Race Report 2024 NSW ACT Laser Metro's 9-10 March

44 DBSC members made early starts on Saturday and Sunday to join the substantial fleet of ILCA Laser sailors at the Metro’s hosted by Vaucluse Yacht Club. The early start had the advantage of avoiding the crush of 18 Footers on the final weekend of their JJ Giltinan Championships.

Ben Byford reports from the start boat:

The ILCA Metropolitan Championships hosted by Vaucluse Yacht Club on March 9th and 10th saw record participation of 119 boats across all fleets, with sailors travelling from all corners of Australia to compete against the country's best.

 Here's a breakdown of the event:

Participants:
ILCA 4: 22 entrants
ILCA 6: 62 entrants
ILCA 7: 35 entrants

Most Represented Club:
Double Bay Sailing Club stood out with 44 entrants.

Weather Conditions:

• Saturday started with a promising wind forecast but we ended up facing challenging conditions due to a strong outgoing tide and the light and fickle oscillating breeze . The race committee and sailors struggled with multiple general recalls and postponements which led to a long day on the water.

• Sunday brought a slightly more consistent breeze, which gradually built up to 12-18 knots from the NNE, providing excellent sailing conditions.

Race Highlights:

• Saturday's races were characterized by frustrating conditions caused by tide and oscillating winds. The Black flag had to be used for some fleets.

• Sunday saw improved sailing conditions with tight racing across all fleets and many photo finishes.

• Consistency was key, and impressive performances from ILCA 4 sailors Miles Greenwood and Ben Costandi made for a scorecard resembling a picket fence shared equally between the two .

Winners:

• Miles Greenwood clinched victory in the ILCA 4 class by a narrow margin of one point over Ben Costandi, with Ruby Carter from RQYS third.

• Double Bay sailors dominated the ILCA 6 class podium, with Sylvie Stannage leading the pack, followed by Healy Ryan and Brooke Wilson.

• In the Standard rigs, Fredrik Westman from WSC was First, followed by Alexander Bijkerk with Otto Henry securing third place despite losing count of the number of laps sailed and continuing to complete another lap whilst others were finishing. Conor Kellett claimed fourth and the title of first under 21

Full results HERE

Loads of Great Action Photos avaliable from Jon West Photos Gallery HERE

Thank you Paul and Shirley, our regular canteen crew

On behalf of the club, I would like to personally thank Paul Adam and Shirley Roach, our Regular Canteen Crew.

They come down and volunteer every weekend on our race days (and every day over the 18 Footers race weeks for the the JJ Giltinan world championship!) - as well as on Sundays throughout the 18 Footers season.

We all know Shirley makes the best toasties in Sydney, and Paul is constantly shopping and restocking the fridges and cupboards during the week making sure we have the sustenance we need to keep us going out on the water (and afterward), not to mention organising our Championship Barbeques!

We greatly appreciate their dedication to the Club.

- Steven London, Commodore

reSails - preloved sail racing bits and boats

A parent of a previous DBSC member has setups a new portal for buying and selling sailing gear.
It costs nothing to list, so clean out your old gear and list it for sail and make a bit of pocket money!

https://www.resails.com.au/

Learn-to-Race this Saturday

Reminder from our volunteer coach Martin White that Learn to Race (Lasers) at Double Bay SC is on this Saturday morning, March 16th, commencing at 9am.

LTR is for genuine prospective new members – a ‘try before you join’ arrangement. Current members wishing to develop their sailing skills are encouraged to join in as well. We hold LTR on the first and third Saturday morning of each month during our main sailing season (i.e. Sept-April) from 9am to 12 noon.

Requirements: basic helming ability (ideally in dinghys) as we are squad-based and limited one-to-one coaching time is limited.  It’s also a safety requirement.

Our coaching team consists of experienced and friendly Laser sailors with the skills and knowledge to help you improve your sailing skills.

Boat hire is $30 per session payable on the day. No charge for assistance and coaching.  

