All Laser sailors are invited to take part in the DBSC / RPEYC Pre-Spring Regatta which will be held 21-22 August at Double Bay. Click here for the NoR.
NB Laser / Finnports are providing very generous prizes for the regatta. Prizes include a full rig and radial rig sail and a great trade-in deal as part of the regatta. Prizes will be awarded based on a raffle draw for participating sailors as well as division prizes for the gun sailors.
It promises to be good racing in a warm atmosphere, despite the cold weather.
We'd welcome all interested laser sailors to join in.
I trust we have all enjoyed a relaxing few months of off-season and are now looking forward to the sailing starting up again. This season promises to be as busy as ever so there should be some excellent racing ahead. The full schedule is now available on the DBSC website.
Laser Program
The Laser fleet kicks off this Saturday. We have organised 3 Saturdays of pre season sprint races on the 7th, 14th and 28th of August. Please note that the races will kick off at the earlier time of 13:00. We will also be running a Spring Regatta on the 21st and 22nd of August which will also start at 13:00. We have organised some sponsorship and hope to have generous prizes on offer (latest discussions included the possibilities of a brand new Radial and brand new Full Rig sail). We intend to raffle these off based on number of races started - the more you sail the better your chances of winning. This regatta has become a regular part of the DBSC schedule and always provides the ideal method for blowing the winter cobwebs away. The season proper kicks off with round one of the club championship on Saturday 4th September. We'll be back to 14:00 starts then.
As well as regular racing at DBSC, there are also some exciting laser regattas to look forward to. The Australian Laser National Championships are taking place on Botany Bay over the New Year period. Over 300 lasers will be expected for this regatta. There will also be a separate Masters National Championships this year scheduled for Port Stephens. Please the association web site for more information.
Laser Sailor Master List
After Laser sailing on a Saturday, you may notice several members hunched over the club computer with the sign on sheet and results. The race committee face a challenge to work out the results as quickly as possible. Trying to match up the sail numbers, from the results recorded by the RO, to paid up members can end up being quite complex. In order to assist with this task we have listed all of the Laser members, together with sail numbers and boat names, on the website. Please can you review this list and let me know of any changes. It is very important that you understand that these are the details that will be used to score you. If you change sail numbers you need to let the race committee know so we can update you. While boat names can be a bit trivial on a Laser, it helps with awarding prizes and recording results in the newspaper. If you don't nominate a boat name the Race Committee will reserve the right to make one up for you. So please avoid the embarrassment of having your race win recorded in the local press under a ridiculous boat name, and let me know what you would like to name your vessel. Here is a link to the Sailor Master List.
Keel Boat Program
While the Laser sailors took a few months off, the keelboat sailors have continued to sail over winter. So far two winter series races have been sailed with 6 boats presenting at each start line. Time and Tide took out the honours on the race in July.
The third race has been postponed to allow several members to compete in the Sydney to Southport race. Jonathon Stone, competing on Illusion, had to retire with Keel damage, while Roger Hickman on Wild Rose finished in 49th. Full results can be seen here: Sydney to Southport
Membership Fees
I'm afraid it's that time of year again when we have to send out membership renewals and ask you all to contribute to the club's financial well being. At the AGM in May, the club membership endorsed the Committee's proposal to leave membership fees at the same rate as last season. I will be issuing invoices over the next few weeks - please make an effort to pay these as soon as you can. The easiest way is to pay the money directly into the club's bank account (details will be on the invoice) and quote the invoice number or surname so I know whom the payment is from. For those of you who do not have Internet banking you can post a cheque.
See you on the water soon.
The National Trust has recognised the historic and ongoing
significance of Double Bay Sailing Club to the community, the sport of
sailing and to the landscape of Sydney Harbour by including DBSC on
its heritage register. Mr. Scott Woodcock Core Programmes Director
from the National Trust visited Double Bay Sailing Club on 31 October
to unveil the plaque which recognises DBSC as an important and living
part of this city's heritage.
Please see the attached press releases for more details.
Media release 1958
Media release 2009
Please see an obituary Sally published by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia:
http://www.cyca.com.au/newsDetail.asp?key=4459
DBSC members and friends,
We all remain deeply grieved at the tragic loss of Sally Gordon last Saturday. She was a great friend to all of us at DBSC, and we deeply mourn her passing and the tragic loss of Andrew Short.
As you know, sailing at DBSC was cancelled last Saturday as a mark of respect. The DBSC pennant was flown and half mast and boats were unrigged. All present silently paid tribute to Sally and Andrew, and the friends and family they leave behind.
We will take time to honour Sally and her love of sailing with a simple ceremony on the water at the start of racing this Saturday, 17th October. Participating sailors will be given flowers to throw on the water on the start line at 2pm.
To allow all of Sally's and Andrews friends to come together to commemorate their lives, the CYCA is hosting a celebratory event this Tuesday afternoon, 20th of October. All of Sally's and Andrews friends are invited to attend. The organisers at the CYCA are very keen to ensure that as many of Sally's friends from DBSC can be included. The function is at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, 1 New Beach Road, Darling Point, on Tuesday 20 October from 2.00pm onwards. I am sure it will go late, so it would not be a problem for people to come after work. Parking will be a problem, and as a sailors wake, public transport might be a better option. If people want to park at DBSC, it may be possible to ferry people around via the DBSC response boat.
It is the wish of Sally’s family that she is laid to rest privately, with only her family in attendance. The funeral took place today, Friday 16 October.
For those who cannot attend the wake on Tuesday, but would like to send tributes to Sally and Andrew, you may do so to by sending an email to cyca@cyca.com.au and they will be read out at the Celebration.
Sally and Andrew’s family have requested that in lieu of floral tributes they would be most grateful if such gestures be directed as donations to the CYCA SOLAS Trusts or CYCA Youth Sailing Academy. For further details on how to make a donation please contact Nina McKinnon via email nina.mckinnon@cyca.com.au
Please see http://www.cyca.com.au for further details of the celebration and the CYCA SOLAS Trusts and Youth Sailing Academy.
Sincerely
David Shannon
Commodore, DBSC
The 2009 Laser World Masters Championship concluded this week in Halifax Canada, with DBSC sailors competing across a range of divisions and, once again, amongst the winners. Huge congratulations to Peter Heywood once again finishing a very convincing first ahead of two sailors from the UK in 2nd and 3rd in the Grand Master Radial division. Congratulations to Mark Bethwaite finishing 2nd behind Wolfgang Gerz of Germany in a closely fought Grand Masters Full Rig division. Congratulations to Martin White for his 18th place in the Masters Radial division. Congratulations to Matt Wenke for a 4th place in the Masters Full Rig Silver Fleet. All the Australian sailors taking part seemed to have a good regatta in what were tough fleet. Particular congratulations must go to Richard Bott from MHASC, coming a dominating first in the Radial Apprentice Masters Division.
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