This Week In Sailing - 27th July 2023

NOAKES SYDNEY GOLD COAST YACHT RACE 2023

The Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race is the opening race of the 2023/24 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore, which features six races, culminating in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
The 384 nautical mile course takes the fleet from the start line in Sydney Harbour to the finish off at the Southport Yacht Club, Main Beach in Queensland.

The race starts on Saturday, 29th July 2023 from 1pm (CYCA). The fleet starts to arrive at the Southport Yacht Club late Sunday or early morning of Monday and continues over the next few days.

SSSA – BARTERCARD SAIL PARADISE HEADS UP THE SERIES

Set sail for an unforgettable season of yacht racing with the Summer of Sailing Series Australia (SSSA). This prestigious sailing series is in its second year, now spanning four months from October to January, this exhilarating series of races showcases the very best of Australia’s sailing prowess and locations.

With a lineup of five thrilling events across three esteemed yacht clubs – Southport Yacht Club (SYC), Queensland Cruising Yacht Cub (QCYC), and Wynnum Manly Sailing Club (WMSC) – the SSSA is an experience that sailors, families and travellers alike won’t want to miss.

At the heart of the series is the 14th Bartercard Sail Paradise 2023, the first event (Early Bird Entry price ending soon). It’s a mesmerising regatta held at Main Beach (Southport Yacht Club, Gold Coast), a 3-Day Regatta that kicks off the 3 club, 4 month and 5 event series.

The 5 Yachting events in the series are:

Sat 30th Sep – Mon 2nd Oct 2023 – Bartercard Sail Paradise 2023 (RTC & PAS.) (SYC) incl. QLD Yacht Champs
Sat 7th – Sun 8th Oct 2023 – The St Helena Cup 2023 (WMYC)
Sat 18th – Sun 19th Nov 2023 – Ted Elkes Regatta (RTC & PAS.) (SYC)
Sat 13th – Sun 14th Jan 2024 – Julian Rocks Yacht Race (84nm PAS.) (SYC)
Sat 27th Jan 2024 – Surf to City Yacht Race (96nm PAS.) (SYC)

So, pack your boat, gather your crew, and embark on a journey of a lifetime with the Summer of Sailing Series Australia. Bring the family and friends as there is plenty to do. Don’t miss your chance to be part of Australia’s largest sailing series and create memories that will last a lifetime.

We welcome Local, National and International Sailors and Crew to participate in this event, sailing along the stunning coastline of South East Queensland.

For all the information on SSSA 23/24 email sailing@sycgc.com.au

Or for BARTERCARD SAIL PARADISE OCTOBER https://sailparadise.com.au/

Entries are now open and ‘early bird’ entry fees are open until July 31, 2023. https://sailparadise.com.au/entry/

2023 TK ROBERTSON TROPHY RACE by AVISO BROKING

Great to see too many dinghies on the water for the annual TK Robertson Trophy Race this last Sunday.

Fantastic conditions and the predicted storm kept away.

Thank you to our Sponsor – Aviso Broking, Race Officer – Reece Foort and our fantastic volunteers – another safe day on the water.

Junior

1^st Place	Leo Sparshott	FIREBOLT
2^nd Place	Ashton Engel	AFTERBURNER
3^rd Place	Nathaniel McCarthy	SPLASH

Results – Click Here

Senior Trophy

1^st Place	Michael Spies &	Addison Newlan	MARITIMO
2^nd Place	Kelvin Holdt		COMFORTABLY NUMB
3^rd Place	Sam Martland		RELENTLESS

Results – Click Here

2022/23 DINGHY PRESENTATION

Congratulations! Celebrating the achievements of all our dinghy sailors (Junior and Senior) in the 2022/23 sailing season.

Photos can be found on the Southport Yacht Club Facebook – 2022/23 Dinghy Presentation. Click Here.

JUNIOR COMMODORE CHOICE AWARD

The Junior Commodore’s Choice Award goes to one sailor who best exemplifies the spirit of the sport by his/her attitude and who has shown outstanding personal achievement both at the club and away Regattas. …

This year the winner is … Nate McCarthy

RON BLACKLER FOR IMPROVEMENT & ENCOURAGEMENT TO JUNIORS – GRASSROOTS OF SAILING

Ron Blackler was a past caretaker at Hollywell and also a sailor. He spent the majority of his time getting kids into sailing. For Ron, it was always ‘about the kids’. A favourite story after he had injured himself, instead of not finishing a race he swam ashore and asked the kids to get into his boat and finish the race for him. The Ron Blackler Memorial trophy will go to one sailor or parent who best exemplifies the spirit of the sport by his/her attitude towards younger sailors and who encourages others to participate and who has shown dedication and love of sailing. The winner of the Ron Blackler Award is …. Justin Sinnamon

KINGAROY CUP – MOST IMPROVED DINGHY SAILOR

The Kingaroy Cup is one of the oldest Trophies for the Dinghy Division and goes to one junior sailor who best exemplifies the spirit of the sport by his/her attitude and who has shown a willingness to learn and had the drive and perseverance to improve their sailing skills.

