The best way to find out about the club is to visit us, and meet some members.
Apart from the week of Christmas, the clubhouse is open from at least noon every Saturday from 1 August to 30 April. Our telephone number is: +61 2 9363 5577.
We are run by volunteers, so if your query cannot answered by the frequently asked questions (FAQs) below or the rest of the website, we will get back to you by Wednesday, 10pm.
How do I subscribe to your Pulitzer Prize winning newsletter?
How to make a tax-deductible donation to the club (using the internet)?
How to make a tax-deductible donation to the club (using paper forms)?
Want to book a seat at the restaurant?
Want to become a social member?
Can I rent/hire your clubhouse?
How do I get to crew on a yacht?
Can you teach me to race a Laser?
What is the deal between your club and the 18 footers and Sydney High School?
Can I store my kayak (or similar) in the clubhouse?
Can you help me buy, or sell, a Laser?
How many times can a visitor race at DBSC?
79 Bay St
Double Bay NSW 2028
Australia
The best ILCA / Laser sailing club in the world, located in Double Bay on Sydney Harbour.
Please save the morning of Saturday, 19 October from 9am for our Annual Competency and Safety Training.
Attendance is expected of all on-water members and volunteers.
This is an important opportunity to discuss and refresh our skills in:
How to run a race (by Andrew Cox)
How to use DBSC equipment (by Pat Levy)
How to save people (by David Murphy)
Each Wednesday and Thursday starting Today we will have Twilights at DBSC:
Wednesday Twilight Sailing 5pm Splash - 7:30pm
The format for Wednesdays is that anyone can post an intention to sail in the WhatsApp “DBSC twilights” group chat, to arrange "ad hoc" member sailing - between existing Harbour marks, often with a "rabbit start". (there is no rescue boat for this activity) coordinate amongst yourselves.
Thursday Twilight Racing 5pm Splash, Racing between 5:30-7:30pm
There will be a Coach and a Volunteer on a Support RIB to run Sprint races - two laps - with a set of 3 marks, the start is between the two bottom marks, a windward-leeward course to the top mark, and gate finish downwind. Generally a 3 minute sequence, single massed start. If you participate in the racing and infringe another sailor you will be expected to do a penalty turn. If you know you are OCS (or the coach lets you know) you can come back and dip the start, or do a turn when clear of other boats on the first leg.
Members who have signed up via the newsletter have access to the coach, coach notes and videos in a private Thursday WhatsApp group. (Click HERE if you want to sign up)
All other members are welcome to come along and join in the racing.
Thursday night quick dinner after racing at The Oaks. Great food. All welcome
Wednesday 9 October
Twilight Sailing (5-ish splash)
Thursday 10 October
Twilight Racing (5pm splash) 5:30pm first warning
Saturday 12 October
Sprint Racing (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)
Weekend of 12-13 October
2024 NSW & ACT Coast Championships at Mannering Park Sailing Club (Sat. & Sun.)
Please contact Dave Newman if you are interested in attending. Notice of Race.
Saturday 19 October
Member Competency Training (9am) - All Members to attend
Club Championship Races 5 & 6 + Spring Point Score Races 5 & 6 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)
Brett Beyer Saturday Program (BBSP)
BBQ after racing
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.
Photos by David Murphy
Race 3 and 4 of the Spring Point score showed the Harbour in a somber, reflective mood, where both the silver afternoon and a lovely 8 gusting to 14 ESE converged right onto Rose Bay, on an even more somber AFL Grand Final Saturday.
The course almost set itself, with the team of the day David Murphy PRO and Yves Stening as Co-PRO, assisted by John Chesterman and Van Allen in the Paul Adam, competing with a seaplane for ideal mark placement. Tom Beregi and Jules Hall both provided able assistance to Shirley and Paul in the canteen.
Not a day for recalls, both races started smoothly with over 40 boats in play, including a strong group of international visitors, putting the committee to work at the finish. Some exceptional performances included NSW Youth Sailor of the Year Healy Ryan (ILCA 6) and Dan Costandi (ILCA 7) getting Race 3 line honours, and then Miles Greenwood (ILCA 6) and Campbell Patton (ILCA 7) in Race 4.
Points for ILCA 6 were taken home by Scott Hunter and Jasper Kinsman, for ILCA 7 by Andrew Foote and Peter D’Arcy King, and Zoe Allen took points for both races in ILCA 4.
- David Murphy, PRO
Ian Tudball with an amazing proximity finish!
