RIB Upgrade Arrives at DBSC

We are excited to announce that the club has purchased a much newer second-hand RIB to replace the existing Paul Adam. 

The new RIB, which is scheduled to arrive this week, is a 2005-year Gemini Elite 630 (about the same size as the Bergman) with a 115hp Yamaha outboard. 

Our new beauty.

With Paul’s permission, the new RIB will also be named the Paul Adam, continuing our recognition of Paul’s tremendous contribution to the club over such a long period of time.  

We are grateful to Dave Sharma MP, Member for Wentworth, who represents our electorate in the Commonwealth Government, and has been very active in the community since his election in 2019. Dave championed the award to us of a $10,000 Commonwealth Government Stronger Communities Program grant to assist with purchase of this much-needed safety and response boat upgrade. 

Member for Wentworth, Dave Sharma, presents Commodore Cox the award.

We are also grateful to the Australian 18 Footers League and Jonathan Stone, who each made a further $10,000 contribution towards this purchase. 

The Australian 18 Footers League is our long-time close affiliate, contributing to the club’s financial position each year and conducting their racing from our club with the assistance of our RIBs each Sunday in season. 

Jonathan Stone is a life member, who has been a great contributor to the club over a very long time. His contributions included an astonishing 33 consecutive years on the management committee, during which time, among other things, he served as President, Commodore and Club Patron, coordinating the big boat fleet and acting as PRO for Club Championship races, as well as organizing our annual participation in Clean Up Australia Day. His donation towards the purchase of our new RIB, which he made upon his retirement from sailing last year (see previous article HERE), represented yet another of his continuing contributions to the club. 

Thanks to the three generous contributions we received, we have been able to purchase the new RIB, and also add much needed improvements to both it and the Bergman, including new tube covers, nav lights, upgraded radios, and also improvements and extensions to the davits to reduce wear and tear on the RIBs and improve operating safety.

Thanks are also due to Pat Levy for his extraordinary commitment of time and energy in sourcing the new RIB, negotiating its purchase, arranging all the upgrades to both it and the Bergman, and collecting and delivering it and the Bergman to multiple service providers all over Sydney! Thanks also to Luke Parker for donating the steel davit extensions and thanks to Andrew Simpson for their design and certification. 

There will be an article next week with some important operational notes about the RIBs. 

Transportation to Nationals and Worlds

If you are attending either The Masters Nationals or Worlds, it’s imperative that you attend the whiteboard session taking place after sailing on Saturday. At the session, we’ll work out transport for these events.  

If you can’t make it on Saturday, can you please email Ian Alexander HERE in advance and let him know:

• Are you planning to tow your own trailer?

• If so, have you already agreed to take anyone else’s boat on your trailer (and, if so, who)?

• If you are towing your own trailer, how many spaces (if any) do you have available for others (in addition to your own boat and in addition to any other boat you have already agreed to take)?

• Does your trailer require stackable dollies and (if so) how many do you need (including your own boat and any others you have agreed to take or are willing to take)?

• Do you have a towbar and are you willing to tow a club trailer?

• Are you planning to go, but do not have a towbar or trailer (and have not already agreed a spot on someone else’s trailer)?

Laser Race Report

Last Saturday an impressive fleet of 48 boats took on another challenging light and shifty southeasterly breeze. The day served as both Heats 5 – 6 of the Autumn Pointscore and Heats 9 – 10 of the Club Championship. It was tough sailing as the competitors had to avoid the holes and be on a constant lookout for shifts.    

At the end of the day, the winners were: Championship – Standards: Matt Wenke (Championship Heat 9) and Luke Parker (Championship Heat 10); Radials: Daniel Costandi (Championship Heats 9 and 10); Pointscore (after handicap): Standards: Murray Stone (Pointscore Heat 5) and Ashley Deacon (Pointscore Heat 6); Radials / 4.7s: Daryl Lawrence (Pointscore Heat 5) and Sara Brooks (Pointscore Heat 6). 

Thanks to this week’s race volunteers — Andrew Cox (PRO) and Kevin Gilroy on the Jazzman, Pippa Batchelor (COTD), and Peter Speed (CoCOTD) on a RIB, and Julian Van Aalst and Jen Wells in the canteen. After competing on the water, the sailors were also very thankful to the team that put together the delicious meal upon their return!

Youth Grants Available

Local Sporting Champions Grants are now open. 

The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 years participating in state, national or international championships (which includes Laser State and National regattas). 

Further information regarding eligibility criteria and an application can be found HERE.

Tasar Crew Needed This Weekend

Kirsty from WSC is looking for crew or competent skipper for the NSW Tasar Championship this weekend (22-23 Feb) at WSC.

If you are interested, please contact Kirsty on 0418 837 156.

