RACE REPORT Saturday 3 February 2024

Local Photographer: Tim Stuparich

Autumn Point Score Series: Races 5 & 6 Recap

by PRO, Kirk Marcolina

The Double Bay Sailing Club's Autumn Point Score series continued with its fifth and sixth races under exceptional conditions, marking another memorable weekend of sailing. The afternoon started promisingly with a gentle 12-knot northeast breeze, ideal for a smooth sail. However, the wind had its own agenda, escalating to over 20 knots by the second race. This sudden increase led to a few memorable capsizes, providing a stern test of skill and a quick dip for some.

Credit goes to COTD John Vasey for his early start. John initially helped lay out a perfect course. However, the best-laid plans of sailors and race committees often go awry, as evidenced when the Etchells fleet placed their start line inconveniently close to our top mark. Cue the rapid response team: John, alongside CoCOTD Otto Henry and RIB Reserve Ben Byford, who probably set a new speed record for course adjustment. Thanks to them, we managed a 2 pm start on a slightly shorter course.

For race 6, with the Etchells fleet having moved on, the race committee took the opportunity to extend the course back to its planned glory, much to the satisfaction of all sailors involved.

Despite the day's unpredictable elements, our sailors showed exceptional skill, particularly the handicapped winners of both races:

Race 5 Winners:
ILCA 4: Charlotte Jenkins.
ILCA 6: Scott Hunter
ILCA 7: Geoffrey Boscoe

Race 6 Winners:
ILCA 4: Charlotte Jenkins again, showcasing her consistency and skill.
ILCA 6: Cormac Johnston
ILCA 7: Connor Kellett

A round of applause for John Vasey, Otto Henry, Ben Byford, and the entire team of volunteers who managed the day's curveballs with professionalism and a calm demeanour.

Photos by Craig Ryan and Kirk Marcolina:

Photos below by Tim Stuparich a local photographer that was on the water saturday (Here is a web link to his other work)

Pre Laser Master Worlds Training at DBSC

Eight seriously good Laser Master sailors from ITA GBR and USA descended on DBSC for some southern hemisphere training before the LMW in Adelaide which started on Saturday 3 February.

Sydney served up a range of weather for them – from 39degC on Australia Day when many arrived, through sparkling north easters to cloudy light/moderate to fresh southerlies.

Those who had arrived sailed with the DBSC fleet on Saturday 27 Jan, then training took place on Sun 28 through Wed 31 Jan. A good number of DBSC ILCA6 and ILCA7 sailors joined in so that the squad was 20 boats on some days.

Most of the training was sprint racing in the mouth of Double Bay, but on the Monday when conditions were ideal with a sparkling moderate NE, the fleet raced in three stages to South Head. We then reached offshore to run windward/leeward courses in ocean conditions using Club RIBs as starting and rounding marks.

My sincere thanks to

• those chartered their boats to our visitors

• Rod Barnes for allocation of boats and arranging charters

• John Vasey, Peter Collie, Andrew Simpson and Hadrien Bourely for on water assistance

• John Vasey again for arranging a dinner for nearly 30 people at the 18 Footers on Sunday night

• Luke Parker for hosting a dinner cruise on his super RIB on the Tuesday night

• Club members who made our visitors feel really welcome.

My great friend from our sister club Vela Club Campione del Garda, Roberto Bini thought so highly of the event that he is planning to host a similar training program on Lake Garda the week before the LMW in Formia, Italy in September 2025. Formia is about half down the W coast of Italy from Rome to Naples.

So here’s the deal – get fit, get coached, get packed and get two bucket list events for the price of one (almost!) – sail on Lake Garda then in the first LMW in Italy for at least 30 years in September 2025!!

Mark Bethwaite

DBSC at the ILCA 2024 Masters World Championship in Adelaide

A group of seasoned Masters from Double Bay Sailing Club are currently competing at the ILCA 2024 Masters World Championship in Adelaide, you can checkout what’s happening and follow the action on the event website HERE: https://2024ilcamasters.ilca-worlds.org/

And photos HERE: https://ilca.smugmug.com/2024-ILCA-Worlds/2024-ILCA-Masters-Worlds-Adelaide-AUS

Breakfast of Champions!

WHAT'S GOING ON

From the Club Calendar

Wednesday 7 Feb: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 8 Feb: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 10 Feb: Autumn Point Score Races 7 & 8 (1PM briefing, 2PM first warning)

---

World Championships

ILCA Laser 2024 Masters Worlds: February 2 - 10, Adelaide, SA

---

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 27 January 2024

PRO Geoff Boscoe reports:

Saturday’s on-water crew arrived at the club looking forward to hosting Australia Day Long weekend sprints in the forecasted moderate north-eastery breeze. However, Ma Nature was slow to get the message and it remained completely calm at the time of the 1pm briefing. That was embarrassing, especially since we were hoping to impress a contingent of Worlds Masters competitors who were joining us from all points of the globe expecting champagne sailing on Sydney harbour. Nevertheless, there was no option but to hoist the AP flag, settle in at the clubhouse with a world famous toasted sandwich and remain optimistic.

