Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club has joined forces with the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria and Australian Sailing She Sails Victoria with an exciting new initiative for women’s sailing. 

Aimed to swing the focus for both novice and more experienced female keelboaters from “passengers” to “participants”, the KISS (Keelboat Introduction for Sailing Savvy) program is a new female friendly training series, aiming to support and encourage females to confidently and competently step up to lead role on keelboats and expand their sailing horizons.

KISS training will comprise a series of six webinars (May-July) and one hands-on Marine Radio workshop (August) with a Passage Race in July from home clubs to QCYC.

The introductory Webinar #1 kicks off Tuesday 17 May 2022 with QCYC’s first female Commodore Lee Renfree (elected October 2021) leading a panel of female sailors from newbies to old salts, sharing their own experiences and how they overcame their fears.  

Subsequent webinars cover technical learnings needed to run a keelboat and introduction to navigation, weather, tides and passage planning. 

The culmination of the series will be the inaugural Queenscliff KISS Passage Race on 30 July 2022, an open event for all KISS students and other female sailors, with women in all lead roles of Skipper, Navigator and Radio Operator. Boats will start near their home clubs in clusters with groups from close neighbouring clubs around Port Phillip, Westernport and beyond to sail approximately 35 nautical miles to Queenscliff. Personal and team achievements will be proudly celebrated at the end of the race with a dinner and overnight stay at the legendary QCYC.

Full details of the KISS Program Schedule are available on the QCYC website. Cost for all webinars and radio workshop is $130 per participant. Bookings open May 1, so register early as places are limited. Entry for the Passage Race and cost of the dinner and presentation are additional. 

In a move to keep training costs affordable for all, QCYC have launched a KISS Fundraiser Raffle, generously supported with donations of three great prizes from our valued partners and sponsors -
①Blues Train Experience (double pass) - Value $300 
②ORCV Rip Tour Port Phillip Heads (double pass) – Value $250 
③Searoad Ferries Queenscliff-Sorrento Family return trip voucher – Value $178 

Raffle closes 1 May 2022 so don’t miss out, jump online now to be in the draw for an experience to remember.

With Easter coming up, QCYC are busy preparing for their annual Queenscliff Cup regatta over the weekend of 16-17 April, a five race series over two days, a great open opportunity to build more on water miles under your PFD. This year the annual event sports a brand new two race series for female helms scored within the regatta for the inaugural Queenscliff Commodore’s Trophy. The female helms are required to be onboard crew for the five race series and will take the helm for the two designated female helm races. 

Come and join us to get more out of your sailing journey.
For further information contact secretary@qcyc.org.au