Greenwich Flying Squadron

GFS Twilight Races start on October 9 and we are keen to get the administration correct so that all who wish to race are correctly registered. At present 47 boats have registered whereas last year 86 boats registered.

If you are planning to race twilights at GFS, and you have not yet entered,  can you please enter your boat in TopYacht by clicking on the link below and completing the registration.

GFS Race Entry

Also a friendly reminder that it is the skippers responsibility to ensure that all regular crew are members of the club or another sailing club. Please encourage all your crew to join  GFS as this is a requirement of the racing rules and it is also important to the financial viability of the club.

Following the unfortunate accident to Peter Hamilton, Tracey Perkins has accepted the role of Acting Safety Officer.

There is one last opportunity to complete a safety audit prior to the commencement of Twilight racing.

Sunday September 29 from 9.00am to 12 noon. If you require an audit please email Tracey at tracey.l.perkins@gmail.com 

To make sure the audits proceed smoothly please do the following preparation:

• Print the 2024 – 2025 safety form at –

https://gfs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cat7_Form_2024_pH.pdf

• Check all safety items on board and complete the form
• Ensure that all items in the medical kit will be in date for the season
• Ensure that all lifejackets have been serviced and records kept

On the day of your audit:

• Lay out all safety equipment so that it is ready for inspection
• Call the GFS auditors on channel 72 to confirm availability
• Pick the auditor up from the GFS pontoon and drop them back afterwards

There is a summary of the information delivered at the compulsory skippers briefing on the Sailing – Racing Information page of this website. Or here – Safety Briefing 2024

Twilight Series course sheets have been updated are now available on the Sailing – Yacht Racing Information page of this website.

Michael De Dutton York, OAM

It is with much sadness that we note the passing of sailing legend Mick York.

Mick York competed in hundreds of ocean races, sailed thousands of cruising miles and represented Australia in the America’s Cup, Admiral’s Cup, various world championships and Olympics.

He served an apprenticeship at Cockatoo Island and studied as a marine engineer, ran York’s Marine Service in Rushcutters Bay and became one of the original 3 directors of Barlow Winches.

Notably Mick was part of the Gretel campaign for the America’s Cup in 1962 as forward hand.

Gretel on Sydney Harbour

Also sailing on other ‘famous’ yachts, namely Caprice of Huon in the Admirals Cup and the 5.5 metre Barrenjoey in the 1968 Olympics.

He retired from competitive ocean racing after crewing aboard Kialoa III in her then record breaking Sydney to Hobart line honours win in 1975.

Kialoa III 1975 Sydney to Hobart

Mick then cruised extensively with his wife Jeanette in their steel yawl Rockhopper.

Mick became deeply involved in the preservation work of the Sydney Maritime Museum and Heritage Fleet. For many years was the skipper of the schooner Boomerang and was instrumental in the restorations of the James Craig and more recently John Oxley. He was a Life Governor of the museum.

At GFS we will remember Mick as a wily sailor on his Etchells ‘Rob Roy’, a regular attendee at dinners with Jeanette after Twilight racing and with the Mick York Trophy which he made in the image of a vintage skiff.

He will be a huge loss to the sailing community.

The compulsory Skipper’s Briefing for season 2024 – 2025 will be held at the GFS Clubhouse.

Wednesday, September 11 from 7.30pm.

More details will follow in the near future.

A working bee will take place next Saturday at the GFS clubhouse, August 24 commencing at 9.00am. Cleaning Products will be provided.

I am sure the work done on the day will return the clubhouse (above) to its former glory!

Information relating to the upcoming season is available on the Sailing – Yacht Racing Information page of this website.

