Greenwich Flying Squadron

Audits will be conducted from 0900 hours (until 1200 hours).  It is a race day for Saturday Series yachts.

Please have the audit form completed and the equipment to be checked laid out.

Fire extinguishers can be checked at the club – $10 donation to YOTS.

Download a copy of the Equipment Audit form, GFS Sailing Instructions and GFS Safety Card from the GFS Yachts Page and have either an electronic or hard copy of the Racing Rules of Sailing. These are on the Yachts Page or click here.

Have a proof of insurance document available to be sighted by the auditor.

The required documents can be located on the Yachts page.

Please note that the house immediately above the clubhouse (#19) is due to be auctioned on site at 1045 hours on Saturday. I would expect that traffic in Bay Street will be just peachy!

Sorry for the late notice.

Down Harbour Divisions are on the Yachts – Results tab – 2017 2018 Season – Down Harbour Series.

Please note the Divisions are different to the Saturday Series Divisions. The starting order is –

Blue – Yachts

White – Etchells and Sports Boats

Red – Yachts

Some Down Harbour Courses are different please read the course sheet carefully.  Keep on the required side of the Bradleys Head safe water mark.

It was reported that last weekend the Nielsen Park YA mark was barely above water.

The breeze should be brisk please sail safely and keep a look-out.

Race 1 of the Saturday Spring Series is next Saturday September 2.

Please make sure current race documents (Equipment Audit and Insurance) are uploaded prior to racing.

Saturday Spring Series Divisions (note these will be different for next week Down Harbour Race 1) –

If you did not receive a course sheet at the Equipment Audit it is available on the Yachts – Racing Information page or here.

The 2017 – 2018 Sailing Program is also on the Yachts – Racing Information page or here.

Best luck for the 2017 – 2018 season.

Very choppy on the Lane Cove River (looking West), Friday August 18 around 11:00 am, photo courtesy John Veale. Click to enlarge.

Equipment Audits for Twilight Yachts –

Audit 2 Saturday 16th September and,

Audit 3 Sunday 24th September.

Audits will be conducted between 9.00am and 12.00 noon on a first come, first served basis.

Fire Extinguishers can be checked on the morning of Saturday 16th September. Cost is a $10 per fire extinguisher and  the fees will donated to YOTS.

A couple of reminders to help make the process as simple and seamless as possible:

• PREPARATION
  All gear should be laid out including all the elements of the first aid kit and lifejackets for easy inspection and swift sign off (check your saline solution – there is a good chance it will be out of date).

Download a copy of the GFS Sailing Instructions and GFS Safety Card from the GFS Yachts Page and have either an electronic or hard copy of the Racing Rules of Sailing. A link to the yachts Page is here.

• CAT 7 FORMS and GFS DECLARATION
  Prior to the inspection the forms should be completed with all relevant details and the owners column (P) ticked or initialed for the auditors to check.

• RMS STICKERS
  Once the process (including sign off of outstanding items) is complete, 2017/18 RMS Stickers will be issued (inshore/offshore as applicable)

A hard copy of the GFS Season Program and 2017 – 2018 GFS Course Sheet will be available from the auditors.

Please upload you completed audit form to Top Yacht.

The annual working bee hit the clubhouse like a fierce storm. The fury of activity left no corner of the club, deck, surrounds and facilities untouched.

It was gratifying to see the 30 or so members engaged in these activities to ensure the club was ready for the coming season which kicks off with the first Saturday Spring Series race on September 2.

Saturday 29 July 2017 signalled the start of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 32nd Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The CYCA believes this event is second only in status to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race among long ocean races conducted by the Club.

GFS yacht Ausreo (Ian Creak) with Jim Lelliott as Sailing Master had impressive results finishing 2^nd Overall, second on ORCi, 1^st in IRC Division 3 and second on ORCi Division 3. Several club members including Philip Lambe and Danni Birchill flew to the Gold Coast to join Ausreo for the sail back to Sydney. Photos courtesy CYCA.

Previous Commodore Martin Sheppard and brother Derek were also successful finishing 3^rd in IRC Division 3 in their yacht Black Sheep.

The series reached a final conclusion with wind and no call to abandon the race.

In what was the fourth race of the series (a bit poor as there were seven expected), GFS results were promising with Passion X 2^nd in Division 1 (Gold), Hasta La Vista 2^nd in Division 2 (Blue), Allons-Y 1^st in Division 3 (Black) and Mistress 2^nd in Division 4 (Green). In all, about 15 GFS crews contested this race.

