Oh, what a night!

After a year in hiatus, the DBSC AGP returned on Friday with a bang. If there is a better, more fun, more friendly, or more entertaining sailing club presentation, meeting and party on Sydney harbour, we want to know about it (and receive an invite)!

The front end of the night was the more formal end of affairs with our gracious and entertaining Commodore leading us through proceedings, welcoming all members, and acknowledging the fantastic community we have achieved regardless of how long we each have been at the club. Safety and training, member engagement and improvement to facilities have been a focus of the committee this year to create an inclusive and social environment that generates large and competitive racing fleets.

Following the prizegiving, the club’s officers were returned without any alternative nominations.

After the formal part of the night, members enjoyed our open Laser bar (literally a Laser for those who have never been), pies from Broomfield’s and dancing with The White Tree Band. Who knew we had so many movers and shakers roaming our shed on the water?

Life Member

This year we added another life membership to the club’s ranks – John Vasey. 

John has been a member of the club for over 20 years and has been a consistent and significant contributor during this time.

Each week he takes care of refueling our on-water support boats and most weeks provides the rescue boat service on Sunday for the 18s. He uses his network of contacts to assist with lighting and staging for our functions, while his paintings decorate our walls. On top of all this he is frequently at the club doing care and maintenance tasks.

John is a gracious and generous member of the club and we sincerely appreciate his efforts for all he does.

Life Member John Vasey. Photo credit: Peter Collie

Club Person of the Year

The John Barraclough Award for Club Person of the Year went to Diana Chen who has been an unprecedented force of ideas and action at the club. 

Club Person of the Year - Diana Chen. Photo credit: Peter Collie.

Sailing prizewinners

Our prizewinners for the sailing season were:

Ron Young Trophy : 2020-21 Club Champion Laser Standard - Rod Barnes

Sally Gordon Trophy: 2020-21 Club Champion Laser Radial - Sylvie Stannage

Don Roach Trophy: 2020-21 Masters Club Champion Laser Standard - Rod Barnes

Don Roach Trophy: 2020-21 Masters Club Champion Laser Radial - Martin White

2020-21 Spring Point Score Winner Laser Standard - Steven London / London Pride

2020-21 Spring Point Score Winner Laser Radial / 4.7 - Daryl Lawrence

2020-21 Autumn Point Score Winner Laser Standard - Michael Osborne / Dragonfly

2020-21 Autumn Point Score Winner Laser Radial / 4.7 - Alistair Sutherland

2020-21 Winter Champion Laser Standard - Luke Parker

2020-21 Winter Champion Laser Radial - Sylvie Stannage

2020-21 Richard Tyrrell Trophy - Hadrien Bourely

2020-21 Nano Rousso Trophy - Rod Barnes 

Dene Bergman Trophy: 2020-21 Vaucluse Challenge Champion Laser Standard - Matt Faddy

Graham Read Trophy: 2020-21 Vaucluse Challenge Champion Laser Radial - Mina Ferguson

Little people

While you were bunkered down at home during Covid last year, some of our members made good use of the time. Congratulations to our members who have recently had babies:

Sara Brooks – Angus

Simon Stone – Charlie 

James Tudball – Max

It's still on!

The ILCA Laser 50th birthday bash was postponed on the weekend owing to an unfavourable weather forecast and a lockdown for our friends in Victoria. The event is now scheduled to take place on Sunday 20 June 2021.

We have 170 boats registered so far and are confident in achieving over 200 on the day! All the details of the event will be updated on the event webpage.  

Registrations will remain open via the webpage for additional sailors. Please continue to promote it to all your friends! 

Powerboat course

The club will be organising a powerboat course. This will provide participants with an opportunity to improve boat handling skills, learn more about engines and types of crafts and practise navigation techniques on a passage. 

Participants will be able to take their completion certificate to RMS to obtain their powerboat license. This course is for anyone that wants to further develop their powerboat driving skills.

The course will cost members $110 (DBSC will subsidise the remaining $110).

Boat for sale

Simon Stone is selling his Laser, sail/hull number 196437 - a fine vintage! No leaks and “apparently” it’s relatively light (comment from other members when lifting it out of the rack).

Simon says, “Although the boat hasn’t won any championships that’s a reflection of the owner sailor not the boat ... it has done quite well when visitors have sailed her!”

Comes with radial and full rig spars. 2 radial sails (1 newish) and 1 full rig sail, carbon tiller & extension

Owner reluctantly selling due to arrival of a new family member (baby). Email Simon for more details.

Boat wanted

Chris Costandi is on the lookout for another Laser for the family. He is looking for a hull from 2014 or newer, with a preference for a full rig set up. 

He is also looking for a decent road trailer that can carry 2 Lasers.

If you are selling, or aware of, either of these things can you please email Chris.

60 Seconds With Les Katz

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? About 13 for a speed boat, and I think around 19 on a sailboat, which was a crappy 24ft endeavour on the Swan river in Perth. I like the idea of sailing and the freedoms it symbolised, read all the books on the crazies who sailed around the world and across the Atlantic single handed and was impressed beyond belief. It tickled my imagination and was what I wanted. My first sailboat was actually a windsurfer, learned the theory, surfed and boogied (board that is) before that, (not well to either).

2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? Maltese Falcon by Perini Navi – Great outdoor Cinema screen, why dream small. Check it out [HERE]

3. What is your ultimate sailing goal? To finish in top three line honours in Radial class at DBSC when more than 10 people competing on the day.

4. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? Was meant to be Mini Mammoth after my bigger boat called Mammoth (the CA mountain we skied at when we lived in LA that my family loved), but after Coxie called me the club heckler, I decided rather the JOKER was a better description.

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

6. What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)? Trying to beat my amazing kids at anything especially skiing or snowboarding, (unsuccessful), and riding my overpowered racing motorcycles at the track and stupid speeds.

7. Describe what you do for work in less than five words? CEO - (best) residential lift company.

8. What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why? Don’t love travel anymore except for skiing/ snowboarding. Likely LA, Tuscany or Belfast as have business there. Sydney and Australia is best, been lucky enough to compare.

9. What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book? TV Show – Sons of Anarchy. Movie – Waterworld. Book – all the Wilbur Smith stuff, especially the Courtneys as Pirates.

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know? Behind the bullshit bravado, clown routine is a gentle soul 😉