Competency Safety Training Huge Success

Photos by Steve London

It was great to see a large turnout for our Annual Member Competency Training day on Saturday 19 October. Thank you all members who attended. Safety is an important part of our club and culture: on the water, with our race equipment, and around the clubhouse. We strive for continuous improvement of our processes and provide training to all our members every year, as all members are involved in running races and looking after our club. About 50 members attended the three stations run by:

• Andrew Cox - Race Management,

• David Murphy - First Aid and Safety,

• Pat Levy - RIBs, Davits, Anchors and Gear

Thank you Paul Adam and Peter Collie for organising and cooking up a sausage sizzle on the deck.

Laser Hoist Training

The Genie Laser Hoist at DBSC is only used at the club on non-race days, and allows a member to get their Laser down from its rack location (and put it back again) usually after mid week training, where no other members are available to help.

In order to use the hoist, it is compulsory to have completed training and to have signed the certification register. 

We intend to schedule a 30-40 minute training session for new members, so if you are interested please email: commodore@dbsc.com.au

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60 Secs with Zac West

Zac West is the new Lead Coach for DBSC's Reach Youth Program

To welcome him to the club, Tory Epworth caught up with Zac for a brief Q&A:

Q: How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 

Just after my 10th birthday, at a place called Papercourt Sailing Club on a tiny lake in the middle of England

Q: If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?

I’d probably buy an F50, I really enjoy one-design racing and foiling so this would be the best mix between the two.

Q: What is your sailing goal?

The current shorter term sailing goal is to win the World Match Racing Tour World finals. Longer term is America’s Cup.

 Q: Tell us the back story to your laser's name?

It’s a bit of a boring one, but ZWR is the name of my latest Laser. Back in my Opti days, I created an Instagram account called Zac West Racing (ZWR) and it stuck as a nickname.

Q: If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties – what would it be?

The toasties are pretty good already, but if I had to it would be BBQ sauce.

Q: What are your second and third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot).

Outside of sailing, it would be road cycling followed by trail running with my mates.

Q: Describe what you do for work in less than 5 words?

Professional Sailor & Coach

Q: What's the dream destination for your next trip? And why?

Lake Garda, Italy. It stuck as my favourite sailing location since my Opti days, and it's been too many years since I’ve been back there.

Q: What’s your favourite TV show, movie, and or book?

My favourite TV show and movie right now is Rick & Morty and Deadpool. I’m re-reading the Match Racing call book ahead of my Umpire exam.

Q: Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know...

I used to sail at DBSC before COVID during my Laser campaign but moved into the Match Racing scene just after the lockdowns and now am competing on the World Match Racing Tour. I also coach the NSWIS team with Australian Sailing and SailGP Inspire when their events are on this side of the world. I’m excited to be back at the club and help the Reach program sailors entering the summer season.

WHAT'S GOING ON

Upcoming ILCA REGATTAS

All NSW/ACT ILCA events are listed with links to event sites on the Events page on their web site Here.

• 16-17 November: NSW & ACT Open & Youth Championships @ Georges River Sailing Club

  • The Notice of Race is Here.

  • You can enter online Here or up until 11.00am on Saturday 16 November at the club

• 23-24 November: Victorian States @ Blairgowrie YC

• 28 November - 1 December: Sail Melbourne @ Brighton YC

• 6-9 December: Sail Sydney @ Woollahra SC

• 18-21 December: Sail Brisbane @ RQYS (Brisbane)

• 1-8 January: Australian Open & Youth Championships @ RQYS

UPCOMING EVENTS (at DBSC)

• Wednesday 30 October: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, Sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

• Thursday 31 October: Twilight Racing (5pm Splash, Racing between 5:30-7:30pm)

• Saturday 2 November

  • Club Championships Races 7 & 8 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

    • Brett Beyer Saturday Program (BBSP)

  • BBQ after racing

• Tuesday 5 October: REACH Youth Training with Zac West (4:30 - 7:30pm)

• Wednesday 6 October: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, Sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

• Thursday 7 October: Twilight Racing (5pm Splash, Racing between 5:30-7:30pm)

• Saturday 9 November

  • Learn to Race (9am)

