The Kid's Cancer Project

Ben the Bear: keeping an eye on the competition as tactician aboard 2014 Sydney to Hobart winner, Wild Rose.

Once again this year, Wild Rose is raising money for The Kids' Cancer Project which funds research into very aggressive childhood cancers.  

Our efforts with The Kid's Cancer Project isn't just about raising money either.   We've had the privilege of taking some kids and their families on Wild Rose out on Sydney Harbour over the past few years.  

Every cent helps, as does every minute to Hobart in the great race south, so we are grateful for any support you generously provide.  To donate please go to:  https://sydneyhobart2015.everydayhero.com/au/wild-rose.

Thanks and see you soon.

Hicko (a.k.a. at DBSC as "Roger to Hobart" or "R2H") .

Postscript: Remember Ben the Bear ("BtB") who sailed with us on Wild Rose in the 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race?  He decided that once was enough.  His younger, smaller siblings will join us again this year.

Swannies fans will recognise the face on the left.  Little Archie had chemo before sailing with us.  
He is in remission and he and his family are doing well.

Ben pretending to navigate – he is on Facebook rather than trying to find Hobart.

Ben and his bottle of rum = we taught him some bad habits.

Kids went crazy on the boat on a family day. Many parents comment on how much the kids smile
while mucking around on the boat.

Ben’s younger siblings find new friends

Ben made it to Hobart 2011.

Reigning Rolex Sydney Hobart Champions 2014 .

Twas the race before Christmas

'Twas the race before Christmas, and all down the line,

Boats were over early, except, of course, mine.

Other skippers were cursing, and sounding most surly

With screaming between boats: “You’re OVER EARLY!”

But we’re off, the starter yells “clean” and we charge up the course.

Tacking on headers, without any remorse.

I made it look easy, as I kept with each lift,

I’m a finely tuned racer,  I was born with the gift!

I was feeling almost giddy, as I kept the boat ahead,

I planned to replay the race continuously whilst quaffing a red.

As I rounded the last mark I was eyeing the prize,

But I blew it, predictably, with a spectacular capsize

Kristy joins DBSC push to change IMS rules

With a greater push to make sailing more accessible to older DBSC members who can't sail Lasers anymore, we want to revolutionise Big Boat sailing by changing the IMS rules (and IRC and IOR rules) to provide a proper competition for all yacht owners.

After many person-years of research, and consultation with leading scientific and operations research firms, it was determined that the best measurement system for yachts be based on its market value as determined by the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth) and priced using Special Drawing Right(“SDRs").  The system is to be known as the "DBSC Corrected Time."

A practical use of this rule can be illustrated when we apply DBSC Corrected Time to two yachts with a close connection to Sydney Harbour, Comanche and Red October, sailing the typical north-east course on Sydney Harbour.

Comanche is a US$30m super-maxi and applying the new rule makes it DBSC Corrected Time 30x the elapsed time: ((price in US$/1,000,000)=30, and rounded to the closest whole number.

Red October, a  nano-maxi designed  by Sweden's Per Brohall  and built by the globally renowned Hill & Cameron, will have a corrected time 1x elapsed time as the last known market price was A$421 (eBay in June 2014).

While Red October may sail a 18s' NE-course in 3 hours, Comanche would have to do it in 6 minutes to win.  Commenting on fairness of the new rule, Comanche’s co-owner Kristy Clark-Hinze said:

“DBSC Corrected Time is the fairest handicapping system in the world.  If we can’t beat Red October on DBSC Corrected Time, it is either very poor sailing on our part, or we spent too much money.  I'm personally going to lobby every yacht club from New York, to San Francisco to Sardinia to Cowes for them to adopt DBSC Corrected Time"

Kristy: "why do people keep sending me this photo of Comanche and suggest I rename the boat Kimmy Kardashian...." 

....bugger, I don't think I can win on DBSC Corrected Time....should I sell the boat on eBay or Gumtree?"

Finance required on 3 of the 4 boats....

....heading into Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia on a Saturday afternoon.

On the flip side, 3 of the 4 boat owners probably have hot dates, the other boat owner only has a wet date

Sail Melbourne....smaller fleet than at the RVC.

Team DBSC was well represented at Sail Melbourne (or whatever it is branded nowadays) with eight younger folk:

• Standard: Marcus (team captain), Zoolander and Nik.
• Radials: Grasshopper 2.0 and Marlena.
• 4.7: Jack, Mark and Henry

Despite giving up the opportunity to sail with a big fleet at home, these heroic younger folk made the trek down the Hume Highway to the cultural capital of Australia (used to be the financial capital, until the commodities' super-sink-cycle).

