Alternative to mass consumerism...

Great to see 4.7s on the line!

Please keep reading this section if you:

1. think your regular membership fees are unbelievably good value given the club's facilities and you compete in the largest club Laser fleet in the world; and,
2. want to minimise the amount of money government has to waste by paying less tax; and
3. are not a student, unemployed or going through an acrimonious  divorce.

How about making a donation to the DBSC Elite Sailor program, please?

The money will allow our "yoof" sailors to help defray the costs of regattas.  Instead of camping, they may end up in trailer parks.  Instead of Burger King, they may benefit from healthier Subway products.  Instead of a flogged sail, they may have a new one.

If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation, please click on this link.  If you are interested in knowing where your donation will be directed to, you can check in with Troublemaker at treasurer@dbsc.com.au as to what might happen if you happened to make a donation. Under the rules, he can't tell you what will happen until after donating.  

Good sailor, but a little too old to qualify for this program.

Smiley is selected for Australia....twice!

The only known photo of Smiley not smiling.

DOUBLE BAY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA -  19 March 2016:  Smiley has been chosen to represent Australia, twice.

Firstly, as the leading junior female Radial sailor in Australia she is doing an exchange with the Japanese team (good training for 2020).  Secondly, Australia can nominate two sailors for the World Open Radial Championships in Mexico, and Smiley and the 2016 Olympic hopeful have been selected.

Speaking at the press conference following DBSC's successful defence of the Rolex Vaucluse Challenge, Smiley, explained:

"DBSC has a great reputation as a friendly club, but I was concerned about joining because I didn't think my sailing was up to scratch.  Initially, it wasn't.  Dr. Huber, Mr. Kuhlmann and Mr. White were regularly finishing ahead of  me.  However, with a lot of encouragement I improved, and they are now so pleased that not only can I  overtake them most of the time, but I am to represent Australia.  DBSC is the best sailing club on the water and off it."

Honorary Member, Kristy Hinze-Clark, commented on the selection:

"Well done Smiley!  You are so lucky joining DBSC so early in your sailing life.  I owe my success in the 2015 Sydney to Hobart to DBSC: some select advice from a DBSC sailing guru got me to Hobart as the Line Honours winner."

Again, well done Smiley!

Form that has earned Smiley a seat on the "green and gold" bus.

ESSSS is back

Racked up on the line 5 minutes before the start. 

Easter Saturday Super Sprints Series (“ESSSS) at Double Bay

There is no formal racing scheduled for Easter Saturday.  However, since 2013 we have conducted club racing sprints on Easter Saturday to improve boat handling skills while addressing the chocolate calorie overload in advance.

This Eastern tradition now rivals the Bells surfing contest, and will only be bettered by the eventual agreement by western and Orthodox christian churches on the date for Easter itself. 

Format will be very similar to last year.  6-8 races of 15-18 minutes each, 2 laps windward returns, with very quick turnarounds between races. Three (3) minute sequences.  Remember this is the second last Satuday of daylight savings, and parking is easy because there is no school sport.

Although stragglers are encouraged to cut corners on the last lap so they don't miss the next race (There's more to be learned in the first 200m of a race compared to the last 200m), we want perfect starts and compliance with the rules, and turns when required.

Burning calories so as to enjoy the chocolate bunnies/bilbys.

Victory for DBSC is the Rolex Vaucluse Challenge

Congrats to Mark Bethwaite... Winner of the Standards race in the Vaucluse Challenge! #DBSC #lasersailing #sydneyharbour

A video posted by Double Bay Sailing Club (@doublebaysailingclub) on Mar 18, 2016 at 9:31pm PDT

The radials have started .. In a nice gusty 15-18 knots! Go #DBSC #lasersailing #sydneyharbour

A video posted by Double Bay Sailing Club (@doublebaysailingclub) on Mar 18, 2016 at 8:16pm PDT

"The radials have started .. In a nice gusty 15-18 knots! Go #DBSC #lasersailing #sydneyharbour"

Grasshopper 2.0

 https://instagram.com/p/BDBs9nzw78L/

2nd leg of Rolex Vaucluse Challenge (RVC) this Saturday

The People's Prince and the Master & Commander of fleet from the French enclave of Vaucluse, Monsieur Tinker-bell, have confirmed the protocols for this year's edition of the Rolex Vaucluse Challenge.

As in years past, DBSC did well in the first leg sailed on our home waters. Very well. But its a war of two battles and the 2nd leg is on at 2pm on Saturday.  This time the racing will be conducted by VYC while the presentation and culinary extravagance will be at DBSC.  There will be one long race.

It is extremely important that as many DBSC sailors race as possible, and that everyone is rigged BEFORE the race briefing at 1pm for an explanation of the course and some tactical tips by some of our sailing gurus.

