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A crew member from Blue Chip, Phil Lambe, sent this message to Mal Blomfield who is lost somewhere on the Western Front.
Please let Phil Hare know if there are issues. The results in the Yacht Results are not complete.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.From In Flanders Fields by John McCrae (1872–1918)
Lest we forget
The ANZAC log passing the club pontoon
In true ANZAC tradition the departure of the GFS fleet was delayed by weather conditions. This proved to be a good thing as it allowed GWhereareyou to start as they travelled from their new mooring at Coasters Retreat.
Course 10 proved elusive as the pre start fleet searched the western front for the location of the start boat which was nicely camouflaged along the Birchgrove shore. It was very hard to pick a course in windless conditions but the choice seemed to work with the resulting wind direction. The Blue fleet set off after the bugle sounded and headed for Compass.
Solitude revelled in the conditions and led the race right up until the last post. The fleet stayed as unit for much of the race and it wasn’t until the charge to the finish that the Chippies made a break on the others. At the finish Chloe, Speedwell, Eggshells and Gwhizz finished within a minute to end hostilities.
Honour roll – Solitude, Speedwell and Blue Chip. In Red the depleted unit headed into battle with the F troop momentarily leading the charge but falling. From then Joka took up the charge and continued to increase their lead with military precision. Flair battled the elements and attempted to make up lost ground. Zig Zag came home like the charge of the light brigade. Joka took the honours and in the true spirit of mateship the F and Z troops couldn’t be separated and tied for last.
Luckily we all made it back before the gusty change, thunder, lightning and hail.
Autumn Race 7 Results are here
GFS Young 88’s Andiamo Gerry Morcombe and Mind Over Matter Julian Todd competed in the just concluded Young 88 NSW Championships. The series results are here.
Autumn Race 6 the penultimate event of the season saw grey skies and looked foreboding but the rain held off and the wind hung in for a good day on the water. A good group met back on the deck after the race to discuss the merits or not of the day’s sail and possibly lynch the person who writes these reports.
The full talent of report writing which could deserve such treatment is on exhibition in the full race report which is here.
Next Saturday in the true ANZAC tradition is the final race of the 2014 – 2015 Season. The Flair reenactment of the landing on the GFS pontoon generally went un-noticed as we farewelled one of the F-crew after the race as he left for Gallipoli.
GWhizz Commodore’s Cup Prize Presentation
Passion on the way to a close second at Port Stephens
Passion David Edmiston was just beaten on a countback in the Performance Cruising Division of the Sail Port Stephens regatta concluded over the weekend. There were 21 yachts in this division part of the fleet of 88 which contested the regatta. GWhizz sailed well in the hotly contested series to finish 8th.
GWhizz waiting for breeze at Port Stephens
GWhizz John Veal and Graeme Davey won the last race of the lead up event the Commodore’s Cup at Sail Port Stephens and was pipped by just one point for the series.
More about the GFS participation and photos are on the Passion web site here.
The full regatta results are here.
The Sail Port Stephens website is here.
Sound Track Crew’s Victory Dive
Although the planned race to Manly and return for all divisions did not come to fruition, the starters and the ‘Deck of Knowledge’ in all their wisdom decided that a somewhat shorter course was in order.
Soundtrack was the ultimate winner and you can see the crew’s victory dive in the photo.
All the goss on the race is here.
The dynamic duo of Tahnee and Dagmar Wade were on hand providing the after race BBQ catering for the last twilight of the season.
This was their last function for GFS as they are shortly moving to Queensland.
Thanks to them for the organisation and work over the past years.
The final twilight race on Wednesday 1st April saw a useful breeze, a shortish course and an excellent rollup both on the water and for the fully subscribed après sail BBQ.
The many committee and other folk who make the GFS twilights such a success were recognised and thanked.
You can see some of the happy faces of the sailors and friends and a few of the many prize recipients in the photos below.
The results for the series are here.
Congratulations to all the sailors and as we are reminded “Everyone’s a winner”.
Here is a bit of news handed to me on Wednesday night during our meal inside the club just prior to our prizegiving. It is about a boat that used to race with GFS. Thompson 8 Sports Boat “Rush” in the 45 mile Marley Point Race on 7/8 March 2015 on Gippsland Lakes, Victoria.
A copy of a letter sent to Darren Spence Digital Director Australian Sports Boat Association.
By RV (sorry no photographs-it was an overnight race-I could have put up a black photograph).
“Hi Darren
Sorry not able to report Sunday, finished at 5 AM some celebratory beers and some sleep before I’m reading getting a declaration in and breakfast at the club 12:30 PM will stop by this time we are all looking for some more sleep. Least that’s my excuse.
The race. Most difficult part was getting to the start from Paynesville if you are elected to motor down into a stiff breeze and nasty chop, we achieved 3 kn with 5 hp going hard, 12 L gone before the end will stop sailed the bottom lake, wet trip lots of water in the boat no time for the crew to go ashore and to attend the briefing and get back. Sent one member to do the formalities (our female lawyer).
Start 7:45 PM. One line 120 boats in the dark. Tight reach with masthead chute across Lake Wellington, 1st into the river with a group of tri’s on our tail. Breeze was up and down in the river the gap ever-changing. Managed to get out of the river in front of 2 tri’s hanging on. Fickle breeze in the top lake, down to 2 tri’s and us. The Corsair 28 got through, we read took the lead again before the club finish 1st time. Only the lap of Raymond Island to go. Had a nice break into Lake King, only to see him catch us up at the back of the island. Held on for line honours by 50 metres. Big thanks to the great crew Peter Antill, Jill & Steve Brajkovich, Tim Ellis and Dirk Hoogland,
Graham Coffey RUSH”
