Volunteer RIB Driver for 18 Footers

The annual JJ Giltinan Championship will run from Friday 5th to Sunday 14th March and we’re looking for volunteers to drive a RIB and support the on-water team with rescues etc. If you can commit to all or any of the following days from approx. 1pm - 5pm, then please email Paul Adam and Jess at 18 Footers [HERE]. It’s a great way to be a part of the action!

Fri 05/03, Sat 06/03, Sun 07/03, Tue 09/03, Wed 10/03, Thu 11/03, Sat 13/03, Sun 14/03.

DBSC sailors please be aware of reduced space in the park and the possibility of A18s parts in the clubhouse over these days, and remember to always give way when they are launching or retrieving.

Clean Up Australia Day

DBSC has been involved with Clean Up Australia Day for over 10 years and we plan to continue this tradition as part of the club’s commitment to sustainability. We hope you can come along and help either on Saturday 6th or Sunday 7th March, even if you only have an hour to spare. Please email Kate [HERE] and let her know if you are able to attend.

History Corner

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 glimpse into yesteryear. Please email any history titbits to our club’s historian Richard George [HERE].

The original clubhouse for the Double Bay Sailing Club was in the boatshed property of Mrs E Hopwood. Early members also report using a change room in the toilet block on the southern side of the park on William Street before the opening of the clubhouse on the current site in April 1959.

Coming Up

Wednesday 10 Feb - Twilight Sprints & Brett Beyer Twilight Program 3/10

Saturday 13 Feb - Sprints at DBSC

Saturday 13 Feb & Sunday 14 Feb - NSW/ACT ILCA Laser Masters Championship at Jervis Bay

Wednesday 17 Feb - Twilight Sprints & Brett Beyer Twilight Program 4/10

Saturday 20 Feb - Learn To Race and Autumn Point Score 7 & 8

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.