Get your winter woollies ready. Racing returns to DBSC with our Winter Championship this Sunday morning. This will be the first of 8 Sundays of racing for the series, which will conclude on 26 July. We’ve had a great response so far – over 20 members have signed up, with strong competitive fields in both fleets. If you are interested in participating in the Winter Series, and if you haven’t done so already, you must fill out this form.It is likely that we will have more than 10 boats in some fleets at least some weeks, which will require special COVID-19 segregation strategies in the clubhouse and the park. Remember that due to public health restrictions no more than 10 people can be in the clubhouse or in the rigging area at one time.To avoid this Radials will arrive at 7.00 for a 7.25 splash and 8am start. Full rigs will arrive
Category: Latest from Double Bay Sailing Club
Brett Beyer Winter Program
In conjunction with the Winter Series, coach extraordinaire Brett Beyer will run a Winter Program (BBWP). The program will be very similar to the GPS-based Brett Beyer Saturday Program – namely A and B subscriptions, with A costing $800 and B costing $400 for the eight week series.The B subscribers will get a fleet-level report on each race, showing:video with commentary on the starttheir GPS track each leg vs the rest of their fleettheir stats on each leg vs the rest of their fleetcomments on the performance of the fleet and correct tacticsThe A subscribers will get all the above, as well as an individual report highlighting technical and/or tactical considerations for them specifically, based on Brett’s real time and GPS observations.Please read all of the terms and conditions of this program HERE.We currently have 7 members signed up and need at least 3 more to make it viable. If you’re
Have Your Say with Woollahra Council
Woollahra Council is looking for feedback on their Crown land reserves, which include Steyne Park and Steyne Foreshore. If you have thoughts on what you love and what can be improved, let the council know by completing the survey HERE (note that you can fast forward to the Steyne Park section). Items that you may want to note include problems with the boat ramp, lack of parking and problematic lawn drainage. Thanks for helping let the Council know how we can make our great public facility even better.
60 Seconds With John Chesterman
Even though John won the Club Person of the Year award at this year’s AGM, he is still a man of mystery to some. Here’s your chance to get to know him a bit better. 1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?As soon as I had the lung capacity to blow one up. 2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? A Moth. NOT going to happen. It’s mostly the latter problem.3. What is your sailing goal?To make it to the club more often.4. Tell us the back story to your laser’s name?Finn Alexander has a better idea of that. I bought it from a guy that bought it from one of his mates. I think seeing ‘Derek’ brings back fond memories for Clare so haven’t changed the name.5. If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties –
What To Do With Your Old Kit
In an effort to stop old wetsuits and sails going to landfill, Geoff Kirk has done some research on recycling and repurposing and we have some solutions for members. If you’ve used your time off the water to sort out storage and/or stocktake your sailing gear and have wetsuits and sails you no longer want here’s what to do…Unwanted SailsGive your unwanted sails to Geoff Kirk. He will sort them, giving Martin White first dibs on the best of these to use for Learn to Race. We’ll then try to resell any half decent ones on consignment and the rest will be sent for recycling / repurposing.Wetsuits (not suitable for sailing any more)Geoff is going to leave a tub for the wetsuits in the vestibule between the changing rooms. He will then take them for recycling. Or you can recycle these at Patagonia or Rip Curl yourself. Wetsuits (still suitable for
60 Seconds With Andrew Cox…
We all know him as the man in charge (or the man who thinks he is in charge), but there is so much more to learn about our fearless Commodore. Read on to find out what makes him tick. 1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? I was 12yo in Yr 7 at school on Lake Macquarie. Sailing was offered as a school sport, which we did on Wednesday afternoons in summer. We sailed on boats called “gnats”, which my high school teacher had designed. And we made them ourselves out of fibreglass in our “technics” classes at school. We made the foils in woodwork and the spars in metalwork. And the teacher’s wife made the sails. We used to sail around for fun – no coaching, no racing, no clue! But it was fun. This photo below is actually my brother – my parents forgot to
Winter Championship Set to Begin Sunday 7 June
We are excited to announce that as COVID-19 restrictions ease, we have been given the greenlight to begin organized racing. We will be holding our Winter Championship Series every Sunday morning for eight weeks starting on 7 June and concluding on 26 July. There will be three shorter races held every week, and the Winter Championship cubes are up for grabs. Because of on-going restrictions, the series will be a bit different this year, so please read the following carefully. The key regulation we have to work around is that no more than 10 people can be in the clubhouse or in the rigging area at one time. To avoid this Radials will arrive at 7.00 for a 7.25 splash and 8am start. Full rigs will arrive at 7.30 for a 7.55 splash and 8.30am start. If there are more than 10 boats in any fleet, the additional sailors must wait for their turn
Virtual AGM Wrap-up
Nearly 60 members logged into Zoom for DBSC’s virtual AGM last Friday evening, including Life Members Dene Bergman, Andrea Bergman, Shirley Roach, Mark Bethwaite and Jim Ley. Commodore Andrew Cox braved the cold and empty clubhouse to broadcast his remarks from there. Andrew recapped this strange COVID-19 shortened season and pointed out the highlights of the year, including the implementation of the club’s three-point strategy focused on (a) training and safety, (b) member engagement and (c) ongoing improvements. You can check out the Commodore’s full report HERE .
Andrew’s setup. Bright lights in a lonely clubhouse.
After the Commodore’s remarks, the Management Committee offered reports and all the 2019/20 sailing awards were presented. Vice-Commodore, Mark Crowhurst did the honours of announcing the awards. Although Shirley Roach
e-Sailing Hits DBSC
DBSC hosted its first ever Virtual Regatta Club Championship last Saturday afternoon. Eight sailors battled it out over five races. Talking over zoom, and playing on their phones, there was spirited discussions, especially as boats collided at the top mark. Racing was in J70s on a virtual Sydney Harbour. The competition was fierce – obviously several of the members have been making good use of the quarantine to hone their virtual sailing skills. Thanks to Matt Knight for organizing the event. He also took first place in the competition, followed closely by his son Hugo. We had such a good time playing, we’re going to make it a weekly Saturday event at 10:30am. If you’d like to participate please let Matt know HERE and download the App HERE.
60 Seconds With Peter Collie…
This week our social guru spills the beans. You might only know him as the BBQ master, but there is so much more to learn about Peter. 1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? I was 2 or 3 when my dad first took me to the ocean on a grey day I remember the vast sameness of the sea. First boat would have been a punt in Cambridge, same era. Sailing started as a teenager in France at a sailing school in Brittany. We fished for crab from the boats, learned to drive the boat with one oar off the stern when the wind died and snuck across the bay to buy strong cider from a farmer on the other side.2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? I’m happy with the laser for now.3. What is your sailing goal? Enjoy every