Laser Nationals for grown ups...

Team Captain for the full-rig reports......

The Laser national championships are always an enjoyable and worthwhile event and the 2015 regatta in Mandurah, W.A. proved no exception.  Numbers were down on east coast nationals but that was only to be expected with attending masters helping the full rigs to 41 entries.  From NSW in the full rigs there was World number 1 Tom Burton and World 250 something – yours truly.
 
The 2015 standards turned out to be the Tom and Matt show with 2013 winner Tom Burton getting the better of his teenage rival and 2014 winner Matt Wearn (from WA).
 
The rest played a supporting role with third hotly contested by AUS team member Ryan Palk (QLD) and AUS squad member Luke Elliott (WA).  Ryan Palk grabbed the last podium position in the last race of the regatta.
 
Top master sailor was grand master Gavin Dagley from Victoria with a very creditable 13th position in what was a challenging event.
 
The sea breeze would roll in between 12 and 1pm with a consistent 15 - 25 knots from the south west.  The direction on the back of the start boat was between 220 and 230 degrees each race. 

Leaving aside the Tom and Matt show, racing was close (albeit in your particular peer grouping) and a test of boat speed, fitness and pure force of will to get to the top mark in a good position.  The inner course had you battling 25 knot winds with rolling swells which looked like breaking while flatter water on the outer course made life a little bit more manageable.  I finished 9th which was satisfying – I had my usual high numbers of swims and found the top 12 boats all faster than me downwind.  More practice required!

The Tom and Matt show turned into 10 races of head to head match racing. Subscribers to the AUS Sailing Team on Facebook would have seen many photos of these two neck and neck.  Matt who only turns 20 this calendar year gave the World number 1 a run for his money.  He took a shining to the strong conditions and the familiarity of having a regatta in his home state.  I heard Tom talking to one of the officials saying that it was probably the most physically exhausted regatta that he had competed in.  It wasn't until the 3rd day that Matt was able to take a win from Tom and after that was able to win both races on the 5th day where his size and strength proved a little bit too much allowing Matt to beat Tom to each top mark.
 
Although Tom Burton did not compete on the last day, (off to Sorrento to compete in the Moth worlds) he regained his title as the Australian National Champion after also recently reclaiming his No1 world ranking.  Matt Wearn won his 4th and final U21 Championship and everyone that competed definitely learned something from watching these two on the water.
 
I would recommend DBSCers take the opportunity to participate at next year’s national regatta which will be held on Lake Macquarie at Belmont.  The Nationals only roll around every six years as each state gets a turn.  Whilst Belmont is flat water compared to Mandurah open water and big waves, we should expect a big contingent of overseas sailors who will do the summer series ‘downunder’ (Sail Sydney/Melbourne) with 2016 of course being an Olympic year.  Accommodation is already scarce and expensive so hop to it.
 
Marcus Whitley 

DBSC members win Sydney to Hobart (S2H) classic

Wild Rose, skippered and navigated by legendary DBSC members, Roger to Hobart ("R2H") and JJen, respectively, missed a few Laser races but did win the 70th edition of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race.

Official report here, together with a follow up official story here, with an additional must see official video here.  Great GoPro action video showing a mid-race broach  here.  But the exclusive DBSC insider story below......

R2H: ".....actually, I prefer the tiller to a wheel, as it reminds me of my Laser."

Waiting at Constitution Dock in Hobart was a huge crowd.

Jim and Kristy were the first to meet the boat.  When asked by reporters why they were there, Kristy  confided:

I want to ask R2H and JJen whether they will spend the northern hemisphere summer with us in the Med teaching us to sail properly.  I'm over spending time whitening my teeth and eliminating the tan lines, and we need to work on increasing boat speed.

Jim was still shaking his head while examining Wild Rose, ranting to himself:

I can't believe what rubbish my new boat is:  I've dropped $40 million on a boat with a rear end the size of Kim Kardashian's, and we got beaten over the line by 10 year old Aussie Maxi and whipped on corrected time by a tiny 29 year old  Australian boat.

They tell me the little bugger broached, whatever that is,  in the midst of a 30 plus knot blow in Bass Straight, whereever that is, at night, and broke its steering cable.  The crew dropped sails, fitted a tiller, whatever that is, fixed the cable, put the sails back up and presto....  They were up and running in 12 minutes, and then went on to win the race.   It just goes to show what positive influence R2H's calm and quiet voice has in a crisis.

