We've got spirit, yes we do!

The annual working bee was held on Saturday 20 August. Thank you to the many members who showed up and re-arranged, scrubbed, sawed, polished, painted, (stripped), rigged, cleaned, restacked, restocked, fixed, hammered, tidied, folded, swept and many other verbs around the club for a solid four hours! It was a sensational effort and the sense of the community in the club was palpable. The club is cleaner, brighter, more organised and ready for the season ahead because of OUR efforts. Well done!

(Editor’s note: This title is the beginning of a cheerleading chant from my high school days in USA. Apologies if it’s a little corny.)

Race report 20 August 2022

From our race management team James Tudball and Christine Patton:

Following all the activity of the working bee and the prediction that the breeze was going to drop there was mixed interest in racing but most doubts were cast aside and we ended up with 27 boats on the starting line throughout the sprint afternoon with standard, radial and 4.7 rigs all represented.      

James Tudball (PRO) assisted by Christine Patton ran 7 sprint races in a breeze that did drop during the afternoon from 12 knots to as low as 5 knots.  The breeze direction shifted to the North as well so those sailors not paying attention taking the right gate got caught a couple of times when the sailors that had chosen the left gate got to aim straight for the mark in a soldiers course.   This produced some mixed winners and losers. The Race Committee COTD Ian Tudball and co-COTD Omer Konakci had a busy afternoon shifting the windward mark to the right chasing the breeze. As usual it was great to be on Sydney Harbour and everyone who did get out were pleased they made the effort.

 Photo credit: Christine Patton

A big thank you to Paul who managed the canteen single-handedly through the bustle of the working bee.

The club’s calendar can be subscribed to here (strongly recommended).

Upcoming regattas

Following are a list of upcoming regattas.

For further information on laser events please check out the NSW ACT Laser Association events page.

David Newman, our laser representative will be helping to coordinate travel for the Coast Championships and the State Open and Masters championships. These weekends away are legendary so stay tuned for further details.

Club championship bbq

Our first club championship heats will be at the season opening on Saturday 3 September. Following racing, we will be hold a bbq for all members and their guests as well as Learn to Race participants.

Season opening dinner

By now you should have members should have received an invitation to the season opening dinner for sailors and volunteers.

Details:

7pm Friday 16th September
Bedouin 2/53 Cross Street Double Bay
$100 per guest (includes welcome drink, banquet dinner, beer/wine with dinner)
Dress: Spectacular/Glam (Studio 54)

60 seconds with new member Dean Kurz

The club is happy to welcome a new member – Dean Kurz. Here’s some information about Dean. Please give him a warm Double Bay welcome when you see him at the club.

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 
I started sailing sabots at the age of 5 off the beach at Mornington VIC

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? 
A nice cruising yacht 

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
Only goal is enjoyment and to be somewhat competitive

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? 
My laser is named after my red cattle dog, hence Red Dog

If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be? 
Bacon

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)? 
Motorcycle riding and cycling

Describe what you do for work in less than five words? 
Ducati AU network development manager

What is the next international destination you will travel to and why? 
Greece, history and to cruise the Mediterranean

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book? 
North Sails sailing tactics!

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
Last Saturday was my first time sailing on Sydney Harbour, what an amazing experience to race on a course with such iconic views.

Upcoming events and more information

Saturday 3 Septmber – Season opening and post club championship bbq

Friday 16 September – 7pm Season Opening Dinner for sailors and volunteers

Saturday 3 December 2022 – The Women’s Regatta. Sign up for more information here.

The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.

Thank you to the members who are sending through information for the newsletter. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to newsletter@dbsc.com.au by midnight Monday.

View results here.

Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Race report 13 August 2022

From our race management team Tim Heath and John Chesterman:

It was a 'why would you be anywhere else' day – mild and mostly sunny Winter's afternoon for Saturday Winter Sprints. 

There was a modest 18 boat turnout, presumably based on an incorrect weather forecast, which included the welcome return of Campbell Patton from roaming the globe, and Maxim Djura from Brisbane.

6 sprint races, with a work of approximately 300m were run in a Westerly breeze oscillating between 8 and 15 knots, with some big right shifts.

Standard rig wins were shared between Campbell Patton x 3 and Robert Vann x 3, usually followed by Geoff Kirk, and with Jason Wilkins in the mix.

Radial fleet winners were James Tudball x 2, Katie McHugh x 2, Martin White, and Scott Hunter.

The race officers were Tim Heath (his first stint as PRO), ably assisted by John Chesterman, John Vasey, and Scott Finlayson. 

Special thanks to Pat Levy and for doing lots of early morning RIB preparation work, and to John Vasey for his milkcrate flag-holder creation which was used in the Paul Adam and eases everything about starting races from a RIB.

Paul and Shirley provided excellent off water nourishment by way of toasties in the canteen.

The club’s calendar can be subscribed to here (strongly recommended).

Upcoming regattas

We are pleased to announce the new club laser representative is David Newman. David loves a regatta and last season had a stellar year performing extremely well in state and national masters championships.

There are two events coming up prior to Christmas.  The Coast Championships will be held at South Lake Macquarie SC on the 15/16 October and the State Open and Masters championships will be held at Wangi ASC on the 19/20 November.  

DBSC will be coordinating transport and the possibility of group accommodation for both events.

These weekends away are legendary so if you are interested in either of these regattas, please contact David.

Boat rack reshuffle and annual working bee

The annual working bee will be conducted on Saturday 20 August from 8am and will include a boat rack reshuffle.

All members are expected to attend and contribute to the working bee.This is an annual event that takes considerable planning to ensure our club is ready to run smoothly for the summer season.

If you are unable to attend on the day, please contact the Commodore, Steven London, to arrange for a job to be undertaken at a time convenient to you.

(Members who do not participate are under the usual threat of having their laser torched in the park!)