A strong southerly is forecast to deliver us promptly to the start line, so splash will be about 1.20pm ish.  VYC normally start full rigs first. 

Time to diarise

One of our gun 'yoof' sailors successfully dealing with an unexpected bullet.

Saturday 19 March - Rolex Vaucluse Challenge - splash at 1.15pm from DBSC.

Saturday 26 March - Easter Super Saturday Sprint Series - first signal at 2pm.

Saturday 7 May  - DBSC's Gala 60th Birthday

Friday 3 June at 7pm -DBSC AGM and Awards

(NOTE: Max from Vladivostok has supplied these two photos, plus another +50 on the water action photos that will be appearing over the next few months.  Many thanks Max!)

Recent Super Saturday Sprint Series

March Race Planning

12th. Club Championship. No BBQ. Weather forecast at time of writing could not be better: sunny, 30 degrees, 15+ knot N/E and a run out tide. As Big Kev would say, "I'm excited!"  

19th. VYC/DBSC challenge. Racing hosted by the southern French enclave. Apres sailing feasting and awards at DBSC

26th. Easter Saturday. Non pointscore racing.  Format TBA

Welcome Home Carolyn

The view from the Balcony.  Photo credit: Shirley Roach

Apologies for the gender biased stereostyping, but it is axiomatic that behind every great man is even a greater woman.  Many of you would be surprised that this even applies to Dear Leader.

Everyone at DBSC has been concerned about Carolyn the last couple of weeks.  With her getting home on Friday and starting the recovery process, we didn't expect to see her at DBSC for a couple of more weeks.  Being action men, women and 'yoof', we decided to visit her the following day!  However, ever since  Malcolm, and Lucy decided that they didn't want to move to Kirribilli, parking has been frightful.  So on Saturday the fleet and RIBS, led by The People's Prince, did a sail past between races. 

Carolyn was very touched and all of Team DBSC were rewarded with a terrific smile.

Carolyn, welcome home and all the best in the recovery!

Source: Shirley

No increase!

For at least the 7th year in a row, fees are staying the same: NO INCREASE!!!!!

Given sailing is an expensive business, how?

• We keep growing membership.....now at 101 members, so we can amortise the costs over a larger number of members.
• The Canteen Crew (Paul, Andrea, Shirley, Carolyn, Deb, et al) keeps on delivering income, particularly victualing the 18s on Sundays and during the JJ Giltinan Championship and the Sydney High boys on Saturday mornings.
• Absolutely everything is done by volunteers (except, cleaning the toilets where we share the costs with the 18s). Imagine if we had to pay the +$100 per hour to get someone to do the stuff The Wise Master, Captain Kirk, Gerry, et al do for free to keep the Clubhouse and boats operational?
• One very generous member pays for all the gasoline and distillate used in club boats!
• We have never had to borrow money to fund capital expenditure.
• Generous tax-deductible donations are regularly made by members who don't want to give money to government to waste.

Apart from asking everyone to pitch in with volunteering, the only thing we ask is that fees are paid promptly.  During May, June and July, we want to do the non-sailing work at the club, pay bills, etc, so we can have everything ready for the sailing season and members can focus on their sailing and not admin and repairs.

Our financial year ends on 30 April, so fees are due on 1 May.  Invoices will be sent out during March.  However, feel free to pay the same as last year to the same account (MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE  EFT TRANSFER).

PS: For the 2016/17 season, if you, or your loved ones, or least hostile acquaintances could help the Canteen Crew, it would be most appreciated.  Even if it is only one 2-hour lunch shift on a Sunday (making toasties and Gatorades), it would be a terrific contribution.  Contact Paul on canteen@dbsc.com.au if you can help.

PPS: Volunteers did clean toilets at the club for the first 55 years, so if someone feels strongly they want to start volunteering for that task, you will automatically get the Clubman of the Year and/or Life Membership.

Metros Glory

DBSC Chicken Dinners: Smiley, Jack, Grasshopper 2.0 and Zoolander.

DBSC members of all shapes and sizes cleaned up at the Sydney Metropolitan Championships held at BYRA last weekend. The list of DBSC successes is pleasingly extensive. 

A little birdy reports that Finn sailed the weekend with a black armband. Then at the presentation Finn asked if he could say a few words as he collected his trophy.  Finn spoke about the losses of our sailing community over the last week both at DBSC and on Pittwater and wanted to acknowledge these sailors and their contribution to our sport. Finn dedicated his trophy and win to Roger Hickman - who he described as a sailor from his club and a man that he admired.....Pure Class. 

Standard Rig - Open

1st Finn Alexander

2nd Nick Skulander

Standard Rig - Under 21

1st - Finn Alexander

Great Grand Master  Standard

1st Steve Wawn

Womens Radial

1st - Marlena Berzins

Radial Rig- Open

3rd - Marlena Berzins

4.7 Rig

1st - Jack Littlechild