Vantage points - where to watch Olympic Sailing

Olympic sailing will commence on the 25th of July, with the medal races taking place from 31 July to 4 August, with racing scheduled between 1300 and 1900 each day. The schedule and Australian Olympic Sailing Team information is here.

Channel 7 will have extensive coverage of the Olympics with 40 streaming channels on their 7plus app. On your computer the best place to watch is 7plus.com.au/Olympics.

The Australian Sailing website has further details on how to follow along on social media as well as send letters of support to the team throughout the games. #GoAusSailors

Enoshima at dusk. Photo: @AusSailingTeam

60 seconds with Owen Kenny, Gold Laser Winner

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
A small boy on a tinnie fishing boat down in Tathra, where I grew up.

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
A Swan 60 to sail around the Pacific exporing, surfing, kitboarding, diving and fishing.

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
Win a laser regatta or series. Win the Sydney to Hobart or Sydney to Gold Coast offshore race on Supernova (Sydney 36).

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
She was already named Jenny. It made me laugh when I said it in a Forest Gump voice, so it stuck! haha.

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

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Surfing/snowboarding but climbing lots lately as Sydney is so good for it!

Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
Operations Manager, Noakes Shipyard.

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

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
Love a good comedy series or movie!

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
I've just spent the last 9 years working on yachts that included 6 Atlantic crossings as Captain and Engineer of an Oyster 82 called Midnight.

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Message from the Commodore

In light of the COVID-19 restrictions in NSW, racing this weekend will not be on.

Members are asked to adhere to the Public Health Orders. The only reason you are allowed to attend the club is for exercise.

If you attend the club, you MUST:

(a) check in using the QR code

(b) wear a mask inside

(c) not attend or sail in more than groups of two. If your attendance would result in more than two in the club or in the park, you must wait outside (or on the water, if you are coming back in) until your presence in the park or in the club would not result in more than two people together.

Also, you must NOT attend the club if:

(a) you have any symptoms or are awaiting a test result

(b) you or anyone in your household are required to isolate

(c) you have been to a case location at the relevant times (until you have observed the relevant requirements).

The committee will continue to monitor the situation and update members accordingly.

What a beautiful bunch

Remember those mugshots Peter Collie took with us in the clubhouse? Well, the members section on our website is live!

You can check it out here. 

At this stage we only have 58 members captured. Once lockdown ends, Peter Collie will set up again at the club to capture more of you.

Olympic fever

This week sometime Double Bay sailor, Mara Stransky, flew to Tokyo with the rest of the Australian Sailing Team. The Laser Radial Women and Laser Men will be racing on 25-27 July, 29-30 July and 1 August (medal race). The full sailing competition schedule is available here.

In the meantime, here’s some excellent coverage from the Radial fleet at the London Olympics.

We wish all members of the Australian sailing team fair winds and the best of luck in their racing!

Photo: @marastransky

Photo: @aussailingteam

Photo: @mattwearn1995

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.