Away Events

Two big upcoming regattas:

18-19 November: 2023 NSW & ACT State Youth, Open & Masters - Canberra

Photo courtesy of Matt Owen

Canberra is hosting the combined Youth, Open and Masters State Championships from Saturday 18th Nov to Sunday 19th Nov. You can enter online here. If you would like any help arranging boat transport or accommodation, please contact dave.newman@dbsc.com.au. We are especially in need of assistance from people who may be able to assist with a vehicle to tow some boats down. Again, please contact Dave.

02-10 February: 2024 World Masters - Adelaide

Photo courtesy of South Australian Tourism Commission

Although with still a few months to go until the Masters Worlds in Adelaide, we don't have a lot of time to organise logistics, which is more challenging. If you have any interest in competing, please reach out to dave.newman@dbsc.com.au. We are looking at different boat transport methods depending on the number of members attending, as well as pre-booking some accommodation options. This should be a great regatta. More information is available here including online entry.

WHAT'S GOING ON

Wednesday 01-Nov: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 02-Nov: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 04-Nov:

• Learn-to-Race (9AM start)

• Club Championships 7 & 8 (2PM warning flag)

• Brett Beyer Saturday Program

• BBQ following racing

Tuesday 07-Nov: Reach Youth Training (4:30PM ready)

Wednesday 08-Nov: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 09-Nov: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 11-Nov:

• Spring Point Score 7 & 8 (2PM warning flag)

• Brett Beyer Saturday Program

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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 Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

RACE REPORT 21 October 2023

VAUCLUSE OPEN REGATTA

Photo by Ashley Deacon

PRO Daryl Lawrence reports:

A filling Nor'easter, the first "big day" of the season, greeted 60+ Lasers (not all signed in) including a dozen or so from Vaucluse Yacht Club and a contingent of ten elite women sailors to lead the fleets around the course. The Etchell’s start line featured in the centre of the triangle, and some twelve-foot skiffs joined the fun on one of their legs. It was a day to pay attention to traffic.

Race 1 saw David Newman then Otto Henry and Quentin Burns take the Standard Rig honours. In Radials it was Sylvie Stannage, Healy Ryan and Sara Bruce. In 4.7s, Jasper Kinsman won, followed by Jacqui Winship and Zoe Allan.

Race 2 Standards was won by Otto Henry, then Zander Bijkirk and Luke Parker. In Radials, Sylvie again, Robert Persson (VYC) and Martin White.In 4.7's it was Miles Greenwood (who had broken a mast prior to R1), followed by Jasper. There were other 4.7s sailing but had not signed on. But congratulations in conquering the 20kt plus winds.

Big effort by VYC to bash their way back down the harbour.

Thanks to all the support boat people, and thanks for returning all the anchors.

Photos by Elisabeth Tattersall

Results:

Laser Standard (ILCA 7) - 18 entrants:

1st: Otto Henry

2nd: David Newman

3rd: Zander Bijkerk

Laser Radial (ILCA 6) - 24 entrants:

1st: Sylvie Stannage

2nd: Sara Bruce

3rd: Robert Persson

Laser 4.7 (ILCA 4) - 4 entrants:

1st: Jasper Kinsman

2nd: Miles Greenwood

3rd: Jacqui Winship

Competency Training Day - 28 October 2023

Our annual competency training day is coming this Saturday 28 October, commencing 0930. Attendance is expected for all members on the volunteer roster, and strongly encouraged for anyone who may be providing ancillary on-water support (e.g., coaches or parents from outside DBSC who are involved in club race days).

This is an annual activity which we regard as a core part of safe and efficient club management and culture. All members are expected and, given the significant growth we've experienced as a club, as well as the residual rustiness some of us still have from the COVID disruptions, it is important that we refresh and develop our skills and knowledge for the new season.

The 3 sessions are:

1. How to run a race. Andrew Cox, our ex-commodore, will share his experience in planning and managing race days, running briefing and managing sign-on, setting a course, running safe and efficient races in a range of conditions, and knowing when to cancel racing. Pre-reading: https://www.dbsc.com.au/pro-cotd, with further links on https://www.dbsc.com.au/pro and https://www.dbsc.com.au/cotd . Also review the DBSC Sailing Instructions https://www.dbsc.com.au/sailing-instructions 

2. How to use the RIBs and other equipment safely. Pat Levy will run through the many tips and tricks to maintain our equipment and avoid accident and injury- radio operation, RIB operation, davit operation, how not to lose anchors on the harbour floor. Viewing the training videos first is vital- there's way too much to remember otherwise, and the session can then focus on the little things that change between video updates: https://www.dbsc.com.au/training-videos 

3. Incident management and on-water first aid. David Murphy will run a session which covers planning for safety, personal protection, on-water rescue and ambulance liaison, and some basic first aid including use of the club defibrillator. As many of us have seen on big days, racing can change from enjoyment to significant risk quite quickly, and we all have a responsibility to look out for each other. Pre-reading: https://www.dbsc.com.au/safety and https://www.dbsc.com.au/emergency-rescue

See you all on Saturday, be there for a prompt start at 930, we will aim to wrap up around 11 so there will be plenty of time for a chat/ coffee/ toastie/ expert course-setting and even some boat-work before the afternoon's racing :).

