Committee News
Here is the list of our current Executive Committee and thank you to Simon Dryden for accepting the role as Treasurer, officially taking over from Duncan McColl. The club is still without a Rear Commodore and would like to thank John Nicholas and Ewan Campbell for taking up the slack, whilst we fill the vacant position.
| Commodore | John Wemyss |
| Vice Commodore | Ross Martin |
| Rear Commodore | VACANT |
| Secretary | Amanda Malin |
| Treasurer | Simon Dryden |
| Memberships | Linda Wooley |
| General | James Anderson |
| Jon Embrey | |
| Grace Lazzar | |
| Fiona Lowe | |
| Neil Whitaker |
Sail Pass – A Reminder of Our Safety and Insurance Obligations
The Committee would like to remind all members of our obligations regarding the safety and insurance of ALL persons on the water.
It is crucial that members ensure a Sail Pass is completed for every NON-MEMBER sailing from Safety Beach Sailing Club, regardless of whether they are participating in racing or recreational sailing, regardless of whether they are a member at another club.
Keelboat Skippers: Please ensure this process is followed for every crew member who is not a paid sailing member of Safety Beach Sailing Club. This requirement applies even if your crew members hold membership with another sailing club.
If they are not a PAID SAILING MEMBER of Safety Beach Sailing Club, they must have a Sail Pass completed.
This is an Australian Sailing requirement and is essential for our club's compliance, safety and insurance obligations.
There are no exceptions to this requirement. It is not negotiable. Sail Pass can be found on this link: Registration - Safety Beach Sailing Club - revolutioniseSPORT
Volunteer Reimbursements – A Simpler Process
The Club truly values the time and effort our volunteers contribute, and we understand that purchases are sometimes made out of pocket on behalf of the Club. We also appreciate that these expenses need to be reimbursed promptly.
To make this process easier and more efficient, our Treasurer, Simon Dryden, has set up a dedicated WhatsApp group for volunteer reimbursements. Link to join here: WhatsApp Group Invite
The process is simple:
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Take a photo of your receipt at the time of purchase.
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Upload the photo directly to the WhatsApp reimbursement group.
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Simon will arrange for the funds to be transferred into your nominated bank account.
The WhatsApp group will be locked, with permission required to join, ensuring it is used exclusively for its intended purpose.
Once your reimbursement has been processed, you are welcome to leave the group.
We hope this makes claiming out-of-pocket expenses a little easier for our volunteers and helps streamline the reimbursement process.
Thank you again to all our volunteers for everything you do for the Club!
Membership Fobs – Collection and Postage
The process of distributing our new membership fobs at the Club is working well, and we thank everyone who has already collected theirs.
If you are yet to collect your fob, there are a few opportunities coming up:
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Thursdays and Fridays: Ross Martin will be at the Club between 4.30pm and 5.30pm to distribute fobs to paid members.
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Sundays: Fiona will be available throughout the day to hand out fobs.
If you would prefer to have your fob posted, simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and Linda will arrange postage of your fob/s.
A reminder that additional fobs can be purchased for $10 each.
Thank you for your cooperation as we roll out our new electronic access system.
Any issues with fobs, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Off The Beach News
Hey Troops.
What a cracker last Sunday, eh? Perfect weather with a nice offshore wind ( yes, WIND!) averaging around 10-12 knots with gusts up to 17 according to Super D on Start.
We had 20 boats on the race track, with a few more doodling around in the background enjoying the conditions. Of those, there were 5 A Class cats and Nick B in his Taipan, so Div 6 was very well represented. There was no mistaking Stu S in his glow in the dark, lime green helmet and nearly as bright was the grin on Nick M’s face boring around on a borrowed A Class. I don’t think there will be any going back to a 420 after that! The rest of the fleet was the usual suspects in a mix of Sabres, Tasars, Impulses, Quest, ILCA, Windrush, Matty D with son Parker in their NS14 and a Partridge in a pear tree!
RO Ross M and Super D on Start set a nice length course, with Katrina M, Luke P, Jayden F and Dave P dropping the marks. On a side note, anyone on the water, whether they are racing or just out for a bit of fun, must, MUST either sign on or let the start boat know they are there somehow. That could be as simple as asking a RHIB to pass on the message, check if there is someone in the tower to radio the message or at the very least to ask a responsible person to phone them. This applies to juniors close to shore and seniors or guests in a club boat, aaand, let them know when you have left the water too. The RO is responsible for any boats on the water during race time whether they are racing or not and it’s not fair to give them that responsibility if they don’t know you’re there.
That being said, those there to race had to keep an eye on the shifts and holes in race one particularly. I got stuck in a hole out a bit too wide before the start and had to watch the rest of the fleet cross the line a minute and a half ahead of me. I was surprised when I found myself ahead of the normally super quick James T at the top mark. I asked him after the race what happened. He had also found one of those holes and he had to sit it out while watching Di J planning along 100 metres away. He wasn’t the only one with that story either! Bill M and Tim B had a close battle the whole way and ended up with a dead heat across the line.
Races two and three saw much more even conditions with a definite favoured side to the left (I chose poorly ) with generally a lift to the top mark and some nice reaching coming back. The big cats were in their element, with the foilers getting plenty of air time. At least one of them hit the drink, with the comment, “ If you don’t tip in, you weren’t trying hard enough!”
Scotty M and Ryan were getting some good experience in their Tasar and Parker D was having a great time under the watchful eye of Mat on their NS14. Grace L was consistently near the front in her ILCA and poor old Mark L was alone again in his Windrush. Come on Rob and Tony, the guy is getting a complex! Vince P with his ‘L’ plated Sabre gained some valuable experience and showed no issues with climbing back in after a few capsizes and keeping on going. Look out everyone, he’s getting better.
