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.
Wednesday 21 February, 5pm – Twilight Sailing. Brett Beyer will be coaching. If you are attending, please complete the Doodle Poll.
Wednesday 21 February, 8pm – Brett Beyer Lecture on “Tactics and Strategy”. Lecture and pizza cost $21 for DBSC members. Book here if you’d like to attend.
Saturday 24 February, 2pm Start – Autumn Pointscore Heats 7 & 8.
The next instalment of the BBSP will commence this Saturday, 24 February. It will run for four weeks (not five as previously advertised): 24 Feb, 3 Mar, 10 Mar, 24 Mar*. We have had 15 people sign-up by emailing training@dbsc.com.au. If others are interested, please email Martin White at that email address.
Could those who have signed up please arrange payment here BEFORE SATURDAY.
The cost has been reduced to reflect four weeks instead of five:
The “B” participants receive (a) a video of the start with voice-over commentary, (b) a video of the “real time” GPS tracks of the fleet, (c) a leg by leg analysis of the performance of the fleet including individual speed and angle statistics vs the fleet, (d) access to Brett for comments and question on water when not racing, (e) participation in the communal post-race debrief at the clubhouse after racing.
The “A” participants receive all the above plus (f) and individual report on their performance, referencing tactical and/or technical considerations and (g) the opportunity to email Brett with follow up questions. *Please see all terms of the program here.
Save the date for the inaugural Women’s Laser Regatta, that will be hosted by DBSC on 7 and 8 April. This is an important event for DBSC and a first for the class worldwide. The club is committed to promoting women in sailing, and encouraging greater participation by women in our club and our fleet. We will be inviting women sailors from everywhere to attend and sail in this event.
That weekend will be a non-sailing weekend for male members at DBSC, and we will be calling upon all the male members to volunteer to assist over the weekend with what will be a myriad of tasks. We will be turning over our male changeroom to regatta participants, and we may also ask members to charter their boats to visiting women. The format of the weekend and the racing is to be confirmed.
The regatta is being organised by the Sailing Committee. Thanks to Clare Alexander for championing this event, and for the extensive groundwork she has done in securing sponsorship, charter boats, prizes, regatta management, and most importantly, attendance! And thanks to Michael Osborne and the Sailing Committee for coordinating the implementation. Could you please let Michael know if you are not on the Sailing Committee and would also like to assist – vice.commodore@dbsc.com.au
Please note that the Club Championship races that were scheduled for 7 April will be held the following weekend in conjunction with the scheduled Pointscore.
A jumping castle, family Laser sprint races, and a kiddie friendly BBQ will round out DBSC’s Inaugural Family Day at 4:30 pm on 17 March. It’s the chance to show the kids and your partner what you get up to every Saturday. To help us cater for the day we’d love to know if you can come and who you’ll be bringing with you. So, please click here to RSVP now.
We made a request on the weekend for two new volunteers – one as Club Historian and one as Safety Officer. Thanks to Richard George for volunteering to be Club Historian. We still need someone to volunteer as Safety Officer. The initial role of the Safety Officer will be to coordinate preparation of a curriculum and the conduct of four identical PRO/COTD training sessions on different days and at different times in the lead up to and during next sailing season. All club members will be encouraged to attend one of the sessions. The sessions will be conducted by various club members with expertise in the relevant areas. Initial thoughts around curriculum include:
The purpose of the training is to ensure our members understand all aspects of the PRO/COTD roles and are best placed to conduct the high quality racing to which we aspire in a safe manner. Please let Andrew Cox (ar.cox@bigpond.com) know if you are willing to take on the Safety Officer role
Every year for the last - I am not sure how many - years now, DBSC has been a Clean-Up Australia day site. We clean up our own site and the parks and beaches nearby.
It’s a contribution to the community; and it is part of looking after ourselves. So - I write for you help - again. The day is Sunday March 4. And on that morning there will be two clean-up periods:
A dawn patrol - at 0630-0700h. Low tide that day will be at 0443h. But you can’t clean up if you can’t see anything. Sunrise will be at 0644h; there will be sufficient light at 0630h to start to clean up the parts of the beach bared at low tide. Obviously, the tide will have come in some but this is the best we can do.
So - I need half-a-dozen volunteers, or a few more, to focus on the beaches to the east and west of us, clearing the low-tide areas. It’s about half an hour’s work for a team, no more. It will get your Sunday off to a great start; half and hour and you are done by 7.00am.
A morning patrol - at 9.00am - 12 noon. More civilised hours - to be successful the project need as many of you as can come to spend even 15 minutes clearing the upper parts of the beaches, the rigging area and the park beyond.
Clashes:
It happens every year - the 18-footer worlds (the JJ GIltinan Championship) will be on that day. There will be 18-footers in the rigging area. We will clean around them.
DBSC big boat sailors: our March race is on that day. It is still daylight saving, so our start will be at 2.00pm. So not really a clash. Come a bit earlier and help with the clean-up! Put it in your diary.
Please come and help - it is an important community service by the Club.
Thank you,
Jonathan Stone
We now have a yellow recycling bin in addition to our red general waste bin. And we also have two smaller bins near the kitchen – one for recycling and one for general waste. Please lend a hand in helping reduce landfill waste and separate your rubbish accordingly.
Instead of our usual club racing, this Saturday we’ll be participating in The Vaucluse Regatta. It’s a grand regatta, over 80 years young and is a great opportunity for racing in a big fleet, and practice for the away leg of the VYC/DBSC challenge which will happen in March.
Racing starts at Vaucluse at 1.45pm which means they day will start earlier than normal for us. We’ll have a briefing at DBSC at 12 noon where we will review the format of the racing (it is still being finalised). It should be a good day on the water with Laser sailors from around the harbour.
Wednesday 14 February, 5pm – Twilight Sailing. Brett Beyer will be coaching tonight – this is the first instalment of his new Wednesday coaching program (BBWP). The program is fully subscribed with 10 participants. It will run for 7 consecutive weeks (subject to the terms). Everyone is welcome to join for organised racing each week, and everyone will hear important tips on start technique which, as several of our Nationals sailors reminded themselves painfully on the weekend, is probably the most important ingredient for success. If you are attending, please complete the Doodle Poll. And a reminder for those in the BBWP, payments are due today before twilight sailing please.
Saturday 17 February, 12pm Briefing – Vaucluse Regatta. See important details above.
Brett Beyer is presenting the next instalment of his Lecture Series at 8pm on Wednesday, 21 Feburary. The topic is “Tactics and Strategy” -- something we all could use more of.
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.
