Category: Latest from Double Bay Sailing Club

For our second instalment of our getting to know you game, we’re featuring Mark Crowhurst.1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat?Too young to remember – I spent my youth on the water in one way or another.2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? The Laser just 1 number newer than Andrew Cox’s3. What is your sailing goal? I have a vendetta to resolve after my last minute and dramatic loss in the Tyrell 2019.4. If you could add any ingredient to our already world’s best toasties – what would it be?Jalapeno5. What are your second/third favourite hobbies (obviously assuming sailing holds the #1 spot)I didn’t know I was meant to have other hobbies?6. Describe what you do for work in less than 5 words? Computer Programming Consultant7. What’s the maximum number of toilet rolls you’ve held in your household post 01

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During the Coronavirus lockdown we’re running a special newsletter feature to continue to get to know our fellow DBSC members. The series kicks off with James Tudball…1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? I can’t remember exactly, but I do know I started sailing sabots when I was 9.

A young James hones his sailing skills.

2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? Does a kayak count as a boat?  Because I just purchased a red cammo kayak and I’ve gotta say it’s the best harbour-going vessel I’ve ever owned.  I am fully content with this baby.  I’m so excited with my kayak that I am now running Sydney harbour kayak tours,

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Chris Bowling – skipper of the Endeavour 24 Corinna in DBSC’s big boat fleet – has announced his retirement from racing, after 64 seasons, the last 10 based at DBSC. He started sailing aged 9, at Dover in the south of Tasmania, in flat-bottomed dinghies called Rainbows, and is especially proud of his first trophy, in the Esperance Dinghy Club’s forward hand race, in 1956. At boarding school in Hobart 6 years later Chris maintained his own Rainbow, on the Derwent, helped by a family friend, Jim Hickman, whose son Roger, 6 years younger than Chris, was also destined for a distinguished sailing career (and membership of DBSC).

Presentation of IRC division 3 winner’s flag to Redrock Communications, Hobart 2002.

Chris gained his

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This year, due to Coronavirus restrictions, the DBSC AGM will be a virtual gathering on the evening of Friday 22 May. More details on how to join the meeting and the formalities of nominations and prize giving will be emailed to members in the coming weeks.  

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We’re missing sailing with all of you, but as we all know, DBSC isn’t just about the on water competition (say the authors who never win…), our onshore friendships are equally as important. The Saturday DBSC Zoom cocktails are a testament to this (watch The Top Mark for more of these sessions). As a way to continue to get to know our fellow sailors during the Coronavirus lockdown, we thought it would be fun to run a Covid-19 “60 seconds with…” special in our Newsletter. 12 questions are listed below (although feel free to skip any you’re not comfortable answering). No more than 20 words / question are allowed. So….. Ready. Steady. Go.1. How old were you when you first stepped on a boat? 2. If money (& sailing ability) were no limit, what boat would you buy? 3. What is your sailing goal? 4. Tell us the back story to your laser’s name? 5. If you could add

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Please note that our rubbish bins are not being collected while official club activities are cancelled due to COVID-19. If you are in the clubhouse to retrieve your boat for individual sailing, please do not put anything in any of the bins. We want to avoid insect and rodent infestations. Thanks for your help with this. 

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Check out Vela, an epic YouTube sailing series, that was recommended to The Top Mark by Finn Alexander. Enjoy!

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We hope you are holding up well and you’ve found a way to maintain some balance through these difficult times, whether on the harbour, or otherwise.  Each year in April, DBSC issues Membership Subscription Invoices for the upcoming season. We depend in significant part on the April subscription income to maintain prudential balances and meet our annual expenses, the majority of which occur over the winter season (even during lock-down).However, we are very aware of the financial difficulties many across the country are currently facing. In light of this, we have made the decision to delay the collection of subscriptions until later in the season. However, we ask that those who are comfortable paying, to volunteer early payment to support the club’s financial requirements.You will soon receive your Membership Subscription Invoice, which will show an extended due date. We reiterate that early payment is voluntary at this stage.

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Last week, we published rules permitting people to access the club to retrieve and return boats for sailing for the sole purpose of exercise. You can see these rules HERE. These rules were formulated specifically by the club for the benefit of our members – they are not generic rules that we have merely adopted.The rules are intended to ensure the club and its members act within both the letter and the spirit of the law, as reflected in the Public Health Orders related to COVID-19, interpreted in accordance with guidance set out by the Office of Sport and by Maritime.There has been some discussion about the meaning of the rules and, in particular, the meaning of the rule that “no more than two people are allowed to sail together on the water”. For the avoidance of any doubt, please note that this means no more than two boats are permitted

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Australian Sailing is running free, online, Club Race Officer courses. (See below for all the details from AS’s regional manager, Carl Webster). Mark Crowhurst has also enquired about Sailing Australia putting on a DBSC specific course, open to our members only. If you are interested in a DBSC course please let Mark know HERE. In light of the current Covid-19 situation, I have been looking at ways to further engage members during this time. To assist Australian Sailing are putting on five Club Race Officer Courses, to be run as an online interactive video conference via the Microsoft Teams platform. This course would usually be $65.00 per person, however we are offering these at nil cost to the participant at this time. We are encouraging those who might be keen to join us for this 3-hour course to register online.April 15th – 1500 – 1800 – https://www.sailing.org.au/events/65049/April 18th – 0900 – 1200 – https://www.sailing.org.au/events/64938/April 29th –

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