Annual General Meeting 2026
The AGM will be held this Sunday 26th July at 2.30pm. To reach a Quorum, the club requires 20% of the following member category to be in attendance.
- Senior,
- The primary adult members of a Family membership, and
- Life members.
As we have received two nominations for Vice Commodore; there will be a vote at the AGM to determine the successful candidate. Previous communication with instructions on proxy voting is no longer valid, please refer to email that was sent to all members at 2.15pm today. Eligible votes can only be accepted by members in the above categories who are in attendance at the time of the vote.
Candidate statements from the two nominees were sent out to all members on Monday 20th July. Here they are again if you missed them:
Nomination for Vice Commodore - Fiona Lowe
I have been a member of the Club for over 10 years. During that time, I have enjoyed
watching my family grow as sailors and, more importantly, being part of this wonderful
community orientated sailing club.
For the past three years, I have proudly served as a General Member on the Executive
Committee. Some of my achievements during my time on committee include;
• Junior Sailing Coordinator and revamping the programme to where it is today.
• Created the preputial Ciaran's Cup Trophy - Junior Keel Boat sailing.
• Yard Improvements - Storage solutions for OPT's, improved OTB yard storage
system and Spa Loacker use.
• Assisting with the Race Tower refurbishment
• Managed the club's social media and newsletters
• Attended several Australian Sailing Conferences to ensure SBSC is compliant.
• Advocating for improvements to our club website.
If elected, I will work alongside the Executive Committee to continue improving our club
by:
• Providing more regular feedback to all members regarding committee projects,
improvement plans and going ons' around the club.
• Work with Snooks Catering to improve storage solutions and upgrade equipment
were necessary.
• Consult with all membership categories (OTB, Keelboat, Social etc,) to better
understand their needs for our club and yard.
• Establishing a dedicated House Committee to better coordinate maintenance and
facility
I would be honoured to have your support for the position of Vice Commodore and
offer a fresh perspective t this role
Nomination for Vice Commodore - Ross Martin
Dear Members,
I am seeking your support for my nomination for the position of Vice Commodore at the 2026
Annual General Meeting.
Having served on the Executive Committee for 12 years, including four years as Commodore, I
have developed a strong understanding of how our club operates and the importance of working
collaboratively for the benefit of all members.
One of the most rewarding aspects of club life for me has been welcoming new members and
introducing prospective members to Safety Beach Sailing Club. I take great pride in sharing the
benefits of membership and encouraging participation in the many opportunities our club offers.
Whether you are a keelboat sailor, an off-the-beach sailor, or a social member, I believe every
member deserves equal support and representation. If elected, I will continue to work in the best
interests of the entire club.
Having been a member of Safety Beach Sailing Club for more than 50 years, the club is truly my
second home. I am passionate about preserving our proud history while helping guide the club
towards a strong, harmonious and inclusive future.
By working together, respecting our traditions and embracing new opportunities, we can ensure
Safety Beach Sailing Club continues to thrive for generations to come.
I would be honoured to receive your support.
Yours sincerely,
Ross Martin
SBSC Member ID - Digital System (Fobs)
SBSC is introducing an electronic identification (ID) system to streamline member benefits and the associated member management processes. Underpinning this system will be new individual membership numbers and electronic fobs.
This will bring SBSC in line with most sailing clubs around the bay. Numbered fobs will allow for easy member ID and by using various permission levels, can be assigned for building access, etc.
From the 2026-27 membership year, there will be a one-time cost of $10 for the fob. You will see this on the invoices currently being sent out. This is once-only and not an annual fee. Additional and / or replacement fobs will be as follows:
Additional & Replacement Fobs
- Additional fobs under Family memberships may be purchased for $10 each.
- Lost or replacement fobs will be $15 each.
Key Points
- The system is very flexible and can be configured multiple ways to meet our evolving requirements.
- When needed it authenticates membership discount when purchasing food and beverage.
Electronic ‘Readers’ will be located:
- outside front door (for building access),
- in upstairs foyer,
- at bar and meals-cash registers,
- outside the OTB change room hallway
Access Permissions
Each fob can be individually programmed with area access as required.
Important Information
- Members are expected to have their fob when at the club.
- Fobs are issued for the exclusive use of the assigned member and must not be shared or transferred to others.
We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we introduce this new system. It will take time to settle in and any feedback is welcomed. Please extend this patience to Snooks staff as it will be new to them as well.
It will provide improved security, better management of club facilities, and hopefully a more convenient experience for all members.
Fobs are planned to be distributed in the weeks soon after the AGM.
🎹✨ BOY FROM OZ MEETS ROCKET MAN ✨🎹
WHAT A NIGHT - “Peter Allen meets Rocket Man”
“Oh what a night”
On Saturday, 11th July, Matt Hadgraft brought us an amazing show bringing us the music of Peter Allen & Elton John which was enjoyed by club members & friends.
The committee consisting of Gwen McAuliffe (chair) Sallylou Hamilton (secretary) Jill Knight, Sheryl Schumacher, Deirdre Snooks, Robin Wemyss, Pamela Gilbert, Veronica Psaila (retired), have been a hard working committee bringing the club lots of fun social events.
Some of the highlights our 2025-2026 year:-
- FRANKIE - “HAPPY DAYS SHOW”
- CAPTAIN’S CREW - “80’s NIGHT”
- BOGAN BINGO
- MATT HADGRAFT - “PETER ALLEN MEETS ROCKET MAN"
Thank you to all our club members & friends for your support, your energy & your dancing. You are the reason we enjoy doing this. We have more in the pipeline - so make sure you WATCH THIS SPACE.
ORCV News
Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster
Entries are now open for the 2026 Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, a blue-water ocean classic with more than 50 years of history and the highest-ranking race in the ORCV Offshore Championship. The 435NM course takes the fleet across Bass Strait, south along Tasmania's rugged and remote West Coast — a true test of strategy and seamanship for full crew, 4+ autohelm, and double handed boats alike. Join the legacy of more than 900 yachts and 7,000 crew members who've made this passage.
Click here for more details and to enter the race.
Winter Training Courses
The ORCV Winter Training Courses are still open for bookings. Winter is a great time to top up knowledge and get ready for the next season.
Geoff Eldridge's Report from Battle
I arrived in the UK last Thursday morning and after a brief pause in London caught the train down to Battle in East Sussex. The town of Battle is built around the site of the Battle of Hastings which was fought on 14th October 1066. After winning the battle and becoming King of England William of Normandy decreed that an Abbey should be built on the site of the battle where King Harold died as penitence for all the deaths. The town of Battle grew up around the Abbey to support it.
The High Street in Battle really plays on “Battle” and “Senlac”. Senlac is the name of the hill the battle was fought on and where the remains of the Abbey sits to this day. On Saturday I spent 5 hours looking around Battle Abbey and the battlefield which is in the Abbey grounds. There is a short walk and a long walk over the battlefield. The short walk just runs along the terrace at the top of the hill by the Abbey where Harold’s forces had their shield wall. The long walk takes you down the hill to the South where the Normans attacked from. There are a number of wooden statues along the trail with information boards. From what I can gather the slopes of the hill and the top where the Abbey is have been terraced over the years and the Western side is perhaps a bit more treed these days. Anyhow, I took the long walk down the Western side along the bottom and then back up the Eastern side of the battlefield.
Up the top a lot of the monastery buildings were destroyed when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. The church that was built on the spot where Harold is believed to have fallen is gone though the footprint is still there with a large stone marker. The monks dormitory building is still partially in existence. The top floor where the monks slept is open to the weather, however the ground floor where the monks worked is still there. Besides the outer walls and the gatehouse the main building still in existence is what was the Abbot’s house. After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, he gave the Abbey to one of his followers and the Abbot’s residence became a “country house” until the early 20th century. It then became a school as it is to this day.
You can also go up the tower above the entrance to the grounds onto the roof at the top for a great view all around the area. There are a variety of displays in the various rooms as you go up the tower. Over and above this, there is a much newer café and information building nearby in the grounds. I did the information part early on seeing the building is near the start of the walk and raided the café when I got back from the walk before doing the tower.
All in all it was a good day. I wasn’t pushing myself or anything on the walk and found a number of shaded benches on the way where you can sit for a few minutes and just enjoy the surroundings. The pictures I’ve attached are as follows:
The map of the layout
A wooden warrior on the way down the hill,
A horseman at the bottom on the Western corner,
An archer at the bottom on the Eastern corner looking back up the hill
The marker where Harold fell,
Looking South towards the battlefield from the top of the tower,
Just for laughs in a charity shop in Battle!
Submissions
If you wish to contribute anything to the Enews, please submit your content to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Tuesday 8pm each week to make the deadline. Please note submissions may need to pass through Executive Committee for approval from time to time. Love photography? Submit your Photo of the Week to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in high res, (and it does not have to be about sailing). Follow us on our socials: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Spotted a mistake or omission from the newsletter.......please let Fiona know as soon as possible to rectify immediately!
