This Week In Sailing - 25th May 2023

2023 International Etchells Class Gold Coast Championships

The Hollywell yard is seemingly getting busier as more yachts are arriving for the 2023 International Etchells Class Gold Coast Championships. In anticipation, skippers are readying their boats, completing final checks, ensuring that they are organised for the big weekend to come. Southport Yacht Club welcomes 14 Etchells whom are competing in the regatta, wishing luck upon each and every one of them! The two days will begin with racing on our beautiful offshore waters and will conclude with a sausage sizzle and presentation. Good Luck! We look forward to seeing the results of this jampacked event.

THIS WEEK @ OXENFORD WATERSPORT CENTRE AND SQUAD UPDATE

By: Michaela Hanson

The winter chill and light winds are here at SYC Oxenford, but that doesn’t stop our keen youth sailors from turning up dressed appropriately for the conditions so they don’t miss out. The Weston brothers, who are in our Tackers and Out There programs, come from Dubai so they make sure they wrap up well with rashie, boardies and a wetsuit to help them stay toasty and warm when out on the water.

At the beginning of Term 2, a group of youth sailors from the Out There program at Oxenford began the next phase of their sailing adventure as part of the Out There Fleet at SYC Hollywell. This group sail Hobie Wave catamarans advancing skills and knowledge to sail in tidal and busier waterways. On Saturday they participated in their first off-the-beach catamaran race. Conditions weren’t the best with wind and tide running together but they absolutely loved being part of the racing with a friendly group of advanced sailors. Well done OTS fleet for embracing the opportunity!

We received a lovely gift this week from one of our junior sailors, Finn Griffin, who volunteers at Oxenford on Saturdays. Thank you Finn, this will take pride of place in our staff area.

SAILOR of the WEEK

Congratulations to Jessica Sinnamon who is Sailor of the Week. Jessica began sailing at the age of 10. She would regularly come to her older brother Matthew’s training and regattas and thought she would give it a try.

She began sailing at Oxenford on the Lake where she completed Tackers 1-3, transitioned to the junior fleet at Hollywell, and now sails as a member of the SYC Sailing Racing Team, which includes squad training every Thursday after school.

She recently transitioned from sailing an Optimist to an Open Skiff – which has made her enjoy sailing more – she loves the speed of the open skiff.

Jessica loves the social aspect of sailing and just being on the water. She has sailed in many away-from-home regattas including this year’s Sail Airlie Easter regatta (with other youth sailors from SYC), and the Youth Week at Yeppoon (always a popular event with plenty of SYC kids attending). She’s looking forward to the next regatta (just for girls) at Humpybong yacht club- yet another chance to get away and have some fun.

Well done Jessica, we look forward to seeing your journey progress.