60 Seconds with Nick Alexander

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 8 yrs old, steering my dads Corsair on a lake in Mount Isa North QLD whilst he was launching the spinnaker and yelling at me not to gybe it on him

2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? A submarine as I don’t like yachts

3. What is your ultimate sailing goal? To be healthy enough to race Lasers beyond 75

4. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? I always had serious names for my teenage boats so I named my boat after my old cat Ralphy who nearly made it to 18

5. If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be? More cheese – over cooked and oozing out the sides

6. What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)? Reading and science

7. Describe what you do for work in less than five words? Watch numbers go up and down

8. What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why? Wherever the next Master worlds are and warm

9. What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book? All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know? I am a beekeeper of European and Australian Native bees

The last race of the 1991 420 nationals

Coming Up

Wednesday 17 Mar - Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 8/10

Saturday 20 Mar - Learn To Race / Autumn Point Score 11 & 12

Wednesday 24 Mar - Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 9/10

Saturday 27 Mar - Club Championship 13 & 14

Race Report – Metros – Sat 6 & Sun 7 March

21 competitors from DBSC ventured west to Hunters Hill Sailing Club to contest the Metropolitan Championships. The advice from some locals was to look to the land rather than the water as the pressure would be dependent on when Larry, who lives on the hill in Balmain, opened his side gate. The 10-knot shifting breeze during both days was extremely tricky and provided a challenge for all.

There was fierce competition across all fleets and none more so than the Radials where members of the Australian Sailing Team / Australian Sailing Squad were on show. Not to be outdone, Mina Ferguson had an outstanding event and came home victorious. Daniel Costandi was also in fine form placing third. The Standard fleet had some good individual race results but overall David Newman put together an excellent series only to get beaten on a count-back for third. The full results of the series are [HERE] and the Laser Association article including photos is [HERE].

Thanks to Gerry Donohoe and Peter Collie for volunteering their time to drive the RIB to support the DBSC competitors over the weekend.

Chaos around the bottom mark. Photo: Jon West - available at jonwest.photography

Race Report – Sprints – Sat 6 March

13 boats took to the water in a moderate southerly for 6 sprint races at exactly 2:00pm until 4:00pm. The Radials and Standards raced together with Geoff Kirk leading the way. Most of us thought it was the right decision to stay to the east of the bridge for some practice in a shifty breeze. Highlights of the day were dodging yachts using Clark Island as a mark rounding in the Sydney Harbour Regatta, and crossing paths with the 18 Footers in the JJ Giltinan Championship race. Check out all the action from the 18 Footers TV where our little Laser fleet make a cameo appearance [HERE].

Thanks to Daryl Lawrence, Nick Pellow, Jack Sywak for running the races; Paul Adam, Shirley Roach, Christine Patton, Bonnie Nixon, and Gavin Blake for feeding us.

Photo: Nicholas Pellow

Clean Up Australia Day

Thanks to all the volunteers that came in early to help clean up the beaches around the club, and Kate McHugh for organising the day. Despite it being a southerly, which usually means a cleaner bay, there was still plenty of rubbish around – most of which would have been detrimental to marine life.

Photo: Steven London

Wanted: Laser Dollies

Looking for a couple used Laser dollies – preferably the “stackable” design but any sort will do. Required ASAP. Contact Brett Beyer 0414 299 317.

Volunteer RIB Driver for 18 Footers

We’re looking for a volunteer to drive a RIB this Thursday (11 March) in the 18 Footers JJ Giltinan Championship race. You are required from 1:00pm - 5:00pm to support their on-water team with rescues etc. Please email Andrew Cox if you are able to help.

History Corner

Racking facilities for the 1983/84 season facilitated the storage of 14 Herons, 14 Leaders, 15 Manly Juniors and 14 Lasers – a total of 57 boats. By 1985/86 there were 15 spots allocated to Lasers and 20 in 1990/91. Weekly utilisation in all classes ran at around 65%. Currently the club houses 85 Lasers.

60 Seconds with Jack Sywak

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 12

2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? Farr V.O.60!

3. What is your ultimate sailing goal? Just always to be fit enough to sail to a ripe old age and to continue to have fun on the water.

4. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? Vangtidy comes from the English expression ‘Bang tidy’ which means sexy or attractive. Like me and my boat :)

5. If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be? Caramelised onions.

6. What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)? Skiing and golf.

7. Describe what you do for work in less than five words? Make cocktails.

8. What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why? Japan for the powder snow.

9. What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book? Peep Show, Goodfellas.

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know? Every now and again I like to play poker tournaments and I’ve won quite a few.

Coming Up

Friday 5 Mar to Sunday 14 Mar - 18 Footers JJ Giltinan Championship at DBSC

Wednesday 10 Mar - Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 7/10

Saturday 13 Mar - Autumn Point Score 9 & 10

Wednesday 17 Mar - Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 8/10

Saturday 20 Mar - Autumn Point Score 11 & 12