RACE REPORT - SUNDAY 26 MAY 2024

Winter Championship and Pointscore - heats 7, 8 & 9

Another crystal-clear Sunday morning awaited a fleet of about 30 Lasers, with DBSC sailors being joined by some keen irregulars from Middle Harbour, the Squadron and Woollahra. Winds were from the west at 6 - 10 kts. We set the course with the weather mark northeast of Clark Island. Heat 7 got off fairly cleanly (only one OCS in the Radial fleet).

Heat 8 was a bit more intense, especially amongst the Radials. After a general recall pushed them to the back of the rotation, the race committee brought out the black flag and that got them onto the fair side of the start line at the gun. For Heat 9, the course was shortened as the wind was threatening to lighten. Not taking any chances, the race committee used the black flag for both starts.

All in all, a lovely morning of racing on the harbour.

Thanks to PRO Ian Alexander, LTRAR Chris Tattersall in the Jazzman, and COTD’s Ian Tudball and Patrick Black in the Paul Adam.

photos by Ian Tudball and Chris Tattersall

2024 DBSC Annual General Party Rocks On

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Some more words from your Commodore - Steven London…

What a huge night, 70 members, partners and parents joined us down on the Bay last Friday for our AGM - AGP - with fantastic dinner, drinks and Karaoke Band Rock Gods Extravaganza! The formal proceedings were well attended with members young and old presented with reports from the Commodore, Vice-Commodore, Treasurer, Learn To Race, Youth Coordinator and Canteen.

The Racks are full, the Hall is full of members - successful Learn to Race and Youth Reach Programs - the club is in good shape with record attendance on our race start-line throughout the year!

And each year we honor the great work of past and present members and committees who have shaped our club and culture over many years, some of whom are remembered in our trophy names: Don Roach, Ron Young, Sally Gordon, Richard Tyrrell, Mano Rousso, Lyn Ley, Dene Bergman, Graham Read and John Barraclough. Please read more here.

Prizes were awarded by Tory Epworth and Shirley Roach to the club’s Champion Sailors - many of whom also represented DBSC: competing, winning and placing in state, national and world sailing events over the year. So great to see many new faces in the lineup, with James Tudball taking home his share of the silverware - the coveted Commodores Cup - the John Barraclough Trophy for Best Club Person - and it’s fitting that this is presented during the 2024 Volunteers Week, where we celebrate the diverse passion and talents of ALL our volunteer members, and the countless hours of their time dedicated to the continued improvement of our club. Thank you! (Photos by Diana Chen)

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By overwhelming affirmation the committee for 2024-25 were voted in:

Commodore – Steven London
Vice Commodore/Property – Rod Barnes
Rear Commodore – Pat Levy
Secretary – Tory Epworth
Treasurer – Justin Davey
Canteen Captain – Paul Adam
Social Secretary – Peter Collie
Marketing & Communications – Diana Chen
Roster – Tim Heath

Grants – Yves Stenning
Learn To Race – Martin White
Youth Sailing Coordinator – James Tudball
Laser Rep – Dave Newman
Newsletter Editor – Chris Tattersall
CTO & Sustainability – Nick Pellow
Safety & Training Officer – David Murphy
Special Projects Coordinator – Mark Crowhurst
Volunteer Coordinator – David Airey

After the formalities, many members needed a wake up, and what better way than with dinner, drinks and a Karaoke Band!
In true Double Bay Sailing Club style and tradition, the partying continued into the wee small hours, with many memorable performances by our very own Rock Gods, who got up to sing Karaoke supported by the amazing White Tree Band, who were also supported by members Finn Alexander on Guitar and Andrew Cox on Bass and James Tudball on Drums. We are already taking song requests for next year!

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…And while the Music and the Fashions change - we are reminded of this age old tradition at DBSC - where members have always adorned themselves in the latest fashions (sometimes dancing on tables in the process), as we celebrate our sailing community here in Double Bay!
(Real photo of DBSC members:)

WHAT'S GOING ON

July Work-on-your-boat Day

Building on last month’s successful boat maintenance session, Maxim Djura is scheduling another work-on-your-boat day. This is tentatively set for Sunday, July 7th. There will be tools, supplies and advice to be shared.

Next Season’s Calendar

Vice Commodore Rod Barnes has updated the Sailing Calendar for next season. Here’s the link: DBSC Calendar.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, 2 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 10,11 & 12). 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

Sunday, 9 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 13, 14 & 15). 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

Sunday, 16 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 16, 17 & 18) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 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 - SUNDAY 19 MAY 2024

…by the dawn’s early light

Winter Championship and Pointscore - heats 4, 5 & 6

The flotilla struck gold on just the second Sunday of the Winter Season - with a sparkling clear harbour, clear wintery skies and a lovely 8-12 knot West South Westerly breeze treating both fleets to some very tight racing, and extremely close finishes which kept the Race Team on their toes at all times.

We had at least 30 boats on the water, 3 great races, and were all done and dusted, with hot showers and tracky dacks back on by 1030.

