Christmas - DBSC Style

DBSC members celebrated the festive season on the harbour in style, donning Santa hats as they sailed the annual Tyrell and Rousso races last Saturday. In the Tyrell, the handicapped chase saw Hadrien Bourely winning in a very close finish, besting Mike Dunne and Craig Sheers by just centimetres.

In the Rousso (a scratch race with a massed start) the finish saw Rob Barnes finish first in the standards and Andrew Cox first in the radials, with Andrew taking the trophy after application of the yardstick (which had Andrew besting Craig by just 0.7 seconds). Thanks to the on-water crew: Josh Kirton, Justin Davey, Conor Roche, and Ben Wirtz. Thanks also to the canteen crew who were assisted this week by Jim Dounis and Michael Osborne. 

After some competitive racing, the day ended with a chilled out cocktail hour and al fresco dining on the deck. As always, DBSC put on a fabulous show of food, fun, friendship and lots of frivolity! Thanks to Clare Alexander, Diana Chen and Peter Collie for organising the event and for all the volunteers who helped bring our community together and make the night such a success.

Photo by Kirk Marcolina

Photo by Clare Alexander

Photo by Clare Alexander

Photo by Clare Alexander

RIB Launch Video

We know it can be difficult to remember all of the steps to launch the RIB. To help out, Diana Chen, Pat Levy and Kirk Marcolina made an instructional video that explains the process. You can check it out HERE, and while you’re at it, please subscribe to our new YouTube Channel to get notifications of when new videos are added. We’re sure you agree that Pat is deserving of the Oscar for Best Actor, and won’t want to miss his next video on putting away the RIB at the end of the day.

As this is the first of a series of instructional videos, we’d like to know what you think, and how we can improve future videos. Please let us know HERE.

Radial Bulk Sail Update

Thanks for your ongoing patience as we await delivery of the Radial sails ordered via our bulk sail program. The latest update from NB is that they are working on numbering the sails now, and all will be delivered to the club before Christmas. Maybe Santa is bringing them on his sleigh? Hope we’ve all been nice. 

Orders for Canteen Now Inside

Good news. With the relaxation of COVID regulations, the outside canteen ordering station is being abandoned. You can now order food and pay for drinks directly at the canteen. 

Race Management Rostering

Due to changes in the way we’re running race management, canteen assistance and COVID oversight, we’ve rostered more members to volunteer this season than in the past. Because of this, we are now onto our second lap through the Saturday volunteer roster for this season.

Most members will be asked to volunteer two times, and those who don't will be first to do two next season. Thanks for your understanding and help in making this all volunteer organization run so smoothly.

Clarification - Paul Adam on Historic Response Boats

Two weeks ago we published an article about the launch of our new RIB. In that article we incorrectly reported that Paul Adam reminisced about DBSC’s old wooden response boat. In fact, the boat was not wooden. We apologise for the mistake. Here’s more on the boat from Paul:

When I first joined the club the 'Bobby Reid' was the response boat. It was a small red inflatable which in a previous life had been a surf rescue boat - I believe it was at Bondi. As a surf rescue boat it was steered directly using the throttle handle. We fitted a wooden plank towards the front of the boat tied to the tubes and installed wheel steering. There was no padding on the plank so driving into waves, bouncing on the plank was 'uncomfortable'. Bobby Reid was a Double Bay character and provided a variety of assistance around the club.

The club at that time also had the precursor of the 'Jazzman'- a round bilge committee boat which rolled uncomfortably in any sort of sea.

One of the many things that has changed in the club over the decades has been the increase in number and capability of support boats.

Sail Sydney Success

It was a sea of DBSC sailors over the weekend at the Sail Sydney regatta. As there was a lack of Standard sailors, the big guns like Matt Wearn and Finn Alexander chose to compete in the Radial fleet. Congratulations to Finn who placed 2nd and to the many other DBSC sailors who competed. Well done all!

Up Next and Holiday Schedule

We wish everyone a very happy Festive Season and hope 2021 brings nothing but good breezes your way. We have one more “regular” Saturday this weekend and another Twilight Sprint on the 23rd, then we’re on a holiday footing until Twilights resume on Wednesday 6 January. Please note there will be no racing on 26 December or 2 January. 

Please check out the holiday sailing schedule below. If you’re eager for more sailing over the holidays, our Top Mark Facebook Page is a great place let your DBSC mates know when you’re headed out. 

Also, please note the newsletter is taking a break for the holidays and will return on 6 January. 

Wednesday 16 December, 5pm splash – Twilight Sailing

Saturday 19 December, 9am start – Learn to Race

Saturday 19 December, 2pm start – Last heats of the Spring Point Score

Wednesday 23 December, 5pm splash – Twilight Sailing

NO RACING ON 26 DECEMBER or 2 JANUARY

Wednesday 6 January, 5pm splash – Twilight Sailing

Saturday 9 January, 2pm start – Autumn Point Score (and we’re back to normal)

Christmas Fun this Saturday

This Saturday we have our famous once-a-year Tyrell and Rousso races, which are super fun formats. The Tyrell is a handicapped chase, with the slowest boat starting first and successive faster boats hunting each other down as they start over the next 5-10 minutes per their handicaps. (Our Handicapper, Daryl, will have everyone’s individual starting time listed on a sheet at the club on Saturday before we race.) The format makes for what is perhaps the most competitive and exciting race of the season!

The Rousso is a scratch race with a massed start, in which all boats in all classes start together – a yardstick is applied to the winner in each of the classes to determine the overall winner.  By tradition, everyone wears a Santa hat. So, get ready for some festive fun on the water. 

Our Christmas party follows sailing on Saturday. Drinks and canapes will be served from 5:30 followed by a causal, grazing dinner by Bern the Chef. The bar will be well stocked, so we look forward to a fun evening of celebrating the end of this very ordinary year.  

Please note that at 2pm the lino areas and front deck of the club will be closed off, and will remain closed until the party starts. Because of this please make sure you do not store personal gear in those areas and please do not entering those areas after sailing. This includes the outdoor shower. But fear not, you can now shower indoors (see COVID article below). 

COVID Changeroom Rules Easing

Good news! With recent relaxation of the 4m2 rule to a 2m2 rule, we are now able to open the men's changeroom for showering in addition to the existing use of toilets, subject to the following:

• MAXIMUM CAPACITY at any time of 18 people (including showers, toilets, change area)

• No getting changed in the changeroom prior to sailing -- male sailors must still get changed in the park. The reason is that maintaining compliance with a cap of 18 is not feasible in the pre-sailing changing rush

• Sailing gear to be removed before entering the changeroom to shower.  The reason is to reduce time in the changeroom (and thus assist with capacity management), and to avoid bottlenecks for the showers

• Clothes may be put on in the changeroom after showering (subject to the maximum of 18 people), but please be quick and get out as soon as possible to make way for other people

Thanks for your diligence in making sure we abide by the rules outlined above. With everyone’s help we can keep DBSC COVID Safe.