DBSC is managed and run entirely by volunteers and that spirit is what makes it such a great place to sail and hang out. Aside from running races and making toasties, so much more happens behind the scenes such as RIB maintenance, electrical wiring, unblocking drains, finances, teaching, video & photography, grocery shopping, newsletter posts, and many more – all made possible by volunteers. There are always jobs to be filled, so if you are interested in volunteering, please email Andrew Cox and let him know. Not only fulfilling, volunteering will also help your boat move down the racks faster (as well as sailing regularly).
Category: Latest from Double Bay Sailing Club
History Corner
The canteen has come a long way! Here’s an extract from the May 1958 news-sheet: “One of our members thought it a good idea to serve the lads a hot drink after the race each Sunday. A band of three or four women rallied forth never missing a Sunday, led by Mrs Slight, and the delicious cup of rich Cocoa together with biscuits was prepared for each member with a small charge of 6d, which goes towards Club Funds.”
60 seconds with Richard Au
1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? Around 16 or 17 – a friend of mine took me out in his Swanson Dart, a sweet sailing 22’ keel boat.2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? A new Laser would be nice. A cruising yacht would also be nice but I don’t have time for that, my little speedboat is already not being used enough.3. What is your ultimate sailing goal? Sailing faster! I’m a beginner in dinghies so tacking more efficiently and getting better at sailing by the lee.4. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? The friends of the previous owner of my boat thought he was a bit stuck up, a toff, so as a joke he named his first Laser “Toff”. This boat was his second Laser so it was called “Toftu”.
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.
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!
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!
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
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)
Up Next and Holiday Schedule
We wish everyone a very happy Festive Season and hope 2021 brings nothing but good breezes your way. We have one more “regular” Saturday this weekend and another Twilight Sprint on the 23rd, then we’re on a holiday footing until Twilights resume on Wednesday 6 January. Please note there will be no racing on 26 December or 2 January. Please check out the holiday sailing schedule below. If you’re eager for more sailing over the holidays, our Top Mark Facebook Page is a great place let your DBSC mates know when you’re headed out. Also, please note the newsletter is taking a break for the holidays and will return on 6 January. Wednesday 16 December, 5pm splash – Twilight SailingSaturday 19 December, 9am start – Learn to RaceSaturday 19 December, 2pm start – Last heats of the Spring Point ScoreWednesday 23 December, 5pm splash – Twilight SailingNO RACING ON 26 DECEMBER or 2 JANUARYWednesday 6 January, 5pm splash – Twilight SailingSaturday 9 January, 2pm start – Autumn Point Score (and we’re back
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