Queensland Yachting Survey 2025 Feedback

by Ian Thomson / Ocean Crusaders 11 Jul 15:18 AEST

Ocean Crusaders J-Bird © Salty Dingo

Following this year's Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a group of passionate and experienced individuals from the sailing community gathered to discuss the current state of yachting in Queensland. A key concern raised during these discussions was the noticeable decline in participation across the sport.

Recognising the need for a broader perspective, the group—comprising race participants, sailing advocates, and respected members from yacht clubs across the state—agreed that an independent survey was essential. The aim: to capture the views of sailors throughout Queensland and better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the sport.

As a result, the Queensland Yachting Survey was launched to gather valuable insights directly from the sailing community. This initiative seeks to inform future strategies that can help revitalise participation and ensure the continued growth and enjoyment of yachting across the state.

A total of 107 submissions were received.
The graphs will take into account 107 submissions unless noted otherwise.
The percentage is irrelevant in these graphs as it shows percentage of selection over other selections and not selection over submissions. (E.G. below shows 89 Keel Boat as 60% whereas it should be 83% of submissions sail a keelboat if you divide 89/107.)
Ocean Crusaders has not altered any results in any way.
Ocean Crusaders is conducting this as an independent organisation with no financial gain, or bias towards any particular club/event.
Clubs were consulted in the creation of this survey.
Any questions, please email to

What types of yachts do you sail? Select all that apply

What types of yachts do you sail (select all that apply) - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Which yachting events have you participated in? Select all that apply

Which yachting events have you participated in (select all that apply) - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Which yachting events do you plan to compete in over the coming 12 months?

Which yachting events do you plan to compete in over the coming 12 months - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Alarmingly, only 39 people submitted to this question.

What factors would encourage you to participate in more yachting events? Select all that apply

What factors would encourage you to participate in more yachting events (select all that apply) - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Less regulation.
I just think the sport has become too costly for mum and dad or weekend orientated yachties. For many years 50 entries in the B2G was a very poor showing, now we struggle to get 25-30 boats. Costs of sails, insurances and safety equipment has just put it out of reach for many to compete.
Yachting professionals (staff) being from yachting background. Not nepotism being the reason they are employed. Having staff that want to do their job and not just turn up and get paid. Having staff that greet sailors not hide behind mirrored office windows. Having staff that want to progress the sport, want to evolve the sport, want to understand and perfect any part of logical yacht racing management. Understanding handicap systems, understand progressive sail training and not inefficient overcrowding over informing confusing practises. Progressive pathways to successfully captivate and engage participants. Logical progression ie start sailing a 1 sail boat, when skills attained 2 sails and so on. Not getting as many sail as much speed as much shock in to new sailors. I've seen soooooo many never come back after a sail training session overload. Leaving junior apparent accredited keel boat instructors scaring potential sailors away. Yesterday another group left to be trained in Melges 24 ran aground next to yacht club and required safety boat intervention, management to probably never know and if do, let it all happen again.
I am speaking to my opinion on why owners aren't racing. I believe it is the lack of camaraderie in the sailors talking to each other and wanting to go and race in the same events to build numbers.
Good courses. Good race management.
Personal timing is always a consideration, i.e. other commitments, business, social and family etc.
Participation in RQ division events are limited for trailer sailors because there is no trailer sailor division.
Cost of additional insurance for entering spinnaker races is very high if you only do a few or one in the year.
Easier to secure berth.
Not being given maximum in SAGS because you are doing a different regatta.
We have in the past two years moved from a Racer cruiser to a Cruiser (Keel Boats). We are interested in social racing rather than full on racing.
Working is the curse of the sailing class. There are enough events to sail in to keep everyone happy. Let's do more with what we have.
More information regarding regatta format, courses, dates & costs published early. Websites current and links up to date.
Being able to link up with boats who need crew.
I participate regularly in sailing races between my Ross trailer sailor and the dinghy sailing. I would struggle to fit any more sailing into the year.
Better weather - it feels like its been raining forever!
I do 7 events a year and most Wednesdays.
More time in my busy life.
Not having to remove anchor.
Ease of participation is important - ie do we have a marina berth on arrival, does the destination link with another event, how onerous are the entry requirements (and how easy or difficult is it to deal with the race organisers on entry requirements). And is there a separate division for Corinthian competitors?
The cost of running the boat is becoming more costly. Safety standards are becoming more costly. Dedicated crew for race and delivery back and accommodation is getting costly.
Less compliance.
Embarrassed to say but a clearer calendar and some peer pressure works best on me. Clubs should promote other clubs events on their own calendar.
Timing and help with preferred extended birthing between the races so there is somewhere known for my boat.
More diverse divisions.
Lower compliance costs.
Both weekend and twilight racing.
Easier to find crew spots.
Simplify many of the impositions applied by YQ over the last 20 years.
Less bureaucracy... Get rid of SailSys, it is only for Sydney dinghies...
Mentoring.
More double handers to sail with. More entries by cruising type yachts (like ours).
Less strict checks for insurance etc.
Reduced distance from home port to start line and return.

