Yachting Australia

Aimed at introducing beginners to the sport, Try Sailing Day has been designed to encourage all Australians to participate in this fabulous outdoor activity.

From the Illawarra region, across the Sydney metropolitan area through to the Central and North Coast areas, clubs will welcome newcomers to sailing from 10am onwards, operating with their own craft and tutors.

Participants will have the opportunity to try all manner of sailing vessels, from catamarans to skiffs, keel boats to racing yachts.

Class yachts involved include Manly Juniors, Flying 11s, Herons, Hobie Cats, Sabots, Flying Ants and the famous VJs and VSs (Vaucluse Junior and Vaucluse Senior).

An initiative of the Sailing Industry Association, a sub-group of the Boating Industry Association of NSW (BIA), and supported by Yachting New South Wales, the program over the past 10 years has introduced hundreds of boys and girls, men and women to the thrills of boating ‘under canvas.’

"The aim of the Try Sailing program is not necessarily to unearth any Americas Cup or Sydney-Hobart competitors, but to provide access and the opportunity for people to actually try their hand at a past time that may have previously been beyond reach,"

Of course, some of the clubs involved just may discover some hidden yachting talent, someone trying their hand for the first time just may end up racing to Hobart aboard one of the awesome maxi yachts.", Domenic Genua, the association’s Marketing and Event Manager explained.

Those intending to test their skills (or lack of!) need no appointment, simply turn up on the day at the club of choice, register and ‘go for it’. A parent or guardian must accompany children under the age of 18.

"Wear comfortable clothing, suitable footwear, such as deck shoes and take along some sunscreen and perhaps a bottle of water." Genua suggests.

2005 clubs involved in the Try Sailing programme are:

Balmoral Sailing Club	The Esplanade
Bayview Yacht Racing Association	1842 Pittwater Road
Budgewoi Sailing Club	Noela Place Beach, access via lane at intersection of Noela Place & Natuna Avenue
Chipping Norton Lake Sailing Club	Boat Shed, end of Ascot Drive
Concord & Ryde Sailing Club	Kissing Point Park Cnr Waterview & Yaralla Streets
Greenwich Sailing Club	Bond Reserve (off O'Connel Street)
Illawarra Yacht Club	1 Northcliffe Drive
Kogarah Bay Sailing Club	Dover Park, Princes Highway
Kurnell Catamaran Club	Prince Charles Parade (Cnr Ward Street)
Lake Macquarie Yacht Club	Ada Street
Manly Yacht Club	Manly Yacht Club, East Esplanade
Mannering Park Yacht Club	Grace Street
Manning River Sailing Club	William Wynter Drive (Behind KFC Next to the Rowing Club)
Middle Harbour Heron Sailing Club	Clontarf Beach
Middle Harbour Yacht Club	Lower Parriwi Road
Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club	Jamieson Park, The Esplanade
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club	Suite 9/91 Hannell Street
Port Hacking Open Sailing Club	224 Attunga Road
Port Macquarie Sailing Club	McInherny Park Settlement Point
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club	16 Mitala Street
Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club	Speers Point Park
Sydney Flying Squadron	76 McDougall Street
Woollahra Sailing Club	Vickery Avenue

 

Full details of the clubs, opening hours (may vary), and more programme details can be obtained from the BIA: