Photos: Super Saturday Sprints Series.

While most the old codgers were at the Masters National Championships, the younger folk, under the tutelage of Dear Leader, participate in a Super Saturday Sprint Series.  Capturing the wonderful day using Kodachrome  was Max, who then used his computer science skills to transfer the images to the InterWeb.

Speaking of the experience, Max shared:

"When I was growing up in Vladivostok, I won the coveted Lenin Prize for School Photography.  First prize gave me enough roubles to allow me to purchase all the stock of Kodachrome I could find in the city.  I then had a tough decision to make, pursue my passions of sailing, photography and computer science in Vladivostok, or move to Australia and join DBSC.  Easy decision."

Many thanks Max!

Masters Nationals - DBSC team report

On Friday 12th February 200 sailors, all of a masterly vintage, took to the waters of Port Stephens to compete at the 2015 Laser Masters National Championships.

Day one saw picture perfect conditions with 10 - 14 knots from 80 degrees and hot sunshine. With the usual disparity of entries across the fleets (the grown ups are much better at getting leave passes it seems) the race committee merged the fleets into four starts, each of roughly 50 boats. First off were the two radial fleets, with two laps on the outer course, followed by the two standard fleets on the inner course.

Race one went without incident and initial nerves seemed to have settled. And then the race committee tried to start race two. Radial fleet one - all good. But Radial fleet two....oh dear. Perhaps it was the Great Grand Masters trying to show the Masters they still had their mojo. Or maybe it was the youngsters leading the old bulls astray. Either way, it wasn't working. After the fifth black flag general recall, and a rapidly diminishing fleet, the first radial fleet were starting to cross the finish line. But still Radial fleet two refused to behave. When they finally got away they'd broken the record for the number of black flags in the Radial fleet - and the start before them were ashore and in the bar. 

Day two and the wind freshened a little. Again, under blue skies and with winds veering from 65 degrees to 80 degrees as it increased, with a little more strength than day one - gusting 16 knots by the end of the day.

Day three was a copy and paste of the previous two days, with slightly softer pressure (up to 14 knots), and a significantly higher intake of Voltarin (the Master's version of pre-race stretching...). To make sure everyone was concentrating the race committee switched the start order, sending the standard fleet off first on the outer track. Only 9.1% of the DBSC team got confused, rounding the wrong windward mark...luckily the other 90.9% went the right way.

Valentines Day dinner was a cosy affair - 250 Laser sailors squeezed into the dining room of the Salamander Shores Ibis hotel. And as is the way with the Masters, as much effort went into having a seriously fun evening as goes into the racing. To keep us focused on the reason we were there (not for wine tasting it turns out), Brett Beyer did a fantastic Q&A sharing some of his tips and experiences.

Monday was the final day. With two races scheduled there were plenty of titles still up for grabs. Knowing that the boys were getting tired, and that they had the added chore of checking out of their accommodation, Huey came to the party and stayed quiet til 12.30pm. Which left us with one race instead of two. As per the previous days, the wind filled to about 14 knots and veered to the right (luckily yours truly went left - doh) and the final battles played out as they do in the masters fleets - with elegance and chivalry (and only the occasional bad language...).

DBSC results:

Radial Masters
Rob Hartnett - 10th
Andrew Cox - 14th

Radial Grand Masters
Martin White - 8th
Pat Levy - 18th

Standard Apprentices
Jules Hall - 2nd
David Newman - 9th
Murray Stone - 10th

Standard Masters
Rod Barnes - 11th
Andrew Simpson - 15th
Mike Dunne - 19th
Gerry Donohoe - 36th (only sailed Sat/Sun)

Standard Great Grand Masters
Stephen Wawn - 2nd

Looking onto the race track across the private rigging area in front of the DBSC Hacienda - not a bad spot!

Vaucluse Regatta: 12.20pm (!!!!!) launch this Saturday

Oignon and not ognon...according to DBCS's expert on the French language.

A REMINDER........

Despite anarchy spreading throughout France, its principalities and enclaves due to the  unwarranted  changes in the French language, the Vaucluse Regatta is still on.  Nonetheless, Académie Française's representative in Australia, and DBSC member, "Adrian with a H", snuffed:

"I leave France and the peasants takeover.  Now I know how Louis XVI felt."

The VYC regatta is on 20 February. Its a grand regatta, over 80 years young.  One day, 3 races. Great opportunity for racing in a big fleet, and practice for the away leg of the VYC/DBSC challenge in March. DBSC does paperwork and covers coût* for our members ; we're a giving club. 

