Buoys Damaging RIBS

When transporting the race buoys, some members are attaching the buoys to the lines on the sides of the RIBs. This is damaging those lines and should not be happening. Instead, please attach the buoys to the davit straps at the back of the boat.  

No Learn To Race in September

As current COVID restrictions prevent the close contact that is needed for rigging assistance and on water help during Learn to Race, the program has been suspended until conditions ease. We’ll keep you posted when the much loved LTR is back on.  

Australian Laser Events Update

Written by the NSW/ACT Laser Association

Due to uncertainty about COVID-19 health orders and border restrictions, ALCA in consultation with event organisers WA Laser Association and Fremantle Sailing Club (FSC), has decided to postpone the 2021 Australian Laser Championships to 1-8 January 2022 at FSC. 

As you may be aware Australian Sailing (AS) has cancelled their Australian Youth Championships 2021 which were to be held at South of Perth Yacht Club WA. AS had earlier conveyed their decision not to run National Youth Championships after 2021. 

The Australian Laser Open Championship rotation order is unchanged so this postponement means that our original NSW & ACT hosted 2022 Australian Open and Australian Masters Championships will be delayed by one year. The now 2023 Australian Laser Open Championships will be at Georges River Sailing Club 1-8 January 2023 and the Australian Laser Masters 2023 will be at Port Stephens Sailing and Aquatic Club 10-13 February 2023. 

All of these national cancellations and postponements are a great reason to start thinking about events happening in NSW… 

Register Interest in Jervis Bay Masters

This season’s State Masters Championship is scheduled to be heled at Jervis Bay Sailing Club on 13 – 14 February 2021. We’re hoping to have a large DBSC contingent travel to this beautiful setting – along with family and friends. It should be a wonderful weekend away. We’re beginning to investigate potential accommodation and transportation, and would like to gage numbers.  If you are interested in potentially attending the event  please fill out the form HERE. 

Slow Sprints Go 180 Degrees

A gloomy, light wind day made things difficult for the fleet last Saturday. The best wind of the day was for the first Radial-only race, which Evie Saunders won. The 2nd race was shortened as the wind was dying and changing 180 degrees towards the east. After a third race involving some reaching up to the top mark, the race committee (along with the entire fleet on the water!) agreed it was time to pack it in and paddle back to shore. Thanks to the race management team of PRO James Tudball, COTD Candice Cushway, and CCO Jack Sywak for their perseverance and valiant attempt to run sprints in some trying conditions. 

Here’s to hoping that this Saturday brings better winds and sunny skies. 

Slow going at Sprits. Photo by Candice Cushway.

Claim Your $900

Last Tuesday, 4 August, the DBSC account received $900 funds-in from a CBA account with a description of "advertising". While it's likely a member subscription we cannot attribute it to anyone. If you made this payment on please let Treasurer Justin Davey know HERE. 

60 Seconds With Kim Ketelbey…

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 
I don't recall but it would have been on my father's beautiful in-board timber speed boat.  He was a very water skier and the second man in Australia to barefoot ski. I was on the water from a very young age but I didn't get to sail until my mid-twenties when my boyfriend took me out on his Hobie Cat. I thought it was the best moment of my life (because of the sailing of course).

2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? 
Some sort of sportsboat for when I am not sailing my laser.  

3. What is your sailing goal? 
To get a placing in a Laser race.

4. Tell us the back story to your laser's name? 
My laser is called TAC, an acronym for Take A Chance.  Although I was introduced to sailing in my twenties I didn't get to race competitively until my children grew up and then only on keelboats. I had never sailed a dingy until Roger Hickman suggested I try a laser; "you'll love it KK". So, as with life, sometimes you just have to take a chance and give it a go, whatever your age. He was right.

5. If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties – what would it be?
The toasties are perfect! Not a drop of Dijonaise in sight.

6. What are your second/third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot)
Snow skiing, wildlife (animal variety) and I am trying my hand at golf.

