For a number of years, Blues Point Yacht Club has added to its racing program by undertaking an annual cruise from Sydney Harbour to Pittwater. This year is no exception and the Commodore of BPYC, Duncan Veal (who is also a member of GFS), has invited GFS member yachts to join the cruise.
Yachts will begin just inside South Head at 1130hrs on Saturday 4 February and sail to Royal Motor Yacht Club, Pittwater. Berths will be arranged there for yachts staying overnight. This gives access to the Club’s facilities, including hot showers. Informal, pre-dinner drinks are usually held amongst crews on various yachts, followed by dinner at the RMYC Bistro, sometimes followed by informal post-dinner drinks on some yachts (someone once said BPYC is a drinking Club with a sailing problem!). In other words, the emphasis is on casual fun with friends brought together through a love of sailing.
It’s expected that yachts will make their own way back to Sydney on 5 February.
There’s no yacht entry charge for GFS boats for this event. Berthing cost at RMYC Pittwater, arranged by BPYC, is $55/night. All other expenses, including all drinks and food while at RMYC, are at own cost.
For more information, call or SMS Duncan on 0417 942 290, or email duncveal@gmail.com. If you’re interested, please respond ASAP so sufficient yacht berths can be arranged. To learn more about BPYC, see www.bpyc.com.au.
If you are interested in racing in the 2017 Combined Clubs (Balmain, Drummoyne and GFS) Summer Series the notice of race is here and the link to enter is here.
The Series runs every second Sunday and commences this Sunday January 15. There is no cost for paid up racing members of the 4 clubs.
Race dates, Sailing Instructions and other information can be found here.
I apologise for the late notice, but if you intend to sail please enter using the link above as soon as possible.
Henry Larkings and Miles Davey have become National Champions in the 29er Class after a count-back beating current World Champion Tom Crockett and World Women’s Champion Annabelle Davies who were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The 2017 29er Championships were held at the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron between January 2 and 8. Henry and Miles sailing DAMO finished the 16 race series on equal points with Crockett and 13 ahead of third place.
Miles first learned to sail 7 years ago as a GFS Sabot junior as did his sister Andrea and older brother James. Miles father Brian is a regular Twilight competitor with his Beneteau First 27.7, Amateau.
Henry was a previous State Sabot Champion representing Lane Cove Sailing Club.
Henry and Miles with their 29er National Champions trophy.
The State and National titles for Endeavour 24, 26 and 27 yachts will be held on Saturday January 21 and Sunday 22 January.
The titles will be hosted by Drummoyne Sailing club on courses which will possibly impact on our courses for Saturday Summer Race 5.
As a welcome to 2017, the strong Saturday winds continued.
The course (60) chosen to avoid contact with the tanker started from the deck and proved successful as only the tail-enders had to avoid the tanker as it departed from Gore Cove.
Welcome to Eisen Laing and crew in Clovelly Pacific and apologies that the results placed them in the incorrect division. These will be adjusted.
In Blue Division 1 the Etchells Eggshells (pictured) and Foxy had a great day on the water fending off Irukandji despite their best efforts with a huge overpowered asymmetrical kite. At the finish the three were separated by less than a minute. Spinnaker runs were a challenge with both Irukandji and Blue Chip spearing off in a variety of directions. Generally the fleet were close on the water all finishing within about 7 minutes. Jester sailed well in the strong wind to be third on handicap behind Eggshells and Foxy.
In Green Division 2 a depleted fleet kept relatively close all afternoon. Clovelly Pacific led for most of the race grabbing the lead soon after the start. Paca and StarElan battled closely on the water and Dreamer wound up to return back behind Clovelly Pacific. StarElan broke away from Paca to finish third. Provisional handicap results to Flair from StarElan and Paca.
Passion sailors Kevin Phillips and David Edmiston finished 1st (Kevin) and 3rd (David) in the Laser National Championships in the Great Grand Master Division.
The nationals were sailed at Adelaide Sailing Club between December 31 and January 4. The Laser Nationals Event Website is here.
Wishing all GFS members and their families a very Happy New Year for 2017.
Sydney Hobart results for some of the GFS or GFS related participants in 4 yachts are here.
Jackpot and Adrian are heading south on Boxing Day in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race!
It is the first time they have participated in the big race and it is an exciting and terrifying prospect.
They are lucky to have onboard some very experienced sailors some of whom sailed on Wild Rose ( the original Wild Oats ) with the late and esteemed Roger Hickman.
