Sandy Bay Sailing Club (SBSC) is a volunteer junior club situated on the picturesque Derwent River in Hobart, Tasmania. Formed on 1 March 1948, SBSC has grown to accommodate a wide range of dinghy classes including International Optimist, International Cadet, Lasers, 29ers, Waszp’s and Windsurfer fleets. 

During its 73 year history, SBSC has produced many competitive sailors who have gone on to both national and international success.  Most notably, in recent years SBSC has qualified sailors to the Optimist, Cadet and Youth World Championships and are home to the current reigning 29er national champions.

Last year SBSC initiated two significant programs to strengthen and diversify sailing participation on Hobart`s Derwent River: Girls on the Water and a Sailing Scholarship for children with disabilities.

The Girls on the Water program aims to establish 50-50 male-female participation at the club by 2025, and it is well on track. Since launching, female participation has increased by 6% and sits at 43% which is notable in the 50-50 gender split on the club board, as well as the incoming Green Fleet beginners program and new skippers in the Cadet class.

SBSC’s current ‘She Sails’ representative Grace Hooper (age 16), has organised a Mums & Daughters session with Principal Physio & Managing Director of BODYSYSTEM Physio Kellie Wilkie. Kellie is the Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) Physio coordinator and led the physio team for Australian Rowing at both the London & Rio Olympiads. The session will cover the unique properties of the female athlete, and how to best prepare physiologically and psychologically.

The Sailing Scholarship for children with disabilities was inspired by one of SBSC´s own star alumnus who lives with disabilities and a strong love of sailing! Two sailors received scholarship last season and successfully participated in our Tackers 1 programs and are continuing on to level 2.  The recipient families and club have worked together to improve the program, and SBSC looks to extend the scholarship in the 2021-22 season. 

This program will be bolstered by the Local Communities Facility Fund received, which will allow the club to install a lift and accessibility toilet along with funding for a new RIB shed that will increase dinghy storage in their current facilities. This will enable membership growth and importantly place all their on-water assets and a purpose-built fuel shed all in one space ensuring procedural safety and functional processes for volunteers and coaches. The lift and disability toilets will allow them to extend our programs to more people in the community for both club activity and for community access for hall hire.

SBSC’s Youth sailing pathways provide many options for sailors. SBSC offers a learn to sail program with Tackers 1 and 2, then onto a comprehensive Green Fleet program where they cement their learnings and prepare for club racing. 

Many different classes sail out of SBSC, International Cadets, Optimists, Lasers, 29ers, 49ers, 420s, windsurfers and WAZSPs. With coaching and guidance from head coach Lizzi Rountree each sailor is ensured to find what they enjoy best.  

With the challenges of Covid-19 and the inability to travel and compete interstate, SBSC launched a new event, “A Regatta for the Whole Family”. Located at Dover last January, this included half days of sailing with coaching and the other half filled with other activities such as mountain bike riding, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing and more. 

Sandy Bay Sailing Club is known to many of its members, past and present, as their second home thanks to its welcoming family friendly atmosphere to something which the club hopes to continue for many years to come so the love and passion for both sailing and club life gets passed on through future generations.