Sydney Flying Squadron Australia's oldest open boat sailing club, est. 1891
Sydney Flying Squadron

Course cards

Version22 October 2026

The club's courses, one to an A5 page, then the race flags, the start sequences and the radio. Print this page at A5, or two pages to an A4 sheet, or save it as a PDF. The courses on the racing page.

Key to the maps

  • Start and finish
  • Leave the mark to starboard
  • Leave the mark to port
  • Start or finish line
  • Australian Sailing buoy
  • Navy buoy
  • Laid mark, set on the day
  • Landing beach, where a capsized skiff is righted

A guide to the courses, not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, under the Open Database Licence.

No. 1 North-Easterly course

Wind: North-easterly sea breeze · Start: Off Double Bay

Map of the No. 1 North-Easterly course12534SFCIBBCBSShark Island (SI)Clark IslandN½ nautical mileCOURSE7.9 nm
  1. Start at Clark Island Flag (CI)
  2. 1Beashel Buoy (BB), to starboard
  3. 2Shark Island (SI), to starboard
  4. 3Clark Island Flag (CI), to starboard
  5. 4Chowder Bay South Mark (CBS), to starboard shortened course mark
  6. 5Shark Island (SI), to starboard
  7. Finish off Clark Island (CI)
Drawn from the club's course card, photographed 17 October 2026. About 7.9 nautical miles as drawn.

Sydney Flying Squadron course cards · Version 22 October 2026 · Not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

No. 2 Easterly course

Wind: Easterly · Start: Off Kurraba Point

Map of the No. 2 Easterly course132SFKShark Island (SI)Clark IslandN½ nautical mileCOURSE8 nm
  1. Start at Kurraba Point Mark (K)
  2. 1Shark Island (SI), to starboard shortened course mark
  3. 2Kurraba Point Mark (K), to starboard
  4. 3Shark Island (SI), to starboard
  5. Finish at Kurraba Point Mark (K)
Drawn from the club's course card, photographed 17 October 2026. About 8 nautical miles as drawn.

Sydney Flying Squadron course cards · Version 22 October 2026 · Not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

No. 3 South-Easterly course

Wind: South-easterly · Start: Off Robinsons Point

Map of the No. 3 South-Easterly course15234SFKTBShark Island (SI)Clark Island (CI)N½ nautical mileCOURSE7.7 nm
  1. Start at Kurraba Point Mark (K)
  2. 1Clark Island (CI), to port
  3. 2Taylors Bay Mark (TB), to starboard
  4. 3Shark Island (SI), to starboard shortened course mark
  5. 4Kurraba Point Mark (K), to port
  6. 5Clark Island (CI), to port
  7. Finish at Kurraba Point Mark (K)
Drawn from the club's course card, photographed 17 October 2026. About 7.7 nautical miles as drawn.

Sydney Flying Squadron course cards · Version 22 October 2026 · Not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

No. 4 Southerly course

Wind: Southerly · Start: Athol Bay

Map of the No. 4 Southerly course15234SFACBSKShark Island (SI)Clark Island (CI)N½ nautical mileCOURSE7.9 nm
  1. Start at Athol Bay Flag Mark (A)
  2. 1Clark Island (CI), to port
  3. 2Chowder Bay South Mark (CBS), to starboard
  4. 3Shark Island (SI), to starboard shortened course mark
  5. 4Kurraba Point Mark (K), to port
  6. 5Clark Island (CI), to port
  7. Finish at Kurraba Point Mark (K)
Drawn from the club's course card, photographed 17 October 2026. About 7.9 nautical miles as drawn.

