#LaserEquality is trending......

Despite being a product of Anglo-Celtic, middle class, Protestant Australia of the 1950s, DBSC has been at the forefront of social developments in Australia and helped drag Australia to peak of global civilisation.

It didn't start well as we did have an initial period of "class cleansing", but subsequently have mostly "done good".

DBSC's achievements in social inclusiveness includes:

• 1958 - accepted members from the North Shore;
• 1962 - removed the requirement for potential members to state their BMI on the application form;
• 1968 - adopted the "no d**khead" policy which was subsequently adopted by the South Melbourn Football Club;
• 1972 - catering for vegetarians at club functions commenced;
• 1979 -  finishing our championship BBQs early  so members could get home in time to watch the SBS Movie of the Week;
• 1984 - encouraged the then Prime Minister to start Radio National
• 1988 - first known use of the abbreviation of "LGBT" in the world when we revised our diversity policy;
• 1990 - stocked Victoria Bitter;
• 2000 - Hipsters started joining the club;
• 2005 - gave those who identified as 4.7 or Radials sailors their own class;
• 2007 - provided support to what we thought were homeless folk loitering around Steyne Park, until we realised they were 18s sailors spending 6-8 hours on a Sunday rigging their skiffs;
• 2009 - encouraged the less mobile to keep sailing by initiating the Big Boat Brethren;
• 2010 - removing the minimum 2 inches in-seam restriction on shorts so the 18s supporters could enter the clubhouse;
• 2012 - allowed investment bankers to join;
• 2015 - implemented a policy allowing for European style sun-bathing on the deck.

Speaking of the club's achievement as a Rotary function recently, Troublemaker confided:

"Belonging to two minority groups, I thought that I would spend my free time in social isolation.  But I heard that there were other vegetarians at DBSC so I thought I would join, and it is the best thing I ever did.  While I didn't mention being an investment banker for a while, when people found out they made me even more welcomed despite being the only one.  The People's Prince even said I could bring my associates and interns to the Championship BBQs: that meant a lot to me even though they couldn't come any Saturday as they were busy putting together the pitch-books."

With all these achievements, we did make one mistake which was highlighted by a recent letter from one of members:

"....while male and 120kg, for many years I have identified as a Radial sailor. However, identity is fluid (just ask Rachel Dolezal) and I don't see why I shouldn't occasionally be able to sail a 4.7 and compete against Radials and Standard rigs.  Sure, mostly I will not be winning, but in +30 knots I don't think Dear Leader or Grasshopper 2.0 or Blackie will be able to beat me.  Others feel the same.  [Redacted] wants to sail a standard rigwhen there is less than 6.82 knots, and given she has graduated with honours from Learn to Race, she would probably be unbeatable.  Can we do something about this inequality?"

There is the issue of the laws of physics, but "Bradfield" Simpson assured us that a 4.7 rig could be sailed by someone of up to 130kg in 40 knots.  Some non-destructive testing will be required after each extreme sail, but it might be worthwhile if you will be adding silverware to the pool room.

With sufficient interest in #LaserEquality, the Politburo will look at reversing almost a decade of Laser inequality.  It will be carefully monitoring FaceSpace, CompuServe and the other popular social media forums on the Interweb, but it is fair to say that #LaserEquality is already trending......with Malcolm, and Lucy, heavy referees.

Who knows, we may get back to one start per round?

The club is open every Saturday afternoon between August and April (inclusively), so rather that write to us, new members should just come and visit, and meet the most diverse and fun group of sailors in the world and join the biggest Laser fleet.

NB Sprints this Sunday @ Belmont 16's

The next round of the NB Sailsports Sprint Series will be Sunday 21st June at Belmont 16′s Sailing Club.

There are three races scheduled the first of which is 11.00am.

Belmont is the venue for the Open National Laser Championship next season so this is a good chance to get some miles on the race track. The club has great facilities for sailing and for socialising on a winter Sunday.

You can enter online on the NB Sailsports web site here or using cash at the venue on Sunday. Entry fee is $20.

You still have lots of chances to get tickets for the draw for fabulous prizes from NB including a new Laser upgrade. The more races you compete in as well as how well you do will determine how many tickets you get for the prize draw which will occur at the final NB event at Double Bay Sailing Club on 29th August.