This race also marked the end of the series. In overall results Allons-Y was the stand-out 1^st place in PHS Division 3 with Capriole a close second. Well done!

Click to view GFS Series Results (Updated).

Also Allons-Y and Wind Charmer did very well to be 1st and 3rd in ORC Division 3. We will wait to see where Passion X finishes up in ORC Division 1 when their handicap is corrected.

Next year it is GFS turn to organise the Winter series and hopefully we will be better at organising wind each fortnight.

It scarcely seems winter, so faint is the breeze
That stirs the GFS pennant there on the mast,
So idly on high float the white sails along,
So sweet is the note of the delayed start’s song,
So lazily loiter the yachts where they stand,
So warm is the sunshine that lies on the crews.                                        Apologies to Andrew Downing

WHWS Race 6 proved to be a non-event with the race failing to start.  There could have been several reasons for this – lack of enthusiasm shown by crews on yachts, the euphoria after both DSC and BSC Annual General Meetings held the morning before the race, lack of beer on the start boat or perhaps lack of breeze. However a lovely Winter’s day to be out on the water as evidenced by the smiling faces of skippers and crews as they drifted past the start boat

There is one remaining chance for the wind to turn up!

Race 7  Sunday July 30

Following the race there will be presentations at DSC for the winners of the series in each division.

If you really wish to join in for the LAST race –

The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are on the Balmain Club Website or here –NOR and Sailing Instructions.

Entry System via the Balmain Sailing Club’s website (scroll over the ‘Racing’ tab and click on ‘Race Entry (Keelboats)’.

GFS Yachts who have paid their annual fees can still enter this event at no charge.

All competitors will be racing under the Performance Handicapping System (PHS). However some have opted to race under the ORC Club Measurement based handicapping system.

Entries are now open for the 2017 – 2018 Sailing Season. Go to the Yachts – Racing Information page for details and instructions.

The link to the TopYacht Entry System is also on the Racing Information page or here.

Please make sure that you only enter the series in which you intend to sail.  The Season Program, Equipment Audit Form, GFS Safety Card and Sailing Instructions (full version) are also available on the Racing Information page.

‘We are voyagers set on a course towards destiny’ …………….  Well not quite – a beautiful winter’s day – sunshine and a chill in the air, but no breeze for the WHWS Race 5.

However, the start boat crew provided the destiny by abandoning the race. There was an attempt to lay a shortened finish line at Balmain but it soon became evident that given the incoming tide too many yachts would not make it even that far.

Passion X (Click to enlarge)

Only two races remaining in the 2017 Winter Series and hopefully with these closer to August there may be more wind

Results are on the BSC website or here.

The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are on the Balmain Club Website or here –NOR and Sailing Instructions. Entry System via the Balmain Sailing Club’s website (scroll over the ‘Racing’ tab and click on ‘Race Entry (Keelboats)’.

GFS Yachts who have paid their annual fees can still enter this event at no charge.

All competitors will be racing under the Performance Handicapping System (PHS). However some have opted to race under the ORC Club Measurement based handicapping system.

The 2017 AGM of the Greenwich Flying Squadron Incorporated was held on Tuesday, July 11. The Commodore detailed the club’s achievements over the past season and thanked the outgoing committee for their hard work. He specifically thanked other members, sponsors and organisers for their input in assisting the running of the club.

The members present elected a new committee for the coming 2017 – 2018 season.

Following the sad passing of Hans Kannegieter during the past season, Keith Tierney was appointed as the new club patron.

At last a Sunday Race with a good breeze, although cold. Perhaps we should expect this in winter. Great performance by GFS yachts Foxy in Division 2, Capriole in Division 3 and L’Atitude in Division 4 for their first placings on handicap.

 3127 Capriole

Results are on the BSC website or here.

The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are on the Balmain Club Website or here –NOR and Sailing Instructions. Entry System via the Balmain Sailing Club’s website (scroll over the ‘Racing’ tab and click on ‘Race Entry (Keelboats)’.

GFS Yachts who have paid their annual fees can still enter this event at no charge.

All competitors will be racing under the Performance Handicapping System (PHS). However some have opted to race under the ORC Club Measurement based handicapping system.

The Canon Camera club photos from Saturday Autumn Race 6 can be viewed here mostly or some even here.