RACE REPORT - SATURDAY 14 September 2024

SPRING POINT SCORE Races 1 & 2

By Murray Stone

Last Saturday saw a magnificent start to the 2024 Spring Pointscore series with the weather gods giving their blessing and delivering blue skies, a pleasant 22 degrees and a relatively consistent 10 knot north north easterly - a pleasant surprise given the harbour was looking like glass during the morning's Learn to Race session. The forecasted afternoon 6 knot northwesterly and late shift into the south west didn't eventuate, much to the delight of the fleet of around 40 sailors.

Both the Radial and Standard fleets got away without troubling the starter on a course accommodating the northerly gradient in the breeze. The wing mark was set not far off Clark Island and while this resulted in a deep first reach, it made for a tight bottom reach with most sailors working the leg and enjoying some good rides in the lighter conditions.  

Healy Ryan took line honours in the first race in the Radials with Pia Hattersley getting the time adjusted victory. Campbell Patton took fastest time in the standard fleet with Peter D'arcy King winning on adjusted time.

A few minor tweaks were made to the course in the Race 2 and both fleets again got away cleanly despite a lapse in concentration by the starter that saw a quick hoist of the AP flag after missing the 4-minute signal was missed in the Radial sequence.

As that race progressed, the breeze seemed to fill in slightly and shift a little to the east, with the near perfect conditions continuing through the afternoon.

In the end, Healy and Sylvie Stannage could not be separated crossing the finish line for the Radials and a dead heat was declared.  Roberto Blum had a solid race and took the honours on adjusted time.  Campbell continued his form again taking line honours in the Standards, while Andrew Foote took first place on handicap following a podium finish in Race 1, seeing him take a strong position early in the series.

Thanks to Murray, Omer, Kerryn and Quinn, along with guest Charles for running the races, and to Peter D'Arcy King and Jason Wilkins for their help in the canteen.

Waiting for the breeze to filter in... Photo by Murray Stone.

Annual Member Competency Training

Please save the morning of Saturday, 19 October for our annual competency training. Attendance is expected of all on-water members and volunteers, and is an opportunity to discuss and refresh our skills in:

How to run a race

• how to run a race correctly, efficiently and safely, by Andrew Cox

• essential for COTD/ PRO duty

How to use DBSC equipment

• how to correctly use all the various bits of DBSC equipment, led by Pat Levy

• using the davits safely, avoiding breaking the RIBs or the Jazzman, avoid losing anchors, how to use the radio safely, and how generally to avoid getting booked by Maritime. Great timing as a new RIB is on its way:)

How to save people

• Emergency, rescue and first aid, conducted by David Murphy

• includes an annual refresher on rescue techniques, CPR, defibrillator use and bonus chats on shark-bites and DBSC child-safety.

In advance of this, kindly familiarise/ re-familiarise yourself with the policies and training materials available on the DBSC website. Maybe start with some of our training videos.

Times and further details will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

- David Murphy

Canteen Duty Changes

After consultation with our Canteen Captain Paul Adam, we are changing the timing for canteen volunteering beginning this weekend. There will still be two members rostered on each week during the Spring/Autumn seasons, but the first duty will now commence at 11am for an hour, and the second at 12 midday for an hour. This will mean that Paul and Shirley have more assistance during the busiest sandwich-making time prior to to the pre-race briefing at 1pm. The second volunteer may choose to partially rig prior to their duty to allow plenty of time to get out to the course.

Note that the CoCTOD may be called upon by Paul earlier in the morning to assist with restocking the canteen, e.g. to shift a couple of boxes.

- Tim Heath

WHAT'S GOING ON

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Saturday 21 September

  • Club Championship Races 3 & 4 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

    • Brett Beyer Saturday Program (BBSP)

  • BBQ on the Deck after racing

• Saturday 28 September

  • Learn-to-Race: 9am

  • Spring Point Score Races 3 & 4 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

    • BBSP

• Saturday 5 October (Labour Day October Long Weekend)

  • Sprint Racing (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

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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 Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

RACE REPORT - SATURDAY 7 September 2024

Photos by Justine Scott

Club Championship Races 1 & 2

By David Huber (LtraR)

The first serious race of the season and we start with the first championship round.  A beautiful day on to be on the harbour.  It started out sunny but then became overcast.  A breeze out of the south-east gradually turning slightly east particularly later in the day.  The course was set in the Dardenelles without too much competition from the Etchelles (apart from one entanglement).  Only one general recall (for the over-enthusiastic Standard fleet)  The breeze started at around 10kts and built slightly to gusts of 12-15kts and relatively steady.  Gusts came through in the centre of the course and it seemed that going too far either side spelt trouble.  The Radials had a master (mistress?) class from Sylvie who won by large margins in both races.

Congratulations to Sylvie Stanage, Healy Ryan, Alistair Sutherland, Sara Bruce, Roberto Blum and Miles Greenwood in the Radials.  In the Standards Campbell Patton, Luke Parker, James Tudball and Daniel Costandi.

Thank you to the PRO Mike Dunn, COTD Charles Byford, CoCOTD Justine Scott for a great course and race organisation, and Robert Bruce on the RIB reserve.

Championship BBQ on the Deck

After sailing we were treated to a BBQ on the deck cooked by Pat Levy. A huge thankyou to Shirley Roach and Hannah Stone for putting it all together (Paul was unable to be there on the day but had prepared stewed rhubarb and cream for desert. What a treat!

Learn-to-Race this Saturday

Reminder from our volunteer coach Martin White that Learn to Race (Lasers) at Double Bay Sailing Club is on this Saturday morning, 14 September, commencing at 9am.

LTR is for genuine prospective new members – a ‘try before you join’ arrangement. Also current members wishing to develop their sailing skills. This year we hold LTR on the second and forth Saturday morning of each month during our main sailing season (i.e. Sept-April) from 9am to 12 noon.

Requirements: basic helming ability, ideally in dinghies. We are squad-based and one-on-one coaching time is very limited, so this is also a safety requirement.

Our coaching team consists of experienced and friendly Laser sailors with the skills and knowledge to help you improve your sailing skills.

Boat hire is $30 per session payable on the day. No charge for assistance and coaching.  

Please complete these forms by this Friday if you have not yet done so:
https://www.dbsc.com.au/learn-to-race

Free Temporary Sailpass is required for non members: 
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/doublebaysc/registration/

Members and non-members: please advise Martin by this Friday if you are planning to attend so he can allocate boats and support volunteers email: LTR@dbsc.com.au

WHAT'S GOING ON

Annual Member Competency Training Morning

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday 19 October 2024 from 9am - 12pm before racing.
We are asking ALL members to plan to attend our annual Competency Training on the morning of Saturday, 23 November.
No matter how experienced you are, your attendance is required. There will be 3 stations based around Safety and Frist Aid, Race Management and Club Gear (laying marks, anchors, ribs, davits, radios)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Saturday 14 September

  • Learn-to-Race: 9am

  • Spring Point Score Races 1 & 2 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

    • Brett Beyer Saturday Program (BBSP)

• Saturday 21 September

  • Club Championship Races 3 & 4 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

    • BBSP

  • BBQ on the Deck after racing

• Saturday 28 September

  • Learn-to-Race: 9am

  • Spring Point Score Races 3 & 4 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

    • BBSP

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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 Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Season Opening Dinner - Sailors & Volunteers 2024

(Photos Peter Collie)

Double Bay Sailors and Volunteers got dolled up for a smashing night out with a bit of knees up at the Lord Dudley last Friday. All our favorite British Icons came out of the woodwork to shake off the winter blues and celebrate the traditional opening of the sailing season.

We were chuffed to bits to catchup for a chinwag, eating the scrummy pub fare, listening to classic British tunes (cheers Tuddy Elton), when our favorite football hooligan got up and hosted a pub quiz! (Ta muchly Master Pellow it certainly hit the back of the net!).

Right so, we crack on talking poppycock till the wee small hours, shootin pool till we were snookered by our very own secretary. And then blimey before you know it we were cream crackered and almost three sheets to the wind when we hit the frog and toad.

Cheers! And look forward to seeing everyone at our first Summer Championship Series race this Saturday.

- The Gaffer

Brett Beyer Saturday Program 2024

LAST CHANCE - Sign up today - CLICK HERE

We are delighted to announce that Brett Beyer will offer his popular Brett Beyer Saturday Program (BBSP) this season at DBSC. 
Brett is an Olympic coach and 15-time Laser Masters World Champion.
There will be 8 Saturday sessions from September to December:

7 September, 14 September, 21 September, 28 September, 19 October, 2 November, 9 November, 21 December.

The cost of the program is $600 (plus merchant fees) per subscriber. We need at least 20 subscribers to proceed. The terms of the program and sign-up form can be found here.

BBSP subscribers will carry a GPS during each race (and a program bib), and will later receive a report and animation showing their GPS tracks vs the fleet, together with fleet-level commentary on each leg, and also a video with commentary of the starts. Subscribers will have access to Brett to ask questions on the water before and after each race (not during the races), and can also later ask questions on the weekly report.

WHAT'S GOING ON

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Saturday 7 September is DBSC Spring Season Opening Day

  • Club Championship Races 1 & 2 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

  • BBQ on the Deck after racing

• Saturday 14 September

  • Learn-to-Race: 9am

  • Spring Point Score Races 1 & 2 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

• Saturday 21 September

  • Club Championship Races 3 & 4 (1pm briefing, 2pm first warning)

  • BBQ on the Deck after racing

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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 Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.