Message from Hadrien Bourley

Sailors,

Apologies for jumping in the Wednesday morning newsletter fun, but I thought I would send you all a quick note here. It's been on the cards for a while, and I'm sad to announce that after 16 years living in Australia, 6 spent at DBSC, it is now time to go home to the mother land. Elle and I have put a lot of thoughts into it and between the extended lock-downs and the complexities around living with Covid, now seems a good time to make the jump and return to Monaco. We've both found jobs there very recently and we're looking forward to spending time with my family and settle there. 

Selling my house has been relatively easy compared to leaving the club. Racing is the second best thing in the world. The first being talking about it afterwards with the gang. It's very rare to find such a dense group of life long friends and I'm certainly going to miss you all. 

It would have been amazing to have a party to celebrate the good times but it will have to wait until we can travel again. In the meantime, I hope you can join me for a virtual farewell this Friday at 6pm before we leave the 30th September.

Ciao,
Hadrien

To join the virtual farewell for Hadrien please RVSP.

Welcome new members

We have two new members sign up in recent months – Scott Robinson and David Johnson. 

We will also be welcoming Morgan Au back to the club on a more regular basis.

Please keep an eye out for them at the club and give them the traditional DBSC warm welcome. 

Second hand boats sought

Brett Beyer is looking to buy two boats fully rigged. They can be radial or standard rigs but must be 205xxx or newer. If anyone is interested in selling a laser that meets this description, please contact Brett at coaching@dbsc.com.au.

Australian Sailing Olympic webinar

Some members attended the post Olympic debrief hosted by Australian Sailing with Matt Wearn last night. The series continues next week with Mara Stransky at 7pm on 30 September.

Off the deck

Will no longer be on. Or off? Whatever. Given the gradual easing of COVID restrictions and low attendance in recent weeks we will no longer host “Off the Deck”.

60 seconds with Andrew Craker

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
About 6yrs, (motor craft) my father managed a marine store in Port Lincoln SA.

First sailed a Rainbow at age 15 with  my brother, we decided it was a lot cooler that than an asphalt tennis court.

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
Would stick to a laser, I respect the safety of others, anything larger & faster could put the harbour at risk

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
To finish every race in a season

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
I didn’t name my boat it was inherited when purchased from John Verco

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

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Music / concerts & Travel

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

Encourage people to volunteer information

What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why?
Antarctica, always wanted to return  after my first trip in 2010, advantage no ports to visit so less impact of COVID

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
Not really a TV fan however YOUTUBE is the greatest for music and discovering new artists

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
We had just purchased our property at Darling Point  & sailing was not on the radar  in Feb 2014. Thought we would take a quick holiday so flew to Hong Kong and was cruising back to Sydney when during a game of trivia in the pub on board Queen Elizabeth we met Peter & Deb Whitley (members of DBSC). They graciously offered a sailing opportunity with their son Marcus & generously offered me the use of their Laser. 4 months later I purchased “Pirate” from John Verco.

Andrew ready to race at DBSC

Updated COVID restrictions

With the recent changes to COVID restrictions double vaccinated members may now rig their boats five at a time in the boat park. There are no other changes to the restrictions.

If you are not fully vaccinated you must not rig your boat in the park unless, in doing so, there would be no more than two boats in the vicinity of the club at any time.

Please continue to get changed before getting your boat out in order to maximise the flow of boats in and out of the clubhouse.

Mark Laying Course

Members are reminded to undertake the online Mark Laying Course being conducted by Australian Sailing in lieu of the mandatory training ordinarily undertaken at the start of the season.

Australian Sailing Olympic webinars

Australian Sailing's Olympic webinar series continues on Thursday 16 September with the Men’s 470 team and their gold medal winning experience. Skipper Mat Belcher created history in Tokyo becoming Australia’s most successful Olympic sailor and is locked in to answer all your pressing questions.

Register for the webinars with Australian Sailing on the following links.

Netflix and chill

‘The Boat that Ian Built’ is a short film from 1974 featuring the amazing success story of the Laser, and of Performance Sailcraft, the company Ian formed to produce and market the boat.

“The movie has fantastic footage of one of the first ever big fleet Laser regattas held at Association Island, New York on Lake Ontario near Kingston (with Ian Bruce competing!). The movie has interviews with Ian, Bruce Kirby, and Laser sail designer Hans Fogh along with shots of Lasers being produced in Ian’s factory.

You’ll also see amazing footage (that I previously didn’t know existed) of Hans Fogh helming the prototype Laser in an October 1970 regatta held for boats under $1000 at the Playboy Club at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. It was called ‘The America’s Teacup Regatta’. Ian and Hans decided to call the prototype the ‘Weekender’ with sail number TGIF, the abbreviation for ‘Thank God It’s Friday’.”

Follow the link to “The Boat that Ian Built”…

Many thanks to Peter Heywood who was kind in sharing this content.