WHAT'S GOING ON

2025 Austrlian ILCA Masters Championships, Westernport Yacht Club in Victoria

• 21 – 24 February 2025 at Balnarring Beach, Victoria

• Notice of Race

• Entry

CLub Look-ahead Schedule

• Wednesday 5 February: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

• Thursday 6 February: Twilight Racing (5pm splash, Racing 5:30pm to 7:30pm)

• Saturday 8 February: Sprint Racing (Sail GP Weekend, so 1pm start)

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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 25 January 2025

Sprint Racing

All photos by David Da Costa Enes

PRO Alistair Sutherland reports:

The Australia Day long weekend saw sprint races scheduled for DBSC with Alistair, John, David and Andrew on race management duties. We found lots of sun and a fickle 10 knot breeze that couldn't quite decide if it wanted to settle in the east or flick northeast. We hedged our bets and laid a windward leeward east-northeast course with enough length to target 20 minutes for the two laps. After a motivational chat with an ILCA gold medalist, the fleet emerged to find a very short line for the 36 plus boats, even with the ILCA7s giving the ILCA6s and ILCA4s a sporting one-minute head start. And that often proved to be nothing more than a token gift as the full rigs used all their brute power to swat through the chop and mercilessly mow down the under-canvassed targets in front of them. Managing congestion became the name of the game which should prove handy practice for the 30-odd club members heading to the NSW State Masters this weekend, where fleets of 60+ boats should result in plenty of boat-on-boat action.

We managed to get through 5 races in ideal conditions. Getting to the right-hand side of the course at the correct time was a winning strategy in the early rounds, but as the breeze increased to the 12 to 14 knot range, we saw large left shifts beginning to pay. Sylvie was as usual regularly to be found at the front of the Radial fleet, but she didn't have it all her own way. Roberto took out two excellent victories by some margin, and Kate found herself leading after the first lap on several occasions. Despite having the smallest rig of the day, Isabella hung in to finish all the races on her 4.7. Julian, Campbell and Zander had a three-way tussle at the front of the full rigs, with Luke pushing them all the way in a few races.

Olympic Gold Medalist - Lily Xu - visits DBSC

DBSC sailors were treated to a visit from Olympic medalist Lijia (Lily) Xu. Lily won Gold for China in 2012 (London Olympics), and before that, bronze in 2008 (Beijing Olympics) amongst many other accolades racing in ILCA 6 Radials. She’s currently visiting Sydney to enjoy some warm weather and checkout all that our Harbour has to offer! We welcome Lily and her husband Jon Emmitt (Worlds Masters ILCA 6 Champ) to join us again on 8 February.

Harbour Marathon - Saturday 1 February 2025

90 Years of 18 Footers in Double Bay

On Saturday 1 February 2025 instead of Club racing, DBSC Laser sailors are invited to help celebrate 90 years of 18-Footer Skiffs in Double Bay.
The 90th Anniversary Harbour Marathon is going to be a day full of excitement, history, and incredible competition.
Register Now and be part of this historic event!
ILCA sailors registering should choose the “Single Hand Boat” category at $20 (Includes a drink and food Voucher after the race)
ILCA Lasers will have a small craft Warning signal at 1:55pm and 2pm Start and the winners calculated on yardstick.
The expectation is for the last boat to be finished by 5pm
The Marquee will be in Steyne Park with music and a bar and food going until 8pm
Sailing Instructions HERE (with Map and Harbour Marks)

• $5,000 Prize Money

• Food, Drinks, & Live Music: After the race, enjoy delicious food, cold drinks, and live tunes by the water at Double Bay.

A day for sailors, past and present, as well as our incredible supporters, to come together and make history as we celebrate it. Whether you’re racing or soaking in the atmosphere, it’s an event you won’t want to miss!

More details and Registration on the 18 Footers website HERE

WHAT'S GOING ON

2025 NSW & ACT State Masters - Lake MacQuarie

• February 1st & 2nd at South Lake Macquarie ASC at Sunshine, NSW

• Notice of Race

• Entry

CLub Look-ahead Schedule

• Wednesday 29 January: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

  • Wednesday Masters Squad Training for those who have signed up (4:30-9pm)

• Thursday 30 January: Twilight Racing (5pm splash, Racing 5:30pm to 7:30pm)

• Saturday 1 February: Harbour Marathon - 90 Years of 18 Footers

  • Laser have a 13:55 first warning and 2pm start - Sailing Instructions HERE

  • Cost is $20 for laser sailors. Registration Required - Deadline for signing up HERE is 30 January at 17:00.

• Wednesday 5 February: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

• Thursday 6 February: Twilight Racing (5pm splash, Racing 5:30pm to 7:30pm)

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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 18 January 2025

Autumn Point Score, Races 3 & 4

Photos by John Sweeny and Richard McLachlan

PRO David Airey reports:

Saturday dawned with strong winds gusting to 40 knots, and it looked like the PRO's job was going to be to cancel the racing. However, on arriving at the club the wind had abated, and we set the course in steady winds from the south at less than 15 knots. At the briefing I suggested that the winds were less than the forecast 20-25 knots and it would be pleasant sailing.

