JEFF THORPE MEMORIAL CUP – SEASON OPENER JaM RACE! 

Sailing into the Season: Remembering Jeff Thorpe

The first JAM race of the new sailing season carries a special meaning for Inshore fleet sailors. It was dedicated to the memory of our much-loved sailor, Mr. Jeff Thorpe, who brought his Scarlett O’Hara, a Noelex 30, all the way from New Zealand in the late ’80s. Jeff remained an active and passionate sailor at SYC for decades.

Over the years, Scarlett O’Hara passed through the hands of several club members, and today she sails under a new name—Cool Change—owned and helmed by Col Metcher.

To honour Jeff’s contribution to our sailing community, his wife Maree, along with her son and grandson Oden, joined us at the club. Together, they presented the beautiful memorial trophy for the season’s opening JAM race. Congratulations to Brad and Bobbet, the double-handed team on Sophie (Elliot 5.9), who took home the honours. Second place went to Darren on Ocean Racer Chaser, while Peter and Graham on Argo took third.

20 Boats on the Line! We had a fantastic turnout with 20 boats competing. Mystique was the first boat to across the starting line at 16:35, followed by Argo. The Etchells fleet, as tradition has it, started last, with the final boat starting at 16:54.

The course set off from the SYC tower, heading upwind towards Ephraim Island and around the Sovereign mark, with all marks taken to starboard. From there, it was a long, slow downwind leg with the headsails mostly on goosewing, sailing south along the eastern side of Crab Island, around John Elks, and then back to the finish.

The fastest elapsed time was 1 hour 30 minutes, by Sneaky Ninja helmed by Michael. At the other end of the fleet, the final boat enjoyed 2 hours 13 minutes and 45 sec on the water—plenty of time to soak up the conditions.

JAM (Jib and Main) remains the most popular race for our Inshore fleet, and this race reminded us why. The evening wrapped up with a glorious sunset, shared laughter, and more than a few drinks. Some crews had their ‘bars’ open before the start, while others—like us—waited until rounding Sovereign Island before settling in with a sip, watching the colours fade across the water. It was a perfect start to the season: competitive, social, and full of the spirit Jeff Thorpe loved about sailing.

LAKE COOTHARABA ALLBOATS REGATTA 

Last weekend our Southport Yacht Club sailors put in a strong showing at the Lake Cootharaba Allboats Regatta, with great results across both junior and senior fleets. Racing was held in fresh conditions on Saturday, with gusts up to 28 knots making for challenging starts and testing boat handling, before easing on Sunday to allow for closer, more tactical racing.

In the Optimist fleet, SYC juniors Jozee Fowler (Barracuda) sailed consistently to take out 1st overall, Mariella Brady (Sea Biscuit) secured 2nd place, and Adam Hardy (Raptor) claimed 3rd place. Division 4 also saw success for the club, with Michael Spies and Teegan Mitchell finishing 2nd overall in their Heron Maritimo in the nine-boat fleet. Ella Ware represented SYC in the ILCA 6 class with Riptide, taking on the big fleet and challenging winds to further her regatta experience.

The event was well run by Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club, who provided excellent race management and hospitality. For SYC sailors, the regatta proved to be a valuable stepping stone in gaining experience at away events and building confidence on the water.

QUEENSLAND TEAMS SHINE AT 9th SHESAILS OPEN REGATTA 

Tomoko Nakanishi from Southport Yacht Club, Bronnie Thompson from Wynnum Manly Yacht Club, and Meg Houston from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron came together to represent Queensland at the 9th SheSails Open Regatta on Newcastle Harbour for an action-packed weekend of sailing. A total of seven teams competed in windward/leeward courses over two days:

Day 1 opened with a gale warning, winds gusting over 35 knots from W/ SW. With the AP flag onshore and conditions fluctuating, all crews eventually took to the water. Racing in the heavy breeze was intense, and after five races, our crew came back exhausted but exhilarated.

Day 2 brought more manageable conditions, starting at 10 knots with occasional gusty winds from Westerly. All six races were completed in tricky, shifty winds, making for a challenging but rewarding day. In total, 11 races across two days tested skills, teamwork, and endurance. It was an unforgettable weekend filled with excitement, learning, and camaraderie on the water.  Team Queensland was delighted to finish third overall, gaining valuable experience in such competitive conditions.

SYC ACADEMY

Sailing at Oxenford – by Ashlea Kernahan

We’ve wrapped up another fantastic School Holiday Sailing Program, with over 120 kids across the two weeks enjoying time on the water, learning new skills, and making friends. The second week brought warm sunny days with light to moderate breezes – perfect conditions to build confidence and keep the fun going. Thank you to our incredible team of instructors for creating such a welcoming and supportive environment, and to all the parents for getting their sailors involved these holidays. We loved seeing so many smiling faces each day.

This Sunday, our July Adult Learn to Sail course continued, with participants progressing well and starting to master the basics of sailing with confidence.

Sailor of the Week – Jerome Bae (Teens)

This week, we’re celebrating Jerome Bae from our Teens group! Jerome has shown excellent focus and determination on the water these holidays, tackling every challenge with a positive attitude. Well done, Jerome!

Upcoming Programs

Adult Learn to Sail – August Intake
Starts Sunday, August 3
Perfect for beginners — 3 Sundays, no experience needed.
Register here: https://www.oxenfordwatersportscentre.com.au/events/273241

Term 3 Kids & Teens Learn to Sail
Starting this weekend – limited spots remaining.
Book Now: https://southportyachtclub.com.au/sailing/sailing-academy/

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RACING RESULTS 2025/2026

 

SYC Special Events:

• Keel Boat Special Event Results
• Off The Beach Special Event Results

 

Club Division Results:

• Offshore Division Results
• Thursday Twilight Offshore Series Results
• Thursday Twilight Results
• Inshore Division Results
• Off the Beach Catamarans Division
• Off the Beach Dinghies Results