Season Opening 2026 - 2027
Off The Beach News
Its all about to happen, happy New Season everyone!
This Sunday we want to be leaving the beach at about 10:30AM so get down to the club nice and early.
For those of you who haven’t joined there is a What’s App group you can join to get the OTB announcements. Join using https://chat.whatsapp.com/CuPoEl75EO94K1oMLtE1hM
The three biggest changes to the OTB SI’s this year are: Club Championship honours will now be decided on aggregate results across the main three series. Just the two later series count for Junior Club Champs so diligent students doing exams don’t miss out.
Newly designed Course No.1 will be the default course. Please check out the courses here and maybe even print and laminate your division course for your boat deck! https://sbsc.net.au/index.php/on-water/off-the-beach/off-the-beach-course-diagrams
We are aiming for three shorter races per session rather than two longer ones. This has quite a few advantages including more flexibility for course laying locations and less time waiting between races.
After the first month or so I’ll run a feedback session on the new changes so keep any “constructive criticism” bottled up till then!
Cheers, Ewan
Notice Of Race 2026 - 27 Sailing Season
Thanks, Geoff Eldridge, for putting the NOR together, please Click here for notice
Off The Beach course diagrams please follow this link. OTB Course Diagrams 2026-2027
Keelboat News
If you would like to participate in racing this weekend, please get your entry in NOW.
To ensure that you make the start sheet for Friday night your entry must be received by 5pm this Thursday 8th October. CLICK HERE to enter and make sure you complete the compliance section before you push submit.
Sailing Instructions are now available Here.
The Tony Lohman Trophy 'Tony's Race'
Friday 9th October – Twilight Pursuit Race #1
Start Time: 17:30H (AEDT)
On Duty:
Race Officer: Dianne Jackson
Tower Assistants: Mark Lawrence & Glenys Hitchen
Sunday 11th October – Opening Day
Sail Past & Commodore’s Gold Cup
On Duty:
Race Officer: Elaine Nicholas
Duty Boat: Lumiere
Tower Set Up & Results: Elaine
The first twilight of the season is now a very special race, named after Tony Lohman; a great sailor, member, and long-time friend of many in the club since the early days of Keelboat racing at SBSC. Tony sadly passed away at the beginning of the 2023 season. This Friday night is 'Tony's Race', where competitors will be racing for the perpetual 'Tony Lohman Trophy' named in his honour. Please book your table for dinner or just return to the club for a drink and the trophy presentation - to remember Tony and celebrate the start of Friday twilights.
ORCV News
Melbourne to Devonport ‘Rudder Cup’
Entries are still open for the 2026 Melbourne to Devonport ‘Rudder Cup’—Australia's oldest ocean race and the first race of the newly launched Bass Strait Cup. Starting off Queenscliff on Friday 30 October, the fleet will race 195nm across Bass Strait to Devonport, where the Mersey Yacht Club will be on hand to welcome competitors. It's also a qualifying event for the Westcoaster, making it a natural first step for any crew with Melbourne to Hobart in their sights. Click here to enter.
West Offshore Products Coastal Sprints
West Offshore Products Coastal Sprint Race 2 runs on Saturday 5 December. The Sprints are short coastal races conducted in daylight hours and are now classified as Category 4 races with some additional ORCV requirements. The new classification will reduce the cost barrier for those embarking on offshore sailing for the first time. These races are a perfect crew development pathway toward ocean races like the Rudder Cup and Westcoaster, or a great stand-alone coastal race, and you'll be home Saturday evening. Click here to enter.
Cock of the Bay
Entries are open for Cock of the Bay, ORCV's iconic Boxing Day race on Port Phillip. Starting near Station Pier and running roughly 21nm past Port Melbourne, St Kilda Pier, Brighton Pier, Sandringham and Hampton, it's the perfect way to blow off the Christmas excess. With over 100 yachts on the water in past years, it's shaping up to be another huge fleet. It's also a well-worn stepping stone toward the Melbourne to Hobart for those looking further ahead. Click here to enter.
Melbourne to Hobart ‘Westcoaster’
Entries are still open for the 2026 Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster, a blue-water ocean classic with more than 50 years of history and the highest-ranking race in the ORCV Offshore Championship. The 435NM course takes the fleet across Bass Strait, south along Tasmania's rugged and remote West Coast—a true test of strategy and seamanship for full crew, 4+ autohelm, and double handed boats alike. Join the legacy of more than 900 yachts and 7,000 crew members who've made this passage. Click here to enter.
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