Once we anchored the Jazzman, the sky cleared and the wind picked up to a challenging 15 to 25 knot gusty southerly that continued throughout the racing. Initially, 31 sailors made it to the start of the first race, but multiple capsizes were order of the day with many not making it to the end of that race. The conditions were mastered by Sylvie Stannage in the Radials and Dave Newman in the Standards who each led from start to finish in both races. Point Score winners were Roberto Blum in both races in the Radials and Dave Newman in both races in the Standards but in a tie with Yves Stenning in the first race.

Thanks to the on-water team of Justin Davey on the Jazzman and John Sweeny, Robert Bruce, Richard McLachlan and Lucy who crewed the RIBs and ensured all returned safely to shore with war stories to tell.

Harbour Marathon - 90 Years of 18 Footers in Double Bay

On Saturday 1 February 2025 DBSC Laser sailors are invited to help celebrate 90 years of 18-Footer Skiffs in Double Bay. The 90th Anniversary Harbour Marathon is going to be a day full of excitement, history, and incredible competition.
Register Now and be part of this historic event!

ILCA Lasers will have a small craft start and the winners calculated on yardstick.

What’s in Store?

• Epic Race Around Sydney Harbour starting 2pm: Join us for a thrilling marathon on one of the world’s most iconic harbours. All skiff classes are welcome! (and Lasers!)

• $5,000 Prize Money

• Food, Drinks, & Live Music: After the race, enjoy delicious food, cold drinks, and live tunes by the water at Double Bay.

A day for sailors, past and present, as well as our incredible supporters, to come together and make history as we celebrate it. Whether you’re racing or soaking in the atmosphere, it’s an event you won’t want to miss!

More details and NOR and SI to be available shortly on the 18 Footers Website Here

WHAT'S GOING ON

2025 NSW & ACT State Masters - Lake MacQuarie

• February 1st & 2nd at South Lake Macquarie ASC at Sunshine, NSW

• Notice of Race

• Entry

CLub Look-ahead Schedule

• Wednesday 22 January: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

  • Wednesday Masters Squad Training for those who have signed up (4:30-9pm)

• Thursday 23 January Twilight Racing starts again: (5pm splash, Racing 5:30pm to 7:30pm)

  • CLICK HERE to Book for the Thursday Coaching

• Saturday 25 January: Sprint Racing (1:00pm briefing, 2:00pm warning)

  • Sprints due to the Australia Day Weekend

• Wednesday 29 January: Twilight Sailing (5:00pm-ish splash, sailing ‘til 7:00pm)

  • Wednesday Masters Squad Training for those who have signed up (4:30-9pm)

• Thursday 30 January: Twilight Racing (5pm splash, Racing 5:30pm to 7:30pm)

• Saturday 1 February: Harbour Marathon - 90 Years of 18 Footers

  • Laser start times to come later in the week when the NOR and SI’s are published

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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 11 January 2025

All photos by Steven London

Autumn Point Score, Races 1 & 2

Steven London (PRO) Reports:

After initial Sydney forecast of “possible thunderstorms” about 30 sailors were excited to find a sun-drenched Harbour, with clouds both offshore and over the West causing the East-Nor-East 10-15knt breeze to shift from left to right. Our course was laid with precision as ENE by CotD Murray Stone, LtraR Tim Heath, and Co-CotD Jeremy Vives, with the top mark South of Shark Island, the bottom mark in Double Bay (off Clark Island), leaving the wing mark just out of the shipping channel, which had plenty of room for the 15:00 incoming Tanker to pass Bradley’s Head without effecting our course. (Now that the KFC clear water mark has been removed).

Both Radial and Standard fleets were well behaved with clear starts all round, helped by the incoming tide. The top mark off shark island, had the course divided into NE shifts and East shifts bending around the island at times, picking the wrong side of the course or accepting a knock for too long could ruin your day! Stellar performances by Scott Hunter who was first to the finish both races in the Radials, and Connor Kellett taking both in the Standards! Some great performances and mini-battles especially as they approached the finish.

Winners on handicap are:

Race 1
Radial: Quinn Pierson
Standard: Stephen Reid

Race 2 
Radial: David Airey
Standard: Stephen Reid

Thank you to Monday's Ramp Volunteers!

On behalf of the club, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the group of key volunteers who gave up their time last Monday (and on other occasions over the season) to carry out some overdue safety cleaning of the Ramps and Northern deck stairs, and generally helping to keep the club and workshop tidy:

Pat Levy, John Vasey, Peter Collie, Jim Dounis.

The moss is growing very quickly this season on the new ramps, and they need regular maintenance. Many pieces of rocks, glass and oysters were removed from the ramps, beach and stairs at low tide, after being exposed by the recent rain events which has move the sand around.

If you see hazards around the club, let us know - better still - arrange for the hazard to be resolved with other volunteers.

Thank you, The Commodore.