The latest update from Australian Sailing's General Manager - Rod Austin

Please click this link to find a copy of all past Victoria General Manager's Updates.

Welcome to the first bimonthly report for 2026, bringing together the latest updates from Australian Sailing and key news from across sailing in Victoria.

Each year it is virtually impossible to capture everything that has occurred across our 75 Victorian sailing clubs, and once again I am genuinely impressed by the volume, variety and quality of sailing delivered in such a short space of time. These activities powerfully reflect the strength, passion and drive that exist across our clubs, volunteers and leaders. This is peak sailing season, when hundreds of people experience sailing for the first time through Tackers, Start Sailing and Discover Sailing programs running right across Victoria; when sailors participate in the sport they love at club, state and national levels; and when others race to Hobart—or are inspired by the iconic Sydney to Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart yacht races. I congratulate everyone involved in these activities, whether as a participant, volunteer, or parent or guardian.

A few recent achievements and important updates worth highlighting include Victoria’s largest sailing event, the Festival of Sails at RGYC, which once again delivered outstanding racing, conditions and festivities. Congratulations to Commodore Paul Buchholz, Event Organiser Phil Francis, the RGYC team and the many volunteers whose efforts made the event such a success.

Across the regions, it is encouraging to see Victorian Government support helping Ballarat Yacht Club re-energise activity, Portland Yacht Club building for the future with new instructors and achieving Discover Sailing status, and the resilience shown by Cairn Curran Sailing Club through its Sail Our Way and SheSails initiatives.

The summer sailing period also serves as a timely reminder of the ongoing importance of on-water safety. I am pleased to commend all affiliated clubs for their strong compliance and focus in this area, with a special mention to Mount Martha Yacht Club for its exemplary response to a recent safety incident and its continued emphasis on safety resources, training and inductions for race and safety crews.

Sail Pass continues to generate discussion following its national promotion. Used well, it remains a valuable tool to reduce risk, welcome visitors, and support sustainable membership growth by helping people feel they truly belong at their club.

Victorian Summer of Sailing Results since Christmas with Victorian National Champions noted:

• Sabre National Titles Lake Cootharaba QLD  Click Here - 1^st Jack Felsenthal (SSCBC), 1^st veteran Alan Riley (McCYC)  , 1^st Grand Masters Stephen Cowell (BYS) . 1^st Female Inga Griffiths- Hunt (BRYC).
• RS Aero Australian Championships, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron  Click here - RS Aero 6 - 1st Rhett Gowans (MMYC, RBYC),1st Female: Megan Ridgway (MMYC) , 1st Youth: Will James (BYS)
• 420 Class Australian Championships Albury Wodonga Sailing Club Click Here  - 1^st William & Stewart Rose (MSC)
• 470 Class Australian Championships Fremantle SC WA  Click Here
• Int. OK Dinghy Australian Championships Fremantle SC WA  Click Here 1^st overall 1^st Roger Blasse (BRYC)
• Int. 505  Australian Championships Fremantle SC WA Click Here
• Festival of Sails, Royal Geelong Yacht Club Click Here
• Pacer National Championship, Albert Park Yacht Club  Click Here - 1^st Jon Pulham & Olga Carlton (APYC)
• Int. Flying Dutchman Australian Championships Metung Yacht Club Click here
• East Gippsland Etchells Championships Metung Yacht Club Click Here
• Victorian Mirror Championships Albert Park Yacht Club Click Here
• Optimist Australian Championship RYCT   TAS  Click Here Green Fleet 1^st Ace Hill SSCBC
• Minnow Australian Championship GLYC Click Here1^st Junior. William Rose (MSC)
• Tasar National Titles Wallaroo Sailing Club SA  Click Here
• VX One Australian Championships RQYS – Click Here
• 96^th Stonehaven Cup RBYC –  Click Here
• 2026 J/70 Australian Championships – RSYS NSW Click here for results
• 2026 King of the Derwent, Derwent Sailing Club  Tas.  Click here  - 1^st IRC, ORC-AP Arcadia Peter Davison RMYS
• ILCA Australian Championships Royal Yacht Club Tasmania  Click Here.
• 29er Australian Championships Sandy Bay Sailing Club Tas. Click Here
• Hobie Nationals Geographe Bay, Busselton WA   Click Here
• NS14 Australian Sailing Championships , Chelsea YC Click Here
• Moth Class and Nikki Australian Championships McCrae YC Click Here
• J24 Australian Championship Sandringham Yacht Club Click Here
• Etchells Australasian Summer Championship Click Here
• Mirror Australian Championships Wynyard SC Click Here
• Mosquito Australian Championships Adelaide SC Click Here - MkI 1^st Matt Stone (SoYC)
• Taipan Australian Championships Adelaide SC Click Here. -  4.9 Mk1 1^st Simon Lyddieth (McCYC)
• S80 State Championship Royal Yacht Club Victoria Click Here  - 1^st Luke Rienehr (SYC)
• Couta Boat National Championships Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club  Click Here  - Div.1 1^st LH & PH David Beck SSCBC Div. 2 LH Sunday Gibson SSCBC,  PH Nick Sankey SSCBC
• Couta Boat Portsea Cup Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club Click Here
• Cock of the Bay ORCV Click here for ORCV Media release Click Here
• Petersville Regatta BYS Click Here
• Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster ORCV Click here
• Sydney to Hobart Click Here -  IRC Div 2 – 1st MRV SYC IRC Veteran 1^st Bacardi SYC  
• PHS ALL 1st Cyan Moon, Wayne Seaward (ORCV, RBYC, SYC)
• International Cadet Australian Championships, Royal Geelong YC - Click here for results 1^st PHS Holly Severino and Arabella Brenan, RYCV
• Impulse Dinghy Australian Championships, Altona Yacht Club - Click here 1^st Mark Bulka McCrae YC
• Paper Tiger Australian Championships – Toukley SC NSW 1^stt Mark Wiggins, (NEWC) Windsport
• 125 Class Australian Championships - Coffin Bay SA Click here  - 1^st Will and Stewart Rose Mordialloc SC (MSC), 1^st Masters Morwenna Griffiths (BRYC) and Bianca Scott (AYC)
• Sharpie Australian Championships – Port Lincoln SA  - Click Here for Results.  

