Regatta Report - 2024 European Masters

Peter Heywood Reports from Villamoura, Portugal

The regatta

This is a favourite location for the ILCA European championships with 200-300 Euro sailors competing. Vilamoura is a seaside location on the Atlantic with usually sunny weather. We had a nice apartment at the marina with a short walk to the sailing club.

The well-organised regatta was 7 days (5 days sailing) with at least 10 races about 2-3 miles offshore in the Atlantic. Courses were trapezoid with windward return to accommodate the multiple fleets common in today’s apparent wind downwind sailing.

Social events were often with after sailing drinks and nibbles. Local restaurants were taken over to feed us with local food. It was great to meet old combatants to laugh and make new friends to discuss all things sailing.

There were 330 master sailors from all over the world in five age groups from 30 years to over 75. 330 boats at the start on two racecourses (i.e. busy).

Sailing

Day 1 - one race in 0-5kts and many calm spots then wind died. The fleet was tight with the best sailors from around the world not giving an inch. I sailed in 2nd place and was rolled for 3rd and finished 5 m behind the American who won.

Day 2 - one race 5kts then the wind died. Started on the pin bias and tacked to cross the fleet - at the same time as a 30% right shift clocked in pushing me back to last! Finally got a bit back but a big number. Race committee did not restart I guess because they knew the wind was dying.

Day 3 - no sailing - storms or no wind.

Day 4 - no sailing – storms or no wind.

Day 5 - no wind. On the water at 9am then paddled ashore. Left the ramp again at 4pm for 2 short races in 0-5 kts. In both races I was in the front bunch on the 1st / 2nd mark, but the top European and US sailors just were faster in 0-5 kts.

Overall

1st regatta - prep for worlds.

So, I finished 5th in my races. Just not fast enough in very light, bumpy water. We expected 10 races but achieved only 4 short races in 5 days, but still a good indicator for me that I’m fast enough in wind but need to do work on light weather and race plan (anticipate shifts).

The organisers were disappointed with no wind. Lots of bad weather in Europe this season. The English couldn’t sail their nationals some days at Hayling Island with strong/poor weather. So, you get poor regattas and get poor performance - just have to deal with it!

Organised training has improved amongst the top Euro and US Master sailors with sailing training nonstop during the season. US sailors go regularly to ISA in Mexico or ILCA Cabarete for training with top coaches - it is cheap for them to go to these locations. UK ILCA provides training throughout the season.

After the regatta my wife and I took a ferry trip to see Norway from the Artic Circle down the Norwegian coast and experienced gale force winds – plenty of wind up there!

Next Steps

• Get faster. Get more master coaching.

• More competition - NSW States, Sail Sydney, Nationals at RQYS, Oceania Masters in VIC, then worlds at Forma in Italy.

Peter Heywood, Legend (i.e. +75) sailor

WHAT'S GOING ON

NSW/ACT States

Results from last weekend’s regatta at Georges River are posted Sailwave results for NSW/ACT State Open & Youth Championship 2024 at Georges River Sailing Club 2024

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Wednesday 13 November: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, Sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

• Thursday 14 November: Twilight Racing (5pm Splash, Racing between 5:30-7:30pm)

• Saturday 16 November

  • Sprint Racing at DBSC (1 pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

• 16-17 November: NSW & ACT Open & Youth Championships @ Georges River Sailing Club
  Don’t forget to fill our the entry form and read the NoR and Sailing instructions HERE.

• Tuesday 19 October:

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

  • Laser hoist training (7:30pm Sharp). Please email  commodore@dbsc.com.au if you wish to attend.

---

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 2 November 2024

Club Championship Races 7 & 8

Although the forecast promised a 15 kt nor’easter, when we arrived at the club the breeze was essentially nil. Nevertheless, our trusty COTD team dropped the marks for a course to suit where the wind was supposed to be. This was also about “staking out our turf” on the harbour.

Craig Ryan and special guest PRO Mark Bethwaite on station. All photos by Chris Tattersall (except the BBQ).

The breeze did arrive more-or-less as predicted, perhaps a little more easterly, and so after tweaking the marks we started getting Race 7 underway with a total of 47 Lasers. With six ILCA-4’s afloat, we ran three separate starts. The 4’s got away cleanly, followed by the Radials. The Standards proved a little less well-behaved, and needed a general recall followed by a black flag sequence to get them away cleanly.

The course was long and the wind shifty enough to provide “passing lanes”. The breeze did freshen over the course of the afternoon to and a everyone had a good workout.

For Race 8 the length was reduced to ensure sailors got ashore in time for the BBQ. At the start, the 7’s again showed their enthusiasm by requiring another general recall and black flag start. The other two fleets were better behaved.

Race winners:

Thanks to the on-water team: PRO Mark Bethwaite assisted by LTRaR Chris Tattersall and Elisabeth Tattersall in the Jazzman, with COTD Pia Hattersley and Craig Ryan in the Bergman. In the canteen Shirley and Paul were assisted by Yves Stening and Hadrien Bourely. Special thanks to all those that assisted with the BBQ and clean-up.

Winners get to cook! Photo by Steve London.

Laser Hoist Training Tuesday, 19 November 7:30pm

We will hold a training session on Tuesday, 19 November at 7:30pm sharp. Training will take 30-40 minutes. Please email  commodore@dbsc.com.au if you wish to attend.

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. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

2024 NSW State Open & Youth Championship

We have the State Open & Youth Championships being hosted by Georges River Sailing Club 16-17 November 2024. If you're interested in attending and need any support with boat transport or logistics, please contact Dave Newman.
Don’t forget to fill our the entry form and read the NoR and Sailing instructions HERE.

Photo from Georges River Sailing Club website

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 (see previous article)

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

• Thursday 7 November: 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)

• Tuesday 12 October: REACH Youth Training with Zac West (4:30 - 7:30pm)

---

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 26 October 2024

All photos by Josh Dorey

Vaucluse Invitational

The Vaucluse Invitational, hosted by DBSC, was a spectacular event that brought members together from both clubs.  The event featured a mix of competitive races as well as the famous BBQ and post-race debriefing discussions on the deck.

Around 50 boats participated, with several making the trip down the harbour from the French enclave to Double Bay. Winds were quite variable but eventually settled in with good direction and strength, allowing the race management to set the course in the Double Bay vicinity. Two races were completed, with all involved making the most of the fluctuating wind shifts. The races were highly competitive, with a mix of sailors taking the top spots, however many close battles ensued throughout the fleets.

Results wise, DBSC had a strong showing.  In the ILCA 7s, podium places were Zander Bijkerk, Rod Barnes, Luke Parker.  ILCA 6’s was Andrew Cox, Sylvie Stannage, Tony Scali (VYC) and  ILCA 4’s were Charlotte Jenkins, Tucker McKeon, Elouise Morgan. 

Thanks go to the race management team, Ian Alexander, Scott Hunter, Katie McHugh, Josh Dorey and of course to the amazing canteen crew of Paul, Shirley and this week's special appearance from Clare Alexander.

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

View fullsize

View fullsize

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.