Race Report 29 November 2025
Saturday's Ringtail weekend racing was abandoned when a strong wind warning forecast a 25 to 35 knot westerly, with the H18s and the visiting 12 footers' NSW Championship heat both called off for safety.
THE RINGTALE WEEKEND 29 AND 30 NOVEMBER 2025 RACE REPORT A WEE BIT WINDY … It was a race to the bar for the H18s on Saturday. What started as another pleasant Saturday morning, getting the skiffs out of the shed and beginning the rigging process, with coffees in hand, soon became stalled as word got around that the Sailing Committee was meeting to consider the strong wind warning that foretold of a hard westerly about to hit the Harbour around race time. Now, anything with west in it is usually something to be wary of. All the more so if it was expected to go south later in the day, and after having spent the previous day causing havoc in the south west of the State. Two things were on the mind of the Sailing Committee. First, we are still in the process of training new recruits on a number of the skiffs and if the predicted 25-35 knots of wind and westerly gusts arrived, there was a strong likelihood of a capsize or two. And second, we were also, on the day, hosting the first heat of the NSW State Championships for the 12 footers who had arrived in numbers in the Park and were rigging up. It was clear that even with three RIBs and other available craft, the rescue crews would be very stretched if conditions soured as predicted. Sensibly, at around 11.30, the H18s race for the day was declared abandoned with the flagstaff at the Club appropriately signalling the decision. The 12s followed suit a little later after much discussion among their crews. As it turned out, the heavy conditions did arrive to fully justify the decision to abandon. But all was not lost as some of the H18 crews took the opportunity to catch up on much needed boat maintenance jobs, before some of the crews returned initially to the shed where we proved again that a beer, while sitting on an overturned paint bucket, can taste equally as refreshing as one around the bar.
Photo thanks to Phil Franklin
SATURDAY RACING This Saturday the H18s will be sailing Heat 2 of the Summer Series. The weather outlook is for relatively normal weather and a hot day (followed by cold beer at the usual special prices for sailors). Not to be missed!
GET YOUR BODY TO THE SQUADDIE!
SUNDAY NSW 12 FOOTERS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP With similar conditions to Saturday predicted for Sunday, it was no surprise that there was some carnage on the Harbour when the modern 18s and the 12s were both hit with another hard westerly. Less than halfway through their race, the moderns pulled the pin when the A18 Race Committee decided that the westerly change justified heading home, rather than setting a new course. A number of over-canvassed modern 18 foot skiffs lying in the water was reason enough for them. The 12s did start, however, with mixed results. The experienced crews survived the tough conditions and finished the heat, while other crews struggled to stay afloat. The VHF radio crackled about overturned skiffs, boats on the rocks on lee shores and exhausted crews. Our courageous volunteers on the start boat, “Buster”, and on the rescue boats did a great job in very difficult conditions and managed to bring everyone safely home. One skiff had to be left on the beach at Neilsen Park after a tangle with the shark net. Our thanks, and those of the 12 Foot Skiff Association go out to the crews on the rescue boats for their excellent efforts. The photos (thanks to Club Director and Vice Commodore, Phil Franklin) tell the story.
These photos with thanks to SFS member Kirstie Chase
THE SQUADDIE IS BUSY As we swing into the festive season, the Squaddie is certainly busy this year and demonstrating its popularity as one of the best harbourside venues in Sydney. From 7.00 a.m. in the morning when the breakfast crowd fill the deck, through lunch and until later in the evening when the bar and restaurant are humming, the Club is as busy as we have seen it for some years. If you haven’t been down between races, it really is worth a visit. The tapas offering on the deck has been extremely well received by the locals and Rolf and the caterers are winding up full bar service (including draft beer) on the deck throughout the day. You can take it from your scribe that the tapas dishes are truly authentic and good value as well.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE We recently announced the arrival of our 1000th paid up club member. Did you know that since November 2024, our membership has increased from 487 members to 1,168 members as at 30 November this year? Sailing Members have almost doubled and Social Members have almost tripled. The plans that the Board has for expansion and improvement in member amenities are looking to be well-justified by the renewed interest in our Club. And it hardly needs emphasising that this also augers well for our sailing fraternity who are already seeing the increase in expenditure on our sailing offering as well.
SOMETHING FOR YOU OR A FRIEND? Grant Taylor, a past Director and Sailing Secretary of the SFS, loved books particularly those relating to sailing. Items from Grant’s collection of books, magazines and apparel will be on sale at give-away prices at the SFS on two coming Saturdays, the 13th and 20th of December from 12 noon. Examples being: two polo shirts from the Re-enactment of the 1938 First World 18ft Championship event held on Sydney Harbour in January 2002!!, and from the book collection:Sydney Waterfronts by Tim Mooney and A Cloud of Sail (Maritime Paintings by J.Steven Dews) written by Louise A. Felstead, both in excellent condition. EFPOS facilities will be available but cash is also welcome.
NOW OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK ❄️🎄🎁 HOLIDAY HOURS🎄🎁❄️ FOYS RESTAURANT
FLYING BEAR CAFÉ
NORMAL HOURS: SUNDAY TO THURSDAY 12PM TO 9PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 12PM TO 10PM
NORMAL HOURS: CAFÉ 7 DAYS A WEEK 7AM TO 2:30PM
HOLIDAY HOURS:
TAPAS SUNSETS (SUMMER ONLY): THURSDAY TO SUNDAY: 4PM TO 8PM
CHRISTMAS EVE: WED 24 DECEMBER 2025, NORMAL TRADING
HOLIDAY HOURS:
CHRISTMAS DAY: THU 25 DECEMBER 2025, CLOSED
CHRISTMAS EVE: WED 24 DECEMBER 2025, CLOSED
BOXING DAY: FRI 26 DECEMBER 2025, REDUCED HOURS 12PM TO 4PM
CHRISTMAS DAY: THU 25 DECEMBER 2025, CLOSED
NEW YEARS EVE: WED 31 DECEMBER 2025, REDUCED HOURS 12PM TO 7:30PM NEW YEARS DAY: THU 1 JANUARY 2026, NORMAL TRADING
BOXING DAY: FRI 26 DECEMBER 2025, NORMAL TRADING NEW YEARS EVE: WED 31 DECEMBER 2025, NORMAL TRADING NEW YEARS DAY: THU 1 JANUARY 2026, NORMAL TRADING
VOLUNTEER UPDATE Call for Sailing Management Team Volunteers The Squaddie is looking to get more involvement from volunteers to be part of the Sailing Race Management and support team. We are looking for people interested in volunteering for:
Rescue boat crew
Race Officers, and
Onshore race day helpers
No sailing experience is required, and the time commitment can vary based on your availability and how much you want to get involved. Please don’t hesitate to put your hand up and let us know how you want to get involved. Email us at operations@sydneyflyingsquadron.com.au if you are interested. We are having a volunteer meeting / briefing on Sat 13 Dec at 11:30am at the boat shed.
SYDNEY FLYING SQUADRON LTD Australia’s oldest open boat sailing club 76 McDougall St, Kirribilli NSW 2061