The best way to find out about the club is to visit us, and meet some members.
Apart from the week of Christmas, the clubhouse is open from at least noon every Saturday from 1 August to 30 April. Our telephone number is: +61 2 9363 5577.
We are run by volunteers, so if your query cannot answered by the frequently asked questions (FAQs) below or the rest of the website, we will get back to you by Wednesday, 10pm.
How do I subscribe to your Pulitzer Prize winning newsletter?
How to make a tax-deductible donation to the club (using the internet)?
How to make a tax-deductible donation to the club (using paper forms)?
Want to book a seat at the restaurant?
Want to become a social member?
Can I rent/hire your clubhouse?
How do I get to crew on a yacht?
Can you teach me to race a Laser?
What is the deal between your club and the 18 footers and Sydney High School?
Can I store my kayak (or similar) in the clubhouse?
Can you help me buy, or sell, a Laser?
How many times can a visitor race at DBSC?
79 Bay St
Double Bay NSW 2028
Australia
The best ILCA / Laser sailing club in the world, located in Double Bay on Sydney Harbour.
Congratulations to Roger Hickman who received a posthumous Queen’s Honour Award over the weekend. He received a well-deserved OAM for his service to sailing.
Roger receiving the Tattersalls Cup from CYCA Commodore John Cameron for his Sydney to Hobart victory in 2014.
The 2-day event for the East Coast Champs has been run and won! Day one light breeze and Day 2 no breeze. They completed 4 races on Saturday and zero races on Sunday, so the series was a 4-race series with no drops.
Well done to Marlena Berzins for winning the Radial Fleet Division out of 9 boats and to Jack Littlechild for 3rd place.
Congrats also go to Zac West, winning the 4.7 Division out of 11 boats and to Sylvie Stannage for 2nd overall and 1st Girl. Daniel Costandi, Mark Louis, and Brooke Wilson, all DBSC members, also sailed brilliantly in the championships.
On Friday 26 May 2017 a new era, for not only DBSC, but also for the worldwide Laser community, began when Andrew Cox (aka "troublemaker") was unanimously named Commodore.
Commodore Cox took little time to set out his ambitious agenda, promising sweeping changes to bring the club into the modern era. His biggest initiative is a major renovation of the clubhouse, of which the highlights include:
· 12 pokies in the disabled toilet
· a full wet bar on the front deck
· a DJ after club championships
· a bridge between our front deck and the ferry wharf
· a contract to make our front deck the launch point for the Island
To make his vision a reality, Commodore Cox has assembled a committee of like-minded individuals, namely:
Vice Commodore - Michael Osborne
Rear Commodore - Geoff Kirk
Secretary - Clare Alexander
Treasurer - Mark Crowhurst
Canteen Captain - Paul Adam
Yacht Representative - Jonathan Stone
Laser Representative - Ian Alexander
Social Secretary - Peter Collie
Property Officer - Gerry Donohoe (Jazzman)
Property Officer - Pat Levy (RIBs)
Handicapper - Darryl Lawrence
LTR Officer - Martin White
Newsletter Editor - Kirk Marcolina
CTO - Nick Pellow
Audit reviewer - Richard George
Some in the club compared the new direction to the efforts of other world leaders, saying, "Coxie is going to 'make DBSC great again'!”
Commodore Cox gave thanks to those who came before him, paying tribute to the leadership of Don Roach, Mark Bethwaite and Luke Parker.
Mark Bethwaite remarked, "I was initially concerned at the proposal to appoint a Radial sailor as Commodore, but I soon became more comfortable as I realised Andrew's plans are entirely aligned with the vision for the club we have all been working towards over the years."
You can read the Commodore Cox's entire maiden speech and learn more about the outgoing and incoming committee members here.
In the meantime, we hope you come by to enjoy DBSC’s Vivid entry (see photo below). It’s great to see Commodore Cox is already putting his unique stamp on the club.
Photo by: Nick Pellow
Here's the latest Big Boat Race Report from Jonathan Stone:
It was a cool winter afternoon with a 5-10 knot southerly breeze ………. overcast, with only occasional sunshine.
Time & Tide sailed to Darling Point to begin sailing along the start line for a gate start. (There is a weakness in this procedure: in a southerly as today, we were in the lee of the Point, and we took forever to get moving. I will try and figure out some way of avoiding this problem - maybe starting the run a couple of hundred metres north of the Point)
As it was our visiting Jeanneau 30-odd footer Liaison won the start. She found a bit of breeze, was the first to cross behind our transom and was halfway across Double Bay before the rest of us got going. Time & Tide and Corinna - the smaller boats - did next best and were close together at the first mark. T&T had an overlap and turned just ahead of Corinna, but the wind was light and Corinna turned wide, getting the best of wind and moving ahead.
Liaison led the way to Taylor’s Bay but went very high, towards Bradley’s Head; and did not prosper there. Corinna sailed low, into the centre of the Harbour and hoisted her spinnaker, and cruised into the lead. On T&T, we poled our biggest headsail and did well, moving past Liaison into second place, but well behind the Corinna. Behind the two smaller boats the three 30 footers struggled for downwind speed. It was a close reach to Sow ’n Pigs but no changes of place, though Liaison found enough to challenge T&T all the way.
