60 seconds with... Nicholas Pellow

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?

About 7 years old. I was for'ard hand on a Sabot for a season at the local sailing club. I can still clearly remember tipping after a gybe on the bottom mark during a big Nor Easter; somehow getting trapped underneath the sail and nearly drowning because my life jacket was preventing me from diving deep enough to swim free. On my third and final attempt, I just made it out.

Hooked for life.

2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?

Definitely a SailGP F50

3. What is your sailing goal?

Don’t get trapped under my own sail!

4. Tell us the back story to your laser's name?

Iolani was the name of the Hawaiian Royal Palace. The name came with the boat!

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

6. What are your second/ third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot)

Ocean swimming, jogging, “Zwifting” aka virtual online bike racing since the start of lock-in

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

Nerd herder

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

Sydney to Cork. My wife’s parents live about 3 minutes from the Royal Cork Yacht Club - the oldest sailing club in the world. Founded in 1720, it celebrates its 300 year anniversary this year.

Imagine what the DBSC might be like 236 years from now ?

9. What’s your favourite TV show, movie, and or book?

Favourite movie is 2040. Awesome blend of science, technology, sociology, humanity and the future of the planet.

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?

When we were kids, dad bought a yellow trailer sailer (see below) without knowing how to sail himself, nor could he start the 4 horsepower Evenrude outboard when we really needed it. Nothing teaches you to sail faster than necessity! This is also why he signed us up to crew at the local sailing club - I bet :)

Photos: Sabot club championship trophy, First flying ant, sailing (and swimming) around Myall Lakes

DBSC Named Club Of The Year

Very exciting news – DBSC has just been announced as the winner of Australian Sailing’s NSW / ACT Club of the Year for 2020.

I would like to thank all members for their tireless dedication in making DBSC the incredible club that it is.  We are very fortunate that our predecessors had the vision and character to create our amazing culture and to develop our infrastructure to allow us to continue to thrive and grow.

Thank you again and congratulations to everyone!

Twilights Start Next Wednesday, October 7

Twilight sailing starts next Wednesday, 7 October at 5pm, and will continue every Wednesday until the end of daylight savings (except for a few weeks over the holidays). 

Along with Twilights we’re hoping to run another instalment of the fantastic Brett Beyer Twilight Program (BBTP).  We’d like to start this program on Wednesday, 14 October. However, to make it financially viable for Brett, he needs an individual to sign up for 1 or 2 hours of private coaching in the hours leading up to 5pm on Wednesday. If you’re interested in the private coaching on Wednesday afternoons, please contact Andrew Cox HERE. 

We’ll keep you posted on the future of BBTP, but in the meantime we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday evenings for the best sailing sunsets in the world.

LAST CHANCE – Need Your Order to Make New Sails Happen

We know everyone wants to go faster this season, but only 31 people have signed up for the discounted new sail offer from NB Sailsports and PSA. We need 50 orders to move forward and get the discount. Help us reach the goal by ordering before the deadline of this Friday at 5pm. Please click HERE to learn more and place your order. Thanks for supporting this initiative.

A Tough Big Wind Day

Last Saturday was a challenging one to say the least. Fresh westerly winds gusting above 30 knots meant for tough conditions on the water. Many of us knew our limits and chose to sit the day out. Well done to those who braved the weather, and thanks to the brilliant race management team of Mike Dunne (PRO), Emily Ball COTD, Christine Patton (CCO/CoCOTD) who were aided by Justin Davey, Mark Bethwaite and Mark Crowhurst. 

This Saturday there will be short sprints for the long weekend. Then, on Saturday 10 October the season begins in earnest with Club Champs. 

Photo by Christine Patton.

Protecting Heads and Hands

Hard caps

In strong breezes such as week’s, booms present a hazard to our heads.  Helmets help, but they tend to be bulky and uncomfortable. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been sailing in a Booma cap. Its got a hard liner to protect your noggin, but it fits and looks like a normal baseball cap.  

These caps are currently being sold on Amazon, but they can do a better bulk deal for DBSC sailors at $25 per cap. Ideally they get purchased in bulk and they will be delivered directly. One drawback is they come in only one size, so it is not suitable for people with large heads (but it fits mine fine and I suggest it’s ok for 95% of us). It comes in every colour you can imagine, so long as your imagination is limited to blue. 

