The latest update from Australian Sailing's NSW & ACT General Manager - Niall Powers.

Read all previous General Manager updates here.

Welcome to the October update from the NSW & ACT Club Support team.

It has been a busy couple of months for our team, starting with the NSW & ACT Sailing Awards, where we celebrated the individuals, clubs and events making a significant contribution to our sport. We also attended the BIA Boating Industry Drop-In Day at NSW Parliament, advocating for issues affecting community sailing clubs, including Crown land lease costs, tenure certainty and the need for affordable and sustainable lease arrangements.

At the beginning of October, more than 300 sailors gathered at Lake Macquarie for another successful Zhik Youth Sail NSW, demonstrating the strength of youth sailing across our region. Attention now turns to Canberra, where sailors will come together this weekend for Zhik Youth Sail ACT.

We also recently farewelled Jess Tames after four years with the Club Support Team. During her time with Australian Sailing, Jess made a significant contribution to supporting clubs, volunteers and coordinating workforce training courses. We thank Jess for all of her work and wish her all the very best for the future. Recruitment for a new Club Support Officer will commence shortly, and we look forward to welcoming a new team member to the NSW/ACT team.

NSW & ACT Sailing Award Winners

The 2026 NSW & ACT Sailing Awards brought together sailors, volunteers, coaches, officials and supporters from across New South Wales and ACT to celebrate another outstanding year for our sport. The quality of nominations received this year once again demonstrated the depth of talent and dedication that exists throughout NSW and the ACT. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations, supported nominees and attended the awards presentation. Click here to see the NSW & ACT Award Winners.

We are excited to see so many NSW & ACT finalists in the national Australian Sailing Awards, which will be held on Friday 30 October in Sydney. Congratulations to all finalists and we look forward to celebrating at the end of this month! Read the National Awards finalist announcement.

An outstanding week at Zhik Youth Sail NSW 2026!

Zhik Youth Sail NSW 2026 welcomed more than 300 sailors from across NSW, the ACT, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia for a week of coaching, racing and fun! Lake Macquarie once again delivered spectacular conditions for the event, with sailors experiencing a variety of weather and wind patterns throughout the week.

The event commenced with a three-day Coaching Clinic, providing sailors with the opportunity to develop their boat handling, racing skills and confidence under the guidance of 20 experienced youth sailing coaches. The second half of the week featured the NSW Youth Championships and Green Fleet Program, with sailors putting their skills into practice across a range of conditions on the racecourse.

A huge thank you to the volunteers, race officials, coaches and support crews who contributed their time throughout the week. We would also like to acknowledge our host club, Toronto Amateur Sailing Club, and thank our partner clubs Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club, Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto, Belmont 16s and Wangi Amateur Sailing Club for their generous support through facilities, resources, volunteers and coaches.

Photos and media from the event are available on the Australian Sailing NSW & ACT Facebook and Instagramchannels. Results from the NSW Youth Championships can be viewed here: Zhik Youth Sail website.

Zhik Youth Sail ACT This Weekend

The focus now shifts to Canberra, with Zhik Youth Sail ACT 2026 taking place this weekend on Lake Burley Griffin. Hosted by Canberra Yacht Club and YMCA Canberra Sailing Club, the event provides junior and youth sailors with another opportunity to continue their development through coaching, racing and social activities in a fun and supportive environment.

Zhik Youth Sail ACT takes place from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October. We look forward to welcoming sailors from across the region and seeing another great Youth Sail event delivered by our ACT sailing community.

Advocacy at NSW Parliament

Australian Sailing recently attended the Boating Industry Association (BIA) Boating Industry Drop-In Day at NSW Parliament, meeting with several MPs and key Government officials to advocate for issues affecting community sailing clubs across NSW. Representing Australian Sailing were Niall Powers, General Manager Club Support NSW/ACT, and Glen Stanaway, Head of Governance & Integrity. 

The event provided an important opportunity to highlight the growing challenges many clubs face around Crown land lease costs and tenure uncertainty. We advocated for more affordable lease arrangements, longer lease terms that provide clubs with the confidence to invest in facilities and infrastructure, and greater consultation with community sporting organisations on matters that directly impact their operations and long-term sustainability.

Australian Sailing will continue working with government and industry partners to ensure the interests of sailing clubs and their members are represented in these important discussions. Thank you to the BIA for organising the event and to the NSW Parliamentary Group for Aquatic Recreation for hosting us at NSW Parliament.

Discover Sailing Month – November is around the corner!

November is Discover Sailing Month, and clubs across NSW and the ACT are encouraged to get involved by hosting a Discover Sailing Day. These events provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase your club, welcome new participants and introduce people of all ages to the sport. Whether attendees are stepping onto a boat for the first time or reconnecting with sailing after many years, these events play an important role in growing your club membership and participation.

With many clubs already planning activities, now is the time to ensure your event is published and promoted. Australian Sailing will continue to support clubs through national marketing and promotional activities throughout the month.

Action item for Clubs: If your club is hosting a Discover Sailing Day, ensure your event is published in revSPORT and promoted through your club communication channels to maximise participation. View more information & marketing resources here.

Changes to Transaction Fees within revSPORT

On July 1, Australian Sailing sent out communications to all Clubs, Classes and Centres regarding upcoming changes to the functionality of transaction fees within revSPORT. This was in response to national changes surrounding transaction fees being made by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions for Clubs, Classes and Discover Sailing Centres on how to navigate this change:

• Absorbing Fees adjustment in RevSPORT

• Frequently Asked Questions

Upcoming Training Courses

As the 2026-27 season is now underway, we are beginning to plan and schedule 2027 courses for Instructor, Coach and Official’s training. Discover Sailing Centres can express interest in hosting a course by emailing nsw@sailing.org.au

Courses available for registration:

• Dinghy Instructor Course. 30-31 January. RSYS.
• Other course dates TBA.

Upcoming Events - NSW & ACT

The NSW & ACT Events Calendar is a valuable planning tool for clubs, class associations and event organisers across the region. The calendar has been developed to help club officials identify potential clashes, coordinate major events and gain visibility of sailing activity happening throughout NSW and the ACT. We encourage all clubs and class associations to review the calendar when planning their annual schedules and to submit their upcoming regattas and major club events.

View the calendar: NSW & ACT Sailing Events Calendar

Action item for Clubs: Review your upcoming events and ensure they have been added to the calendar. Email nsw@sailing.org.au if you require access to the calendar.

If your Club is looking for guidance – whether in planning, participation growth, training delivery, governance, or event support – please reach out to our team. We are here to assist.

You can find a fill list of Australian Sailing Contacts – here.