60 seconds with Mark Gray

He sure has taken his time to do his Q&A, but the timing is impeccable given our session with Malcolm Page on Wednesday. Also, check out those socks from the 1980s!How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 8 years old. I did a learn to sail course over the 1985/86 season at Hunters Hill Sailing Club with my older brother. My first sail there was in a Manly Junior with the then recently-crowned Australian National MJ Champion, Malcolm Page. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? Beneteau Oceanis 50 or something similar. What is your sailing goal? Sailing holidays in the Mediterranean with family and friends. Tell us the back story to your laser’s name? I bought my Laser second hand and liked the name it came with – “Zone”. When I eventually buy a new Laser, it will be named “Zone II”, as a tribute to the transport zone

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Winter sailing and BBWP

Winter sailing will be returning this year. The winter series will be 30 races held over 10 Sundays from 1 May 2022 to 24 July 2022 (that is, 3 races each Sunday). There will be no racing during the school holidays. (3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul). The calendar is on the website.This year there will be a handicapped pointscore held in conjunction with the championship for every race. We encourage everyone to participate as there are trophies and honour boards at stake!In conjunction with the winter series, Brett Beyer will offer a Brett Beyer Winter Program (BBWP) for 6 weeks (18 races) on 8 May, 15 May, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 24 Jul.  The cost of the program is $360 for all 6 weeks. BBWP subscribers will carry a GPS during each race and will later receive a report and animation showing their GPS tracks vs the fleet, together with

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New member – David Evenden

David Evenden has joined the club after purchasing James Johnson’s laser. If you see him around the club, please be sure to give him a warm welcome. In the meantime, here is a little about David to help you get to know him.How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? My family came back to Australia from Europe on P & O’s Arcadia when I was 5 years old. I must have been 7 or 8 when I went on my first sailboat, with a school mate and his dad on Pittwater.If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? A Pogo 40, because this makes me excited: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osFEjGyXMZIWhat is your ultimate sailing goal? Cruising the Pacific. And doing a few offshore races with my own crew.Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? I bought “Question of Balance” from barrister James Johnson, who I came

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Notes from afar

Mark Bethwaite has reported in from dinner in Villenfranche with good company, former DBSC member Hadrien Bourley. Hadrien returned to Monaco last year where he and Elle finally married after two years of COVID-postponement.Hadrien is well but missing the crew at DBSC. And we’re missing him. On the upside, there’s been more space at the pin end of the start line for the standard fleet since he returned to Monaco!

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Coming up next…

Wednesday 9 March – Twilight sprintsSaturday 12 March – Club Championships 7&8 (BBQ)Wednesday 16 March – Twilight sprintsSaturday 19 March – Learn to Race (am) | Autumn Pointscore 3&4Wednesday 23 March – Twilight sprintsSaturday 26 March – Autumn Pointscore 5&6Wednesday 30 March – Twilight sprintsThe club calendar can be viewed (and subscribed to) here.

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Race Report 26 February 2022

From our PRO for the day, James Tudball:It was one for the keen beans on Saturday.  At 1pm it was looking like we were in for a dreary day with light winds.  Richard George and Jim Dounis threw the big rig up to join the majority, so we had an all standard fleet of ten boats.  Incidentally, the fleet began with only eight boats.  Geoff Kirk and Luke Parker were seen whizzing around nearby on their electric hydrofoils, but after Sydney Maritime questioned their foiling abilities and suggested they pack it in, the pair were only too happy to exchange their new gizmo for the ever faithful Laser. The 10 x standards showcased mm perfect starting and highly competitive racing in what ended up being a great 8 – 13 knot nor’easter.  Seven races were notched up and every sailor had their turn at the pointy end.Many thanks to our volunteers on the day – James

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Congratulations to our Masters sailors

Congratulations to our Masters sailors who ventured to Westernport Yacht Club in Victoria over the past week for the Australian Laser Masters National Championships. We have two National Champions at the club – Rod Barnes in the Standard Master division and Brett Beyer in the Standard Grand Master division.Congratulations to all our competitors who raced, and represented the club, with merit:Brett Beyer – Standard Grand Master: 1stRod Barnes – Standard Master: 1stNick Alexander – Standard Master: 2ndDavid Newman – Standard Apprentice: 3rdAndrew Cox – Radial Master: 5thMartin White – Radial Grand Master: 5thYves Stening – Radial Grand Master :19thPat Levy – Radial Great Grand Master: 7thIan Tudball – Radial Great Grandmaster: 20th

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Volly of the week!

Double Bay Sailing Club is managed and run entirely by volunteers. As the saying goes, “many hands make light work. There is always work to be done in the upkeep of our shed and the ongoing running of dinghy racing.This week we’d like to thank Steven London. Steven has recently replaced and upgraded the club’s security CCTV, the club’s CCTV policy and arranged signage around the club. Thanks Steven!

Steven at the State Masters Championships in Port Stephens. Photo credit: Steven (obviously)

The club is full of people making wonderful contributions around the place, and sometimes behind the scenes. Let us know who deserves a mention!

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