Vaucluse Regatta This Saturday – Early Start

Instead of our usual club racing, this Saturday we’ll be participating in The Vaucluse Regatta. It’s the 89th running of this grand regatta, and is a great opportunity for racing in a big fleet. VYC intends to run three races for the Laser fleets and around 100 entries are expected. 

The racing is scheduled to start at Vaucluse at 12:45pm which means the day will start earlier than normal for us. We’ll have a briefing at DBSC at 11:30am and a splash at 12 noon.  At the briefing, we will review the format of the racing. There are a few key points to keep in mind: 

• Start order may vary for different classes – and there are other / non Laser boat fleets participating

• Watch for red or green flag that indicates port or starboard roundings

• Marks will be red and white with a pink fluro cover

• Course will be triangle, sausage, downwind finish (through separate finish line)

• Penalty turns: one turn except two turns in the zone (except for hitting mark is one turn)

• Watch out for ferries and commercial shipping and keep well clear

• Watch out for participating larger boat fleets (e.g. yachts) – keep out of the way at the start

• Very important that everyone signs on – it’s the second leg of the Vaucluse Challenge friendly

• Read all of the SIs HERE

It should be a good day on the water with Laser sailors from around the harbour. There is no cost to participate and all are encouraged to attend (as there will be no sailing at DBSC this weekend) – think of it as a normal Saturday on the water for us, just at the other end of the harbour!

Double Bay Picnic Day - Update

We have rescheduled our Double Bay Picnic Day to this Sunday (7 February) as the long term forecast is looking much more picnic friendly. 

Again, splash at midday for a 1pm picnic at Kutti Beach. Family are welcome to meet us there. 

We will assume that if you RSVPed yes to last week’s event, you will be joining us this Sunday. If this is NOT the case and you can no longer attend the picnic, please email Justin HERE for a refund (and so we can cater for the correct number of attendees).  

If you did not RSVP for last week's picnic, but now can join us this Sunday, please RSVP HERE by COB Thursday so we can purchase food for everyone.

Finally, we are looking for a RIB driver, please email secretary@dbsc.com.au if you are available to support with this.

Race Report

Morning clouds kept a lid on the winds and caused a one hour postponement to the start of Club Championship heats 9 and 10. Luckily the clouds began to clear a Northern gradient breeze came in, building throughout the day. Tight racing was held in both fleets, which made for an exciting afternoon on the Harbour. 

At the end of the day, the winners were: Standards: Rod Barnes (Championship Heat 9) and Ian Alexander (Championship Heat 10); Radials: Brooke Wilson (Championship Heat 9) and Daniel Costandi (Championship Heat 10). 

Thanks to this week’s race management volunteers: Ashley Deacon (PRO), assisted by Christine Patton, Wade McDonough, Mac Finlayson and Mim Sweetland, and also to Paul, Shirley, Nick Alexander and Murray Stone in the canteen. 

Thanks to Ash for putting together this fun photo montage of the day:

Sign up for Clean Up Australia Day: 6 & 7 March

Clean up Australia Day is coming up on Sunday 7 March. Unfortunately, this year CUAD coincides with the Metropolitan Championships at HHSC.

We are looking for volunteers and a team leader on both Saturday and Sunday morning.

Please register your interest with Kate McHugh HERE if you would like to be involved.

Help Stop Sandy Floors

A friendly reminder that our clubhouse floor needs to be swept regularly. It would greatly assist us if gear is not stored on the floor. Please keep this in mind when stowing your gear at the end of sailing. Thanks for your help. 

History Corner

Editor’s Note: To keep the spirit of DBSC’s past alive we’ll be running a History Corner feature each week in the newsletter. We hope you enjoy this gimps into yesteryear. Please email any history titbits to our historian Richard George HERE. 

The first racing activities under the banner of the Pioneer Boating Club commenced in 1954 when around 10 VJ’s gathered on Sundays on the beach at the bottom of Beach Street (one block east of the current clubhouse).  The Pioneer Boating Club was later reconstituted as the Double Bay Sailing Club in July 1956.

Next Up…

Wednesday 3 February, 5pm Splash  – Twilight Sailing 

Saturday 6 February, 9am Start – Learn to Race

Saturday 6 February – Vaucluse Regatta at VYC (see info above)

Sunday 7 February, 12noon Splash – Fun Sail and Picnic (see info above)

Wednesday 10 February, 5pm Splash – Twilight Sailing 

Saturday 13 January – Masters Regatta at Jervis Bay & Sprint Racing at DBSC

Race report

A sunny day with a building light to moderate ENE breeze produced perfect conditions for the 50 sailors who competed in Autumn Point Score Heats 5 and 6. 

Congratulations to the victors. The results (after handicapping) were: Full Rigs: Mark Gray (Point Score Heat 5) and Kerryn Smith (Point Score Heat 6); Radials: Richo Holstein (Point Score Heat 5) and Ed Burrows (Point Score Heat 6). 

Thanks to this week’s race volunteers — Luke Parker (PRO), Murray Stone (LTRaR), David Huber (COTD), Tim Heath (CCO/CO-COTD) and John Chesterman and Hadrien Bourely who were this week’s canteen helpers. 

Christine Linhart’s son helping out as this week’s assistant handicapper. Photo by Clare Alexander.

Last Chance for BBSP

Brett Beyer’s coaching programs are starting this week. The sold out BBTP starts tonight at 5:30pm. There is still space available in the BBSP. If you’re interested and haven’t signed up yet, this is your last chance. Find out all of the details and register HERE.

Fun Sail and Picnic This Sunday

On Sunday 31 January join us for the first annual DBSC Fun Sail and Picnic (splash at midday). We are going to sail down to a beach in Watson’s Bay (exact landing spot TBC), accompanied by a RIB laden with picnic goodies, to set up a fabulous picnic. 

Beers and soft drinks will be available using the standard club tab system and we’re asking for $10 / head in advance for food. 

Even if you’ve already RSVPed earlier for this event, we need you to please sign up and pay for the food HERE now.  

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!