Final Breaking News Flash

This is it - The Final Breaking News Flash to give you all the info you need for the weekend ahead!

Sit down, make a cuppa and read on - we have lots to share with you!

Trailers and Boat Storage

Storage of trailers and boats from Friday is fine at Steyne Park and there will be security Saturday night watching over boats left out.

Parking

Will be available at Double Bay Public School across from the park on both mornings. A payment of $20 for the two days will be collected at the gate from anyone that uses the car park. These funds go to the school to thank them for making the school parking lot available. Parking will be available from 7.30 am and you can park your trailer there too if you wish.

Photography

The fabulous Darcie Collington will be on the water and around the Club taking photos all weekend! Watch out for her posts on Facebook. Your amazing photos will be posted with a watermark BUT the good news is that you can buy a gorgeous High Definition keepsake post event. There will be a flyer in your regatta bag with details on how to obtain these. Darcie will be joined by Jon West - who will also be taking photos on and off the water. It's important we capture the whole weekend so if you can - smile for the cameras.

Yoga

Yoga will happen both mornings at 7.30 am. Bring your mats. We have a big interest in this and look forward to you enjoying a calming introduction to both days on our amazing Sydney Harbour spot. Dress appropriately - it might be a bit chilly as the sun warms the deck but its so beautiful to stretch and breathe with the guidance of our yoga instructor from @theyogahousegladesville.

Volunteers

If you are rostered on to help out over the weekend - please turn up on time for your rostered shift. We have had lots of people who want to help out - which is wonderful - so we want to spread the load and make sure that people aren't being left on the job past their designated time.

Schedule

See the regatta website at www.DBSC.com.au to get the schedule for the weekend so you can plan your time over the two days.

Dinner Saturday night is a special night were we sit amongst the racks of Lasers and dine on delicious food made by our WR friend @BerntheChef. The clubhouse will be dressed up - and you are welcome to, too. The club showers are dedicated to the women of the regatta - YEP - both change rooms are entirely dedicated to us so we can have HOT showers and freshen up for dinner. Dress warm - it is a sailing club over the water.

Coaching

Please email Krystal Weir on krystalsailing@gmail.com with three things you would like to get out of the weekend. Also check out these Pre-Weekend videos:
Paul Goodison Rig Laser in 10 minutes
Jon Emmett Rigging tips

Discount Gear Shopping ahead of time and pop-up shop

Go to boatcrewgear.com and use discount code: DBSCLaser
Enter the code at checkout and get a 15% discount for orders to be picked up at DBSC on Saturday 28th September.

Discount does not apply on items already on special or clearance. Only for pickup orders at DBSC. Orders must be received by 12:00 noon Friday 27th September and customers will be notified if items are not in stock with BCG or supplier.

Coffee Cart

We will have a coffee pop-up from @thelittlemarionette from 7:30am each morning so you can get your early morning coffee fix. Please save your first coffee of the morning for one made just for you at DBSC and support our sponsors. Bring your family and friends too.

Regatta Bag

Thank you to our sponsor @svvet_australia - we have a designer regatta bag and to top it off it is filled to the brim with goodies from many different sponsors who have generously donated to the event. Enjoy the treats and feel free to share the love on the socials.

Socials

To help us promote this event - follow us on Instagram @thewomensregatta and facebook /thewomensregatta. Don't just follow - like, share, comment and post. The more that know - the more that share - the more that want to jump on board #thewomensregatta #womeninsailing

Regatta Bib

Finally - you will be provided with the iconic Women's Laser Regatta Bib - thank you to our sponsor @nbsailsports. You are required to wear this at all times on the water.

NB Sailsports will also be onsite for the regatta with a pop-up shop over the weekend so if you need anything - ropes, vangs, clew straps, sails, and all things Laser - they will help you out. If you need help and advice the team are there to help you - as are the DBSC volunteers.

Thats it from us… until Saturday morning.

Happy Sailing !!!

Clare Alexander - 0409 391 304
Christine Linhart - 0420 879 896
Christine Patton - 0408 871 741

1 week to go

1 week to go and we are sold out! 4 weeks out from the Women's Regatta our regatta places were filled!

