Please be reminded that each time you sail in a GFS race you MUST enter the crew list to TopYacht.

Once set up it is a simple process using tick boxes. It can be done from a mobile phone easily just prior to the race once it is set up and your phone linked to an app.

The lists are stored for reference in case of the need for contact tracing during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Instructions are in the post below titled ‘PERSONS ON BOARD’ or here – https://gfs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Persons-on-Board-Instructions.pdf

Australian Sailing has received advice from NSW Health about community sport in the current Covid environment. Sailors are requested to heed the recommendations from the Chief Health Officer for all community sports to avoid inter-regional mixing within the Greater Sydney area. NSW Health have requested State Sporting Organisations for water-based sports in Greater Sydney (i.e. Sydney Harbour) to designate at least three (3) ‘regions’. 

Australian Sailing have followed this request for the longer term benefits of the sport and put forward  regional zones as requested. These recommendations are in play at this stage until the end of September

Skippers are requested, where practicable, under these recommendations to sail with a crew who usually reside in their own local area and from a club in their local area, to help discourage travelling for community sport.

This literally means, if you live in Area A, you should ideally sail with a crew all from Area A where possible. As this is not a recommendation GFS is able to monitor and enforce and it will be left to individual skippers to take responsibility for the health and safety of their crew.

So not to disadvantage skippers who feel they are unable to compete because of area restrictions, races will not be included in Series or Overall Season Point-Scores whilst the current restrictions remain in force. Most clubs are following this.

This is a change to how sailors would normally sail on many boats and with various clubs. Australian Sailing seeks your assistance to comply with the recommendations which will help ensure that sailing and racing are able to continue during this pandemic.

GFS response while these restrictions remain.

1. Skippers are responsible for monitoring the health and safety of their crew
2. Sail with crew from designated areas where practicable
3. Crew lists are to be submitted for each race on TopYacht
4. Race starts will mainly be from the GFS Clubhouse
5. Saturday Series races will be all non-spinnaker (sorry Etchells)
6. Down Harbour races will be reviewed
7. No pre- or post-race gathering on the deck
8. Race results will be published (later and not just after the race)
9. Race results will not be included in series and season point scores

As a part of NSW Health contact tracing you are required to nominate the persons on board your boat each time you sail in a GFS event.

Once you have initially set this up it is an easy process each subsequent week.

Initial set up is via the TopYacht entry link –

https://www.topyacht.com.au/db/kb/1272

Once you have added a crew list you can update your crew from the following link –

https://tymob.net.au/1272

Detailed instructions are here – click to open or download

There are instructions included to allow you to set up a mobile device to update crew.

There is an updated Safety Plan now on the Club Information – Club Documents page under Club Rules, or click to view or download here.

All boats sailing in the GFS Saturday Series must lodge a self-audited Equipment Audit form for the 2020 – 2021 season prior to September 30, 2020. The requirements for self-audits will be emailed to skippers by the GFS Safety Officer.

Existing certificates from the 2019 – 2020 Season are valid for the Saturday and Down Harbour Series until September 30.

The GFS Equipment Audit form for 2020 – 2021 is on the Sailing – Yacht Racing Information page or here –

When completed, submit a scanned copy of the signed and completed audit form including the required attachments to gfssafetyofficer@gmail.com by September 30. Once an audit is lodged it will be checked and followed up if required.

Boats new to the club or boats of new members will be required to book a dockside audit with the GFS Safety Officer – gfssafetyofficer@gmail.com.

Boats of GFS members requiring an inspection for a higher category to race elsewhere can book an audit with the GFS Safety Officer.

NSW COVID-19 Update – 12 August 2020

PUBLISHED WED 12 AUG 2020

After a video call with NSW Office of Sport this morning, Australian Sailing (like all other State Sporting Organisations) has been requested to send out the following information to all clubs. With the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases in young people in particular those who are school aged, the next 6 weeks have been deemed critical for cases within our state. NSW Health are currently reviewing restrictions for community sport and it is expected that these may increase over the next couple weeks.

The key points we have been requested to remind clubs include:

• REDUCE RISK
  • Reduce participants, officials and parents etc attending your club as much as possible
  • Avoid people gathering whilst sport is taking place – Do parents need to hang out the club? Is it possible to discourage siblings/ other family members hanging around the club
  • Maintain 1.5m social distancing at all times where possible. 
  • Increase warnings for those who are sick, showing symptoms etc to remain away from the club
• COVID SAFETY PLANS
  • COVID Safety Marshals have started to check on sporting clubs around NSW from this weekend for compliance. Every club with more than 20 participants (sailors, officials, spectators, parents etc) is required to have a COVID Safety Plan and this must be produced on request
  • Contact tracing should be continued to be recorded as much as possible, with ideally digital records and retained for a minimum of 28 days.
• REGATTAS/ COMPETITIONS
  • Club racing and regattas are able to continue, however clubs are being asked to where possible avoid events where competitors are coming from areas outside your clubs metro areas.
  • Avoid travel to regattas outside your local area
  • COVID plans specific to your regattas must be developed
• JUNIOR SAILING
  • Infection rate in children is of a high concern to NSW Health in particular over the next six weeks.
  • Attention needs to be put into ensuring that junior competitors/ participants are maintaining social distancing, cleaning/ hygiene requirements

Remember

• GET IN – SAIL – GET OUT still applies;
• Stay home if you are unwell;
• Club activities including racing can continue as long as the current Public Health Orders are complied with;
• Limit activities to small groups where possible;
• Practice good hand hygiene before, during and after sailing;
• Avoid physical contact where possible;
• Do not share drinks, towels, clothing etc;
• Encourage sailors to arrive dressed, ready to go.
• Contact tracing records must be kept
• Encourage the use of the COVIDSafe app for everyone whilst at your club.
• Follow the one person per 4 square metres rule ashore to ensure sufficient physical distancing between people.

