Better communications

Three general announcements:

• we are trialling Doodle over the winter to coordinate impromptu sailing and other events.
• on Sunday, May 17 from 11am, the clubhouse will be used for the function, so please avoid using the clubhouse
• please RSVP for the AGM at: http://doodle.com/gy6dtei2bv9tp9c4m3u5i9gm/private

Now for an issue that comes up regularly this time of the year, and we can use as bonding opportunity.

In winter a number of newer members want to sail but have problems moving boats from their upper east side and upper west side penthouses.  Historically, they have approached  committee people to try to arrange a temporary re-shuffle but with every rack filled at the end of last season, it is a logistical nightmare.

In order to build some cohesion amongst the newer and the older members by encouraging communications: directly, and not through the Secretary or Commodore (who know the new members), new members should feel free to approach directly lower racked members for a temporary re-shuffle.  Most older members are more than happy to oblige when approached directly - and they get to meet/talk to a new members! Dear Leader does this most years when he vacates the ground floor while he is vacationing in the Hamptons, or St Tropez or Monaco.

Having a look at boats covered in dust and our noticeboard is the best starting point for newer members, but I would be happy to provide phone numbers/emails to facilitate any of the communications.  If you don't mind your boat being temporarily raised, please put a notice on the noticeboard too.

PS:  About 5 boats have already been temporarily moved so pay close attention to the rack plan on the noticeboard and what is in the racks.

PPS: Temporary re-shuffles need the agreement of the all members involved and boats should not just be slotted arbitrarily in "vacant" spots.

PPPS:  Permanent re-shuffles remain at the absolute discretion of the Commodore who will speak to the members who are moving up. 

18 Footers

The 18's are fantastic friends to our club. They support us with a mooring, fuel, finances and security. Without their help, we'd be asking for more from our members. So how can we return the favour? Enjoy the hospitality;

Monday night badge draws. Drinks and chance to win cash if you are a member. Currently $900

State of Origin. Enjoy civilised surrounds while you watch uncivilised thugs belt each other

TGIF. Nothing better than a few drinkies and a bar snack on the open deck on the way home

Anyone sailing on Saturday....

....or on Sunday, or mid week, etc, etc????

These are questions that are often asked during the winter break (May to July inclusively).

Now in order to facilitate training and recreational sailing for members during the break, we are adopting, as a trail, modern Software as a Service (SaaS) called doodle.

DO NOT get concerned if you receive something from doodle.  Read the instructions and help us give it a go on scheduling the impromptu sailing.  Even if you RSVP no, it will be a worthwhile experience.

If it becomes all too much, then there is always the option of opting out of doodle.

Peter Collie is running the trial: social@dbsc.com.au

Membership

If you have already paid your fees, thank you.

If you were a member last year and have not yet received an email with fee details, please complete this form and we will send you the fee amount and banking details.

If you have received an email and haven't paid your fees, this is a gentle reminder that our financial year started on May 1 and we decided at the AGM two years ago to make payment due at the start of the fiscal year rather than the start of the sailing year in August, and do introduce the change ever the tow years.  The reason is that we want to do as much maintenance and procurement before the sailing starts for everyone.  Leaves the committee members to enjoy the sailing rather than working or doing admin in the Spring.

If you have already paid your fees and you need some tax deductions, see this opportunity.

Big Boat Brethren report

The day was blustery, all day; south-east but full of gusts and twists. The wind and rain of the morning had us mulling the doubtful joys of racing in a heavy, rain-bearing southerly. But, though the weather threatened rain all afternoon, in fact, we stayed dry.

Three boats - Stephen and I were without our regular crew, weather-shy with various explanations, and joined forces on Chenonceau.

And Chenonceau won the start, and held the lead all the way downhill to Sow’n Pigs. The leg to Taylor’s Bay was a square run, but the wind backed and veered and, on Chenonceau, we managed the instability with a series of gybes. Corinna set a spinnaker, and rode it downhill to advantage despite a twist, a broach and a tangle. Umbakumba worked to reproduce her speed of last week; she stayed in touch, but no more.

By the time we turned for the upwind leg to Shark Island, the wind was gusting well over the predicted 20 knots; and that stretch of the Harbour (Sow’n Pigs to Shark Island - as busy a racing leg as any in the world’s harbours) was thick with bigger, more powerful yachts that either powered over the top of us, or came direct at us fast. For a while, we could see little else but one spinnaker after another, each over a bow outlined with white water.

On Umbakumba the skipper ordered a change of headsail before turning upwind, to a more manageable size; but it can’t be done short-handed with any speed. Even with several practised crew it is hard to change headsails without a delay too long to be made up in a Harbour race. Once re-rigged, however, she sailed fast upwind.

Chenonceau's cruising rig - which gives her good speed off the wind - is safe and reliable upwind, but doesn’t give her the height that the hull and design are capable of; and the advantage swung to Corinna. She sailed high and securely over the larger boat, and rounded the top mark, at Shark Island, a minute ahead. The last leg, to Clarke Island was a close reach; all three boats handled it happily, riding the gusts. But the wind, on the last leg, began to die away, and you can’t cut back a longish lead on a dying wind.

