The best way to find out about the club is to visit us, and meet some members.
Apart from the week of Christmas, the clubhouse is open from at least noon every Saturday from 1 August to 30 April. Our telephone number is: +61 2 9363 5577.
We are run by volunteers, so if your query cannot answered by the frequently asked questions (FAQs) below or the rest of the website, we will get back to you by Wednesday, 10pm.
How do I subscribe to your Pulitzer Prize winning newsletter?
How to make a tax-deductible donation to the club (using the internet)?
How to make a tax-deductible donation to the club (using paper forms)?
Want to book a seat at the restaurant?
Want to become a social member?
Can I rent/hire your clubhouse?
How do I get to crew on a yacht?
Can you teach me to race a Laser?
What is the deal between your club and the 18 footers and Sydney High School?
Can I store my kayak (or similar) in the clubhouse?
Can you help me buy, or sell, a Laser?
How many times can a visitor race at DBSC?
79 Bay St
Double Bay NSW 2028
Australia
The best ILCA / Laser sailing club in the world, located in Double Bay on Sydney Harbour.
As part of DBSC’s commitment to safety, we have once again organised first aid training (including CPR) for our members, to be held on Sunday 18 April. There will be a morning and afternoon session for a duration of 3.5 hours, with some self-paced online study prior to the practical. Fees will be covered by DBSC, however places are limited. Please register your interest [HERE].
As part of the club’s commitment to sustainability, we will again be doing Clean Up Australia Day this year. While the official day is on Sunday 7th March, this year we will also have a session on Saturday 6th March to make it easy for everyone to attend. To work with low tide, we are looking for volunteers at 0830-1030 on Saturday 6th March and 0945-1145 on Sunday 7th March. Please email Kate [HERE] and let her know which session you would like to help with.
The approval for the clubhouse on the current site was not smooth sailing. A petition carrying 153 signatures was sent to Woollahra Council objecting to the building based on its impact on the natural beauty of the park. Despite these objections the clubhouse opened on 5 April 1959.
1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? Seven - a P Class trainer in Torbay Auckland
2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? The ultimate Fine Wine - a 100m super yacht with 10 guest suites, 10 Lasers in the aft lazarette plus RIBs etc. This Fine Wine would position at future Laser Master Worlds locations (other than Lake Garda) or the Caribbean, Med etc - wherever the water temperature is above 27 degC
3. What is your ultimate sailing goal? My goal was an Olympic medal - I had my chances but am firmly on the skids now…
4. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? Few things get better as they get older - Fine Wine is one and Laser sailors are another
5. If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be? Incapable of improvement!
6. What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)? Golf and adventure travel - cycling, hiking etc
7. Describe what you do for work in less than five words? I chair a defence contractor
8. What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why? Malpensa (Milan) to reunite with my Laser on Lake Garda
9. What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book? Best movie in recent times Zero Dark Thirty - the take down of Osama Bin Laden
10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know? It was my privilege to succeed Don Roach as Commodore of DBSC - our great little club owes so much to the character and efforts of that man
Start of the second heat of the 1972 Olympic Regatta - we could win the start but not the finish…
Wednesday 17 Feb - Twilight Sprints & Brett Beyer Twilight Program 4/10
Saturday 20 Feb - Learn To Race and Autumn Point Score 7 & 8
Wednesday 24 Feb - Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 5/10, and State Masters Debrief presented by Brett Beyer
Saturday 27 Feb - Club Championship 11 & 12
It was an action-packed day of racing on the harbour at the annual Vaucluse Yacht Club Regatta with over 100 entries including Lasers, OK Dinghies, and Yachts. A fresh north easterly breeze meant a 45-minute slog to the start line for those that sailed from Double Bay, but thankfully eased slightly for our muscles to recover for racing. DBSC dominated the Laser fleet in the 3 short races with the overall results as follows: Standard - 1st Jules Hall (DBSC), 2nd Hadrien Bourley (DBSC), 3rd Chris Rodowicz (VYC) / Radial - 1st Daniel Costandi (DBSC), 2nd Mina Ferguson (DBSC), 3rd Sylvie Stannage (DBSC).
The friendly rivalry between DBSC and VYC was also decided in the Vaucluse Challenge, with the Dene Bergman Trophy awarded to Matt Faddy (VYC) for Standard, and the Graham Read Trophy awarded to Mina Ferguson (DBSC) for Radial.
Thanks to all the volunteers involved including DBSC’s Clare Alexander, David Devlin, Steven London, Clare London, and John Vasey on the water; Candice Cushway, Christine Linhart, and Shirley Roach in the canteen, with Oscar supervising from his pram.
Thanks to the superb organising skills of Rod Barnes, a record contingent of 35 DBSC boats will be taking over Jervis Bay this weekend to compete in the NSW/ACT ILCA Laser Masters Championship.
If you are attending and have not registered yet then please do so [HERE]. Sailing Instructions, Notice of Race, venue information, and COVID-19 safety information can all be downloaded from the NSW/ACT Laser Association website [HERE]. Please read these important documents thoroughly. In order to run the event safely, Jervis Bay Sailing Club has certain restrictions in place. Your co-operation in observing the restrictions and following the directions of the COVID marshals will be much appreciated.
The event will be using electronic sign-on and sign-off and you can access the online form [HERE] or by using a computer at the Race Office on the day.
There will be no official Laser Association dinner on Saturday night, so we have booked tables at Club Callala for 6.30pm. Partners and families are welcome to join us.
Ever wondered what it’s like to race in a Laser Masters Championship? Long-standing DBSC members and regatta regulars give us a glimpse into the Laser Masters Championships in Australia and abroad so that newbies know what to expect when attending their first regatta. Read our blog [HERE].
The DBSC Learn To Race (LTR) program has been popular again this season, attracting 8-12 sailors at every session, with varied levels of sailing competency. Half of the participants are prospective members and the other half being club members keen to learn and be more competitive in racing.
Those who do come along all have interesting stories. Last Saturday’s sailors included Caleb Jarvis, a good mate of Luke Parker; Annabella Scott, a young eastern suburbs veterinarian who runs 50km trail runs for relaxation; and Darren Abound, a returnee to sailing who hadn’t sailed since he was a kid with Manly Juniors in the 80s. It takes all kinds to make a village. Do reach out and say hello to the LTR attendees as we would love to welcome them to DBSC as regular Laser sailors.
On a glorious summer’s day with favourable winds, the inaugural DBSC Fun Sail & Picnic started with non-competitive sailing in shorts and colourful shirts, followed by lunch, beers, a giant puppy, and quality time with DBSC members at Kutti Beach (Vaucluse). Thanks to all those that came along and Emily Ball for organising.
As part of DBSC’s commitment to safety, we have once again organised first aid training (including CPR) for our members, to be held on Sunday 18 April. There will be a morning and afternoon session for a duration of 3.5 hours, with some self-paced online study prior to the practical. Fees will be covered by DBSC, however places are limited. Please register your interest [HERE].
