TL;DR (too long; didn't read)

There has been a lot on at the club lately and perhaps you haven’t read all of the pithy, funny, engaging newsletters that are lovingly written each week. Here’s a recap:

The ILCA Laser 50th birthday bash has been postponed to 20 June. Awesome prizes. Details here.

The club is running a powerboat handling course – a great refresher and a pathway for a license for those that don’t have one. $110 for members; $220 for friends and family. Register here.

Simon has a boat for sale.

Chris Costandi is looking for a boat that is newer than Simon’s. 

60 seconds with Kirk Marcolina

From the man who initially started publishing this segment…

1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
I was 5, and learned to sail on a converted wooden duck hunting boat called a Sneakbox. It was a fleet type unique to our club which was situated on an island off the coast of New Jersey. The dinghies were one or two person boats, that were super heavy. If you flipped, it was over, as the boats quickly filled up with water and you had to be towed back to the dock. Hence my continued aversion to flipping to this day!

2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
My laser and Smitten are perfect for now.

3. What is your ultimate sailing goal?
To win a Pointscore series.

4. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
Zoomer. When I joined DBSC my daughter was 5 and I told her that she could name my boat. She said Zoom, because you want to go fast. When I purchased a new boat this year, her upgraded idea for a name was Zoomer. The name of my sailboat growing up was the USS Enterprise. The Captain Kirk jokes got old very fast.

5. If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be?
Bacon and mayo. Need some artery clogging before I exercise.

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

7. Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
Teach and make documentaries.

8. What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why?
USA to visit family.

9. What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
Schitt's Creek. Love how much a TV show can make me laugh in 20 minutes.

10. Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
I was mugged and had a loaded gun pointed at my head while walking home to my apartment in Philadelphia in 1992. The police arrived a few minutes later, threw me in the back of the police car and chased the bad guys though the city. A few minutes later they surrounded the perpetrators and had me ID them on the street. Scariest moment of my life. I can not understand the lack of gun regulation in America. Just one of many reasons I’m happy I live here now.

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Unless we get more submissions, this will be our last of this series…

Coming up next...

Sunday 13 June - Winter Series

Sunday 20 June - ILCA 50th birthday bash!

9-12 July 2021- South Pacific Laser Masters, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (QLD)

Sunday 18 July - Winter Series

Sunday 25 July - Winter Series (final)

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).