RBYC Triumphs at Festival of Sails 2026
As has been the tradition for 183 years, this Australia Day weekend, Victorian and visiting yachts sailed in the Melbourne to Geelong passage race and a series of races on Corio Bay. On Saturday around 200 yachts started in a light northerly breeze in Altona Bay and headed down towards Portarlington before turning to starboard and heading into Geelong. This year was a rare exception with a large proportion of the fleet flying spinnakers from start to finish of the 35 mile race.
In near perfect conditions, racing on Corio Bay over the next two days was challenging, tactical and exhilarating. Royal Brighton Yacht Club was represented across several divisions and podium finishes were common across the Passage Rating divisions. Congratulations to Another Chapter, skippered by Greg Clinnick on first place in AMS in Passage Rating Division 2 and 4th place on ORC on a countback. Greg and his crew sailed a very consistent series to win from Ginan (MYC) and JAHMU, skippered by Ken Christensen, who were 3rd on AMS and 2nd on ORC. Over in Passage Rating Division 1, Reverie, skipped by Past Commodore Alan Woodward finished 2nd on ORC and 3rd on AMS. In Passage Spinnaker Division 3, some very tight racing saw Caledonia (Paul Jenkins and Kal Merrett) finish in 2nd place on a countback from True Colours skippered by Geoff Adams. The RBYC team of Reverie, JAMHU and Moana finished in 2nd place in The Geelong Advertiser Teams Trophy behind Sandringham YC. The luck with RBYC in that Schuss won a new chart plotter as part of an early bird entry draw.
Thank you and congratulations to all competitors for proudly representing RBYC in Australia’s biggest keelboat regatta.
“Here is a link to the results and you can check out the Facebook page for some great photos by Festival of Sails.”
RBYC and Brighton 1/14th Sea Scouts Partnership
In the second half of last year, RBYC donated 2500 10c containers to Brighton 1/14th Sea Scouts. This raised $250 for the scouts, which was put towards buying new PDF lifejackets for the kids to use during their water activities. Over the summer months, we hope to build on the success of the scheme and provide ongoing support for the sea scouts. RBYC member Lynn Pennington and the Brighton 1/14th Sea Scouts expressed their sincere gratitude and thanks to the Commodore and RBYC members for their support of the Brighton Sea Scouts by donating their containers in the bins provided at the Club and on the hardstand.
Wishing you fair winds and following seas and remember no bananas at sea.
Peter Demura Commodore