What are the main reasons you do not participate in more yachting events? Select all that apply

What are the main reasons you do not participate in more yachting events (select all that apply) - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Delivery return.
Don't like over regulation.
People who don't pay their crew.
Apparently my club has 2 sailing promotions managers that ive never seen once promote any form of inshore race nor OTB nor cat wacker. Only promote the big almost corporate existence races only. Grassrootes racing/sailing is the forgotten factor. A sailor that races OTB for many years can sail any boat. A sailor that races keelboats for many years can not necessarily sail any OTB.
Poor participation. Too many safety requirements. Poor racing courses.
Confused handicapping. Need more one design.
RQYS require full membership to enter their events.
Often not convenient time. Not widely publicised ie not aware. Benefits not obvious. Crew busy.
MCC series is the only series for small trailer sailors.
Access to berthing.
I already race every Sunday. Cost of boat preparation and support team
Like Cruising Div Racing. No need for experienced crew and need less crew and now spend more time sailing and *8in comfort!!
Would love to do Airlie/Magnetic/Hamilton, but time/logistics are a big hurdle to make those regularly from SEQ. S2C and B2G are great offshore events with endless potential and St Helena and Bribie Cup in particular could be more heavily promoted. I'd love to see Brisbane to Mooloolaba done as a yearly event with boats ending up in the marina and staying a night before coming home. Some smaller scale offshore racing to a destination is appealing.
Getting older, just fair weather sailors now.
I don't find it difficult to participate
Getting time off work, how to get on boats to crew (it is such a random word-of-mouth system).
Rain in 2025.
Retired from racing....
Sailing Australia Cat 4 is a pain to organise and obtain yearly.
I live overseas now.
Having to remove anchor.
I get the feeling from some race organisers in NSW (ie CYCA) that they really don't want amateurs in their events or dont want boats from other clubs. Hence, welcoming outsiders with enthusiasm is important if a club wants to generate entries from other clubs or from interstate, Also the NSW Clubs dont' seem to understand Special Reg 1.02 "Responsibility of the Person in Charge" and hence, their entry requirements overstep the mark significantly.
Berthing and accommodation costs.
Sailing club volunteers are already pushed, bordering on burnout, as are other sports.
We are from Yeppoon, so travel is a problem for the boat and the crew.
Insufficient handicap system (CBH).
Poor advertising of crew position availability.
I have become so dismayed with YQ I can no longer support them by entering races in Qld waters.
Aus yachting fees for myself and crew to race on my boat.
The use of sailsys handicapping system, mostly the fact clubs aren't shown how to use, and original handicap number being entered will not disappear if wrong!
Distance to events, and then the return - all one way races. Shame the ocean qualifier from a few years back didn't happen - Brisbane to Double Island Point and return. Also helps level the field a bit over downhill fliers on eg, B2G.

What ideas could help make offshore yacht racing more attractive to sponsors, especially in terms of exposure or value for boat owners?