Wild Rose raised funds during the RSHYR over the last 5 years and we would like to continue the tradition. The funds raised will go to the The Kids Cancer Project!
The link to the fund-raising page is at the end of this email and you can leave Adrian a message of support if you decide to contribute.
Thank you in advance and you can track his progress by going into the Rolex Sydney Hobart Tracker on the official website.
Warm regards from a nervous wife and supporter. Maree
Go to https://
Ausreo (Caliban II) is also a competitor in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race this year.
GFS member Ian Creak in Calliban II has contested 2 previous races (2013 and 2014).
The crew includes Jim Lelliott as sailing master, Brett Haywood and ‘Balmain local’ David Stenhouse.
We wish them fair winds and good luck in the race.
Previous GFS Commodore Martin Sheppard who races with his brother Derek on their Beneteau 45, in a pre race interview stated that their yacht ‘Black Sheep, hasn’t thrown in the towel yet. There are lots of variables. You have to keep the crew together, the boat together. We’re still a long way out. I still feel like a kid before Christmas.’
Derek Sheppard, Martin Sheppard, Matt Allen (President Sailing Australia) and Paul Clitheroe iterviewed at the CYCA
Follow the race here
I believe Ralph Pickering and his son Angus are also sailing on Ariel a Beneteau First 40.
The planned GFS cruise to Echo Point in Middle Harbour has been moved from the Christmas New Year break until Easter Saturday and Sunday of the New Year.
The restaurant at the marina is closed between Christmas and New Year but will be open at Easter.
More details will be posted nearer to the event.
After the preceding wet Friday Summer Race 3 was sailed in warm sunny conditions albeit with a failing breeze and huge run-out tide. A shortened course saved the pain of having to negotiate Humbug against the torrent on the way to the finish.
Jackpot (pictured) is sailing in the Sydney- Hobart race and was at the club doing their final inventory, preparation, man overboard drill and crew briefing. Ausreo (Calliban II) representing GFS is also contesting the race. We wish them both a safe and speedy race.
In Blue Division 1 Chloe led the way in the shifty conditions winning on the water and handicap by a considerable margin. Forte Forever finished ahead of Blue Chip on the race through the computer to grab the minor places.
In Green Division 2 Flair made a fabulous start led at the Compass mark held on to the leaders at Goat and were then swallowed by the tide. Hasta La Vista took the lead after catching up to the early leaders – Velocity and Speedwell. Paca again sailed an excellent race to be up with the leaders and finish second on the water ahead of Velocity. Handicap results to Hasta from Paca and Speedwell.
I wish all Saturday competitors a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday break and look forward to resuming the Summer Series on January 7, 2017.
Again the wind prediction was off the mark with the expected light winds developing into stronger guts which occasionally reached 20 knots. Wind shifts added to the challenge.
Irukandji powered away from the fleet in Blue Division 1, leaving the rest of the fleet in its wake. The Etchells, Chloe and Foxy were able to gain the upper hand through the computer to overtake Irukandji on handicap.
In Green Division 2 the fleet powered away from Flair with Paca firstly challenging Hasta La Vista and then Gwhizz took up the challenge. Umzimkulu II sailed an excellent race to finish ahead of Paca and Hasta La Vista on handicap.
Again, I need to remind all competitors that the area between the Red Channel Marker (Beacon Buoy) and Spectacle Island is a prohibited area – see Sailing Instruction 25 n for an explanation.
A great day on the water albeit with short courses which were called as a result of the BOMs wind prediction for Sydney with 10kts and falling breeze. Sadly the actual conditions didn’t comply. As it was it took around 2 hours for most boats in Blue and White Divisions to complete the race.
The arrival of the tanker also presented an unknown as to when it would make it through the congested harbour after its scheduled arrival time at the Heads. Fortunately, Red Division remained ahead of it and the remainder of the fleet followed it through the narrows to its berth at Gore Cove.
Thanks to Harvey Porter for manning the start, recording the finish and entering the results with the regular starters competing in the Greenwich Games.
It seemed to be fairly close on the water in all divisions with handicap results in Blue to Hasta La Vista from Blue Chip (pictured) and StarElan. In White the Etchells had the upper hand with Chloe on the water and handicap from Eggshells and Forte Forever. In Red Wind Charmer powered away to be back ahead and with Paca shared the placings on handicap.
Roads and Maritime Services are running flare disposal days at various venues in January 2017.
The program for Sydney area is below.
Details are available on the RMS website or here.