Over the line:

Corinna

Chenonceau

Umbakumba

Again, Corinna’’s crew showed mastery of heavy conditions.

We race again on Sunday June 6.

Jonathan

Laser Association notice....

Dear Laser Sailors

Due to unfortunate storm damage at Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club the second round of the NB Sailsports Sprint Series on Sunday 31st May 2015  has been moved from MHASC to Avalon Sailing Club. The first start will be not before 11.00am. The NB Sailsports Sprint Series revised Notice of Race is here.

The sailing will take place in the area off Sand Point. Launching is recommended at Sand Point, where plenty of trailer and car parking is available just adjacent to Iluka Road. For those that are familiar with it – this is the beach where the Hobies usually race.

Following racing a sausage sizzle and bar will operate at Avalon Sailing club and we would like to encourage sailors to come along and share in the après sail fun. To this end NB Sailsports will be running a raffle for a sail – with the proceeds going to the refurbishment of the club.

Jan Scholten is the commodore at Avalon S.C. He can provide additional information and can be contacted on 0418 245 902.

MHASC are working to repair the damage to the club. The club sustained damage to flooring, launching ramp, piles and now has a change room with a sea view. There is information on the storm damage and the club activities on their web site here.

And now for something completely different;

·        Lane Cove 12 Foot Sailing Club is short of old style Laser boom vang fittings for their learn to sail program. If you have any such fittings in your spares kit bag then Tony Mulhearn at awmulhearn@hotmail.com would be pleased to give them a new life.

·        Laser Masters don’t forget the South Pacific Masters Championship is on earlier this year from 15 -18th May 2015 at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. This is always a great event. The Notice of Race is here and you can enter online here.

Cheers

Kevin Phillips 
Chair NSW/ACT Laser Association
375 Burns Bay Road Lane Cove NSW 2066 
( (02) 9427 1464 È 0427 146 400 
+ kevinphillips@telstra.com

Lumpenproletariat?

Lumpenproletariat: those who make no contribution to the workers' cause.

DBSC doesn't do lumpenproletariat because we rely entirely on volunteers to keep our club operating, and thus giving working class sailors from Sydney's west the opportunity to enjoy the best fleet sailing on Sydney Harbour for a modest annual subscription.

The instances of volunteering excellence were too numerous to recite without melting down our part of the cloud. However, every bit of volunteering helps from refitting the hose fittings when washing down your Laser to coming in at the crack of dawn during the Metros to clean the toilets: it is all appreciated by your fellow members.

The canteen crew (the anti-lumpenproletariat if there ever was one) are going to keep the 2015/16 effort going by catering for the AGM/presentation supper (see below).  The canteen crew made a record $10k this year with the additional events of the 12s and Metros.  Our supper is free, but to ensure we don't waste food for this event, can you all let Paul know whether you are attending by clicking here.

Annual General Meeting (Friday, 22 May 2014, 7pm)

Questions with notice for AGM

At the AGM we'll be asking for some feedback: 

1.  Winter sailing. Early Saturday or Sunday mornings?  first point...it should be early (7am ish) so we get the best breeze on an empty harbour and you'll be home before Darling rises.  while Sunday is normally the DBSC sabbath, WSC's winter series sails at 10am, so there is opportunity for the keenest to sail both. 

2.  Summer twilight sailing. Wednesday or Thursday?  Traditionally twilight sailing has been on Wednesdays. We tried Thursday this season and the harbour was empty.  But not as many lasers showed up compared to Wednesdays. Was the problem the day, or were people too busy this year?

AGM: continued worldwide interest

Annual General Meeting (Friday, 22 May 2014, 7pm)

Dear Website Editor,

The United Nations have done a survey and found that DBSC is the only organisation in the world with: (1) free and fair elections; (2) high growth prospects; (3) a happy and contented populace; and, most importantly, (4) managed seamless regime change over decades.  A number of our international friends, Ki-Moon, Kofi and Gareth-Gareth, have suggested we send observers and a study group there before our 19th National Congress to observe your 59th People’s Congress.

Also, do you have any ideas of getting rid of those people who loiter around our embassies and consulates around the world?

Regards,

Xi Jinping.

Editor: The people are happy here.  Anyone who wants to get on our politburo can put up their hand up in May and ask the people.  Anyone who wants to contribute is given an opportunity throughout the year.  We are as mystified as the UN as why we don’t get the Bo Xilai types at DBSC.  We do have own version of Falun Gong, but we find the best solution is to ignore them as they loiter outside our clubhouse for hours rigging their skiffs, eating toasties and drinking Gatorade.  Feel free to visit DBSC, and bring with you “real” Laser sails by North.

Music unites the members

While is is well-accepted that popular music peaked as an art form in 1984, sometimes the Gen X and Y stuff works!

Video by Sergey.