News
General Manager - NSW/ACT Update December 2025
Published Wed 03 Dec 2025
The latest updates from Australian Sailing NSW/ACT General Manager - Niall Powers
Read all previous General Manager updates here.
General Update
Welcome to the December update from the NSW & ACT Club Support team. In this update we will look back on the success of the Sailing Awards, recent club visits, share some exciting updates for clubs and Discover Sailing Centres, and look ahead to a busy summer of sailing!
Since October, the NSW & ACT Club Support team has been busy visiting various clubs and Discover Sailing Centres. Last month, Craig dropped into clubs in the south Sydney areas to see their Tackers and Start Sailing programs in action, providing in person support and development for DSC Principals and Instructors, as well as completing Centre reviews. Jess has also been out and about visiting clubs in the Sydney Metro and Lake Macquarie areas to check in on their progress with membership and participation.
Back in October, I visited the Sailing event as part of the Australian Masters Games. Congratulations to the sailing community in the Australian Capital Territory who supported this huge event! And just last week, I visited clubs along the Northern NSW coast (from Clarence River to Richmond River and Tweed Heads) to meet with their representatives and check in on their progress. It is terrific to hear from representatives about successes that they experience with membership growth, participation and events during these meetings, however we also need to acknowledge the significant challenges that clubs and their members face in the current financial climate. Our team is here to assist clubs and DSCs with advice, guidance and resources – please get in touch with myself, Jess or Craig via our contact details below.
Australian Sailing Awards
On Friday 14 November, at the National Maritime Museum, we celebrated the national finalists and winners at the Australian Sailing Awards. Six of the fifteen awards were won by individuals, teams and organisations from New South Wales. Our congratulations to:
• Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project – Club of the Year (Category B)
• James Mayo – Male Sailor of the Year – RSYS/RPEYC
• Team Magpie – Team of the Year – Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club/Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
• Julia Hornsby – Volunteer of the Year – Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
• Jacqueline Ellis – Sport Professional Award - Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
• Making Waves Foundation – Sport Promotion Award
• Nathan Outteridge – Hall of Fame Inductee – Wangi Amateur Sailing Club
• Iain Jensen – Hall of Fame Inductee – Wangi Amateur Sailing Club
Read more here >
View photos here >
Sail our Way Update
We are proud to share that 55 sailing clubs and class associations across Australia have been successful in receiving a ‘Sail Our Way’ grant. The ‘Sail Our Way’ Grant Program, funded through the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Play Our Way initiative, supports sailing clubs and class associations to deliver projects that create safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for women and girls. A second round of Sail Our Way grants will open in 2026, providing another opportunity for clubs that were unsuccessful in this round or those clubs/ class associations who wish to deliver new programs next year. Learn more here >
Australian Sailing is also excited to announce the second round of the ‘Sail Our Way’ RS Feva program is open. This initiative provides subsidies for double-handed RS Feva dinghies. The RS Feva class offers both social and competitive pathways for sailors of all ages, and this program will help grow opportunities for women and girls through DSC programs, coaching, and competitive pathways across Australia. Express interest here >
SailPass
Does your club offer SailPass? SailPass is a means by which a non-member can go sailing at your Club – it’s a form of introductory or short-term membership (for a day); a simple way to get more people having fun in boats at your club and breaks down lots of barriers to sailing. SailPass is accessible, welcoming, quick, easy & affordable.
Top 10 reasons for using SailPass >
ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS: Set up SailPass at your club >
Emergency Plus- Mobile App
The Sydney Harbour Friday Twilight Inquiry recommended that each skipper/boat captain/yacht owner download the Emergency Plus App on their phone. Australian Sailing recommends Emergency Plus (also presented as Emergency+) because of its universal nature. Emergency Plus is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their Government and industry partners. The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to help a Triple Zero (000) caller provide critical location details required to mobilise emergency services. If the emergency services know where you are, it might save someone’s life.
ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS:Share this information article with your members >
NSW Boating Survey
Transport for NSW is conducting research to better understand people’s experiences with recreational boating on NSW waterways, from kayaking and canoeing to sailing, powerboating and riding personal watercraft. Feedback will play an important role in shaping future maritime safety communications and resources, helping promote safe and responsible use of our waterways. Complete the survey >
Proposed changes to the WWCC now open for consultation
The Office of the Children’s Guardian is inviting the community to have their say with the release of a discussion paper to support the review of legislation that underpins the Working with Children Check (WWCC). The review aims to ensure the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 continues to protect children and young people, while remaining clear, fair and effective, and may lead to changes in how key terms are defined, who may require a WWCC, and how decisions are made.
Training Courses
Face to face training courses for 2025 have now wrapped up. 2026 courses are now available and taking enrolments, however we recommend registering early as there is strong demand for Instructor, Coach and Officials training courses. If you can’t find a course for you, please send an expression of interest (nsw@sailing.org.au).
• Instructor & Coach Training
• Officials Training
Don’t forget, Australian Sailing has a number of online learning courses which is your first starting point for training your club volunteers, committee members, race officials, instructors & coaches. Log in to the Australian Sailing Learning Centre here >
NSW & ACT Events Calendar
Upcoming sailing events in NSW & ACT!
• Australian Maxi Championship / Fri 5 to Tue 9 Dec / CYCA
• 18ft Skiff NSW Championship / Sun 7, 14 & 21 Dec / Australian 18 footers
• 12ft Skiff NSW Championship / Sat 6 to Sun 7 Dec / LC12’SSC
• Sydney Hobart Classic Yacht Regatta / Fri 12 to Sun 14 Dec / CYCA
• Windsurfer NSW Championship / Sat 13 to Sun 14 Dec / Bay Sailing Centre
• Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race / Sat 26 Dec / CYCA
• Flying Eleven Australian Championship / Sat 27 Dec to Fri 2 Jan / Belmont 16’s
• Paper Tiger, Arrow and Arafura National Championship / Fri 2 to Tue 6 Jan / Toukley SC
• 12ft Skiff Interdominion Championship / Sat 3 to Sat 10 Jan / Australian 18 footers
• 16ft & 13ft Skiff Australian Championship / Sun 4 to Sun 11 Jan / Belmont 16’s
• Heron Australian Championship / Mon 5 to Sun 11 Jan / Wangi ASC
• Raceboard Australian Championship / Thu 8 to Sun 11 Jan / IYC
• Helly Hansen International / Mon 19 to Fri 23 Jan / CYCA
• O’pen Skiff Australian Championship / Mon 19 to Sat 24 Jan / Manly YC
• iQFoil & Wing Foil Australian Championships / Tue 20 to Sun 25 Jan / Wangi ASC
You can view all upcoming Club and Class sailing events on the NSW and ACT webpages.
ACTION ITEM FOR CLUBS: Add your events to the calendar! Contact nsw@sailing.org.au for information on how to add your events to the calendar.
Christmas Office Closure
The Australian Sailing Head Office, including the NSW & ACT Club Support team, will be closed after Friday 19 December. We will be back on deck from Monday 5 January 2025.
Contact our TeamCraig, Jess and I are available to answer your questions by phone, email, face-to-face or via an online meeting.
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