  • Spring Point Score Races 7 & 8 (1 pm 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 19 October 2024

Photo by Justine Scott

After a busy morning refreshing our knowledge about laying marks, safe operation of the power boats, how to run a perfect race, or at the very least a fair one, Staying Alive the song and how to help keep others alive, attention was turned to setting up for both Championships 5 and 6 and Point Scores 5 and 6. The wind which had started in the SW had now swung through S and was heading towards the predicted afternoon South Easterly direction. It was tempting to consider a southerly course in Double Bay but once on the water the Dardanelles seemed a better bet as the wind was becoming increasingly easterly. However, as we set up for Races 5, we had to try to adjust back towards the south before starting the races. By the last lap strong southerly gusts were coming through from Double Bay and the course was moved for Races 6. Again, there were interesting shifts in play and we watched an intense contest as Sylvie Stannage worked hard to close the huge lead Andrew Cox had off the start. With one final hike she managed a last second win.

Photo by Justine Scott

In the Championsip Race 5

ILCA 7 - Zander Bijkerk

ILCA 6 - Healy Ryan

ILCA 4 - Harper Spacey

In the Championsip Race 6

ILCA 7 - Zander Bijkerk

ILCA 6 - Sylvie Stannage

ILCA 4 - Raphael McLachlan

In the Point Score Race 5

ILCA 7 - David Newman

ILCA 6 - David Murphy

ILCA 4 - Tucker McKeon

In the Point Score Race 6

ILCA 7 - Steven London

ILCA 6 - Daryl Lawrence

ILCA 4 - Tucker McKeon

Thanks to John Vasey CoTD and Justine Scott CoCoTD who worked tirelessly moving marks. On the water also were Peter Collie PRO and Mark Crowhurst LtRAR.

Huge thanks also to the canteen crew who kept us fed all day from morning sausages, through lunchtime toasties to the evening BBQ.

The following photos are by Peter Collie

WHAT'S GOING ON

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Wednesday 23 October: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, Sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

• Thursday 24 October: Twilight Racing (5pm Splash, Racing between 5:30-7:30pm)

• Saturday 26 October

  • Learn-to-Race (9:00am)

  • Vaucluse Invitational at DBSC (2:00pm first warning)

• Tuesday 29 October: REACH Youth Training with Zack West (4:30 - 7:30pm)

• Wednesday 30 October: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

• Thursday 31 October: Twilight Racing (5pm Splash, racing between 5:30-7:30pm)

• Saturday 2 November

  • Club Championships Races 7 & 8 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

    • Brett Beyer Saturday Program (BBSP)

  • BBQ after racing

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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 12 October 2024

All photos by Jim Dounis

Race Report – PRO Jim Dounis

The Saturday racing was once again Sprints due to the Coast Championships regatta.

Twelve athletes participated in the Sprints in the supercharged gusty 18 to 25++ knots southerly buster winds. The course was set in Double Bay and we had six races averaging twelve minutes each. All boats started together. Surprisingly in this endurance test, everyone finished all of the races.

The ILCA7 results were dominated by Campbell Patten with Luke Parker heard to say, “I’m sick of seeing the stern of your boat, Campell”. Luke also tried to protest against Campbell with Rule 10.1 Age before Beauty  --  Luke was 2nd place 5 times.

Campbell and Luke - Groundhog racing day

The last race was a blast because of Luke’s/Campbell’s idea to throw in a wing mark. The screams and hoots were heard all over Double Bay as they reached along at speeds only Pat can achieve.  Well done to Tim Heath who showed them how it's done and to Grant Lovelady and Luke.

Andrew hiking hard

The ILCA6’s had a mix of winners with Scot Hunter x2 Ian Alexander x3 and Andrew Cox x1 (the tough Wing Mark race and Pat Levy 2nd). Andrew also claimed four 2nd places, so well done.

Pat “that is a huge Jaffa pass me a knife and fork”

Pat had a handicap during the day of keeping one eye on the brand spanking new RIB that was the start boat. He banned Richo and me from “sending it” and hard wired the accelerator to a maximum of 4 knots. Claiming the motor needs to be run in.

Paul Adam II

Thanks to the rescue boat team of Ian Tudball and David Evenden who were happy to see no issues on the water. Thanks to Richard Holstein as LTRaR.

