Sailing Club

Tell Tales

This week we celebrate women around the world and the many ways they contribute to our sport and communities, both on and off the water

The 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Balance the Scales,” reminds us that building a fairer and more inclusive sport is something we all play a part in. In Sailing, this means creating opportunities and supportive environments that help more people feel confident and welcome to get out on the water — supporting our vision of getting more people on the water, in more ways.

We value all women across the sailing community for their immense contributions and take interest as they share their experiences and perspectives, highlighting the progress that has been made and the opportunities still ahead.

Meaningful change grows through everyday moments.

Friday 

In another light wind Friday Learn to Sail Session, perfect opportunities were presented to participants to continue coordinating the developing craft of boat handling, balance, sail control and wind awareness. Ayla, Millie and Jem were keen to take up the rewarding and achievable challenge. Meanwhile, Harry and Edmond sailed about and practised repeated capsize recovery routines until they were exhausted from laughing, screaming and heaving themselves in and out of the boat.

Saturday

Saturday afternoon’s race began with the sort of optimism only a weather forecast can provide. We were expecting a tidy 10 knots from the south, but the Southern Ocean had other ideas. Boats were left paddling their way out of the harbour, wondering what may lay ahead of them.

Racing Central barely had time to get the course set before it was time to start. With the wind refusing to settle into anything resembling the forecast, an unusual starboard course was called in the hope of making the most of the shifting breeze and the southerly that might eventually show up.

The start was tight, with Zebra Crossing, Black Pearl, April Dancer and Euffamism all jostling for position. Unfortunately, Zebra Crossing & Black Pearl then demonstrated admirable independence by heading confidently in the wrong race direction.

By the first mark April Dancer led, followed by Euffamism, Black Pearl, and eventually Zebra Crossing, once the fleet had collectively agreed on which course we were actually sailing.
A well-timed spinnaker run from Black Pearl pushed Euffamism further down the order, reshuffling the fleet again.

With the breeze remaining unreliable, Race Central shortened the course at the second triangle, but the wind then disappeared entirely. What followed looked less like racing and more like a club-wide drifting demonstration toward the finish line.

Eventually Black Pearl, April Dancer, Euffamism and Zebra Crossing managed to limp across, and there was genuine concern that we might be towing the fleet home.
Naturally, and as always happens in the Bay, that was the precise moment the SW wind decided to arrive.

Results

This Saturday, the club is running a multiple short course regatta for dinghies. Whilst this doesn’t count toward season championships, it is a great opportunity to playfully refine all the elements of sailing in what is known as a sprint series. In honour of Les Kearney, we compete for The Les Kearney Cup. Les was a huge contributor to the joyful establishment of our significant and current fleet of flying fifteens,

Life is good. Come Sailing!

To find out more please see our Facebook group - Apollo Bay Sailing Club.

New Members Always Welcome!

Many thanks to Bendigo Bank for their support of Learn to Sail at ABSC.