Sydney Flying Squadron course cards · Version 22 October 2026 · Not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

No. 5 Westerly course

Wind: Westerly · Start: Athol Bay

Map of the No. 5 Westerly course1234SFAKN2Shark Island (SI)Clark IslandN½ nautical mileCOURSE6.9 nm
  1. Start at Athol Bay Flag Mark (A)
  2. 1Course 5 western flag, to starboard
  3. 2Shark Island (SI), to starboard
  4. 3Kurraba Point Mark (K), to port
  5. 4Naval Buoy No. 2 (N2), to starboard
  6. Finish at Kurraba Point Mark (K)
Drawn from the club's course map of October 2025, which shows the side to leave each mark by the way its line goes round it. About 6.9 nautical miles as drawn.

Sydney Flying Squadron course cards · Version 22 October 2026 · Not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

Balmain Regatta North course

Start: Off the Balmain Sailing Club, by Cockatoo Island

Map of the Balmain Regatta North course1423SFCockatoo IslandGoat IslandSnapper IslandN¼ nautical mileCOURSE5.5 nm
  1. Start line, between the orange flag on the committee boat and the BSC yellow inflatable buoy, off the clubhouse, heading east
  2. 1Balmain Regatta mark west of Goat Island, to port
  3. 2Balmain Regatta mark west of Cockatoo Island, to port
  4. 3Balmain Regatta mark east of Snapper Island, to port
  5. 4Balmain Regatta mark west of Goat Island, to port
  6. Finish line, on the transit of the leading marks on the BSC clubhouse, across to Cockatoo Island, crossed heading west
Drawn from the club's hand sketch of the course, which is undated. About 5.5 nautical miles as drawn.

Sydney Flying Squadron course cards · Version 22 October 2026 · Not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

Balmain Regatta South course

Start: Off the Balmain Sailing Club, by Cockatoo Island

Map of the Balmain Regatta South course1423SFCockatoo IslandGoat IslandSnapper IslandN¼ nautical mileCOURSE4.2 nm
  1. Start line, between the orange flag on the committee boat and the BSC yellow inflatable buoy, off the clubhouse, heading west
  2. 1Balmain Regatta mark east of Snapper Island, to starboard
  3. 2Balmain Regatta mark west of Cockatoo Island, to starboard
  4. 3Balmain Regatta mark west of Goat Island, to starboard
  5. 4Balmain Regatta mark east of Snapper Island, to starboard
  6. Finish line, on the transit of the leading marks on the BSC clubhouse, across to Cockatoo Island, crossed heading east
Drawn from the club's hand sketch of the course, which is undated. About 4.2 nautical miles as drawn.

Sydney Flying Squadron course cards · Version 22 October 2026 · Not for navigation: the race officer lays the laid marks on the day, and the sailing instructions govern.

Landing beaches on the eastern harbour

Where the club races: the beaches on the club's beaching card, and those its race reports name.

Landing beaches on the eastern harbour12345678910BBCBSTBN2KACIShark IslandClark IslandN½ nautical mile
  1. 1Athol Bay, west side of Bradleys Head. Depending on wind and tide. No tow there in the race reports.
  2. 2Taylors Bay, east side of Bradleys Head. Depending on wind and tide. 1 tow in the race reports, 2024.
  3. 3Clifton Gardens. 2 tows in the race reports, 2017 to 2025.
  4. 4Bushell's House (Carthona), west side of Double Bay. Tide dependent (card). Barely available on a high tide, and overhanging fig trees make it awkward on any tide (report, 13 December 2025). 2 tows in the race reports, 2025 to 2026.
  5. 5Felix Bay, Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club. 10 tows in the race reports, 2017 to 2026.
  6. 6Whiting Beach, Athol Bay. Not on the club's card: 1 tow in the race reports, 2016.
  7. 7Shark Beach, Nielsen Park. Not on the club's card: 2 tows in the race reports, 2017 to 2025.
  8. 8Milk Beach, Vaucluse. Not on the club's card: 1 tow in the race reports, 2026.
  9. 9Double Bay. Not on the club's card: 1 tow in the race reports, 2024.
  10. 10The club's ramp, Careening Cove. Not on the club's card: 4 tows in the race reports, 2017 to 2026.
The beaches on the club's beaching card and in its race reports.