…and click below on more great photos from John Chesterman
We are pleased to announce one of our own youth sailors Healy Ryan has won the 2024 NSW/ACT Youth Sailor of the Year award.
At 14 years old Healy moved from competing in the ILCA4 to ILCA6 in August 2023. His first event was WA Youths where he received coaching from ‘Swifto’, Chris Charlwood and Zoe Thompson. Healy won that event and his enthusiasm left such an impact that Zoe invited him to join her squad’s ILCA6 training camp when it was next in Sydney.
Next event was Coasts where he came 3rd overall, followed by the AST/ASS/ASF women’s training camp where he was warmly welcomed by an amazing squad who were very generous with their time and knowledge. A few weeks later in Canberra for the NSW & ACT states where, as an U15 year old, Healy won the ILCA6 title overall (as well as U17 age title). Next it was south to Melbourne for some training with the DBSC youth program in breezy conditions incorporating Vic states and Sail Melbourne where he was 2nd U19 and 1st U17. During these regattas the ASS women, like Mara & Zoe, would give him tips between races on how he could improve in various conditions. Two weeks later he won Sail Sydney open overall (female and male separated event).
January brought him to Adelaide for Nationals where he won the U17 ILCA6 national title and came 4th overall. His Nationals results in U19 also qualified him for the Australian Youth Squad. In March, he headed to Hobart and won the ILCA6 Open title (including U17 title). He then damaged his ankle ligaments meaning for the next 10 weeks he chose to keep sailing but hiked off his shins. March then included coming 2nd overall at Metros and leading his school to a podium spot at the NSW State Schools teams racing regatta.
Back down to Victoria in April for the Youth Squad training and VIC youth champs where he was on the wrong end of countback from a 3 way tie for 1st. Back to Sydney with clubs wrapping up for the season he was fortunate enough to win the much sought after Sally Gordon Trophy for ILCA6 Club Champion at the Double Bay Sailing Club, also winning the HHSC ILCA6 Club Championship. Then in June won the ILCA 6 East Coast Championships at Georges River.
As the ILCA6 worlds were in Argentina in January, the major ILCA6 youth event of the Northern hemisphere summer was the ILCA6 U19 European Championships, bringing with it the 2024 Youth Worlds Champions and ILCA4 & ILCA6 World Champions. With the help of some great coaches, a near new Devoti and a second-hand sail bought from Brooke W. he took on the 247 boat boys fleet. After 3 days of qualifying, he was ranked 1st in Gold Fleet and continued to chalk up great results to go on and win the U17 European title and to be 2nd in the overall European championships.
So, his second year sailing a ILCA, and his first in an ILCA6, was an extraordinary year by any measure. But they don’t come out of thin air. The DBSC and its youth program was at the heart of this transformative year for Healy. This and the foundations formed at HHSC (another volunteer club) are just some of the essential ingredients that enabled Healy’s joy of sailing to lead to on-water results recognised by his receiving the 2024 NSW/ACT Youth Sailor of the Year. Without the enormous contribution from the volunteers and the willingness of past and present sailors to impart their knowledge, the youth sailors in NSW are without a rudder.
State winners are nominated for the National awards, and it has just been announced that Healy is one of three finalists for the Australian Youth Sailor of the Year, to be decided in November.
It’s been a great first 12 months in the ILCA6 Healy, Congratulations!
On Thursday 10 October we will kick off our Thursday Twilight Racing with on-water coaching support for the 2024/25 season. The coaching and race management will be undertaken by one of our Reach coaches.
We will aim for our usual splash of 5PM. The coach and course will be ready for racing by 5:30PM
The course will be typically windward - leeward (like our sprint racing), however the coach may communicate variations out on the water...to keep us on our toes.
Racing will run until sundown (approx 7:30PM).
Regular Thursday night dinner and drinks at The Oak following sailing, for anyone who fancies a social outing.
The Cost is $150 per sailor for the 10 week program (plus merchant fees). This covers the overhead of paying the coach each week to set the course and provide the coaching (dinner not included).
Proposed Dates: October 10, 17, 24, 31 November 7, 14, 21, 28 December 5, 12
We hope that Members who plan to race regularly on Thursdays will support the program by signing up.
(Members who sail occasionally are still very welcome to join us for Thursday Racing free of charge.)