Fortunately, the patience of around 20 sailors was rewarded just before 2pm when light ENE breeze kicked in and we were able to get the first sprint race underway shortly after 2.30pm. The light but building breeze remained very shifty throughout the afternoon which meant for testing sailing conditions. The wind direction swung constantly through NE to ESE creating arguably even more testing conditions for the race officials who were continually chasing the breeze. Thanks to all the members of the race team (especially Roberto Blum and Brendan Pollard) for a great effort under challenging conditions.

There were four short format races each of about 20 mins and all were very keenly contested. Congratulations to Cormac Johnston who enjoyed multiple victories. The other honours were shared widely.

Photos by Roberto Blum

WHAT'S GOING ON

From the Club Calendar

Wednesday 31-Jan: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 1-Feb: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 3-Feb: Autumn Point Score Races 5 & 6

---

World Championships

Laser Master’s Worlds: February 2 - 10, Adelaide, SA

---

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 20 January 2024

Autumn Point Score Races 3 & 4

Photo by Johan Hedberg

PRO David Newman reports:

As we prepared for a sweltering Sunday, we were met with a mostly overcast day with a northeast breeze that was forecast to build. I it didn't disappoint, albeit a little puffy and oscillating both left and right, making for a tricky day on the water for the sailors. We had a strong contingent of visitors from around the harbour, which added to our slightly depleted club fleet, with some still enjoying their summer breaks.

Race 3 of the Autumn Point Score got started on time on a very efficient and well-set course from our COTD Dean Kurz and CoCOTD Johan Hedberg on the RIB. With a pin bias and an always-aggressive ILCA 6/4 fleet, we just got away with a clean start. The ILCA 7's were more spread across the line but again got off cleanly. For Race 4 the ILCA 6/4's were not quite as well behaved with a couple of visitors OCS. The breeze continued to build throughout the day, and the Point Piper shore mostly worked for the leaders.

With a tight tussle at the front of the ILCA 6 amongst mostly visitors, Cormac Johnston took the win on handicap with a strong Race 3 and Mike Dunne took the win in Race 4. Rod Barnes showed a clean pair of heels in both races on line honours but it was Thomas Beregi who continued his picket fence run with 4 wins from 4 races in the series on handicap!

Huge thanks to the team in the canteen as always, plus Richard Holstein for providing fantastic support on the Jazzman as LTRaR plus Dean and Johan on the RIB.

Photos by Johan Hedberg

Don't miss out on the Action and Relaxation at DBSC Twilights!

…Every week Double Bay sailors head out midweek for a sailing fix on Wednesdays and Thursdays - 5pm Splash. Last week was no exception, on Thursday we had 14 on the water, and were joined by Mina Ferguson who gave coaching support and advice. Thankyou again James Tudball who organizes the Thursday course setting and coaches. All members are invited to join us.

WHAT'S GOING ON

From the Club Calendar

Wednesday 24-Jan: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 25-Jan: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 27-Jan: Sprint Racing - Australia Day Weekend (2PM warning signal)

Wednesday 31-Jan: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 1-Feb: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

---

World Championships

Laser Open Men’s Worlds: January 24 - 31, Adelaide, SA

Laser Master’s Worlds: February 2 - 10, Adelaide, SA

---

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 13 January 2024

Photo by Brad Cox

Last Saturday saw a glorious start to the 2024 Autumn Point Score series with magnificent sunshine, beautiful blue skies, and a ten to twelve knot east north easterly blowing, along with a strong run out tide. A fleet of thirty-six boats joined us on the harbour for the first race, along with a handful of visitors and perhaps one or two sailors that may have forgotten to sign on using the sailor app.

In the first race, the Radial fleet were a little too keen, not helped perhaps by the run out tide which led to a general recall before a black flag restored order at the restart. As as for the Standards, it was a clear start and so we were under way in both fleets in no time.

First over the line in the Radials was Cormac Johnston, with Daniel Costandi taking out the Standards. Noting the difficulty with the easterly slant in the north-easterly breeze making for a tame top reach, race management opted to make a slight tweak to the positioning of the wing mark before the second start to give a tighter bottom reach.

In the second race, the Radials got away to a clean start with the exception of Charlie Byford, who mistimed his start and was over by a good boat and a half. As for the Standards, it was another clear start and the sailors made their way towards the top mark off Shark Island. The slight change to the wing mark positioning looked to produce a much more exciting angle to the bottom mark and a great spectacle for the race crew. In the Radials, Alistair Sutherland got fastest time, with Rod Barnes taking out the Standards.

Note that work on the Double Bay wharf reconstruction is now complete, so it is much easier to navigate out and back. As well, the view from the deck is much improved.

A big thanks to PRO Murray Stone and John Vasey (Learn to run a race), and to Richard George and Brad Cox as Captain and Co-captain of the day, respectively. Thank you also to former DBSC member Gerard, who assisted the race crew in the Dene Bergman.

Also, thank you to all the sailors who signed on using the Sailor App. This is a great system for managing results and to have sailors signed on makes it so easy to get finish order and times accurately recorded.

Photos by Brad Cox