Version 22 October 2026 · The beaches on the club's beaching card and in its race reports. Not for navigation: the rescue boat crews choose the beach on the day.

Landing beaches for the Balmain Regatta

The suitable landing areas on the club's map for the regatta.

Landing beaches for the Balmain Regatta1234567Cockatoo IslandGoat IslandSnapper IslandN½ nautical mile
  1. 1Kellys Bush, Woolwich (western dot)
  2. 2Kellys Bush, Woolwich (eastern dot)
  3. 3Greenwich Baths, eastern side beach (by Greenwich Sailing Club)
  4. 4Berry Island Reserve, Wollstonecraft
  5. 5Snails Bay, Birchgrove Oval
  6. 6Berrys Bay, east side (McMahons Point)
  7. 7Birkenhead Point, Drummoyne (by Drummoyne Sailing Club)
The landing areas marked on the club's map for the Balmain Regatta.

Version 22 October 2026 · The landing areas marked on the club's map for the Balmain Regatta. Not for navigation: the rescue boat crews choose the beach on the day.

Race flags

The flags the start boat flies on race day. Where several fly together, they are shown top to bottom as they hang. The class flag is the 18 flag.

Racing stopped or put off

  1. N flagA flagClass flag, 18

    Racing abandoned for the day

    N over A over the class flag

  2. AP flagClass flag, 18

    Race delayed

    AP over the class flag

    Horn 2 horns when raised

  3. AP flag being loweredClass flag, 18

    Race resumed

    AP lowered, the class flag stays up

    Horn 1 horn

    The race sequence resumes in 1 minute.

Changes to the race

  1. L flag

    Change to the sailing instructions

    Code flag L

  2. C flag

    Course changed

    C

  3. S flag

    Shortened course

    S

Recalls at the start

  1. X flag

    Individual recall

    X

  2. First substitute flag

    General recall

    First substitute

Version 22 October 2026 · From the club's Race Signal Flags, November 2021. One difference: the document shows S or Y for a course change. This page follows the Racing Rules of Sailing, where C means the course has changed and S means a shortened course.

Scratch start

In a scratch start the whole fleet starts together. The sequence runs six minutes; the times are for a 2.30pm start.

From three minutes, count the red flags. The number of red flags flying is the number of minutes to the start. When the last one comes down, you are racing.

  1. 6 min14:24

    6 minute warning

    P flag raised · Horn 1 horn

    P flag
  2. 3 min14:27

    3 minute warning

    P flag lowered, three red flags raised · Horn 1 horn

    Red flagRed flagRed flag
  3. 2 min14:28

    2 minute warning

    One red flag lowered

    Red flagRed flag
  4. 1 min14:29

    1 minute warning

    One red flag lowered

    Red flag
  5. Go14:30

    Start

    Last red flag lowered · Horn 1 horn

    No flags

Flags that stop, change or recall a race are on the race flags page. A handicap start uses numbered boards instead, and a start at another club's regatta follows rule 26: each has a page here.

Version 22 October 2026 · From the club's Scratch Start Signal Flags, November 2021.

Handicap start

In a handicap start the boats go one at a time, the slowest first and the scratch boat last at 2.30pm. A numbered board on the start boat counts down the minutes. When the board showing your handicap drops, you start.

Read the board as a clock with the seconds hidden. The number is the minutes left until the scratch boat starts. The seconds are running where you cannot see them, and when they run out the board drops and the next number goes up. Your board goes up a minute before your start, so when your number appears, you have one minute.

The boards, minute by minute

A hooter sounds at 14:08 and the 21 board goes up. Every minute after that, the board that is up drops and the next number down goes up, so a boat on 12 minutes sees the 12 board go up at 14:17 and starts when it drops a minute later. The scratch board, 0, drops at 14:30, and the scratch boat starts.

