We wish everyone a very happy Festive Season and hope 2020 brings nothing but good breezes your way. Please check out the holiday sailing schedule below. If you’re eager for more sailing over the holidays, our Top Mark Facebook Page is a great place let your DBSC mates know when you’re headed out. Also, please note the newsletter is taking a break and will return on 8 January. Wednesday 18 December, 5:30 start – Twilight Sailing with Brett Beyer.Saturday 21 December, 2pm start – Sprint Racing.Saturday 4 January, 2pm start – Sprint Racing.Wednesday 8 January, 5:30 start – Twilight Sailing.Saturday 11 January, 2pm start – Autumn Point Score (and we’re back to normal).
Category: Latest from Double Bay Sailing Club
Up Next and Holiday Schedule
Wednesday 11 December, 5:30pm start – Twilight Sailing.Saturday 14 December, 2pm start – Tyrell and Rousso races. (See info above)Saturday 14 December, 6pm – Christmas Party. (See info above)Wednesday 18 December, 5:30 start – Twilight Sailing with Brett Beyer. Saturday 21 December, 2pm start – Sprint Racing.Saturday 4 January, 2pm start – Sprint Racing.Wednesday 8 January, 5:30 start – Twilight Sailing.Saturday 11 January, 2pm start – Autumn Point Score (and we’re back to normal).
Help with Metros Needed
DBSC is hosting the 2020 NSW Laser Association Metropolitan Championships on 1-2 February. It is an important event for the club, with sailors coming from near and far to compete, and we want to put on a good show.We’re looking for members who do not wish to sail in the Metros to assist us and drive a RIB/boat on Saturday or Sunday. We currently need 3 RIB drivers and a Jazzman driver for both days. We also are looking for 3 canteen helpers on Saturday (lunch only) and 3 canteen helpers on Sunday (Breakfast & Lunch – will accept offers to do one of the two sessions). If you can assist, please let Mark Crowhurst know HERE ASAP.
Festive Racing This Saturday
This Saturday we have our famous once-a-year Tyrell and Rousso races, which are super fun formats. The Tyrell is a handicapped chase, with the slowest boat starting first and successive faster boats hunting each other down as they start over the next 5-10 minutes per their handicaps. The format makes for what is perhaps the most competitive and exciting race of the season! The Rousso is a scratch race with a massed start, in which all boats in all classes start together – a yardstick is applied to the winner in each of the classes to determine the overall winner. By tradition, everyone wears a Santa hat – however they have gone missing. Does anyone know where at the clubhouse the Santa hats have been stored? They were last seen in a plastic bag hanging in the bathroom. If you do know please let Commodore Cox know HERE.We will hand the hats out on the
Spring Pointscore Finale
The fleet sailed the final hearts of the Spring Pointscore (and two heats of the Club Championships) in a 5 -15 knot unsteady easterly breeze. The order of the day was to look for pressure, and watch out for the shifts. Thanks to Gerry Donohoe and Simon Stone on the Jazzman, to Emily Ball and Mark Lewkovitz in the RIB, and to Steven London and Nick Pellow who helped in the canteen. Also, a big thanks to James Tudball and his cinematographer, Tom, for their work shooting footage on Saturday for our promo video — we are looking forward to seeing the final product with eager anticipation!The competition heading into the final week of the Spring Pointscore was tight and our computers are working overtime to finalise the results, which will be revealed at the Christmas Party on Saturday.
Top Tip – Check Your Vang Tang
Luke Parker’s back with another important tip: check your vang tang.So far this season about 6 full rigs have snapped the stainless steel vang tang on their mast. They break where they are bent, just below where the vang attaches to the tang. We’re not sure why they are suddenly breaking… it could be dodgy material, could be the firmer vangs we are all sailing with, could even just be bad luck. In any event, it’s well worth checking your vang tang regularly. They are not difficult to replace, but impossible to race without. In addition to Luke’s suggested inspection, Commodore Cox suggests a two vang range attached in case one breaks. And to also get the newer thicker one that is now available. You can check out Andrew’s setup next time you’re at the club.
Christmas Party RSVPs needed TODAY
We’re looking forward to celebrating the festive season with you this Saturday, starting at 6pm. Partners welcome! There will be good dink, fine food and plenty of dancing. But we need to make sure we have enough supplies to keep the merriment going late, so please RSVP HERE by 5pm TODAY!
RIB Driver Needed This Sunday
John Vasey graciously helps DBSC fulfil our affiliation agreement with the 18s by supplying RIB support to their fleet every Sunday. John is unavailable to do so this Sunday 8 December and we need a volunteer to fill in. If you are interested, please let Mark Crowhurst know HERE ASAP. The day goes from about 1pm to 5pm and we have detailed instructions from John on what’s involved. Thanks!
Tom Slingsby Shares Rare Insights at DBSC
Last Wednesday was a momentous evening at DBSC. The clubhouse was packed with members intently listening to Olympic Gold Medallist Tom Slingsby recount highlights of his illustrious sailing career. During the evening Tom shared rare insights on his journey to become one of Australia’s best sailors, including the highs and lows on the way to success and the mind-set and dedication it takes to win. Tom admitted that he wasn’t the best youth sailor, preferring tennis at an early age. However, after giving up tennis, his love for sailing quickly blossomed. Winning the 2007 Laser World Championships he was ranked number one going into the 2008 Olympics. Tom shared the many reasons for his crushing 22nd place in those Olympic Games, and the resilience it took to keep going and eventually win Laser gold in the 2012 Olympics. Tom also revealed how Oracle Team USA made their incredible comeback against Team New Zealand
Rule of the Month — The Top Mark
By Brett BeyerEditor’s note:We were excited to receive an email via our website from the International Laser Class Association, which is a subscriber to our newsletter. ILCA saw Brett Beyer’s last Rule of the Month article, and asked for permission to re-publish it in their global newsletter. With Brett’s kind permission, this has now occurred, along with a blurb about Brett and DBSC. You can read it HERE. It is worth another read to get the start rules down pat!This month, we have another excellent article from Brett, this time about that next great source of contention — the top mark. Here it is …The top mark is a hotspot for rule infringements.While most of the yelling and bumping rarely results in a penalty turn (even with a jury present), care needs to be taken because the consequences of a penalty turn or two during a chaotic rounding situation can be a massive distance penalty.The