The Metropolitan Championships will be held 6-7th March at Hunters Hill Sailing Club. This is a great opportunity to sail on a different part of the harbour and test yourself in a competitive fleet.If you are interested in attending please email Rod Barnes so we can coordinate transport. We are also looking at the option to launch from DBSC on each day then towed to the race area by RIBs. If you would like to spend the day watching from a RIB and are able to tow some Lasers to and from the event please email Rod. You are also welcome to sail from DBSC to HHSC if the conditions are favourable.The Notice of Race, Online Entry, Sailing Instructions, Venue Information & Logistics, Electronic Sign On/Off, and Results are all available via the NSW/ACT Laser Association website and Australian Laser App [HERE]
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Race Report – Sat 20 February
Sydney Harbour presented a beautiful sunny day for Champagne sailing. However, the breeze proved tricky for setting a course and really tested the sailors’ ability to pick the shifts and come out on top. For the wind obsessed, the easterly that started the morning with a lot of north in it threatened to waft in initially from the south east at 2pm, then moved continuously left during the course of the afternoon as the day warmed and the breeze strengthened.In the Radial fleet, we were fortunate to have representatives from the Australian Sailing Team and Australian Sailing Squad race with us. Mara Stransky, Zoe Thompson, Elyse Ainsworth, Casey Imenro, along with visiting NSWIS sailor, Paige Caldecott, and a guest reappearance from Otto Henry – all providing great competition for DBSC’s NSWIS sailors who raced on the day, Evie Saunders, Brooke Wilson, and Daniel Costandi. Zoe Thompson was first across the
State Masters Debrief with Brett Beyer – Tonight
Last chance to sign up for tonight’s presentation/Q&A by Brett Beyer at DBSC! If you are interested but can’t make it in person, we can offer a video link to watch at home (for a limited time). Cost is $20pp – book/pay [HERE]
Coming Up…
Wednesday 20 January, 5pm Splash – Twilight SailingSaturday 23 January, 2pm Start – Autumn Pointscore, Heats 5 & 6Wednesday 27 January, 5pm Splash – Twilight SailingSaturday 30 January, 2pm Start – Club Championships, Heats 9 & 10 Sunday 31 January, 12noon Splash – Fun Sail and Picnic (see info above)
Frank Bethwaite Remembered
Editor’s Note:A few months ago Frank Bethwaite was inducted into the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame. (You can read more about that and watch a video HERE.) We asked Frank’s son and long-time DBSC member Mark Bethwaite to write a biographical piece about his father as we felt a snapshot of Frank’s life as it relates to sailing would be a fascinating read for our members. We’re grateful to Mark for taking the time to pen the following remembrance.Frank Bethwaite DFC OAM was born in1920 and in his 92 years on this earth he excelled in fields as varied as Military and civil aviationModel aeronauticsCloud physicsSailing and yacht designMeteorology, particularly wind behaviour and prediction andAuthorship of three outstanding books on high performance sailing.Frank’s school years and early sailing were in Wanganui. He enlisted in 1939 at the outbreak of WW2His tertiary education was at the sharp end of a fighter bomber over the Pacific. As in
Fun Sail and Picnic – Update and Action Required
Due to Watson Bay Hotel booking limitations we’ve decided to make our Fun Sail and Picnic slightly more adventurous…..On Sunday 31 January, instead of sailing down to the Watson Bay Hotel, we are going to sail down to a beach in Watson’s Bay (exact landing spot TBC), accompanied by a RIB laden with picnic goodies, to set up our own picnic. Beers and soft drinks will be available using the standard club tab system and we’re asking for $10 / head in advance for food. Even if you’ve already RSVPed earlier for this event, we need you to please sign up and pay for the food HERE now. Splash remains midday. We’re looking forward to it!
Sign Ups Live for Brett Beyer Programs
Links to sign up and pay for Brett Beyer’s Twilight and Saturday Programs are now live. As both programs start next week, it’s important to register now to save your spot. Find out all of the details and sign up for the Twilight program HERE, and for the Saturday program HERE. Brett’s also running a one day ad hoc session this Saturday, 23 January. It’s a great way to give Brett’s program a try. Find out more and sign up for this Saturday’s session HERE.Please note, even if you’ve already emailed Andrew Cox to register your interest in these programs, you must now please pay your fees using the links above. Thanks!
Another Stunning Saturday
A huge fleet of over 55 boats competed under a beautiful sunny Summer sky. It was a bit of déjà vu for those competitors who raced last weekend, as the fleet again faced a very fickle Southerly, that often changed direction and intensity. The winners of heats 3-4 of the Autumn Pointscore were (after handicapping): Standards – Murray Stone (Heat 3) and Michael Osborne (Heat 4), Radials – Jack Sywak (Heat 3) and Les Katz (Heat 4).Thanks to this week’s race management volunteers: Geoff Kirk (PRO), assisted by Diana Chen, Nick Alexander and Quinn Pierson, and also to Paul, Shirley, Ian Alexander, Clare Alexander and David Huber in the canteen.
An iconic day of laser sailing on the harbour. Photo by Diana Chen.
COVID Changeroom Rules Easing
Good news! With recent relaxation of the 4m2 rule to a 2m2 rule, we are now able to open the men’s changeroom for showering in addition to the existing use of toilets, subject to the following:MAXIMUM CAPACITY at any time of 18 people (including showers, toilets, change area)No getting changed in the changeroom prior to sailing — male sailors must still get changed in the park. The reason is that maintaining compliance with a cap of 18 is not feasible in the pre-sailing changing rushSailing gear to be removed before entering the changeroom to shower. The reason is to reduce time in the changeroom (and thus assist with capacity management), and to avoid bottlenecks for the showersClothes may be put on in the changeroom after showering (subject to the maximum of 18 people), but please be quick and get out as soon as possible to make way for other peopleThanks
Christmas Fun this Saturday
This Saturday we have our famous once-a-year Tyrell and Rousso races, which are super fun formats. The Tyrell is a handicapped chase, with the slowest boat starting first and successive faster boats hunting each other down as they start over the next 5-10 minutes per their handicaps. (Our Handicapper, Daryl, will have everyone’s individual starting time listed on a sheet at the club on Saturday before we race.) The format makes for what is perhaps the most competitive and exciting race of the season!The Rousso is a scratch race with a massed start, in which all boats in all classes start together – a yardstick is applied to the winner in each of the classes to determine the overall winner. By tradition, everyone wears a Santa hat. So, get ready for some festive fun on the water. Our Christmas party follows sailing on Saturday. Drinks and canapes will be served from 5:30