- David Murphy - Safety and Training

WHAT'S GOING ON

Wednesday 25-Oct: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 26-Oct: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 28-Oct:

• DBSC Competency Training (9:30AM) ALL MEMBERS

• Spring Point Score 5 & 6 (2PM warning flag)

• Brett Beyer Saturday Program

Tuesday 31-Oct: Reach Youth Training (4:30PM ready)

Wednesday 01-Nov: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 02-Nov: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 04-Nov:

• Learn-to-Race (9AM start)

• Club Championships 7 & 8 (2PM warning flag)

• Brett Beyer Saturday Program

• BBQ following racing

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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 Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

RACE REPORT 14 October 2023

Photo by Quinn Pierson

SPRINT RACING

PRO David Airey reports:

Saturday was another glorious day to be out on Sydney harbour although the conditions were at times challenging for the approximately 25 sailors and race management team. Before the briefing, the buoys were set out for a nice 10 knot Westerly. However, by the time racing got under way at 2pm the wind was dying, and the first sprint race took longer than planned. The marks were moved to shorten the course and Race 2 proceeded smoothly, albeit with big variations in wind speed and direction across the course.

Then, while the crew on the Jazzman were focused on flags and timing for Race 3, it was pointed out the wind was now from the NE. A long delay ensued while the RIB crew picked up the buoys and travelled from Clark Island to Shark Island via Bradleys Head. The sailors that stayed out then enjoyed two more races in the new 8 to 10 knot NE.

A big thank you to the crew of Kirk Marcolina and Tory Epworth on the Bergman who were kept busy picking up and re-laying marks, and to Quinn Pierson for his assistance on the Jazzman. The sailing conditions were challenging but mastered most effectively by Kate McHugh who scored two firsts and a second in the Radials, and by Campbell Paton who had two firsts prior to calling it a day.

Photos by Quinn Pierson

Twilights Continue

Wednesday Sailing

Seven of us took advantage of the building nor’easter to sharpen our skills in some challenging harbour chop. It was hard work (at least it was for me), so hopefully this will prove useful in this Saturday’s Vaucluse Invitational that, at press time, is forecast to be 18 kts from the northeast!

- Chris Tatt.

Thursday Racing

Eleven sailors had smiles last Thursday, as the wind freshened to a steady 20 knot Nor-easter. Paige Caldecott and James Tudball set a short windward leeward course (with the RIB then sometimes as the wing mark). It gusted up to 28 for a little while, and so some of us felt the need to go for a quick swim (including several swims from yours truly) - whilst visiting laser sailor Will Sargent, and local Campbell Patton showed us how to handle the laser with style in heavy wind.

-Steven London

Photo by John Vasey

Members wishing to sign-up for the Thursday on water coaching please click HERE

Are your foils in need of some love?

Many of us focus on our boat maintenance above the water, but when was the last time you looked at your rudder and center (dagger) board? Is it dinged? Scratched? Are the leading and trailing edges smooth or rough? Have you got a chip missing out of the back tip?

Your foils are what keeps you going in a (mostly) straight line and pointing to where you want to be.

A new set of foils will cost you upwards of $1,500, and repairing and fairing your board is an often overlooked part of boat maintenance. If you are someone who has overlooked your foils for the last few seasons, you might like to consider outsourcing!

Brett Beyer is now repairing and painting boards for club members. Boards can be patched up, painted (in a colour of your choice) and faired to a near original condition. 

Under the class rules (Part Three 14(c) “Surface refinishing of the centreboard is permitted provided the original shape, thickness and characteristics are not altered.”

For more information and pricing, please contact Brett Beyer on beyersailing@gmail.com or have a chat with him at the club this Saturday!

WHAT'S GOING ON

Wednesday 18-Oct: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 19-Oct: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 21-Oct:

• Learn to Race - 9am-12pm

• Vaucluse Invitational Regatta at DBSC (2PM first warning flag)

• Brett Beyer Saturday Program

• BBQ after racing at DBSC

Tuesday 24-Oct: Reach Youth Training (16:30 ready)

Wednesday 25-Oct: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 26-Oct: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 28-Oct:

• DBSC Competency Training (9:30AM) ALL MEMBERS

• Spring Point Score 5 & 6 (2PM warning flag)

• Brett Beyer Saturday Program

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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 Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

RACE REPORT 8 October 2023

Photo by Thomas Beregi

Club Summer Championships - Races 5 & 6

A large fleet of 60 boats, including visitors, was met with 8 to 15 knots shifting between SSW to SSE. A southerly course was laid, with the top mark set well into Double Bay.

The wind seemed to build over the course of the afternoon, gusting up to 18 knots, making for quick racing and allowing for plenty of time to enjoy the Championship BBQ.

Both fleets showed some exuberance at the start of the first race, but this was promptly subdued with the appearance of the black flag.

There were lots of tight battles right across the fleets in both races. While Murray narrowly won out in his tussle with Max, it was Max who looked happier as he congratulated a waterlogged Murray climbing onto his centreboard just beyond the finish line.

Winners:

Race 5:

ILCA 4 (4.7): Miles Greenwood

ILCA 6 (Radial): Paige Caldecoat

ILCA 7 Standard: Campbell Patton

Race 6:

ILCA 4 (4.7): Miles Greenwood

ILCA 6 (Radial): Sylvie Stannage

ILCA 7 Standard: Campbell Patton

Photos by Thomas Beregi