Race report 22 October 2022
Guest User
From our LTRAR David Huber:
Saturday was a very busy day at the DBSC clubhouse beginning with coaching for the Women’s Regatta as well as our PRO competency session presented by Hugh Leicester.
Thanks to the learnings in the PRO training perhaps, racing began on time at 1400 with sailors from Vaucluse Yacht Club, Hunters Hill Sailing Club, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club joining Double Bay sailors for the first leg of the Vaucluse/DBSC challenge.
The line was set perfectly square (as per the morning’s lesson from Hugh). The wind and sea-state certainly tested all who sailed, with the average breeze from the north at 22kts gusting to 30kts with a short high chop made sailing difficult.
It was the usual Double Bay triangle with extra chaos at the wing mark gybe. There were lots of capsizes and these increased in frequency as sailors started to tire.
Two races were run with the standards being dominated by Campbell Patton. The first radial race was won by James Tudbull with Sylvie second. The second race for the radials was eventful with a young Hunters Hill competitor suffering an injury with Sylvie abandoning her boat to facilitate a transfer to shore for medical assistance.
The day highlighted our need for maintaining our high levels of safety and proficiency training, which is quite timely, given the upcoming training this weekend. The expectation is all members will be there (at 0945).
We have many thank for the weekend:
The rostered volunteers on the day had the most challenging conditions we have seen in some time: Ian Alexander (PRO), David Huber (LTRAR), Kate McHugh (COTD), Julian Van Aalst (co-COTD), Ben Byford (RIB driver).
On water assistance was received from Hunters Hill and Vaucluse, Chris Stannage and potentially other unidentified parents in support vessels.
The off-water team in the Canteen, Paul, and Shirley, assisted by Luke Parker and Richard George who prepared toasties. Throughout the day Paul and Shirley managed radio calls for on-shore help, attended the weary and wounded, and prepared the post racing BBQ.
Those who helped with the post BBQ clean up - Andrew Cox, Alistair Sutherland, Steven London, Kate McHugh, and Shirley Roach, to name but a few…
The club’s calendar can be subscribed to here (strongly recommended).