Darn it.  I'm going to sell my boat on eBay when I get back.  Kristy: hang out with JJen and get a Red Jacket for next year's Hobart.

Malcolm, and Lucy were there.  Malcolm through his tears said:

I'm so proud of representing the electorate where DBSC is located.  Seeing JJen and R2H around DBSC on Saturdays is just so motivating for the kiddies.  We are thinking of selling the Couta, and getting a Radial Laser each.

Later at the international press conference, R2H reflected on the race:

I've done 38 S2Hs now, and you can never be over prepared.  This year, racing my Laser in 38 knot westerlies, steering by tiller, sailing by the lee, broaching, while getting very wet was perfect practice for this  edition of S2H. 

Channelling, Janet, and other right-wing nutters from segments of the press, JJen let rip at the ABC:

As a long-standing "Friend of the ABC" I normally break the monotony of the S2H by listening to the wireless while facing the wrong direction, and with the map upside down, below deck. However, by Wollongong the blood was boiling, and I was apocalyptic by the time I reached Hobart.  Since when does the ABC continuously, and nauseatingly, use the oxymoron "celebrity yacht"?  Malcolm, you need to provide more adult supervision.....

...let's go surfing now.....

R2H: "I can't wait till I try it out on the first day of the DBSC Autumn Pointscore on 10 January 2015. And  Lord knows some of my fellow clubmen could do with a watch to time the start"

Kristy: ".....what about me?"

And another S2H PB for DBSC

DBSC members contributed two (2) owned and skippered in this year's edition of the S2H.  In addition to Wild Rose,  we had Breakthrough,  owned by members Mat Vadas and our Patron Jonathan Stone.  

24 Hours into the race DBSC had 100% of its boats in the top 3 on corrected time! DBSC was about to be recognised as Australia's leading Blue water yacht club ( in addition to being the best club in the world for Lasers).

By the end, Breakthrough lost a little ground, but still ended up 12th overall from 118 starters.  This is a great result, and follows 27th and 26th in the previous two S2H races.  JS penned the following report after Breakthrough finished:

Dear colleagues, friends

I just had a brief call from Mat.  Breakthrough crossed the finish line early yester evening, with the crew in good shape and spirits, and little damage. 

One of the four lines (ropes) which control the corners (clews) of the spinnaker shredded - these lines have a superstrong core and woven sheath; 'shredding' is when the sheath splits around the core and slides uncontrollably around it.

Given that the boat was surfing under spinnaker for the best part of two days, the damage is minimal.  No broaches (Editor: Wild Rose might want to note this!), no tears in the sail; well handled.

In Division 3, Breakthrough slipped back to 7th; 10 minutes 'covered' the 4 or 5 placings ahead. And 12th overall out of 118 starters.  A big 'personal best' for the boat and crew.

Were there any setbacks? I asked Mat.  'We should have gybed out to sea, off Flinders Island'. Instead Breakthrough had persisted on a starboard tack close the islands (Flinders, Cape Barren, Clarke).  When she finally gybed on to port to go out to sea, competitors following her who had gybed an hour or two earlier crossed well ahead.  There was better wind and current out 10 miles out to sea.  Worth maybe an hour.   With the advantage of hindsight, it seems clear; it is never so clear at the time, from the deck of the boat.

Hobart puts on a festival of food and dining at this time, in venues around Constitution Dock.  It creates a welcoming atmosphere for the S2H sailors, and for sailors from the two Melbourne - Hobart races, who arrive at the same time (why two races from Melbourne? - one goes via the west coast of Tasmania, the other 'threads the needle' through the Bass Strait islands and comes down the eastern coast).

No doubt Breakthrough's crew have found a hot meal somewhere, perhaps a drink or two. Typically a crew member loses several kilograms over the long race; they have ground to make up.

So, all over for this year, with the crash of that photography plane making a tragic footnote.

My thanks to all have written with good wishes for the boat.

Best wishes

Jonathan

Young folk using their time well......

2015 Laser Nationals Results

Led by DBSC Team Captain, Marcus, a strong contingent from our western suburbs club have made the track across the continent to compete in the national championships.  While Marcus is the only full rig sailor in our team, we are well represented in the radials with Finn (currently on the podium), Blake and Marlena.