It's pretty incredible to think that there are so many women and girls that want to come together to compete on Sydney Harbour… and not to mention to breathe deeply with the Yoga on the deck each morning, wear - with pride - the unique Race bib and t-shirt (MADE for women), embrace the coaching opportunities and dine under the rafters with a gourmet meal while being inspired by incredible women in sailing… and that's just the start of it!

Actually - if you are keen to be part of this event - OR next years event - signing up to the waitlist helps us to know what we need to start organising - and to start prepping our key stakeholders too! So - don't hesitate - sign up NOW!

If you missed out - please jump on the waitlist at http://www.dbsc.com.au/womens-laser-regatta

The 2019 Women's Laser Regatta - we have Sailors coming from afar - Interstate AND Overseas - Yep - you read it - we are gaining international attention and we are thrilled to bits that The Women's Regatta is generating lots of excitement Overseas - I wonder who will win the prize for ‘The Sailor that has travelled the Farthest!’

So - Sailors - You gotta be in it to win it - if you are still thinking about it - don't hesitate - click on the link and send us a ‘HEY - I'm keen to be part of this important women's initiative’ link on our website - and tell us that there are more sailors out there that want to be part of this event!

If we don't see you sailing this weekend - perhaps you might like to come for a coffee - YEP - we even have our very own barista from The Little Marionette coffee on-site both mornings making a fresh pick-me-up to enjoy while you catch up with the sailors and be present for the official opening with The Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP @ 8:30am Saturday 28th Sept!

Happy Sailing !!!

Clare, Christine, and Christine

Coaching Team

Krystal Weir is our lead coach for the Women's Laser Regatta and we introduced you to her a few weeks ago in our News Flash - but we want to introduce to her coaching team.

Katie Spithill

Katie holds approximately 15 Major Championships wins to her name, which is no mean feat, not to mention Bronze & Silver Medals at the Women’s Match Racing World Championships.

In 2015 she teamed up with her long-time crew mate and Volvo Ocean Racer Stacey Jackson to head up an all Australian team and skipper an Extreme 40 with a wild card entry to the Extreme Sailing Series in Sydney. Being only the second time that an Extreme 40 team was led by a female skipper (since double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson in 2009).

In 2018 Katie again joined fellow team mate Stacey Jackson and was part of Ocean Respect Racing, in a bid to encourage stronger female representation in Australian sailing, and to promote ocean health and sustainability. Sailing the Reichel Pugh 66 ‘Wild Oats X’, she was part of the first all-female professional crew to enter the 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race which they campaigned to win the coveted Tattersall Cup in Hobart. Narrowly missing their goal of the win, they finished a very creditable 2nd Place IRC Overall,1st Female Skipper, 2nd IRC Division 0 & 2nd ORCi Division 1, all with only 13 days of racing/training prior to the race.

Karyn Gojinch

Karyn represented Australia in Sailing at three Olympic Games (1988, 2004, 2008) and competed in multiple World, European and National Championships.

Worked with numerous coaches at the highest level of our sport and have a true understanding of what an athlete needs out of a coach. Worked with Junior, Youth and Adults sailors new to the sport as well as aspiring Olympians helping them achieve their personal sailing goals, in various classes of Dinghies and Yachts.

• 2019 Pacific Games – Apia, Samoa (August 2019) Australian Sailing Team coach

• 2018 Youth Olympic Games – Buenos Aries, Argentina (October 2018) Australian Sailing Team manager/coach

• 2014-2018 Women on Water WGIS Female Coaching Regatta Westernport VIC (Saber, Pacer, Laser – coaching and racing support)

Marlena Berzins

Hot off the Press and Hot off the boat from winning the 2019 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup in New York with the RSYS team last week we have Marlena joining the coaching team.

Marlena Berzins has been sailing for eight years, mostly on the Laser competing Nationally and Internationally on the Laser Radial from 2015-2017. Marlena was an athlete on the Australian Sailing Squad. Some of my top results include being two time-female Youth National Champion, two-time female State Champion and 5thU19 at the U21 worlds. Since then she has been dedicating her time to coaching the youth Laser program at RSYS and some match racing on the side.

Charlie Alexander

Charlie Alexander is a match racer from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and with extensive experience sailing the Laser 4.7 and Radial at DBSC, RSYS, WSC and competing at Metro, State and National levels.

