Race Report - Saturday 14 February 2026

Photos by Conor Roche & Geoffrey Boscoe

Autumn Point Score, Races 5 and 6

The original forecast for Valentines Day’s sailing was a light 5-8 knots from the east which would have made for a nice recovery for those returning from the ILCA Masters the previous weekend.

The Race Committee ventured out early with Jack Restuccia to lay marks in what turned out to be very shifty conditions. A course was laid in an 8-knot easterly, but the breeze then swung from northeast again and the racing was postponed.

Race 5 finally got underway at around 2.30pm on a northeast course. Further wind shifts heavily favoured the right-hand side of the beat, nearly a one-tack race for some, which caused some anxiety for those chasing breeze on the left (judging by the post-race chat on the deck). A standout performance by young-gun Zac Howell with line honours in the ILCA-6 and unofficial line honours by Campbell Patton who one-tacked the first beat in the ILCA-7.

Race results

Between races the course was quickly reset for an easterly breeze. Thanks to Brett Beyer who lent a helping hand to our COTDs with the shifting of marks.

Race 6 got underway in more solid breeze and thankfully with less drama throughout.

Thanks to all the competitors for great sportsmanship and thanks to all the officials on the day Murray Stone (PRO) and Conor Roche (LTRaR), Geoff Boscoe (COTD) and Jack Restuccia (CoCOTD), with Andrea Phillips and Ian Tudball hard-selling toasties and supporting Shirley & Paul in the canteen.

Have Boat, Must Travel

Pattaya, Thailand

The smiling Sweeny, John Sweeny, is never one to miss travel opportunity.

In January and February, John travelled to Pattaya, Thailand to compete in two ILA events at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club. This was the magnificent venue for the Masters Worlds back in 2023 that several of our members competed in. John finished a credible 11th in the Open ILCA 7 Thai Nationals, then the following week he finished 3rd in the Thai Masters Nationals. John (and others who have been there), will tell you it's one of the best sailboat racing venues in the world. This event is on again early next year.

- Martin White

Regatta Report - Australian ILCA Masters Championships

Photos by Steve London and Ian Tudball

6-9 February 2026, Port Stephens NSW

30 members from DBSC headed up the highway for the stunning regatta venue at Soldiers Point, Port Stephens. Crystal clear water, good breezes, a traffic-free harbour and user-friendly rigging areas adjacent to accommodation, made for a memorable regatta. Nighttime socialising was held at the “Cheeky Dog”, with an enthusiastic local band testing the ear drums of old Masters sailors.

The race management was faultless and the age groups of sailors were combined into three fleets of approximately 60 boats each. The full rigs of 60 entrants were all combined into one fleet.

The first 2 days had solid afternoon breezes of 15 knots plus, but Day 3 and 4 saw the wind fizzle to nothing, and on the last day it was a delayed start with a 3-knot breeze and a 2-knot tide. Seven races were completed out of a possible 8, with one drop race.

Somehow, the top guys do well in all wind conditions and at Double Bay we are lucky to have members who always perform well at National and World Masters events. Special mention to our Club members who were awarded highly sought after cubes:

• ILCA 7: 1st in the Apprentice division James Tudball

• ILCA 6: 5th in the GGM division Martin White

• ILCA 6: 1st in the Legend division Peter Heywood

Cubes are awarded based on the number of entrants in each division, so for example the GGM division had 37 entrants with 5 cubes awarded. The complete schedule of results can be viewed here. Results for DBSC members are as follows:

A highlight of the event was a function held at the local bowls club with over 200 sailors in attendance. Martin White hosted an interview session with Australian winners at the recent Italian World Masters. People interviewed were Brett Beyer, Rob Lowndes, Lyndall Patterson and Christine Bridge.

Our members who volunteered their time and energy for the event include:

• Sylvie Stannage crewing the start boat, and pre-regatta coaching.

• Zander Bijkerk for providing regatta coaching and on-water support using Martin White’s RIB.

• David Newman for organising logistics.

• Steve London who always ensures our club runs smoothly.

- Ian Tudball

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Thursday 19 February: Twilight Racing: 5pm splash

• Saturday 21 February: Combined Autumn Point Score 7 & 8 / Club Championships 11 & 12:

  • 1pm briefing, 2 pm warning

  • BBQ after racing

• Thursday 26 February: Twilight Racing: 5pm splash

• Saturday 28 February: Sprints (Sydney Sail GP): NOTE: 12pm briefing, 1pm warning

Events

• 14-15 March: NSW & ACT Metro Championships

  • Manly Yacht Club

  • Notice of Race

  • Registration

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Thank you to the members who are sending through information for the newsletter. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to newsletter@dbsc.com.au by Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Race Report - Saturday 31 January 2026

Photo David Murphy

Club Championship Races 9 and 10

Championships 9-10 were held in lovely NE conditions- hopefully a great prequel to the Australian ILCA Masters this coming weekend, being held in Port Stephens. There was a little bit of light haze and cloud with some easterly shifts and a busy Harbour kept us on our toes when setting the course. 

