This Week’s Snapshot

Here's what's on tap in this week's newsletter:

1. This weekend is Heats 9 and 10 of the Spring Point Score.  Briefing at 1pm, first warning signal at 2pm. 
2. Twilight sailing is on again tonight. Splash at 5.15pm for races at 5.30pm. We had 12 boats last week. Please use the Peter Collie Doodle Poll.
   
3. The first instalment of the Brett Beyer lecture series is next week, Wednesday, 1 November at 8pm.  Last chance to sign up — tickets available here. 
4. If you haven’t yet signed up for the State Championships, please do it here. All levels will enjoy it. And please volunteer to help with our hosting!
5. Don’t forget our boat repair clinic – inspections at 9am this Sat morning 28 October, repairs on Saturday morning 11 November.
6. We’re looking forward to the Season Opening Sailors’ Dinner this Friday, 27 October at 7 for 7.30 at RPEYC. Dress smart casual. 
7. Congratulations to our sailors at the Coast Championship. 1st in the Standards, 2nd in the Radials, and pretty much a clean sweep in the 4.7s!
8. We’re getting new members every week — 16 new sailors so far this season. Welcome James Tudball and Alvaro Manzanares Bertran.
9. Block out your calendars for the National Masters Championship at Mooloolaba, 9-12 February 2018. We want a huge contingent!
10. DBSC members were featured in a great Wentworth Courier article.  

Laser Racing

We had 20+ boats for our sprint racing last Saturday, and another 11 of our sailors were at the Coast Championship at Gosford. 

Thank you to Pippa Batchelor and Geoff Boscoe, who did a great job officiating in yet another tricky Double Bay southerly!  We had about 7 short races with a good mix of winners. 

This weekend is Heats 9 and 10 of the Spring Point Score. The briefing will be at 1pm, with the first warning signal at 2pm. 

The Brett Beyer Saturday Program will be on again this week. For subscribers, there are five important things to note:

1. Put two elastic bands around your mast between the vang and the boom
2. If you did not return your bib two weeks ago, don’t forget to wear it this time (and please return it on-water at the end)
3. Be on the water by 1.30pm to allow sufficient time to get “rigged up” with bibs and GPS units
4. There is very limited time for on-water coaching between races. If you want any feedback, you need to sail over to Brett and wait in the queue. Get your sound bite and move on. But if you ever see Brett sitting by himself, take the opportunity to head over and ask him a question. And feel free to do the same after the post-racing briefing in the clubhouse 
5. Don’t forget to return your bib and GPS unit on-water after the second race. Brett needs to download the GPS data before the post-race briefing

Harbour Sunsets

What more could you want than a few sprint races on a long balmy daylight saving afternoon?

At DBSC we make this a reality. And these days “work life balance” is an HR buzz-word. So, remind your boss, stick it in your diary, fill in the Peter Collie Doodle Poll, and come on down. 

Brett Beyer runs the races and all are welcome to join in, whether a subscriber to the Brett Beyer Wednesday Program or not.  Splash is at 5.15 and races start at 5.30. But there is no issue with joining in late. 

Last week we had 12 boats. We want to grow it back to the good old days of ~20 boats. 

But please do fill in the Peter Collie Doodle Poll each week (even if you are a BBWP subscriber). The best way to attract a crowd is to have a crowd. The Doodle Poll makes this happen. And, if you say you’re coming, please turn up because others are relying on you. 

Do You Want to Sail Faster?

Well then you’d better start with sail shape and trim. Are you using enough vang?  Or too much?  And what about those other controls?

All this and more at the first of our Brett Beyer lectures, which will be held at DBSC at 8pm on Wednesday, 1 November. That’s next week. 

So, it’s your last chance to get a ticket here —$21 gets you entry and pizza. Drinks are pay as you go.  Please pay online not on the night — we need to know numbers for catering. 

State Championships

As you know by now, the State Open and Masters Championships will be hosted at DBSC on 18-19 November. All members are encouraged to sail, both for the experience and the fun. If you can sail in a DBSC race, you can sail in the States — just think of it as a normal Saturday on the Harbour. Entry forms are here. 

We need volunteers please. As flagged in last week’s newsletter please email the people identified below if you can help with particular tasks. We would appreciate “all hands-on deck”.

