AHOY NEW BLOOD
Anyone interested in sailing – or even testing the waters, so to speak – can register for free sessions on the water with Southport Yacht Club, which is launching its new season today
THE Southport Yacht Club launches its 69th boating and sailing season today with plans to encourage newcomers aboard.
The Main Beach-based club hosts its annual mass launch this afternoon, with more than 60 sailing craft and powerboats parading past Broadwater Parklands and the clubhouse.
Club Commodore Phil Short advises people to start assembling from 1pm at Broadwater Parklands or at the start of Macarthur Parade, Main Beach for the best viewing.
Father Harry Reuss will officially bless the waters with Commodore Short and other club officials taking the official salute from the Club’s Waterscape pontoon.
After the official sail past, the Hinterland Community Band and the TS Tyalgum Cadets will perform a Sunset Ceremony.
Commodore Short tells Coast Weekend club numbers are healthy but they are always encouraging people to give sailing or powerboating a go.
From Thursday, September 17, the club will host twilight sailboat sessions and newcomers are welcome to register their interest and go along.
The free afternoon sessions will run for about 11 weeks and people keen to get a taste of sail racing should arrive to sign in about 2pm, he says.
“They fill out what experience they have – if they have none we explain to them a bit about it and if they do have some experience we get them to do a bit on the boat.
“Once you do a couple of races you might think ‘Gee, this is what I want to do, or maybe not’.”
Not only are the sessions free, you don’t even have to be a member but Commodore Short tells Coast
Weekend: “We don’t look for people who just want to come for a ride – we want people who are genuinely interested in taking part.
“It’s very nice out there. And once you’re finished racing, we open up a drink, get a few nibbles going and have a chat on the way back in about how things went – and that’s a big part of what sailing is all about, that camaraderie.”
Commodore Short, of Hope Island, has been with the club since 1979 but says at 73 years of age he’s shifted away from sailing to powerboating.
The club is proud of latest member achievements including Tom Siganto and Kyle O’Connell winning the 2015 Zhik 29er World Championships in Sweden last month, and Joel Turner’s second in the Sailing World Cup’s 49er skiff class at the start of the year. Matt Belcher and Will Ryan are on deck for a 2016 Olympics medal run.