Member survey results - community

From our Commodore, Steven London

This is the second of 6 weekly instalments playing back the findings and insights of the Membership survey we ran earlier this year.

100% of respondents told us that the club community was ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important - with this comment from one member summing up that sentiment, “I also observe excellent camaraderie between sailors, particularly on the deck after racing, and that more than anything else is the spirit of DBSC.”

We also asked you about more specific social activities we hold throughout the year - including the Annual General Party, the Christmas Party, Club Championship BBQs, Regatta weekend aways, Season Open Dinner, club picnic, ski weekend, family and friends day, and general inclusiveness.

Skiing weekends rated very little interest across the board…  showing a single-minded focus on sailing!

There was reasonable interest in the Season Opening Dinner, club picnic, and to a lesser extent, family and friends day - with the majority saying they were ‘somewhat interested’’ to ‘interested’.

Regatta weekends away were more polarizing - with 55% of respondents saying they were 'very' or 'extremely' interested, whilst the rest were not interested.

We have instigated bring a Family Member along to the Club Championship BBQs, and as always, we encourage members to bring a Guest to the Christmas Party.

The Annual General Party, Christmas Party and Club Championship BBQs were the real winners though, reflected in the great turn-out we get for these events.

This year, the Christmas Party is being held at the club on Saturday 10 December in the afternoon and evening, after the Tyrell and Rousso races - A full day of racing fun, and club socialising… if you haven’t RSVPed to the party, please do so HERE!

Upcoming events and more information

Saturday 26 November – Women’s Regatta Training: Race (Starts); Club championships

Saturday 3 December 2022: The Women’s Regatta. Sign up for more information here.

Saturday 10 December 2022: Tyrell and Rousso races; Christmas Party. RSVP and information here.

The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.

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.

View results here.

Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Race report 12 November 2022

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From our PRO Mike Dunne…

Sydney harbour rarely fails to deliver.  Always amazing views, majestic vessels, and brilliant sunshine.  Saturday was no exception.  There was a good showing in both fleets and everyone behaved well in both starts, it was noted the 2nd race in particular the fleets were well behind the line at the horn, this was put down to the outgoing tide.  Interesting to consider.  

Race 1..  Start was about right for the conditions for the radials with an oscillating SE 6-8 knots breeze. The radial fleet was somewhat becalmed at the top mark, as the wind shifted to the south during the standard fleet start sequence.  The racing while still fierce, before the end of the race both fleets crossed the line together.  Jim Dounis (LTRAR) did an amazing job with sorting out and tracking the finishers.

Between the races, it was decided to reset the course to the South. During the transition the wind reverted to the SE.  So everything was put back, eventually.  Thanks everyone for their efforts and for the patience of the sailors.

Race 2..  Racing was competitive and tight across both fleets, with tight finishes from the elite at the front to the new comers, with the usual suspects performing well.  

The on water team of Jim Dounis, Rob Bruce (COTD) and Ian Tudball (Co-COTD) worked tirelessly to move the marks and set the course and really deserved that end of day beer.

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Thanks to Paul and Shirley with Mark Lewkovitz and Peter D'Arcy-King for manning the toasties.

View results all here.

This coming weekend we will be racing Club Championship races 5 & 6. The club’s calendar can be subscribed to here (strongly recommended).

The Women’s Regatta training

From Tory Epworth…

The women were out in force last Saturday morning for the second of three coaching sessions with Sylvie Stannage - in the lead up to The Women's Regatta on 3 December. 

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We had a wonderfully diverse group with representation from DBSC of course, plus sailors from Hunters Hill, Woollahra, RSYS, Connells Point. It was a delight to chat to some of the younger girls such as Alice, Charlotte, Sara, and Alice who we're seeing regularly now at DBSC - the next generation!!! 

The focus of Saturday's clinic was downwind technique. Sylvie shared some real gems in her briefing, delivered in a style that's always engaging and accessible even to beginners like me.

Light winds, but a beautiful day... and a great chance to meet other chicks ahead of the Women's Regatta in a few weeks. Big thanks to Diana, Richard Holstein, Ian Tudball, Scott Hunter, and Steven London who supported and looked after our guests so well!

More volunteers needed for The Women's Regatta

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered so far. We still need MORE volunteers for The Women’s Regatta!

As a club we are committed to increasing female participation in sailing, and events like The Women's Regatta encourage female sailors from Sydney and beyond to come together and celebrate their ability, resilience, and love of sailing. 

In order for this to be a standout event, we need all the help we can get from members who aren’t sailing. Please let us know if you are available on Saturday 3rd December for tasks on and off the water. These include, but are not limited to race management, course setting, RIB driving & race support, boat prep & rigging, boat launch & retrieval, parking, and canteen.

Please ensure you email womensregatta@dbsc.com.au by this Friday 11 Nov to let us know your availability so that we can schedule in the tasks. Events like this are important initiatives for the club and your support is much appreciated 🙏🏼

Sailor sign-on success

Thank you to all members for supporting this initiative to sign on every Saturday before racing. This helps our volunteers with on water race management and scoring. If anyone needs help with the app or to change your sail number please email Results or see the Q&A on DBSC web site HERE.

18s RIB support needed this Sunday 20 November

We need a RIB driver volunteer to help this coming Sunday 20 November, 1-5pm. Please contact the Commodore if you can help, or put your name down in this Google sheet HERE.

A big thank you to all those members who have already volunteered helping out on Sundays with RIB support  (John Vasey, Richard Holstein, Darryl Lawrence, Chris Tattersall), and those who have supported on Sundays in the canteen (Paul and Shirley, Clare Alexander, Christine Patton, Mike Dunne, John Verco, Richard Au, Kim Ketelby).

Member survey results - racing

From our Commodore, Steven London…

This will be the first of 6 weekly instalments playing back the findings and insights of the Membership survey we ran earlier this year.

Unsurprisingly, 96% of members rated ‘racing’ as very or extremely important. 

We also asked you about more specific elements of racing - including race management, fleet competitiveness, fleet size, twilight sailing, winter racing series, and a potential ‘green fleet’... And this is what you told us:

• ·The introduction of a ‘green fleet’ was generally not supported, with the majority saying they had no strong feeling either way.

• There was good interest in twilight sailing, and to a lesser extent, the winter racing series… with the majority of respondents saying they were ‘interested’ or ‘very interested’.

• Race Management, Fleet Competitiveness and Fleet Size - are what really matters to our members - and where our focus should be.

• With regard to race management, volunteers found it difficult and sometimes stressful getting all the finishing times and numbers recorded. It’s also quite a task each week for our handicapper Daryl, who had to interpret numbers recorded against members to create accurate results sheets.

So one of the first actions committee has taken is in regard to race management, with the trial of the ‘sailor’ app for sign on which we introduced in the last few weeks.

By introducing sign-on via the app, we’ve already begun to streamline race reporting, allowing us to record all sailors entering a race. Our intention is to continue using the app and introduce its use as an on-water tool for the PRO to record race finishes in real time - which will eventually allow for results to be published soon after racing is complete. We will be providing demos to PROs and the race management team over the coming months.

Keep the clubhouse tidy

There will be many events at the club over the next few weeks including The Women's Regatta and the DBSC Christmas Party.

We ask that all members remove any personal belongings from the changerooms and any common areas at your earliest convenience in order to maintain a tidy clubhouse for all to enjoy.

Anything left by 27 November will either be recycled or donated.

Christmas Party - 10 December

The club Christmas Party will be held on Saturday 10 December from 5:30pm, after the Tyrrell and Rousso races. Please RSVP here if you will be attending, to help with catering and preparations. More details to come.