Greenwich Flying Squadron

It is with sadness that we note the passing of another previous GFS club member.

Geoff was a keen racer and sailed his J24 Grott with the club in the 1980s and 1990s with young Harvey as an active crew member.

His funeral notice appeared in the paper on Monday –

OTTEWILL, Geoffrey Rabone

March 14 2018
Aged 82 years

Dearly loved husband of Bev, loved father and father-in-law of Mark, Susie, Anthony, Robert and Meaghan. Loving grandfather of Max, Hannah, Sascha, Abby, Lola and Charley.

Family and friends of Geoff are invited to attend his funeral service to be held at Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park at 11am, Thursday 22 March and afterwards for refreshments from 12-2pm.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Parkinson’s foundation.

This is a post on the GFS Facebook page by Graeme Davey skipper of G-Whizz detailing the events that unfolded in Race 4 of the Summer Twilight Series on January 12, which graphically brought home to Graeme the potential for disaster inherent in yacht racing.

It is worth reading in detail HERE if you haven’t already. Thankfully Graeme and the G-Whizz crew were on hand to affect a rescue of the persons in the water.

Three GFS yachts rounding Cockatoo in an area prone to sudden windshifts. Click to enlarge.

The photo was taken at the very moment of the incident, you can see the splash of a crew member hitting the water on the port side of  the leeward yacht. 

Photo courtesy Jeff Lewis. 

We may set a ‘Down Harbour’ course.

Rule 14, avoiding contact, is a rule that always applies, anywhere on the racecourse.

A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room (a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and (b) shall be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or injury.

The rule’s intended message is, put simply: “Sailing is not a contact sport.”

Linda and Wally are converging as they approach the line to start. Neither changes course and they collide with damage to both boats. Linda protests Wally.

At Position 1, Wally must keep clear of Linda (Rule 11) and he also must avoid contact (Rule 14). Because the starting mark is surrounded by navigable water, Rule 18 doesn’t apply (see the Preamble to Section C of Part 2).

Wally is barging and Linda is under no obligation to give him mark-room.

Wally could avoid breaking any rule by luffing and leaving the mark to port. But he doesn’t, and just before Position 2, Wally commits to sailing between Linda and the mark. At that moment, it becomes clear that Linda needs to take avoiding action in order not to collide with Wally, so Wally is not keeping clear (see part (a) of the definition Keep Clear). At the same moment Rule 14(a) begins to require Linda to act to avoid contact, which she easily could do by bearing off a few degrees.

The protest committee disqualifies both boats—Wally for breaking Rules 11 and 14 and Linda for breaking Rule 14.

There will be a quiz coming soon.

https://www.sailingworld.com

The following first place winners will be invited to Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday March 27 to receive their medallions.  Invites have been sent.

A funeral  for Ross will be held this Friday February 23 at 10:30 am at the Camellia Chapel, Macquarie Park (corner of Delhi Road and Plassey Road).

The service will be followed by a celebration of Ross’ life at The Deckhouse, Clarke Road Woolwich from 12 to 3:00 pm.

This invitation extends to all Ross’ sailing friends.

Please be advised that the members’ fridge is provided as a service for members. It is an honesty system and is not available on days when the club’s licence allows the bar to be open. It is available at all other times – weekdays, Saturday and Sunday race days.

At present the funds collected are not matching the funds expected. The system is currently under review and is being monitored to ascertain whether the shortfall is continuing and whether the service should be continued.

Dear Club Members

I was informed this Thursday morning of the passing of Ross Springer, owner and skipper of the blue fleet yacht Izzi.

Ross competed in Izzi on Wednesday night and was in the raft up at the club when the 40 knot southerly hit.

I saw him waiting patiently in the raft up for the outer yachts to clear little suspecting it would be his last visit to GFS.

Ross passed away at home Wednesday night and we will circulate details of funeral arrangements in due course.

Ross has been a valued member of the club and for several years we raced against him in the Blue division and also the Winter Wednesday events at RANSA.

Ross has been a loyal supporter of racing at GFS and will be greatly missed.

On behalf of all GFS members I express my sincere condolences to Ross’ family.

Regards

David Edmiston
Commodore

Click to enlarge

To enter go  here

It is with sadness that we note the passing of ‘Bill’ Wilson.  Bill along with his brother Tim took on the responsibility of laying the start/finish marks for twilight races and the custodianship of Pegasus.

Bill’s death notice appeared in today’s paper.

WILSON David Paget Avonmore (Bill)

Passed away on Monday December 18th, 2017.

Devoted and much loved husband of Lilly, dearly loved by his brothers Tim and Peter, and in-laws of Wilson’s and Markos families including many nieces and nephews.

Bill’s Funeral Service will be held in the East Chapel of the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, 199 Delhi Road, North Ryde on THURSDAY (December 21st, 2017) at 3.30 pm.

This year the maxi yacht Infotrack (sail number SYD 1000) is sailing under the GFS banner to Hobart. Infotrack, previously Perpetual Loyal, is now owned by regular GFS Twilight competitor Christian Beck, his brother Darren another GFS regular is also part of the crew.

Perpetual Loyal was rewarded last year after modifications were made by breaking the Sydney Hobart race record set in 2012 by Wild Oats XI, by four hours 51mins and 52secs, finishing in the time of 1 day 13hrs 31mins 20secs and culminating in second overall and second in Division 0.

We wish both Christian and Darren all the best for a safe, fast and successful race.

The position of Infotrack can be followed throughout the course of the race on the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race site or here.

The Twilight duty roster has been updated again (December 8, 2017). Please check the roster yet again to see if your boat is rostered for duty.

It is important to attend if you are rostered to share the load on the night.

The updated roster is on the Yachts Racing Information page or  Yachts Twilight page  or  HERE

All yachts registered at GFS are invited and eligible to sail in the West Harbour Summer Series.

Races are held every second Sunday commencing on January 14, 2018.

Please see the link to the 2018 West Harbour Summer Series Sailing Instructions.

We have also created Course Maps.

The list of entrants and start times list of entrants and the allocation of Divisions and Start times can be found via the ‘Results’ section of the Balmain Sailing Club’s website.

If you intend competing and your boat is not listed, please enter using Top Yacht via the Balmain Sailing Club’s website, or by clicking here by no later than 10.30am Sunday.

The West Harbour Summer Series will consist of 6 Pursuit Races.

There is no entry fee payable for competitors who have paid their full season race fees at the Drummoyne Sailing Club, Greenwich Flying Squadron and the Parramatta River Sailing Club.