The following activities will be happening around the clubhouse this weekend:Saturday 6 March8:30am DBSC’s Clean-up Australia Day (low tide)9:00am Learn To Race12:00pm Competitors depart for Laser Metropolitan Championship Day 1 at HHSC2:00pm DBSC SprintsAll day – 18 Footers JJ Giltinan TrophySunday 7 March9:30am Competitors depart for Laser Metropolitan Championship Day 2 at HHSCAll day – 18 Footers JJ Giltinan TrophyWe will be sharing the park with the 18 Footers on both days, so allow additional time for rigging and launching. Ensure you give way to the 18 Footers as their boats are a lot more difficult to manoeuvre than Lasers.
Category: Latest from Double Bay Sailing Club
Metros – this weekend
The NSW/ACT Laser Metropolitan Championship will be held this weekend at Hunters Hill Sailing Club, on the other side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The forecast on Saturday is for a moderate southerly so it’ll be a quick blast straight out of the bay, then a nice reach all the way to the start line. A tow is also available for those who want to preserve their energy. The breeze will be much lighter on Sunday so most of us will be catching a ride. If you haven’t already done so, enter online via the link below and email Rod Barnes to let him know that you’ll be attending. Departure from DBSC is 12:00pm on Saturday and 9:45am on Sunday.The Notice of Race, Online Entry, Sailing Instructions, Venue Information & Logistics, Electronic Sign On/Off, and Results are all available via the NSW/ACT Laser Association website and Australian Laser App [HERE].HHSC
Race Report – Sat 27 February
A light wind day with the threat of rain only allowed one Club Championship race to be completed. Winners of the day were Sylvie Stannage in the Radial and Nick Alexander in the Standard fleets. We were once again joined by the Australian Sailing Team / Australian Sailing Squad exhibiting their skill in the light breeze and some impressive roll tacks.Thanks to the volunteers Michael Osborne, Kate McHugh, John Conroy, and Derek Hand on the water; Paul Adam, Shirley Roach, Mark Gray, Diana Chen, and Steve London in the Canteen.
Important pre-race discussions
60 Seconds with Nick Alexander
1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 8 yrs old, steering my dads Corsair on a lake in Mount Isa North QLD whilst he was launching the spinnaker and yelling at me not to gybe it on him2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? A submarine as I don’t like yachts 3. What is your ultimate sailing goal? To be healthy enough to race Lasers beyond 754. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? I always had serious names for my teenage boats so I named my boat after my old cat Ralphy who nearly made it to 18 5. If you could add any ingredient to DBSC’s world’s best toasties – what would it be? More cheese – over cooked and oozing out the sides6. What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is
Coming Up
Wednesday 17 Mar – Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 8/10Saturday 20 Mar – Learn To Race / Autumn Point Score 11 & 12Wednesday 24 Mar – Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 9/10Saturday 27 Mar – Club Championship 13 & 14
Race Report – Metros – Sat 6 & Sun 7 March
21 competitors from DBSC ventured west to Hunters Hill Sailing Club to contest the Metropolitan Championships. The advice from some locals was to look to the land rather than the water as the pressure would be dependent on when Larry, who lives on the hill in Balmain, opened his side gate. The 10-knot shifting breeze during both days was extremely tricky and provided a challenge for all.There was fierce competition across all fleets and none more so than the Radials where members of the Australian Sailing Team / Australian Sailing Squad were on show. Not to be outdone, Mina Ferguson had an outstanding event and came home victorious. Daniel Costandi was also in fine form placing third. The Standard fleet had some good individual race results but overall David Newman put together an excellent series only to get beaten on a count-back for third. The full results of the series
Race Report – Sprints – Sat 6 March
13 boats took to the water in a moderate southerly for 6 sprint races at exactly 2:00pm until 4:00pm. The Radials and Standards raced together with Geoff Kirk leading the way. Most of us thought it was the right decision to stay to the east of the bridge for some practice in a shifty breeze. Highlights of the day were dodging yachts using Clark Island as a mark rounding in the Sydney Harbour Regatta, and crossing paths with the 18 Footers in the JJ Giltinan Championship race. Check out all the action from the 18 Footers TV where our little Laser fleet make a cameo appearance [HERE].Thanks to Daryl Lawrence, Nick Pellow, Jack Sywak for running the races; Paul Adam, Shirley Roach, Christine Patton, Bonnie Nixon, and Gavin Blake for feeding us.
Race Report – Sat 13 March
A very large Naval ship, the 18 Footers JJ Giltinan Championship, and numerous CYC fleets all made cameos in Saturday’s race, which made for an action packed afternoon. Despite the amount going on in such a condensed area, there were no incidents on the water. Murray Stone did go head-to-head with a 70ft motor yacht, with Murray coming out as the winner. Credit goes to all the sailors for great seamanship.The forecast was spot on; the sun shone all day and a beautiful NNE gradient filled in which led to some fantastic racing in both fleets. For once it should be acknowledged the Radials were better behaved on the start line that the Standards! At the end of the day, the winners were: Standards – Steve London (Point Score 9) and Nick Pellow (Point Score 10); Radials – The Tudballs – Ian (Point Score 9) and James (Point Score 10).Thanks
National Masters Championship Format
Planning has commenced for the 2022 Oceania & Australian ILCA Laser Master Championships and here is your chance to have your say on the format of the event going forward. We are caucusing views to feed into the planning process and considering two options for the 10 races. Option 1: 10 races over four days – Friday to Monday – with 2, 3, 3, 2 races per day (same format as previous years)Option 2: 10 races over five days – Monday to Friday – with 2 races per day (allowing the weekends for travel)Please let us know by the end of this week if you would like your opinion to be considered.Click [HERE] to submit your response.
History Corner
Performance awards for the 85/86 Season:Most number of breakages whilst competing in club racesThe best imitation of the TitanicBest imitation of an icebergThe most number of capsizes in Double Bay while trying to get to the first markRetiring skippers award – the spirit was willing but the knees were too weak