Sandgate Yacht Club

3 races decided the Verdon Shield today. The races were windward/leeward courses, 2 laps each with a downwind finish conducted in 4-8knot ESE’ly breeze.

There were oscillating shifts of around 15 degrees allowing for many passes over the race course. The race officers moved the start line further to the south for race 3 and after a hotly contested start there was large gaps between the fleet at the first top mark. The gap to the lead boat kept getting smaller but Relience 17 could not quite get the hat trick today.

No official results yet, but ….

1st Relience 17 (1,1,2)

2nd SNAffU (3,3,1)

3rd Saffron (2,2,3)

4th Criss Cross (5,5,4)

5th Patrick Kills Oysters (4,4,dns).

Happy Birthday to Amy! We all shared in some party food after racing to celebrate. Also thanks to Tom and Chris Noonan for setting the courses and running the starts.

Next race day is 31 Jan for legs 3 and 4 of the Club Championship.

Sailing will recommence this coming Sunday 17th Jan with the Verdon Shield.

First Warning Signal at 1130hrs with a high tide of 2.38m at 1225hrs.

Activities will again be governed by the current revised COVID19 restrictions which affect the Greater Brisbane Area.

2 events have taken place at SYC in the past few weeks.

The Excelsior Cup was run with competitors visiting from other clubs. There were 6 wind surfers, a Sharpie and 3 (or 4?) Flying Fifteens competing in strong 25 knot winds. The course set was Windward/Leewards and only 1 race was completed due to the strengthening winds. The race was won by David Larter and Laurie Williamson in Criss Cross and runners up were Neil Lestor and Graeme Dobson in Saffron. Thanks to all the visitors and we hope you return to SYC again soon – it’s not always strong winds and rough choppy seas…. honest! Refreshments were provided after racing with sausages, kebabs, salads and Christmas Cake for all the competitors and volunteers.

The final event for this year was held on Sunday. The Christmas Fun Race.

The committee of the Sandgate Yacht Club would like to wish all a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2021!

This coming Sunday is the first ever Excelsior Cup. This single race day will be run annually and is open to several divisions including Windsurfers. Racing results will be based on VYC yardstick handicap.

The Notice of Race and entry form can be found here

We hope to see you on Sunday!

A challenging day was had by some crews for the Merv Anderson Sprint Series this year while other revelled.

This is normally a great lead up event for the Flying Fifteen crews prior to their State Championships the fortnight after this event. This year the breeze was a firm 15-20 knot SE’ly. 5 starters headed out to the race course, 4 finished the first race, 2 finished the remaining races leaving one boat with a lot of work to do before packing up to go to Tin Can Bay for the Flying Fifteen State Championshpis. Congratulations to David Larter and Albert Schauss for sailing safely and consistently to take the win. Great to see previous club Commodore Andrew Pearson on the water again also.

Good Luck to all the crews sailing at the State Championships 21 and 22 November in Tin Can Bay.

Full results can be found here.

Racing at Sandgate YC this Sunday for the Merv Anderson Sprint Series. This event is a series of short races with the first warning signal at 1300hrs. High tide of 2.11m is predicted for 1452hrs.

Again any assistance you can give to the start crew will be greatly appreciated.

Last race meeting was the first 2 races of the Club Championship for 2020/2021. Results for that event can be found here.

Hope to see you all on Sunday 👍

A fantastic days sailing today with the first 2 races of the Club Championship being contested. The fleet was small today with a few boats and crews competing at other events.

The breeze built throughout the day and race 1 started in a 12kt NNE and was 15kts by the completion. Race 2 was started swiftly in at least 15kts of breeze and during the race the downwind legs proved to be exciting with the building breeze and an out-going tide.

Results to follow.

Next racing is the Merv Anderson Sprint race series 8 November. Great practice for the Flying Fifteens prior to their State Championships.

Club Championship races 1 & 2 this Sunday at Sandgate Yacht Club.

Early high tide of 2.46m at 1030 means another early race start at 1000hrs.

Any assistance given to the start crew would be greatly appreciated. If you know of anyone able to help Tom on the day please let me know.

See you Sunday.

Sandgate Yacht Club is conducting the King of Bramble Bay 2-day Regatta this weekend Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October.

Early starts both days at 1000hrs with high tides at 1016 and 1048 respectively.

