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.
Pippa Batchelor has shared an interesting tool for members looking to better understand rules and strategy by visually sketching out different sailing situations. It’s a drawing tool called Boat Scenario. It is an ideal companion for training sessions, rule learning, strategy explanations and more.
Try Boat Scenario (free Download) HERE.
Wednesday, 30 October, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing / BBTP
Saturday, 2 November, 9am – Learn to Race
Saturday, 6 November, 2pm Start – Club Championship, Heats 5 & 6, followed by a BBQ
Sunday, 3 November, 2pm Start – Big Boat Race
Wednesday, 6 November, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing / BBTP
Saturday, 9 November, 2pm Start – Sprint Racing
Saturday, 9 November & Sunday, 10 November – Laser State Championships at George's River (see info above)
The forecast is looking perfect for twilight sailing tonight (Wednesday)… 26 degrees and an 18 knot NE breeze. Join us for a beautiful evening on the harbour, with organised sprints with Brett Beyer. Everyone’s welcome. Splash is at 5pm for a 5:30 start!
We are asking ALL members to plan to attend our annual Competency Training on the morning of Saturday, 23 November. No matter how experienced you are, your attendance is required. Most weeks our race management is falling short of the standards we are seeking, and the competency training is an important element of our strategy to address that for the benefit of the club and all our members -- so we need everyone to commit to this. Please confirm your attendance HERE. Thanks!
On 9-10 November the 2019 NSW/ACT Laster State Championships will take place at George's River Sailing Club in Sandringham. Please email Ian Alexander HERE if you plan to attend, and stick around after sailing on Saturday to white board trailer solutions. This is important -- if you want to attend the regatta, but cannot attend the white board session, please speak to someone else and ask them to represent your interests at the white board session.
Next week we will unveil the final designs of our regatta kit, and move forward with taking orders. This is very exciting!
If you are attending an ILCA regatta this season, you will be offered one T-shirt / cap / bib combo for FREE. If you are not attending an ILCA regatta (or you want more than one combo set), you can also buy whatever you want.
There will be a form in next week’s newsletter to indicate what you want to order – quantities and sizes. We will include price details then.
In the meantime, in preparation for this, we will have size samples of the T-shirts and bibs at the club on Saturday so you can select your sizing. If you’re interested in one of the DBSC branded Musto sailing jackets, check out the sizing details HERE (and you can see the unbranded jacket in person at Sturrocks). So, don't miss out, come on down to the club this Saturday so you can check your size and be ready to order your gear!
The wind forecasts were all over the place for last Saturday afternoon. From some models, it looked like there might not be enough wind to race… Boy was that prediction wrong! What eventuated was a strong, shifty 22 knot WSW breeze with some 30+ knot bullets that saw much of the fleet in the drink. It was surely a day you needed to keep your wits about you and your downhaul cranked on. Those who managed to keep their boats upright and took advantage of high port tacks won the day.
The day was so challenging that several boats did not finish within 15 minutes of the lead boat, giving them a DNF (S.I. 18.3). The Afternoon was a combined Club Champs and Spring Pontscore; congratulations to the hardy victors. The results were: Championship – Full Rigs: Campbell Patton (Championship Heat 3) and Luke Parker (Championship Heat 4); Radials: Otto Henry (Championship Heats 3 & 4). Pointscore (after handicap): Full Rigs: Hadrien Bourely (Pointscore Heat 5) and Steve London (Pointscore Heat 6); Radial / 4.7s: James Tudball (Pointscore Heat 5) and Marlena Berzins (Pointscore Heat 6).
Thanks to this week’s race volunteers — Andrew Simpson (PRO) assisted by Murray Stone on the Jazzman, Justin Davey and Jack Littlechild on the Bergman, and James Tudball and David Rogers in the canteen. After racing we enjoyed a beautiful BBQ on the deck thanks to the Canteen Crew and Peter Collie (and his helpers) on the grill!
Written by Tim Heath
I’m not sure if this is a sailing tip or a confession. Probably both. While learning to sail I have developed an interest, ok a bit of an obsession, with learning how to tie knots and splice ropes. I find myself practising them when daydreaming or watching Netflix?! In the process of furnishing my habit, I have come a across a couple of cheap, excellent e-resources that I think would be useful to normal people who sail dinghies:
1. Animated Knots (by Grog) is a phone app which costs $8 and is a pretty comprehensive compendium of knot videos, including notes on usage, and pros and cons for each knot. There are also splicing videos. You can watch some of them online but this app stores them all offline on your smartphone.
2. Rope splicing (Premium Ropes). If you're unfortunate enough to get hooked on splicing, then this is an invaluable resource, showing techniques for splicing almost every type of modern rope you might come across. The online videos are free and can be viewed HERE. I don't think the app is worth it (doesn't include videos).
If there are any other closet knotters, or if anyone has a favourite knot and like me is shameless enough to admit it, then maybe you could share? Also, I would be interested on recommendations from our more experienced Laser sailors regarding their preferred control lines and sheets. Although cordage is another whole area for potential discovery / obsession... Maybe I should get counselling, a life, and just call BoatRopes.com.au
Editor’s note - Keep those Top Tips and questions coming! You can email them HERE.
Wednesday, 23 October, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing / BBTP
Saturday, 26 October, 2pm Start – Spring Pointscore, Heats 7 & 8
Wednesday, 30 October, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing / BBTP
Saturday, 2 November, 9am – Learn to Race
Saturday, 2 November, 2pm Start – Club Championship, Heats 5 & 6, followed by a BBQ
Sunday, 3 November, 2pm Start – Big Boat Race
Twilight sailing kicked off last week with a big cold southerly. For those who participated it was a great opportunity to practice boat handling in a strong breeze and tactics in shifty conditions.
Tonight will be the first instalment of this season’s Brett Beyer Twilight Program. Everyone is welcome, including visitors from other clubs. See you for a 5pm splash.
