As part of the club’s commitment to sustainability, we will again be doing Clean Up Australia Day this year. While the official day is on Sunday 7th March, this year we will also have a session on Saturday 6th March to make it easy for everyone to attend. To work with low tide, we are looking for volunteers at 0830-1030 on Saturday 6th March and 0945-1145 on Sunday 7th March. Please email Kate [HERE] and let her know which session you would like to help with.
Category: Latest from Double Bay Sailing Club
Metros – 6 & 7 March
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]
History Corner
The approval for the clubhouse on the current site was not smooth sailing. A petition carrying 153 signatures was sent to Woollahra Council objecting to the building based on its impact on the natural beauty of the park. Despite these objections the clubhouse opened on 5 April 1959.
Clean Up Australia Day – 6 & 7 March
If you are sailing on the Saturday either in club Sprints or Metros, please consider coming in earlier and contributing to the litter pick-up at low tide around the club. If that doesn’t suit, then Sunday morning is also an option. Please email Kate McHugh to let her know.
60 Seconds With Mark Bethwaite
1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? Seven – a P Class trainer in Torbay Auckland2. If money (and sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? The ultimate Fine Wine – a 100m super yacht with 10 guest suites, 10 Lasers in the aft lazarette plus RIBs etc. This Fine Wine would position at future Laser Master Worlds locations (other than Lake Garda) or the Caribbean, Med etc – wherever the water temperature is above 27 degC3. What is your ultimate sailing goal? My goal was an Olympic medal – I had my chances but am firmly on the skids now…4. Tell us the story behind the name of your Laser? Few things get better as they get older – Fine Wine is one and Laser sailors are another5. If you could add any ingredient to DBSC’s world’s best toasties – what
First Aid Training – 18 April
Do you know what to do if someone is unconscious or bleeding or stung by a marine creature? First Aid is an essential skill to have either in or out of the water. Just like sailing, if you don’t practice regularly, you will forget what to do when something unexpected happens. Even if you have had training in the past, it is recommended that you do a refresher every 1-2 years. DBSC will cover the cost of the training to be held on Sunday 18 April. Please register [HERE]
Volunteering
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).
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”.
Coming Up
Wednesday 24 Feb – Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 5/10, and State Masters Debrief presented by Brett Beyer (8pm)Saturday 27 Feb – Club Championship 11 & 12Wednesday 3 Mar – Twilight Sprints, Brett Beyer Twilight Program 6/10Saturday 6 Mar – Learn To Race, Clean Up Australia Day 1/2, Metropolitan Championships at HHSC 1/2, DBSC SprintsSunday 7 Mar – Clean Up Australia Day 2/2, Metropolitan Championships at HHSC 2/2