Time is Running Out…

To Pay your dues on time. Thanks to the 50% of members who have paid up. For the rest of you, there is only a few weeks left to get your payment in before the April 30th deadline. Thanks for your help with this. 

Big Boat Racing

Written by Jonathan Stone

 It was a perfect Sunday afternoon, cloud-clear and warm, with an east-northeasterly sea breeze of 5 - 10 knots. And the Harbour autumn-empty, after the bedlam of summer weekends.

Five boats presented, following two late scratchings. Notable among us was a beautiful boat, new to the fleet and perhaps new to the water, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 34 Sanity owned by Jim Ley, one of the earliest of DBSC’s sailors. Jim starting winning trophies in the 1950s, sailing VJ dinghies at the newly formed DBSC; his father was among the Club’s founders. Jim went on to win many trophies in many classes in many other clubs. This was his return to sailing at DBSC, after fifty years. Welcome back!

Peter and David gave us a timed start from one of the Club’s RIBs, the Paul Adam. Sanity and Time & Tide started best, with Sanity going left into the Harbour and finding better wind for a strong early lead. Corinna’s start was late (again) but the first leg was a work and she made characteristically good speed and height and the order at the first mark at Point Piper was Sanity, Corinna, then T&T, with Bruce’s Liaison and Ed’s G-Force following.

Remarkably, that order held throughout the race but there is still a story to tell. The leg to Taylors Bay was a shy reach and the two smaller boats kept pace with Sanity, with T&T closing on Corinna. Then, on the long work to the top mark off the Sow’n Pigs reef Corinna stretched her lead again, with T&T hanging on and Sanity still clear in front.

There followed two downhill legs to Shark island, where we gybed, and then a run to the finish. Sanity, with a comfortable lead, left her spinnaker below, but Corinna and Time & Tide both flew kites. On the leg to Shark Island the spinnaker was a marginal exercise as the apparent wind was square for much the leg and forward of square for the rest. And we both struggled for height, with the spinnaker pole way forward and its luff collapsing, to clear the mark. Corinna did it better and turned the mark clear of T&T and closing on Sanity.

Often the last leg of the race is the least interesting - the places already determined. This time the spinnakers made a real difference. The wind was square behind us, and on Corinna and T&T, the crews winched their spinnaker poles back and easily kept the kites full and way out to starboard, clear of their mainsails. Both closed on Sanity, whose crew - sensing the danger - goose-winged her headsail to starboard, to get the same freedom from the mainsail’s wind-shadow. T&T was moving faster than either and It seemed that positions could change, especially if the wind was uneven. Close to the line, Sanity did fall into a hole that Corinna escaped; Corinna came abeam of her on a light gust - and then the gust reached Sanity and she surged to cross first, by not much more than a boat length. For T&T, she had allowed the others too great a lead (or the leg was too short!) and, despite her speed, she was still a few boat lengths back when we crossed the line.

A few us enjoyed drinks in the Clubhouse afterwards - it was the best of afternoons. The summer harshness had gone from the sun, the breeze was cooling and gentle. We all stayed longer than we intended.

So - a great race on a sparkling afternoon.

Across the line:

• Sanity
• Corinna
• Time&Tide
• Liaison
• G-Force

Jim Ley’s Sun Odyssey 34 Sanity - the newest boat in the big boat fleet

Time & Tide - a Hood 23, built 1975... maybe the oldest in the fleet

At the start, just south of Clarke Island - Sanity (at right) shades Bruce’s Liaison. The boat ahead on port is T&T. Sanity was able to clear the Island still on starboard, and go left for a big early lead, which she did not relinquish. Though, by the finish, Corinna was within an outstretched arm of catching her, and T&T well within hailing distance.

Saturday Sprint Report

Easter Saturday meant sprint racing. The day brought a 9-12kt south easterly, with a course positioned to the west of Shark Island and up into the mouth of Rose Bay. There was a healthy turnout of 20+ boats, dominated by Zac West in the Radials and Brett Beyer in the Standards. Thanks to David Huber (PRO), assisted by Christine Linhart and Chris Perrin. A special thanks to Shirley Roach, who held fort alone in the canteen and, with assistance from Christine Linhart, served up a welcome Easter treat in the form of steaming hot cross buns to all the hungry sailors.

The Week Ahead

Saturday 7 April, 2pm Start – Club Championship Heats 13 & 14. BBQ on the deck following the races.

Sunday 8 April, 1pm Start – Big Boat Racing. Please note the 1pm start, as Daylight Savings has come to an end. Please let Jonathan Stone know if you want to join the fleet. 

Animal Invasion

We all know that beautiful wildlife flocks to the Double Bay ferry wharf every Saturday Summer afternoon. Well, the word must be getting around. Last Saturday, DBSC turned into somewhat of an animal sanctuary. Check out our wild visitors below. Should be interesting to see who, or what, shows up this week!

Photo by Craig Sheers

Photo by Andrew Cox

Annual Dues Due

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! 

Winter Warriors

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. 

End of Season Festivities

Don’t forget these two fun and important dates:

• End of Season BBQ – Saturday, 28 April
• AGM and Dinner – Friday, 25 May

DBSC Victorious in Vaucluse Challenge

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

The Week Ahead

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.