Comments on the above

Same as the French. Bigger sponsors bigger coverage, festivals spirits.
Awareness that we exist.
Better coverage from television. Then it would be worth sponsorship as the branding would reach more people.
Club driven PR.
No restriction and More availability to have multiple sponsors on a boat. Stickers flags. Cheaper sailing gear by sponsors.
Built youth off shore teams and provide them yachts and a championship that include all major races.
Better media coverage at venues.
Junior sailor inclusion/incorporation/input/affiliation/amalgamation to name a few. Structural systemic change away from historical "Rich mans sport" status is required.
I think bigger fleet numbers does this. More people is more exposure exponentially. Discussion is all about getting higher fleet numbers.
Naming rights of an event is important to sponsors.
Relaxed safety requirements. Better attitude by other participants (everyone seems to serious).
Participants supporting the businesses that sponsor yachting.
Sponsor surveys, Short sponsor interviews promoted on socials, Drone footage of starts? Joy ride position on suitable boat options for sponsors at events.
Mainstream marketing and more grassroots coverage.
Possibly encourage our sports podcast promoters such as Bar Karate to have a bigger impact on coverage.
I am a Bay Princess and happy with that. Not everything is about ocean racing.
In SEQ some shorter offshore destination races with facilities, promoted well and well supported by boat owners would be great. Races like Surf to City and St Helena are ideal as they can be run and won and celebrated over one weekend. No big boat/crew/time logistics to thwart your dreams...
Broader advertising perhaps towards spectators and families as well as participants. Tourism and accommodation links. Transport and other recreation links. Dining options, restaurant participation?
Less ego amongst yacht owners.
Needs a bigger audience.
Media would be a great start but its clear that free to air board casting does not obtain viewership to keep this sustainable.
Better organised race programs, cheaper costs, help with crews, be more helpful.
Perhaps live feeds from yachts participating. It's pretty boring watching a tracker for those that aren't adept with speeds in knots and heading etc.
Value to owners: as a pro sailor I see a large gap in the yachts and also abilities. I think all yachts should declare their crew and "category" and a "non pro" division made with a separate trophy to encourage owners with an amateur crew to participate.
Coordinate all club ocean racing calendar's in Queensland to form a blue water series, with tiered sponsorship packages. Include in this all current crewed categories, and include a focus on the less competitive classes of cruiser racer and 50% crewed.
Recently SYC announced a point score prize to make a series out of their offshore races. While it doesn't seem to have attracted more racers, it was all very last minute.....maybe next year. But a clearly articulated calender for SEQ offshore clubs would help me plan events. Its tricky having to go to multiple websites to see what's on and when (I feel like this is a lazy answer, so therefore its probably valid...).
Broadcast starts and finishes to YouTube.
If we were more representative of the population!

What ideas do you have for encouraging more people to get involved in sailing at all stages, from novice to experienced sailor to eventual boat owner?

Comments on the above

More open days. Cost is huge just for social membership.
Availability of crew positions. Having a siverse crew with 1 or 2 new experienced crew onboard for each race. Not being afraid to ask crew from other boats without issues of "taking crew".
More prizes for participating not just the three winners.
Again better coverage for the sport as a whole.
More feeder events like Surf to City.
Rental offshore PLB.
Bigger cruising divisions. Boats are able to enter an event with no rating at all but they also finish with no results. This will have more boats at the start line.
Youth off shore training programs.
I think subsidised courses, such as SSSC would certainly help. Perhaps more divisions for the amateur crewed boats. People won't enter if they don't think there is any chance of winning something, it's just too costly, especially when you know there is a good chance some equipment will be damaged (kites etc) during the race.
De-myth the cost of getting into sailing,
More media on how to start sailing rather than just the massive media around maxi racing.
To achieve "experienced sailor" guess where they start off. The current junior sailing participation is shrinking. I believe the sustainability and growth of the sport entirely depends on the overall management of our sailing nursery (juniors). Having senior trainees in the hands of often young unloved, inexperienced apparently gazetted trainers is dangerous enough but putting juniors through the same is ludicrous. More psychology in cognitive ability training or teaching skill must be incorporated into the equation. Not just let out in the hands of a junior trainers where ego and power influence input.
Social events are important. after race gatherings, free BBQ / sausage sizzle etc.
Follow Australian Sailings plans.
Organised try sailing opportunity the morning of races, to give sailors experiences they wouldn't normally get.
