Saturday Series race 4 has been abandoned
In retrospect perhaps a good decision.
The 2021/22 Women’s Helm Series is soon to commence.
Our first twilight race in being held on Wednesday 22 December 2021 (Summer Race #1).
Our second race is on 5 January 2022 (Summer Race #2).
Our third and final race is on 19 January (Summer Race #4).
Notes: A yacht competing in the Women’s Helm Series must have a minimum of 2 persons on board (skipper and 1 crew member).
The yacht must be helmed by a female. The Women’s Helm Series and Twilight Series are held simultaneously and point scores are separately awarded.
Keep tuned for registration details.
Please contact me directly if you have any questions or would like some assistance or training.
We have received significant interest in this race sub-series and we’re looking forward to some great racing!
Due to the strong westerly wind gusting to 30 kts Down Harbour Race 1 has been abandoned.
Click to enlarge the graph
The DEADLINE for bookings is 5pm, Sunday 14 November.
The Club’s COVID-19 Safety Plan can be viewed here: https://gfs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GFS-COVID-19-Safety-Plan-17-October-2021.docx
Dinner and drinks are going ahead tonight, so please join us (even if you’re choosing not to sail in these rainy conditions). Tables will be setup inside the club to keep you all dry and happy!
See you soon and put on your wet weather gear for tonight’s race ⛵
The book, A Changing Tide documents the history of Berrys Bay. GFS Member and owner of the yacht World’s Apart, Chris Stannard, commisioned Randi Svensen to write the book.
Berrys Bay once boasted the busiest working waterfront on the entire Harbour. Many of our most famous wooden boat boatbuilders had their bustling waterfront sheds there where they created vessels of unsurpassed beauty. Vessels like Ena, Lady Hopetoun, Boomerang and Mistral II were all built in Berrys Bay. Each of them, still afloat and in excellent working order today, are vivid testimony to the quality of master craftsmen like Walter “Watty” Ford, Charlie Dunn, William Langford. Bjarne Halvorsen, one of the five famous Halvorsen brothers, also worked there building sturdy 60ft workboats for the Pacific Islands.
But inevitably, gentrification has long since swept all that away.
The book can be purchased directly from our website www.stannardmarine.com.au – RRP $39.95 which includes postage.
The DEADLINE for bookings is 5pm, Sunday 7 November.
The Club’s COVID-19 Safety Plan can be viewed here:
https://gfs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GFS-COVID-19-Safety-Plan-17-October-2021.docx
Each time you race you must enter a crew list. No crew list will result in your yacht being classed as DNS.
POB lists are required to be submitted before each race. If you are not able to submit your POB list before the race, due to special circumstances, you may submit your POB list up to 24 hours after the race finishes.
Results published will be provisional up until this time.
Initial set up is via the TopYacht entry link – https://www.topyacht.com.au/db/kb/1416
Once you have added a crew list you can update your crew from the following link – http://tymob.net.au/mycrew.php?evid=1416&sn=????
Person on Board instructions are on the Sailing – Racing Information page. This includes instructions to allow you to set up a mobile device to update crew. It is then very simple to just tick those on board from a list.
An updated Covid Safety Plan is here – GFS-COVID-19-Safety-Plan-17 October 2021
Outside starts
The committee has been considering this issue every year for a few years. This year the committee has decided to trial outside starts for a limited number of races when conditions warrant.
“Launch Starts”, with a start line set in the waters outside Humbug.
Why
Increasing numbers of yachts
Increasing size of yachts
Length of start line off GFS Clubhouse is sometimes in breach of safety guidelines considering the combined length of participating yachts
Increasing No. of collisions and near misses.
When
Light South or South Easterly breezes, which have led to a congestion of yachts in front of the start line and down Humbug.
Changes to rules
Sailing secretary has highlighted the changes in red in the current version of the Sailing Instructions on the GFS website.
- Start Line.
- The Start Line may be set from either the Clubhouse or the Club launch. Code flag ‘Q’ will be flown at the Clubhouse to signify that the start will be from the Club launch.
- Courses and Course Signals.
Course Signals. Twilight Courses – Clubhouse start or if conditions warrant Launch Start (Code Flag ‘Q’ flown on the clubhouse flag mast)
- Starting Procedure.
- Twilight Point Score – Scratch Start. PT (Clubhouse 1735 hrs, Launch 1745 hrs)
Launch Starts will use Radio calls – no flag falls
Horn will still be sounded
FROM THE SAFETY OFFICER
For our twilight racers who may not be used to open water line starts please see the following useful links to the starting rules for any start line.
- What Is The Barging Rule? — UK Sailmakers
- https://www.uksailmakers.com/understanding-luffing-before-the-start
Of note: no mark room applies at a start line;
No proper course applies before the start;
Windward boat must give way to a leeward boat – if they force you over that’s too bad! BUT
Leeward boat must give room and opportunity for others to keep clear; AND
You can only luff up to head to wind. If you go further or tack, even accidentally, you are tacking in water and loose your rights. You are now windward boat– and you’re out and too bad.!
Given certain conditions Twilight starts may be from the club launch. The launch will be positioned adjacent to Cockatoo Island away from the main channel.
Participants will be notified prior by SMS and the start for each division will be delayed by 10 minutes with the start sequence commencing at 1745 hrs. There will be no flag signals.
Sailing Instruction SI 10 has been revised –
When starting from the club launch in TWILIGHT RACES only, there will be no flag signals.
Starts for each division will rely on sound signals and radio calls from the starters.
Each time you race you must enter a crew list. No crew list will result in your yacht being classed as DNF.
You can enter the crew list up to 24 hours after the race. Results published will be provisional up until this time.
Crew lists are deleted each Monday at midnight by TopYacht.
Initial set up is via the TopYacht entry link – https://www.topyacht.com.au/db/kb/1416
Detailed instructions are here – Persons on Board Instructions
There are instructions included to allow you to set up a mobile device to update crew. It is then very simple to just tick those on board from a list.
Once you have added a crew list you can update your crew from the following link – https://tymob.net.au/1416
Good afternoon,
We wish to invite owners of classic and modern yachts and vintage skiffs to participate in the 2021 Balmain Regatta on Sunday the 31st of October 2021.
Please see the Notice of Race and the Entry Form.
This years’ regatta will include the on-water spectacle followed by music, BBQ and beverages on the deck at the club and in the clubhouse.
All attendees on the premises will need to comply with current Public Health Orders.
We are looking forward to another unique Balmain Regatta.
David Stenhouse
Balmain Sailing Club
