RMS Crackdown on Dinghies in Steyne Park

The RMS / WC made good on the threats.  Officers with bolt cutters removed illegally stored boats on Wednesday.

Bravo to the Council!

The RMS is cracking down on dinghies illegally squating in Steyne Park. You've been warned! 

Notice

Laser Metros This Weekend

Big weekend ahead

• 2 days of racing.  1.30pm start Saturday, 11am Sunday
• Up to 100 boats
• 3 Fleets. 6 races each fleet
• 2 Post sailing BBQs

Weather looks great:

• Solid, old school, run out tide, N/E on Saturday; Course in usual DBSC area.
• Decent Southerly on Sunday; if so there is a good chance the course might be laid in Rose Bay.

DBSC Volunteer Roster is here

THIS IS A NSW LASER EVENT. YOU MUST REGISTER HERE TO SAIL.   WHILE YOU HAVE TO PAY A FEE, THE GOOD NEWS IS REGO INCLUDES A SPECIAL, LIMITED EDITION, COLLECTABLE, COMMEMORATIVE, MOTHER's DAY RE-GIFTABLE T-SHIRT!!!  (Why not enter twice and get 2?)

Sailing Instructions (with a funky course) here

1 March: Big Boats, Big Blow, Big Drama

Big boat race report, March 1 2015 - the sense of caution, the danger of keenness, the value of size and a day for the Irish..........

It was hot, humid and still as we rigged; the boat’s decks were baking, and northeaster barely reaching into the Bay.

But, before the start, a north-easter seemed to have settled. But it wasn’t; it was fresh and then dead calm, northeast and then north west. And all the while a southerly was on its way, predicted for ~3.30pm, with a sharp front.

Corinna won the start, but Barry’s new Northshore 38 outsped and outpointed all  the smaller boats; for us she was out-of-sight by the first mark. Fast and beautifully sailed.

The first leg was was a work, but we were just ghosting along, trying to avoid the calm patches. T&T overcame a poor stat to reach the mark first of the small boats; then the wind in that patch of the Harbour - off Point Piper - disappeared. Corinna and T&T were becalmed, and in danger of being swept by the tide back onto the mark. We managed to avoid that and to pick up some breeze which took us to Taylor’s Bay, Corinna now ahead, and Umbakumba a country mile back, most disadvantaged by the calm at the Point.

It wasn’t to stay that way. Corinna and T&T worked across the Harbour towards Neilson Park, Corinna sailing much higher, T&T a little faster. T&T was forced, by the eastern shore, to tack north first; Corinna was able to continue further east and fell into the biggest ‘hole’ (calm) of the season. Twenty minutes later, T&T rounded the top mark a country mile ahead, Corinna just moving. Umbakumba had the tail ender’s advantage of seeing others’ problems and sailed over the top of Corinna, leaving her well behind.

We then had a long run to Shark Island; and Umbakumba did much the best, sailing low, finding the best wind, easily passing T&T. Now Corinna had the tai lender’s advantage, and closed on us both. 

But Umbakumba had come through from the back, and she held her lead to round the Shark island mark, well in front of the three small boats.

A really big turnaround; beautiful sailing.

And the drama was still to come. The wind was still light northerly as T&T gybed for home, 150m behind  Umbakumba. The sunny day had become cloudy, and storm clouds were growing in the south and west. The 18-footers were last seen racing under spinnaker, further north; conditions were light. But it was 3.30pm, and the front was due. We headed for Clarke Island and T&T pared the lead away, both of us sailing high - the fastest route, provided the northerly held to the end. But it took us just south of Clarke Island, with a southerly threatening. We were too caught up in the race to notice.

Behind us, maybe 200m, Corinna followed, but sailed low, more southerly, showing her skipper’s cautious bet that the southerly would come in before the race was done.

As we closed on the finish line, T&T hovered close to Umbakumba, hoping to force a last-minute mistake. And it seemed to come. Suddenly, Umbakumba rounded up and stalled; on T&T  we felt the beginnings of the southerly, which had bothered Umbakumba, but we avoided rounding up and dived for the line. We were barely a boat’s length from the green pole at the south end of Clarke Island; surely we could get there and win the small boat ‘race’ after all.

But the first, light southerly puffs were followed by a single fierce gust - well over 40 knots (Seabreeze showed 48 knots). T&T spun away, heeling and out of control, straight into the rocks of the Island. Crunch and bump; not too bad as we were so close we had no time to accelerate. But we were stuck, buffeted against the rocks, slewing and tipping.

Umbakumba crossed the line in survival mode, the first of the small boats; Corinna’s cautious approach left her plenty of room to clear the Island, and she made a game finish.

T&T was swiftly rescued by Graham and his crew. The Northshore 38 had brought them home so much ahead that they had time to bring out a power boat and throw Mat and me a line. Mat fixed it to the bow; Graham applied power and - more scrapes - we were off, uninjured, the boat holding together. After a long, rough tow into Double Bay, we moored safely, just as the heavens opened. 

I had been so keen for the win that I let the southerly front hit us when we were only 20m from a a lee shore (Clarke Island).

