Beautiful Start to Autumn Pointscore

It was a beautiful sunny, warm summer’s day for the start of our Autumn Pointsocre last Saturday. The gentle Southerly was fickle at times – you really had to watch for the shifts and holes. Those who paid attention to the ever changing conditions came out on top.  Those astute sailors were (after handicapping): Standards - Michael Osborne (Heat 1) and Geoff Kirk (Heat 2), Radials - Julian van Aalst (Heat 1) and Quentin Burns (Heat 2).

Thanks to this week’s race management volunteers: Alistair Sutherland (PRO), assisted by James Tudball, John Vasey and Andrew Cox, and also to Paul, Shirley, Richard Finlayson and Kevin Gilroy in the canteen. Thanks also to Andrew Dixson, who was rostered for LTRaR, but awoke with flu-like symptoms and self-isolated pending testing – we appreciate his actions in protecting the club and the other members.

A special acknowledgement to John Vasey, who stepped in at short notice when Co-COTD, Les Katz, was barbed by a stingray as he pushed the Paul Adam out from the front deck in the low tide and had to go to hospital to get the wound attended to! Thanks to our emergency specialist, David Murphy, who was on scene to neutralise the poison with hot water and flush the wound.  

This is a good reminder that stingrays can be present on the sand in very shallow water around the clubhouse. Their sting is very painful – sailors must wear booties and should be careful to watch where they step. Julian van Aalst was previously barbed by one through his bootie!  

New Brett Beyer Programs

Our super coach Brett Beyer is back with a full slate of training programs. Check out the details below. If you’re interested in signing up for any of the programs, please email Andrew Cox HERE. Also make sure you read all of the terms and conditions HERE. 

1.     Brett Beyer Saturday Program – (BBSP)

The BBSP will operate for 8 sessions as follows:  30 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 17 Apr.

A and B subscriptions are available.

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.

The cost for the 8 sessions is $800 for A subscribers and $400 for B subscribers.

2.     BB ad hoc Saturdays – 16 Jan and 23 Jan

In addition to the formal BBSP, we are offering ad hoc, single-week BBSP-equivalent subscriptions for 16 Jan and 23 Jan.

The inclusions in these ad hoc subscriptions will be the same as for each week of the formal BBSP, and the same “A” and “B” subscriptions are available.

Subscribers can select either one of the weeks or both of them.  The cost is $100 per week for “A” subscribers, and $50 per week for “B” subscribers. 10 subscribers are required for these events to occur.

3.      Brett Beyer Twilight Program (BBTP)

The Brett Beyer Twilight Program will also continue for the second half of the season. Please note, the format of the program will be racing only, with no drills. Brett will set up a race course each week, and will conduct racing from 5.30pm-7.30pm.  The race course will be set up in an area each week that does not intersect with the CYCA yacht race. Subscribers to the BBTP will receive individual on-water coaching during racing.  All sailors are welcome to attend and join the races, whether subscribers to the BBTP or not. There will be a maximum of 10 subscribers, on a first in best dressed basis.

The BBTP will run for 10 consecutive Wednesdays, commencing 27 January, and concluding 31 March.  The cost to subscribe is $400.

Fun Sail and Picnic - 31 Jan

Leave the competition behind and join us for the inaugural DBSC Watson's Bay Adventure Picnic Day on Sunday 31 January.

A 12pm splash followed by an adventure sail down the harbour, maybe stopping via a bay on the way for a quick dip, before continuing on and beaching at Watson's Bay. We then propose enjoying a few refreshing drinks at Watson's Bay Hotel before a beautiful sunset sail back home.

Please RSVP HERE.

We look forward to having you join the fun!

Protective Caps For Sale

Ever get smacked in the head by your boom? It doesn’t feel good… and can be quite dangerous. There is now a solution -- the Booma protective sailing cap. It features a moulded, waterproof and padded hard protective closed cell polyurethane insert, concealed within a “normal” looking cap. It satisfies the requirements of European Standard EN812:12. They are now for sale for $25 at our canteen. Pick one up and protect your noggin. 

Missing Items

David Huber’s centreboard and rudder and Diana Chen’s sail (206023) have gone missing over the holidays. Can you please check to ensure they are not accidentally mixed in with your gear?  

Unfortunately equipment does go missing from time to time. In order to minimise this risk, please clearly label all of your equipment with your name and never leave it separate from your boat / rack spot. Also, please don’t borrow other people’s gear without their permission.

Coming Up...

Wednesday 13 January, 5pm Splash  – Twilight Sailing

Saturday 16 January, 9am – Learn to Race. 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 at HERE if you are planning on attending.

Saturday 16 January, 2pm Start – Autumn Pointscore Heats 3 & 4

Wednesday 20 January, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing

Saturday 23 January, 2pm Start – Autumn Pointscore Heats 5 & 6

Official 2021 Sailing Starts This Week

We hope you all had an excellent holiday, and that the new year is off to a fantastic start. We’re planning a great year of events, and are looking forward to seeing you all back at the club this Saturday, 9 January, for the first two heats of the 2021 Autumn Pointscore. 

In the meantime, there will be Twilight Sailing on tonight with a 5pm splash.

COVID Rules Update

The new COVID outbreak in NSW and revised Health Orders means we’ve had to slightly modify our COVID rules. 

 The new rules are:

• No more than 30 people gathered in a public place – this means we cannot rig our boats in groups of more than 30, so we need clear separation of two groups rigging in the park

• 4m2 rule reinstated – this means we can have only 28 inside the club, 20 on the deck, 9 in the men’s changeroom, 3 in the women’s changeroom, and 2 in the canteen

• We are reinstating the outdoor canteen ordering system

You can check out our full COVIDSafe Plan and regulations HERE. Thanks for your ongoing understanding and cooperation.

Laser State Masters – Jervis Bay

The NSW & ACT Laser Association has emailed the Notice of Race and Entry details for the State Masters.

Like the Open State Titles there may be a cap on entries so I suggest if you are intending on competing, jump in and enter asap.

All the details are below.

The event will be run with the usual format of six races over two days. The Notice of Race is HERE. Entry is $60 and you can enter HERE. 

It’s on again, the legendary Masters Golf Tournament will be held on Friday 12th February the day before the states.  Venue is the beautiful Callala Country Golf Club and you need to arrive around noon to sign in, be allocated to a team, have a bite to eat and be ready for a 1:00pm first tee time. 

Cost is just $25 plus $35 for a cart if you want one.  If you are intending to play please email or SMS Rob Lowndes at lowndesr@bigpond.net.au or 0419 266 257.

The tournament director on the day will be our very own ILCA Vice President, Hugh Leicester.  If you might be a little embarrassed about the quality of your golf, as most of us are, it simply does not matter as we will again be playing an Ambrose format.  So pack your golf clubs (or hire some from the pro shop) and come and join us for a fun afternoon.

Coming Up...

Wednesday 6 January, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing

Saturday 9 January, 2pm Start – Autumn Pointscore Heats 1 & 2

Wednesday 13 January, 5pm Splash  – Twilight Sailing

Saturday 16 January, 9am – Learn to Race. 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 at HERE if you are planning on attending. 

Saturday 16 January, 2pm Start – Autumn Pointscore Heats 3 & 4