79 Bay St
Double Bay NSW 2028
Australia

The best ILCA / Laser sailing club in the world, located in Double Bay on Sydney Harbour.

News

Race report 29 May 2022

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Our PRO on the day, Christine Patton, reports:

After a series of wet Sunday mornings in this Winter Championship Sunday dawned dry and relatively warm with a gentle Westerly (with a touch of South) breeze already blowing.    All pretty much predicted by Richard George in last week’s report.

Three clean races got off without recall or restart in a steady 14 knot oscillating wind gusting to 18 knots.

Firstly, hats off to the newer and/or rusty sailors who joined the fleet today.   The day started as a perfect day for such sailors but by the end of the day we saw several white laser bottoms around the bay, but everyone persisted, including a very wet David Evenden determined to finish the last race.  Thanks to Richard Au and Owen Kenny in the RIB keeping the course square and the sailors safe.

In the Standard rigs Alex Bijkerk clinched the day with 2 out of 3 wins despite carving up the dance floor on Saturday, with Daniel Costandi taking the final win of the day, showing us how to hike a boat flat (see photo) in puffy shifty conditions. Rob Vann was a consistent third in that pack. 

Sylvie Stannage won the day but was challenged in the second race by Ian Alexander who is loving the Radial sail!  Andrew Cox (photo) improved all day to take a second in Race 3 where Evie Saunders, in her first showing of the winter sailed away to a convincing lead.

The Jazzman played host to the happy team of Christine Patton and Jason Wilkin ably assisted by scribe Ben Buford (Charley’s Dad) who enjoyed the morning. The highlight was the entertainment provided by Martin White in the third race who capsized in spectacular form at the leeward mark, stayed capsized for some time, retired then went back to practice rounding the same mark several times.  All of that to say ‘Good sailing’ to our Masters group who are off to Mexico next week to race in the Masters Worlds.  

 

Full results for both series are available on our website.

And a big thanks also to Paul Adam, who made a delicious soup, which warmed everyone up after a windy and brisk morning.

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Vollies of the week!

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Double Bay Sailing Club is managed and run entirely by volunteers. As the saying goes, “many hands make light work. There is always work to be done in the upkeep of our shed and the ongoing running of dinghy racing.

This week we’d like to thank all of the volunteers who assisted Diana with the set up and pack up of the AGP! It wouldn’t happen without this effort.

The club is full of people making wonderful contributions around the place, and sometimes behind the scenes. Let us know who deserves a mention!

If you would like to volunteer for a task at the club, please contact Kirk Marcolina, to discuss how best you can become involved.

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Oh, what a night!

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On Friday the club held our annual general party.

Proceedings began with the Annual General Meeting, the last under Commodore Cox! Andrew has served on the club’s committee for the past ten years – five as treasurer and five as commodore.

In his farewell speech, he reflected upon the successes and strategy for the club over the past five years, which included on the key elements that drive our success.

Andrew left the club with four requests for owners

  1. Read and respond - if you’re reading this newsletter, you’ve passed the first test!

  2. Act like an owner – the club belongs to all of us, and we should behave that way

  3. Volunteer to volunteer – we need all of your help (contact Kirk Marcolina to volunteer

  4. Engage, engage, engage – it takes all of us to be the world’s best laser club!

Andrew thanked the club, its members and volunteers and for their support, and acknowledged his fellow committee members that served during his time as Commodore, noting it had been a pleasure and honour to work with them, and thanking them for their tireless commitment, excellent ideas, considered debate, wise counsel, and moral support.

Commodore Cox finished the meeting with a smile on his face, having taken a clean sweep of the Winter Championship and the summer Masters Club Championship.

Following the formalities and prizegiving members were moved on to the party with awesome pies, salads, and drinks. A special thanks to Diana Chen for organising the festivities before her early morning boarding to London the next day, and to James Tudball and The White Tree for providing the band.

As a special treat, those who kicked on witnessed awesome cameos by Dene Bergman leading Piano Man on harmonica and Isabelle Wilkins showing off her incredible voice with Valerie – they brought the house down!

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2021/2022 Prizewinners

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Before we get to the season’s racing trophies, a special mention goes to our Life Member, Peter Collie, and this year’s Club Person of the Year, Rod Barnes.

Peter Collie has been a member for 20 years and can only be described as a fantastic club person. He has been on the Club Committee for much of that time and has been active across all facets of club life, including our social functions, our trophies and prizes, our clubhouse tidying and upkeep, our club’s official photography, and the hire of our club which this year generated $15k of income for the club – our third largest revenue stream after memberships and grants. 

Rod Barnes is an outstanding contributor to the club. He is central to the huge amount of work that is required to keep all our infrastructure in tip top condition. He person cracked the code on something we have been considering how to do for years and is now finally done via an ingenious solution – the boat hoist.  Rod has changed the experience for us all at away regattas, booking the best accommodation, coordinating our transport, and building massive team spirit. Rod has also taken over from Emily Ball, who did an amazing job getting our boat ramps approved and is now project managing that rather large project as it advances to imminent construction.  Finally, Rod has agreed, to take on the role of Vice-Commodore at DBSC.

