Race Report - Saturday 3 January 2026

All photos by Roberto Blum

Sprint Racing - 2026 kicks off with a bang!

On Saturday 3rd Jan we commenced our racing for the year, with a cranking 20+ knot nor'easter.  Where were you Pat Levy?! With the Nationals currently underway down in Hobart, we ran our popular sprints format.

The race management team of James Tudball, Yves Stenning, Rob Blum and Alban Delpey arrived to a flurry of activity at the club, as both the Cherub and 12ft Skiff Nationals are currently taking place at DBSC.  After a chat with their race team, we settled on a course deep in Double Bay for our Laser members, to ensure all fleets could peacefully coexist. 

20 x Lasers headed out to enjoy the champagne sailing conditions.  We even had an outgoing tide against the nor'easter, so there were some tasty waves to enjoy downwind.  As we started to churn through the races, we realised that the Radial fleet were looking a bit lethargic on the starting line.  Perhaps one too many champagnes on New Years Eve?  On every start the Radials were 1+ boat lengths behind the line.  On the other hand, the Standards were bang on every race - well played gents.

The racing was dominated by Geoff Kirk in the Radials.  He notched up at least 4 wins., though Martin White got the bullet in the last race.  In the Standards we had Barnesy enjoying a few wins, and a win each to Murray Stone and Connor Kellett. A shout out to Diana Chen who battled the conditions very nicely in the 4.7.

Out on the course we also had two guest sailors.  Shirley and Ross from Dún Laoghaire in Ireland used club boats to enjoy the great wind... and our warm water!  Shirley and Ross demonstrated some pretty handy skills and I hear they're considering a trip extension in order to race at the Masters at Port Stephens in Feb!  Shirley's daughter, Louise, also assisted us on the starting RIB - thank you, Louise!

Two other thanks...

1. Luke Parker for the loan of his RIB.  We also had a bit of fun getting off and on the floating dock at Double Bay Marina.  As Luke instructed us on the phone: 'Just drop the motor in, and GIVE IT HERBS!'  

2. Shirley Roach, Paul Adam and John Vasey.  I can see the club has been hectic over the New Year Period with the Cherubs and 12-foot skiff regattas.  These guys are doing a great job at facilitating their racing (on and off the water).  Hosting these two classes is important for our relationship with the 18-footers, so thanks Shirley, Paul and John for all of your hard work.

- James Tudball, PRO

Thursday Twilight Racing Returns 29 January 2026

On Thursday 29 January we will recommence Thursday Twilight Racing with on-water coaching support. The coaching and race management will be undertaken by one of our Reach coaches.

• We will aim for our 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 $135 per sailor for the 9 week program (inc. 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:
29 January
5, 12, 19, 26 February
5, 12, 19, 26 March

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.)

Members wishing to sign-up for the Thursday on water coaching please click the button bleow:

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Saturday 10 January: Autumn Point Score Races 1 & 2: 2pm warning

• Saturday 17 January: Autumn Point Score Races 3 & 4: 2pm warning

• Saturday 24 January: Sprint Racing: 1pm splash

Other Upcoming Events

• ILCA Australian Masters Championships 2026, 6-9 February 2026 at Bay Sailing Centre Soldiers Point, Port Stephens NSW

  • Notice of Race

  • Entry

  • For help with accommodation and logistics, please contact Dave Newman

Note

• 12-ft Skiff Interdominions are continuing through Saturday, 10 January at DBSC

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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 20 December 2025

Photo by David Da Costa Enes

Spring Point Score 13 & 14

The last day of the Spring Point Score did not disappoint. For those who like cliches, it was champagne sailing. For those who don't, it was perfect Sydney summer weather, just how it used to be when Pat was a young skiffy and a stonking north-easter would give him a smile on his face.

Fortunately, the forecast proved wrong, and the non-committal, east-something-something breeze that was supposed to waft from here-to-there all afternoon did not eventuate. Instead, the dead-calm morning gave way to a solid sea breeze that came in right on schedule and reminded us why our forebears set the start time at 2pm. The race team set a course that proved to be a fraction longer than regulation, allowing sailors to bank that extra little bit of fitness for which everyone will be grateful after the Xmas / New Year break.

Other than a couple of capsizes and a disconnected tiller extension, racing was uneventful. The leading boats in both fleets -- Martin White, Julian Taylor, and Zander Bijkerk -- provided a master class in how it should be done, particularly on the deep bottom reach in Race 1 and the second run in Race 2, with some fluid wave sailing and super-fast boat-speeds.

Race 1 photos by David Da Costa Enes:

Race 2 photos by John Chesterman:

The race team of Andrew Cox, John Chesterman, Kate McHugh, and Dave Da Costa Enes, had the fortunate pleasure of hosting legendary Laser / ILCA sailor and 13-times world-champion, Keith Wilkins, who provided able assistance on the Jazzman. We got the obligatory father-son shots as Jason cruised past in the Golden Fleece. But granddaughter, Isabelle, was sadly MIA after a big night on the tins. 

