Race Report Saturday 3 October 2026

All photos by Scott Findlayson

Points core Races 5 & 6

Oct 10 Point Score was run in very challenging conditions. On a warm, humid day following early morning rain and cloud, the harbour was sandwiched unstably between forecast westerlies and offshore northeasterlies, and eventually, after a very uncertain briefing and then some time waiting on the water, clues emerged that the NE would win out. After a brief postponement we started with a planned course shortening. The breeze held for most of the race, but alas died at the final rounding for the 6s, and at the final downwind for the 7s, turning the finish into a very difficult battle of wills. A final shifty breath of wind eventually brought the fleet home, unfortunately with some worthy finishers beyond the 15 minute time penalty. The race revealed some very strong sailing performances, but would have been very frustrating to most. It was a day for the youth: Zac Howell came home with both points and line honours in the 6s, Hiro Jacobsen likewise in the 4s, along with Quentin Burns in the 7s.

Unfortunately Race 6 fizzled- a briefly exciting breeze arrived from the West, and the course rapidly reset, but swung SW and then disappeared before the fleet could get underway.

Things we did well: with help from LTRaR Mark Crowhurst, COTD Alex Lewis and Co-COTD Conor Kellett, and with extra help from both Ben Byford and Abbie Stone on the Bergman, we set some good courses, and the prediction we made together that any course worth sailing would be from the NE turned out to be largely true. 

Things we would do differently: longer start line for the 6 start, sorry about that, the line-up could have done with more space. Also (much) better wind!

- David Murphy, PRO

…And the Winner of our Lucky Draw Point Score “DBSC glassware” this week - a very excited Andrew Cox.
Every Point Score race day, after racing, we gather on the deck to draw a winner - you have to be there to win!

2026 DBSC Members Competency Training

An important reminder from the club’s Safety Officer:

Dear DBSC members,

Could all members please note the morning of Saturday 7 November 2026 in their calendars for our annual skills day. This year will, as usual, cover the core areas of running a race (Andrew Cox), safety (David Murphy) and use of DBSC boats and equipment (Pat Levy), but there will be a special focus in all sessions this year on 'big days'. We've had a few over the years, and it really is vital to be aware of how conditions affect what we do, as well as key equipment updates now that both our new RIBs have settled in. Sessions will commence at 9, and will wrap up around 11 to give time for the race team to prepare for the day's racing. Hang around afterward for a toastie and a little bit of club maintenance 1130-1230 ahead of the States here at DBSC the following weekend.
There are changes every year, and all members are expected to attend,

All the best,

David Murphy

First Aid course training at DBSC - 28 November 2026

First Aid training is something the club supports, both for safety in the club and as a community service, and DBSC will fully fund members who wish to certify/ renew. '24/7 First Aid' have agreed to run a session on 28 November 2026 at DBSC. It will be an early 0715 start in the clubhouse, done by 1100 in time for a toastie. They are well organised, arrange all the online components, and register the HLTAID011 qualification which lasts 3 years.

Please register your name for this course NOW - ONLY if you are able to attend 28 November - AND intend to complete the online portion before the day.

This Course requires Members to SELF register with the '24/7 First Aid' website via this LINK:

MY TRAINING HUB - DBSC FIRST AID COURSE SIGN UP LINK

• You will need to have a USI (Unique Student Identifier) which is compulsory in the vocational system.
  You can obtain a USI on the '24/7 First Aid' website enrolment form which has more detail.

• COMPULSORY ONLINE MODILES need to be completed BEFORE the day (Multiple Choice Online Modules).
  It will save your work as you go, make a mistake with an answer, you can review and change it online

• NO exam or paperwork on the day (all practical)

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Thursday 15 October: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 17 October: Spring Point Score 7 & 8

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

• Thursday 22 October: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 24 October: Sprints at DBSC (Coast Championship weekend)

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

• Thursday 29 October: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 31 October: Spring Point Score 9 & 10

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

• Thursday 5 November: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 7 November: Club Championships 5 & 6 and Annual Club Training Day

  • 9-11am Annual Club Training Day

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

• Thursday 12 November: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 14 November: 2026 NSW & ACT Open, Youth & Masters Championships at DBSC
  (no Club Racing)

• Sunday 15 November: 2026 NSW & ACT Open, Youth & Masters Championships at DBSC
  (no Club Racing)

• Saturday 21 November: Spring Point Score 11 & 12

  • 9-11:30am Learn to Race

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

• Sunday 22 November: ILCA Battle of the Sound - Manly Yacht Club Web Site

  • 1-5pm

• Saturday 28 November: Spring Point Score 13 & 14 (First Aid Training Morning)

  • 7:15am - 11:00am DBSC hosted First Aid Course - 24/7 First Aid
    First Aid Course Pre-Registration is essential

  • 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:

• 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 - Regatta Notice Board Web Page

  • 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

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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 3 October 2026

All photos by Scott Findlayson

SprinT Racing (October long Weekend)

We set an initial course early in the morning expecting a solid northerly, but as is often the case, the weather had other ideas. The first race got underway in quite light conditions and took around 25 minutes to complete. As the wind gradually shifted towards the north-east, it became clear that some adjustments were needed, so the course was rotated and shortened.

