Off The Beach News
Happy Birthday Coastguard
Junior Sailing Program Kicked Off Last Sunday
What a day!
Sunday marked the start of our first Junior Sailing Program for the 2026–27 season, and what a fantastic start it was!
We welcomed 9 new families and 15 junior sailors who have never sailed before or have had very little experience on the water. With 35 juniors registered for the program, an incredible 31 kids arrived this morning ready to get started!
As these young sailors begin their sailing journeys, we look forward to watching their confidence grow, their skills develop and new friendships form along the way.
A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteer instructors who gave up their Sunday morning to help get the program underway. You certainly had your hands full with such a big group, but you handled it with ease!
Here’s to a fantastic season of learning, laughter, friendships and plenty of sailing adventures ahead!
The program is not full and can only take expressions of interest for your second program early next year. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested.
Working With Children's Check
Changes to the Working with Children Check are coming into effect from 19th October 2026.
The driver for these changes is the State Govt’s Rapid Review set up after last year’s revelations of pedophiles working in the childcare sector.
SBSC as an organization does not have a choice here, and the Executive Committee urge the following:
- If have a valid WWC then no action required.
- If your WWC expires inside 6 months, or less than 3 months ago, then strongly recommend doing the renewal before Monday. You will need a Services Victoria account to do this. Its free and pretty easy.
- If no WWC then you can try and apply for one before Monday under the old rules and see how you go. Having said that, getting one after Monday is still not too onerous, involves ~45mins online self-paced training.
After Monday 19th, any renewal or new application will require you to do the 45min training.
To find out more, please read the information attached: Click HERE
Keelboat News
There are two occurrences hat dominated last week’s racing – a collision and an Abandonment. I will say no more about the collision. It could happen to any of us and it is under protest. The abandonment resulted from lack of wind for Sunday’s Club Championship Race.
Many thanks to Elaine and her team for the Friday pursuit and Amanda and Ewen for Sunday.
Friday featured a change from Course 8 to Course 1. The worry was, as usual, wind (and the Pier mark). With the sunsets still a bit early it was a wise choice and gave us plenty of time to get back to the Club. But the wind stayed in and it was a fun way to get over the cares and woes of the working (or retiring) week. The victor was Till on 11:11, with Etoile and Happy Days a DEAD HEAT for equal 2nd. Expensive, as the Club had to fork out another engraved prize glass.
After Sunday’s race Camo opined that we may not have any course that the fleet could have completed in time. The race was a boat start then down to SB2 and back with the Mussel Farm as a mark there and back. It was a northerly with a run down to SB2. For us on Ninjo it was a case of déjà vu. While Patriot and Shimmer used their sail area, boat length (and of course skill) to get them to SB2 before us little boats, Perception and Ninjo arrived at the mark at exactly the same time. As windward boat we decided it wise to let Perception through then followed, ghosting windward with Perception not far ahead. Neither of us was going to retire. I guess we were hoping Patriot would finish on time.
But it was not to be. Camo and I had a discussion afterwards in close proximity to the bar. We thought it was OK that the race was abandoned because we would like the Championship races to be contested in fair winds. We enjoyed a grand day out trying to make our boat go as fast as possible in the conditions.
This week’s racing:
Friday 23rd October
Race 3 of the Twilight Pursuit Series - PHS and AMS
| Tower start |
17:30 |
| Race Officer |
Lynlee |
| Duty Boat |
Bombay Sapphire |
Sunday 25th October 2026
Sunday Summer Series Race 1 – PHS, AMS & ORC
| Boat start |
09.55 |
| Race Officer |
Simon Dryden |
| Duty Boat |
Mel Kelly (Rawhide) |
| Setup/results: |
tbc |
NOTE: If anyone can provide a person to drive or man a rescue boat on Sunday please ring Rear Commodore Ross on 0467 000 442 or Geoff Eldridge on 0419 004 975.
Fobs
Thank you to all members that have collected your new fobs on Sunday,
For those who have not collected theirs yet, please come upstairs on Sunday afternoon and a fob / ID number will be assigned to you.
For those not able to be at the club on Sunday, fobs will be posted out.
Their purpose is simply to help identify you as a member, i.e. entitled to the food and beverage discount. There are 2 readers, one at each cash register.
