We had a great turn out last week and a nice bbq on the beach. Not sure if the bbq will make an appearnce but we will certinly be sailing and windsurfing again from around 11am. If you want to learn how the shed works and how to rig up the lasers and tasars, come at 10am.

Hope to see you.

We are back down at WSC this week and will start rigging up from 11am. Its going to be a relaxed day and will spend most the time over on the beach. Expect a big BBQ (gold coin) and a party atmosphere! We will have 6 lasers, maybe 2 Tasars and plenty of windsurfers on the water so come down and go for a sail. Hope to see you!!

Hello all,
 
The final course dates for the sailing school have now been published.
 
Based on the numbers registered last week;
Level 1 (Course 7), Friday 19th & 26th, 10am to 2.30pm. (run over two consecutive Fridays, 2 x 4 hour sessions)
Enrol at: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dE04NnBIY3FUN2t6U...
 
Level 2 (Course 1), Saturday 20th, 27th, 3rd & 10th. (Each session is 2 hours of on the water training, 4 x 2 hour session)
Enrol at: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGRQN215YVRya3kwN...
 
Deadline for these courses is Wednesday 12 noon. Only 8 places are available for each course .
 
Prices and further details are available via the enrollment form.
 
Hope to see you on the water soon
 
University Sailing School (USYD, UNSW, UTS)

We have had lots of messages from people who are interested in doing a sailing school course. Unfortunately we need a minimum of 8 students to run one course and need to give WSC (the operator) 5 days notice so we need a bitter gauge of interest.
 
This is not a final commitment but a registration of interest. To do this, complete the following form. If you would like some more details, you can have a look at the form or www.usydsailing.com
 
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHV6ei0xYmU3LTlsaUF4VnB...
 
Hope to be hearing from you soon. (DEADLINE for interest Saturday 13th)

Just a quick note to remind everyone about our forums. Over the last few days, we have had plenty of crew requests. Some are Sydney based requests while others are for passages etc. We also have a forum for kite surfing so if you have anything to add, get chatting. You can also open the forum through the useful info page.

On Sunday we had a big group of about 40 down to WSC for the day. Most people started to arrive around 12 and from then on the fun began. The big BBQ was taken around to the beach and as soon as the boats were rigged, everyone followed. With 6 lasers and 3 windsurfers out on the water, everyone quickly had their time on the water. The last boats were only packed away after 6pm with the remaining few die hards going to the RSL next door to finish a perfect day. Despite the forcast of thunder storms, the weather held out providing an excellent day on the harbour.
 
This coming weekend we have the trip to Smiths Lake taking place. This is going to be the largest trip we have done. We have had loads of further messages of people looking for spots but they have unfortunately all gone. Our next trip will be in about a month’s time so make sure you keep an eye out here and on Facebook.
 
Hope to see you on the water soon.

Well the last few days have been a bit epic but the end is in sight. The trip filled up in a record time and we look set for a massive trip with 50 people. There has been a few people who have pulled out but any vacancies will be published on facebook.
 
Sailing this Sunday will start from 11am down at WSC (check Location page). The weather is not looking great at this point but we will be down and out anyway. As its the first week, we can expect some big numbers but to help with the process, we are planning to have a BBQ so everyone can relax and get to know each other on the shore. The BBQ will be $2 for a sausage and roll.
 
If your coming down, don't forget to bring clothes that can get wet and a set of warm dry clothes for after. If its overcast, it may be a bit cooler so having something warm for after is good. There are hot showers in the club so there is no excuse for not going out!
 
Hope to see you Sunday!

A HUGE event is taking shape !
 
The trip is a joint trip between us, the UNSW windsurfing & sailing club and the UNSW dive club. In total there will be almost 50 people but it means spots per club are limited and will fill fast!
 
It s in Smith lake, near seal rocks (3.5 h from Sydney CBD), leaving Sydney on Friday the 12th of march around 5.30pm. The cost is 100AUD (including windsurfers and boats, accommodation, food/drink etc). What you need to bring is included on the online form but one important thing to remember is a sleeping bag. There should be beds for everyone but no sheets! There is some possibility of diving and surfing (there is a good chance that there will be some beginner surfboard as well). That price does not include transport, which you solve with your driver.
 
