SYC SQUAD HEAD TO YEPPOON! 

Best of luck to all our Academy legends in Yeppoon this week representing SYC. More updates to come!

 

FIRST OFFSHORE PASSAGE OF THE SEASON 

Sunday proved ideal conditions for our Offshore fleet’s first passage race of the season! Check out coverage of the start filmed by Offshore rep Barry Berg on the dedicated Offshore & Twilight Facebook group here.

Last Saturday say the running of the CYCA’s Flinders Island Race the 90 nautical mile race which took the 40 strong fleet from Sydney Harbour around Flinders Island ( abeam of Wollongong ) and returning to the Harbour. It was our first hit out in the 1904 built 32 footer  Maritimo Katwinchar since we were forced to retire from last years Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.while in a strong position.Last year we raced 2 Handed but for this years 80th Hobart we have elected to go fully crewed.

The race started in a fresh South Westerly with the race record almost certainly under serious threat.The fleet got out the harbour largely unscathed after a super quick,colourful and exciting spinnaker run out the harbour.Breezes of upto 30 knots couple with some unseasonal strong south bound current made for a very wet trip down to the Island which we rounded some 7 Hours after the 1000hrs start.While we were still heading south the bigger boats who had already rounded the Island passed us heading north absolutely flying with URM and Moneypenny sitting on 27 Knots.That was the order they finished across the line with the positions reversed for Handicap honours.

Maritimo Katwinchar finished around midnight in a dying breeze.While not featuring on the podium in the conditions that were always going to favour the larger boats we were nevertheless happy with our solid mid fleet finish.The boat will remain based in Sydney up until Boxing Day with both the Bird Island Race and Cabbage Tree Island Races yet to come for Maritimo Katwinchar before the Sydney Hobart.

Next Monday will see the boat installed at the Australian National Maritime Museum to compliment the 2 week display of other vessels that are over 100 years old. At 121 years of age Maritimo Katwinchar is the oldest boat ever to have competed in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.

FIRST TWILIGHT OF THE SEASON 

Last Thursday offered up some spectacular champagne sailing conditions for the first twilight race of the season. Many familiar faces were ripping it around the race course in quintessential Gold Coast style. Welcome back Thursday twilight racing! If you haven’t already entered the season, get onto it now and enter here.

 

Sailing into the Season: Remembering Jeff ThorpeThe 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.

VOLUNTEERS TRAINING DAY 

Last week, our Sailing Volunteers took advantage of the series break with an on-water training day at Hollywell. The morning started with presentations from our Race Officials and Powerboat Fleet Volunteers, who outlined the different roles and responsibilities involved in running sailing events.

The afternoon was spent on the water, where volunteers rotated through a series of rescue drills. These included towing boats, righting capsized dinghies, and recovering a man overboard. The hands-on training provided everyone with an opportunity to build confidence, practice teamwork, and refresh important safety skills. Days like these play a vital role in keeping our volunteer team prepared and connected, ensuring SYC events run smoothly for our sailor’s both on and off the water.

 

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