Three races down and back to shore, always the best sail. Now you know when you’re following a car on the road and they suddenly drift to one side, come back to centre, then drift again? You think to yourself, ”They’re texting. Idiots, stay clear”. Well poor Glenno and Wayne were happily sailing back to shore, minding their own business when someone decided to fiddle with their watch, for just a second, and plowed straight into them! Okay, it was me. Sorry guys, I was amazed at how quickly it happened. I suppose the people that run off the road into a tree think the same thing, hopefully.
One last message before I sign off. RO Ross asked me to mention how in Race one, two boats hit the line early but came back after they were given the hooter, then in Race three another boat was early. The pack was very tight and this offender didn’t come back so was OCSed. Ross saw all of this as a good thing as it showed that people are really taking things seriously and going for it. Glen and Wayne had a great start in Race two where they ran all the way along the line seconds before the start, ready to dip back if they were forced over. They didn’t need to and ended up well in front. Noice one.
That’ll do for now, see you next week and don’t forget to tie ya boat down (not your mother).
Cheers, Pete Chippy
OTB Roster can be found here: OTB Roster
Off The Beach course diagrams please follow this link. OTB Course Diagrams 2026-2027
Junior Sailing Program
32 juniors turned on Sunday and were treated to a day full of adventure!
The wind was slightly stronger than we would have liked for solo sailing, so we had to switch things up and enjoy some group sailing instead. The juniors loved swapping in and out of the Pacers and Quests, heading out on the Rhibs and back again for changeovers.
Quite a few juniors also had the opportunity to take the helm of the Rhibs, under the watchful eye of our instructors – an experience that certainly brought plenty of smiles!
As the afternoon progressed, a few juniors headed out onto the course to join in the afternoon racing, while a couple of others enjoyed sailing around closer to shore in the Teras. We even had a dad daughter duo playing around in a Pacer.
All in all, a fabulous day on the water, with juniors, parents and instructors having an absolute blast. It’s days like these that make our junior sailing program so special!
Keelboat News
This week’s racing:
Friday 13th November
Race 4 of the Friday Twilight Pursuit Series.
| Tower start | 17:30 |
| Race Officer | Lynlee Coutts |
| Duty Boat | Mr Bojangles |
| Setup/results: | Lynlee Coutts |
Sunday 15th November 2026
Club Championships Race 2
| Tower start | 12.55 |
| Race Officer | Amanda Malin |
| Duty Boat | Summer Breeze |
| Setup/results: | Amanda Malin |
Cruisers Cup Weekend Report
We had a great weekend up at the Docklands for the Cup Weekend Cruise. Four boats braved the unpredictable Spring weather - Whiskers, Seaclusion, Joint Venture and Anthea. Friday evening was balmy, so we made the most of it with drinks and dinner on the jetty. Saturday night was a night out at Melbourne Cellar Door just a short walk away on South Wharf.
As Saturday was so wet, we all found ways to keep out of the weather - some of us went to the Hoyts Cinema at Melbourne Central to see The Songs of John Farnham, the film of the recent tribute concert - a great way to spend a wet day and a film we highly recommend. For others it was retail therapy at the nearby DFO South Wharf. Yarra’s Edge Marina at the Docklands is a perfect location with restaurants close by, DFO a short walk away and trams close by to visit the city. All in all - a very successful cruise - we’ll put it on the cruise calendar again next year so look out for it if you missed out this year.
Sail Peninsula
Sail Peninsula is on again from the 19th to 21st February 2027
Save the date and get your crew, family and boats ready for a huge weekend on the water. Add to that the famous SP vibe, food, music, entertainment, a relaxed summer atmosphere and you’ve got a weekend everyone can enjoy.
“Join the action. Something for everyone”
The NoR is now published - Ckick HERE and you can enter HERE
Early bird entries have been significantly reduced to $140 so there is no excuse not to join in the fun next February
Social Committee
What a fantastic October the club shared with its members from opening day to start of Friday night pursuit races & the trip Terry Jones arranged to Yarra's Edge. All those yachts that went had a fantastic weekend, who thought the rain would stop us.
The Social Committee also had a fabulous night at our Aussie Rock & Pub Classics. The only thing missing on the night was the fabulous music by Billy Matthew's, legendary sax player. Billy is recovering from a brain tumor & undergoing chemo. He was very missed but Dave Campbell played his heart out for the two of them.
Look forward to your continued support. We have a few special events coming up.
Stay tuned!!!
Gwen McAuliffe
Chair Social Committee
ORCV News
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.
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
Gallery
Friday Twilight Pursuit Series Race 4 (06/11/26)
14 yachts started the non spinnaker race on the Bay and in abating wind. It was quite cold and getting dark so not exactly the perfect twilight race. Not sure what happened to Whiskers/Terry Jones as catamaran retired.
Congrats to the winning boat Ninjo skippered by owner David Phillip!
Blairgowrie Passage Race 1 (08/11/26)
7 yachts did the coastal sprint to Blairgowrie and back to Safety Beach in mostly reaching conditions and with plenty of breeze. Patriot, Rawhide & Ninjo managed to get kites up on a shy reach. 11-11 had planned to do race but boat was damaged in Friday twilight race.
Congrats to Marrakesh 1st on PHS handicap!
Some of our juniors hit the water for playtime after the morning session. Well done to Zara and Evelyn in the Tera's, Isola and her dad Glynn a Pacer, and Clem who took out Xander, Henry and Lewis to join the races in the Quest.
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