‘The Boat that Ian Built’ is a short film from 1974 featuring the amazing success story of the Laser, and of Performance Sailcraft, the company Ian formed to produce and market the boat.“The movie has fantastic footage of one of the first ever big fleet Laser regattas held at Association Island, New York on Lake Ontario near Kingston (with Ian Bruce competing!). The movie has interviews with Ian, Bruce Kirby, and Laser sail designer Hans Fogh along with shots of Lasers being produced in Ian’s factory.You’ll also see amazing footage (that I previously didn’t know existed) of Hans Fogh helming the prototype Laser in an October 1970 regatta held for boats under $1000 at the Playboy Club at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. It was called ‘The America’s Teacup Regatta’. Ian and Hans decided to call the prototype the ‘Weekender’ with sail number TGIF, the abbreviation for ‘Thank God It’s Friday’.”
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Volunteer roster
The club is working on the basis that racing is unlikely until at least 16th October. There is therefore no volunteer roster until that time. Should, by some miracle, we be able to race before 23rd October, it will be a nice problem to have!
60 seconds with Alistair Sutherland
How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?I must have been about 12 years old – sailing on a Topper in the Lake District in the North of EnglandIf money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?505 – so many strings to pull, so little time!What is your ultimate sailing goal? At the moment I aim for top 3 in any DBSC race I sail in. Given the depth of the Radial fleet at the moment, that goal usually disappears over the horizon on the way down the first reach…………..Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? Iron Buddha. In Chinese it’s pronounced “Tie Guan Yin”, and if you order it you’d be presented with a cup of tea.If you could add any ingredient to DBSC’s world’s best toasties – what would it be? I’ve never eaten anything that can’t be
60 seconds with Kevin Gilroy
How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?I was 9 years old. I used to play Saturday morning tennis. One of my team mates was telling me about the adventures he had sailing his Sabot. He invited me to join him sailing at Abbotsford that afternoon. I showed up with no idea what I was getting myself into, and kept sailing for the next 25 consecutive seasons.If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy?I’m not that fixed on what boat I’d like to own, but I would love to go for a spin on a SailGP foiling cat.What is your ultimate sailing goal?I want to pass on the sailing experience to my kids. I’m not concerned if they choose to pursue competitive racing, but I’d like them to give it a fair go.Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser?‘Just
Get ready to rumble
We are asking all members to undertake the online Mark Laying Course being conducted by Australian Sailing in anticipation of a return to racing in the upcoming months and in light of our inability to conduct competency training at the beginning of the season.Australian Sailing has developed an online Mark Laying Course. The course provides the correct procedures for laying marks and setting a race course. It is suitable for club volunteers looking to gain knowledge about mark laying at the grass roots level through to mark laying for regattas.Both registration and enrolment to this course are free of charge. The club will be logging the completion of this training by members in lieu of the mandatory training ordinarily undertaken at the start of the season.
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Not sailing, still improving
Martin White has sent through some more excellent resources for improving downwind sailing.Sailing well downwind in a Laser is probably the most counter-intuitive part of learning Laser sailing as other classes rely on different downwind skills. Thus, Laser sailors new to the class often struggle with the concepts of downwind sailing.Jon Emmett Sailing – Videos (This site has an array of short format content that is good for the average club sailor)Downwind in Lasers – International Laser Class Association (laserinternational.org)Laser Sailing Downwind Body Positioning – International Sailing Academy
For those who can use the club
To expedite the use of the club and rigging areas, club members are asked to get changed before getting boats out and rigging. This will ensure other members are not left hanging around waiting for boats to move on.
Off the deck
“Off the deck” continues for a social catch up online for members and friends of the club. We will continue to host this event during lockdown on Saturday afternoons from 1700.
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60 seconds with Tory Epworth
How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 46, last year! I had a little time on my hands during lockdown – so did a ‘learn to sail’ course down at Rose Bay and loved it…If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? A canal boat in France? a house boat on Lake Como? A felucca to sail the Nile??What is your ultimate sailing goal? To move out of the penthouse would be a good start… @andrewcox !Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? Sacre Bleu, the name I inherited from Sara Brooks. My kids are half-French so I took it as a good omen… If you could add any ingredient to DBSC’s world’s best toasties – what would it be?SauerkrautWhat are your second/third favourite hobbies (assuming sailing is #1)? Cycling, I cycle mostly to work so I guess
NSW Police guide
NSW Police has put together this handy guide of what you can and can’t do when it comes to recreational boating.