The latest updates from Australian Sailing's General Manager – Queensland – Annie Watson

Please click this link to find a copy of all past Queensland General Managers Updates.

General Update

As always there is a lot going on in Queensland! The team has been busy out and about supporting clubs, classes and communities across the state. Di and Alison have been on the road visiting clubs in regions including the Whitsundays and Cairns, providing opportunities to connect, understand local priorities and support clubs with their ongoing development.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Windsurfing Nationals in Yeppoon, which showcased the exciting growth of this class with more than 100 boards competing across senior, youth and junior fleets. It was fantastic to see the energy, talent and enthusiasm within the windsurfing community, with exciting times ahead for this part of our sport.

Congratulations also to Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club, who recently delivered two successful Discover Sailing Days, helping introduce new participants to sailing and creating opportunities for their local community to get involved.

Our instructors are at the heart of growing sailing, and Training in Focus Live is a great opportunity to invest in their development, share ideas and connect with others delivering sailing programs across Queensland. We recently hosted our Queensland event at Southport Yacht Club, with strong attendance and great engagement from instructors and Discover Sailing Centres. Everyone walked away with new ideas, valuable insights and stronger connections across our instructor network.

Youth Sail Queensland is shaping up to be another fantastic event, with more than 100 entries already received. It’s exciting to see such strong interest from young sailors across the state and we look forward to bringing the Queensland sailing community together for another great week of racing, learning and connection.

We are also pleased to welcome members of the Australian Sailing Board, who will be attending the event to experience firsthand the incredible work being done to support youth sailing and the future of our sport. https://www.sailingyouth.org.au/youth-sail-qld/

I recently enjoyed a well-earned two-week break, and over the coming weeks Di and Alison will also take some time to recharge. Our team works hard throughout the year to support Queensland clubs, and taking time away allows us to return refreshed, energised and ready to continue providing the best possible support. We remain committed to being available for our clubs and will continue working together to ensure you have the support you need.

Wishing everyone heading to Airlie Beach Race Week, Hamilton Island Race Week and Magnetic Island Race Week fantastic sailing and plenty of fun on the water. These iconic events are a wonderful celebration of our sport, bringing together sailors, clubs and communities from across Queensland and beyond. Enjoy the racing, the camaraderie and everything that makes sailing such a great sport to be part of.

It’s Awards Season!

This is one of my favourite times of the year as we come together to celebrate the incredible people who make our Queensland sailing community so special.

Nominations have now closed, and we are thrilled to have received a record-breaking number of nominations for this year’s Queensland Sailing Awards. The response is a wonderful reflection of the passion, dedication and contribution of so many sailors, volunteers, coaches, officials and clubs across our state.

The finalists will be announced very soon, so make sure you’re following along and getting ready to celebrate the outstanding people and achievements that make our sailing community so strong.

Join us on Friday 11 September at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron for the Queensland Sailing Awards as we celebrate our amazing community. We look forward to seeing clubs from across Queensland come together for a fantastic night recognising the people who make our sport what it is. https://www.sailing.org.au/community/sailing-awards

Queensland Regional Advisory Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting

Following the deregistration of Yachting Queensland in March 2026, Australian Sailing invited nominations from Queensland clubs to establish the Queensland Regional Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC is a committee of Australian Sailing, elected by Queensland clubs, and provides an important link between clubs and the national body.

The inaugural RAC meeting was held this week, bringing together representatives from across Queensland who are committed to supporting and strengthening our sport. The RAC will play an important role in advocating for clubs, providing local insight on state-based issues, contributing to Australian Sailing’s strategic direction, supporting government and industry advocacy, and ensuring strong communication and feedback between clubs and Australian Sailing.

We are still seeking a North Queensland representative for clubs north of Bowen to join the RAC and ensure the voice of northern clubs is strongly represented. If you are interested in finding out more about the role and how you can contribute, please get in touch—I’d love to have a conversation with you.

We look forward to working with the RAC and the broader Queensland sailing community as we continue to build a strong and sustainable future for sailing across the state.

Your RAC members are:

Kerry Noyes – Southport Yacht Club – Chair

Tim McCall – Capricornia Cruising Yacht Club

Jennifer Anderson – Darling Point Sailing Squadron

Paul Armstrong – Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club

Tim Hunt – Lake Samsonvale Watersports Association

Tommy Jordan – Mackay Sailing Club

You can read more about the RAC here https://www.sailing.org.au/qld/qld-committee

Sail Lab – Connecting Sailing and STEM

Sail Lab continues to grow as we connect sailing with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities for students across Queensland. We recently delivered a teacher professional development day at Southport Yacht Club and attended the CanASTA STEM Teacher Conference in Brisbane, showcasing how sailing can be used as an engaging platform for classroom learning. We will also be attending a STEM teacher workshop on the Gold Coast in September to continue building awareness and partnerships with schools.

