Season kicks off in anger this coming Saturday, October 7

The mighty DBSC will kick-off the 2020/21 season this coming Saturday, October 7 with the first 2 heats of the Club Championships.

With very competitive fleets in all classes (thanks to prolonged Winter training ;) the season is sure to be a nail biter.

Unfortunately, there will be no Club Champ BBQ this week due to COVIDSafe restrictions which are still in place.

A reminder to all attending the club that you

• must register with the CSO (Covid Safety Officer) immediately upon arrival

• must not use the dressing rooms or bathrooms (either arrive and leave in your sailing pyjamas, or change into them in the boat park)

• must use hand sanitizer

• must maintain no more than 10 persons in the club at any one time

Canteen open for business!

Good news for all those experiencing withdrawal symptoms from our “world famous toasties” – we will be opening the canteen this weekend! 

Please note, there will be new protocols in place and it is important that everyone observes them.

NO ONE IS TO APPROACH THE CANTEEN OR ACCESS THE FRIDGE NEAR THE CANTEEN. 

There will be an ordering station set up in the park and a canteen volunteer will take orders and radio them to the canteen (“Double Bay, Double Bay - 1 toastie with the lot. Over.”).  The ordering station will also have an esky full of drinks to allow you to purchase your drinks there too. 

There will be NO CASH – all orders will be written up in the tab-book by the canteen volunteer, and you will be invoiced periodically throughout the season.

We are excited to have the canteen back in operation and are delighted to have Paul and Shirley back at the club!  We have missed the feeling of “home” that their presence creates.

Subscriptions due: October 31, 2020

As reported earlier in the year club membership fees that are normally due in April each year were deferred until further notice. This was due to COVID-related concerns in relation to financial uncertainty across the nation.

A number of members have voluntarily paid their fees already, which has been appreciated to provide the club with cash flow as we incur most of our large expenses over the Winter months.

For those who have not yet paid, we are now calling for payment of fees with a due date of 31 October 2020.

We understand that some members are still experiencing financial hardship – please let the Commodore know if you need additional time.

If you cannot remember if you have paid or not, please check with the Treasurer by emailing here.

As a 100% volunteer run club, paying your fees on time saves a lot of paperwork and valuable volunteer time. We appreciate your collective assistance here.

Twilight sail tonight!

Twilights start tonight! The splash will be 1700 for 1730 starts. (However as per last season, there are plenty of people usually ready to sail from about 1700)

We are encouraging a big turnout to replicate the fleets of 20+ boats achieved last season.

Tonight will not be a BBTP (Brett Beyer Twilight Program) event – but we will still have organised racing with marks placed.

The BBTP will be back, starting next week – see below.

Sign-on for the Brett Beyer Twilight Program now!

On the dates indicated below, Brett Beyer will run the very popular twilight sailing program, comprising racing and/or drills from 17:30-19:30. 

All members are welcome to participate in the racing and drills.  Program subscribers will receive on-water coaching during the event, as well as a written general fleet-level summary of the evening’s sailing. Brett will endeavour to provide approximately equal on-water attention to all participants – see the terms and conditions of the program HERE.

The program will run for 9 sessions (every Wed from 14 Oct to 16 Dec, except not 9 Dec).

The cost will be $360 for all 9 sessions.

If you are interested, please get your ticket HERE – note there are only 10 tickets available, first in best dressed!

Hard hats on sale, this Saturday October 10

As per last week’s article on hard hats, Matt Kuhn will be at the club this coming Saturday (prior to the club championships) from 13:00 with plenty of hats in stock for purchase. $25 cash each!

International Sailing Academy DBSC Discount

Some members have been attending the International Sailing Academy (virtually of course) over the Winter break.

We have been offered a special DBSC Member Discount to gain 10% off any annual subscription.

To access this discount, simply visit https://learn.internationalsailingacademy.com/ and enter the coupon code DOUBLEBAY. (For a help on how to do this, you can also view this video tutorial).

This offer is only available to DBSC members.

DBSC clean up the Radial Bubble Cup

Last weekend, 3 DBSC sailors took out all 3 podium places at the Bubble Cup for the Radials. The event was held over 2 days at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club with the fleet greeted by Summer like conditions with North Easterly winds both days.

Congratulations to Brooke Willson (gold), Evie Saunders (silver) and Mina Ferguson (bronze) !

For full results, see the regatta website.

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!