Members wishing to sign-up for the Thursday on water coaching please click the button bleow:
Please save the morning of Saturday, 19 October from 9am for our annual competency and safety training. Attendance is expected of all on-water members and volunteers. This is an important opportunity to discuss and refresh our skills in:
How to run a race (by Andrew Cox) - essential for PRO, LtRAR, CoTD & CoCoTD duty.
https://www.dbsc.com.au/pro
How to use DBSC equipment (by Pat Levy) - also essential info on operation of davits, RIBs, Jazzman, laying marks, anchors, and use of radios.
https://www.dbsc.com.au/cotd
How to save people (by David Murphy) - more essential procedures for on water emergency, rescue, & first aid.
https://www.dbsc.com.au/emergency-rescue
In advance of this, kindly familiarise/ re-familiarise yourself with the policies and training materials available on the DBSC website (links above) or start with some of our training videos.
Photo courtesy of ILCA NSW & ACT
Get set for another great circuit for local and national events this year. We're again striving for a strong representation and contingent of DBSC sailors. The first event is the Coast Championships at Mannering Park Sailing Club 12-13 October. If you're interested in attending and need any support with boat transport or accommodation, please contact Dave Newman. The Notice of Race for the event is Here.
We also have the State Open & Youth Championships at Georges River Sailing Club 16-17 November 2024, and State Masters Championships South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club 1-2 February 2025. The 2025 Oceania & Australian Open & Youths are in RQYS, Brisbane from 1-8 Jan 2025 and the 2025 Oceania & Australian Masters should be another great event at Westernport YC from 21-24 Feb 2025 on the Mornington Peninsula outside Melbourne
Again, reach out to Dave or hit him up at the club if you have any questions or need support.
Saturday 5 October (Labour Day October Long Weekend)
Sprint Racing (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)
2-7 October - REACH Youth are attending - Australian Sailing NSW Youth Sail - Teralba SC, Lake Macquarie
Wednesday 9 October
Twilight Sailing (5-ish splash)
Thursday 10 October
Twilight Racing (5pm splash) 5:30pm first warning
Weekend of 12-13 October
2024 NSW & ACT Coast Championships at Mannering Park Sailing Club (Sat. & Sun.)
Please contact Dave Newman if you are interested in attending. Notice of Race.
Saturday 12 October
Sprint Racing (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)
Saturday 19 October
Member Competency Training (9am)
Club Championship Races 5 & 6 + Spring Point Score Races 5 & 6 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)
Brett Beyer Saturday Program (BBSP)
BBQ after racing
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.
All sailing photos by Jack Tattersall
Saturday was one of those crystal clear spring days, with not a cloud in the sky, only the smudge of some back-burning somewhere up Middle Harbour. Wind was from the northwest. The Race Committee set the start line clear of Shark Island and well away from Point Piper in order to have a weather leg clear of Clark Island. We launched at the top of a rather high tide, so both races were sailed in a strong ebb current.
A fleet of 40 Lasers (26 Radials, 12 Standards & two 4.7's) enjoyed the afternoon, sharing the harbour, in particular our course area, with a number of yachts that decided to see what we were up to, sometimes in the middle of our starting sequence. All part of the Sydney Harbour experience, I suppose.
The starts were a little tricky, not helped by our RC providing a quite "economical" start line length, and a tide that made fetching the pin a challenge from that half of the line. The Radials and 4.7's got off cleanly in Race 3, however the Standards had a General Recall in spite of the tide pushing them away from the line.
Sara Bruce took Race 3 in the Radials, Zander Bijkerk in the Standards and Harper Spacey in the 4.7's.
In Race 4, the wind perked up a bit, at least in patches. Staying left appeared to pay, probably because the adverse current was slightly slower and the waves smaller, but there were significant shifts and pressure differences to be found everywhere. The Radials needed a second attempt under a Black Flag to get away. The Standards were better behaved.
Sylvie Stannage won Race 4 in the Radials, Campbell Patton in the Standards and Tucker McKeon in the 4.7's.
Many thanks to the Race Committee of Craig Sheers, Tim Heath and Jack Tattersall in the Jazzman, with Mark Gray and his daughter Milla with Peter D'Arcy-King in the RIB. In the kitchen, Shirley and Paul were assisted by Diana Chen and Tory Epworth.
The BBQ on the deck afterward was fabulous, as always. Thanks to Paul and Shirley for the set-up, to Pat Levy for working the BBQ and especially to everyone who stayed late to tidy up, wash up and put everything away.
- Chris Tattersall, Editor.
Photo by Maxim Djura