Please observe COVID safe-distancing while at the Club.

Saturday’s event is planned to be a long course event around fixed marks which will have crews seeing most of Bramble Bay. Sunday we have windward-leeward racing planned.

The current forecast is looking very nice for 8-12 knot Easterly breeze on Saturday and 8-10 knot Easterlies on Sunday.

Race fees for the regatta will be $30 for both days and $20 per boat for one day only.

Any assistance offered to the Start Crew will be much appreciated. We hope to see you at the club this weekend!

Races 1 and 2 of the Summer Series were conducted today and the threat of late storms held off for a perfect days sailing.

The PRO today selected a Triangle-Sausage-Triangle course from the handbook and race 1 was run with a fickle light NE breeze and made for tight first windward mark roundings. It took most of the race for the cobwebs to be blown out and the boats found their groove. PRO elected to realign the course during the break between races and the breeze built to about 10kts before the start of the second race. The starts were hotly contested today and Race 2 was no different with boats bailing-out at the favoured boat-end of the line – all managed to get away cleanly and without serious incident.

It was great to see the return of racing and while the clubhouse activities may have not continued after racing, the boat park was an active area for discussion and debrief. Results for todays racing can be found here.

Next race day is the King of Bramble Bay Regatta 3-4 October.

It’s been a while…. Sandgate Yacht Club kicks off the 2020/2021 racing season this Sunday by conducting the first two races in the Summer Series.

On-shore social distancing regulations must be adhered to and a contact tracing register of all crews and visitors will also be maintained.

Warning signal for Race 1 will be at 1100hrs.

Any assistance for supporting the start crew would be greatly appreciated. We look forward to seeing you Sunday!

Australian Sailing has created the eSailing National Championships which are currently taking place all over the country. Each club are invited to elect a representative to compete in the State Championships as qualification to the National Championships. Sandgate YC will be represented in the Qld State eSailing Championship by Laurie Williamson. The racing starts at 1100 tomorrow morning and can be viewed on the Australian Sailing site https://m.facebook.com/AustSail/

Good luck Laurie!

Until further notice, all Sandgate Yacht Club activities are cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak and imposed government restrictions. SYC will continue to observe Australian Government directives and begin activities when the situation allows for it. Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing you on the water again soon.

All racing scheduled for Sunday 15th March at Sandgate has been POSTPONED.

This morning the BOM extended their Strong Wind Warning for tomorrow to include Moreton Bay and Gold Coast Waters (26-30kts), with a strong ridge forming along the east coast.

SeaBreeze predicts 29-30kts at midday Sunday.

We will endeavour to re-schedule the Verdon Shield to 26th April in place of our Fun Race.

Sorry to disappoint and have a great weekend.

Hopefully we will be sailing on Sunday. The forecast winds and conditions are still looking strong. The race officers with the management committee are planning to look at the forecast conditions again tomorrow. There should be an update on the SYC webpage tomorrow.

Here are the results for Merv Anderson Sprint Series from last weekend.

We are racing again this coming Sunday for the Bramble Bay Shield. First warning signal is scheduled for 12:00pm and the high tide is predicted to be 1.86m at 1:16pm. All boats are welcome to participate, but if you don’t have a boat you can assist managing the on-water events being part of the race officers team.

We are hoping to see a number of 505’s this weekend. A coaching and training session on Saturday followed by racing the Bramble Bay Shield on Sunday.

This coming Sunday was a spare day in the calendar for making lost days. We are going to try AGAIN (🙄) to run the Merv Anderson Sprint Series.

The timing for the first warning signal is early – 1000hrs – to complete at least 3 short races to add to the one race already sailed.

The final races of 2019/20 Summer Series are to be run this Sunday.

First warning signal is scheduled for 1300hr and the high tide is predicted to be 1.86m at 1514hrs.

Last week saw only one race completed towards the Merv Anderson Sprints owing to the unsettled stormy weather – we’re looking forward to complete these sprints next week.

Hope to see you on the water Sunday, either racing or helping out on the start boats.

Today was the rescheduled Merv Anderson Sprints. 5 boats took to the water in overcast, although lovely sailing conditions.

Race 1 was started under a gentle NE breeze. Most boats started at the mid-pin end of the line with only one starting at the boat end. Unfortunately for SNAffU, a general recall was declared and all returned for another attempt. The second start got away cleanly and the laid course meant a strong starboard bias.