There are so many barriers to entry, mostly put up by boat owners and the cup themselves. I have tried many times to just get a list of people looking for rides and to hook them up with people looking for crew. We run a very successful program for the Brisbane Women's Keelboat Cup, but any attempts to expand it have been met with a lack of interest / support. It is more than a one-person job, but no one else steps. There are also established apps etc that the clubs were not interested in investing in.
Have training for skippers on how to attract both females and young sailors.
The generational void with communication is often prohibitive.
Young people do not appreciate the old school ways of team building and communication.
How to connect with Gen Y to Z education for boat owners.
Encourage young sailors to take charge.
More races for novice and young people to get them into the sport. Yacht clubs invite the dinghy club racing so young people can see there is a future in sailing. Child minding so young families can keep sailing.
Facilities. In SEQ, Humpybong and Manly have good learning to sail facilities. Let's recognise where geography and facilities are strongest and back those. Do it well yourselves as a club, or support those that do. A further sailing program that is aimed at extending the sailing experience before buying your ideal keelboat and not breaking the bank in fees (subsidies?) would be an advantage in further creating numbers of potential boat owners. But capping all this off is increasing the number of berths/marinas certainly in SEQ and I suspect further north too to accommodate sail boats and/or all boats. Marinas are full it seems, so the infrastructure needs to be there and the government needs to support those initiatives. Environmentally friendly marinas can and should be built that can support 200+ boats, with services. Some existing marinas have nothing.
Grass roots in schools, crew boards on weekly sailing. And training boats.
Starts with the kids! Barriers to entry of this sport are way too high for everyday people to participate. The French and Spanish school programs are models to follow.
Smaller boats with less crew equals less cost and more boats. Young kids these days are not building or buying small boats 1/4 tonner or similar. They are sailing on big boats that have 20 crew...enough people to crew 4 or 5 boats. 2 handed sailing is encouraging smaller boats and should continue to be promoted.
The registration process needs to be easier - hopefully event insurance isn't to blame but simply making self clearance for inshore events should be enough to race rather than having to obtain a Sailing Australia Category 4 every year. Just finding and organising someone to do this is problematic for many who already struggle with time.
Clubs should encourage social interaction with new members and boat owners.
This is always difficult, sailing is a skill that won't ever be mastered and it takes years to achieve proficiency for the regular person that has to attend school/work etc.
Approaching schools with a deal for summer holidays would be one idea along with an inter-club teams racing circuit so people feel that they're a part of something larger than just the one boat that they're in. This can be done in dinghies and also yachts.
Crew boards generally haven't worked when I've put my name down for crew spots on races such as B2G.
A mentoring program, such as She Sails, that gives participants a clear progression pathway to ocean racing....less of the Old Boys Club.
Sailing club volunteers are already stretched and at capacity, bordering on burnt out, as are other organisations that rely heavily on volunteers.
We pay fees to Sailing Australia and Queensland for sports administration. I have yet to see those individuals employed in the capacity of sports administrators, visit regional clubs outside of Southeast Qld, to help promote ocean racing/sailing as a alternative legitimate sport.
The Admiral's Cup is back, yet we hear bugger all emanating at state and club level, just a bit social chit chat coming out if CYCA.
We have moved from SE Qld to a Qld coastal town that had a yacht club until 2013, then it closed due to out reaching the club's ability to service the commercial enterprise chosen to support the yacht club. Now, we have a dinghy club with no clear pathways for juniors to following for progression into keel boats (or any other classes for that matter).
How does state administrators tackle these issues? I don't know.
To do our bit, we entered our yacht in the 2024 B2G as first time skipper/owners, reached out to our club members for crew wanting a chance to experience all that B2G has to offer, we got 2 responses from very green inexperienced people (which is what we wanted, our way of paying foward). In the end we had to source the remaining crew from 2 Moreton Bay club's. A bit disappointing that declining participation resulted in this result.
Better awareness of racing fundamentals for owners and crew alike. For instance at CYCSA they have a fleet of Elliots and do social, close to the club, fun racing which is also excellent training. This program has excellent cross over for corporate days too and it is viable!
Easier access to learn/ more opportunity for adult movies to get in dinghies.
Mentoring programmes.

