Video of the Week

As a reward for making to the end of the newsletter, we’re starting a new video series, curated by Simon Stone. The videos will be unique, funny and entertaining takes on how to sail a Laser.  Here’s the first one – why not combine surfing and Laser sailing?

State Championships – Big Fleet Races

DBSC hosted the NSW & ACT State Open and Masters Championships last weekend, with 130+ boats attending from all over Sydney, NSW, Australia and overseas, including members of the Australian women’s and men’s sailing teams.

The Competitors Gather for Pre-Race Briefing.

The event was a huge success, with over 40 volunteers contributing on the weekend, and many more in the lead up.  Thank you to you all for making this event possible!  The event contributed ~$1,000 to our canteen and $600 to Double Bay Primary School, which they are going to use to fund a new drinking fountain for the kids!

Our PRO, Col Chidgey, had to pull out at the last minute due to a sudden medical emergency that saw his wife, Kay, in surgery over the weekend.  Kay is now in a stable condition, and our thoughts are with them both.  Adam South was very generous in stepping in at short notice, and did an outstanding job, proving that it is possible, with deft placement of marks, to run trapezoid courses on Sydney Harbour.  Thank you, Adam.

The weather was kind to us, with a welcome break from the recent string of southerlies.  On Saturday, we had a NE gradient breeze of ~17-21kts and, on Sunday, we had a 9-14kt easterly.  With the breeze shifting to the right both days, it was the port tacks that made the difference.

Competition was intense throughout.  We raced in three fleets – standards, radials and 4.7s, with the opens and masters racing together.  And this is where it got exciting, with the old lion and the young lion facing off at the front of the standards.  Two of our world champions, Finn Alexander and Brett Beyer, went toe to toe on pretty much every leg, both having some outstanding beats, but it was ultimately a slight difference in boat speed that saw Finn take the championship.

And so the results.  DBSC featured strongly, taking 48% of the 40 winners’ “cubes” on offer, including 1st and 2nd in the standards, 1st and 3rd in the standard masters, 1st and 5th in the radials, 1st in the U19 radials, 1st in the U17 radials, 1st in the radial apprentice masters, 1st in the radial masters, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the 4.7s and 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the U16 4.7s.  Well done, team DBSC! You can check out all of the results here. 

Thank you to Kevin Phillips and the NSW & ACT Laser Association for choosing to hold the event at DBSC.  And thank you to all the volunteers from the Laser Association and other clubs who contributed to the event’s success.  You all did a great job as usual!

Below are some great shots of the weekend thanks to Ashley Deacon, Clare Alexander and others. Check out more of the photos and videos on DBSC’s Member’s only Facebook page, The Top Mark, here. 

The Week Ahead

With States done and dusted, DBSC makes a return to a more normal schedule this week:

Wednesday, 22 November – Twilight Sailing. Last week we had 15 boats sail on Wednesday in very windy conditions. Today’s wind forecast looks more forgiving, so sign up on the Doodle Poll here and join us for a 5:15pm splash!

Saturday, 25 November – Learn to Race. Learn to Race(LTR) is for prospective new members – a ‘try before you buy’ arrangement.  Additionally, it’s for mid fleet club members wanting to improve their Laser sailing. Meet at 9am at DBSC, on the water by 10.15am, return to club by 12.15pm approx. Come along if you want to learn more about Laser boat handling, balance, boat posture, trim, starts, tacks, gybes, boat set-up and any other race management fundamentals. Please let Martin White know if you plan on attending here.

Saturday, 25 November – Spring Point Score, Heats 11 & 12.  There are only three days of racing left for the Spring Pont Score. So, don’t miss the competition on the harbour this weekend.

Save the Date – December 16

The Festive Season is upon us… and planning is well underway for our Christmas party and new members’ welcome drinks to be held at 7.00pm on Saturday, 16 December.  All club members and their families are invited. There is no cost for this function, so put it in your diaries. An official invite will be coming your way shortly. 

Brett Beyer Lecture Series Continues

Brett Beyer is presenting the next instalment of his Lecture Series at 8pm on Wednesday, 6 December. The topic is “The Start and First Beat”, something we all could use a bit of improvement on.

For DBSC members the cost is $21 for the lecture and pizza, with drinks available for cash at the usual prices.  Separate non-member tickets are available for $31.  Attendance is limited so book here to avoid missing out. 

Club Championship Results

It was the 5th and 6th heats of the Club Championship last week and 58 DBSC boats turned out for the event!  Check out the huge fleet rigging up here.

The wind was 8-12kts ENE, strengthening and moving to the right as the afternoon progressed.  Thanks to our PRO, Jonathan Stone, who was assisted by Clare Alexander, and to our COTD, Geoff Kirk, who was assisted by Tim Health (Julian’s dad).

The races were very competitive as usual, but the winners are the winners, and we saw “daily doubles” in all three fleets, with Mark Bethwaite in the Standards beating Luke Parker in the first and Rod Barnes in the second; Jack Littlechild in the Radials beating Matthew Knight in the first and Maddie O’Shea in the second; and Brooke Wilson in the 4.7s beating Mark Louis in both races.

Thanks again to Brett Beyer for another instalment of the BBSP.  Feedback from the participants has been very positive.  For those who aren’t in the program, we will be running another series from February, so start planning to be in it!  As noted on Saturday, Brett will be conducting the post race briefing on the front deck from now on, with everyone in the club welcome to attend, so please hang around for that.

And one final note, I don’t think so, Ashley ...

Twilight Sailing

We had a record 19 boats for twilight sailing last week.  And it’s on again tonight.  Brett Beyer will be conducting the races, and everyone gets free coaching on the starts (and it is the starts that often decide who wins, so it’s something you want to be good at).

Come along and join us for two hours of jam-packed sprint races with the first start at 5.30pm (or whenever you can make it).  If you are coming, please complete this week's Doodle Poll here.

State Championships This Weekend

The long-awaited State Championships have arrived.  Thanks to all those who have helped organise this, including preparing the club house through the various working bees.

We are expecting 150 boats to descend upon our race course, with perhaps 100+ boats rigging at DBSC.  Could everyone please plan to be at the club by 9am this Saturday, 18 November to assist as needed.  The regatta briefing is at 11.30am.

If you have not yet entered, please do so here.  It is going to be a big weekend – get lots of rest, eat lots of carbs and race hard!

Brett Beyer Lecture Series

The next instalment of the Brett Beyer Lecture Series is at 8pm on Wednesday, 6 December.  The topic is “The Start and First Beat”, and you’d better get those right, or it’s a whole lot of catching up to do!

As usual, the cost for DBSC members is $21 for the lecture and pizza, with drinks available for cash at the usual prices.  Separate non-member tickets are available for $31.  Attendance is limited, and invitations have been sent to our sister clubs, so book early to avoid missing out.  You can get your tickets here.

Christmas Party and New Members’ Welcome Drinks

Please join us for our Christmas party and new members’ welcome drinks from 7.00pm on Saturday, 16 December.  All club members and their families are invited, and we are going to introduce all the new members once again.  There is no cost for this function, so put it in your diaries.  We will be sending out invitations shortly – RSVPs are appreciated for catering purposes.