Season Opening 2026 - 2027
Happy new season everyone,
And what a way to kick it off. Blue skies, gentle breeze, and back amongst friends.
The day started with the traditional sail past with lots of cheers for 1st season Commodore John
Wemyss. Also on board was past Commodore Gary and Barbara Morland, last season’s junior
club person of the year Ella Murphy, Royal Brighton Commodore Cath Hurley, Secretary Amanda Malin,
Vice Commodore Ross & Fiona Martin, & Luke Martin.
Many thanks to Mark & Gwen McAuliffe for their wonderful hospitality and making their beautiful
yacht Seclusion available.
The view from Seclusion of the fleet mingling around the start line was spectacular. And yes,
there were moments of jealousy. OTB racing was kept close to shore with all boats making it to
shore before the breeze completely faded. The keel boats headed out to R1 and back, and from
the shore, looked like they enjoyed a variety of conditions.
Formal proceedings kicked off around 2 ish with the talented Ross Mahon playing in the
background as approximately 100 members and guests started arriving. MC, Ross Martin invited
John W up to say a few words, thankfully he stayed true to his word and only spoke a few words.
Unlike some in the past who shall remain nameless. Following John was Anthony Marsh State
MP of Nepean who spoke glowingly about SBSC and our local community. Thankfully no
politics.
The season was officially opened by past Commodore and life member Gary Morland, who also
gave a brief history of SBSC opening as a community centre and new home of Safety Beach
Coast Guard, which was timely, as the Coast Guard are celebrating 50 years next weekend. The
opening was accompanied by a boom from Peter Chipperfields gun powdered canon.
Something that has turned into a tradition is the opening of the concertina doors revealing the
spread of food put together by David. Again, we were not left disappointed with a colourful
display of various culinary delights. A photo of which appeared on Anthony Marsh’s facebook
page.
Great job David and the team from Snooks Catering.
Before I finish up, I’d like to thank Lorraine Hook and Neil Whitaker for the hours they spent
shovelling soil, spreading mulch and planting out the newly formed garden beds. Something we
will can all enjoy soon. 🌱
Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend.
Ross Martin VC
A few photos of Season Opening, more can be found on the club Facebook
Click hereJunior Sailing Program Kicks Off This Week
Our Junior Sailing Program kicks off this Sunday, and with 27 juniors on the list, including 8 brand-new faces, it’s shaping up to be a huge morning!
Please help us make our new families feel welcome, and give our returning juniors a big high-five for coming back for another season. It’s fantastic to see so many kids keen to get out on the water!
We have a few instructors away for the first week, so it’s been wonderful to see some of our members put their hands up to help James and I get the program underway for week one.
A big thank you to Pete Chippa, Neil Whitaker, Greg Lowe, Ewan Campbell and Matt Draper for offering your time and support, this Sunday and into the future if needed. We really appreciate you jumping in to help. If you see us looking a little stretched on Sunday morning, please feel free to lend a hand!
A special thank you also goes to Grace Lazzar, who completed an audit of our training boats during the working bee. This resulted in Lynlee Coutts taking a few centreboards home for Greg to give them a little TLC. It’s these behind-the-scenes contributions that help keep our boats in good shape and our program running smoothly.
I’m continually amazed by how supportive our club members are of the Junior Sailing Program. Whether it’s lending a hand, fixing equipment or simply making our families feel welcome, your generosity and willingness to help make such a difference.
Thank you all for getting behind the program. I’m genuinely humbled by the support, and Nick, James and I are looking forward to another fantastic season with our junior sailors! ⛵
Fiona
Working With Children's Check
Changes to the Working with Children Check are coming into effect from 19th October 2026.
The driver for these changes is the State Govt’s Rapid Review set up after last year’s revelations of pedophiles working in the childcare sector.
SBSC as an organization does not have a choice here, and the Executive Committee urge the following:
- If have a valid WWC then no action required.
- If your WWC expires inside 6 months, or less than 3 months ago, then strongly recommend doing the renewal before Monday. You will need a Services Victoria account to do this. Its free and pretty easy.
- If no WWC then you can try and apply for one before Monday under the old rules and see how you go. Having said that, getting one after Monday is still not too onerous, involves ~45mins online self-paced training.
After Monday, any renewal or new application will require you to do the 45min training.
To find out more, please read the information attached: Click HERE
Keelboat News
Sadly, Little Ninjo didn’t make it to the start line for Tony’s Trophy race. Fortunately, 15 boats did. I had sailed with Tony a few times on Rogue and I hold him, Keith and Bill personally responsible for my falling backwards off a stool at the bar.
The course was out to R1 and back and I gather all had a good time, and Tony was honoured at prizegiving, with Running Bare taking the trophy followed by Fransiska and Marrakesh. Many thanks to Di and Summer’s Lease for providing the fun.
Sunday brought eight boats out for the sail-past and the Commodore’s Cup. The race was started at a line biassed toward the pin end. That’s where Little Ninjo started while the rest of the fleet fought it out closer to the committee boat. Our plan was to start on the pin then cross the fleet on port. It nearly worked. While we reached the windward mark first we saw a wall of boats approaching on starboard so did a lee-bow tack on Shimmer. We tacked a foot too early but managed to creep past the mark while Shimmer and two Sydney 32s sped round us. I was on the leeward rail looking intently down at the gap between boat and buoy and when it was safe called the bear away. Whew!
Congratulations to Perception for winning the Cup, with Shimmer and Ninjo for the minor placings. Many thanks to Elaine and Ewen for manning the Tower and to Geoff and his crews for providing the start and the windward mark.
The course was R1 via the Mussel Farm both ways, a period of light airs at R1 sandwiched between two nice sailing northerlies, particularly the one from the Mussel Farm home
Elaine and I had recently returned from sailing the Darwin to Banda Neira race, a bit over 500 nm to the Indonesian Spice Islands. Very windy and nasty seas both there and back. My physically hardest offshore race since the 2007 Fastnet. The return trip saw two couples, Elaine the youngest of us at 76, coping with a complete instrument failure at night, meaning hand-steering all night by two geriatrics and record-breaking winds for the rest of the trip home. I think we’ve recovered.
Great to see 15 boats out for Tony's Race and the first race in the 2026-2027 Keelboat season. Congratulations to Running Bare for winning this year’s Tony’s Race Perpetual Trophy.
Results Friday 9th Tony's Race
| 1st |
Running Bare |
Tim Pepperell |
| 2nd |
Fransiska |
Peter Morrison |
| 3rd |
Marrakesh |
Neil Hawker |
| Best Start |
Balance |
Mark Bulka |
This week’s racing:
Friday 16th October
Race 2 of the Twilight Pursuit Series - PHS and AMS
| Tower start |
17:30 |
| Race Officer |
Dianne |
| Duty Boat |
Amity |
Sunday 18 October 2026
COMMUNITY BANK Club Championship Race 1 – PHS, AMS & ORC
| Boat start |
12.55 |
| Race Officer |
Amanda |
| Duty Boat |
Empara |
| Setup/results: |
Amanda |
NOTE: If anyone can provide a person to drive or man a rescue boat on Sunday please ring Rear Commodore Ross on 0467 000 442 or Geoff Eldridge on 0419 004 975.
Fobs
Thank you to all members that have collected your new fobs on Sunday,
For those who have not collected theirs yet, please come upstairs on Sunday afternoon and a fob / ID number will be assigned to you.
For those not able to be at the club on Sunday, fobs will be posted out.
Their purpose is simply to help identify you as a member, i.e. entitled to the food and beverage discount. There are 2 readers, one at each cash register.
The next few months will be a transition period as the system is bedded in and so any feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Yard Storage
The recent yard works have almost finished and all members who have been approved yard storage for the summer have been contacted already with allotment numbers. If you have not summitted a yard storage request, please do so by using the form on our website, Yard Storage Application
Just a reminder that you ARE REQURIED to submit a for each season. The revenue from yard storage is important for the ongoing costs of maintaining duty boats etc for the season.
Following a review of all SUPB’s and Kayaks stored at the SBSC yard, the images below indicate there are 19 SUPB’s and kayaks in the racks under the stairs at SBSC. There are only 5 SUPB/kayaks in the images below that have applied for summer storage.
If you are the owner of one of the other 14 craft in the racks, yard storage applications must be received by COB 14
th October. Link here
Yard Storage Application. Please email your application to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you cannot print a form, there will be some forms at the club for you to grab over the weekend.
Craft that do not have an application received by this date will be moved from the racks to the grass areas outside pending receipt of applications and payment therein.
Note we have a large number of people wanting to store kayaks/SUPB’s at the club and these will take percent if existing users do not apply for storage.
The constitution and By-Laws relating to storage in the yard are as follows:
SBSC Yard Storage – Constitution and By-Laws
Keelboat Cruisers Corner
Burgee Exchange
On her last trip back home over the winter, club member Christina Chandler proudly took an SBSC burgee with her to exchange with her home club at Solomons Island Yacht Club (
https://www.solomonsislandyachtclub.com/), The below photo is with the Vice Commodore (holding the SBSC burgee) and Executive Committee member, and my father (far right). SIYC is located in Maryland, USA, on the Chesapeake Bay (between Baltimore and Norfolk). The club has about 150 burgees from clubs all over the US and internationally, but this is the first from Australia!
🛶 Calling All Paddlers! 🌊
Got a kayak or SUP gathering dust? Keen to get out on the water more often, but looking for some paddling buddies?
Let’s get together and make a splash! Whether you want to explore a little further afield, build your confidence on the water, or simply enjoy the reassurance of paddling with others, it’s more fun to paddle together.
No need to be a pro — just bring your kayak or board, a sense of adventure, and a willingness to get out there!
Keep an eye out for a new SBSC WhatsApp paddling group coming soon, or get in touch with Christina to join the fun.
📧 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
📱 0414 734 378
ORCV News
Melbourne to Devonport ‘Rudder Cup’
Entries are still open for the 2026 Melbourne to Devonport ‘Rudder Cup’—Australia's oldest ocean race and the first race of the newly launched Bass Strait Cup. Starting off Queenscliff on Friday 30 October, the fleet will race 195nm across Bass Strait to Devonport, where the Mersey Yacht Club will be on hand to welcome competitors. It's also a qualifying event for the Westcoaster, making it a natural first step for any crew with Melbourne to Hobart in their sights.
Click here to enter.
West Offshore Products Coastal Sprints
West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 2 runs on Saturday 5 December. The Sprints are short coastal races conducted in daylight hours and are now classified as Category 4 races with some additional ORCV requirements. The new classification will reduce the cost barrier for those embarking on offshore sailing for the first time. These races are a perfect crew development pathway toward ocean races like the Rudder Cup and Westcoaster, or a great stand-alone coastal race, and you'll be home Saturday evening.
Click here to enter.
Cock of the Bay
Entries are open for Cock of the Bay, ORCV's iconic Boxing Day race on Port Phillip. Starting near Station Pier and running roughly 21nm past Port Melbourne, St Kilda Pier, Brighton Pier, Sandringham and Hampton, it's the perfect way to blow off the Christmas excess. With over 100 yachts on the water in past years, it's shaping up to be another huge fleet. It's also a well-worn stepping stone toward the Melbourne to Hobart for those looking further ahead.
Click here to enter.
Melbourne to Hobart ‘Westcoaster’
Entries are still 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 to enter.
Donating Life Jackets to the club
It seems a few of our life jackets have been breeding over the winter months! Or perhaps a kindhearted member has generously donated a few extras.
While we always appreciate donations of sailing equipment, life jackets are a bulky item, and unfortunately, not all donations can be put to use. Life jackets that are damaged, unsuitable or no longer compliant need to be disposed of appropriately.
As part of our annual Discover Sailing review, we need to demonstrate that all life jackets used in our programs meet the required compliance standards. This includes checking the compliance code on each jacket. If a jacket has an incorrect or non-compliant code, it cannot be used and will need to be removed from our stock.
So, if you’re thinking of donating life jackets to the club, please check with us first, by emailing the secretary of your intentions, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We love the generosity, but we also need to make sure our equipment is safe, compliant and suitable for our sailors.
Thanks for helping us keep our club safe and our storage areas under control!
Photo of the Week
Dry Martini's. It's not often that we see all three of the Martins out of the water on Open Day. What a great family photo of Ross, Fi and Luke, just missing Natasha to complete the photo.
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!
