Away Regatta Season Kick-off next weekend

After a tremendously successful Double Bay Regatta (see previous article), the NSW circuit moves on to Gosford next weekend for the NSW/ACT Coast Championships, running from 16-18 October. 

The NSW/ACT Open, Youth & Masters States is on at Wangi 15-16 November. We're supporting regatta logistics with limited availability for trailer spots and also organising share accommodation. If you're looking to participate and need support with either, please email Dave Newman ASAP.

If you're competing at the 2026 Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships at RYCT in Hobart from 1-8 January,  there is a special offer from Sprint of Tasmania for transportation that is valid until 17 October.

And finally, we have the 2026 Australian Masters Championships at Bay SC, Port Stephens on 6-9 February 2026. It will be a not-to-miss event. We'll be coordinating logistics but highly recommend if you intend on competing, get together with some club mates and organise accommodation early as it's already limited.

Regatta Report - 2025 Masters Worlds

Formia, Italy

The ILCA Masters World Championship was a remarkable event with 455 ILCA 6 and 7 sailors from 35 countries racing over 7 days in the azure, calm seas off Formia, in southern Italy. There was an opening ceremony, involving contestants marching behind their country flags to We are the Champions and Chariots of Fire, speeches and the lighting of the flame - though the most memorable moment of the first day was when 455 boats returning from the practice race tried use 4 small ramps when each boat was only able to use their designed numbered dolly.

There were 6 DBSC representatives in the large Australian contingent (second largest after the Italians). L-R: Pat Levi, Kerryn Smith, Rod Barnes, Mike Dunn, Martin White and Scott Finlayson.

The weather throughout the week was rarely over 10 knots, with few opportunities to hike, and on a couple days we spent 5-6 hours mulling around the start line waiting in vain for wind to start racing. Fortunately, on the quiet days, there was lots to do in Formia and the nearby historic town of Gaeta - in particular involving pizza, pasta and Birra Moretti, meeting sailors from many different countries or just exploring the city and beaches. The regional government was very hospitable, and made the sailors feel welcome. 

Despite the light winds, most fleets completed 10 and 11 races over 7 days. There were great results from DBSC sailors, including Martin's 19th in the Great Grand Master ILCA 6 fleet, Pat's 26th in Great Grand Master ILCA 7 fleet and Rod's 37th in the Standard Gold Fleet ILCA 7 (which was won by Brett Beyer - his 18th win). Pat's result was particularly impressive as he normally sails ICLA 6 and had his 70th birthday a few days before the start of the regatta.  

The regatta was the final stage of more than two weeks in Italy – starting with three days training and hospitality on stunning Lake Garda with Italian, American and Canadian sailors and organised by Mark Bethwaite (which Rod covered in an earlier newsletter). Pat, Martin and I had a very entertaining driving tour to southern Italy, stopping at the Ferrari museum in Modena, a memorable night in Bolonga and three days in Perugia (Umbria) before the long drive to Formia. 

Overall, it was an amazing experience that I’ll always remember. Even though a torn meniscus in my knee meant I missed a third of the races and could only sail for one afternoon on Lake Garda, I’m so glad to have made the trip and are keen to do another Worlds. Special thanks to Rod for this organisation skills, Mark for the Lake Garda training, Martin for his counsel, Pat for many things (save for holding shopping bags for Martin and I), Mike for his stories and in particular my housemate Scott.      

 The 2026 World Masters will be held on the Greek Island of Skiathos in June next year – think about it.  

- Kerryn Smith

All photos by Kerryn Smith except where otherwise noted.

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Thursday 16 October: Twilight Racing (5pm splash)

• Saturday & Sunday 18-19 October: 2025 NSW & ACT Coast Champs, Gosford SC

  • NOR

  • Entry

• Saturday 18 October: Sprint Races

  • 1pm Briefing, 2:00pm First warning

• Thursday 23 October: Twilight Racing (5pm splash)

• Saturday 25 October:

  • Learn to Race: 9:00am

  • Spring Point Score Races 5 & 6: 1pm Briefing, 2:00pm 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 4 October 2025

All photos by Geoff Boscoe

SPrint Racing

Twenty-six members wisely chose to spend the Saturday of their October long-weekend at DBSC, resisting the allure of the NSW ski fields and the temptation to visit Perth to watch the Wallabies play the All Blacks (it was raining and the Wallabies lost).  They were rewarded with an afternoon of sprint races on a sparkling Sydney Harbour and a shifty 8-12 knot ESE breeze.

Our youth sailors were missed while they competed up at Toronto, but we welcomed back Scott Finlayson from his World Masters campaign in Italy.  Competitors were powered up by the superb pre-race fuel provided by Kate and Michelle, who filled the large void in the canteen left by Paul and Shirley—a huge thank you!

Five short, sharp sprint races were run.  The tricky breeze and short course kept the racing close, demanding that skippers kept their heads (and brains) out of the boat.

In the ILCA 6 fleet, Sylvie Stannage left everyone else to fight for second place when she was competing. Her excellent performances kept her enthusiastic, on-water fan club entertained, while Alistair Sutherland and David Airey battled hard for the minor placings. Juliun Doumit snatched the final race win, closely followed by Kate McHugh.

The ILCA 7 races were very evenly contested with Murray Stone, Quentin Burns, Conor Kellett and Luke Parker taking turns in claiming line honours.

Thanks to our on-water team of Daryl Lawrence, Patrick Black and Omer Konakci, assisted by your Correspondent, for making it all happen pretty smoothly.