There is no laser racing at DBSC, just the 18's and their JJs. 

Apres racing, we return to VYC to enjoy their  hospitality, admire their magnicently polished wood bar, collect the silverware, and drink their beer. Juniors exempt from final duty.

We'll have a quick briefing at DBSC at Noon. The DBSC armada will set sail northwards about 12.20pm (weather dependant) to reach the waters of the Southern French enclave in time for the 1.05 pm start.  

Keep an eye on weather....current forecast is for a quick run to the start courtesy of a southerly (but the slog home could hurt a bit)

Full rigs first, then radials 5 mins later. Course is Triangle - windward return around large red and white vertical striped buoys. Finish downwind to port of start boat (ie not through start line). Races tend to be about 30 minutes each so 3 races isn't excessive.  

NOR here

Full Sailing instructions here

* we're sticking with traditional french.

Masters Nationals - Transport

In the absence of everyone's email addresses, here's the summary of transport arrangements for this weekend. This should cover everyone, but if anyone is still without a ride, let Jules know (laserrep@dbsc.com.au).

Mike Dunne's trailer
Mike Dunne
Gerry Donohoe

Club trailer
Andrew Simpson
Jules Hall
David Newman

Rod Barnes' trailer
Rod Barnes
Andrew Cox
Larry Kleist

Pat Levy's trailer
Pat Levy
Dennis Kuhlman (pending injury)

Driving up individually
Martin White
Steve Wawn
Murray Stone

Total DBSC attendees - 13

For those interested, results will be posted here throughout the regatta.

GOOD LUCK BOYS!
 

Racking: Use it or lose it

DBSC is a popular Sailing Club, not a cheap commercial storage facility.

We're at the fortunate position of having all our Laser racks filled, and new members are signing up.  As we have broadcast on numerous occasions, our "use it or lose it"  principal applies to racking.

• If you are financial but BUT you don't use your boat for long periods, your storage needs will not take precedence over people who are keen to regularly sail.  With the club full and a waiting list for sailors, we're asking non-sailors to vacate; please understand if its you. 
• If you are financial and sail only occasionally, please don't be upset when we shift you up to the penthouses to allow regular sailors to have easier access to their boats.
• If you no longer want to keep your boat at the club, let  the Commodore or Secretary know and we'll be able to arrange a partial refund.

(NB: for extended absences please let the commodore@dbsc.com.au or secretary@dbsc.com.au know.)

+50 Lasers make the starting line.

Madame Secretary's call to sail last week was heeded with +50 members and visitors hitting the start lines on a glorious Saturday afternoon in Sydney Harbour..

Finishing his homework early, Grasshopper 2.0 was allowed to sail a Standard and was unbeatable in the tricky SE wind conditions.  Just as well the study roster just cranks up in his final year of high-school and he will be back in Radial soon.

Logistically, we are gearing up for more and more members.  New dollies have been delivered and are awaiting wheels, so those practising "just-in-time" management, such as Bradfield Simpson, will be able to get a dollie.

The JJ Giltinam starts on Friday, so 18s crew will be arriving from Monday to start rigging up.  If you can help the Canteen Crew to make toasties and sell Gatorades for a few hours, please email canteen@dbsc.com.au.

This coming Saturday, the older geezers will be at the Laser Masters, so the rest of club can enjoy the Saturday Super Sprints.  We need to be considerate for the 18's, they will need to start rigging by 10am in order to make their 3.30pm start.  To make matters worse, high tide is at 1pm, so we won't have beach to play with. Please be understanding if lasers are asked to rig on the eastern side of the 18's clubhouse. 

For the newcomers....sprints are 2 laps aiming for 15 minutes, 3 minute start sequence: 

• 3 minutes hooter and 2 flags raised
• 2 minutes. Hooter and 4.7's start
• 1 minute. Hooter, radial flag drops and radials start
• 0 minutes. Hooter, standard flag drops and Standard rig start

If you are coming last, cut the last top mark so you get the next start in time. We aim for 6-8 races in quick time

Big Boat Race Report

It was a sparkling afternoon. A big southerly had come through half a week before, late on Wednesday night (as the Management Committee was debating all the things that management committees have to worry about). That wind had blown hard through Thursday and Friday, dropping to 15 knots  for Club’s Laser races on the Saturday and, for this Sunday, to 5-10 knots. It was very shifty between east and south, full of puffs and dead patches. But it kept blowing and, with the clouds of the last 3 days  lifted, we had the full sun of a summer afternoon.