Results for the series to date are here.

What is Dear Leader doing?

The answer is simple: he has gone back to his engineering roots to help Grasshopper 2.0 snatch the pebbles in Kingston, Ontario at the World Radial Youth.

The Reynolds number is different on Lake Ontario than on Sydney Harbour, leading to difference in flow over various parts of a Laser.  Understanding the difference should be able to enhance performance by adjusting technique in what should a difficult regatta.

Dear Leader has moved his gin palace to the Charles River in Massachusetts.  Each morning, he jumps on his Segway and heads to MIT where he spends hours working on the Reynolds number issue and the impact on viscosity, cavitation and, ultimately, boat speed.  

Speaking from the laboratory, Dear Leader said:

"Studying the self-organizational phenomena in fluids from vortices to turbulent flows to cavitation in complex systems requires several different disciplines in close collaboration, and is more than looking at bubbles.

It has been a terrific experience.  My good friend, Larry, has sent over a couple of his guys from San Franscisco to help.  They were suppose to be great engineers but I had to show them how to use a slide-rule and then buy a few on eBay for them.  Let's hope they can transfer some of their experience in Hobies to a Laser.  Larry also offered to send Slingo over to help test, but I said no because I didn't have time to make a Laser that would have given us the same proportions of Grasshopper 2.0 on his Radial"

Noting the lack of training Dear Leader is doing himself for the Masters regatta, Madam Leader, said:

"No training but with the best pizza in world locally available, and a long term weather forecast of heavy weather, Dear Leader will be able to put on the extra kilograms required to be competitive."  

Fellowship

Obviously, DBSC primary objectives are to:

• convert all sailors to the Laser class;
• convert all golfers into sailors; and, generally,
• global domination by taking over ILCA, ISAF, IOC, world government (i.e. the United Nations) and FIFA.

However, we all need some downtime and our members are encouraged to use the clubhouse for fellowship functions.  Some events are banned for reasons only an imbecile would need an explanation for, and these include:

• 15 year birthday parties, 16 year birthday parties.... up to and including 32 year birthday parties;
• celebrations for  School Certificate, Higher School Certificate, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and non-STEM PhDs;
• divorce/seperation parties; and, in a large catch-all,
• any event where more money is spent on alcohol than victuals.

This leaves all sorts of other parties: weddings; mother's day; christenings (and the secular alternatives of naming parties); Toastmasters; Rotary functions; book clubs; bridge games; crocheting clubs; etc.

To show how well the clubhouse scrubs up, here are some photos.

If you are interested in a fellowship function at the club, please contact social@dbsc.com.au

Remembering the warmth of March and the Metros....

Many thanks to PC and Jimbo for the photos.

Getting ready for the racing.

NB Sprint series Sunday 31 May @ Avalon Sailing Club

The NSWLA reports........

The next round of the NB Sailsports Winter Sprint Series is on this Sunday 31st May hosted from Avalon Sailing Club.

The rigging and sign on and off location will be at Sand Point Palm Beach on Sand Point Lane off Iluka Road and Woorak Roads. You can see the location by clicking the link here.

The windward leeward sailing course will be off Sand Point. Three races are scheduled with the first race warning at 11.00am.

The Sailing Instructions are attached and these SI’s, the Notice of Race, the results to date and other information is on the NSW/ACT Laser site.

As usual you can enter online, paying by credit card,  on NB Sailsports web site here or by beach entry in cash at Sand Point. Entry fee is $20.

After racing results, a sausage sizzle and a drink will be available at Avalon Sailing Club. There will be a raffle for a new Laser sail drawn on the day at ASC.

Cheers

No change to fees...but we would appreciate payment.

DBSC fees remain unchanged for the 2015/16 season.

As you recall, it was agreed last year to ask for the fees to be paid at the beginning of our financial year, 1 May 2015.  So far, only 56% of the fees have been paid.

If you have not yet paid, please electronically pay the same amount as last year to :

BSB: 082 187
Account: 509246310
Name: Double Bay Sailing Club Incorporated

Please include your NAME in the remitter details section so we know who made the payment.