- Geoff Boscoe, PRO

The Double Bay Regatta - This Weekend!

This Saturday! - REgister Now!

This year DBSC will be hosting the inaugural Double Bay Regatta. A day to celebrate Laser racing in Double Bay, it is open to all Laser ILCA sailors.

Three races will be held on this single day event on Saturday, 11th October 2025 in the waters off Double Bay in Sydney Harbour.
Cash Prizes will be awarded to winners in ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 divisions, and the winner of each class will get their name engraved on the Mark Bethwaite Trophy, named after our club legend.

The Notice of Race and Registration are now available on the Web site

Our partner boatcrewgear.com will have a pop-up shop at the club from 9:30am.
Order online for pick-up or contact Andrew directly at boatcrewgear@gmail.com / 0457 152 168.

Thursday Twilights This Week! - 9 October 2025

This Thursday 9 October we will kick off Twilight Racing with on-water coaching support for the 2025/26 season. The coaching and race management will be undertaken by one of our Reach coaches.

• Usual splash of 5PM. The coach and course will be ready for racing by 5:30PM

• The course will be typically windward - leeward (like our sprint racing), however the coach may communicate variations out on the water...to keep us on our toes.

• Racing will run until sundown (approx 7:30PM).

• Regular Thursday night dinner and drinks at The Oak following sailing, for anyone who fancies a social outing.

The Cost is $150 per sailor for the 10 week program (plus merchant fees). This covers the overhead of paying the coach each week to set the course and provide the coaching (dinner not included).

Proposed Dates: October 9, 16, 23, 30 November 6, 13, 20, 27 December 4, 11

We hope that Members who plan to race regularly on Thursdays will support the program by signing up.
(Members who sail occasionally are still very welcome to join us for Thursday Racing free of charge.)

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Thursday 9 October: Start of Twilight Racing (5pm splash) Subscribe HERE

• Saturday 11 October - The Double Bay Regatta

  • NOR is HERE

  • Register NOW! HERE

  • Regatta Web page HERE

  • REMINDER: Regatta briefing is at 11:30am, First warning is at 1:00pm

• Thursday 16 October: Twilight Racing (5pm splash)

• Saturday & Sunday 18-19 October: 2025 NSW & ACT Coast Champs, Gosford SC

  • NOR

  • Entry

• Saturday 18 October: Sprint Races

  • 1pm Briefing, 2:00pm First warning

• Thursday 23 October: Twilight Racing (5pm splash)

• Saturday 25 October:

  • Learn to Race: 9:00am

  • Spring Point Score Races 5 & 6: 1pm Briefing, 2:00pm 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 27 September 2025

Spring Point Score, Races 3 & 4

All photos by Craig Sheers

Saturday’s racing kicked off in a light (building to moderate) north-north-westerly. This being one of the least common wind directions on Sydney Harbour, the race management team had to get creative with a leeward mark a stones throw off a point piper palace and weather mark to the north of Clark island, flirting with the busy channel. 

Race 3 of the Spring Point Score series was underway with clean starts for both fleets. Scott Hunter led the ILCA6’s most of the race until Sara Bruce overtook him in the last lap to win line honours. Healy Ryan and Julian Taylor tussled for the lead in the 7’s the whole race, with Healy coming out on top at the end. On the jazzman, we had plenty entertainment, providing AFL Grand Final score updates to finishers, whilst parrying the ever-present opinions on how the racecourse should be changed. 

Change the course we did. The now moderate breeze had shifted to the North, demanding a course shuffle that had the weather mark further right, just South and East of Bradley’s Head. The 4’s and 6’s were keen, too keen, to get on with it. Assisted by an ebbing current pushing them over the line, general recall! Straight to black flag. That showed them. They got away clean this time, as did the 7’s. After close racing in shifty conditions, the same young guns from the previous race took line honours. The back of the fleet saw close racing too, with position changes even on the final beat to the finish. It seems everyone was keen to get in for what would be a crazy second half of a grand final game… except Tim Heath who enjoyed an extra hour of training after racing- an example to us all.

Thanks to our race team Craig Sheers PRO assisted by yours truly, and Ryan Aldrich with Conor Kellett on the RIB. Thanks also to Van Allen for organizing the canteen in Paul’s absence, with Shirley and Massa Kume.

- Campbell Patton, LtRaR

The Double Bay Regatta - Register NOW

Less than Two Weeks - REgister Now

This year DBSC will be hosting the inaugural Double Bay Regatta. A day to celebrate Laser racing in Double Bay, it is open to all Laser ILCA sailors.

Three races will be held on this single day event on Saturday, 11th October 2025 in the waters off Double Bay in Sydney Harbour.
Cash Prizes will be awarded to winners in ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 divisions, and the winner of each class will get their name engraved on the Mark Bethwaite Trophy, named after our club legend.

The Notice of Race and Registration are now available

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Saturday 4 October (October Long Weekend): Sprint Races

  • 1pm Briefing, 2:00pm First warning

• Thursday 9 October: Twilight Racing (5pm splash)

• Saturday 11 October - The Double Bay Regatta

  • NOR is HERE

  • Register NOW! HERE

  • Regatta Web page HERE

• Thursday 16 October: Twilight Racing (5pm splash)

• Saturday & Sunday 18-19 October: 2025 NSW & ACT Coast Champs, Gosford SC

  • NOR

  • Entry

• Saturday 18 October: Sprint Races

  • 1pm Briefing, 2:00pm First warning

---

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.