Big Boats Race Sunday

The Big Boats race again this Sunday, 3 September. It will be the first of 9 races over spring, summer and autumn. The start will be at 1.00pm (no daylight saving). All other conditions are the same as our recent winter racing. So, mark the date in your diary, get your crew organised and let Jonathan Stone know whom to expect.

Working bee this Saturday

One of the suggestions from the survey is that we should upgrade our club dollies to include foam protection for our boats. 

We are holding a working bee this Saturday, 26 August at 10am to undertake this work. We would appreciate volunteers. Could you please email commodore@dbsc.com.au to confirm your attendance. 

Thanks to Mark Bethwaite and Pat Levy, who have kindly offered to lead this effort. All required materials will be available on Saturday. Mark has already spliced lanyards onto all the dollies.

Brett Beyer program

We have had overwhelming enthusiasm for the Brett Beyer Saturday program, with over 40 people indicating interest to participate in the program across the various price points. 

Brett Beyer is an Olympic coach and 11 times laser world champion. We are very fortunate to have him working with us!

It is now time to confirm your participation because Brett needs to order GPS units while still in China. Can you please email training@dbsc.com.au by the end of this coming weekend with the following details to confirm your participation:

- name
- rig size -- standard, radial or 4.7
- price option (choose one) -- A, B or C
- bib size (over life jacket) -- most likely M or L

The initial program will start on Saturday, 14 October and will run for 10 consecutive weeks*. 

All participants will have access to brief on-water comments upon sailing over to the coach boat as they finish each race*, and will be eligible to attend a post-race group debriefing at DBSC after de-rigging. Participants will also receive an emailed report, the content of which will differ for the three different price points as outlined below:

A. Individual GPS -- price ~$900. Individual report including leg-by-leg GPS-based individual tactical analysis vs the winner, and selected individual technical comments*. Click here for a sample report. 

B. Group GPS -- price ~$500. Group report including GPS-based leg-by-leg snapshot of the whole fleet and overall preferred tactics, and selected individual technical comments*. Click here for a sample report. 

3. No GPS -- price ~$300.  Short group report (no GPS analysis) containing a race overview and selected individual technical comments*. Click here for a sample report. 

Price points may be amended based on confirmed numbers of participants indicated through the current email confirmation process. 

* Notes: The program is conducted by Brett Beyer Sailing and all contractual arrangements are between the participant and Brett Beyer Sailing. Double Bay Sailing Club disclaims all liability. Full terms and conditions will be provided at time of payment. The program will run for 10 consecutive weeks except as indicated in the terms and conditions.  Brett Beyer Sailing reserves the right to skip particular weeks at its discretion for reasons that may include, without limitation, conflicting coaching responsibilities, competition events and weather. If a week is skipped at the option of Brett Beyer Sailing, the program will be extended to ensure participants receive a 10-week program. If a participant is unable to attend a particular week when the program is conducted, the participant forfeits that week's entitlement and Brett Beyer Sailing does not have to make good. The sample reports are indicative only and Brett Beyer Sailing does not warrant the form or content and accepts no liability if the form or content differs. Brett Beyer Sailing will record real-time technical observations on various participants using a dictaphone. However, due to the number of participants, and the practicalities involved with monitoring all participants, Brett Beyer Sailing may not provide individual on-water or written technical comments for each participant each week or at all. Brett Beyer Sailing accepts no responsibility for failure of electronic equipment including a failure to record GPS information, and the resulting inability to provide content that is similar to that shown in the sample reports. 

Sailing continues this weekend

Saturday and Sunday sailing continues again this week. On Saturday, the briefing will be at 12pm and the first race will start at 1pm. On Sunday, sprints will be held with splash at 8am. 

Last Saturday, we fronted an impressive contingent of sailors, including several our youth who sailed over from RSYS. It was a test of fortitude and sheeting skills on a wild WSW day with frequent gusts of nearly 40 knots. Thanks to Michael Osborne who provided PRO and response boat services. 

We had another good showing for Sunday training in 15-18kts from the south.

Volunteer rosters published

The PRO/COTD/CoCOTD Calendar has been finalised and published for season 2017/18. 

This coming year, in addition to our usual race-support volunteering, we are requesting one member per week to help in the canteen -- this roster has been randomly allocated. 

You can view the roster on our website here.

Please review the calendar and diarise the day(s) you are rostered on. If you cannot attend that day please contact treasurer@dbsc.com.au.

All race volunteers will be required to arrive at the club at 11am. All canteen helpers will be free to sail since canteen duties are from 11.30am through to the race briefing at 1pm. 

Survey closing this week

The 2017 DBSC Laser Sailors' Survey will close at 5pm this Friday. We have had 85% participation to date -- thanks to everyone who has contributed!

We have emailed direct reminders to everyone who is showing in Survey Monkey as incomplete. Please take the five minutes needed to complete it. 

Email commodore@dbsc.com.au if you cannot access the survey for any reason. 

Over the coming weeks, we will publish the results of the survey, and the actions we are taking in response. Thanks again for your participation. 

Good luck, Marlena

Good luck to Marlena Berzins who will be competing in the 2017 Laser Radial Women’s World Championships in Medemblik, Netherlands from 19-26 August.

Click here to follow along.

She has just finished competing in the U21 Women's Radial World Championships and finished 17th overall and 5th U19.

August Sprints - 1pm Start

DBSC's famous August Saturday Sprints Series continues this week.  Splash at 12.30pm for a 1pm starting signal.

The competition is fierce on a crisp and windy August arvo. 

Don't Forget... Member Survey Continues

We're now well over the 50% mark for members who have filled out their membership survey. But we're aiming for 100%. So if you haven't completed the survey, please let your voice be heard. If you can't find the original email with the survey link, please use this one: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/855YX3J

If you still have problems, please email commodore@dbsc.com.au and let us know.

August Sailing Continues

We had very good sailing last weekend for our season kick-off -- 20 boats on Sat and 10 on Sun including several from VYC and MHASC. A big thanks to Peter Collie, who did a great job as starter and response boat on both days.  

Sailing is on again this weekend. Sprints on Saturday starting at 1pm (briefing at 12pm). And then more sprints on Sunday -- this time with splash at 2pm due to closure of New South Head Road for the City to Surf in the morning. 

Mark Bethwaite has kindly offered to man the response boat, run the races and give coaching to anyone who wants it on the Sunday.

A Beautiful Winter's Day for the First August Sprints
Photo by Peter Collie