Sailing club to open doors at Fishos

THE Torquay Sailing Club will attempt to showcase the best of what it has to offer at “the big green shed” this Sunday, January 22 from 10am at the club’s annual open day.

Committee member Madeline Gillard said she encouraged Torquay and the Surf Coast residents to visit the club this weekend, whether it be for a tour of the club’s historic facilities or to jump aboard one of the Hobie vessels, no matter the experience.

“We just want to show how inclusive an environment our club is and how accessible sailing is to all,” Ms Gillard said.

“A lot of people have this pre-conceived idea that sailing is inaccessible and expensive, and we just want to prove we are a bunch of Torquay local who love getting out on the boats.

“It’s not an expensive sport, it can be as expensive as you want to make it, but we have boats here that anyone can charter, and we invite anyone to visit our humble little clubhouse to see what we’re all about.”

The club will have its Hobie 16s and Hobie Waves boats fully rigged and ready for visitors to sail on, so residents are urged to bring themselves, friends, a wetsuit, a towel, and eagerness to join in.

Following the open day festivities, attendees can head upstairs to watch the club’s sailors race their regular Sunday races from 2pm.

Torquay Sailing Club will also be promoting its junior sailing school perfect for children aged from eight-years-old and up, but Ms Gillard said children younger than eight are more than welcome to join.

“We can provide lessons for absolute beginners of all ages, private lessons for adults, through to race training for competent to elite sailors run by our very own Hobie World Champions, Fletcher and Georgia Warren-Myers.

“Sailing can be as relaxed as going out on the water when the weather is nice, or it can be as elite as going for a world title. We offer a full range of possibilities here and we hope to show that off this Sunday.”

Torquay Sailing Club is located on The Esplanade (intersection with Darian Road).

More membership information can be found online at torquaysailingclub.weebly.com