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.
You should have received your invoice for 2018/19 dues a few weeks ago. We’re aiming to have everyone pay up by the end of this month and we’re 40% there. Thanks to all those gold star members. If you haven’t done your part yet, we’d appreciate it if you could do it today!
14 hearty souls have already signed up to take part in the DBSC Winter Series that will run every second Sunday, starting 6 May, with the first warning signal at 8.30am. If you want to join the action, please email Ian Alexander. Brett Beyer will also be running a coaching program in conjunction with the series. More information will be forthcoming on Brett's program, but if you’re interested in taking part, please also let Ian know.
Don’t forget these two fun and important dates:
The second leg of the 2017/18 Vaucluse Challenge took place last Saturday. A crowded harbour and a good 12 – 16 knot NE breeze greeted the DBSC and VYC sailors who competed off Watson’s Bay. Once again DBSC prevailed, although it was a tighter outcome than in November. DBSC came away with 40 points to VYC’s 66 points. In November, it was DBSC 35 to VYC 84. The total for both legs had DBSC on 75 to VYC’s 150. Nice round numbers!
There was a good showing from the Vaucluse fleet with a convincing first place in the standards from Matt Faddy, ahead of DBSC’s Luke Parker, and a strong second place in the radials from Rob Perrsson behind DBSC’s Martin White.
Both clubs paid tribute to Carolyn Bethwaite by flying their flags at half-mast and sailors had black ribbons streaming from mast tops.
After the competition on the harbour, DBSC welcomed a sizable contingent of sailors from Vaucluse to a BBQ on our deck. We celebrated Mark Bethwaite’s 70th birthday with a cake and speeches, the results were announced, and the Double Bay - Vaucluse Challenge Shield was exchanged. In all the excitement, we forgot that in addition to the main club trophy, there are also trophies for the best full rig and radial sailors in the Challenge series on aggregate. The winner of the Graham Reid Trophy for the wining standard sailor goes to VYC’s Matt Faddy. For the radials, DBSC’s Jack Littlechild came out on top, and will take home the Dene Bergman Trophy. The trophies will be engraved and presented to the winners in due course. Thanks to VYC for a well-run and enjoyable day of sailing and to Paul, Andrea, Shirley, Deb, Peter and Pat for a great meal.
Clare also snapped some great shots of the action – check them out on our Facebook Page, The Top Mark.
Michael Stackpool and Andrew Cox with the Double Bay - Vaucluse Shield
Wednesday 28 March, 5pm – Final Twilight Sailing this season. Sign up here if you’re coming. It’s the last chance until October to enjoy a warm sunset sail on the best harbour in the world. In addition to the beautiful scenery, Brett Beyer will be there to run us though our paces. Thanks to Brett for an outstanding twilight series that has seen large and regular fleets, as well as an excellent mix of drills and racing. As usual, everyone is welcome to join the racing, whether part of the program or not.
Saturday 31 March, 2pm – Easter Sprints. To get us in the spirt, hot cross buns will be available. But please note that the canteen will be closed, so make sure to bring your own lunch.
This week is also the last BBSP for the season. Thanks also to Brett for this program. The GPS analysis has given participants great tactical insights, which Brett has combined with detailed technical commentary. We also appreciate the insights she shared with everyone at the club through his post-race briefings.
Which camp are you in? No, we’re not talking about the marriage equality postal survey. 30% of members have already paid their dues. A huge thank you to those who have acted quickly. Now for the rest of you… make sure you pay your 2018/19 invoice ASAP. The funds will go far in maintaining the club’s financial help and will allow us to proceed with winter maintenance projects. Thanks for your help with this.
The winter is looking better and better… In conjunction with our upcoming winter series, Brett Beyer will be running a coaching program. The winter series will comprise three ~30min races with an 8am splash for 8.30am start every second Sunday from May through July. Please sign up for this series ASAP by emailing Ian Alexander, confirming (a) your participation in the racing and (b) your interest in being part of the Brett Beyer program. If you’ve already emailed Ian to let him know you’d like to race, please email him again if you’d like to participate in Brett’s program. More specific info about the Brett Beyer Winter Program will be announced soon.
Two important dates to note in your calendar:
It is with great sadness that we say farewell to Carolyn Bethwaite. It is no exaggeration to describe her as an extraordinary person.
Carolyn lived all her all-too-few 68 years to the fullest. She is described variously as “Sweet Caroline” (sic) (in the words of Neil Diamond), “warm Carolyn” (in the words of her innumerable friends and family), and “Remarkable Woman” (represented in the letters “RW” on the back of a key chain her friends made for her). And collectively those epithets capture her essence.
She will be remembered for many things, but two that perhaps stand out most are her warmth and her zest.
First, her warmth – more than most, she had an open mind that saw the good in others. She had a magnetism, augmented by deep perception and profound empathy, which reached out and touched everyone she knew. She was gracious and generous in all things. She was a remarkable wife, mother and friend, who displayed great love and support to everyone in her life. Over the last two years, that warmth that Carolyn brought to so many relationships was radiated back at her with so many expressions of love and support, flowers that brightened her life, and fan mail that came in almost daily from around the world.
Second, her zest – while she was ever modest and understated, in reality she was a serial high achiever. She was an incredible source of energy and drive, displaying tremendous leadership and organisational skills. She was School Captain and Dux at Ravenswood, an Honours graduate in Social Studies, a talented social worker, a wonderful wife and mother, a Distinguished Toastmaster, a consummate linguist, a fabulous leader of the guides at the Art Gallery of NSW, and a credible sailor (no surprise). She had a global view, underpinned by insatiable curiosity and tremendous love of adventure. She was constantly listening and evaluating, learning and teaching.
She will be remembered for all those things and more. But perhaps her greatest achievement was the way she carried herself since her diagnosis in January 2016. The strength and courage she showed in the face of such a shock and unfathomable adversity was exceptional. She was incredibly brave and strong through the most arduous of journeys that would test the spirit and strength of a saint. Yet through it all, she maintained such grace and composure, that was an inspiration to all who knew her.
Carolyn will be greatly missed by Mark, Campbell, Luci, her broader family and her myriad of friends. She was an extraordinary person.
Mark and Carolyn Bethwaite
Wednesday 21 March, 5pm – Twilight Sailing. Sign up here if you’re coming. Only two weeks to go before we lose daylight saving! The weather forecast isn’t looking great, but sailing is still going forward unless advised otherwise.
Saturday 24 March, 12pm – Vaucluse Challenge. Briefing one hour early – 12 noon. See details below.
