79 Bay St
Double Bay NSW 2028
Australia

The best ILCA / Laser sailing club in the world, located in Double Bay on Sydney Harbour.

News

RACE REPORT - SUNDAY 9 JUNE 2024

Nick Pellow

Photos by Jason Wilkins

King’s Birthday Long Weekend - Winter Sprints

6:15am on a winter’s morning looks stunning at Double Bay Sailing Club for those dodging flu and covid this season. Richard George was captured having just surveyed the sunrise but also the mirror-like surface of our beautiful harbour. Thanks to John Vasey for popping in on his bike ride to check on the RIBs but everything was looking great except for the wind.

An enthusiastic group of 16 sailors attended the briefing with the wind apps telling us that a wind strength of 1 knot with gusts of 2 knots. The PRO made the call at about 7:40am for a postponement and for sailors to stay ashore.

Across the harbour we could see a small fleet of Etchells being towed out to race. There appeared to be two of them sailing with spinnakers up so we went out onto to the harbour to survey the wind in situ. A persistent 5 knot gentle westerly had developed and a call ashore on the radio was made to get the Lasers heading out. A course adjustment was made that remained surprisingly correct for the duration of the morning and then “Paul Adams” and “Dene Bergman” helped pull the last of the Lasers out of Double Bay before we kicked off the start sequence.

Racing got underway by 8:45am, so just 30 mins lost enjoying the morning sun. We were able to run four races for each fleet with a tactical (and well-supported) decision to race a single lap on the fourth race. There were 10 Standards and 6 Radial starters (how often do we get more Standards than Radials nowadays? Although I suspect we have an increasing number of crossovers depending on the wind).

Eight clean starts and some very competitive racing with a call out to Chris Tattersall (Standards) and Jasper Kinsman (Radials) taking the line respectively in the first two races. The balance of wind shifts and pressure made for exciting racing in the 5-7 knot breeze. Boat handling skills were put to the test in close quarter rounding at the leeward gate with photos attached.

Some sailors even reported hiking in the breeze coming back into Double Bay amongst the moorings! All sailors and buoys ashore by 10:45am, one capsize, and no rescues.

[Side note: Richard reported that the Dene Bergman radio was transmitting but not receiving]

Volunteer crew for the day was: PRO Jason Wilkins, LTRaR Rob Blum (obrigado), COTD Richard George and CoCOTD Michael Morris.

Race Report: Jason

Fundraising for New RIBs

Nick Pellow

Heartfelt thanks to those of you who have already contributed to our fundraising efforts towards new club RIBs. 

So far we've raised over $21,000... but there's still a way to go to reach our target.

Now is a great time to help. As you prepare your tax returns for the financial year, remember all donations are tax deductible! ♥️ 

Why is it so important? As you know, our support boats are the ‘work-horses’ of the club, used day in, day out to set courses, assist beginners on the water and to be on stand-by for safety in high winds. They are vital assets that allow us to run competitive racing, whilst still keeping safety our top priority.

Every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated. Please consider donating via this LINK HERE .

WHAT'S GOING ON

Chris Tattersall

July Work-on-your-boat Day

This is confirmed for the morning of Sunday, July 7th. There will be tools, supplies and advice to be shared. Please email Maxim so we can gauge interest.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, 16 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 13, 14 & 15) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

Sunday, 23 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 16, 17 & 18) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

Sunday, 30 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 19, 20 & 21) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning.

Sunday, 7 July: NO RACING - Happy Holidays

Sunday, 14 July: NO RACING - Happy Holidays

Sunday, 21 July: NO RACING - Happy Holidays

Sunday, 28 July: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 22, 23 & 24) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning.
(The last race day of the Winter Series)

Next Season’s Calendar

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


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.

WHAT'S GOING ON

Chris Tattersall

July Work-on-your-boat Day

This is confirmed for the morning of Sunday, July 7th. There will be tools, supplies and advice to be shared. Please email Maxim so we can gauge interest.

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, 9 June: Winter Sprints racing (King’s Birthday Long Weekend). 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

8-10 June: East Coast Youth Championship GRSC

Sunday, 16 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 13, 14 & 15) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning

Sunday, 23 June: Winter Championship & Point Score series racing (Races 16, 17 & 18) 07:30 Briefing / 08:15 Warning


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.

Important: Launch Ramps Update

Nick Pellow

The builder has established the worksite and is now commencing work on the Eastern Ramp (the one closest to the boatshed). We are starting with the Eastern Ramp due to the lack of good low tides and the fact that it does not extend as far into the harbour as the Western Ramp.

So, until further notice, sailors are to use the Western Ramp.

The builder has carried out some temporary work to allow for safer use., including a gate made from conduits. Please keep a straight alignment entering and exiting the harbour, as there is a drop off outside the conduit alignment.

– Rod Barnes, Vice Commodore

RACE REPORT - SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2024

Nick Pellow

Photo by Brendan Pollard

Winter Championship and Pointscore - heats 10,11 & 12

It was forecast to be 30 knots with rain. And if the day before was anything to go by, it was expected to be pounding rain.

As such, it was with some trepidation and much warm gear that the race management crew peeled themselves down to the club at 6.15am. Apparently, the sailors felt the same consternation, with many choosing to remain in bed rather than face a cold wet gale. And, as a result, numbers were down significantly this week in comparison with previous weeks.

Pleasingly, it turned out to be a beautiful day. No rain, sunshine despite the clouds, and a steady westerly breeze of 15-20 knots. Which was just as well because we were two volunteers down (one explained and one not). As it was, we were fortunate to have John Vasey volunteer to step in for the explained absence and Brendan Pollard generously offer not to sail, which covered the other.

Racing ran on time and smoothly with no course changes required in the consistent breeze.

It was a day of clean sweeps and near clean sweeps. Congratulations to Nick Pellow with a clean sweep in the 7s, Ian Alexander who was fixing for a clean sweep in the 6s until he was overtaken at the line by a tenacious Rob Blum in Race 11, and Charlotte Jenkins with a clean sweep in the 4s (albeit in a field of two), but notably maintaining competitiveness with several 6s.

Congratulations also to best on ground in the point score today – Chris Tattersall in the 7s and Rob Blum in the 6s.

Thanks to the on-water team of Andrew Cox, Pia Hattersley, John Vasey, and Brendan Pollard. Also need to acknowledge the extensive work done behind the scenes by Tim Heath in rostering and organising the volunteers each week, and to Geoff Boscoe and Scott Finlayson for their excellent work in publishing the results.

photos by Andrew Cox, Brendan Pollard and Pia Hattersley

RACE REPORT - SUNDAY 26 MAY 2024

Nick Pellow

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

Steven London

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)

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!

…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

Chris Tattersall

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


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

Nick Pellow

…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…