2026 AS Events Schedule 

9-12 April - Australian Sailing Victorian Zhik Youth Sail, (SSCBC). Click Here 
13 June Sailing Summit - (Parkdale YC) 13 June, and there will be regional sailing network meetings scheduled also.
29 August Training in Focus - Live for Instructors and Coaches 29 August, (RBYC)
11 September VIC Sailing Awards - (SYC)

The 2026 training calendar is set to be finalized soon for Coaches, Instructors and Officials courses.

Upcoming – VICTORIAN Interclub/State/National/International Events up until 30/4/2026

• 7-8 February - Eastern Regional Regatta, South Gippsland Yacht Club Click Here
• 12-15 February - Musto Skiff Australian Championships , Mornington Yacht Club Click Here
• 14 Feb - Top of the Bay Regatta, Altona Yacht Club Click Here 
• 14-15 February - Sayers & Co Schnapper Point Regatta Mornington Yacht Club Click Here
• 14-15 February - Inverloch Classic Wooden Dinghy, South Gippsland YC Click Here
• 14-15 February - Yachting Western Victoria Training Weekend – Stawell Yacht Club.
• 14-15 February - Victorian Minnow Championships – Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron Click Here
• 14-15 February - Victorian Trailable Yacht State and Sports Boat Championships – Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club Click Here
• 20 February - GIRLSAIL Davey’s Bay Yacht Club Click Here
• 20-22 February - Sail Peninsula 2026 – Safety Beach Sailing Club Click here
• 21-22 February - Adams 10 Victorian Championship Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron Click Here
• 21-22 February - 2026 ILCA VIC Masters Championships – Mordialloc SC Click Here
• 21-22 February - Victorian Open Skiff Championship - Somers Yacht Club  Click Here
• 1 March - WISC, Race 3 Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series Sandringham YC Click Here
• 6 March - ORCV Melbourne to King Island Click Here
• 7-9 March - J/70 Cup Royal Geelong Yacht Club Click Here
• 7-9 March - Victorian Pacer Championships Davey’s Bya Yacht Club Click Here
• 7-9 March - TLC RS Aero Victorian State Championships SSCBC Click here 
• 7-9 March -  Optimist VIC States need to be included. RBYC. Click here 
  
• 7, 8, 9 March 2026  - Taipan State Titles – 9-11 March 2026 Click here
• 15 March - Jennifer Goldsmith, Race 4 Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series RMYS  Click here
• 21 March - Around French Island Catamaran Race.  Cowes Yacht Club Click Here
• 21-22 March - Victorian Fireball and OK Dinghy Championships Indented Head Yacht Club
• 27 March - Making Waves Charity Regatta Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron 
• 28 March - Port Phillip Sea Pilots Trophy Hobsons Bay Yacht Club Click Here
• 1-7 April - 2026 Australian Hansa Class Championships Ballarat Yacht Club Click Here
• 3-6 April - Metung Easter Youth Regatta. Metung Yacht Club Click Here
• 9-12 April - ZHIK Victorian Youth Sail (Coaching Clinic & Championship)  Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club Click Here
• 15 April - ORCV Launch KISS Sail Our Way (Keelboat Savvy Sailing) for Women Click Here
• 2 & 3 May - Sail Bellarine Indented Head Yacht Club Click Here

The Australian Sailing VIC - Club Support Team

Please do not hesitate to contact the VIC team. Rod Austin – AS Vic Manager – Club Support rod.austin@sailing.org.au 0477522750

Club Support Officers:

• Meg Goodfellow, meg.goodfellow@sailing.org.au
• Alexandra Starkova, alexandra.starkova@sailing.org.au
• Liam Whitehouse (Regional Western Victoria) - liam.whitehouse@sailing.org.au