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At last the prospect of a steady 15 kt northeaster greeted the fleet. However, the breeze had more north than expected and towards the end of the race increased from around 14 to 20 kts.
Course 15 gave long works and tricky spots to negotiate – particularly at the Berry’s Bay and Goat marks. The TS16 fleet were out in force, Paramatta’s thin fleet were rounding Goat Island and a variety of dinghies and skiffs which seemed to fall over regularly made for a mardi gras like day on the water.
Division one were missing some of the likely suspects some in the Sydney Regatta others perhaps enjoying the start of the NRL season or preparing for whatever was going on in Sydney that evening. Solitude led the fleet and were well suited to the shy conditions with their asymmetrical kite. Forte Forever were also one of the few to brave a kite and were in hot pursuit. Foxy continued to improve and the rest of the fleet kept in a bunch. Result on the water was Solitude from Forte and Foxy, whilst on handicap Starelan from Foxy and Solitude
Division 2 had a great race with the fleet always close and making up and losing ground at various points around the course. Scratch and handicap results to Paca from Flair and Umzimkulu II.
Not only does she flash past the screen whilst on her mooring in the television show ‘Here Come the Habibs’ Barubi is now the subject of the Noakes add in this month’s Afloat Magazine.
Details have now been released of the death of a sailor and serious injury to another in a yacht race on Pittwater yesterday (Incident report). This highlights the need for all of us involved in the sport to be extremely conscious of our own safety and that of our crew and other competitors. We offer heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victim and our thoughts are with the club which has to deal with the aftermath of the incident.
We sail in a restricted waterway with courses which are often crowded with a variety of different boats from our own fleet and those from a variety of different clubs. Yesterday was a case in point in the waterway between Hunters Hill and Cockatoo Island. We are reminded that we need to give room, and opportunity, for boats to navigate in a proper manner. The issue of room is vital especially for windward boats in areas of congestion with boats of different capabilities and sizes.
Also, copy and complete the GFS Safety Card (here) and keep it on board and instruct your crew where safety equipment is stored and how to retrieve persons overboard.
Autumn Race 3 at GFS was sailed in glorious conditions – the 60% prediction of showers seemed way off the mark and a good breeze around 16kts with some gusts up to 18kts made for a quick race on Course 18.
In Division 1, Solitude and Irukandji headed the fleet on the water whilst the remainder kept in fairly close contact. Foxy, Solitude and Speedwell were the handicap placings. Well done to the Speedwell crew for coping it sweet after a Port-Starboard incident approaching a GFS mark. They exonerated by doing a two-turns penalty.
Division 2 on-water and handicap results went to Paca, Joka and Umzimkulu II after a well sailed race.
In light of the incident where a DSC yacht (Hartley TS 16) lost its keel and capsized and now the death to one and serious injury to another sailor during a race on Pittwater, GFS skippers are urged to copy and keep a Safety Card on board.
Skippers should be aware of the potential danger when fleets with boats of different capabilities are sailing in restricted waterways especially when the fleets converge as was the case in the Pittwater incident.
The Safety Card can be downloaded from the Club Documents page on the GFS site or here .
Once again cloudy skies and strong Southerly winds made for an interesting day on the water. Course 25 resulted in a quick, perhaps too short, race. Nevertheless, no one got wet nor did any spinnakers get injured.
Solitude led the way in Blue Division and were able to make full use of their asymmetrical kite in the reaching conditions. Forte and Sweet Chariot tried valiantly to bridge the gap and made a strong charge to the finish with the three of them finishing inside a minute.
Eggshells and Blue Chip continued their on water battle finishing within 20 seconds. Speedwell were victorious on handicap from Foxy and Gwhizz.
In White Division Evo made a brilliant port tack start and continued to sail strongly for the entire race being well rewarded with the win on handicap. Paca and Flair had a close race and Umzimkulu II sailed well to bridge the gap after a mistimed start.
A very healthy fleet of 20 yachts contested the race in balmy summer conditions (at last), with the wind prediction ranging from 10 to 15kts and finally a NE breeze. The actual conditions which met the fleet differed slightly with the wind upward of 15 kts and varying from ENE to NNE depnding on where you were and when. Several spinnakers bear testament to the tricky conditions.
It was fortunate that we had a Down Harbour event as the waters around our normal Saturday courses seemed to be more crowded than usual with not only the Lane Cove and Drummoyne fleets but also from Hunters Hill who were hosting a NSW travellers’ trophy regatta over this weekend and were expecting over 100 Optimist dinghies.
In Blue Division there were 13 boats. Welcome to Paul Glynn and crew in the Davidson 34 Monkey Business who sailed as a casual entry and were very competitive. On the water result was Flashback from Solitude and Forte Forever. On Handicap Forte from Saints II and Gwhizz. The Etchells just missed a clean sweep by about 30 seconds with Eggshells fourth.
In White Division Tana made it back first followed by Umzimkulu II and then Joka. The positions were reversed on handicap with Joka first from Umzimkulu and Tana. Paca and Out of Africa were not too far behind.
In the Reds match race Flair was able to just keep ahead of Evo on the work to the Bridge. Then from the Fort to Clark Island and back to the Fort Flair managed to extend the lead. From the bridge to Greenwich Point Evo narrowed the distance and finally, for once, Flair had a better run through Humbug.
Congratulations to the following GFS members who competed in the 57th Annual Heron Nationals between January 10 and 17, 2016 at Port Lincoln Yacht Club in South Australia. Special congratulations to Jason and Michael Groves from the GFS competing yacht Aggrovation – trophies for first and sixth. Others were David McClean who is the Sabot captain and, of course, John Veale who is the GFS Treasurer and co-skipper of GWhizz.
