Jibsheet December 2025

Wishing all members a lovely festive and holiday period.

We finished the Spring season with a lovely Xmas party last Sunday. Thank you to Santa (David B) and his elves (Jim, Garry) and the two Red Herrings for the music and all the members who made for a great vibe.

Our Yacht racing program continues throughout January and there will be tender service on those Sundays. Our Centreboard racing and Learn to Sail program takes a hiatus until Sunday, 1 February.

We are organizing the Australia Day regatta on 26th January for Centreboard and Yachts and will share updates via WhatsApp groups.

Please read through to the end and take note of clubhouse use during the holiday period.

Helena

Commodore

Dates for your Diary

Saturday 27 December to Friday 02 January Sydney Harbour Cruise

Sunday 4 January Two Island Yacht Race

Sunday 11 January Quartet Bowl Yacht Race

Sunday 18 January Blue Water Shield Yacht race

Sunday 25 January No races

Monday 26 January Australia Day regatta (Yachts and Centreboard)

Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January Sailing Camp

Sunday 1 February, Blue/Red Learn to Sail Centreboard Club Championship Avalon Series Yacht race

Saturday 7-Sunday 8 February Challenger Head Cruise

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February Pittwater Regatta Yachts

Saturday 14, 21, 28 February and 7 March Adult Learn to Sail

Tuesday 3 March – Sail the world with Jim Flaye

Saturday 7- Sunday 8 March Refuge Bay/America Bay Cruise

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March Pittwater Regatta Off the Beach

ASC Sailors going to regattas

All the best to F11 Sailors Charlie Q and Marcus C who will be representing the club at the F11 Nationals at Belmont, Lake Macquarie from 27 December through to 2 January and the Open Skiff Sailors for the Championship at Manly Yacht Club 19 to 24 January and Spiral sailors attending the Nationals at Toukley 24-26 January.

Sailing Camp 20 to 22 January 2026

We are running a sailing camp Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 January. Please help us to promote this event on social media.You can register here:

Adult Learn to Sail February/March 2026

Kingsley is planning an adult learn to sail starting February on four consecutive Saturdays 14, 21, 28 and 7 March. If you know anyone who would like to get into sailing or back into sailingthey can register here

2026 Pittwater Regatta – Yachts 14/15 February

RPAYC will once again be hosting the season’s biggest yacht regatta on Pittwater with the Pittwater Cup Series plus Australian Sports Boats, NSW IRC, Super 40s, Sydney 38 & VX one. Avalon’s Kookaburra won last year’s Pittwater Cup for Division 3. All yachts are strongly encouraged to participate as it's a lot of fun, and a great opportunity to take on other Pittwater & Sydney Harbour boats in our local waters. Last year had just short of 30 entries in 3 divisions.

Saturday’s race is the longer “5 Heads” course that takes boats out to Box Head and then to Challenger Head and back to Salt Pan Cove. Two shorter races on a windward / leeward course in Pittwater will be run on Sunday. 

Here’s some footage from 2 years ago taken by Bruce Walters on Kookaburra: https://vimeo.com/911788788/ddd6582571

ASC will not be holding a yacht race that weekend so that all ASC boats can participate in the Pittwater Regatta. for Information & registration click here

Pittwater Off the Beach regatta Saturday 14th/Sunday 15th March

This is a collaboration between the Pittwater Clubs RPAYC, BYRA and ASC. We will need your help that weekend and closer to the date as we will be hosting visitors (Spirals and Open Skiffs).

Fundraiser Talk – Sail the World with Jim Flaye Tuesday 3 March

Jim completed a circumnavigation of the world in 2022 and will be holding a talk on Tuesday 3 March at the club about his adventures. This is a fundraiser ticketed event. We will share a link for bookings via Whatapp groups and posters. 

Please SIGN UP to support January yacht racing and Summer Season Sailing program

We function thanks to the effort and time our volunteers put into the club.

We have dates for the January Yacht racing and the summer season sailing program inSIGN UP.

We have many vacancies for OOD and Canteen. Please plan when you can assist. It really helps us to know in advance that we are covered for those roles.

Thank you to:

Many volunteers participated & made our Try Sailing Day on Saturday 15 November a success. 23 visitors were able to choose a yacht (Cariad, Burrewarra or Papillion) or a supported Centreboard experience (Pacer, Spiral, Aero). The weather was great as was the vibe for those sailing with us on the day.

Paul W and Scott R for providing RSA bar service at a private function.

Volunteers who helped with marshalling the Beach-to-Beach fun run in September. We received a cheque of $3000 for your efforts.

Judy D for organizing a donation of Xmas wreath decorations, which Garry O and Helena put up.

Garry O/Helena for fixing the ramp gate which fell off its hinge on Saturday.

Barry B/Garry O) for draining the pontoons under our floating deck.

James G for applying for funding grants (this time with Johnson Brothers) and for recycling containers (cans/bottles) via the deposit refund scheme every week.

Garry T for handling enquiries for moorings.

Kingsley for supporting all our learn to sail and CB racing and planning and mentoring of coaches and response crew.

Coaches for introducing people to the wonderful sport of sailing.

Response Crews for making our Sunday program.

Canteen volunteers.

Officer of the day volunteers.

Clubhouse Use during Summer Break

The summer break is peak season on Pittwater with most members making regular use of their boats and club facilities. It can often appear that there is little use of the club during the break, but it’s a very busy period with members encouraged to make use of the facilities whilst being mindful & respectful of each other.

Given there are many new members, and it may not be clear what is and isn’t OK with regards to use of the club’s facilities, guidelines are provided on the website under “Club Etiquette & Code of Conduct” page:https://www.revolutionise.com.au/avalonsailingclub/members/code-of-conduct 

In Particular please note:

Casual Social Use - Members can use the clubhouse anytime within reason provided there is not a clash with any sailing event, social function or paid hire. Friends and family of up to 20 people is OK so long as neighbours & other members aren’t disrupted.

Locking Up - if you are last to leave, or if there is nobody at the club, then it is your responsibility to lock all doors, upstairs & downstairs & side gates. 

Pontoon - to be used for picking up & dropping off only. Do not leave boats tied up and unattended on the front or west facing edge of the pontoon.

Do Not leave boats or equipment on the deck or on the floor in between racks. Members are accessing their boats and equipment any time during the day and week. Too often members leave boats or equipment on the floor downstairs “just for the afternoon or overnight” blocking other members’ access to their boats in racks or ceiling - PLEASE DON’T.

Club Tenders - are provided so that members can conveniently make a quick trip to their moored boat. They are not to leave the Club and must not be left on your mooring should you go out. If you are going out sailing, you must use your own tender or return the club tender to the deck whilst you’re out.