If your club has a local school that may be interested in the Sail Lab program, please reach out to Di or Alison with the school details and we can make contact to explore the opportunity. Sail Lab is a great way for clubs to build stronger connections with their local community and introduce more young people to the sport of sailing. https://www.sailingresources.org.au/saillab

Australian Yachting Championships Coming to Queensland

Queensland is set to host one of Australia’s premier offshore sailing events, with the Australian Yachting Championships being held at Southport Yacht Club as part of The Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2026 this October. This will be a fantastic showcase of high-level keelboat racing, bringing together some of the best sailors and crews from across the country to compete on the iconic Gold Coast waters.

Sail Paradise is much more than a regatta—it’s a celebration of sailing, with great racing, a vibrant shoreside atmosphere and the opportunity for crews and families to enjoy everything the Gold Coast has to offer. There is still time to enter, so don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this national championship event. Get your crew together, secure your entry and join us at Southport Yacht Club this October.

New offshore race for Queensland

One of Queensland's exciting new offshore events has made a strong debut, with Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron launching the Brisbane to Bundaberg Yacht Race. Covering 290 nautical miles, the race is now part of the Queensland Offshore Sailing Championships and offers competitors another outstanding offshore challenge on the Queensland sailing calendar.

The success of the inaugural event was made possible through the collaboration between Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Bundaberg Sailing Club and Bundaberg Regional Council, who worked together to create a fantastic long weekend experience for competitors and supporters alike. Every detail was considered, including a bus service from Bundaberg back to Brisbane for competitors after the race. https://www.sailing.org.au/news/champions-crowned-of-inaugural-brisbane-to-bundaberg-yacht-race

If you missed the inaugural edition, be sure to mark 16 June 2027 in your calendar. This is an event that is set to become a highlight of Queensland's offshore racing season.

Regional Coaching Success in Townsville

The NorthSail Coaching Clinic hosted by Townsville Sailing Club was a fantastic success, bringing together young sailors from across Queensland for three days of high-quality coaching, skill development and connection. Led by experienced Australian Sailing coaches, the clinic provided sailors with the opportunity to develop their racing skills, while also giving local coaches and families valuable insights into the pathways available as sailors progress through the sport. https://www.sailing.org.au/news/regional-coaching-clinics-connect-queenslands-sailing-community-

The momentum continued with the inaugural Performance Pathways Wing Camp, held immediately after NorthSail, providing emerging foiling sailors with a dedicated opportunity to develop their racing skills and work with high-performance coaches in Townsville. This focus on connecting regional events with development opportunities is helping create stronger pathways for Queensland sailors.

Coming up next is the Para Wing Camp, continuing the commitment to creating more opportunities for sailors across different pathways and supporting the growth of foiling and inclusive sailing in Queensland. It’s exciting to see Townsville Sailing Club playing such an important role in showcasing what can be achieved when clubs, coaches and Australian Sailing work together. https://www.sailing.org.au/news/para-inclusive-wing-development-series-heads-to-townsville

Game Plan

The Australian Sports Commission self-assessment program for clubs is an essential part of the governance of your club.Game Plan has been developed to enable clubs to make the lives of sporting club volunteers and leaders easier and ensure important club information is stored in one place, so that over time, as things change and progress, the club has a trusted record of information. If you haven’t created your login Alison and Di will be happy to help.If you need further help with completing the modules we can provide support for that too.Ideally completing Game Plan will become an annual refresh for the committee to help with planning for the new year.

Why It’s important to complete Game Plan

Play Well is the Australian Sport Commission’s Participation Strategy. The investment Funding for National Sporting Organisations for Participation has changed and there are 6 criteria that make up the decision on Australian Sailing funding amount.Game Plan is one of the criteria counting 3% overall to our funding.We need your help by registering and completing modules.

So not only will you gain a better view of your club by completing the modules honestly, you will help us get more funding to help you. Game Plan will help you examine how you operate and build and improve your capacity. https://www.ausport.gov.au/gameplan

Take Advantage of the Support Available

Your Australian Sailing Queensland team is here to support your club throughout the year, not just when a challenge arises. Whether you're planning for the future, looking to grow participation, strengthen governance, develop volunteers, access funding opportunities, or enhance coaching and race management, we're ready to help. Every club is different, and the more we understand your goals and aspirations, the better we can connect you with the right advice, resources and opportunities. If you haven't reached out recently, now is a great time to book a visit or start a conversation. We're here to work alongside you to help your club thrive.

If you have any questions on the above topics, please contact the General Manager - QLD, Annie Watson at annie.watson@sailing.org.au . You can find a complete list of Australian Sailing Contacts – here.