At Sow’n Pigs, Corinna and then Time and Tide began the work to Shark Island by sailing left, into Watson’s Bay; it was a good move, which allowed us to take advantage of any easterly shifts that came. Corinna did much the better and held a very comfortable lead from there to the finish. Time & Tide chased, as did Liaison, who slid into second place half way up the work. T&T tacked and ducked and - but for some traffic at the Shark Island mark - might have challenged for second place again.
As it was we all had a quiet last leg - ending a fun race, challenging in the ways that light airs always are.
We gathered in the 18 footer club (there was a family party in the DBSC Clubhouse) for a drink. Mind you, it wasn’t much quieter in the 18s - at this time of year the TV screens were showing the French Open and the local footy; and it was the day of terror attacks on London Bridge.
So we talked of sailing and the race and terror and more about the race and felt very lucky to have enjoyed peaceful, safe afternoon.
Over the line:
Corinna
Liaison
Time & Tide
Chenonceau
Smitten
We race next on July 2.
Marine Deals Direct, an Australian owned online sailing store, has offered all DBSC members a discount on purchases. Simply use the coupon code DBSC to receive 10% off of your order total.
A huge turnout gathered on Friday night for DBSC’s 61st AGM. There was suspense and anticipation in the air as members assembled to find out who would take over from our fearless Commodore, Luke Parker, who was stepping down to spend more time with his family. Before the question of the night was answered, Commodore Parker made the most of the night by celebrating the season past.
In 45 minutes, we held the Presentations for Lasers and Big Boats and heard reports from each of the executive (abridged version: all’s well, finances are sound but tight, please help with fees and donations).
A highlight was the presentation of Clubman of the year – Peter Collie. As we all know Peter is a regular at the club, always there with a smile, ready to help. He holds the tongs at every BBQ, he rustles people up for twilight and winter sailing, and he looks after our function hire. Everyone agreed that DBSC would not be what it is without Peter’s help. Congratulations!
Finally, the moment of truth was upon us – the election of our new leader. After 10 seconds of hearty discussion, it was unanimously agreed that Andrew Cox would become DBSC’s new Commodore. Andrew’s vision for the future will be the subject of next week’s newsletter.
For now, let’s thank Luke for 4 great years of leadership. You can check out his entire farewell address here.
There were certainly many toasts to Luke’s reign during the post-AGM dinner. Thanks to Paul, Shirley and Deb for the wonderful food and thanks to all those that came and helped make the transition of power a smooth and festive affair.
Luke Presides Over His Final AGM
Finn and Marlena did DBSC proud by participating in The Delta Lloyd Regatta held in Medembilk, The Netherlands. Both did well in an extremely competitive field -- Finn placing 8th, and Marlena 60th overall.
Here are Finn's thoughts as he jetted back home: "The medal race was intense, to say the least... with the top 10 best sailors in the world put against each other on a super short course close to shore, it was bound to be a close race. The points were really close, so my plan was to sail the race like any other... The start went really well and I was popped out on the leeward end and ended up crossing most of the fleet... The race went so quickly, a total blur, and was really tricky to find the time to look around and get into the rhythm of the race... with heaps of boats around, the waves were really choppy and messy (just like Double Bay) so downwinds were quick and required a high degree of precision. I finished 7th in the medal race, overtaking the Cypriot Pavlos Kontides (2012 Olympic Silver medalist) on the final downwind. I secured 8th overall and I am really happy with that result."
Congrats to both Finn and Marlena!
Finn at the Delta Lloyd Regatta
For those with Foxtel, the cup is on at about 6am each morning. Sure it's a sport for a few very rich blokes, but racing at over 40 knots is spectacular. Worth waking up for.
The next big boat race - the first of the three winter races - will be held this Sunday June 4. The race will retain the regular format - a 1.00pm start, same marks, VHF 72
Please let Jonathan Stone (jonathanston@gmail.com) know if you'll be coming. Jonathan would love to see you out on the water. As he says, "These winter afternoons can be delightful sailing!"
Big Boats Sail at a Recent DBSC Race
To maintain our tax-exempt status, and allow you to make tax-deductible donations, we have to organise an annual general meeting, so our 61st People's Congress is scheduled for this Friday night at 7pm.
Some might ask that because democracy, as practised with the the "one-person, one vote" method is flawed, should we even bother with attending and the pretence of voting? The answer is yes, due to DBSC improvements made to the historical "all people are equal" model.
Put simply we are considering weighting different people's votes differently. Here is the summary:
As you can see from the fully researched vote weightings we have overcome the historical problems of past voter eligibility criteria (i.e. property ownership, having testes, or just being a human being).
Alternatively, come along on Friday and vote old school. One vote, per member, perhaps.
There will be free beverage and food opportunities after the presentation and the short formal meeting.