She, too, has just landed back in Oz after recently winning the 2019 Sailing Champions League Final in Switzerland and the 2019 National Sailing League Championship. Charlie has been coaching dinghies for 2 years and is really excited to be a part of The Women's Regatta.

We are so lucky to have these amazing sailors join us to coach, inspire, share and support you over the weekend. We hope you enjoy the coaching experience.

The NSW/ ACT Laser Association is supporting DBSC and the Women's Laser Regatta.

Happy Sailing !!!

From The Women's Regatta Committee
Christine, Clare, and Christine

Sponsors

Not long to go now until we hit the water and go sailing! We have been peddling hard behind the scenes to bring you an event that’s like no other! Yep – no one else does it quite like this – unique in its conception and unique in its delivery!

So I just wanted to share with you some of the incredible sponsors of the event – We are so lucky to have all this for you! Head to The Women’s Regatta website and check out our sponsors websites by clicking on the logos. These sponsors have given everything from Banana Bread to Organic Juices to prizes to money to the Unique medals made just for you! Please smile for the cameras because the best way we can say thank you for them is by posting, sharing, commenting and smiling for photos.

We will have 2 POP up shops over the weekend – Boat Crew Gear will be selling lots of goodies including MUSTO gear, and NB Sailsports selling all things Laser boats – ropes, sails, masts, and more!

Boat Crew Gear are generously supporting The Women’s Laser Regatta and would like to share the love to the whole DBSC membership. Order online now with BoatCrewGear.com for pickup at the Women's Laser Regatta and receive a 15% discount on your gear!

BoatCrewGear.com is an Australian small business servicing the sailing and paddling market online and at popup shops at regattas. BCG sell ALL brands – MUSTO, Zhik, Spinlock, Harken, ForwardWIP, Gill, Ronstan, wetsuits, boots, blocks, jackets for on and off shore, thermal hot sox, Performance knee pads, and more – basically everything you need for sailing either on a dinghy OR a big boat. When was the last time you bought a NEW Lifejacket? They don’t last forever – BCG have a variety of brands too.

If you order online between now and the 26th September 2019 you can pick up your gear at their popup shop at the Women's Laser Regatta on the 28/29th September

Use code DBSCLaser at checkout for your 15% discount.
Only valid for online orders with regatta pickup. Discount not valid on items already on special.

If you miss the online shop – come on down to DBSC as Andrew will have a pop up shop both days so you can come and try gear on, buy last minute things to get ready for the summer of sailing !

Finally- you will receive some updates over the next few days – logistics for the weekend – and more. But you can head to the website to check out the schedule of the weekend - http://www.dbsc.com.au/womens-regatta-schedule-2019

Thank you for jumping on board and coming to sail @thewomensregatta – we can’t wait to meet you!

From your WR committee
Clare, Christine, and Christine

Countdown is on

Ahoy Sailors!

Wow – Thank you for signing up for the 2019 Women’s Laser Regatta hosted by Double Bay Sailing Club!

Since opening our EOI link we were inundated with expressions of interest in this year’s regatta and subsequently the NOR release and link to registrations has us jumping for joy because we are almost at capacity!

Yep – you read it – we are almost at capacity which means you are all part of a VERY SPECIAL group of women and girls who are part of an important (and not to mention FUN) women’s initiative.

So HUGE thank you goes out to you for jumping on board!

Any friends not signed up – do it for them! Here - http://www.dbsc.com.au/shop/womens-regatta-registration-2019

What’s next ?

Over the next few weeks you will receive some updates on our amazing coaches, incredibly generous sponsors and the volunteers delivering this unique event to you.

What can you do?

• We need your help and support – follow us – on @thewomensregatta – like, share, comment on all the photos – we need you to do this to build more value and engagement so our sponsors love it and we gather lots of like-minded people to something that is truly unique.

• Encourage all your friends, family, sailors, clubs to come and check out the event over the weekend!

• Smile for the cameras! We will have not 1, not 2 but 3 incredible photographers capturing as much as possible so we can share that with you post event.

So, hang on, we have less than 4 weeks to splash – dust off your wetsuits after the winter and lets go sailing!

From your Women’s Regatta Committee
Clare, Christine, and Christine

PRO Louise Davis announced!

Come one, come all! Have we got a roll up for you. Our Race Team are primed and ready to race - all we need are the sailors on the startline! 