A pair of Wilkens in action. Photo by Andrew Cox

As Katie observed, there is nothing better than kicking back after racing on the deck of the best not-pub in the world with your not-pub mates on a balmy summer evening. And that's exactly what we did. 

Congratulations to the Spring Point Score winners, David Airey and Patrick Black, who fended off stiff competition from Daryl Lawrence and Hadrien Bourely. 

Have a great Xmas and see you on the other side!

- Andrew Cox, PRO

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Saturday 27 December: NO CLUB RACING

• Saturday 3 January: Sprint Racing: 1pm splash

• Saturday 10 January: Autumn Point Score Races 1 & 2: 2pm warning

• Saturday 17 January: Autumn Point Score Races 3 & 4: 2pm warning

• Saturday 24 January: Sprint Racing: 1pm splash

Note

Over the Christmas break, please be aware that DBSC’s facilities will be shared with the following events:

• Cherub Nationals: Sunday, 28 December through Sunday, 4 January

• 12-ft Skiff Interdominions: Sunday, 4 January through Saturday, 10 January

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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.

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Saturday 20 December: (last races of the year)

  • Spring Point Score Races 13 & 14: 1pm Briefing, 2pm First warning

• Saturday 27 December: NO CLUB RACING

• Saturday 3 January: Sprint Racing: 1pm splash

Other Upcoming Events

• ILCA Australian Masters Championships 2026

  • 6-9 February 2026 at Bay Sailing Centre Soldiers Point, Port Stephens NSW

  • Notice of Race

  • Entry

  • For help with accommodation and logistics, please contact Dave Newman

Note

Over the Christmas break, please be aware that DBSC’s facilities will be shared with the following events:

• Cherub Nationals: Sunday, 28 December through Sunday, 4 January

• 12-ft Skiff Interdominions: Sunday, 4 January through Saturday, 10 January

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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 6 December 2025

Club Championship Races 7 & 8

Hot and Hazy weather over Sydney in the morning, the race team set out early with an ominous “north-west to north” forecast - it was light - but there was a small chance it was warming up for a nor-easter. So after the briefing, and after a slow journey out of the bay, 45 sailors were disappointed to find the wind had dropped further to about 2-3 knots from the east (on Martin’s wind instruments) and so the AP flag went up, we reduced the course size, and prayed for some good news from our friends up the Harbour off Vaucluse who were in the same dilemma and chatting on the VHF.

When we got word that the wind was building in Watsons Bay (and with our instruments now showing NNE and building), we made preparations to start the fleets. And just like that: we were rewarded with a steadily building breeze, and smiles all round from the sailors who set off and enjoyed ideal racing conditions building to 15 knots, and gusting up to 20knots by the end of Race 7. 

It was now time to increase to course size between races to allow for the additional breeze - thankyou RIB Safety Boat team for your swift shifting of the marks and accurate placement.

Race 8 got away with clear starts by both fleets (despite the outgoing tide), and the wind continued to build to 20-25knots and gusting up to 30 by the end. The sailors that persevered were rewarded with speed-way reaches and rollercoaster legs downwind with waves enlarged by the wind against the strong outgoing tide.

Campbell Patton excelled in the conditions (without hiking pads!) to take first place for ILCA 7 in both races, - where in Race 7 he was ahead of Rod Barnes second, and Murray Stone third, - in Race 8 ahead of Luke Parker second, and Rod Barnes third.

Andrew Cox took out first place in both races for ILCA 6 with fierce competition, - in Race 7 where he was battling Sylvie second, and Alistair Sutherland third, - and in Race 8 with a photo-finish win over Martin White second, and Scott Hunter third.

Zac Howell won first place in both races in ILCA 4, with Patrick McLachlan second.

And so with more than half of the Club Championship complete, the current leaders are:
ILCA 7 - Campbell Patton, Rodney Barnes, Hadrien Bourely
ILCA 6 - Andrew Cox, Martin White, David Airey
ILCA 4 - Zac Howell, Patrick McLachlan

Well done to all the sailors who survived the gusty conditions - some with bruises and some with breakages!
Thankyou to the Race Officers: Martin Gill and Gaye Rosen who organsed the starts with such precision assisted by your favourite commodore, yours truly on the Jazzman, and with Tim Heath & Van Allen on the Paul Adam 3 RIB, and John Vasey assisting as our second safety boat the Dene Bergman RIB.

On return to the clubhouse weary bodies slowly fired up the barbie (still fighting the wind), and we tucked into some steak and sausages with delicious salads and some of Paul’s special roasted potatoes :- Thankyou Paul Adam and also Shirley Roach for putting on such as feast, and to Jim Dounis on the BBQ and Ian Tudball, Katie and others for the cleanup. Thanks also to the pre-race Toasties Team: Derek Hand and David Newman.

Regatta Report - Sail Melbourne 2025

The 4-day regatta at the end of November, saw our elite young sailors from DBSC head south to Melbourne for a World Class event that included many current Laser Olympians from foreign countries, as well as Australian dual gold medalist, Matt Wearne.

