Coast Championships Cancelled

Written by NSW / ACT Laser Association

Australian Sailing has issued guidance on running of club sailing and events which you can see HERE.

Pertinent to our NSW & ACT Laser events are the points:

• Club racing and regattas are able to continue, however clubs are being asked to avoid events where competitors are coming from areas outside your club’s metro areas where possible.
• Avoid travel to regattas outside your local area.

Our events this season are outside Sydney except for the Metropolitan Championship (Hunters Hill). Under this guidance we are advised to avoid running these events and in effect the vast majority of our sailors are advised not to attend them.

While the situation may change it seems unlikely that it will leading up to our planned Coast Championship at Port Kembla (24-25 October). So rather than leaving sailors hanging on we have decided to cancel the Coast Championship this year.

We are hopeful that our States at Belmont (5-6 December) will be able to proceed. We will review the situation in September.

60 Seconds With Ian Alexander…

All of the Alexanders have played a big part at DBSC over the past few years. With Clare, Finn and Charlie often making headlines at the club, sometimes it’s hard to remember there is a forth member fo the family. Today we get the chance to learn a bit more about the Big Dog of the clan, Ian. Make sure that you load those images for some great vintage shots at the end of the article.  

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 
6yrs. My uncle took me for a spin on his Fireball. Trapeze harness, on the wire...I was hooked.

2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
100m Triple masted super yacht, so Lady Clare can live the lifestyle she dreams of. PS it would also house a fleet of moths for the DBSC visitors to use.

3. What is your sailing goal?
Stay upright.

4. Tell us the back story to your laser's name?
‘BIG DOG’. I was overseas for work and needed Finn to register my boat for the Aussie nationals and this is the name he came up with. It has now stuck and become my nickname.

5. If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties – what would it be?
Beetroot relish.

6. What are your second/ third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot)
Cycling and Tree skiing in Japan 

7. Describe what you do for work in less than 5 words?
M&A integration in APAC

8. What’s the first international flight you are going to book post Covid-19? And why?
London, work.

9. What’s your favourite TV show, movie, and or book?
Come fly with me. The Usual Suspects. School of Rock.

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
I was a ski instructor in my previous life.

Ian age 13, “Sun’s out guns out”.  QLD Mirror State Champions Open and Junior with Ian’s brother crewing. Circa 1983.

Mirror Nationals, Sandgate QLD.  110 in the fleet.

The Women's Regatta NOR is Live! Register Now!

Please note, due to the current COVID-19 public health advice and the safety plan adopted by Double Bay Sailing Club, the format of the regatta will be different from previous years.

As detailed in the Notice of Race (NOR), the entry fee covers the cost of the sailing competition which includes 2 days of racing. Ten (10) races are scheduled of which four (4) shall be completed to constitute a series. If permitted, and we are in a position to host other activities such as yoga, land-based classroom sessions, a dinner function, and presentations, then these activities will be included in the fee that is being charged.

We will keep you up-to-date via The Women's Regatta Newsletter as we advise steps for delivering you the best experience possible under these circumstances. Thank you for your understanding and for signing up to be part of this important women's sailing event.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions about the NOR or the registration process at events@dbsc.com.au or 0409 391 304 (Clare Alexander, Event Secretary).

How to Register for The Women's Regatta:

1.     Download and read the Notice of Race HERE

2.     Complete the Registration form HERE

3.     Once you submit the registration form, you will be re-directed to a payment page where you are required to pay the entry fee using a credit card

4.     We will email you with a confirmation of your registration

Working Bee – Sign Up Reminder

Thanks to the 23 members who have already signed up for our Annual Working Bee on the morning of Saturday 29 August from 8am – 12pm.

Your attendance is appreciated (and expected) to help get the club spick and span for the season.

Could you please RSVP HERE to confirm you’ll be there on the 29th?

Sign Up Now for Brett Beyer Saturday Program

Our brilliant coach Brett Beyer is back coaching in September. His Saturday Program (BBSP) will run in the spring for 10 weeks as follows: 5 Sep, 12 Sept, 19 Sept, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov.*  There will be two categories of coaching:  B = $500, A = $1000 (plus merchant fees).*  

The B subscribers will get a fleet-level report on each race, showing:

·       video with commentary on the start
·       their GPS track each leg vs the rest of their fleet
·       their stats on each leg vs the rest of their fleet
·       comments on the performance of the fleet and correct tactics

The A subscribers will get all the above, as well as an individual report highlighting technical and/or tactical considerations for them specifically, based on Brett’s real time and GPS observations.

Send an email ASAP to Andrew Cox HERE to express your interest in this seasons’ program, and indicate your name, rig type and A/B category preference.  A link for payments will be distributed in due course. 

* Click HERE to see the terms of the program.

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.