Olympic sales

In the spirit of the Olympics, some friends of the club and the class more broadly are doing deals.

Performance Sailcraft (PSA) is having a 15% off sale of almost EVERYTHING in stock (unfortunately this excludes complete boats, hulls & sails*). The sale will commence from the starting gun of race one of the Laser/ILCA Radials @1:05pm (AEST) on 25/7 and run until the start of the last Laser/ILCA race at @4:33pm (AEST) 01/08. Head to PSA for more details. Simply head to the website and apply discount code OLYMPIC15 in the checkout to receive 15% off your order.

Jon West Photography is also having a sale with $5 discounts on all downloads until end August 2021. If you haven’t already got your shots from the ILCA 50th birthday bash or the NSW Laser Masters State Champs, now is the time to do so!

60 seconds with David Huber

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
I travelled to England when I was 1. No memory of it, but photo below. First sailed with my parents on a teak sailing boat which had been built in Hong Kong and was sailed to Australia in 1879 (or so I was told). Sabots when aged 7

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
Cruising boat. An Amel 54 would do nicely

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
No goals other than sailing a little better each time I go out

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
It doesn’t have a name. Just a number - no reason.

If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be?
Avocado and chilli jam. Not sure that anything would truly improve them though

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Pilates and cruising art galleries

Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
Fix people’s arteries and veins (now just veins) - a sort of plumber

What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why?
Italy - art

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
Any book by Vasily Grossman

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
I tried really hard with this question, but I am afraid there is nothing there to tell!

1 year old David with his mother

Winter series results

In light of the Covid restrictions in NSW, the winter season has drawn to a close.

Congratulations to our season winners!

Standard Championship: David Newman

Radial Championship: Andrew Cox

Standard Pointscore: Nick Alexander

Radial Pointscore: Ian Tudball 

Covid reminder

Members are reminded 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 elsewhere (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 live more than 10km from the club

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

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

(d)  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 COVID updates and advise in due course when sailing will resume.

8 bells Bruce Kirby

Bruce Kirby, co-designer of the ILCA Laser, passed away on July 18, 2021 at the age of 92. His passing has been reported in the ILCA website with some interesting details about the design and Bruce’s life.

Did you know, the Laser was originally called a “Weekender”?

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