First over the line was the Sharpie, Patrick Kills Oysters, recently back from repairs in the boatshed, followed by SNAffU, Soggy Sox, Saffron, and Criss Cross.

The course was being adjusted before the second race start as a storm was rolling in. Before the second start, racing was cancelled for the day and all crews made it safely ashore before the storm hit. The remaining races/banter of the day were conducted in the clubhouse with some refreshments and lunch sponsored by the club.

Racing again next week.

Sunday is the rescheduled Merv Anderson Sprints. With an early start this week of 1000hrs to match high tide at 0945hrs.

This series combines short-course racing with starting and tactical practice.

Again, we request any assistance you might be able to offer our dedicated start crew.

Look forward to seeing as many as possible on the course in recognition of Merv’s contribution to sailing.

3 races were conducted today for the Club Championship. The races were conducted in NE sea breeze, and lumpy seas. The wind increased throughout the afternoon, starting in about 12 knots and closing out the day in 15+ knot winds. The sea state increased as the winds increased providing fun surfing conditions downwind.

Welcome to some new faces to the club and welcome back to returning crews from competing in regattas around the country. Today was the first events in the second half of the season and the first events for 2020. They were also the first the races for the 2019/20 Club Championship.

The course for race 1 was an Olympic triangle course, race 2 was a 3 lap windward-leeward and Rae 3 was another Olympic triangle course. (Results attached/following)

There will be more racing again next week – the club will be conducting the rescheduled Merv Anderson Sprint Series. This event’s plan is to have many races conducted on a short course to provide good practise for starts and close mark roundings. We hope to see you there.

Results for today’s racing can be found by clicking here.

Sandgate Yacht Club starts the second half of the 2019/20 season this coming Sunday with a 3-race programme for the Club Championship.

High tide at 1454hrs and 1.80m with the first Warning Signal of the day at 1200hrs.

All boats welcome. If you can assist the Starters or want get involved in any way then please make contact and you would be much appreciated.

It’s been a busy start to the year with National Championships and other regattas taking place around the country. Check out our Facebook page for news and updates, just like this one:

That’s not sailing! How about 50 knot squalls in a 505 dinghy?!?! Spare a thought for the 5-0 sailors and all the other sailors competing in the Sail Melbourne Regatta today.

Here is an update from ex Commodore, Lindsay Gilbert competing in the 505 National Championships which is forming part of the Sail Melbourne Regatta.

“We started with challenging conditions during the invitation race and first day of the regatta proper, and with 25 + knots and big seas. Today and yesterday were perfect conditions.

Sailing back to the club today most of the fleet was hit by a dramatic rain/hail storm. Fortunately however we did not get the 50 knot squal the BoM had warned about.

Chris and Ian Gregg have completed all races and look like maintaining their postion at the top of the Queensland contingent.

Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel – multiple world champions from the USA, have a grip on first place with only Robin Deussen and David Snoad from SA able to take any races off them.

Three races and plenty of fun to go”.

Good Luck Richard and Lindsay and to all the QLD competitors.

Now that racing for 2019 has concluded at SYC, there just remains a Christmas get-together barbecue at the Clubhouse this Sunday 22nd around 1100hrs. There’s plenty of meat to throw on the barbie and there will also be rolls and salads (for the weirdos!)

Also happening this week, VMR Brisbane Inc is hosting a Carol’s night with the Food Trucks at the base this Friday from 1700hrs with an appearance for the young ones of Santa around 1930hrs. Everyone is welcome to attend this Council organised event.

To all members and friends – the SYC Executive wishes you and your families the very best for the festive Season. Stay safe and we will see you again in the new year.

The last race day for 2019 is on this coming Sunday (15th) and sees us conducting the Ted Rice Shield.
Warning signal for Race 1 is scheduled for 1200hrs.

We are still looking for another volunteer on the starter/rescue crew. If you are able to help, please let us know.

Unfortunately no racing yesterday due to strong winds.

The results of the Flying Fifteen Queensland State Championships which were held 2 weeks ago have been uploaded and can be found by clicking the below links:
Open Division
Silver Division
Handicap Results

Racing again this Sunday to complete the Summer Series events.

There has been some changes to the program to allow cancelled events to be rescheduled. Please check each events details as start times have changed etc.