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
Following high vaccination rates and changes to NSW Health Orders, Yacht Racing at GFS will be commencing as follows:
Twilight Racing: Wed 27/10/2021
Saturday Series: Sat 30/10/2021
The revised shortened racing series programme is on the GFS websight. Ensure you complete your race entries by the required dates and note that you need to enter each desired series individually.
Skippers, the 2021-22 Safety Briefing will be held by Zoom Meeting.
TUESDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2021 at 19.30 hours.
Note that each Skipper intending to race or a boat delegate must attend.
· NSW RMS (Maritime) Officer Pascal Geraghty will be in attendance for information re our regulated obligations as boat owners.
· Requirements for competitors for Covid Safe Sailing and socializing in compliance with NSW Health Orders and your obligations as skipper will be advised.
· Changes to Sailing Instructions and starting procedures will be discussed.
· Procedures for Covid safe Safety Audits will be advised and your input welcome.
Zoom meeting invite details are set out below. These will also be posted on the GFS Website.
David Leslie
GFS Safety Officer, 0432883771
COMPULSORY SKIPPERS SAFETY BRIEFING AND RACING ZOOM MEETING DETAILS
Time: Oct 19, 2021 07:30 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting by clicking this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85873045412
Meeting ID: 858 7304 5412
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 858 7304 5412
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k8xjQdtAX
Please read the following instructions for the meeting:
Think of a Zoom Meeting as a face-to-face meeting and conduct yourself as you would if you were all present in the same room. In addition:
- Join early – up to 5 minutes before the meeting start time.
- Please mute your microphone as a courtesy after entry to the meeting and keep your microphone muted when not talking
- If you haven’t used Zoom before click the link to download Zoom prior to the day of the meeting and familiarise yourself with any features you may need to use on the day – mute/unmute microphone, stop/start video, screenshare etc.
- Have your video on unless you are experiencing connection issues
- Find a quiet space without interruptions / background noise
- Have good lighting on your face so you can be seen clearly – avoid backlight from bright lights/windows
- Adjust your camera to be at around eye level if possible – especially take note of the angle of your laptop screen if using the built-in camera.
- Try to avoid talking over / at the same time as other participants
Given the relaxation of Covid restrictions in NSW competitive sailing is able to begin. The GFS sailing program has been adjusted to allow for the shortened sailing season as in available here – Revised GFS-Sailing-Prog_2021_2022 -Yachts.
In summary Twilight Racing will commence on October 27 and Saturday on October 30.
Please abide by the NSW government restrictions in place at all times and the GFS rules for entering and gathering at the clubhouse.
Be safe for all of us and get vaccinated.
From Emma Humphries
Regional Manager NSW/ACT
Australian Sailing
Hello club officials,
Whilst I do not yet have the exact restrictions that will be applicable to sailing and club activities when we hit 70% and 80% vaccinated;
The breaking news today is –
5 fully vaccinated people can go sailing
Marine Area Command NSW Police Force have issued new advice today
In areas subject to stay-at-home orders – including Greater Sydney and some regional areas five people are allowed on a recreational boat in the following circumstances:
- All people 16+ are fully vaccinated, or more if they are all members of the same household.
- There is room for one person per four square metres, otherwise the two-person rule applies
- You are not outside your LGA, or more than five kilometres from your home
I will email all clubs as soon as I have more information about the rules that will apply at 70% and 80%.
Regards,
Emma
