Sailing Operations Manager - Report

Simon Turpin

Mother Nature and Winter 2022 has not been ideal for us Sailors….however to put it into perspective, abandoning a number of Divisional Races due to the major weather events and ‘no wind issues’ (which have occurred over the past few months) is manageable from a rescheduling and operations point of view. Our thoughts go out to those in our community who are still continuing to truly struggle during these challenging times and we thank our Sailing Community for their patience and understanding. That said – over the past 4 months we have managed to activate one hundred and twenty six (126) Divisional Races including SYC Special Events together with Qld State & Australasian Championships. We are all looking forward to the next 6 months with fingers and toes crossed we certainly have a full calendar of scheduled Divisional Racing and Special Events/Regattas – including Southport’s Flagship Event – Qoin Sail Paradise 2023 – which is now a part of our new Sailing Series – The Summer of Sailing Series Australia (SSSA).

Scan Code for Sail Paradise Entry

Scan Code for SSSA Entry

We announced earlier this year that following the success of our 2022 Qoin Sail Paradise Regatta, coupled with positive feedback from competitors, sponsors and all involved, that Qoin Sail Paradise 2023 will be “bigger and better than ever” come January 2, 2023.

We also announced earlier this year the inception of a new Sailing Series, The Summer of Sailing Series Australia. The series will be jointly hosted by Southport Yacht Club, Queensland Cruising Yacht Club and Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. We are extremely excited about this new series and thrilled to be working with our Club Partners at Queensland Cruising Yacht Club and Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron to offer this fantastic array of sailing events to local, interstate, and international skippers and crew to participate in. Series will be held over 3 months from November 2022 through to January 2023 and will include:

1. The SEQ Ocean Qualifying Yacht Race 2. The Ted Elkes Memorial Regatta (Inc. The Australian Sailing QLD Yachting Champs) 3. The Brisbane to Paradise Yacht Race

4. Qoin Sail Paradise 2023 5. The Julian Rocks Yacht Race 6. The Surf to City Yacht Race (Ocean Course)

We are hopeful that the combined allure of free berthing, $1,000 SYC Club Cash, Trophy’s Accolades and most importantly….Bragging Rights, will attract boats in a number of categories for these fantastic sailing events. Further information about the Summer of Sailing Series Australia can be obtained by scanning the QRC or by emailing: sailing.admin@sycgc.com.au

STATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION

We would like to acknowledge the many SYC Sailors who have represented at State, National and International Regatta’s and Events over the past 6 months. These ‘away’ events and regattas involved much organising, and at times expenses for our sailors - we commend you for the effort and thank you for representing SYC so well – Below is a list of the Regattas and Events attended by some of our SYC Sailors past 6 months – We’ve captured as many as we are aware of – please remember to keep the Sailing office updated with any of your Sailing Event attendance and achievements.

• 2022 Etchells NSW State Championships • 2022 Inaugural Women’s and Girls Sailing Regatta • 2022 International OK Dinghy Australian Championships • 2022 Sail Port Stephens • 2022 Sailfest Newcastle • 2022 WMSC – Inshore Regatta – Founders Trophy • 2022 RQYS Laser Qld State Championships • 2022 Hansa Class Championships • 2022 Nacra Queensland State Championships • 2022 Victorian Youth Sailing Championships • 2022 Combined High Schools Sailing Championships (CHS) • 2022 - 74th Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race • 2022 - 51st Peel Island Marathon • 2022 May Day and Junior May Day Regatta • 2022 Bay to Bay Yacht Race • 2022 Skud 18 Australian Championships • 2022 South Pacific Laser Masters • 2022 Apollo Bay Race • 2022 European 49er Championships • 2022 Open Skiff World Championships • 2022 Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race • 2022 Humpybong Winter Bash Regatta

Sea Safety Survival Course

Southport Yacht Club continues to support and offer the Australian Sailing Sea Safety Survival Course (SSSC) for SYC Skippers and Crew of our offshore fleets. The normal industry cost for this course is considerable at $550 per student however SYC is changing the culture of safety by subsidising this cost for our Members. Over the last twelve months, we have held three (3) SSSC training courses and qualified twenty-seven (27) SYC Members with their SSSC qualification. This initiative has only been viable through the support and generosity of our SSSC Chief Instructor Michael Spies who generously donates his time and expertise. Michael has been instrumental in changing the culture of safety in Offshore Racing. Survival at Sea is a crucial part of offshore racing and we believe that this course should be for all people who venture in offshore racing, not just a select few who can only afford to do it. Great Circle Marine Safety Equipment have also supported this initiative in providing life rafts for the pool drills and the generosity from our Members Andy Lamont and Glenn Burrell who have also contributed life rafts and flares for the course.

If you have experience in offshore racing with a passion for safety and training with some spare time to give back to our Sport, please see myself so as we can assist you in becoming a qualified SSSC Instructor so as we can help more of our Members in the coming years.

AS Safety Equipment Audits

The Australian Sailing Safety Equipment Audits renewal program for 2022/2023 was very well received and we thank all Skippers (and our fantastic Volunteer Auditors) for their co-ordination of achieving this by the deadline of the 31st July 2022. A reminder that if you have not submitted an up-to-date certified Safety Equipment Audit Form to both your Top Yacht Profile - you are not eligible to race at the club. Please do not hesitate to contact us in the Sailing Office if you need any assistance with this.

Wishing you all a fantastic ‘Summer of Sailing’, See you on the water.

Simon Turpin Sailing Operations Manager

NOAKES SYDNEY GOLD COAST YACHT RACE

Well, it was a MASSIVE few days in early August, when the Club once again hosted the arriving yachts, skippers and crew competing in the 2022 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. We ended up with 62 yachts being berthed at SYC - it was quite a sight! A massive THANK YOU again to our Volunteers who took care of everything from the Radio Control Room to Support Boat logistics. Our teams at SYC did us proud working tirelessly over the 4 days showcasing our beautiful yacht club – well done to all!