DBSC member final results

Our members performed exceptionally well. In the “7’s”, Campbell Patton, Julian Taylor and Healy Ryan were top 10 contenders. Zander Bijkerk had some bad luck with gear failure but was certainly around the pointy end for the regatta, and Hamish Crabb also had a great result.

In the ILCA 6, Sylvie Stannage finished 13th overall and Sara Bruce sailed well to finish 25th. Elouise Morgan bounced straight out of her study den to finish 44th out of the strong fleet of 53 boats.

In the 4.7, Olivia Aitken had a fantastic result stepping onto the podium for 3rd.

Full results for Sail Melbourne 2025 are here.

Conditions varied from light air to a honking 25 knot breeze that Port Phillip is renowned for in the final race.

Campbell Patton qualified for the final days’ 10-boat ‘shoot out’, having beaten Matt Wearne in one of the qualifying races, and he finished 8th overall which was a top effort. After the regatta, Campbell commented on the new Olympic scoring format and his program to achieve Olympic selection for Bermuda:

They are trialling a new Olympic format which has us doing shorter races but a few more per day, so day one we got three races. Day Two we got two races (in lighter air) and Day Three we raced a tiring four races and before they made the split for the final series. I was lucky enough to squeeze into the top 10, which gave me a shot at moving up the leaderboard.

So, this is how the final series works (and this is a proposed new Olympic format) ; instead of a medal race for the top 10, the points of everybody in the top 10 get consolidated so that 10th cannot be more than 18 points behind third and third can’t be more than nine points behind first. This gives everybody a ‘potential’ chance at a medal. The format has my approval, though I may be slightly biased because I benefited from this and finished seventh in a super light first final series race and eighth in a super windy second finals race in the fickle Melbourne conditions.

As for my ongoing Olympic campaign, it’s ramping up. I’m using the Aussie summer regattas to kickstart next year, where I’ll be competing in Hyeres, Kiel and LA World Cup events as well as the Worlds in Dublin, all in the first half of the year. My biggest limitations have been funding and a back injury but I am planning to work harder next year on both of these. I am not sure where I will end up basing my training in 2027, but most likely I’ll be between LA and Europe to keep up with competitors.

2027 is a key year because that is when I have to qualify Bermuda for the Olympics. This can be done at either the World Sailing Championships in Brazil or the Pan American Games (in Peru).

- Ian Tudball

Campbell Patton doing battle. Photo courtesy Sail Melbourne.

This Saturday - Tyrrell and Rousso Races and then Christmas Party!

The Tyrrell and Rousso races will be held this Saturday, 13 December 2025. and will be followed by the club Christmas Party which will comence after the racing from 5pm for Members and their guests - Don’t forget to RSVP HERE.

The first race (the Tyrrell) is a handicapped start where the faster boats must chase down the slower boats.  There will be a normal 5-minute countdown start sequence, at which time those will zero handicap (the slowest boats) will start. After that, faster boats will start when the race time reaches their handicap over the next 15-20 minutes.  The handicaps will be announced during the briefing on Saturday. The first boat over the finish is the winner.  

The second race (the Rousso) is a scratch race, with everyone starting on the same start line with a normal 5-minute countdown sequence.  The first ILCA4, ILCA6 and ILCA7 across the line are the "finalists" with the overall winner determined by applying a yardstick across the three classes.

These are once-a-year prestigious events for DBSC that come with perpetual trophies:

Richard Tyrrell Trophy

Richard Tyrrell was one of the early Laser class sailors at DBSC in the 1980s. He was an active member, who had a real presence and was very much liked by everyone. He was instrumental in building a sense of community, for example as one of the instigators of the annual Laser Sailors’ Dinner, and he showed leadership in fundraising activities for much-needed repairs. He continued sailing with the club until his untimely death from asthma in his 40s in 1987. In memoriam, DBSC hosts an annual race in a handicapped chase format that is named after him, and the winner’s name is inscribed each year on the perpetual Richard Tyrrell Trophy.

Mano Rousso Trophy

Mano Rousso was a distinguished former Greek Navy Officer and post-WW2 migrant who lived in Cooper Street, Double Bay. His daughter was a regular Leader sailor at DBSC during the 1980s, and Mano was a generous and well-liked volunteer, taking on the significant hands-on responsibility for upkeep and maintenance of the clubhouse, which he continued until his death in the early 1990s. In memoriam, DBSC hosts an annual race in a massed start scratch format (with a yardstick) that is named after him, and the winner’s name is inscribed each year on the perpetual Mano Rousso Trophy.

Congratulations Hadrian and Elle

We would like to welcome our newest potential member Mika! - Two weeks ago we noticed Hadrian was unavailable to race with us (ok so only one day! - We may have assumed he was having a rest day - Not so!)

Well now we know why: his lovely wife Elle gave birth to baby Mika!  (at 3.8kg - she might be the first standard laser woman in our fleet!!!) He assures us new family life is better than any new boat he’s ever had! - Mother and daughter are doing well. Congratulations Hadrian and Elle!!