DBSC Legend, Roger to Hobart (R2H) commented:

After 37 S2H races, I was seriously thinking about ditching this year's race and going to the nationals.  However, once my watch died, I decided I might try to win one on my 38th S2H.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!  Weren't the fireworks great!  But what a pain it was to get home etc

DBSC is here to help you with your new years fitness resolutions (at least for a week).  We have 2 days with decent Noreasters forecast.  Great opportunity to work off: the Xmas ham, the turkey, the pudding, seconds on the ham, that extra little bit of turkey that you didn't want to go to waste, the "oh you're not eating the pudding? I'll help you out", those "it would be rude no to have one more beer" beers, and so on.

Thursday 1 January Twilightish.    Informal Sailing for those with both a leave pass and a manageable hangover. 4pm splash

Saturday 3 January.    Sprints or, if the breeze is up and there is consensus, a long course around islands and lighthouses.  Most of the hard work is at the beginning, then we have lots of good fun reaches.  2pm start.

1. Start at DBSC, off beach with handicaps?
2. Wooden tripod off north Rose Bay entrance.  (then Quick downwind to give the legs a break)
3.  White lighthouse on north side of Shark island 
4. Eastern Chanel light (white Lighthouse off Watsons bay).  Let the fun begin.....
5. Western channel light (white lighthouse on western side of habour, opposite Watsons bay)
6. Wooden Tripod off rose bay entrance
7. YA Taylor's bay mark (yellow pin off Mosman, North of Steele point)
8. Shark island
9. Clake Island.  then one short work to cap it off.  If you are lagging, head home from here
10. KFC bouy (Red and white stripped bouy in channel off Steel Point)
11. DBSC

Festive Season Sailing

If you're not travelling to Perth for the Laser Nationals, nor leaving a burley trail on the way to Hobart, there is no formal racing until 10 January.

But there are options:

27th December.    Informal Sailing for those with a leave pass / medical certificate after 3 days cooped up with your loved ones.  There's no better way to get over Festivus, Christmas and Boxing Day than a sail. If there's a good breeze, we will consider one long race to work off the festive calories.  2pm splash

3 January. 92% of New Years resolutions involve noble but stretch goals such as"I will do more exercise" and/or "I will lose weight". Fools.  But there is hope, Dear Member, for even if you are so silly as to make such public declarations, you are smart enough to sail a laser at DBSC.  Don't blow a grand on an annual Gym membership that won't be used past Australia Day because we both know you will wake up to the fact that you look ridiculous in tight spandex, especially when surrounded by 23 y.o. surgically enhanced nubiles who don't look ridiculous in tight spandex.  Head down to DBSC and "feel the burn" on your nautical universal gym.  This week we'll work your Abs, Glutes, Pecs and Cardio.  ONJ Sweatbands optional.  2pm splash for sprints. 

Minimalist aesthetic....

....is favoured by many Laser sailors: no secondary sails; winches; deck jewellery; or, crew.

Carrying through that minimalist approach to our club house, we have decided to sell whatever we don't use and which is taking floor or storage space.  So if you are interested in the following, please bid on eBay.  All money raised will go to club.

Gas cooker:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Portable-Gas-Cooker-Princess-Model-BS100-/271717053701?

Bait board:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Baitboard-/271717055596?

Straight to the pool room....

.....goes someone other than Finn.

Team Alexander collects the inaugural 4.7 trophy (well done Charlotte), and the Dick Tyrell Trophy (well done Ian).

Commenting on his win, Ian lamented: "it is just like the strong genetic urge I get to wash the dishes, sew curtains, go to the supermarket with Clare and attend school concerts, but I overcame the urge to sail a Radial on the day."

The People's Prince, the other winner on the day, enthused: "it was a great day sailing on day, and certainly the handicapping process made for terrific racing."

Ian receiving the trophy from Life Member Shirley....not sure what Captain Kirk is doing

Ozzy is the MC ....while Charlotte is presented her trophy by Life Member Shirley.

Overheard later in the night....."who is going to tell Finn that he will have take some of his trophies out the pool room to make room for ours?"

Spring Pointscore Series Wrap Up

Results from the Handicapper....

Standard Rig:

31 Competitors, and a few visitors.

Spring Points Score winner is ....  Michael Osborne (after sufficient inducements to the Handicapper, even though not necessary) 

Radial Rig

20 Competitors over the series, plus blow ins.

Martin White: three years in a row the Spring Point Score champion.

The Handicapper second (for the forth time in a row)

Ye ole Pirate John Verco a close third, after a brilliant season and a wayward final day.

4.7: 

Charlotte, a fit reward for both effort and consistency 

The Autumn Pointscore (poorly named according to our marketing guru, who says it should be the summer pointscore) starts again on 10 January.