The winner is …. Stirling Kelly

ROY HOLDT MEMORIAL TROPHY

I introduced the Roy Holdt Memorial trophy in 2015 after Dad passed away. Dad was not only a very good sailor himself but also had a history of volunteering in sailing from as far back as I can remember.

Dad and a mate rebuilt the New Plymouth Yacht Club, his home club in New Zealand after work when it was demolished by a tornado and was Commodore of that club for 15 years.

After coming to the Gold Coast Dad once again gave his time as a volunteer in the role of Race Officer with the Inshore Division and also helped with the Sydney to Gold Coast. Throughout the years he was also the relief caretaker for our Dux Anchorage.

Since 2019 this person has shown his dedication, continues tireless efforts, jumping into action at a moment’s notice and could be said that has sometimes been front and centre to sailors’ queries in relation to their ill-founded wows about their handicaps, we are proud to announce the winner of the Roy Holdt Memorial Trophy 2022/2023 is: Russell Birse

VICE COMMODORES TROPHY

The prestigious Vice Commodore’s Award, an accolade reserved for individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication, skill, and passion in the world of yachting. This year’s Vice Commodore Award recipient was chosen from a long list of eligible sailors from our much-loved Southport Yacht Club. Yachting is more than just a leisure activity; it embodies the spirit of adventure, resilience, and seamanship. It takes a special kind of individual to truly embrace this lifestyle and become a standout figure in the yachting community. This year’s recipient exemplifies these qualities in every sense, making him an exceptional choice for the Vice Commodore’s Award. Throughout his yachting career, he has demonstrated unparalleled proficiency in navigating the vast seas and captivating our imaginations with his epic voyages and outstanding results. His achievements in yachting are not solely confined to his remarkable sailing abilities. He has extended a helping hand by sharing his expertise with fellow sailors. Beyond his personal accomplishments, he has fostered both junior and senior sailors while dedicating himself to promoting competition and fairness within the yachting industry.

Today, as we honour our Vice Commodore’s Award recipient, let us not only celebrate his individual achievements but also recognise the broader significance of yachting as a sport and a way of life. May his passion for yachting continue to inspire future generations of sailors to set sail, explore the unknown, and leave a positive impact on the world. On behalf of the entire Southport yachting community, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Michael Spies for this well-deserved recognition. Thank you.

2022/2023 LEADING SKIPPER

The Kellond-Knight Family Shield was introduced into SYC in 1974 by the Kellond-Knight family. Phil is one of the founding members of the SYC Sailing Academy at Main Beach in the early 70’s before the opening of the Academy at SYC Hollywell. Phil is still to this day employed by SYC as a Senior Sailing Instructor and has been a willing participant in many events, provides endless hours of Volunteering and has participated in almost every class of racing to this day. The Kellond-Knight Family Shield is the longest-standing trophy for Off The Beach classes.

AWARD CRITERIA

The Champion Skipper Award will be awarded to a Club Champion who had also competed in either their class State and or National Championships. The Divisions eligible are to be considered from OTB Catamarans, OTB Dinghy and Etchell Divisions.

With an impressive:

2^nd at the Australian NS14 Championships, Port Dalrymple Yacht Club, Tasmania

1^st Off the Beach Dinghy Open Championships

The winner of the 2022/23 Kellond Knight Shield – Leading Skipper is Michael Spies and Addison Newlan

The unexpected duo that continues to surprise us with their amazing achievements is Michael Spies and Addison Newlan, sailing Maritimo. Addy was asked to participate in the Maritimo Youth Development Program, which then lead to her invitation to join as crew on Maritimo 11 for Hamilton Island Race week, King of the Derwent, Geelong Race week and then the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race. With his extensive knowledge and ever-lasting experience, Michael has taken Addy under his wing and will be mentoring her to her full potential. Michael is an active member of the club as he is an SYC Senior Instructor, who regularly conducts Safety & Sea Survival courses. His experience also entails his participation in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race annually for over 40 years. Although only 14 years old, Addy has also sailed an extensive amount, experimenting with her O’pen skiff, Laser and Paper Tiger, etc. Under the guidance of Maritimo tradespeople, Addy has restored, repaired and remodelled her Scow Moth, which she will compete in, for the Edinburgh Cup for Classic Moths regatta at SYC, alongside Michael. Congratulations to this team, whose age difference seems to compliment them in the best way possible, securing only success for their sailing endeavours.

