Race Report Saturday 19 September 2026

Photo by John Vasey. Remaining photos by Ian Tudball.

Forecasting is meant to narrow things down. This week, all available weather models forecast different days, which should have been our first clue that Saturday was going to be a lesson in patience rather than boat speed.

From the committee boat, the omens started reasonably: 3–4 knots out of the NNW as we headed to the race area, with a shift to the ESE that was foreshadowed by one of the wind models arriving more or less on schedule. Course set, flags up, cautious optimism on board. Then the breeze, having delivered on the direction, decided it had done enough for one day and declined to build. It sulked further round towards the east, so we reset the course and tried again.

Buoyed by nothing more than hope and a rash reading of the sky, we sent the 4.7s off in their start sequence, backing the wind to hold. It did not. By the time the 6s were lining up to start, the folly of the whole exercise was plain for everyone to see — still 3–4 knots, and at no point all day did anything resembling 5 knots look like sticking around. Around 3:50pm, we called it: no racing, day abandoned.

If there's a silver lining, it's that every sailor out there got world-class practice at bobbing gracefully up and down on Sydney Harbour — a skill not yet recognised by World Sailing, but surely under consideration.

The genuine good news: after two Club Championship race days, there's still only one result on the board. The series remains completely up for grabs, so there's every reason to turn up next Saturday and see if the forecast models can embarrass themselves again.

Good to see such a strong turnout at the BBQ after pack-up, too — nice consolation for a day with nothing to show for it on the water.

Thanks to our Club Championship RO Martin Gill, along with Gaye on the Jazzman and Ian Tudball, Alban Delpey and John Vasey on the safety RIBs.

- Stephen Reid

60 Seconds with ...

Megan Ross

Megan answers questions from Tory Epworth:

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?

   I was 8 years old and my family (of 5) and our friends family (of 5) would often go out on their 18 foot trailer-sailer. That was 10 people on this little Compass Careel! My dad eventually bought his own little trailer-sailer when I was 9.

2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?

   It would have to be a B14. I crewed them for years. If I was more confident and didn’t mind throwing bucket loads of money at it, I would be back in one again, but steering this time! 

3. What is your sailing goal?

   To be able to confidently and safely go sailing in 20 knots, and it would be fun one day to win a race… I imagine that might be when most of the fleet were off at the Masters or Juniors or Nationals somewhere else!!!

4. Tell us the back story to your Laser's name?

   Can’t say what was going through Diana’s head when she named my boat “Passing Wind", but I can only imagine she was tapping into her inner-"14-year-old boy". I do intend to change the name, and I’m thinking I’ll go all sentimental and give it the family traditional boat name of “Franny”. My mum passed away just after dad bought our first boat so all our boats were named after her. I like to think my mum is out there on the water with me and may even help me get that podium finish!!!

5. If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties – what would it be?

   I don’t think they need anything else… they are pretty awesome, but I’ve recently been introduced to the burger pickle which could be interesting. 

6. What are your second/ third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot).

   Sailing obviously #1, otherwise I just like to do a wide range of things with my buddies. I’ve camped in the snow, gone hiking in Tassie, NT, Nepal, have three book clubs on the go, love the theatre, the ballet, skiing and mud runs!

7. Describe what you do for work in less than 5 words?

   Effortless Meditation teacher/social worker 

8. What's the dream destination for your next trip? And why?

   I’m planning to go swimming with whale sharks next year with my sisters. I’ve heard it’s awesome so needs ticking off my bucket list.

9. What’s your favourite TV show, movie, and or book?

   TV show - whatever my kids are watching, generally Netflix comedy series; Book - A Gentleman in Moscow

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?

    Aah! That’s tricky. What’s interesting? A very subjective thing, is the idea that something is interesting. I did love my 20’s and life was more interesting before I had kids, so in my mid-20’s I backpacked around SE Asia and India for 3 months by myself, on such a tight budget that my accomodation was about $1 a night and could only afford to eat street food, before getting a job for the next 2 years on a super yacht in the Mediterranean. The whole Below Deck scenario before cameras were rolling… thank goodness!