Officiating were Martin Gill and Gay Rosen, with David Murphy as LTRAR, Patrick Black COTD, Robert Bruce CoCOTD and Ben Byford on RIB reserve. 

On water some scintillating sailing was seen, from Sylvia and Xander joining for a training session - both in radials!, and special guest member Jon Emmet also looking great on the water with a number of Open NSW and National squad visitors mixing it up with the club. Thanks so much to those who kindly stayed beyond the finish mark after the race to make the task aboard Jazzman easier. 

In the 6s DBSC honours went to Scott Hunter and Geoff Kirk, in 7s Max Williams and Campbell Patton, and in the 4s, with only 2 hardy souls in race 9, Zoe Allen got the win over Ben Phillips. 

Best of luck at the Masters!

- David Murphy

Thankyou Patrick Black for the Photos!

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Thursday 5 February: Twilight Racing: 5pm splash

• Saturday 7 February: Sprint Racing (Australian Masters in PS): 1pm briefing, 2 pm warning

• Thursday 12 February: Twilight Racing: 5pm splash

• Saturday 14 February:

  • Learn to Race 9am-12pm

  • Autumn Point Score Races 5 & 6: 1pm briefing, 2 pm warning

Events

• ILCA Australian Masters Championships 2026, 6-9 February 2026 at The Bay Sailing Centre Soldiers Point, Port Stephens NSW

  • Notice of Race

  • Entry

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Thank you to the members who are sending through information for the newsletter. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to newsletter@dbsc.com.au by Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Race Report - Saturday 24 January 2026

All photos by Isabelle Wilkins

Sprint Racing

A decent turnout of sailors enjoyed a bright sunny afternoon on the harbour, with a 12-15 kt southeasterly.

Thanks to Daryl Lawrence, Thomas Beregi, Richard Holstein and Isabelle Wilkins on Race Committee.

Thursday Twilight Racing - Book Now!

On Thursday 29 January we recommence Thursday Twilight Racing with on-water coaching support. The coaching and race management will be undertaken by one of our Reach coaches.

• We will aim for our usual splash of 5PM.

• The coach and course will be ready for racing by 5:30PM

• The course will be typically windward - leeward (like our sprint racing), however the coach may communicate variations out on the water...to keep us on our toes.

• Racing will run until sundown (approx 7:30PM).

• Regular Thursday night dinner and drinks at The Oak following sailing, for anyone who fancies a social outing.

The Cost is $135 per sailor for the 9 week program (incl. merchant fees). This covers the overhead of paying the coach each week to set the course and provide the coaching (dinner not included).

Proposed dates:
29 January
5, 12, 19, 26 February
5, 12, 19, 26 March

We hope that Members who plan to race regularly on Thursdays will support the program by signing up.
(Members who sail occasionally are still very welcome to join us for Thursday Racing free of charge.)

What's Going On

Club Look-ahead Schedule

• Thursday 29 January: Twilight Racing: 5pm splash

• Saturday 31 January: Club Championships Races 9 & 10:

  • 2 pm warning

  • BBQ after racing

• Tuesday 3 February: Masters Training at DBSC (Subscribers Only)

• Thursday 5 February: Twilight Racing: 5pm splash

• Saturday 7 February: Sprint Racing (Australian Masters): 1pm splash

Other Upcoming Events

• ILCA Australian Masters Championships 2026, 6-9 February 2026 at Bay Sailing Centre Soldiers Point, Port Stephens NSW

  • Notice of Race

  • Entry

  • For help with accommodation and logistics, please contact Dave Newman

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Thank you to the members who are sending through information for the newsletter. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to newsletter@dbsc.com.au by Monday evening.

View all racing results here.
The club’s calendar can be viewed and subscribed to here.
Make a tax deductible donation to DBSC here.

Race Report - Saturday 17 January 2026

All photos by Christine Patton

Autumn Point Score Races 3 & 4

The forecast for the day’s sailing was for 30 knot gusts and torrential rain. Nobody on shore was looking particularly excited about heading out, and listening the to the 18's briefing didn't make us feel any better. The race committee went out on the RIB with John Vasey and as it did not look that bad between rain squalls, we thought we would give it a go. 

Laying the course was difficult as the wind was swinging around. Big thank you to Jim Dounis for his patience with moving buoys. 

The first race got underway with a solid breeze, but not the predicted wind. In the full rigs, Murray Stone and Geoff Boscoe sailed well, holding their placing throughout the race in tricky conditions. In the radials, Martin White had a solid lead on scratch, but David Airey sailed well getting the cookies for the race. 

The second race started with less breeze than the first, ending with virtually no wind, with the boats barely making it over the line. Tim Heath had one of his best races in the full rigs getting the win, and David Airey got another win in the radials. 

Congratulations to the sailors who braved about the rain and ignored the forecast. 

Special thanks to the on-water crew of Christine Patton, Jim Dounis, Richard George, Campbell Patton, Alessandro Buzzatti and his sister for the efforts in making a great day of sailing. 

— Geoff Kirk, PRO