Information includes –

Race Entry – How to enter your yacht (note each series must be entered separately)

Season Program –   Updated August 07. Please note the changed dates for – 

Working Bee Saturday August 24

Skippers’ Briefing Wednesday September 11

Sailing Instructions

Category 7 Equipment Audit form (other categories 3 and 5 are available and will require booking in with the GFS Safety Officer, Peter Hamilton)

Twilight Course sheets will be added in the near future

Full Member Renewals for the 2024/25 Membership Year are due  It is now time to renew your GFS membership for the next membership year starting 1 July 2024.  As part of the renewal we are asking all members to confirm and update their personal contact details for use in the case of an emergency. To renew your membership: You will need to know your Australian Sailing Number + First Name + Last Name + Date of Birth + Gender.  If you do not know your Australian Sailing Number click on this link https://www.sailing.org.au/member-finder to find it NOTE Around x30 members have a default birthdate in the system (either 1/1/1935 or 1/1/2000) and the Membership Secretary has already informed those concerned (email dated 13 June 2024) to use that date or phone him to assist with updating Log into your Revsport memberpage via the following link https://www.revolutionise.com.au/gfs/ . Click on the Renew button under the ‘Renew my Full Membership’ Heading and complete the following  steps Under ‘Renew your membership’ click on the Returning Member button Step 1  Registration, enter your AS number, first name, last name, date of birth and gender Step 2  Confirm you are a full member Step 3  Confirm purchase summary $540 Step 4  Check and adjust if necessary your basic details, particularly emergency contact details Step 5  Tick the boxes Step 6  Complete the payment The GFS Website https://gfs.org.au/online-renewal-help/ has been updated to direct members to the new membership system.  Alternatively phone assistance is available by contacting the GFS Membership Secretary currently Chris Gaskell on 0432 018 081 or in his absence Dion Weston on ‭0408 859 267. Membership Fees The GFS committee has decided to increase membership fees modestly, around the general rate of inflation, for the new 2024/25 Membership Year.   GFS will continue to have some of the lowest fees and offer the best value sailing experience of any club in Sydney. The fees for the 2024/25 season are: Full member                          $540 Crew member                        $145 Tender/dinghy storage             $260 If you have a tender or dinghy in the clubhouse you will be contacted later for the payment of the storage fees. While memberships were current until the end of June 2024, from 1 July members will not be financial and will be in breach of the Racing Rules of Sailing if they race without being financial.

All members are reminded that the GFS Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 9 July at 7.30pm at the clubhouse. This is an important meeting for the club and we welcome the attendance by as many people as possible.

Drinks and nibbles will be provided after the formalities are completed.

The prize presentation was held on Saturday, June 2. The event was well attended.

However, there are some plates still to be collected. These will be displayed in the club from Saturday June 8. There is a list in the latest Humbug Lite.

A full list of recipients for 2023 – 2024 and their awards is here.

Hi everyone,

I have been serving in the role of Twilight Captain for 7 years and I feel the time has come to pass this on to someone else.

I started at the beginning of the 2018/2019 Twilight Season. I have enjoyed the role and interacting with so many members, especially my fellow committee members. The Covid years were tough, with cancellations, Persons-On-Board lists and many other hurdles, but we have now completed our first season in a “Business as Usual” fashion. Everything is ship-shape again and ready for hand-over.

I give special thanks to those who worked closely with me to help make the racing events happen: Bram Penberthy (Handicap Officer), David Edmiston (lead Course Setter), Peter Hamilton (Safety Officer) and Phil Hare (Sailing Secretary).

I would like to thank the many starters we have had over the last 7 years, most recently Belle Blandin de Chalain and Liam West.

The Twilight Race Events would not have been so popular without the dinners afterwards, always organised in superb fashion by Glenda Cameron-Strange and Holly Charalambous.

I would also like to thank John Veale and Steve Bradley for their support as Commodore and Vice-Commodore.

I will continue sailing, so you will see me out on the harbour or at the dinners. I will be available to help the new Twilight Captain whenever required. If you are interested in the role or you know a good candidate, please send an email to myself and John Veale.

Cheers everyone,

Nick Murphy.

Please check the two lists attached, If your boat is mentioned you will be the recipient of a plate or trophy at the GFS prize presentation.

The Prize presentation is from 3.00pm on June 1 at the GFS clubhouse.

All members and crews are welcome to attend along with those listed.

Twilight Recipients – Twi list for web

Saturday Recipients – Sat list for web

Hope to see many of you in attendance.