The plan is to rent a HUGE house(s), arrive there on Friday evening, have a few drinks (keeping energy for the main party on Sat), going to bed, wake up for an early surf for those interested, have a big breakfast, go on the beach (ie at the end of the back yard), rig the stuff (or learn how to do that if you don t know already), and then sail, windsurf, surf or dive all day. Once everybody is flat out, we all go back to the house, have showers, cook a nice meal, eat and then party. Sunday is the same plan all over again, but then we head back to Sydney with heaps of memories.
 
Special note for newbies : Be quick to register, as those trips fill VERY fast. so don t wait the deadline of the 6th of march, as the trip may be full before that. You can put your deposit (secure your spot) before you are an actual member of any club BUT you have to make sure you are a current member by the time of the trip.
 

Another good trick : Don t leave it until the last minute to organise YOUR car pooling. If you are a passenger, you should leave a post AND check regularly for drivers leaving their mobile number so that YOU can call THEM. If you don t have a car, you pay but may miss out on the trip. That would be a shame !
 
See you all soon!
 
PS. In order to attend the trip, you MUST be a member of the club and have a current SUSF membership!

Well the new year is here and with it, a new round of memberships.
 
If your interested in joining the club or want to know more, come and find us either in the Wentworth Building on Monday 15th from 12.30 - 1:30pm or during the O Week main event from the 24th to 26th.
 
During O week, look for the sailing flags to find our stand in the sports section or our moving advertising banner that should be around on wheels.
 
Look forward to sailing with you.

Semester 1 enrollments have opened for the sailing school. Both the level 1 and level 2 courses provide a great way to gain learn the essentials and build experience.
 
To to the Sailing School Page for more details.

Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy new year and say that there are big things in store for 2010. Everything from the expanded sailing and windsurfing school to the Uni Fleet Racing Regatta and Australian University Games in Perth, 2010 is going to be a big one. We are also set for some big parties and chilled weekends away. All that and more coming soon...

Hey guys our last trip for the semester is here from Friday the 20th to Sunday the 22nd!

We will leave Sydney on Friday around 5pm and return to Sunday around 10pm.

The cost of the trip is going to be $100 for the weekend which includes the usual, food, alcohol, sailing, windsurfing and almost everything else to make it a great weekend.

The Club has launched a new YouTube Channel so that videos from club events as well as related videos can be easily accessible to our members. The Channel is also lists some of our favourite YouTube clips which cover everything from lessons for sailing and windsurfing through to extreme offshore sailing. Sailing has something for everyone and this channel is proof of it!

Check it out

The Sydney Uni Sailing Club over the last 12 months has begun to drive the establishment of a new university championship for sailing. Although the final structure of the championship is still being debated between students, universities, Australian University Sport and Yachting Australia. The general goal is for the championship to encompass three disciplines of sailing with two competing in the university games next year and then a single fleet event to complete the championship. Here is a brief introduction to each.
 
Fleet racing is the most well-known discipline when it comes to sailing. If you ever seen yachts on the harbour, if they are racing, they are fleet racing. Fleet racing can take place between any two or more sailing boats, either inshore (on the harbour) or offshore (Sydney to Hobart). Although there are a few different types of starts, generally all boats count down to a start time and then from which point they are all racing. The boats then need to sail around a course a number of times which may take more than 30 minutes before they finish. The first boat to finish is the winner. The winner of a regatta is the boat that scores best across a series of races. This discipline is most competitive when the boats sailed are identical such as at the Olympics or many other one-design events.
 
Teams racing is relatively undeveloped in Australia. In Europe and the US, the most competitive team racing is between universities and colleges. Teams racing consists of a race between two teams each made up of three boats, all in identical boats. The boats of a team work together to ensure they are first around the S shaped course together. Team tactics and boat handling skills are very important as each team tries to develop and maintain an advantage over their opposition. A teams racing regatta is made up of many short races that do not last more than 10 minutes each. This means that the racing takes place in a close-space (not more than 150m) making the close tactical racing exciting for spectators.
 
Match racing is the final discipline of sailing which consists of a race between only two boats. Women’s match racing has recently been included in the Olympics. The two boats, which are generally identical, face off and race around a simple course consisting of a ‘windward work’, around a buoy, a 'downwind' sail towards the start which usually involves a spinnaker. Two laps are sailed then the boats finish across the start/finish line. The most well known match racing event is the Americas Cup, although boats in this competition are not identical.
 
Sailing can be one of the most complex and competitive sports in the world. Alternatively, it can also providing a wonderful relaxing day on the water or even a way of life if extended to cursing, which explains sailing’s appeal to so many people across all ages.