Big Boat Race Report

Written by Chris Bowling

Three boats, moderate southeasterly, much better weather than the previous Sunday when there were gales and widespread flooding. 

Our timed start without a start boat seemed to work well.  We all have watches set to exact time.  Corinna was first away but with G-Force threatening to sail over the top. It was Chenonceau who powered into the lead but Corinna found a little private lift to round Point Piper first.  Chenonceau hit the mark and did a 360 and G-force had to tack for the mark, leaving Corinna with a handy lead. 

The run and reach to Sow & Pigs was all about waterline length.  G-force tried a spinnaker but dropped it too late at the Taylors Bay mark, giving up time and going slow on a possibly dirty bottom. Chenonceau created an overlap to round the Beashel buoy first but when the reach to Shark Island became a work Corinna made the best of the frequent curly little lifts, rounding 200 yards ahead.

The reach to the finish was a nail-biter with Chenonceau rapidly closing the gap but Corinna managed to hang on to win by a boat length.  G-force finished about 5 minutes later.

A very enjoyable race, in spite of the small numbers.  

Next month the Edwards are racing on 1/3 and some of us are entered in their series so our next race is on 8/3.

Coming Up...

Wednesday 19 February, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing.

Saturday 22 February, EARLY START 11:15am Briefing – Vaucluse Yacht Club Regatta. (See more info above.)

Wednesday 26 February, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing.

Saturday 29 February, 2pm Start – Sprints (Due to SailGP).

Sunday 1 March, 7am – 10am – Clean up Australia Day. Come help clear rubbish from Steyne Park and the beaches to east and west of our clubhouse.  

State Masters in Jindabyne

While most DBSC members took the weekend off from sailing due to Sydney’s high winds and torrential rain, six of our comrades drove into the Snowy Mountains to compete in the State Masters at Jindabyne Sailing Club. The weather was more cooperative than in Sydney and the setting was very picturesque. Excellent hospitality and a real community spirit greeted the 66 sailors who competed at Jindabyne. After a warm-up twilight session on Friday evening, the regatta began in earnest on Saturday when three races were held in 6-15 knot winds. The breeze was challenging, shifting up to 45 degrees at times. Only one race was completed on Sunday after the easterly breeze died, and the rain set in.  

The fleet prepares to launch under ominous skies. Photo by Andrew Simpson.

Despite the challenging conditions, the DBSC crew did well: in the Standards, Brett Beyer finished 1st and Luke Parker 2nd overall, Jules Hall was the 1st Apprentice and Andrew Simpson was the 1st Grand Master. In the Radials, Andrew Cox was the 2nd Master. You can check out all the results HERE. 

Well done to the DBSC participants!

A close rounding in light breeze. Photo courtesy of Kevin Phillips.

New Member Oversight

In last week’s newsletter, we mistakenly referred to Michael Forbes as a non-member who was visiting for the Metros. In reality, he has been an active member of DBSC since last September. Big apologies to Mike for the oversight… and a belated welcome. Here is a bit more about him: 

Mike lives in Summerland Point on Lake Macquarie with his partner and fellow DBSC member, Vic Whitby. He owns and runs a small steel on the Central Coast. He is quite an accomplished sailor, starting at 8 years old on a VJ at Speers Point (top of Lake Macquarie). He then went on to Manly Juniors at Toukley and VJ's & 16ft skiffs at Gosford through his late teens. Like many of us he stopped competitive sailing when left high school, taking up sail boarding instead for over 15 years.

Mike got back into sailing in 2000 and since then has sailed Catamarans, Skiffs and Yachts, competing in three Sydney to Hobarts (two with Vic), five Sydney to Southports and other various offshore races. He’s also a Takers Instructor and a Dinghy Coach. So, watch out, he knows his stuff. 

Mike’s mantra for sailing is, “Every time I go out on water whether it’s sailing, teaching, officiating or even spectating I learn something new.” Next time you see Mike at the club, please be sure to say hi to him. 

New(ish) DBSC Member, Michael Forbes.

Coming Up…

Wednesday 12 February, 5pm splash – Twilight Sailing.

Saturday 15 February, 9am – Learn to Race.

Saturday 15 February, 2pm Start – Club Champs 9 & 10 and Autumn Pointscore 5 & 6, followed by a BBQ on the deck.  

Wednesday 19 February, 5pm splash – Twilight Sailing.

Saturday 22 February, 2pm Start – Vaucluse Yacht Club Regatta.

Wednesday 26 February, 5pm splash – Twilight Sailing.

Saturday 29 February, 2pm Start – Sprints (Due to SailGP).

Sunday 1 March, 7am – 10am – Clean up Australia Day. Come help clear rubbish from Steyne Park and the beaches to east and west of our clubhouse.  

Sunday 1 March, 2pm – Big Boat Race.