2022/2023 GEOFF COURTIS MEMORIAL TROPHY

In the last Volvo Round the World Ocean Race we were able to experience like never before what it’s like in the great Oceans through footage captured by drones and shared on the internet. Before then, apart from the occasional helicopter footage, the only way to know what it’s like out there was to do it yourself.

Geoff Courtis was a SYC sailor who gave a lot of young members in the club the opportunity to experience ocean racing on the boat he and his brothers built.

‘Courtisane’ – a Ross 40 was one of the fastest boats in Queensland in the early eighties so for those who were lucky enough to sail on her it was a real thrill. Geoff sailed in a number of classes including 14-foot skiffs before falling in love with ocean racing up and down the Australian coast. In 1988 Geoff took part in The Bicentennial Around Australia Two Handed Yacht Race with another great SYC sailor (Jim Inglis) on his yacht Boundary Rider. Geoff was on deck taking his watch when a rogue wave flattened the yacht. By the time Jim was able to scramble up the companion way the yacht had righted itself and was again charging off in the gale force conditions. To Jim’s horror, Geoff was not onboard. He was washed off during the knock down and despite the efforts of his skipper who turned back to search for him in what was described as shocking conditions, Geoff was never found.

He was a great man who died doing what he loved and now The Geoff Courtis trophy with over thirty years of recipients has become a source of recognition for those in our sailing fraternity, some of them no longer with us, who have given selflessly to the sport of sailing.

The winner is Ross Manning

Ross’s passion for sailing, together with his commitment to inspiring sailors with disability, prompted him to form the Queensland Para Sailing Academy (QPSA) in 2018 He readily agrees that he is highly motivated in a quest to seek sustainable yacht racing solutions for yachtsmen and yachtswomen with disabilities. He has been the driving force in building a fleet of six SKUD 18 yachts at the Southport Yacht Squadron Hollywell on the Gold Coast. He was the SYC Inshore Division representative for eight years.

Volunteering as an able-bodied sailor at Sailability Gold Coast in 2001 it was not until some 12 years later, following his long rehabilitation, that he became an engaged and committed sailor with disability at Sailability Gold Coast. Today Ross is an integral part of the fabric of Sailability Gold Coast and works passionately to assist in growing our Pathways to Achievement program.

THIS WEEK @ OXENFORD WATERSPORT CENTRE AND SQUAD UPDATE

By: Amber Hudson

This weekend we hosted the second week of our beginner Adult Learn to Sail course, with our keen participants continuing to practise their knot tying, rigging and de-rigging and becoming more versed in yachting terminology. Adult Learn to Sail is designed to help ages 16yrs+ move forward in their sailing journey whether the direction they wish to head after the program is for social, crewing or racing.

This weekend we also hosted our monthly She Sails event celebrating Christmas in July. A smaller group than our usual She Sails crowd due to the cooler weather, but a great day was had as always sailing our Hobi Catamarans around the lake, followed by social drinks and nibbles afterwards. Winter can be a challenging time to continue to attend and enjoy time on the water, with lower temperatures despite the sunny days we have. Well done ladies, it’s been great to see you all adjust to dressing appropriately so you can continue to enjoy sailing all year round.

Coming Up!

Adult Introduction Session at SYC Hollywell THIS SATURDAY 29th July 11-3pm

This month we are trialling an introductory session for some of our adult sailors to SYC Hollywell. The session participants will be sailing Hobie Wave Catamarans in tidal and busy waterways and get the opportunity to see the OTB Catamaran racing and socialise with the sailors at the end of the day.

SAILOR OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to Calvin Ciganek who is the Sailor of the Week.

Calvin comes from a sailing family, so it was a natural progression for him to set sail on his own journey with the sport to see if it was something he would love to do. He began in the SYC Tackers program at the age of nine and hasn’t looked back since! Calvin tells us “I wasn’t a natural sailor and not the best in my fleet”, but over the years he has put in a lot of training and time that has paid off with his skills, knowledge and ability to improve a lot.

This year Calvin has set himself the goal to improve his sailing, focusing on heavy wind boat speed and hiking to be the best I can. With any regatta he enters he aims for first place but knows that each race is a learning opportunity where he can learn from his mistakes, adapt his training and be better for next time.

Calvin demonstrates persistence and dedication, saying that “if you work hard and believe in yourself, you can do anything, just like me”. Well done Calvin, we look forward to seeing you continue progressing and achieving your goals.