Course sheets for season 2020 – 2021 are now available on the Sailing – Yacht Racing Information page or click to open or download from the following link.

Please note –

1. They are different to last season
2. The courses include Down Harbour Courses

On the Sailing – Yacht Racing Information page there is a Word file that can be downloaded and enlarged if the course sheet is too difficult to read easily.

Sailing Instructions for 2020 – 2021 are also on the the Sailing – Yacht Racing Information page. Abridged – Cockpit SI version is there too.

The 2020-2021 Yacht Program is available on the Sailing -Yacht Racing Information page or click or download below

Sailing Instructions and Course sheets will be available soon.

Entries for the 2020 – 2021 Sailing Season are now open.

Before you race in either a Saturday or Twilight series or race at GFS you will need to enter your yacht online through the TopYacht Race Entry System (TES). Once registered in TopYacht you will be able to enter events at GFS and other clubs or regattas.

To enter your yacht for 2020-2021 Twilight, Saturday and Down Harbour Series at GFS –

Go to –https://www.topyacht.com.au/db/kb/1272

A help page for the TopYacht entry process can be found here: How to Enter a Sailing Event using the TopYacht Entry System . If your boat has joint ownership please read this.

Please read and comply with the GFS Covid Safety Plan.

The 2020 WEST HARBOUR WINTER SERIES kicks off next Sunday the 14^th of June.

The updated LIST OF ENTRANTS AND DIVISIONS is now online.

This is a spinnaker series.

If you are unable to maintain social distancing while flying a spinnaker, then please refrain from doing so.

Each skipper is responsible for keeping a log of their crew on a race-by-race basis to enable contact tracing.

At this stage it looks like the Combined Clubs Winter Series will commence on June 14. Races will stay as programmed as will the sailing instructions. Further information regarding point-scores will be communicated later.

Australian Sailing has updated their advice regarding recreational and competitive sailing.

Updated as of 0800 on Thursday 21st May 2020

• RECREATIONAL BOATING IS EXEMPT FROM THE 4m² RULE. HOWEVER, SAILORS NEED TO MAINTAIN 1.5m SOCIAL DISTANCE WHERE REASONABLY PRACTICABLE
• COMPETITION IS PERMITTED

The NSW Government restrictions announced on Friday 15 May 2020 that restrictions were being updated in the latest Public Health Order.

The NSW Office of Sport has subsequently advised us that it will not be following the National Cabinet endorsed Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment developed by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) on Friday 1 May 2020. It will instead rely solely on the NSW Public Health Orders. 

Today’s update provides for an exemption from the 4m² rule for recreational boating, provided that it is still maintained where possible. The Office of Sport has clarified that Sailing events are now also permitted, provided that the Public Health Orders are adhered to.

For further details visit – https://www.sailing.org.au/news/nsw-may-update-relaxation-of-restrictions/

What do the eased restrictions, which commenced on Friday 15 May 2020, mean for sailing at GFS.

Recreational sailing remains a permitted activity

Access to marinas is permitted

Access to fuel sales is permitted

Organised community sport is currently still prohibited, so no club organised events and training can take place. Organised GFS sailing events may only commence when eased restrictions reach Step 3.

The GFS clubhouse can be accessed to get your tender.  Social distancing of 1.5m and hygiene requirements must be maintained. Only outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people no gathering inside the club. You must follow instructions on signs placed inside and outside the clubhouse. If you are sick, even with mild flu -like symptoms, or in a vulnerable age group or with a previous medical condition you are advised to not enter the clubhouse. The clubhouse will be cleaned once a week.

Sailing Australia guidelines – permitted activities.

• Yachts – Yes, provided you maintain a maximum of 1 person per 4m2 and social distancing of 1.5m and hygiene requirements are maintained. Maintain only outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people. No club organised events.

• Dinghies (single handed) – Yes, provided you maintain a maximum of 1 person per 4m2 and social distancing of 1.5m and hygiene requirements are maintained. Maintain only outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people.

• Dinghies (double Handed) – No. These boats are unable to comply with the 1 person per 4m2 and social distancing of 1.5m requirements

• Powerboats – Yes, provided you maintain a maximum of 1 person per 4m2 and social distancing of 1.5m and hygiene requirements are maintained. Maintain only outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people.

How many people can I have on board for recreational sailing?

You must observe the not more than 1 person per 4m2 and maximum ten-person rule for outdoor gathers, be satisfied you have observed appropriate social distancing requirements and equipment is not shared.https://www.sailingresources.org.au/covid-19/

West Harbour Winter Series Race 2 due to be sailed this Sunday May 17 has been cancelled.