Five boats presented (I didn’t spot Pleasure II - it would have been great to have them with us). But it was great to have a timed start and a mark set at Point Piper - thanks to Peter Redmond!

The start was close; Corinna started near Clarke Island (‘nearest to the mark’), yet was the only boat to stay sufficiently high to reach the mark without a tack; she led clearly on this leg, from T&T, Chenonceau and Umbakumba, all forced low, hoping for better wind; only Chloe was a bit late across. a mis-identification of the first mark allowed T&T to turn first, bearing away in light breezes for Taylor’s Bay. The wind swung east as we turned and the reach was unexpectedly square - none of us opted for a spinnaker; then, as we closed on the mark a southerly shift had us running square (on T&T we goose-winged), but too close to the end of the leg for a set to be worthwhile. T&T turned first, then Corinna, who had slid past Chenonceau, then Umbakumba and Chloe. We all hardened onto the wind, to get back into the Harbour as high as we could, knowing that easterly shifts would push us away from the next mark, at Sow’n Pigs. Corinna made up some distance on Time & Tide, but easterly puffs coming across Watson’s Bay allowed T&T to lay the mark without tacking, with the best part of a minute’s lead.

That gap closed on the long work to Shark Island; we all had to judge how far to bear away to clear the lee at Steele Point, then we all looked for easterly shifts to bring us back to the mark. Again, only Corinna stayed high enough to avoid the extra tacks, making a strong gain. The last leg was a run and, with a kite set, Corinna would have been in a position to harry any boat close ahead. All depended on the set. Time & Tide’s big yellow and black spinnaker set cleanly; on Corinna, a minor issue - the pole topping lift was twisted around the pole - let T&T slip away clear. We worked to keep the kite full as the wind veered and backed - the basics of spinnaker trim: pole forward as the wind came square, pole back as it swung behind, lots of trimming the sheet, and some dodging to clear the 18 footers, now racing. We were rewarded with a  clear margin.

These late summer Sunday afternoons are memorable - as we sat in the Clubhouse, with the predictable cool drink in hand, the 18-footers flopped in like roosting bats, shadows lengthened and we talked of the race. When we were sick of that, we talked about sailing.

Across the line:

1. Time & Tide
2. Corinna
3. Chenonceau
4. Umbakumba
5. Chloe

We race next on March 6.

Jonathan

Cleaning up....

Could those members who have left boat covers, etc underneath the notice board, move their chattels to their boat/rack, please?

There is a debate what to do with covers (boat, foils), sail bags, etc, etc.

This humble correspondent has over the last 15 seasons never used a boat or foil cover on his Laser and has lost (going missing) only: a bung and a pair of sailing gloves.  Leaving all the gear in the cockpit of the boat has worked together with marking everything with a permanent marker.

Madame Secretary says, "No more excuses...."

Madame Secretary by memorandum advised, said:

"School holidays: over. Cricket: over. Tennis: over.  Aspen: over.  Davos: over.  Party time: over.

There are no more excuses not to improve the overall level of mental health in Australia by going out and racing your Laser on a Saturday afternoon.  Arrive for the briefing at 1pm and you will be rigged and ready to splash by 1.30pm (it isn't an 18).

Also with every rack in the club now claimed by a member,  there is no reason we can't max out Steyne Park with the 67 Lasers stored in the club and two regular trailers Lasers.  Imagine splash with 69 Lasers.  It is something The People's Prince wants to see happen.

Every member should make an effort to get to this week's Club Championship rounds. Stay for the legendary, and free après race BBQ "

Laser Masters National Championships

There's just one round of the DBSC club championships between the old boys and their nationals.

Plenty of mid-week training has been underway in a last ditch effort to build the fitness to survive 10 races in four days. 

The fleets are looking pretty solid, with the usual strong representation in the Masters and Grand Masters fleets - but the youngsters might be calling foul on Brett Beyer's bid to return to the Apprentice fleet (or is he a real life Benjamin Button?). Overall DBSC has 13 entries so far. 

In other news, Geoff Kirk is helping to wrangle the transport. We've got trailers, but we're currently short of cars with tow bars. If you've got a car that can tow, or you still need a ride for your boat, email Geoff on rearcommodore@dbsc.com.au.

If you're sitting on the fence and not sure if you should go....then go. Its great fun, you'll learn heaps, you'll make new friends and you'll be glad you went.  You might even get to witness scenes like this at the wing mark...

Online entries happen here

Wing marks the Masters way