Megan Ross

NSW & ACT ILCA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DBSC

Double Bay Sailing Club is hosting the NSW & ACT State Championships on 14th and 15th of November. This event will cover the Youth, Open and Masters fleets and we are expecting 150+ boats to attend.  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.

To get the club ship shape for the event there will be a mini working bee for approx. 1 hour on the 7th of November. Please turn up at 11:30 if you can assist.

To run this event, we need many volunteers. Some volunteer tasks will allow sailing while tasks will not. Volunteer tasks include:

•  Rib drivers for on-water support (unable to sail)

•  Jazzman driver to join Rod Barnes and Andrew McLachlin PRO (unable to sail)

•  Finish Boat and assistance (unable to sail)

•  Other on-water support (unable to sail)

•  BBQ and assist

•  Boat Park marshal/unload

•  Boat launch assist

•  Canteen assist

•  General assist

We also need more RIBs or boats to assist. So if you are a member, a parent or a RIB owner and are willing to contribute to the weekend, please contact rodbarnes@dbsc.com.au.

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Saturday 26 September: Spring Point Score 3 & 4

  • Learn to Race, 9:00am

  • 1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm first warning

• Saturday 3 October: Sprint Racing (Oct. Long Weekend)

  • 1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm first warning

• Thursday 8 October: Twilight Racing

  • 5:00 Splash

• Saturday 10 October: Spring Point Score 5 & 6

  • Learn to Race, 9:00am

  • 1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm first warning

Spring & Autumn Fixtures Calendar

The calendar for next year is here. Please use this to plan your campaigns!

Highlights:

• 30 Sep - 5 Oct: 2026 Australian Sailing’s Zhik NSW Youth Sail

  • Toronto ASC

  • Website

  • Registration

• 24-25 Oct: 2026 NSW & ACT Coast Championships

  • Speers Point ASC

  • NOR

• 14-15 Nov: 2026 NSW & ACT Open, Youth & Masters State Championships

  • Double Bay Sailing Club

  • NOR

• 21-22 Nov 2026 - Victorian State Championships

  • Sandringham YC (VIC)

  • Info (including link to NOR)

• 1-8 Jan: 2027 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships

  • Sandringham YC (VIC)

  • NOR. Entries open 01-Sep.

• 10-17 Jan: 2027 Under 21 World Championships

  • Sandringham YC (VIC)

• 5-8 Feb: 2027 Australian Masters

  • RQYS (QLD)

• 20-21 Feb: 2027 NSW & ACT Metro Championships

  • Yarra Bay SC

---

Thank you to the members who are sending through information for the newsletter. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to newsletter@dbsc.com.au by Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Race Report Saturday 12 September 2026

Report by Luke Parker:

Sydney Harbour put on a great show for the opening heats of the 2026-27 Spring Point score.  Perfect early season weather for the 50-something racers.  It was sunny, warm, 8-12 knots  of wind.  The great conditions bought out good vibes in the fleet and plenty of fun was to be had.  Those with glasses only half full might have commented that was the wind was a little east of a true nor-easterly, but the upside was it opened up some different strategies which paid off.  It was a day for keeping eyes out of the boat and sailing the actual conditions, rather than relying on old habits and banging Point Piper.

Seven (i.e., 6 or more) 4.7’s racing meant we were able to offer them their own start and then subsequent starts were in a rolling sequence, so one fleet’s starting signal was the 5-minute warning for the next. It worked well and saved time.  Across the 6 starts, 4 Standards were OCS transgressors, 2 of them returning to restart. For future reference, in a rolling sequence, a general recall shouldn’t stop the sequence but should result in the infringing fleet being relegated to the last start. So keep an eye on the flags.

