15 January 2024
Dear Commodore,
A reminder to encourage your skippers to sign up and participate in the 188th Australia Day Regatta – the
oldest continuously run annual sailing event in the world – to be conducted on our national day, Friday,
January 26, 2024.
The regatta boasts a remarkable unbroken record that began in 1837, which has survived economic
depressions, devastating epidemics, two World Wars and then, as now, the odd bout of political meddling.
Above the challenges and the politics, we believe the desire among sailing folk to mark the day – based as it
around a celebration of community, inclusiveness – and being at one with nature out on the water – remains
undiminished. It is a day for all Australians.
Participating in one of the regatta sailing activities conducted across the length and breadth of the harbour and
up and down our east coast , we believe it is a typically informal Australian way to acknowledge all that is to be
truly “Australian”.
Join us, as Sydney Harbour, in all its glory, will burst with colour, spectator fleets and action including the
Harbour Parade, Ferrython, the Tall Ships Race, Parade of Sail Australia and Defence Force flyover prior to
the start of the main regatta at 1:30 pm in the presence of our regatta flagship, HMAS Choules.
We respectfully request you, as commodores, to promote the event to your members and encourage skippers
and crew to join us out on the water and enjoy activities back at your club after the event.
We would also ask that boats participating in either the Botany Bay Race or the main harbour regatta fly our
sponsor – Naiad’s pennant – from the backstay during the race as both a means of acknowledging its
generous support and aiding NSW Martime and the Water Police to readily identify boats participating in the
regatta and allow passage into potential exclusion zones.
More information and links to the Entry Form and Notice of Race are available on our web site
www.australiadayregatta.com.au
Bruce Dover Noel Cornish
Chairman President
Results are on the Sailing – Yacht Division Results page.
Check the Twilight Duty Roster for the remainder of the 2023 – 2024 season here – Duty Crew Roster 2023-2024.
The link is also on the Sailing – Racing Information page.
From Bernadette the caterer –
Hello Folks,
Please note that if you intend to sail in the Summer Twilight or Summer Saturday Series you must enter the appropriate series on TopYacht.
The Summer series is separate to the Spring and Autumn Series.
To enter your yacht for the 2023 – 2024 Summer Series – Go to – https://topyacht.com.au/db/kb2/1703
Around 35 children from difficult backgrounds (and their accompanying youth workers) will have the opportunity to sail on a yacht and receive a free meal, soft drink, ice cream and a ‘Goodie’ bag to take away with them.
If you are able to make a donation to support this event please use this link – https://www.revolutionise.com.au/gfs/donate/
Entries via Balmain Sailing Club –ENTER NOW Warning signal for racing yachts is 1055hrs.
As always, this years’ Balmain Regatta is shaping up to be a fantastic day.
There will be at least 30 entrants in the Classic & Modern Workboat Convoy.
A fleet of 8 Couta Boats.
The James Craig!
Modern Yachts.
At least one Historical 18’ Sailing Skiff. Ian Smith’s replica of the original Britannia.
Classic Yachts, include the legendary Kathleen Gillet [the gaff-rigged ketch that was built for Sydney marine artist, Jack Earl to sail around the world. Earl was a founder of the Sydney-Hobart yacht race, who sailed Kathleen Gillett in the first race in 1945. 2 years later, the ketch (named after Earl’s wife) circumnavigated the globe, only the second Australian yacht to do so].
The unique Pub Challenge will be contested between Balmain Pubs racing on yachts in the down-harbour race.
Here are the links to the Notice of Race, Yacht & Vintage Skiffs entry.
After the race will be the famous party on the deck at the club, including live music, food & beverages.
The Laser sailing program is on the Sailing – Laser and Sunday Sailing page of this website or here.
1900hrs GFS Clubhouse.
A rules night has been organised as a special occasion to support sailors at the start of the 2023 -2024 racing season.
Olympic judge Mark Pryke will explain the rules of racing in the context of courses set by the Greenwich Flying Squadron with emphasis on common protest scenarios.
Mark will answer questions to help refine knowledge of safe sailing practices.
This important presentation night is organised to support safe sailing practice and raise awareness of risks posed during races.
Peter Hamilton
GFS Safety Officer
There are no changes from the Twilight courses and course numbers used in the 2022 – 2023 season.
Courses are on the Sailing Racing Information page or here – GFS Twilight Courses- 2023_2024
As we are without a qualified boat driver for the start boat some extra additional courses have been added for Saturday Series Races.
The additional courses are on the Sailing – Racing Information page or can be downloaded here – Extra Additional Saturday Series Courses
Please refer to the email sent by the GFS Safety Officer – Peter Hamilton
SAFETY AUDITS will need to be completed and lodged and uploaded to TopYacht with your insurance CoCs. GFS Audit days are scheduled as:
-
- Saturday 16/9/23 Twilight Fleet Day 1;
- Sunday 24/9/23 Twilights Day 2
Please complete the Form (available on the Sailing – Racing Information page) and prepare the boat on the day as described in the email.
- MOB and Life rings etc. deployed in working position;
- Lifejackets laid out on deck for inspection;
- Inflatable life jacket survey reports to be available for audit.
- Anchor visible with chain laid out on foredeck;
- Fire extinguisher, Fire blankets, sound signals, flares, buckets, knives etc. topside or in cockpit to be viewed and ticked off;
- First aid kits available for inspection with a quick reference list of current dates for all perishable items
Have the Radio ON on VHF Channel 72 – to be called in for your audit alongside the club pontoon (and allow a radio check).
As the 2023 -2024 Sailing season has commenced please only use the club pontoon before and after races to pick up or drop off crew. Do not tie up there for maintenance or any other reason. It should also be clear at the start and when the finish is being recorded by the starters.
If you change sail numbers from the ones you have listed on your TopYacht entry, please inform the starters prior to the race. It saves a lot of confusion afterwards.
To be regarded as a starter in a race you have to have entered the Series on TopYacht prior to the race.
Let’s get the season started!
CLUBHOUSE WORKING BEE – SATURDAY AUGUST 26
The Club will be holding its annual working bee next Saturday (this has not been held for 3 years because of Covid).
TIME – 9:30 to 1:00 pm
Attached is a list of jobs which we would like to undertake to prepare the Clubhouse for the 2023-24 sailing season.
The jobs are pretty self explanatory and all cleaning materials will be provided by the club.
The largest job will be cleaning and repainting the dinghy racks. We did this 3 years ago but it requires redoing. We will do 4 racks. With 2 people per rack we require 8 people to bring powered or manual wire brushes to remove surface rust. Paint, turps, rags and brushes will be supplied. Power leads will be provided. Please contact Robert Hale (0425286115) if you can volunteer for this task. It requires about 1.5 hrs of work.
Pease come down to lend a hand and support your Club so we can be well prepared for the start of the new season.
Regards, Robert Hale
Clubhouse Manager.
