Celebrating our 141st Sailing Season! Our Sailing Academy’s development paths are leading to global successes across many classes (and ages!) of racing. Now the planned, three-year transition process of publishing MAINSHEET to align with our Squadron’s Sailing Season (commencing with each year’s official Opening Day events) is complete, we are able to report, with great excitement, on our achievements over the 141st Season just in time for the launch of our 142nd! Club racing: heart of the Squadron Club racing remains the foundation of sailing at RQYS. Every weekend, sailors competed across a wide range of classes, from junior fleets to high-performance skiffs and offshore yachts. Wednesday Afternoon Go Sailing (WAGS) continues to be one of the Squadron’s most popular traditions, bringing together experienced sailors, newcomers and social competitors for companionable mid-week racing. Paul and Nelly Bolton are responsible for the continued success of this event: thank you, both, for all your efforts in helping build this great local institution in our calendars! Weekend racing sees the fleet expand even further, with passage races, aroundthe-cans racing and championship events providing challenging competition throughout the season. For many members, club racing is more than competition: it is where lifelong friendships are formed, newcomer sailors develop their confidence, and the next generation of champions begins their journey at RQYS. Developing the next generation The focus of the RQYS Sailing Academy has, and always will be, on developing the next generation of sailors and providing a pathway for participants to progress and enjoy the sport at every level. Over the past season, there has been considerable work behind the scenes to review the programs and products available to both Members and the wider community. This process has included some minor structural changes within the Academy, along with a fresh approach to Member engagement and the way we deliver our programs. The aim is simple: to ensure the Academy continues to provide quality sailing experiences, creates clear pathways for development, and remains viable while being responsive to the needs of our Members and participants. With a strong foundation already in place, the Academy is well-placed to continue growing participation and developing our sailors, coaches and future leaders. Never has the success of the RQYS Sailing Academy been more evident than at the 2026 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark: more than half the Australian team competing at the championship were RQYS Squadron Members! This is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the quality of the Academy’s development pathways, coaches and the commitment of our young sailors. With so many RQYS sailors representing Australia on the world stage, this really demonstrates that the foundations being laid at the Academy are producing results and, importantly, are developing the next generation of Australian sailing talent. Hosting Australia’s best events The Squadron continues to attract major national and international regattas that showcase both our facilities and the exceptional sailing conditions of both ‘our local’ Waterloo Bay and the wider Moreton Bay beyond. The highlight of the 141st Season was undoubtedly the RQYS hosting of “Finn February” — a month that saw some of the world’s best Finn sailors descend on Manly for three major championships. The month began with the Finn Australian Championship, which was taken out by our very own Brendan Casey. Then the Australian Championship flowed into the Finn Gold Cup, attracting 84 international sailors for what proved to be a true test of both skill and endurance. Racing was conducted on the Eastern Course with effectively no upper wind limit, and the first three days delivered winds in excess of 25 knots. Conditions proved a serious challenge for the competitors and, at times, tested everyone involved — including our dedicated race management and Volunteer teams. It was a spectacular display of Finn sailing and demonstrated the exceptional standard of competition that RQYS is capable of hosting. The past season has showcased the incredible depth and diversity of sailing at RQYS, with our Members competing at the highest levels — both at home and overseas — while hundreds of new and developing sailors have taken their first steps into the sport, writes Mark Dingley. Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook Mainsheet 2026 13 Marine Sports Operations Manager’s Report
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