The next few months will be a transition period as the system is bedded in and so any feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Yard Storage
The recent yard works have almost finished and all members who have been approved yard storage for the summer have been contacted already with allotment numbers. If you have not summitted a yard storage request, please do so by using the form on our website, Yard Storage Application
Just a reminder that you ARE REQURIED to submit a for each season. The revenue from yard storage is important for the ongoing costs of maintaining duty boats etc for the season.
Following a review of all SUPB’s and Kayaks stored at the SBSC yard, the images below indicate there are 19 SUPB’s and kayaks in the racks under the stairs at SBSC. There are only 5 SUPB/kayaks in the images below that have applied for summer storage.
If you are the owner of one of the other 14 craft in the racks, yard storage applications must be received by
COB 23rd October. Link here
Yard Storage Application. Please email your application to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you cannot print a form, there will be some forms at the club for you to grab over the weekend.
Craft that do not have an application received by this date will be moved from the racks to the driveway for people to come and collect them.
Note we have a large number of people wanting to store kayaks/SUPB’s at the club and these will take percent if existing users do not apply for storage.
The constitution and By-Laws relating to storage in the yard are as follows:
SBSC Yard Storage – Constitution and By-Laws
Keelboat Cruisers Corner
🛶 Calling All Paddlers! 🌊
Got a kayak or SUP gathering dust? Keen to get out on the water more often, but looking for some paddling buddies?
Let’s get together and make a splash! Whether you want to explore a little further afield, build your confidence on the water, or simply enjoy the reassurance of paddling with others, it’s more fun to paddle together.
No need to be a pro — just bring your kayak or board, a sense of adventure, and a willingness to get out there!
Join our SBSC WhatsApp paddling group: WhatsApp Group Invite, or get in touch with Christina to join the fun.
📧 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
📱 0414 734 378
ORCV News
Melbourne to Devonport ‘Rudder Cup’
Entries are still open for the 2026 Melbourne to Devonport ‘Rudder Cup’—Australia's oldest ocean race and the first race of the newly launched Bass Strait Cup. Starting off Queenscliff on Friday 30 October, the fleet will race 195nm across Bass Strait to Devonport, where the Mersey Yacht Club will be on hand to welcome competitors. It's also a qualifying event for the Westcoaster, making it a natural first step for any crew with Melbourne to Hobart in their sights.
Click here to enter.
West Offshore Products Coastal Sprints
West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 2 runs on Saturday 5 December. The Sprints are short coastal races conducted in daylight hours and are now classified as Category 4 races with some additional ORCV requirements. The new classification will reduce the cost barrier for those embarking on offshore sailing for the first time. These races are a perfect crew development pathway toward ocean races like the Rudder Cup and Westcoaster, or a great stand-alone coastal race, and you'll be home Saturday evening.
Click here to enter.
Cock of the Bay
Entries are open for Cock of the Bay, ORCV's iconic Boxing Day race on Port Phillip. Starting near Station Pier and running roughly 21nm past Port Melbourne, St Kilda Pier, Brighton Pier, Sandringham and Hampton, it's the perfect way to blow off the Christmas excess. With over 100 yachts on the water in past years, it's shaping up to be another huge fleet. It's also a well-worn stepping stone toward the Melbourne to Hobart for those looking further ahead.
Click here to enter.
Melbourne to Hobart ‘Westcoaster’
Entries are still open for the 2026 Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, a blue-water ocean classic with more than 50 years of history and the highest-ranking race in the ORCV Offshore Championship. The 435NM course takes the fleet across Bass Strait, south along Tasmania's rugged and remote West Coast—a true test of strategy and seamanship for full crew, 4+ autohelm, and double handed boats alike. Join the legacy of more than 900 yachts and 7,000 crew members who've made this passage.
Click here to enter.
Photo of the Week
Nick Meijer having a blast t Sail Sandy with Jess Lowe
Submissions
If you wish to contribute anything to the Enews, please submit your content to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Tuesday 8pm each week to make the deadline. Please note submissions may need to pass through Executive Committee for approval from time to time. Love photography? Submit your Photo of the Week to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in high res, (and it does not have to be about sailing). Follow us on our socials: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Spotted a mistake or omission from the newsletter.......please let Fiona know as soon as possible to rectify immediately!
