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Club of the Year - Category A (Formerly Club of the Year)

2022 - 23 Keppel Bay Sailing Club

Keppel Bay Sailing Club grew their membership by 24% through an increased focus on their juniors and learn to sail programs. Throughout the year they hosted a range of successful regattas. The Youth Sail event had 402 registrations and 220 boats, making it the biggest Youth Sail event in Australia. 


2021 - 22 Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club has had an outstanding season, offering a variety of community and training programs that have seen their membership base grow by over 30% in the past year. The club runs a highly successful Sailing Academy which operates on-water six days a week and has recently introduced a veteran’s sailing program which offers courses to the local veteran community.

2020 - 21 Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (VIC)

The ORCV held nine offshore racing events involving more than 274 yachts and 3,244 sailors. They generated community interest via digital promotions resulting in a 35% increase in membership and a 76% increase in training course participation which is a boon for the big boat fleet in Victoria.


2019 - 20 Royal Geelong Yacht Club

Royal Geelong Yacht Club had an incredible year hosting seven major national and international events, the Festival of Sails and the Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong.  The club has dedicated itself to focussing on community engagement, club accessibility and female participation.


2018 - 2019 Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club were rewarded for 11 percent growth in membership over the past 12 months and other great achievements such as a 107% increase in its Youth Keelboat Program in 2018-19, their coaching programs expanding to three tiers and the club increased the number of girls in the Squad program from zero to 10.


2017 - 2018 Sandringham Yacht Club (VIC)


2016 - 2017 Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club


2015 - 2016 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS) saw its most successful year in 2015/16, having increased its membership consortium from 3200 to 3600 members during this time. The increase demonstrates the Squadron’s strong performance in membership acquisition and retention, which are currently at historic best-ever levels. The RQYS has structured its membership opportunities to support the transition from social to on-water participation for every member >> Nomination Citation


2014 - 2015 Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club

The Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club (SSCBC) has grown to have the largest sailing club membership in Victoria with a retention rate of over 95% and growth of approximately 10% per annum over the past few years.  The SSCBC is an inclusive club and an active community participant. The Club has a long standing Marine Safety Program which enables 30 students each year to obtain their recreational powerboat license with theory and on-water experience focused on seamanship skills to safely operate a vessel in a variety of conditions >> Nomination Citation


2013 - 14 Wynyard Yacht Club

Wynyard Yacht Club is in located in a small town of Tasmania, with a population of 5000 people, the yacht club continues to grow, with memberships increasing from 48 to 84 over the past year.  Wynyard Yacht Club became an accredited Discover Sailing Centre, running Discover Sailing each fortnight with approximately 20-30 participants attending each session, with club members giving up their racing to train new members.  Further to this, the club saw 28 students pass through their Tackers program. Wynyard Yacht Club offers its equipment and building to local surf clubs, assisted in six Tasmanian Police search and rescue operations and in a town with the highest level of youth unemployment, the club offers sponsorship and discounted membership to disadvantaged youth and families.