YMCA Canberra Sailing Club (YMCASC) is a family orientated sailing club situated on Yarralumla Bay, Lake Burley Griffin in the ACT.

The club (which is the only YMCA Sailing Club in the world) runs races for off-the-beach dinghies, catamarans and trailable yachts as well as sailing courses for children and adults. First established in 1963, club activities initially centered on Lake George until the filling of Lake Burley Griffin in 1964.

The Club provides members with an environment where they can have fun, be safe and enjoy quality racing and training. The Club emphasises family and junior sailing and is an ideal place for the whole family to sail, with excellent facilities and an active membership. Currently there are 108 members with peak age groups being between 8-21 and 35-65.

The YMCASC supports all sailors from beginner to national champion levels. They have kids from 8 years old sailing and also do twilight racing that is more social and has some coaching involved.

Club races on Saturday are more official with an alternate, point score and championship series.

Classes supported include:

• Pacers
• Open Bic
• Australian Lightweight Sharpie
• 2.4m
• Heron
• Spiral
• Laser
• Maricat 14
• Paper tiger
• Hobie 14
• F16

Key club events include:

• ACT Multi-hull Championships
• ACT Dinghy Titles (we alternate running it with the Canberra Yacht Club)
• ACT Schools Teams Racing Championships
• Family Come and Try day
• ACT Youth Championships

Programs on offer include:

• Discover Sailing Dinghy Level 1 to 5
• Powerboat
• OutThere Adventure Week

Current Commodore: Ron Thompson

One of the clubs biggest success stories is ACT Schools Team Sailing – they have school training programs on weekday afternoons with various Canberra Schools, introducing more kids to an active, healthy lifestyle.

Next time you are in the capital be sure to stop in for a sail!