Almost 60 years ago in 1963, the Y Canberra Region Sailing Club was established – one year before Lake Burley Griffin was officially filled in 1964. Showing ample enthusiasm for their beloved sport, the original Club members would travel across the border to sail on Lake George, before relocating to their current home in Yarralumla Bay where they’ve been ever since.
To celebrate their upcoming 60-year anniversary, today the Club are doing what they do best – setting sail in dozens of brightly coloured boats on Lake Burley Griffin to create a spectacle for Canberrans to enjoy.
Up to 60 sailors in 30 sailing boats will be racing from their clubhouse to Tarcoola Reach before completing the classic triangle of the original permanent markets – Acton, Deepwater, and Yarralumla.
YMCA Canberra Region CEO Torrien Lau said, “YMCA Canberra Region is the only Y in Australia that has its own sailing club. And with such a rich Canberra history and being so important to its 160 members, we are really looking forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary with our sailors, and the broader community who will truly enjoy Lake Burley Griffin dotted with sailing boats.
“Y Canberra Region Sailing Club is a family orientated club catering for off-the-beach dinghies and catamarans, and our members are supported by over 30 volunteers who focus on developing young sailors and welcoming people with limited or no sailing experience and disabilities.”
Two YMCA Canberra members and keen sailors, Val Moran and Ralph Weston, had a spark of initiative to form the Club in the 1960s.
Working together at the Australian National University, the men gathered a band of like-minded people and founded Canberra’s first official sailing club, which is still enjoyed by hundreds of Canberrans today.
Club Commodore Ron Thompson says he “gets a lot out” of his involvement with the organisation.
“The Club means so much to its members. Our family and junior sailing activities are the ideal place for families to start sailing together. With access to boat hire and help from the Y’s volunteers and staff, you need no prior experience to get out onto the water,” Mr Thompson says.
“We invite members, sailors and the broader Canberra community to get lakeside to see our Anniversary Race on what we hope will be a beautiful spring day for the first day of Floriade.”
The Y Canberra Region Sailing Club’s 60th Anniversary Race takes place today, Saturday 17 September at 1pm, starting at the YMCA Jetty at the Sailing Club.
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