If you are interested, email Luke@sellparker.com.au and I’ll pass the list to Phil to coordinate. 

Gloves

For any DBSC handmodels concerned about the wear and tear the mainsheet is imposing on your your money makers, Jules Hall recommends the decent quality, very affordable “All  Purpose Handyman” (apologies to the ladies) from glovesales.com.au. 

https://glovesales.com.au/product-category/industrial-gloves/

Woman’s Regatta Video

If not for COVID-19, last weekend would have marked the third edition of The Woman’s Regatta Hosted by DBSC. We’re already counting the days to the 2021 edition… but in the meantime check out this wonderful video highlighting the joy that the regatta brought to female sailors of all ages, and the recognition for women in sailing.

Thanks to all of the participants and filmmakers: Michelle Costandi, Jenny Danks, Sophie Hunt, Kim Ketelbey, Sylvie Stannage, Brooke Wilson, Clare Alexander, Emily Ball, Diana Valia Chen, and Kirk Marcolina.

60 Seconds with Brooke Wilson…

In recent seasons it’s been the young guns at the head of the Radial Fleet. Let’s learn more about one of those ‘kids’ who is always out in front, Brooke Wilson (who is also one of the stars of The Woman’s Regatta Video above): 

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
I think I was nearly 8 when I hoped into an Opti’s. 

2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
Extremely hard question, if neither money nor sailing ability were in question, I think I would buy something a bit faster than the laser perhaps a moth or even bigger an AC75. 

3. What is your sailing goal?
A bit ambitious, but I have quite a few goals in the sailing world, first and foremost the Olympics but I’ve also started to become extremely interested in offshore racing and have great admiration for the Volvo Ocean race and the like. 

4. Tell us the back story to your laser's name?
Well, where do I start; I was competing in the Laser 4.7 Europeans in 2018 in Greece, travelling with Sylvie Stannage and Mina Ferguson chaperoned by Sylvie’s Dad, Chris. We arrived a few weeks before the regatta started and were lucky enough to be coached by Kevin Cabrera Gonzalez, a Spanish coach, who we immediately fell in love with. During the weeks of training and the regatta, there were a few moments were Spanish and English were combined and we all had a good laugh. During one debrief we were talking about the wave state, which at the time was small and choppy, which Kevin described as ‘little choppies’ and the hilariousness that we found in this was extremely amusing. It has stuck with me ever since and hence my boat is called ‘Little choppies’. 

5. If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties – what would it be?
I’m thinking shitake mushrooms. 

6. What are your second/ third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot)
I must admit, sailing takes up a fair portion of my time, but I love to read and also enjoy skiing and being outdoors.  

7. Describe what you do for work in less than 5 words?
School…

8. What’s the first international flight you are going to book post Covid-19? And why?
Too many options on this one, but extremely excited for the first international regatta we are able to get to. I think COVID has made us all appreciate the competition and challenges of racing and has brought us back down to the basics, which I can’t wait to implement. 

9. What’s your favourite TV show, movie, and or book?
The absolute classic ‘Love actually’ has to be among my favourite in the movies department. 

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
I’m really cannot bake or cook. 

Brooke Wilson, sailing at an early age.

Coming Up…

Saturday, 3 October, 2pm Start – Sprints (due to the October Long Weekend)

Wednesday, 7 October, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sprints

Saturday, 10 October, 2pm Start – Season Opener / Club Championships

Wednesday, 14 October, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sprints 

Saturday, 17 October, 9am – Learn to Race is back! Then will continue on the first and third Saturday of the month (except Jan 2). Come along if you want to learn more about Laser boat handling, balance, boat posture, trim, starts, tacks, gybes, boat set-up and any other race management fundamentals. Please email Martin White HERE if you are planning on attending.

Saturday, 17 October, 2pm Start – Spring Pointscore

Rack Reshuffle

We completed our start of season rack reshuffle last weekend. The new rack plan has been posted on the noticeboard. Our rack allocation policy is based on sailing and volunteering – the more you do both of these, the lower your boat will be.  It is that simple.  If you are interested in volunteering more, please let Andrew Cox know – we have plenty of jobs available!

Thanks to all of the members who helped move boats to their new positions. During the move we tried to be diligent in ensuring people’s equipment moved with their boat, but it is important for people to come and check everything was moved correctly before gear gets further displaced.