  1. 14:08 Hooter: the 21 board goes up.
  2. 14:10 20 drops, 19 goes up: boats on 20 minutes start.
  3. 14:18 12 drops, 11 goes up: boats on 12 minutes start.
  4. 14:29 1 drops, 0 goes up: boats on 1 minute start.
  5. 14:30 The scratch board drops: the scratch boat starts.

Version 22 October 2026 · From Rigging Tangles, the club sailing manual, October 2019, which gives the sequence for the old 15 minute limit; the 20 minute sequence follows its pattern and has not yet been confirmed against the start boat.

Rule 26 start

At another club's regatta the start follows rule 26 of the Racing Rules of Sailing, not the club's own signals. The whole division starts together on a five minute sequence: five, four, one, go.

Time from the flags, not the horn. Start your watch when the class flag goes up: five minutes to go. P up, four. P down, one. Class flag down, go.

  1. 5 minto go

    Warning signal

    Class flag raised · Horn 1 horn

    Class flag, 18
  2. 4 minto go

    Preparatory signal

    P flag raised · Horn 1 horn

    Class flag, 18P flag
  3. 1 minto go

    One minute

    Preparatory flag lowered · Horn 1 long horn

    Class flag, 18
  4. Go

    Start

    Class flag lowered · Horn 1 horn

    No flags

If the start goes wrong

  1. X flag

    Individual recall

    X · Horn 1 horn

    A boat was over the line at her start signal. X stays up until every such boat has come back behind the line or an extension of it, for up to four minutes, or until one minute before the next division starts, whichever is first.

  2. First substitute flag

    General recall

    First substitute · Horn 2 horns

    The race committee cannot tell which boats were over, or something went wrong with the start. The new warning signal comes one minute after the First Substitute comes down, with one horn, and the divisions due to start after this one start after the new start.

Version 22 October 2026 · Rule 26 of The Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028, with rules 29 and 30 for a recall; the regatta's sailing instructions govern.

Radio

  • Channel 73: Race committee

    Course announcements, start sequences, retiring, and asking the club for help.

  • Channel 16: Distress and calling

    The international emergency channel, which Marine Rescue and commercial shipping listen to.

  1. Someone's life is in dangerMAYDAY on 16
  2. You need help, no one in immediate dangerPAN-PAN on 16, or on 73 to the race committee
  3. Anything else: retiring, the course, the startCall the race committee on 73

MAYDAY

Grave and imminent danger to life

For a crew member unconscious or badly hurt, the boat sinking.

Radio Switch to channel 16 and high power.

  1. MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY

  2. This is skiff boat name, boat name, boat name

  3. MAYDAY boat name

  4. Position where you are

    A clear landmark, or a GPS position: 200 metres north of Shark Island.

  5. Nature of distress what is wrong

    Crew member unconscious. Hull breached.

  6. Require immediate rescue

  7. Number persons on board

  8. OVER

Version 22 October 2026 · From the club's radio procedure, October 2026. The PAN-PAN call is on the next page.

Radio, continued

PAN-PAN

Urgent, but no immediate threat to life

For dismasted, or drifting into a shipping channel.

Radio Switch to channel 16, or to channel 73 to reach the race committee directly.

  1. PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN

  2. All stations, all stations, all stations

    Or, on channel 73: Race committee, race committee, race committee

  3. This is skiff boat name, boat name, boat name

  4. Position where you are

    A clear landmark: drifting near Sow and Pigs Reef.

  5. Nature of urgency what is wrong, and what you need

    Dismasted and require a tow.

  6. Number persons on board, all safe

  7. OVER

Channel 73 on race day

The race committee announces the course and runs the start sequence on channel 73, and a boat retiring from the race says so on it. If you need the club's help and no one is in danger, ask on 73. At another club's regatta the regatta's race committee has its own arrangements, and the race page carries them.

Version 22 October 2026 · From the club's radio procedure, October 2026, word for word. It says high power, 25 watts, a fixed set's figure; the radio on a skiff is a handheld.