Annual Member Competency Training

Next Saturday, 19 October is our annual competency training, starting at 9:00am. Attendance is expected of all on-water members and volunteers, and is an opportunity to discuss and refresh our skills in:

How to run a race

• how to run a race correctly, efficiently and safely, by Andrew Cox

• essential for COTD/ PRO duty

How to use DBSC equipment

• how to correctly use all the various bits of DBSC equipment, led by Pat Levy

• using the davits safely, avoiding breaking the RIBs or the Jazzman, avoid losing anchors, how to use the radio safely, and how generally to avoid getting booked by Maritime. Great timing as a new RIB is on its way:)

How to save people

• Emergency, rescue and first aid, conducted by David Murphy

• includes an annual refresher on rescue techniques, CPR, defibrillator use and bonus chats on shark-bites and DBSC child-safety.

In advance of this, kindly familiarise/ re-familiarise yourself with the policies and training materials available on the DBSC website. Maybe start with some of our training videos.

Dolly Etiquette

In recent weeks, after sailing, several members have hung their dollies in front of racks which were not yet full with all 5 boats. This makes it very inconvenient for the sailors who have yet to place their boats back into their rack. When coming in from sailing, please be mindful to only hang your dolly in front of racks that are completely full (i.e. have all 5 boats already in place). If there are no racks that are completely full, please leave your dolly outside or in the front of the clubhouse. Thanks for your help with this.

Let’s Avoid Dolly Mayhem!

Report on 2024 ACT & NSW Coast Championships

This week we have a couple of reports on this event. The first is from Charlotte Jenkins:

DBSC dominates at The Coasts!

45 Lasers across all three classes competed at the NSW/ACT Coast Championships last weekend at Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club.  A strong contingent of 15 sailors from DBSC competed at the regatta.

Day One conditions: 20 - 25kt southerly.  3 races completed in all fleets.
Day Two conditions: AP was up for nearly three hours with no wind, then a nice 15kt north-easterly came in. ILCA 4’s complete three races, but the ILCA 6 & 7’s managed just two races.

There was tight racing in the 4’s with DBSC members Raphael McLachlan taking first and Charlotte Jenkins taking second. In the ILCA 6, Sylvie Stannage was first, and Healy Ryan was second. In the Standards, one of our club's coaches, Brett Beyer, won the regatta.  Great performances also from DBSC’ers Alexander Bijkerk (3rd overall), Rod Barnes (4th overall) and David Newman (5th overall). Congratulations to all DBSC members who competed.

CLICK HERE for the full results for all rigs.

Photos of the ILCA 6 and ILCA 4 podiums by Justine Scott.

Our second report is from Maxim Djura:

It was the first NSW coast Championship event in Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club in many years. This is a peaceful corner in the south part of Lake Macquarie undisturbed by any ferries and boats with large spinnakers. This place has also completely fearless and highly social ducks. They are happy to join a party, don't need an invitation to come in and don't mind standing in the middle of a road in front of an approaching car forcing drivers to detour.

The wind conditions were shifty and patchy both days. We had rain, a grey sky (with sun for a brief moment), and an average 20 knots wind of on the first day. These were very difficult conditions as was admitted later by Brett Beyer in his award speech. Two people had breakages and had to retire. Special shout out to Alexander Bijkerk for his display of sportsmanship when he retired after race (RAF) because of missing the final mark rounding in the first race.

The DBSC team took up an invitation from Diane Sissingh and Robert Lowndes from MHASC to a local pub for drinks and high-energy food. The next day started with a bit of rain, light air, tea, coffee and Russian pancakes aux french crêpe. Of course, AP was raised onshore as we waited for the forecasted easterly wind, which hit around 12:30 pm and we splashed soon after then for two final races in champagne conditions.

Although a few people said all the nearby accommodation was booked out for the event, our regatta logistics maestro Dave Newman found a great stay just next to the waterfront a week prior to the event. When asked how hard it was, he just shrugged and said "easy."  A big thanks to him for organising this, as well as big thanks to Rod and Dave for transporting the boats.

Photos by Murray Stone, Jason Wilkins and Mike Dunne