By Phil Jarratt
On a perfect Noosa winter afternoon – except the sailor’s friend, the sea breeze had gone AWOL – they came from everywhere for the long-awaited, Covid-delayed, salty soiree to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club’s splendid riverfront HQ.
While the gourmet delights, bubbles and beer flowed, the club hosted everyone from champions of the future to legends of the past, plus a large number of community organisations and individuals who have supported the club’s good works over many years.
The original Yottie, known as the Noosa River Sailing Club when the first clubhouse was established in 1961, where the Gympie Terrace tennis courts are today, was barely big enough to swing a very short anchor chain, but right from the start (early 1950s) the club had a big heart.
People who enjoyed sailing seemed to want to share their joy with others who had never had the opportunity, and that spirit has prevailed, through different names and locations.
My own first experience of this came in the early ‘90s when a lovely and recently departed bloke called Bruce Whitfield, a faithful servant of what was by now the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club, helped us promote water-based activities to kids who might otherwise not have had the opportunity through Noosa Council’s Nu Wave Youth Centre.
Through this connection, I remember being introduced to frequent fabulous sunset beers on the rickety deck of that club the had served old Noosa well, but was not fit for purpose for new Noosa, exemplified at that time by the recently established and fast growing Noosa Waters estate.
The existing clubhouse was simply not big enough to house the growing stock of equipment needed for both sailing and rowing, and after a few ruffled feathers between the rowing and sailing cultures as to what worked best, it was agreed to accept a council offer of land at the mouth of the Noosa Waters Estate canal.
On Easter Saturday 1994, the sailors and rowers sailed past the old clubhouse to the new clubhouse, and ever since then, the club has grown in size and membership.
Covid may have delayed the 25th anniversary of the current clubhouse by a couple of years, but the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club had plenty to celebrate at last Saturday’s celebration.
For starters, there’s the remarkable amount of $220,000 raised in financial year 2021 in support of the club’s YouthSail, Rowing and Sailability programs.
This was a massive boost to these valuable programs helping the disabled of all ages and schoolkids to learn to row and sail.
As a result of the funding the Stratus 580 trailer sailor, a multi-purpose vehicle used for adult sailing lessons, Sailability and the schools programs, has been upgraded.
Four new vagabond sailing dinghies for the schools’ learn to sail programs, and two new RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) were purchased to ensure maximum safety on the water, and a new motor has been upgraded to the Rescue 1 boat.
Safety being a priority, additional handheld radios were acquired for communication on the river, while to ensure ease of access for the Sailability program, the beach wheel chair has also been refurbished.
Seven local schools now participate in the Schools Program, with over 3000 attendances.
The Stratogen Accountants Sunshine Coast Inter-Schools Regatta is hosted every year with both primary and secondary divisions competing in a round robin format over two days. On average 18 teams compete for the trophy.
The regatta is currently in its 12th year.
Four rescue craft and 37 training boats now make up the fleet in the club’s sailing programs.
The holiday programs, including FunSail and Learn To Sail (for seven-17 year olds), provide vital first steps in the sailing journey. Participants gain valuable life skills and confidence on the water. Many of these participants go on to compete in regional, state or national programs.
With the rise of Covid cases in Queensland, rowing memberships noticeably increased, with people turning to the incredible health benefits that rowing provides.
The club now boasts a thriving Master Rowers division, achieving State and National titles over the years.
So well done, Yottie. Here’s to another 25.
