Jazzman sun shade bimini

Photo: Brett Beyer

With a combination of funds from the NSW Government Local Sports Grant Program and Membership Subs, a number of volunteers have been hard at work organising and implementing this long awaited upgrade to provide our Jazzman start boat with a bimini frame and cover.

While we continue to wait for the cover to be made, resident handyperson Craig Sheers donated an old sail and went to work fastening it to provide a temporary solution for racing last Saturday where it was much appreciated on one of the sunniest days we have had this season.

Thank you to all those who helped in organising the funding and getting it made up, including Pat Levy, Craig Sheers and Diana Chen.

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Last chance for early bird prices

This week is the last chance to register for the early bird ticket for The Women’s Regatta.

Entry fee until Sat 4 Nov is $60 (adults) / $40 (students & U18) which includes yoga, breakfast, workshops, racing, and cocktail reception.

Entry fee from 5 Nov - 2 Dec is $90 (adults) / $70 (students & U18).

Please note: entries will not be accepted after 5pm on 2 December.

NOR available for download from thewomensregatta.com.au

The Women’s Regatta – call for volunteers

As a club we are committed to increasing female participation in sailing, and events like The Women's Regatta encourage female sailors from Sydney and beyond to come together and celebrate their ability, resilience, and love of sailing. 

The day's activities will include yoga on the deck, breakfast, workshops (fitness, sailing rules, boat maintenance), racing, prizegiving, and a cocktail party!

In order for this to be a standout event, we need all the help we can get from members who aren’t sailing. Please let us know if you are available on Saturday 3rd December for tasks on and off the water. These include, but not limited to race management, course setting, RIB driving & race support, boat prep & rigging, boat launch & retrieval, parking, and canteen.

Please email us at womensregatta@dbsc.com.au and let us know what times you are available.

Wednesday twilight racing

Is on, with a fresh but not frightening westerly forecast. A nice reminder for the weekend just gone…

Rabbit starts. See you at Clark Island.

Upcoming events and more information

Saturday 12 November – Women’s Regatta Training: Downwind Technique

Sunday 13 November: Battle of the Sound.

19/20 November: Open and Masters State Championships, Wangi Wangi

Saturday 26 November – Women’s Regatta Training: Race Starts

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 22 October 2022

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…

View results all here.

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

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Volly of the week!

Double Bay Sailing Club is managed and run entirely by volunteers. As the saying goes, “many hands make light work. There is always work to be done in the upkeep of our shed and the ongoing running of dinghy racing.

This week we’d like to thank Sylvie Stannage. On Saturday Sylvie exemplified the club’s commitment to on water safety and community. During the second race, Sylvie abandoned her boat to assist the rescue of another young sailor, who was taken ashore in a RIB for medical treatment. Sylvie remained calm under pressure and maintained exemplary radio communications throughout the ordeal. We’d also like to thank all involved in the rescue including Chris Stannage who was also on the RIB, Alistair Sutherland and Craig Sheers who came back out to the race course to sail the abandoned boats home, and the DBSC sailors on shore who facilitated the landing of the RIB for ambulance officers to attend to the injured person on the beach.

Earlier in the day, Sylvie held an upwind coaching session as part of our Women’s Regatta program.

The club is full of people making wonderful contributions around the place, and sometimes behind the scenes. Let us know who deserves a mention!

This weekend - do NOT miss!!!

This weekend we have our annual competency and safety training at the club from 0945 to 1200.

This training is critical for the safe and proficient running of racing at the club. EVERY member is expected to attend, as every member is on the volunteer roster.

Please arrive at 0945 ready to learn and having read the PRO and COTD instructions that are available on our website.

If you are unable to attend this training, you must inform the Commodore (with a very good reason).

Wednesday twilight sailing is ON!

It’s been great weather for ducks lately. Or has it?

This week a duckling took refuge in the clubhouse, such has been the weather (too intense even for ducks)! On Sunday, a duckling was found taking refuge in the clubhouse. After a merry dance around the club, John Vasey was arrange for a local WIRES volunteer to come and rescue it.

The good news is the skies are clearing and it is forecast to be sunny in time for Wednesday twilight sailing. You’d be mad to miss it!

Sunday skiff support

Photo Credit: 18’ Skiffs on Facebook

We are still looking for volunteers to help fulfill our roster for the affiliation agreement with the 18’ skiffs. There are shifts in the canteen and on-water that we need some help with.

Help is required in the canteen from 11:30-14:00 (you could even watch the racing on the ferry afterwards) and also on a support RIB from about 1pm to 5pm (no need to watch from the ferry as you’ll be amidst the action).

If you have a couple of hours free on a Sunday afternoon, please consider helping out. View the dates we need filling (and put your named down) in this Google sheet HERE. 

Thanks for your support!