Clubs right across Australia are flinging open their gates this October, with free come-and-try sailing days popping up from Western Australia to Tasmania ahead of Discover Sailing Month proper in November.
The spread of events is wide. Dinghies, keelboats, even land yachts get a run, and nearly all of it costs nothing to turn up and try.
Perth Dinghy Sailing Club kicks things off on 3 and 24 October with free Try Sailing Days in the club's Mudlarks and Jay-Dees, aimed first at kids and teens before opening to adults in the later session. No experience is needed, and lifejackets are supplied.
Brisbane Sailing Squadron runs introductory sessions on 3 and 10 October for children aged 7 to 16, putting them aboard a Quest dinghy with an instructor before they're pointed toward the club's Learn to Sail programmes.
Over in South Australia, the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia offers three separate keelboat tasters: twilight sessions on 8 and 15 October and a Saturday slot on the 10th. Each runs three hours. Adelaide Sailing Club has its own two-hour Discover Sailing experiences on offer from 4 October onwards, with all gear provided.
Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in New South Wales takes a different tack. Its Alfred's Community Sailing programme, running every Friday from 9 October, is built specifically for veterans, frontline workers, first responders and community groups, pairing a sail aboard Elliott 7 keelboats and member yachts with a social lunch afterwards.
Several of these events lean toward welfare and wellbeing rather than recruitment alone.
Midway Point Yacht Club in Tasmania hosts a Sail Our Way day on 17 October, aimed at introducing women and girls to the sport in what the club describes as a welcoming, supportive setting. The Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project is bringing a hands-on sailing display to the HMAS Kuttabul Family Open Day on the same date, showcasing its work with veterans and families.
North East Windsport Club in Victoria is doing something different again, offering Blokart land sailing over the weekend of 17 and 18 October. No boat required.
Smaller clubs are involved too. Colac Yacht Club, Geographe Bay Yacht Club, Portland Yacht Club, Largs Bay Sailing Club, Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, Gosford Sailing Club and Cairn Curran Sailing Club all have Discover Sailing sessions scheduled through the month.
October is just the warm-up. Discover Sailing Month proper begins in November, with far more events still to come.