Judging by the bumps, there will be some superficial damage to the keel. And the belting during the tow had shifted the base of the mast 6 inches to port. Some fixing to be done.

In the meantime:

• Thank you to Graham and crew for that tow! And well sailed.
• Thank you Doug for the start
• Congratulations to Mike and Gerry, DBSC’s Irish, for Umbakumba’s small boat win. Another 15 seconds and T&T would have ….

Across the line:

1. Northshore 38
2. Umbakumba
3. Corinna

T&T was DNF.

On land, I asked what had happened to the 18s, so vulnerable with their huge rigs.

‘Shortened course’ I was told; home just in time.

Quite a day

Jonathan

People's Prince needs a hand.....

...and he writes.....

I'd like to grab a few hands to tidy up the club on this Saturday (28 Feb) from 11.00am, and from 8am on Saturday 7 March.

This is another wonderful opportunity to break the usual Saturday morning, and non-DBSC, routine 

PP.

And the Club's Patron needs a hand to Clean-up Australia this Sunday

Every year Jonathan Stone rallies the early risers for a Double Bay emu parade to help Keep Australia beautiful.  We've always gathered a bundle of flotsam from the foreshore and park area.

This year the plan is do the work between 9.30am and 12.04pm (the lowest tide).

Please drop by for an hour at least, particularly those who didn't help last year.

As good for the soul as that other Sunday morning ritual.

Calling all members! We Want You!

METROS ARE ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY

We need  you to help make this regatta a success

Our Secretary has created the following link:
https://docs.google.com/a/pymblepastoral.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZxJ88_s-89Dl4PwU7D_lGRJf6i3ubX4hWmYSzaMvGQ0/edit#gid=0

If you, your loved ones or your least-hostile acquaintances can help it will be very much appreciated.  Even if you are an investment banker and only have an intern or associate to volunteer, that would be terrific for us (and for them as it is a good break from producing 100 page pitch books which are never read by CEOs and Chairman).

There are some specialist roles that need to be filled, so look carefully at the list.

If you don't care what you do on the weekend, just reply to this email rather than use the spreadsheet and pick a job.

If your volunteering is contingent on another event (e.g. Malcolm, and Lucy, not knowing whether they will have to be downsizing by moving across the bridge), please reply to this email.

DBSC wants this regatta to be a successful: 100 boats on the water; well fed sailors; happy sailors who can find parking; no protests; Grasshopper 2.0 winning the radials (no pressure); Dear Leader and Marcus leaving third place on the podium for a visitor; and, recruiting 18s sailors who prefer to take 10 minutes to rig rather than 7 hours.

Cheers

Ozzy.

VYC Regatta - We tried in trying conditions

Last Saturday was the VYC Regatta.  in brief:

• 16 dedicated DBSC sailors attended
• The wind didn't. It was 5 knots and swinging like a rusty gate
• The Tide was present and needed to be accounted for
• VYC did a good job of holding 3 good and fair races
• Best DBSC sailor was Andreas who locked up 2nd with a fine display in the European conditions
• Next best was Marlena who scored 3rd in the radials

Party Planning - 22 May

Book the baby sitter for May 22 for the sailing club's night of nights. The DBSC AGM, Presentation and Celebratory Feast.

Details to follow, but plan for a night with a brief moment of formality and plenty of fun. Members, prospects, partners and friends all welcome.

And while I'm at it, please think about volunteering for a position to keep the club functioning. God knows we could do with the help!

18s deliver today.....

Sharing Steyne Park with the 18s on a Saturday during the J.J. Giltinan has in the past been a little stressful, but today it seemed like everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet.  Boats moved around the park and in and out of the water easily and quickly.  Clearly the paramount leaders of both clubs had the troops well drilled.

In addition our super kitchen crew of Andrea, Shirley and Deb, led by Paul, kept the supply of toasties and Gatorades up during the 7 hours it takes to rig an 18s (compared to 10 minutes to rig a Laser).

The mutual admiration of the clubs continued with state of Centre of Engineering Excellence much commented by the 18s and the shortness of the shorts of the 18s supporters coming to the attention of DBSCers.

Crikey.....it is happening in Double Bay.

Over the St Valentine's weekend  the DBSC field hospital under the leadership of Sister Roach dealt with three cases of people who had stepped on stingrays.

The harbour beaches currently have very large numbers of stingrays in shallow water , often partially buried in sand. If stepped on, the barb can easily penetrate a neoprene boot.

All sailors should be aware of the danger, and be  aware of the risk when launching or returning to the beach.  Sailors going out when other people aren't present should take particular care.
If you are affected the pain is apparently severe. 

The wound should be cleaned and the foot should be placed in a bucket of hot water ( as hot as can be borne ) as soon as possible. and kept in the water until the pain eases. The wound then should be treated with an antiseptic( something like betadine) and bandaged. If the barb breaks off and is still in the wound, then you need to get medical attention as soon as possible. If you have a reaction to the toxin then again seek medical attention as soon as possible (Including,if the response is severe, calling an ambulance).

Speaking from his lair in the Emergency Department at Vinnies, our media superstar, da Dr G, commented:

"Stingrays are becoming a bigger problem than roided, over enthusiastic bouncers at the 'Cross."