New volunteer initiative - sign up requested

Double Bay Sailing Club is managed and run entirely by volunteers. As the saying goes, “many hands make light work”.   

There is an incredible amount of work that needs to be done to keep our club running as we know and love it. To ensure DBSC’s high standard is maintained we have created a new initiative that aims to distribute the volunteer workload more equally. 

We have compiled a list of every task undertaken around the club – a total of 213 duties (in addition to the weekly rostered roles). Out of our 125 members, these tasks are currently undertaken by just 36 volunteers, with the vast majority falling on the 15 club committee members. 

In order to make the operation of the club more sustainable, and to help grow our leadership base, we are seeking to distribute the workload more evenly amongst our membership. As such, all members of DBSC are strongly encouraged to sign up for at least one of the volunteer duties listed below: 

• Coordinate diversity

• Liaise on global best practice

• Prepare / manage rack plan and allocations

• Audit / prepare rack labels

• Manage boat sharing scheme

• Liaise / target youth members

• Coordinate rule / tip of the day

• Coordinate / train LTRAR trainers

• Coordinate regatta marketing

• Coordinate regatta accommodation

• Coordinate regatta transport

• Prepare list of trophy / prize winners

• Manage LTR clothing

• Coordinate / sell BB programs

• Coordinate / sell BB squads

• Coach fleet compression program

• Coordinate buddy system

• Manage club boat allocation / payment

• Assist new member boat purchases

• Present competency training

• Coordinate boat licence courses

• Coordinate first aid courses

• Manage chemical storage / protocols

• Prepare Club Championship BBQs

• Organise Family & Friends Day

• Organise Clean Up Australia Day

• Organise DBSC ski trip

• Coordinate mooring hire

• Procure / manage merchandise

• Negotiate / manage bulk sails / other offers

• Coordinate maintenance / servicing of moorings

• Maintain radios

• Maintain lawn (e.g. fill holes)

• Maintain boat ramps (e.g. gurney)

• Lead various capital works projects

• Chair club sailboats “department”

• Maintain club Lasers

• Maintain boat share Lasers

• Chair house management “department”

• Sweep clubhouse regularly

• Clean / organise canteen

• Clean / organise fridges / freezers

• Tidy / organise handicapper’s desk

• Tidy / organise lino area / shelves

• Coordinate lost property

• Coordinate soft plastic recycling

• Manage Xmas hats

• Write selected newsletter “columns”

• Club videographer

• Manage piles replacement project

We’re hoping you find a task that aligns with your skills and interests.  Once you’ve selected a volunteer role, please email Kirk Marcolina to sign up.

If you have skills and/or capacity that can help with club’s operation not included on the above list, we would also love to hear from you. Please also contact Kirk to discuss how you can become involved in another capacity.

Thank you very much for your help with this initiative, and for your commitment to our wonderful club.

Winter sailing

Our winter series kicks off on 8 May. Each week races will count for both a championship and pointscore series. There will be a total of 30 races over 10 weeks to 24 July 2022 (that is, 3 races each Sunday). There will be no racing during the school holidays. (3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul). You can subscribe to the calendar on our website.

Starts will be at 08:30 (weather permitting) and there will be no start after 11:30. For further information, please read the Sailing Instructions.

Brett Beyer Winter Program

In conjunction with the winter series, Brett Beyer will offer a Brett Beyer Winter Program (BBWP) for 6 weeks (18 races) on 8 May, 15 May, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 24 Jul.  The cost of the program is $360 for all 6 weeks. 

BBWP subscribers will carry a GPS during each race and will later receive a report and animation showing their GPS tracks vs the fleet, together with fleet-level commentary on each leg. Subscribers will also have access to Brett to ask questions on the water (not during the races) and can later ask questions on the weekly report. The terms of the program are available on our website.

The BBWP needs at least 15 subscribers to go ahead, and we are not there yet. Subscriptions close this week. 

If you would like this program to go ahead, and to be part of it, this is your last chance to subscribe. 

