The latest update from Australian Sailing's General Manager - Queensland - Annie Watson

Please click this link to find all past Queensland General Manager Updates.

General Update

If you haven’t seen the news, Queensland Clubs have dominated in the latest Participation Report! Huge congratulations to Southport Yacht Club for taking the top gong for Discover Sailing Centre for 2024. Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in 3^rd position and Keppel Bay Sailing Club in 6^th spot. We couldn’t be prouder of all the teams at these fabulous clubs for getting more people on the water learning to sail. 

Queensland is also leading the way with coaching programs. Southport Yacht Club takes the top spot again with Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in 2nd, Keppel Bay Sailing Club and Whitsunday Sailing Club also made the top 10 clubs. Linking your coaching programs in RevSport is available to every club not just Discover Sailing Centres, so if you are doing any sort of after school or pre-race training with your members, you can add an event in RevSport and link it to the coaching program. If you need help with this, please reach out to Alison or Diane and they can show you how to set I up so your programs can get recognised as well. 

It is lovely to have Diane as part of the team and she is working hard to get up to speed on all thing Australian Sailing. All three of us are looking forward to our trip to the Whitsundays for the NQ Instructor Development Workshop. We will close registrations next week so North Queensland clubs, please consider sending your learn to sail team to this event: https://www.sailing.org.au/events/278634

The first of the female only guided Protest Committee member and Race Officer online learning sessions was held last month. The registrations for these sessions exceeded our expectations with over 50 registrations with room for more. This is a government funded sessions are in SEQ and are open to any females who is looking to volunteer in the Officials space. There are five sessions available over the next three months, so please advertise this fantastic opportunity with your female members. Registration is here: https://www.sailing.org.au/events/282188

Many of our clubs have seen Alison over the past couple of months. She has been travelling doing RevSport training, Discover Sailing Centre Reviews, and general club visits. Alison and I also spent some time on the Sunshine Coast and are very pleased to see that all the clubs are collaborating together and that there is now some off the beach training and racing off Mooloolaba Beach. We are very excited to see the results of their strategic planning. 

Keppel Bay and Australian Sailing have been working on Youth Sail 2025 for the past couple of months. Once again, this Queensland event needs help from all our clubs. Please reach out to Keppel Bay Sailing Club to let them know how your club can support Youth Sail. We need ribs and volunteers for all kinds of jobs – you can Volunteer Your Way! https://www.sailingyouth.org.au/youth-sail-qld/qld-volunteers/. Last year we had 280 sailors compete which was the largest youth regatta nationally. You can read all about the event here: https://www.sailingyouth.org.au/youth-sail-qld/

Sailing Summit

Have you and your committee registered yet? Australian Sailing is excited to launch the 2025 Sailing Summit Roadshows. All Club and Class Association Flag officers, Presidents, key officials, and management are encouraged to attend one of the five roadshows throughout Queensland.  

The Sailing Summit Roadshow will bring together Clubs and Classes from across each region and are a great way to engage with the sailing community's decision makers and Australian Sailing. 

The three main topics will focus on Participation, Funding and Volunteers. There will also be time for you to share your club successes and challenges. Along with time to network and build relationships with clubs from your region. 

Action Item/s for Clubs:

• Have a look at when the roadshows will be near your club and discuss with your committee on who will attend. You can register here: https://www.sailing.org.au/events/277970

Whitworths Tackers Scheme

Only one month left to take advantage of this fantastic scheme to either commence the tackers program, increase or upgrade your fleet.   

The Whitworths Tackers initiative has long supported Discover Sailing Centres (DSCs) in being able to deliver Tackers programs and grow participation in sailing by financially assisting DSCs to buy Tackers vessels thanks to the Whitworths and OziOpti partnership. 

Through the program, Whitworths will sponsor 50% of the Tackers boats with OziOpti granting a further 7.5% discount from their listed RRP (Currently 2024-$2970).  As a result, successful Discover Sailing Centres will have the opportunity to acquire Tackers boats at a total price of $1373.63 including GST per boat plus freight to club. You can read all about it here: https://www.sailing.org.au/news/applications-going-quick-for-whitworths-tackers-boat-program

Action Item/s for Clubs:

• Talk with your committee about this opportunity and apply before 30th April should you wish to apply.

Keep in Touch

If you have any questions on the above topics, please contact the QLD General Manager, Annie Watson at annie.watson@sailing.org.au . You can find a complete list of Australian Sailing contacts here.