Please complete these forms by this Friday if you have not yet done so:
https://www.dbsc.com.au/learn-to-race

Free Temporary Sailpass is required for non members: 
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/doublebaysc/registration/

Members and non-members: please advise Martin by this Friday if you are planning to attend so he can allocate boats and support volunteers email: LTR@dbsc.com.au

WHAT'S GOING ON

From the Club Calendar

Wednesday 13 March: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)

Thursday 14 March: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 16 March:
- Learn To Race (9am-12pm)
- Autumn Point Score Races 11 & 12 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

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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 2024 VYC Regatta

About 25 DBSC Members travelled north to Sow and Pigs off Watsons Bay last Saturday to participate in the annual Vaucluse Regatta. There was a great fleet (about 50 Lasers) from the local Harbour clubs, and competitive racing followed!

Although it started as a gusty southerly, the wind eased a little as it swung from left to right still remaining gusty at times, - with the usual tide in the channel it made for a difficult top mark rounding (when we could find the mark!). There were also some interesting start sequences, a few general recalls to keep us on our toes, and by the end of 3 races our exhausted fleet sailed back into to Double Bay, just before the 18 footers arrived home!

Congratulations to all the Sailors who attended, and especially these champs who took the main stage:

ILCA 6 & 4 :
1. Sylvie Stannage (HHSC/DBSC)
2. Bruce Savage (MHASC)
3. Brooke Wilson (RSYS/DBSC)

ILCA 7:
1. Otto Henry (DBSC)
2. Conor Kellett (DBSC)
3. Tom Lowndes (VYC)

Results HERE

Photos by Brendan Pollard

Healy Ryan at the Tassie ILCA States 2024

Over the weekend Healy Ryan travelled to the Royal Yacht club of Tasmania, (the venue of the 2026 Australian ILCA championships) for the Tasmanian ILCA States. The Derwent River lived up to its reputation with variable wind speeds mixed with variable wind direction and a little current for good measure, to make for a great challenge to the competitors and officials alike. The Committee did an admirable job to get three races away after a 10:30 launch into glassy conditions, with 3 races completed a little before 2pm they hoisted AP over H (indicating a break on shore).  A little under an hour later there was a return to the race track! It was a good call and by the days end 5 races had been completed. The motivation was to become clear overnight with the sailors waking up to a westerly gusting 70knots and a leisurely average of 40 knots on the mountain. On the Derwent the moored boats were struggling and the PRO made probably their easiest decision for the regatta and abandoned racing for the day.

The locals set the standard in the first races but sailing on Sydney Harbour means Healy’s no stranger to shifty westerlies and by the time the 5 races had been completed he was consistent enough to have climbed to the top of the leader board to win the overall championship ([5],2,2,1,4) as well as the U17 title. A huge thanks should go to the members of ‘The Royal” who not only found a ILCA for Healy to use for the event but also generously put us up for the weekend while we were there. The abandoned day was a showcase in what sailing is all about with a group of interstate and local teenagers all heading off to play indoor bowls and some Mini Golf, making new friends and sharing stories.

Results

Don't forget to Register: 2024 NSW/ACT Laser Metropolitan Championship Regatta

This year the Metropolitan Championship Regatta will be hosted by Vaucluse Yacht Club on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th of March 2024,

The Notice of Race is HERE and entries should be done in advance online HERE or on Saturday 9th before 1130 in person at VYC in Watsons Bay. Entry is $60 for sailors over 21 or $30 for sailors under 21.

This will be a great Regatta, and we would love for Double Bay to be well represented in supporting this ILCA NSW & ACT event. DBSC Members should pre-register before 9 March, and can launch from our club with time to sail up the Harbour to Watsons Bay.