 Sign up for the program here.

AGP RSVP

This week you should have received an invitation to the AGP on Friday 27th May 2022. The 2021/22 Annual General Meeting will be held at the club followed by eating, drinking, and dancing.

If you have aspirations to sing or play with the band (and preferably have some musical talent), as members have done in pre-COVID times, please contact James Tudball.

RSVP by 13 May here .

60 seconds with Cote Poncell

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
I started the Optimist program when I was 5, but probably my parents put me on a boat before then.

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
Soto 40

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
Qualifying for the Olympic Games.

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
In Chile we don’t name our boats, but I will find a story to put a name on my Australian boat.

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

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Camping and trekking.

Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
Child protection lawyer.

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

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
All the books of Dan Brown.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know?
My father is from Spain and my mother from Chile, and they met at the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992.

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Got something to say?

Thank you to the members who are sending through information for the newsletter.

If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to newsletter@dbsc.com.au by midnight Monday.

Race report 16 April 2022

RACE REPORT SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2022

On Saturday the club held the last of its LTR sessions led by Martin White and ably assisted by Pat Levy, Steven London and Peter Collie.

With the breeze from the west dying at lunchtime, racers stayed back in the clubhouse for an extra half an hour after the briefing, enjoying toasties made by Rod Barnes, Jules Hall and Tim Heath. In Shirley and Paul’s absence, it’s rumoured that a rogue jar of jalapeno peppers made it into the mix (someone has been reading the 60 seconds segment).

Once the breeze began to fill in again, attendees headed out the club’s inaugural Easter Hunt, designed by Rod Barnes, in what can only be described as a “light but hopeful east-nor-easter” or “better than rain’. Facilitated by PRO Justin Davey, LTRAR Finn Kirk, COTD John Conroy on the Jazzman and Co-COTD John Vasey accompanied by LTR enthusiast Amanda, the handicap countdown got away shortly after 14:30.

Pia Hattersley was first to start and, with a dying breeze (again) and plenty of desperate tactics in the fleet, was uncatchable. Congratulations to our inaugural Easter Hunt Champion!!!

Many thanks to all who attended and made this a fun day. Perhaps next year the event designers can include some Easter eggs at the marks?

This Saturday the club will be hosting sprint races in light of the school holidays.

Gear for Sale

Mark Bethwaite has some sailing gear for sale at a fraction of new prices!

He has:

• 3 hiking pants

• 3 pairs sailing boots

• 5 life jackets

• 5 wet suit tops

Plus a bunch of freebies - overvests, sail bags, rash suits, etc.

 Phone Mark on 0419 934 860 and/or inspect on the deck after racing on Sat 23 April if you are interested.

Race report 09 April 2022

On a rare sunny Saturday (for this year at least), the club held ocean pointscore races 9 & 10 in a fading ENE breeze. Our on water team was forced to shorten and then shorten again the second race, with some noting they missed their opportunity to catch up on the final lap!

Racing was managed by PRO Geoff Kirk, LTRAR Tim Heath assisted by COTD Kate McHugh and CoCOTD Pia Hattersley. Driving the sandwich presses with Shirley and Paul were John Verco and Jim Dounis. 

In the standard rigs, 215000 (sorry, I don’t know your name and you need to update it in the results/sign on sheet as well) and Jason Wilkins were race winners and in the radial rigs, Pat Levy and Ian Tudball were victorious.

Full results are available on the website.

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This weekend

This Saturday is Easter Saturday, and the club will host an Easter hunt with a difference.

The course will be:
>> Yellow YA mark to east of Bradleys Head – starboard rounding
>> Wedding Cake east - port rounding
>> Yellow YA mark off Washaway Beach (Nudist Beach) – starboard rounding
>> Wedding Cake east - starboard rounding
>> DBSC finish line

 Please note the yellow YA marks must be rounded to starboard (right hand turns)!

There will be support boats accompanying the fleet crossing the sound.

The intention is to run a handicapped start, with your handicap provided on the day.