The wind built, and we managed to get in seven quick races for a beautiful day’s sailing.

An early challenge was getting the offset mark positioned correctly. In the early races with light winds there was much congestion at the top mark and unfortunately the race leaders needed to drive a path straight through a bunch of boats attempting a port lay line, which was a bit messy. But after a couple of fiddles, we got it right.

One thing that stood out all day was the excellent behaviour on the start line, with only one breach over the seven races.

We didn’t record race winners, but there were certainly some standout performances. In the Radial fleet, Andrew Cox was the dominant sailor of the day, consistently getting to the first mark first and holding off challengers like Roberto, Alistair and Charlotte. The Standard fleet was largely controlled by Campbell. Healy and Zander also put together strong performances and were frequently challenging near the front.

The decision was taken to curtail the racing at 4:00pm, ensuring everyone got ashore before the rain (and associated local flooding) hit. This was my first time as a PRO, and I was a bit nervous., but with great help from the support crew and great support from boats on the water the day turned out to be champagne-worthy.

- Scott Findlayson, PRO

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Thursday 8 October:

  • Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

  • BBQ at 7:15pm

  • Rules Evening with Damien Boldyrew: 7:30pm

• Saturday 10 October: Spring Point Score 5 & 6

  • Learn to Race, 9:00am

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

• Thursday 15 October: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 17 October: Spring Point Score 7 & 8

  • Learn to Race, 9:00am

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

• Thursday 22 October: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 24 October: Sprint Racing (Coast Champs)

  • 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:

• 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

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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 26 September 2026

Champagne sailing!. All photos by Andrew Foote.

Spring Point Score Races 3 & 4

Sydney Harbour delivered a sunny afternoon with 10–16 knots from the NE for Races 3 and 4 of the Spring Point Score — hopefully the first of many nor’easters to come this season. LTR was on in the morning which gave us a headstart in setting up the course. The second reach leg was particularly fun, and we could see Pat Levy’s smile from the committee boat.

The breeze shifted right over the course of the afternoon, making a good start important to hold a long starboard tack. With the tide coming in, though, Point Piper was still in play for those willing to take a chance on the right on the second and third beats.

The tide helped most sailors stay (WELL) below the line, with only one boat over at the pin in the Standards’ second race. That sailor promptly returned, keeping the race management team’s workload pleasantly light.

For many, the AFL Grand Final provided a bit of extra hiking motivation in the second race, while some fanatics headed in after the first — presumably to catch the full game. Fortunately, even the race management team made it ashore in time to watch the electric final quarter. A good afternoon on the water, with enough time left for a different kind of shouting at the screen.

Results: 

As always, a big thank you to the volunteers who made the afternoon’s racing possible: Andrew Craker, Andrew Foote, Elouise Morgan, Gosia Dziedzic, Andrew Cox and Daryl Lawrence. 

- Campbell Patton, PRO

Rules Evening with Damien Boldyrew

Rules night: sail smarter, sail faster

Our opening Twilight of the season is on Thursday 8 October, and we're making a night of it. Once the boats are away, the BBQ goes on and Damien Boldyrew joins us from 7pm for an evening on Laser racing incidents — aimed squarely at Laser sailors, not at rules buffs.

Photo courtesy Australian Sailing

Damien is a World Sailing Judge and Umpire at international Laser events, and he'll focus on the incidents we actually have in our fleet. He'll also cover Rule 42 (propulsion) as it applies to Laser sailing — what's allowed, what isn't, and how it's judged at the front of an international fleet. Hear what the world's top Laser sailors are up to and how they get to the front.

The BBQ fires up around 7.00pm for everyone, sailing or not (ideally both), and the session runs from 7.30pm to 9.00pm at the club.

Please register here so we know how many to cater for.

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

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

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

• Thursday 8 October:

  • Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

  • BBQ at 7:15pm

  • Rules Q&A with Damien Boldyrew: 7:30pm

• Saturday 10 October: Spring Point Score 5 & 6

  • Learn to Race, 9:00am

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

• Thursday 15 October: Twilight Racing: 5:00pm Splash

• Saturday 17 October: Spring Point Score 7 & 8

  • 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:

• 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

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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 19 September 2026

Photo by John Vasey. Remaining photos by Ian Tudball.

Club Championships Races 3 & 4

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