to provide accurate location details.  The Emergency Plus app is available on the App Store and Google Play.  Download it today and practise using it.

Australian Sailing major incident reports are here.

More information can be found here