WHAT'S GOING ON

From the Club Calendar

Friday 1 March - 11 March : 18 footers JJ Giltinan's Racing most days

Wednesday 6 March: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)
Thursday 7 March: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March: - NSW/ACT Laser Metropolitan Championship Regatta
Hosted by Vaucluse Yacht Club - EARLY START TIME
- also allow time to sail up the Harbour (refer to NOR and SIs)
Sat 0930-1130 Registration Beach entries at VYC
Sat 11:30 - Briefing at VYC
Sat 13:30 - First Warning Signal day 1
Sun 1100 - First Warning Signal day 2
Notice Of Race CLICK HERE
Registration is $60 over 21 and $30 Under 21 CLICK HERE - Register online Now, before 9 March

Wednesday 13 March: Twilight Sailing (5PM splash)
Thursday 14 March: Twilight Racing (5PM splash)

Saturday 16 March:
- Learn To Race (9am-12pm)
- Autumn Point Score 11 & 12 (1pm Briefing, 2pm first warning)

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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 Saturday 24 February 2024

Club Sprints (SailGP)

by PRO, Healy Ryan

Saturday’s usual club racing was disrupted from its usual course by SailGP this weekend, so the start time was moved forward to 1pm and racing was turned into Club Sprints. But this was not the most unusual thing happening. This week 6 members of the DBSC youth squad and at least 4 parents helped run the racing and the usual volunteering duties. You would have seen us in the canteen, running races, setting-up and packing-up.

We had Liv Aitken and Zoe Allen helping Paul and Shirley on canteen duties (assisted by Charlie Aitken and Van Allen), then Sara Bruce and Miles Greenwood as COTD and co-COTD respectively (assisted on the rib by Rob Bruce), and Healy Ryan and Theo McGonigle as PRO and co-PRO respectively (assisted on the rib by James Tudball).

As mentioned before, SailGP was out in full force, occupying the water from Bradleys Head to Shark Island, which left a narrow channel for us to work with. Not only was SailGP taking up room, but RSYS and CYCA had their usual club racing as well. We even had a lone RSYS yacht rounding our top mark instead of their own!

So we tucked into Double Bay and laid a windward leeward course with a separation mark, which was long enough for sprints...and provided great practice for shifty conditions! Back on shore, a niggly issue with the Paul Adam battery was fixed (thanks to John Vasey and Craig Ryan for their assistance) and it was about time for briefing.

The light-moderate SE breeze brought gloomy conditions, not a sight of the sun and a few brief showers. The RC had a pleasant time with the oscillating wind and we luckily didn't need to shift the course throughout the day.

With many late arrivals I was looking forward to starting right on 1pm and with support from something above our heads. Eddie Alexander arrived at 12:27pm and proceeded to rig, change, and sail out to the race course in 32 minutes with one mark rounding before the warning signal. Impressive!

All three fleets were well behaved for the first two races but as some top sailors joined and the fleet size increased, sailors started to push harder and harder on the start line. In the Radials' third race, the few that rocked up late, and weren’t Usain Bolt at rigging, graced us with their presence, but it's fair to say we can blame them for the ensuing radial and 4.7 problem...or obsession with being over! There were 25 boats over in Race 3, which resulted in a general recall and the later sighting of a black flag. Healy, Theo and James also had to switch to being the 'onwater jury', delegating some 360 penalties to boats who were over. This did lead to some better starting behaviour, and ultimately good quality racing.

It was a very successful day with a 7 race series completed and a single drop.

The full rigs were best behaved by far. My overall winner of the day for 4.7s would have to go to Raph McLachlan in only his second time sailing a laser. He had an unfortunate mishap with a broken alloy mast at the start of the day, but persevered and got out in time for race 3 and took the lead in many of the later races. In the Radial, Sylvie, Paige, Jack, and Eddie did well but had to be discounted because of their repeated casual disregard for going through the start line before their class flag went down! Scott Hunter was the man of the hour(s) continually being up the front and making many calculated choices, such as choosing the unpopular gate mark but then gaining 100 meters on the second up-wind as a result of that choice.

For the full rigs, an honorable mention goes out to Steve who I think legally changed his name to Steve Commodore. He had a race win and an even better celebration (did you see it on DBSC's instagram?!). That made my day. But you just couldn’t look past John Sweeny. He was all-round one of the best out there, especially in terms of cooling off immediately after the finish line with a capsize 20cm after the line. Perfection.

Results: