Established in 1871 and celebrating their 150^th Anniversary in 2022, the beautiful Albert Park Yacht Club (APYC) is an entirely volunteer run organisation in Melbourne, Victoria. One of the national finalists for the Australian Sailing Club of the Year award in 2022, APYC offers modern club rooms for the use of club members as well as the local community and sailing all year round.

Regatta between APYC and Ballarat Yacht Club

The APYC has always demonstrated an inclusive culture over their long history, leading the way with Sailability and female participation in racing. In the 1990’s the APYC participated in Vision Impaired Sailing and started one of the early Sailability programs. This included the upgrade of club rooms for disabled access. This positive club culture remains evident through the programs that are currently run at the club, including a Female specific training program that ran throughout the winter months.

The club has a loyal membership base and has built strong and positive relationships with many local community groups. This includes Albert Park College, who use the club each week for 250 of their year 8 students who take leadership and outdoor education programs. It is APYC’s aim to develop the club as a social hub for the school, as it is ideally positioned combining a beautiful outdoor space with inner-city access.

Sailing on the lake at APYC

Membership

The APYC currently has 210 members of which approximately one-third are female. During their 2021-22 sailing season, their membership grew by 15% - a positive result of their inclusive training programs. Of this growth, over 80% was from individuals under 18, suggesting the club has a strong future ahead of it.

Classes Sailed at APYC

The APYC is home to Acrospire II, a 25 foot built in 1911 and Olive, the first Moth, built in 1920.

There are also a variety of classes that are regularly sailed from APYC:

• Impulse
• Laser, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial
• Minnow
• Mirror,
• Open Skiff
• Optimist
• Pacer, Pacer Pursuit
• Sabot
• Solo
• Moth
• RS Quest
• RS Aero
• Jubilee
• Zoom 8

Saturday racing is jointly managed by the Albert Sailing Club and the Albert Park Yacht Club in a great spirit of cooperation which is essential for both clubs to co-exist on the lake.

The club also have a relationship with the Wooden Boats Association and Classic Dinghy Network. These partnerships are important as they allow the club to reach out to the broader sailing community, welcoming them into the APYC and boosting the ever-popular and growing Sunday Social Sailing programs.

Programs on Offer

The APYC runs a successful suite of programs, with several of them specifically targeted towards promoting inclusivity:

• Discover Sailing (in conjunction with monthly Social Sailing Sundays)
• Learn to Sail 1
• Learn to Sail 2
• Learn to Race

In addition to their basic programs, there are a number of community-based programs on offer by the club as well:

• Targeted Training program with local Scout Group
• Sailing Programs in association with Albert Park College
• 15-week Sailing Program for alumni through the Korowa Anglican Girls School
• 15-week Course for Mothers and Daughters

Key Events

Alongside the programs they have on offer, the APYC also hosts some popular, key events in the local calendar.

The WinterSail junior regatta has been run in at APYC every July since 2010. The event was as successful as ever in 2022, with the Minnow class proving the most popular.

The City Sail regatta for women and girls has been run annually in September since 2016 (with a one-year hiatus for Covid-19). The event continues to grow in popularity with 52 boats and 67 female sailors – women and girls from interstate and around Victoria - participating this year. The feedback on coaching and racing was overwhelmingly positive and the club is already looking forward to it being even bigger in 2023.

WinterSail at APYC

A club with a positive club culture, the APYC is the perfect mix of inland sailing and inner-city accessibility. With strong connections with local clubs and communities, the APYC is a high-performing club that ensures inclusivity is a key priority, leading to it becoming a social hub that celebrates diversity, fosters a love for sailing in its members and brings the community together.

Commodore: Glen Currie