12 months ago a fatal accident occurred during a Friday night Twilight race on Sydney Harbour.
GFS offers condolences to the families and friends affected by this tragedy.
An Australian Sailing Inquiry into the accident found crew on the yachts involved had difficulty explaining their exact location when calling Triple Zero. The Inquiry recommended all skippers download the Emergency Plus app https://www.emergencyplus.com.au/ on their phone so they can provide a precise location in the event of a serious incident.
There were other apps recommended in the report, such as What Three Words, however, for national purposes, Australian Sailing recommends Emergency Plus. This is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency services with their Government and industry partners. The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to help a caller to Triple Zero to provide accurate location details. The Emergency Plus app is available on the App Store and Google Play. Download it today and practise using it.
Australian Sailing major incident reports are here.
More information can be found here
To enter the Saturday and Twilight Summer Series on SailSys.
Go to – https://app.sailsys.com.au/club/14/entry?tab=entry
The email address for the GFS Safety Officer has been updated in the Sailing Instructions – safetyofficer@gfs.org.au
There is a QR code on the members fridge to allow for cashless purchases. If possible, please use this method of payment.
Please be aware that the club is officially switching from using VHF72 to VHF73 for all communication between the club and the start and competing boats. This is for both Twilight and Saturday racing.
The GFS Sailing Instructions have been upgraded to reflect the change to VHF73.
To keep data, reduce risk and comply with our Sailing Event notification the club requires any on water incidents to be reported to incidentreport@gfs.org.au.
There are two forms available on the Sailing – Yacht Racing Information page of the GFS website to do this –
- GFS Incident Report – Yellow Form
- Transport for NSW – official Vessel Incident Report Form (see GFS Sailing Instruction 25 (t) for when this form applies)
It seems each Series you enter in SailSys, you will need to attach your Insurance and Equipment Audit from your ‘File Library‘ (where it is stored in SailSys).
Click on the Edit button
Click to enlarge the images
and Save the file
In retrospect it was a good decision to cancel Saturday Summer Race 1 on November 29, the predicted wind gusts reached 30kts +.
Click the image to enlarge it.
A decision regarding racing at GFS tonight will be made at 3.20pm.
If the race is cancelled the BBQ will still be on.
GFS is conducting a Sail Safe Event at the club on Saturday November 29 from 9.00am to 12 noon.
All are welcome.
For more information and to register for the event click here
- E30 Spinnaker Division
- E30 Non-Spinnaker Division
- Wet Sailed Etchells Spinnaker Division
- Wet Sailed Etchells Non-Spinnaker Division
Race 1 of the Women’s Helm Series is tonight – October 29.
21 boats have entered the Women’s Helm this year. This is a record number that shows strong support for the Club’s mission to get more women involved in sailing and Club operations.
Skippers and crew, keep an eye out for Women’s Helm boats this week. You’ll be able to identify them as they proudly fly the new GFS Women burgee alongside their usual flags.
Read the full report Womens Helm Article
Balmain Regatta. ENTER NOW.
Sailing Instructions will be posted to the Regatta page of the BSC’s website on Saturday.
Sunday October 26 Balmain Regatta, come one-and-all.
11am Workboat Convoy
12pm Yacht Racing
12pm BBQ
1pm Band
3.30pm Presentation & Raffle Draw. GET YOU TICKETS HERE.
Please check that you and your crew are members of a club affiliated with Australian Sailing, ideally the Balmain Sailing Club,. You can check HERE. If you or you’re crew are not, please renew or join HERE.
With gusts forecast over 30kts the race tonight has been cancelled.
The BBQ is going ahead and if you can attend please come early.
The 2025 – 2026 Twilight Duty Roster and List of Duties are on the Sailing – Twilight Duty Rosters tab or here.
If you fail your Cat 7 check and the equipment auditor has listed items in “Outstanding Items” on your form please follow the procedure below:
1. Rectify the problem
2. Take photo or proof of the rectification.
3. Send your form and the photo or proof to the auditor who failed you
4. He will sign the form if he is satisfied.
5. He will scan the form and send it back to you
6. You then upload it to SailSys
Roger Gee, Safety Officer