Full results can be found at https://plyc.com.au/results/2015/herons/nats/series.htm
Summer Race 6 was the end of the Saturday Summer Series for 2015 – 2016. Luckily the predicted storm and damaging wind held off until all skippers, crews and starters were soundly ensconced in the clubhouse albeit under a dripping roof. The strength of the tempest which hit around 4:45pm was amazing.
The course which was set, Course 17, was again to minimise the impact of the small tanker returning to Gore Cove after refuelling the cruise ships in port.
The start in Division 1 was close and required a restart by some eager to get their race over before the storm. Solitude made the early break in the fluky conditions which they held for the remainder of the race. Forte Forever and Blue Chip had a close race and were not too far back.
At the finish Blue Chip, Sweet Chariot and Irukandji finished within seconds. Handicap results went to Speedwell from Blue Chip and Forte Forever.
Summer Series results to Solitude with Forte Forever and Irukandji equal second.
In Division 2 it was great to have five boats keenly contesting the race. Joka dominated from the start and Evo and Umzimkulu II traded tacks for most of the race. Flair were underpowered and Paca had an unwanted excursion on the kite run past Cockatoo Island. In the end Evo took the handicap honours from Joka and Flair.
Paca were the series winner from Flair and Then Umzimkulu II.
It was good to have two GFS yachts competing in the Australia Day Regatta on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day. Naughty Call and Flair braved the melee of vessels to sail in different divisions – Flair in spinnaker Division 3 and Naughty Call in non-spinnaker Division 2. It was an interesting day to locate the assigned marks and sail in a different area.
Flair was 4th in their division and Naughty Call 6th in theirs.
Race 5 was not only part of the GFS Summer Series but also designated as our Saturday contribution to the Sailing Events held in conjunction with Australia Day. The GFS Twilight Australia Day race is next Wednesday January 27.
Race 5 began with ominous skies and a strong breeze which reached about 25 knots with a couple of gusts of 28 kts. However, rain kept away and the wind eased (???).
Course 28 kept the fleet away from the tanker movements in Gore Cove and gave a chance for skippers and crews to show white sail reaching skills.
In Division 1 the start was won by Sydney Ferries as yachts negotiated the orange diamond as they attempted to clear the line and the ferry. The next obstacle was the totally upturned Hartley trailer sailer at Snapper Island. At the end Irukandji made it home just ahead of Sweet Chariot and then Solitude. Division 1 handicap results as published are incorrect and will be updated.
In Division2 late sail changes and exceptionally strong breeze at the start spread the fleet. Umzimkulu II and Paca continually made up ground throughout the race. Evo kept in touch and were rewarded with third on handicap, Paca finished strongly to be second just behind Flair.
Grey skies and a predicted strong wind looked like it would be a miserable afternoon on the water. However, no rain and a moderate but tricky SE – SSE breeze made for a good race.
Blue Division had the trickiest exit through Humbug and the fleet clustered at Onions Point in the disturbed air. Foxy and Solitude made the early break whilst Flashback gave the others an start on their way to their turning mark at Lady Bay. The run home had Flashback at pace to be back ahead of Solitude and Irukandji. Handicap results went to the Etchells – Foxy, Eggshells and Forte Forever – in a clean sweep (even if they had difficulty recognising their skipper or crew).
In White Division Humbug again trapped the fleet momentarily with Tana, Paca, Joka and New Territories making the early break on their way to Neilsen Park. At the end New Territories had a good lead over Tana and Joka. Joka took the handicap result from Out of Africa and Tana.
The Red Division Match race was on again and proved to be a fabulous race with both Barubi and Flair in the lead at several times. The exit through Humbug was a bit easier as there was no disturbed air and only the true (???) breeze to negotiate. The run home for both was extra special with a couple of cruising Hunter 33s deciding to sit on both our transoms until we were finally able to break away. At the end Flair and Barubi were separated by 2 seconds on the water.
Please consider entering the Australia Day Regatta on the Harbour on Australia Day. For details see above.
Following the 2015 World Sailing (ISAF) conference in November, some changes were made to the RRS and became effective from 1 January 2016.
It is with sadness that we advise the passing of Alan Hunt, a former member of the Club along with myself and brothers Malcolm and Warwick Hunt. Alan Hunt sailed in 12 ft Skiffs Eva and Valhalla during the 1960’s. He served as President of the Club. Some of his trophies are displayed in the trophy cabinet.
I realise that time has passed but there maybe older members who remember Alan.
A memorial service for Alan will be held on Saturday at Terrigal (cnr Terrigal and Willoughby Road) commencing at 11:00 am.
Regards
Crawfurd Hunt
M: 0412413869
Popular Club members Adrian Van Bellen (J/122 Jackpot) and Ralph Pickering (J/109 Sweet Chariot) have just completed the prestigious Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race, organised by the RPAYC.
All Club members can bask in the glow of the performances these two boats achieved flying the Cub burgee.
Out of the 42 boats that started the race, many of which are seasoned and successful ocean racers: Jackpot won IRC Div 2, won ORCi and came 2nd IRC overall (Behind Beau Gueste). Sweet Chariot finished 6th in IRC Div 2 and 17th IRC overall.
A great result for not only the owners, skippers and crew, many of whom are members at the Greenwich Flying Squadron.
It was pleasing to note the number of Club members, not just family but friends that made the effort to get to Broken Bay to watch the start. (reporter GD)