Scott Hunter’s videos of the first three starts:

Results:

4.7 Race 1

1. Benjamin Phillips

2. Hiro Jacobsen

3. Charlie Wait

 4.7 Race 2

1. Charlie Wait

2. Hiro Jacobsen

3. Benjamin Phillips

Radial Race 1

1. Christopher Fellas

2. Michael Morris

3. Daryl Lawrence

 Radial Race 2

1. Christopher Fellas

2. Charlotte Jenkins

3. Martin White

 Standard Race 1

1. Tim Heath

2. Andrew Foote

3. Steven London 

 Standard Race 2

1. Jason Wilkins

2. Andrew Foote

3. Grant Lovelady

If you want to check how you went in any particular race, go to the results page on the DBSC website. On the Series Summary page, if you click on the blue coloured race number ( e.g., R2) you’ll then be able to see the elapsed times and handicap calculations for each boat.

As always, thanks to this week’s volunteers including Paul and Shirley, Patrick Black, Scott Hunter, Richard McLachlan, Robert Bruce, Sara Bruce & Daryl Lawrence

Thursday Twilight Racing Returns 8 October 2026

On Thursday 8 October we will kick off our Thursday Twilight Racing with on-water coaching support for the 2026/27 season. The coaching and race management will be provided by one of our Reach coaches.

• We will aim for our usual splash time of 5PM.

• The coach and course will be ready for racing by 5:30PM

• The course will be typically windward - leeward (like our sprint racing), however the coach may communicate variations out on the water... to keep us on our toes.

• Racing will run until sundown, ~7:30PM

• Regular Thursday night dinner and drinks at the Royal Oak Hotel (“the Oak”) following sailing for anyone who fancies a social outing.

The Cost is $145.85 per sailor for the 10-week program. This covers the overhead of paying the coach each week to set the course and provide the coaching, as well as a private WhatsApp group with coach notes and videos from the coach. Note: dinner is not included!

Proposed Dates: October 8, 15, 22, 29; November 5, 12, 19, 26; December 3, 10.
Proposed Coaches: Daniel Costandi, Paige Caldecoat, Campbell Patton

We hope that Members who plan to race regularly on Thursdays will support the program by signing up.
(Members who sail occasionally are still very welcome to join us for Thursday Racing free of charge.)

Members wishing to sign-up for the Thursday on water coaching please click the button below:

Learn-to-Race Starts Up

Report and photos by Ian Tudball:

A cracker of a day was ordered for the first 9am Spring session of Learn-to-Race (LTR) run by Martin White and his helpers. Unfortunately, the wind was in short supply and only two races could be completed within the morning timeslot. After lunching on Shirley and Paul’s toasties, 3 of the sailors participated in the afternoon fleet racing, making for an impressive 48 Lasers on the start line. 

The LTR sessions are open to the public as well as any DBSC members who would like to get tips on how to make a Laser perform in the fast lane. 

DBSC Point Score: Lucky Draw Glassware!

You have to be in it to win it!

This weeks winner: Megan Ross

• Each Point Score race day this season we will be presenting a lucky draw prize on the deck after the racing,

• Random selection of a Member that raced or volunteered on the day,

• You have to be there On the Deck when it’s drawn after racing to claim your prize,

• … but if you’re not there, another random selection is made until the prize is awarded: a stemless glass with etched DBSC burgee, quality glassware from:

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Saturday 19 September: Club Championships 3 & 4

  • 1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm first warning

  • BBQ on the deck after racing (~5:00pm)

• Saturday 26 September: Spring Point Score 3 & 4

  • Learn to Race, 9:00am

  • 1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm first warning

• Saturday 3 October: Sprint Racing (Oct. Long Weekend)

  • 1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm first warning

• Thursday 8 October: Twilight Racing

  • 5:00 Splash

• Saturday 10 October: Spring Point Score 5 & 6

  • Learn to Race, 9:00am

  • 1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm first warning

Spring & Autumn Fixtures Calendar

The calendar for next year is here. Please use this to plan your campaigns!

