From where you (might) rather be...

Mark Bethwaite has kindly reminded us that outside the Olympics there are many wonderful events that we can look forward to. 

photo: unknown

Our sister club, Vela Club Campione del Garda has recently hosted the EuroMasters regatta where competitors live la dolce vita on Lake Garda, Italy.

The regatta is run out of Gargnano and Bogliaco, two beautiful adjacent villages on the western shore of fabulous Lake Garda. The fresh water is warm with a peler (northerly) breeze in the morning, followed (after lunch of course!) by an ora (southerly) breeze in the afternoon.

After a day’s racing, competitors sit in a lakeside trattoria and after an obilgatory Aperol Spritz, enjoy corregone (trutta del Garda) washed down with Soave or Valpolicella, followed by gelato and limoncello.

photo: unknown

Sounds awesome!

Do you have a favourite event to share with the DBSC community? We’d love to hear it – email the newsletter with your favourite sailing events (and photos).

60 seconds with Scott Hunter

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
Apparently mum and dad took me away for one month on a 17 foot trailer yacht when I was three months old. I first started racing with dad when I was 6.

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
The next generation AC75 (Team NZ version of course)

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

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
I was once going to set up a company and I wanted a short domain name and of course blink.com was taken so I went for blynk.com. Seemed like it would suit a name for a laser.

If you could add any ingredient to DBSC's world’s best toasties – what would it be?
Spicy salami and jalapeno peppers.

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Travelling and golf. With any luck golf will be replaced next summer by wing foiling

Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
Generate electricity from ocean waves

What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why?
New Zealand to see my family, hopefully in July or August this year

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
It changes every week but currently i'm watching season 4 of The Handmaid's Tale

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
Back in the nineties while living in London I got to move WInston Churchill's house, including all kinds of expensive antiques from back in the day when he was the British prime minister. OK, it was Winston Churchill Junior's house.

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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 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.

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).

Off the deck drinks

For those that are missing the post race banter, we’re going to have some virtual drinks this Saturday at 1700.

Please RSVP to receive a link to the meeting.

How good is the racing?

There has never been a better time to be locked down at home, away from the boss, with footage of the Olympic sailing better than ever! If you’re not already watching, you can watch online here.

After 3 days and 6 races for the ILCA Laser class, Mara Stransky is coming 18th in the women’s event, while Matt Wearn is in 2nd place in the men’s event. 

@aussailingteam

@aussailingteam

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”?