The People's Prince, congratulated Team DBSC:

"Under the experienced regatta leadership of Marcus, the kiddies not only performed well on the water but also had a great time off-the-water.  A particularly fun, and accretive, activity was completing math problem sets while having on-hand tutoring by the older sailors - even our youngest sailor has now nailed ordinary differential equations and Reimann surfaces."

Speaking from the top of the podium, Grasshopper 2.0 became highly emotional when confronted by the international press contingent:

"I really wanted to sail the Dick Tyrell and Manos Rousso races on Saturday at DBSC, so I was very distracted at the start of the week and it showed in the results.  The handicap start for the Tyrell means that you really have the opportunity to chase down the best club Laser fleet in the world, if you are good enough. Congratulations to the winners of both races, Jimmy D and Mikey D."

Regatta results are found here.

For those interested in Sail Sydney, here is the link! 

Straight to the pool room!

Dick and Manos would be proud.

DOUBLE BAY, NSW, AUSTRALIA- 12 Dec 2015: DBSC announced the winners of the most prestigious Sydney Harbour races, the Dick Tyrell and Manos Rousso trophies

"Despite a bush ranger handicap given to Mikey D a.k.a. crooked Mick from Jindavick, a determined effort by Jimmy D to remain upright allowed him to trash his handicap rating to lead the field most of the way to grab the remaining handle of the Tyrrell Cup. 

The Rousso was keenly contested with Crooked Mick triumphing due to the OSC of the line honours full rig Nick (aka Sergey). Blackie led the radials but fell short  of victory by 45 seconds on yardstick corrected time. 

And a good time was had by all.  ... even Jullian with two OCSs and a capsize."

Patriotic duty to share our elite sailors.

Sail Sydney needs DBSCers to ensure it is a quality regatta.

As our Vice Commodore, Ozzy, stated on Saturday:

"Without our support, Sail Sydney will struggle. DBSC gets big fleets every Saturday, so we have a moral obligation to share our elite sailors with the folks at Sail Sydney and Woollahra, so they have a decent regatta too.  Obviously, not all our sailors will want to travel from Western Sydney to the Eastern Suburbs, so there will be Super Sprint Series at DBSC from 2pm to 4pm (1.30pm splash).

That will leave plenty of time for our members go home to put on slacks or frock up before returning to DBSC at 7pm for the Christmas Party with their loved ones, or least hostile acquaintances."

Big Boat Race Report

Five boats presented on a classic Sydney summer afternoon.

Blue Moon     Northshore 38
Corinna -     Endeavour 24
Chenonceau    Beneteau Oceanis 31
Pleasure II    classic timber yacht
Time & Tide    Hood 23

It was sunny, with a 10 knot nor-easter, the Harbour remarkably empty, until the 18-footers’ start.

We all crossed the line close-hauled on a port tack. Blue Moon showed height and speed to reach the Point Piper mark well ahead. She maintained that lead around the course, and finished comfortably ahead, without flying a kite.

The first of the small boats around the first mark was Time & Tide,  just a length or two ahead of  Corinna, then Pleasure II and Chenonceau.

Time & Tide held her place on a very shy reach to the Taylor’s Bay mark and tacked there for the eastern side of the Harbour. The leg to the Sow’n Pigs mark was a work and Corinna, pointing characteristically higher, found her way past and led the small boats to the top of the course. Though Corinna was a minute ahead, Time & Tide goes well under spinnaker and we still had some hope; but our spinnaker set was anything but smooth and, by the time we had it sorted, all we could do was enjoy the afternoon. For the record, our kite went up and stayed up; just not quickly.

We gybed at Shark Island and pointed for the finish; but there was still some sailing to be done. The wind kept veering east and for a while we were sailing by the lee, wondering if the veer was sufficiently sustained to warrant another gybe.

Pleasure II sailed fast, to stay in touch without a kite. And kite troubles on Chenonceau spoiled an otherwise matchless afternoon.

Across the line:
Blue Moon
Corinna
Time & Tide
Pleasure II
Chenonceau

We sail again on January 3

Jonathan

Didjagedyabayt?

Did you get your bait to the Christmas Party?.

19/12 @ 7pm. All welcome. Plus dates.  

We've gone uptech with the Paperless Post invite, so please click and RSVP so we can cater food and libations. 

Save the date....3 June 2016.

DBSC was founded in 12 July 1956.  Wonderful article about the origins of the club here. 

We'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary on 3 June 2016 (note the change from original date) at our Gala AGM/prize giving/birthday party.

Plans, details, invites etc all to follow, but at this time you should block out Friday night 3 June.  Formalities will be de minimis, but food, dance music and beverage opportunities will be de maximis.  Council approval is in place for the party to rock between 7pm and 4am.

Wise folk/ seasoned campaigners will also pencil in a later start on the 4th.