Congratulations to all of the prize winners for the season:

2021-22 Club Champion
Laser Standard
Ron Young Trophy
Daniel Costandi

2021-22 Club Champion
Laser Radial
Sally Gordon Trophy
James Tudball

2021-22 Masters Club Champion
Laser Standard
Don Roach Trophy
Rod Barnes

2021-22 Masters Club Champion
Laser Radial
Don Roach Trophy
Andrew Cox

2021-22 Spring Point Score Winner
Laser Standard
Mike Dunne

2021-22 Autumn Point Score Winner
Laser Standard
Jason Wilkins

2021-22 Spring Point Score Winner
Laser Radial / 4.7
Alistair Sutherland

2021-22 Autumn Point Score Winner
Laser Radial / 4.7
Quentin Burns

2021-22 Winter Champion
Laser Standard
David Newman

2021-22 Winter Champion
Laser Radial
Andrew Cox

2021-22 Richard Tyrrell Trophy
Mike Dunne

2021-22 Mano Rousso Trophy
Luke Parker

2021-22 Vaucluse Challenge Champion
Laser Standard
Dene Bergman Trophy
Rob Vann

2021-22 Vaucluse Challenge Champion
Laser Radial
Graham Read Trophy
Sylvie Stannage

2021-22 Best Club Person
John Barraclough Award
Rod Barnes

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2022/2023 Committee

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The following officer bearers were elected unopposed at the Annual General Meeting:

Commodore – Steven London
Vice Commodore – Rod Barnes
Rear Commodore – Pat Levy
Secretary – Tory Epworth
Treasurer – Justin Davey
Canteen Captain – Paul Adam
Property – Rod Barnes
Social Secretary – Peter Collie
Marketing & Communications – Diana Chen
Handicapper – Daryl Lawrence
Learn to Race – Martin White
Newsletter Editor – Katie McHugh
CTO – Nick Pellow
Safety & Training Officer – David Murphy
Volunteer Coordinator – Kirk Marcolina
Special Projects Coordinator – Mark Crowhurst

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60 seconds with Trevor Potts

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The club has welcomed another new member this week – Trevor Potts. Get the conversation going when you see him with these interesting tidbits…

How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?
Six (that I can remember!)

If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?
40-50ft Leisure Sailboat

What is your ultimate sailing goal?
Sail around the Med and maybe back to Australia  

Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?
(yet to purchase)

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

What are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)?
Triathlons & Surfing

Describe what you do for work in less than five words?
Build and maintain Telecommunications infrastructure

What is the first international destination you will travel to (once we're allowed) and why?
New Zealand, Snowboarding

What is your favourite TV show, movie, and/or book?
Top Gun (original) 

Tell us something interesting about yourself that members of the club don’t know? 
Last year I paddled a kayak across Bass Strait.

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Tip of the week

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Former Commodore and international man of mystery, Luke Parker has recently volunteered to provide a tip of the week segment.

As many of you know, Luke is currently travelling, and has sent in these booties pictured at Burberry at the airport. We can’t wait to see if these little booties make Luke hike harder!

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Race report 22 May 2022

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Photo: Bow Caddy Media

Our LTRAR on the day, Richard George, reports:

Despite some political partying the night before around 30 boats took to the water for races 7 and 8 of the winter series. Taking its cue from the political events of the previous day the wind swung ninety degrees during the morning, but at least there was a breeze unlike the previous week. 

The necessary course changes were affected most efficiently by Ian Alexander as PRO and Rob Vann CTOD and his able assistant Ben (Charlie’s dad from the Alfred’s at Pittwater).

There were a few especially memorable moments during the morning, a couple of which are pictured below.

We admire ambition at DBSC, and calling “starboard” on this TP52 was certainly ambitious!
Photo: Richard George

Interestingly the DBSC start line was directly upwind of the start of a TP52 regatta and it appeared that the starters’ minds in both races were in sync as the two classes headed up the harbour in a westerly breeze together.  Fortunately, the TP52 made it across.  A delay of 30 seconds would have been more interesting, a calculation that had not escaped the DBSC starter’s mind as he groped for the AP flag.

 In the radials it was a day that featured the girls, more in pink than teal.  The picture below was from race three in the radials where the distance separating Cote’ and Sylvie was never more than a couple of boat lengths the whole race.

Martin White and Andrew Cox are just out of the frame – j u s t!
Photo: Richard George

Finally, it’s always important to remember just how far you have travelled in a race, especially when you are in front or are on the starters boat.  Geoff Kirk rounded the bottom mark and headed back up wind on starboard in a strong position, possibly leading.  Shortly after he tacked and headed for the starters boat crossing the finishing line and easing sheet.  After considerable soul searching by the starters, it was realised Geoff had a problem – there was another lap to go.  To his credit he finished third.  This LTRAR trainee now writes the number buoys the boats have rounded during the race in progress. 

Next Sunday looks the pick of the week.  Seabreeze forecasting around 15 knots from the west.  Enjoy!

Full results for both series are available on our website.

And a big thanks also to Paul Adam, who made a delicious soup, which warmed everyone up after a cold morning in the rain.

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Volly of the week

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Double Bay Sailing Club is managed and run entirely by volunteers. As the saying goes, “many hands make light work. There is always work to be done in the upkeep of our shed and the ongoing running of dinghy racing.

This week we’d like to thank Ian Alexander, who has removed the slime from the ramps with a gurney in the past week.

Ian has assumed this task as an ongoing responsibility under our distributed volunteer program. Thank you to the many people who have already nominated to take on a task in the club’s long list of duties. If you have yet to do so, can you please contact Kirk Marcolina, to discuss how best you can become involved.

The club is full of people making wonderful contributions around the place, and sometimes behind the scenes. Let us know who deserves a mention!

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