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.
Currently there is a development application before Hunters Hill Council for extending Woolwich Marina further out into the narrow channel between Woolwich Marina and Cockatoo and an extension to the west.
Please use this link to view the information which relates to responses to objections from local sailing clubs.
230808_Woolwich Marina_Local sailing clubs_feedback[1]
The GFS committee has written to the council expressing our objection to the project.
However, it would be good to add personal (not club related) objections and submit these to council.
There is limited time to do this. Closing date is August 16. The details are below –
Development Applications
Hunters Hill Council
PO Box 21
Hunters Hill
NSW 2110
RE: Woolwich Marina Development – DA 20230094
Before you race in either a Saturday or Twilight series race at GFS you will need to enter your yacht online through the TopYacht Race Entry System (TES).
Once registered you will be able to enter events at GFS and other clubs or regattas.
Each Series must be entered separately –
Twilight Spring and Autumn
Saturday Spring and Autumn
Twilight Summer
Saturday Summer
Down Harbour Series
Please only enter the series in which you intend to sail.
To enter your yacht for 2023 – 2024 – Go to – https://topyacht.com.au/db/kb2/1703
You will also need to upload your Equipment Audit form when completed and Proof of Insurance
A help page for the TopYacht entry process can be found here: How to Enter a Sailing Event using the TopYacht Entry System . If your boat has joint ownership please read this.
Please enter by (or before)-
Saturday August 26 for the Saturday Spring and Autumn Series
Saturday September 2 for the Down Harbour Series
Wednesday September 20 for the Twilight Spring and Autumn Series
Saturday November 18 for the Saturday Summer Series
Wednesday November 22 for the Twilight Summer Series
The GFS Committee has been working on a new membership system which will be introduced for the next membership year starting 1 July 2023. The system is called revSPORT and is the same one used by Australian Sailing for all AS members as well as many other sailing clubs. It is a modern membership system that should support the club’s needs for the foreseeable future. We will continue to use Topyacht for yacht details, race management and Persons on Board details. We will also continue to use the current website and review this in the next phase.
The membership system will:
- Keep a record of all GFS members details including payments.
- Send out reminders for membership renewal.
- Accept payments for membership and other fees.
- Provide an online entry point for new members and changing/updating member details.
Membership Fees
The GFS committee has decided to increase the membership fees for next year, mostly because there has recently been a large increase in the rent charged by the Lane Cove Council for the clubhouse. While this is still well below market rents it does represent a substantial increase. Largely due to Covid restrictions, the club has incurred significant losses for the last two years and the committee needs to ensure it is on a sound financial basis for the future. 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 2023 – 2024 season will be:
- Full member $520
- Crew member $140
- Tender/dinghy storage $250
We would welcome nominations from Full Club members to join the GFS Committee.
As a volunteer organisation the committee is vital to the sound management, planning, ongoing improvement, decision making and organisation of club events. The committee meets once a month on the second Tuesday of the month.
The various committee positions can be found on the GFS website – Contacts or here.
A nomination form can be downloaded here and will need to be submitted to the current club secretary (jtk2900@gmail.com) by July 4, one week prior to the AGM on July 11.
Please be aware that there are signed parking restrictions in Bay Street as well as some lesser known unmarked regulations which are being applied.
For example. recently several ‘offenders’ have been booked for parking with wheels on the on the pavement at the top of Bay Street adjacent to houses number 6, 8 and 10.
The GFS committee has voiced concern with Lane Cove Council regarding the increased restrictions and the resulting lack of access particularly to those with disability permits.
The GFS Prize Presentation is at the GFS Clubhouse on Saturday May 27.
This GFS gala promises to be an event with as much pomp and ceremony as the recent crowning of King Chuck 3 in the ‘old Dart’.
Unfortunately, Bay Street access and restricted parking will prevent much of the pomp but within the castle walls of the clubhouse there will be ceremony to crown not only trophy winners but plate recipients as well.
Finger food and drinks will flow from the rotunda and the occasion will provide an excellent chance to debrief on the season past, irrespective of winning an award or not.
