Impromptu sailing.....

Rumour (by Blackie) has it that a number of DBSCers will be sailing each day from about 2pm for the rest of the week.

Saturday will be a Super Sprint Series at the usual time. 

Laser sailing toughened me up.

...it was almost as bad as when the French won the Rolex Vaucluse Challenge a few years back.

JUST NORTH OF GABO ISLAND - 28 December 2015:  At least four DBSCers have got leave  passes to do the Sydney to Hobart, with Roger ("Hicko" or "R2H") defending the overall title collected in 2014.  After this year, both R2H and Rupert have decided that maxis or mini-maxis don't cut it anymore and will be joining the rest of the DBSC Big Boat fleet by buying a nano-maxi.

Wild Rose skipper Roger Hickman: "I think it's the worst trip I have ever been on" #RSHYR https://t.co/Os3S12tyLm

— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) December 27, 2015

Dear Leader inspires.....

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

SOMEWHERE NEAR ULLADULLA, AUSTRALIA -  27 December 2015:  Kimmy Kardashian (formerly known as Comanche) suffered steering damage and was turning back to Sydney when a serendipity reared its welcomed head.  When co-owner Kristy called her hubby to explain they where abandoning the race, he was brunching with Malcolm, and Lucy, and other distinguished guests.  Jimbo suggested she hold the line while he gets some advice from his close friend, and DBSC stalwart, Dear Leader.  After being given the telephonic transceiver, Dear Leader gave Kristy the distilled essence of his decades of international and Olympic experience:

"Toughen up princess."

Immediately, Kristy hung-up and then turned the boat around and started sailing towards Hobart, again, determined to make Dear Leader proud.

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

FaceSpace is go!

As everyone knows, social media, generically known as FaceSpace is an essential part of every organisation's communications strategy.  Under the leadership of the club's Chief Technology Officer, Sergey, we are now moving towards building our follower number towards Management Committee's ("ManCo") target of 223 million unique users.

Once we reach this target, DBSC will be selling non-voting memberships and luxury goods advertising under plans initiated by Troublemaker, and documented in a 197 page pitch book by a couple of his grunts and interns.  (The difference: grunts have to work 7 days per week, while interns must have at least one day off a week and are not allowed to work more than 18 hours per day.)

First cab of the rank was getting control of "Double Bay Sailing Club" on Facebook: click here.

Enjoy!

Beware Manly Ferries

In late November 2015, an 18 footer and a Manly Ferry collided.  Fortunately, no one was hurt but it a reminder for all our Laser sailors when we have to cross the ferry channels next year to compete in the second leg of the Rolex Vaucluse Challenge in the waters off the French enclave.

We can't find footage of the collision, but this is the next best thing:

Additionally, we expect safety standards to be improved significantly on the harbour by the second leg as the authorities will mandatorily require fire extinguishers on-board all Lasers. 

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!