Highlights:

• 30 Sep - 5 Oct: 2026 Australian Sailing’s Zhik NSW Youth Sail

  • Toronto ASC

  • Website

  • Registration

• 24-25 Oct: 2026 NSW & ACT Coast Championships

  • Speers Point ASC

  • NOR

• 14-15 Nov: 2026 NSW & ACT Open, Youth & Masters State Championships

  • Double Bay Sailing Club

  • NOR

• 1-8 Jan: 2027 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships

  • Sandringham YC (VIC)

  • NOR. Entries open 01-Sep.

• 10-17 Jan: 2027 Under 21 World Championships

  • Sandringham YC (VIC)

• 5-8 Feb: 2027 Australian Masters

  • RQYS (QLD)

• 20-21 Feb: 2027 NSW & ACT Metro Championships

  • Yarra Bay SC

---

Thank you to the members who are sending through information for the newsletter. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to newsletter@dbsc.com.au by Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Race Report Saturday 5 September 2026

All photos by Murray Stone

Report by Murray Stone:

To (mis)quote George Costanza: The breeze was angry on Saturday my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli!

The first day of the summer sailing season started with a gradient northerly that shifted to the north north-east just before midday, holding around 15-18 knots.  Pat Levy was sporting a grin so wide, if he had been wearing lipstick, he would have gotten it on his ears! By the time the start was in sequence just after 2pm, the breeze clocked 19kts and was not far from true north. It was looking magnificent.

Pleasingly, all radial sailors held their nerve and it was a clear start.

Then it all went to custard! The breeze shifted to the northwest while the Standards were in sequence. A port hand start for all and a reach to the first mark.  The start crew scurried into the Jazzman to retrieve the 'N' flag to abandon the race and, to their horror it was nowhere to be found. To make things really interesting, shortly after the start, a J70 literally sailed over the top of the start mark, hooking it on their rudder and dragged it 150m south. The crew on Paul Adam raced over and managed to untangle the disaster without losing the anchor or destroying the mark.  While this was going on, the crew on the Dene Bergman dashed ashore, found the 'N' flag and the race was abandoned just after most of the radials had completed a lap.  By that stage, there had been a 70-degree shift in the wind direction!

Long story short, the course was reset with the wing mark becoming the top mark, the bottom mark being adjusted slightly, and a new wing mark set just south of Clark Island. We were ready for a restart by 3pm with the breeze 17kts from the WNW, gusting to 26kts.

Both the radials and standards got away cleanly and there looked to be some good racing and some downwind rides.

More custard!  About halfway into the race, a storm front showed on the Sydney radar and gusts of 37kts had just been recorded at Camden (30 km to the west) ahead of the front. To make it more interesting, the breeze veered a further 60 degrees on the course and was nearly out of the southwest by the time the fleet was finishing.

Race 1 Podiums:

4.7s: 1st Benjamin Phillips; 2nd: Clifford Gates

Radials: 1st Roberto Blum; 2nd Scott Hunter; 3rd Scott Finlayson

Standards: 1st Healy Ryan; 2nd Charlie Byford; 3rd Luke Parker

Realising that the course would have to be re-laid to get another race in, and that there was a storm front coming, an executive decision was made to abandon Race 2.  That decision turned out to be one of the best of the day.  The storm front hit Sydney Harbour shortly before 4:30pm and recorded gusts of 55kts (102km/h). All competitors were safely off the water and largely derigged by that time.

A big thanks to the race crew of Martin Gill, Murray Stone and Gaye Rosen on the Jazzman, John Sweeny and Michael Morris on the Paul Adam, and Kerryn Smith, Daryl Lawrence and David Murphy on the Dene Bergman (RIB reserve), who were kept busy throughout the day. A big thank you to the canteen crew of Paul, Shirley, Mark Dagworthy and Tory Epworth.