(a)    Parking – we need someone to operate the gate to Double Bay Primary School and collect the parking fee, all of which will be donated to the school.  This will run from 9.00am until about 11.30am on the Saturday and from 8.00am to about 9.30am on the Sunday.  People who are intending to sail can volunteer for this.  If you can do this for an hour or more, please email Pippa: phillippa_batchelor@hotmail.com

(b)   Support vessels – we need two experienced volunteers for the finish boat to assist Leanne Narborough and Ros Read record the finish for both days. We also need one experienced volunteer for the start boat (the Jazzman) for both days to help Col Chidgey (PRO for the regatta) and Clare (driver and assistant PRO).  Col has asked for people who are “smart and don’t get seasick”.   If you think you fit that description, please contact Michael: mosborne@osborneslawyers.com.au

(c)    Rigging area management – we need people from 9.00am onwards on the Saturday and about 8.30am onwards on the Sunday to assist Martin White and Pat Levy direct traffic through Steyne Park.  Sunday is particularly important because we must share the park with the 18s.  Again, people who are sailing can volunteer for this.  If you can help with this, please contact Martin: mwhite@universalmagazines.com.au

(d)   Canteen – Paul needs help running the canteen for the weekend.  We need help on Saturday from 9.00am until 11.00am and after racing for the post-race BBQ, and we need help on Sunday from about 8.30am until 10.00am and again after racing for the post-race BBQ.  People who are sailing can also volunteer for this.  If you can help with this, please contact Paul: p.adam@unsw.edu.au

(e)   Beach clean-up – there will be a beach clean-up two-weeks prior, on 4 November after racing finishes, as low tide is around 3.15pm. All we need is a small amount of time when people come back ashore prior to de-rigging.  We will have supplies of gloves and some bags.  If you can help with this, please contact Justin:  JDavey@ozspan.com

(f) Club preparation working bee — there will be a working bee one week prior, on 11 November at 11am, to prepare the club house, fill the holes in the ground around the two boat ramps and a workshop clean up. If you can assist, please email JDavey@ozspan.com

Fix Your Boat

The first half of our boat repair clinic will occur at 9am this Saturday, 28 October. Get your boat out on lawn and get ready to show off its flaws. 

Our expert appraisers, Craig Sheers and Ian Alexander, will tell you what you need to do to get prepared for the repair day, which will start at 8am on Saturday, 11 November. 

We still need volunteers to help Craig and Ian on the 11th — email Ian at: laserrep@dbsc.com.au. 

Season Opening Sailors’ Dinner

For those who have tickets, we’re looking forward to seeing you at the Season Opening Sailors’ Dinner at Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, 160 Wolseley Road, Point Piper at 7pm for 7.30pm this Friday, 27 October. Dress is smart casual. Get there on time to enjoy the bar tab!

We’re a Competitive Bunch

We had another round of successes at the Coast Championship at Gosford Sailing Club last weekend. 

In the 4.7s our members made it look easy with pretty much a clean sweep, with Mark Louis 1st, Brooke Wilson 2nd (Brooke was also 1st girls and 1st under 16!), Daniel Costandi 3rd, Jack Ferguson 4th, Sylvie Stannage 5th and Mina Ferguson 7th. Watch out DBSC radial fleet (and watch out rest of the world)!

In the Radials, we had Jack Littlechild 2nd, Campbell Patton 7th, Maddie O’Shea 9th and Zac West 10th. 

And in the Standards, our coach, Brett Beyer, showed who’s boss with straight bullets. It’s probably a good idea to join one of his programs and do whatever he says!

Congratulations to you all. 

Brooke Wilson Smashing it at the Coasts

Build It and They Will Come

No sooner did we build more racks than they are nearly full. We have had 16 new sailing members so far this season. And included in that group is some real talent. 

This week, we welcome James Tudball, who is an experienced sailor from way back, now returning to the sport. He was hiking pretty hard on the weekend, so watch out. 

We also welcome Alvaro Manzanares Bertran, who is relatively new to the sport, but has shown real commitment, out practicing on Saturday mornings week after week. 

Please look at for them at the club and make them feel welcome. 

National Masters — What Happens in Vegas...

The National Masters Championship will be held in the ocean at Mooloolaba on 9-12 February 2018. So, block your calendars because we want a huge contingent!

Ian Alexander is coordinating transport, accommodation and all-things entertainment. This is going to be fun. We are keen to get an early read on numbers so we can start booking. Please email laserrep@dbsc.com.au if you are in.