It was great to see quite a few visiting boats making the trek to our lovely corner of the harbour for some of the best racing Sydney has to offer.

A particularly close finish happened in Race 2 for the ILCA7s - some of the action captured below in this photo sequence. This is a good reminder of the pressure the committee boat has at times!

3 boats approaching the line….

Leward skipper reaching out an arm in some attempt at crossing first…

Almost too close to call…

Race Report - Sunday 12 May, 2024

Winter Championship & Pointscore (Races 1, 2 & 3)

Report by PRO Luke Parker:

Twenty brave (desperate?) souls left their mother figures for a sleep-in and fronted up for the first day of the 2024 Winter series. So did the rain. So did some wind, albeit fickle and shifty. On the upside, we had the harbour to ourselves.

Pre briefing the course was set for the prevailing westerly. Post briefing the wind shifted to southwest and so the course was quickly adjusted. Then a rainstorm moved on, and the wind shifted to a westerly-ish at 5-8 knots and the course was reset for Races 2 and 3. If you’re confused, be thankful you weren’t with Jim Dounis and Josh Dorey who were tasked with moving the buoys.

We got our 3 races off efficiently without further incident. The simple course layout and rolling starts worked well.

A critical request/reminder from the start boat: can all sailors ensure they sign on via the Sailor App with the correct sail number. Incorrect number means you won’t be scored.

Final comment: while early morning winter racing competes with a warm bed, it is truly a blessing to be able to sail on an empty Sydney Harbour.  Just do it.

WHAT'S GOING ON

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, 19 May: Winter Championship & Pointscore series racing (Races 4, 5 & 6). 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

Friday 24 May: DBSC’s Annual General Party (Meeting followed by dinner, drinks and dancing) 6:30PM

Sunday, 26 May: Winter Championship & Pointscore series racing (Races 7, 8 & 9) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 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.

Weekend Report

Work-on-your-Boat Weekend

All photos by Maxim Dzhura

Saturday and Sunday turned out to be a very fun weekend despite the rainy weather thanks to good company and camaraderie. The work itself was hard, as sore muscles will attest. A big thanks to Maxim Dzhura for organising the whole thing, and for shouting the group with a huge supply of materials and consumables. Thanks also to everyone else who brought items to contribute to the group, and to Steven London for his generous loan of various power tools. Plus a special thankyou goes out to Craig Sheers who spent much time on both Saturday and Sunday lending his ILCA expertise assisting people with their boat repair needs.

Warm up your vocal CORDS... because the DBSC Karaoke Band is ready to rock the AGP!!

Following the formal proceedings of the AGP, the DBSC Band will once again be entertaining us. This year, we are turning into the DBSC Karaoke Band... and we need YOU! Our professional (and semi-professional) musicians will be there as the backing band for DBSC members who are ready to step from the shower to the onstage mic.

That's right, you have the opportunity to sing a song with the band! Our musicians and lead singer will be there to support you onstage. And if you would like to sing with a DBSC friend (or friends plural!) then that is perfectly fine.

If you are interested in signing up then please CLICK HERE to fill out the application form and to select your song. We welcome all ages and ALL levels of talent...from the brilliant...to the far-from-brilliant.

Please note the DBSC Band will also be singing a number of songs to balance the spread of talent ;)

 - James Tudball

WHAT'S GOING ON

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, 12 May: Winter Championship series racing commences

• 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

Sunday, 19 May: Winter Champs (07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning)

Friday 24 May: DBSC’s Annual General Party (Meeting)

• Please check your email for invitation and RSVP

• NOTE: Calling for volunteers to help with this. If you able to, please contact Diana Chen

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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 27 April, 2024

CLUB Sprint RacING

All photos by Diana Chen

Report by PRO Geoff Kirk:

Last Saturday was the last race of the summer season, finishing up with some casual sprint races. The weather wasn't looking great in the morning, but it turned out to be a beautiful day, and a light easterly breeze. 

The race crew was myself, Robert Bruce (LTRaR), Diana Chen (COTD), and Jeff Loosemore (CoOTD). Rob and Jeff did a great job running the racing, while Diana and I puttered around laying a few marks, having a lovely afternoon.  Many thanks for all their efforts. The breeze was light so we kept the course short. Start wise in a reversal of fortunes, with the radial fleet being perfectly behaved, while the standard fleet were terrible with most the fleet being over the line in a few races. Eventually, they wore us down and we had to let them go.  

We also welcomed back to the club one of our favourite sons Hadrien Bourely. Hadrien has been living in Monaco for the last couple of years, but the draw of Sydney Harbour was too much for him, so he is now back home at DBSC. We don't care the reason, it's just great to have you in back. The starting pin has been very lonely without you. 

A few of us had drinks on the deck after racing, with the former commodore giving us pronunciation lessons (Maxim and Hadrien's names). His next impromptu lesson on the deck will be how to wear a pair of white slacks, and eat a piping hot toastie, and still look a  million bucks. We are all looking forward to that. 

Thanks to Paul for the after race snacks.