Let us introduce you to our amazing IRO - Louise Davis. She is jumping on a plane from QLD to come and run our races - not only is she a Race Officer she is an International Race officer. We always promise to give you the best of the best and with the best RO you will have the BEST racing!

Louise has been an International Race Officer since 2012 and has officiated at many large Australian events at her home club (Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron) and other Australian and overseas clubs. She will be PRO for the 2019 South East Asian Games, was until recently the chair of the Yachting Queensland Racing Rules and Officials Committee, a member of the National Racing Rules and Officials Committee and is passionate about training and mentoring other race officers and race management volunteers. 

Louise is hot off the start boat and in the last 5 years she has been the RO for over 28 events including the South Pacific Laser Masters, Sail Brisbane, Etchells Worlds, Etchells Australiain Championship and lots more. 

Why have the best? So you have the best event, the best racing and the best experience. We are committed to delivering this to you and we are so grateful that Louise Davis is coming to our shores for this event. 

Also joining us on the race team is our lead coach - Krystal Weir and back by popular demand after last years event! 

With a long list of achievements, including seven-time Australian National Champion in Laser Radial, sailing in her first Sydney to Hobart last year, and not attending one, but two Olympic games, is something most professional athletes only dream about! 

Part of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) when she was 15, progressing to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), it only seemed natural to compete in the 2008 Olympic games in Qingdao China. She sailed in a three-crew Yngling team, where she finished tenth alongside teammates Karyn Gojnich and Angela Farrell. 

In 2012, Weir was handed the Olympic baton for the second time in her sailing career, except this time she was selected to represent Australia in her area of expertise, in the Women's Laser Radial class sailing event in London. 

If being an Olympian and training for London 2012 wasn’t enough to have on her plate, Weir embarked on completing a Master of Physiotherapy from Sydney University, finishing in 2011. 

We are thrilled to have Krystal on board and leading our coaches and sailors with her extensive experience and knowledge in building the sailing skills. 

So - hurry sailors - spots are filling up fast for the Women's Laser Regatta! 

Happy Sailing !!! 

From The Women's Regatta Committee 
Clare, Christine, and Christine 

Pre-regatta Coaching Available!

* Are you new to the Laser class? * Has it been a while since you sailed a Laser? * Are you feeling nervous to get out there for the regatta but super excited? * Do you want a little bit of coaching in the lead up to the regatta?

Well - you are not alone - We have received and expect to receive more requests for advice on coaching and upskilling before the event so we have explored some ideas for some 1-1 coaching or small group coaching on water.

Upskilling in a Laser and Coaching

We have reached out to some coaching service providers who are in the industry who are happy to help anyone who is interested in one on one lessons or in organising a group session or two or three or four.    

• Brett Beyer - beyersailing@gmail.com- available from August 6-28 ( back on September 20- Event  )  – he can be contacted directly to arrange some sessions and will charge you directly for his time.   He is a professional coach. He is based out of Woollahra Sailing Club but has access to a RIB.

• Rob McMillan – September 1 – Event - NB Sailsports – Sydney@nbsailsports.com.au – Phone 02 93717475, Mob: 0405177207 – NB Sailsports are a big sponsor of our event and Rob and his team can provide sessions in September @ Woollahra Sailing Club.  NB Sailsports are also the company from which Lasers and gear can be chartered and or purchased (they will have a pop up shot over the weekend too for any last minute things you might need).  Rob indicated that a group of 4 or 5 would create a sustainable group for the September month if you wanted to do group sessions.   

Feel free to contact these guys directly or if you are interested in joining a group. If you would like further help with that please contact-

Christine Patton at christine@bermudamarine.bm.   

Happy Sailing !!! 

From The Women's Regatta Committee
Christine, Clare, and Christine

Announcing the 2019 Women's Laser Regatta

Double Bay Sailing is excited to announce that it will be running and hosting the Women’s Laser Regatta on 28-29 September 2019 .

A 2-day regatta run by women, coached by women and competed by women and girls on the wonderful waters of Sydney Harbour.

Krystal Weir is leading the coaching - an opportunity not to be missed!

Venue - Double Bay Sailing Club

Please register your interest (no payment required as yet) by filling in the Expression of Interest form.