Instead of our usual club racing, this Saturday we’ll be participating in The Vaucluse Regatta. It’s the 87th running of this grand regatta, and is a great opportunity for racing in a big fleet, and to get tuned up for the part two of the VYC/DBSC challenge which in scheduled for the following Saturday. Racing starts at Vaucluse at 1.45pm which means they day will start earlier than normal for us. We’ll have a briefing at DBSC at 12 noon where we will review the format of the racing (it is still being finalised). It should be a good day on the water with Laser sailors from around the harbour. There is no cost to participate and all are encouraged to attend – think of it as a normal Saturday on the water for us, just at the other end of the harbour.
Author: admin
Coming Up
Wednesday 16 January, 5pm – Twilight Sailing. Looks like it will be a wonderful 16-knot NE breeze under warm, sunny skies… so join us!Saturday 19 January, 9am – Learn to Race. Come along if you want to learn more about Laser boat handling, balance, boat posture, trim, starts, tacks, gybes, boat set-up and any other race management fundamentals. Please email Martin White at mwhite@universalmagazines.com.au if you are planning on attending. Saturday 19 January, 2pm Start – Spring Pointscore Heats 3 & 4.Sunday 20 January, 8am Start – Boat Licence Course (for those members who have pre-registered for the course).Wednesday 23 January, 5pm – Twilight Sailing.Saturday 26 January– Australia Day. No Racing.Monday 28 January, 2pm Splash – Sprint Racing (see below).Wednesday 30 January, 5pm – Twilight Sailing.Saturday 2 February, 9am – Mandatory Competency Training for all members.Saturday 2 February, 2pm Start – Club Championship Heats 9 & 10 followed by a BBQ on the deck after racing.
Australia Day Weekend
There will be no sailing on Australia Day, Saturday 26th. Our harbour will be chookas with ferries and various other flotillas, so we’re staying away. We recommend you BBQ some juicy lamb chops and enjoy a cold one with loved ones. But… on Monday 28th there is a Public Holiday and we’re planning some informal sprints. There might be a course set, probably no RIBs, definitely no canteen service. 1.30ish briefing for a 2pm splash. Hope to see you there.
Vale Jeff Martin
Written by The International Laser Class AssociationILCA is shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Jeff Martin on 11 January 2019 while on a ski holiday with family and friends.Jeff’s dedication to the sport of sailing was unparalleled, having served as the Executive Secretary of the International Laser Class Association for 40 years. Jeff was a cornerstone of Laser events, having worked at every Laser Open World Championship except the first one in 1974 where he was a competitor. The loss of Jeff Martin will be keenly felt throughout the sailing world and our deepest condolences go out to Jeff’s family and friends.
Big Boat Race Report
Five boats presented on summer afternoon, with a fresh sou-easterly blowing.And Peter Collie gave us a start. (Remember flags rule in the starting sequence, and as PRO Peter used the answering pennant to delay until he felt the fleet were all there). The start was just 5 min delayed. The right place to start was at the green pole, but the first leg was a beam reach and the advantage was small. Umbakumba, Chenonceau and Smitten were all there; one was OCS (Chenonceau) and she went back – and was last to start instead of first. Still, she worked her way through the fleet for a strong finish. G-Force started late but fully powered up and was soon amongst the leaders. Umbakumba was the first to the Point Piper mark and threatened to lead all the way, as she did in December. But boat size does count, and with all boats powered to their intrinsic boat speed, the 30 footers
Boat Licence Course – Sunday January 20th (8am-4pm)
There is ONE spot left in the one-day boat licence course we will be running at DBSC on January 20th provided by ABC Boating and supported by the club. Members will need to pay $125 to do the course and the club will subsidise the other 50%. All members should have this licence if you perform PRO or COTD duties. It is also good for anyone who just enjoys being on the Harbour in a boat. To make payment and secure the last spot please click on this link: http://www.dbsc.com.au/shop/boat-license-course-jan20 The weather policy on the day is go unless it’s dangerous (e.g. lightning). If you can’t attend, it will be your obligation to find an alternate (we will help as long as not at the last minute). If you don’t attend without covering your spot, you will be expected to cover the club’s contribution on your behalf (e.g. make up the difference that the club
Official 2019 Sailing Kicks off Saturday
We hope you all had an excellent holiday, and that 2019 is off to a great start. We’re planning a great year of events, and are looking forward to seeing you all back at the club this Saturday, 12 January, for the first two heats of the 2019 Autumn Point Score. The big-boat are also planning their January race this weekend on Sunday, 13 January. In the meantime, there will be Twilight Sailing on tonight, and if you’re off from work and looking for a sailing partner, pop a note on our Top Mark Facebook page. It’s been great to see so many members using the Top Mark to plan informal sailing together over the holidays.
Important – Competency Training Signups
Please read this — it is important. We will be scheduling our first ever competency training seminar at 9am on Saturday, 2 February. We are asking ALL members to attend, no matter how competent you think you are.This is a new initiative to ensure continuous improvement in the skills of all members in relation to race management and safety. The training will ensure we offer the high standards of racing and safety that a club of our stature and fleet size demands. This has not been the case every week, which is unsurprising given that we have many new members and that each member, whether old or new, is only rostered once a year.To put this in perspective, in preparing the PRO / COTD roster, we are constantly short of people who we know are competent in setting courses, running races, recording results, launching and driving the Jazzman and the RIBs,
Post-Christmas Sailing Report
Written by Luke ParkerEight hearty souls went sailing on December 29th. It was champagne racing. We enjoyed a building nor’easter, not a cloud in the sky, and very very few boats on the harbour. As I write, a couple of blokes in the cheap seats are telling me it was the best sailing of the year. Multiple sprint races were held. Ashley Deacon won the ironman award. On arrival at the club, Dean Bergman was caught installing what go down in history as the greatest improvement to the club yet. Photo below:
Masters Weekend Away to Break Record
It’s great to see that 20 members have already signed up to join our contingent headed North for the State Masters at Lake Macquarie over the weekend of 2-3 March. It’s set to be a record number of traveling DBSC sailors and is sure to be a great weekend away. If you haven’t done so already, please let us know here if you can join in the fun as we need to lock down numbers and start planning transport and accommodation.