Twilight racing
Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club

2011/2012 Season

The Tuesday Night pursuit season kicks of on Melbourne Cup Day, November 2nd.

The earliest start time, for the first chase/race is 4.50pm but will vary somewhat as the season progresses.

The handicap system used last year will remain substantially unchanged, although there has been a small tweak in regards to the future times for race winning boats.

Boats finishing 1 to 4 will suffer a penalty and other boats will receive a somewhat better handicap for the following races. The size of the adjustment varies according to the size of the fleet. This system promotes a rapid churning of start times throughout the season and will result in a broad spread of boats sharing podium finishes.

Sailing Instructions

Course

  1. Start at Clubhouse
  2. Inflatable mark no further east than Micks Spit. (Should be visible from the Tiger Pole)
  3. Proceed to Newlands Backwater.
  4. Two inflatable bouys. One towards the Paynesville shore, and another abeam, towards the Newlands Arm shore.
  5. A clearance mark before turning back into McMillan Strait and the finish line.
  6. Finish off the clubhouse.
  7. All laid marks should be left to port and navigation marks to be taken on the corret side.

In the event of light winds, the course may be shortened by laying two inflatable replacement marks somewhere in the vicinity of Sunset Cove.

Start Times

Barbeque Dinner

The famous GLYC post Twilight Race Barbeque will be available again this year. Calvin Collins is again Head Chef and has promised the same variety of delight that we enjoyed last season. Prices this year will remain at $10.

Meal tickets will be available to those who have indicated a meal requirement on the sign-on sheets. Non-sailors should also indicate on the sign-on sheet that they require dinner. Dinner will still be served even if the race is abandoned due to strong winds.

The "Spirit of Chase"

For most of us, the overriding objective of this event is to have fun and perhaps at the same time strive to catch the boat in front, or for the front markers, to hold off the pursuing pack. The handicap system is attempting to bring all boats into the action and permitting many boats to grace the podium during the course of the season. Unfortunately, boats starting excessively later than their allotted time, or boats using spinnakers, impact on the integrity and fairness of the handicap system. By all means, if you are just out there for practise, do join in, but please do not cross the finish line or if that is not possible because of your berthing location, please let the Finishing Official know. (Usually George Siegmann)