60 seconds with David Airey

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
Messed around in boats from a young age as father keen on fishing. First sailing experience was through naval section of  CCF (combined cadet force) at school, closely followed by getting first Mirror when 14 years old.

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
Happy with my laser. I like the combination of physical and mental challenge of dinghy sailing in one design fleet.

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
To be competitive with the youngsters at the front of the Radial fleet.

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
It is nameless. Still pondering an appropriate name

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

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Running, Tennis, Puzzles

Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
Explain soil and rock mechanics

What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why?
New Zealand, Christchurch. Both work and visit friends

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
Haven’t looked at TV for years. Have just finished reading Hilary Mantel trilogy on Thomas Cromwell.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
Grew up in Cornwall in UK sailing in Falmouth (beautiful like Sydney harbour but without the houses) and surfing (beaches nicer than Sydney!). I still play with sand castles/damming rivers for work.

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Winter break

The club has no racing scheduled until 18 July and the committee continues to appraise the Covid situation for the resumption of scheduled winter series racing after the school holidays.

In the meantime, we ask members to adhere to the stay at home restrictions in place. While exercise and outdoor recreation is a reasonable excuse to leave home, and you are permitted to access the club and use your boat, members are encouraged to do this alone and are reminded:

• Outdoor exercise is permitted in groups of no more than 10 but less is better using common sense

• If you access the club, you must (a) check in using the Service NSW QR code, (b) wear a mask at all times inside the clubhouse, (c) observe 1.5m distancing, and (d) observe the 4m2 rule 

• The 4m2 rule means no more than 9 people in the men’s change room and 3 people in the women’s changeroom (less is better)

You are not permitted to attend the club if you have any Covid symptoms, are awaiting the results of testing, or have been ordered to self-isolate.

Further information is available on the NSW Government website.

Sunday morning sailing will be back after this short intermission. Photo: Kate McHugh

Hoist training will be rescheduled

Training for the boat hoist has will be re-scheduled. This is mandatory training for all people with boats on rack levels 3, 4 and 5. The hoist may not be used by members who have not been trained in its use.

Coming up next...

Sunday 18 July - Winter Series

Sunday 25 July - Winter Series (final)

Saturday 7 August - Winter Sprint Series

Saturday 14 August - Winter Sprint Series

Saturday 21 August - Winter Sprint Series

Saturday 28 August - Working Bee and Winter Sprint Series

Sunday 29 August - Powerboat Handling Course with Australian Sailing

Saturday 4 September - LTR, Spring Season Opening, and Club Championships 1 & 2 (BBQ after sailing)

The club calendar can be viewed (and subscribed to) here.

It’s that time of year again! (a.k.a. Covid update)

The club has no formal sailing scheduled this week however the current Covid restrictions in place in Sydney have bearing on the use of the club.

Stay at home rules are in place until 11:59pm on Friday 9 July and members are encouraged to remain at home. While exercise and outdoor recreation is a reasonable excuse to leave home, and you are permitted to access the club and use your boat, members are encouraged to do this alone and are reminded:

• Outdoor exercise is permitted in groups of no more than 10 but less is better using common sense

• If you access the club, you must (a) check in using the Service NSW QR code, (b) wear a mask at all times inside the clubhouse, (c) observe 1.5m distancing, and (d) observe the 4m2 rule

• The 4m2 rule means no more than 9 people in the men’s change room and 3 people in the women’s changeroom (less is better)

You are not permitted to attend the club if you have any Covid symptoms, are awaiting the results of testing, or have been ordered to self-isolate.

At this stage, the club has no racing until 18 July. The committee will continue to appraise the situation and make any further adjustments to events accordingly.

Further information is available on the NSW Government website.

Hoist training postponed

Training for the boat hoist has been postponed owing to Covid restrictions. Watch this space for further information.

60 seconds with Quentin Burns

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
11 years old

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
An America’s Cup 75

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
To Have Fun

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
“On Fire”- My surname is BURNS!

If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be?
Nothing. They are perfect as they are.

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Music, Skiing

Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
School

What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why?
Wherever there is wind and a Regatta!

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
'Tallyho' Boat Builder

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
I play the Saxophone.

Quentin in his original Opti

Coming up next...

Sunday 18 July - Winter Series

Sunday 25 July - Winter Series (final)

Saturday 7 August - Winter Sprint Series

Saturday 14 August - Winter Sprint Series

Saturday 21 August - Winter Sprint Series

Saturday 28 August - Working Bee and Winter Sprint Series

Sunday 29 August - Powerboat Handling Course with Australian Sailing

Saturday 4 September - LTR, Spring Season Opening, and Club Championships 1 & 2 (BBQ after sailing)

The club calendar can be viewed (and subscribed to) here.

All that glitters IS gold

On Sunday the club hosted the ILCA Laser 50th anniversary spectacular. The day was a success for the class and the club with 219 registrations and close to 150 boats participating despite the latest COVID cases and the temperamental weather. The enjoyment of all was palpable both on the water and the deck after sailing.

Participants mustered in Farm Cove until 10am with the media helicopter capturing footage overhead. Brett Beyer sailed the gold commemorative hull and performed some showmanship OCS during the starting sequence. The gusty southerly made for a fast reach to Point Piper, followed by an exciting downwind in waves to Watson’s Bay. Amongst the fleet were multiple Laser Masters champions including Brett Beyer and Vanessa Dudley, plenty of our youth squad and some extra special hulls including the 2000 Olympic boat raced by 2000 bronze medal winner and current Australian Olympic Coach, Michael Blackburn and the oldest boat in the fleet from 1973 sailed by Frant Bucek, who made the trip from Victoria.

Prize winners were grinners. Owen Kenny (DBSC) had the best luck on the day, winning the gold hull upgrade sponsored by PSA while the sails donated by NB Sailsports were won by Daniel Costandi (DBSC/GRSC), Bevis Field (MYC), and Sandy Kiernan (NSC).

Thank you, thank you, thank you…

Running the event took a lot of time and effort behind the scenes with many club members pitching in over the weeks and months leading up to the event. Special mentions however go to Andrew Cox whose perseverance and determination to put on a show for the class paid off, Diana Chen, who is an extraordinary event manager and Ian Alexander, who stepped in at the last minute as the Principal Event Officer.

We are grateful for the sponsors on the day including the NSW & ACT Laser Class Association, PSA and NB Sailsports. We are also thankful for the on-water assistance provided by other clubs around the harbour – Greenwich, Hunters Hill, Northbridge, Royal Prince Edward, Royal Sydney, and Vaucluse. Thank you also to Luke Parker, who provided an extra RIB to the club for the event and last but not least, Paul, Shirley and Peter who prepared and cooked the barbeque. 

Never has the humble Laser received so much media attention (aside from the odd gold medal at the Olympics), with slots on the channel nine and seven news on Sunday night and features in newspapers across Australia the following day.

Ps. If you have any GoPro footage of the day, can you please send it to Diana for inclusion in the final edit?

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Insta-famous, or not?

Whether you’re insta famous, an influencer wannabe, looking for a present for dad this upcoming Fathers’ Day, or would just love a hot shot of you sailing with Sydney’s iconic features in the background, Jon West was on the water taking photos over the weekend.

As the regatta regulars will affirm, Jon takes great event photos, and his enterprise is worth supporting so he continues to show up and make us look amazing. 

Photos from Sunday are available here: Jon West Photography - Laser 50th Anniversary Sail 2021.