Please note that the reason we make requests for fees by email/newsletter and not by invoice generated by the Yachting Australia ("YA") website is that we are now charged a fee.  While some may want to pay a couple of percentage points more for an invoice, it would reduce the total amount collected by the club by about $1,700.  We think the inconvenience of manual payment requests is bettered by the club spending $1,700 on maintaining and running the club.

If you can't remember what your fees were last year, or you have lost your bank statement, the basics are:

• $800 if you store a laser in the club ( includes board,  membership and racing fee)
• $400 if you race a laser that is stored elsewhere ( membership and racing)
• $200 if you are a non sailing member.  

There are concessions for juniors, family units etc.  In any event if you are unsure of your amount, please contact secretary@dbsc.com.au 

Organisational change.........

Double Bay, Australia - May 22, 2015: DBSC today announced the appointment of Clare Alexander as the Honorary Secretary of the Politburo (previously known by the sexist moniker ManCo).

Speaking at the international press conference following the organisation's annual general meeting, the People's Prince elaborated:

"Clare who is the Co-Founder and current CEO of Team Alexander has a successful track record in delivering sailing outcomes at all levels in the sport.  Her organisational abilities became apparent soon after she joined the club.  While my gender makes it impossible for me to partake in multi-tasking, I can appreciate those who do, and I am in awe of Clare's exceptional demonstration of that skill.  We look forward to her  contribution to the club."

Later in the evening, the outgoing Secretary, whose name we have already forgotten, said:

"I’m resigning as Secretary, but not from the volunteering on the website and newsletter, at least until our indemnity insurers ban me.  This is the ideal situation with Madame Secretary and I sharing what used to be one job, and my job doesn't need me to attend the meetings.  Any snippets for the newsletter or suggested improvements to the website should be sent to webmaster@dbsc.com.au. 

Clubman of the Year & AGM recap

Congratulations to Paul Adam, Canteen Crew Captain on winning the big prize.  Under Paul's ever vigilant management, the canteen not only fed the hoards, but generated at $11k surplus for DBSC this year.  Additionally, Paul performed on shore safety services and assisted in rescues too.  Generous as alway, Paul acknowledged the regular crew members who were necessary to make the canteen the success that it is: Andrea, Shirley, Deb and Carolyn.

The AGM itself was a wonderful celebration of the season past. In 45 minutes we held the Presentations for Lasers and Big Boats, heard reports from each of the executive (abridged version; all's well and finances are sound), shared accolades and applause for Paul Adam and an held an election that followed the exact format of the minutes prepared in advance! 

We all then retired to enjoy dinner and drinks thanks to Paul, Deb and Shirley, with cameo help from many others. 

Thanks to all those that came and helped. 

Friday's AGM to determine major policy

It appears that a DBSC member has been temporarily suspended as a member of Royal Sydney Golf Club: see news item.

While we believe that melanoma is a serious issue in Australia, we don't agree with the way RSGC has addressed the issue.  Also, vitamin D deficiency is becoming more common and that needs to be  addressed.  There is also the social preference of encouraging the loved ones and least hostile acquaintances of members to use the club while members are competing in their chosen sport.

To that end the club's Politburo (previously known by the sexist moniker, ManCo) has proposed to authorise European-style sunbathing on the DBSC deck, subject to certain conditions.  Ozzy is to draft a disclaimer form to cover the risk of over-exposure to the sun and  Troublemaker is to get our insurers to approve the form for public liability purposes.  Once in place, we will consider how spot checks of the prescribed levels of sunscreen will be carried out without over-burdening our superbly efficient Canteen Crew.

The policy will also apply to those associated with the 18s who visit the club on Sundays.

Any objections to the new policy can be raised at the AGM this week.  Due to the importance of the issue, we are still considering whether acceptance of the new policy will require 75% of those members present to vote in favour of it, or whether rejection will require 75% to vote against it. 

Regardless, please help with the AGM catering by RSVP'ing at: http://doodle.com/gy6dtei2bv9tp9c4m3u5i9gm/private

By clicking on this link on your Aldi tablet, you can see how democracy worked in 2014.

Editors Note: Double Bay is the leading sailing club in western Sydney.  We represent a wide range of  demographics, and are the only club in Sydney to have a policy welcoming absolutely everyone (except d**kheads), including LGBTs, vegetarians, rangas and those with a BMI over 25.