7. Describe what you do for work in less than 5 words? 
Living life

8. What’s the first international flight you are going to book post Covid-19? And why? 
Either Turkey for sailing or India to trek for snow leopards.

9. What’s your favourite TV show, movie, and or book?
MASH.  It will always put a smile on your face.  

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
I have sailed 5 Sydney to Hobarts and we won in 2014 on Wild Rose.

Kim Ketelbey

Sprints – Standards Now Starting First

DBSC’s August Sprint Series started off well with 25+ boats taking advantage of warm temps, sunny skies and a gentle north to north-easterly breeze. Thanks to the race management team of PRO Daryl Lawrence, COTD Wade McDonough, and CCO David Murphy for running a fun afternoon of sprints. 

Sprints will continue this week (and every August Saturday afternoon). Please remember to follow our COVID Safe plan which was published in last week’s newletter and can be viewed on our website HERE.  Importantly, the changerooms remain closed. The accessible toilet is open for emergency toilet needs only. There is to be no changing gear inside the clubhouse. 

Radials and Standards will continue to rig and launch separately, with Radials launching no later than 12:25pm for a 1pm start. Standards will arrive to begin rigging at 12:25pm and join the racing when they arrive at the course. Radials will complete racing at 3pm and Standards will continue until 3:30pm. Standards must wait on the water until the Radials have finished de-rigging and have placed their boats in the clubhouse. 

The fleets will continue to race together, but to avoid congestion on the race course, Standards will start after two minutes and Radials will start after three. This reverses last week’s starting order.

We look forward to seeing you this Saturday. 

Brett Beyer Squads

We are excited to announce a new Brett Beyer program that we hope to launch at DBSC this season – Brett Beyer Squads!  This will be in addition to the usual BBSP and BBTP – more details on that to come.

The idea would be for groups of 3-6 sailors of similar ability to do regular squad training with Brett – it might be a weekday morning until it warms up, and then a weekday afternoon / evening after that.  Or anytime during the day that suits the group and Brett.  It might be a Saturday morning, or some time on a Sunday.  Brett is flexible as to times, as long as he can fill his day efficiently.

At this stage, all we are asking for is expressions of interest.  The idea will be a pre-booked series of 5 or 10 sessions of 2 hours each.  The cost will be $110 per boat per 2hr session for squads of 3-4 boats and $100 per boat per 2hr session for squads of 5-6 boats.

So, if you are interested in this, please email the Commodore HERE.  Feel free to express interest as an individual, and we will try to match you up with people of similar ability.  Or, if you prefer, feel free to organise it offline with your mates first, and submit yourselves as a group. 

This is an excellent way to improve your skills in a boat-on-boat environment with personalised attention and coaching, but without the much higher cost of private lessons.

60 Seconds With James Johnson…

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 
About 9, a cedar ply sailing dinghy we bought from a neighbour in the country and took on Christmas holidays to Shoal Bay. It is still in my driveway if anybody wants it.

2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? 
I was transfixed again by some foiling moths on Saturday.

3. What is your sailing goal? 
About 80 years old is my goal in a dinghy, then die in a keel boat somewhere scenic around the coast.

4. Tell us the back story to your laser's name? 
“Question of Balance”, the name of a light-weight sharpie I used to sail, and a daily reminder for me of how to deal with my work.

5.  If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties – what would it be?
A glass of red.

6. What are your second/ third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot)
Kayaking, biking, canyoning; not necessarily in that order.

7. Describe what you do for work in less than 5 words? 
Help people out of trouble.

8. What’s the first international flight you are going to book post Covid-19? And why? 
Nepal, I worked there for a year in 1989 and loved it, to take my two sons to experience a wonderful culture and  to trek, raft and bike.

9. What’s your favourite TV show, movie, and or book?
I’m a cultural void.

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
Sorry, I should have saved something, I’ve already told you the interesting bits.

James Johnson