Which Rating System do you prefer to race under. Please rate.

Which Rating System do you prefer to race under (please rate0 - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Do you think there are too many divisions in some races? (38 Submissions)

Do you think there are too many divisions in some races - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Too many people believe they deserve to always win a trophy. It shouldn't be about the trophies. It should be about the race, improving, the teamwork.
No way! If anything (especially for Multihulls) there are not enough. Many lower end (older) trailer trimarans have to race against modern multihulls which almost makes it impossible to win. I understand too that numbers for this to happen is a huge barrier.

Should Rating Divisions be able to enter PHS as well? (37 Submissions)

Should Rating Divisions be able to enter PHS as well - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Don't know anything about divisions other than PHS

Regarding cost of compliance, is this a significant detraction from racing for your vessel? Please provide ideas on how this can be overcome in your opinion?

Comments on the above

The constant renewals take time - IRC, ORCi and AMS costs a fair bit each year to stay current. In terms of the problem we are trying to solve, there are so many boats in marinas that are seaworthy but not officially compliant or rated. All east coast races are aimed at the same few compliant and rated boats (generally IRC). How do we get more PHS / white sails and cruising boats entered. Not sure if the use of spinnakers scares of more inexperienced family boats (?). Having a 'transition to racing' class might be good for more casual boats to get them out there? In that case, we'd also need more social events and 'fun' prizes.
Lower category classification.
No.
Group purchasing for example liferaft rentals and plb/ais rentals.
Mooring fees should be included in the registration fee.
Unsure. Fees for compliance seem to be way too much.
Just make it easier, reduce the paperwork, reduce compliance skippers are responsible for their vessels and crew.
Standardisation of Cat3 plus for b2g and B2k.
Support for club version of measured classes.
I find there is too much ego & infighting. Not enough freedom & enjoyment.
Safety Compliance is always most important.
No.
I like all these suggestions.
The cost involved in getting a yacht beyond Cat 4 is prohibitive
Compliance costs are secondary compared to the running costs of racing offshore. I feel this issue is over exaggerated.
My vessels are one design they are not compliant with current yacht club policy of cat 7. They still need to signed off that they are not compliant but signed of. Go figure. Ol' Mate recently entered Etchells state champs for first time. He said he would never do it again as the admin and cost was pathetic.
Lower the damn Category for club offshore racing, allow fast trailer sailers and Sports boats to enter.
Be inclusive with out category overreach.
I don't think it is significant.
Some compliance requirements are just a way of race organiser to defer responsibility. Keel & rudder inspection a great example.
Cost to haul out boat just for a visual inspection if race entry doesn't coincide with regular haul out... If there were visual signs of defects you would get them fixed. I don't believe anyone would deliberately risk their yacht or crew. onus should be on skipper / owner, not an "inspector".
Yes, definitely.
Lower safety categories, Insurance packages supported by governing bodies or associations like is done in car racing.
Not cost but time and effort.
There is not a lot that can be done. We only race Cat 4. We have a high regard for the safety of our crew and given that this is where a significant amount of the compliance costs lie, we don't compromise.
No, but I am concerned about the poor safety culture of racing in Brisbane generally. When incidents happen they are never spoken of openly....so none of us learn anything. Australian Sailing do not lead.
Not having to do certification each year.
Unfortunately, there is no way around it.
Fit for purpose safety compliance. Current Category 5 works ok as it a good minimum for day racing around the bay.
NA - Inshore racing only.
Not really looked at this. Compliance is key for safety.
The platforms used for compliance (topyacht and Sailsys) need improvement including payment methods. Each club uses different platform which can be annoying.
Lower category (this thinking has started in some cases). Yes to easier communication. Everything having to be signed off for a fee, life raft, pfd, hf radio, keel inspection, just make it harder, more time more money but is it more safe? So ocean racing from Manly is not a option, why set up for offshore when we are bay sailors.
More service providers to assist in gathering and processing information and providing cost effective services.
Subsidised compliance would be good.
But don't lower standards.
Maybe more applicable compliance.
Use of Starlink.
Not appropriate to amend current "Special Regs" and guidance re category of race. (Safety first and consistence).
Renewing to get certificate every year is a pain.
The cost of compliance is a factor initially but I recall one notable race where me not having IRC meant me probably losing a 1st place trophy! IRCc is a good first step for some.
Lower categories for coastal events.
Cost of the handicaps themselves is crazy.
Keel and electrical inspection cost etc surely there's got to be a better way.
I'm sure there's other things on the audit we shake our heads at.
Yes Cost of compliance is overwhelming. PFD certification costs, First Aid, Safety Harness changes, Sea Safety Survival costs and frequency as any changes should be communicated not re-certify.
The cost isn't as much as a deal as the time it takes to sort it.
Compliance costs have been increasing, sometimes for valid reasons such as increasing safety.But the overall cost is a significant factor in reducing boats on the water and the availability of crews. Renting safety gear maybe a solution for crews etc.
My regular skipper & others have indicated the cost of compliance - money but also time.
Have a local 'rental' of short expiry items such as white handheld & rocket flares that at only mandatory for racing. Sat Phone rental is much better than Starlink from a cost and boat battery perspective. Plus Elon Musk has gone crazy and won't be getting my money.
Events feel small due to small number of boats in each division - multihull fleet has too many divisions with very small fleets in each division - racing against only a few boats doesn't feel like it is worth the effort of getting to the event. Suggest Max of 3 divisions - HIGH PERFORMANCE (dedicated race boats - Extreme 40 etc), MODERATE PERFORMANCE (custom boats, fast production), CRUISING (production cruising boats, charter boats), or even just two divisions - Hardcore racers + Everything else.
A few handicap race start times for more interesting finishes - boats will finish at similar time, more likely to socialise after vs boats finishing a wildly different times.
This is a consideration, however with the rising cost of living across the board I'm not sure how anything can be done about this.
The AS CBH measuring and official listing of boats is still a developing setup that I have not found to be well enough monitored for accuracy. I'm only talking about CBH as I'm not involved in IRC etc. It looks like the current CBH measurement calculation doesn't take into account hull shape and keel weight factors and so some boats are unfairly rated. I am going to undertake the AS measurement course for rig and sails and hull, so I can help others at least have their boats measured precisely. My ambition being to help increase the number of boat regularly racing
Remove half of the outdated safety equipment.
No. Safety comes first.
Safety first there is no shortcuts.
I understand many of my membership costs that include my AS Silver Card are helping to keep my local club afloat. There is noway I would race offshore given the costs/time/requirements.
Lower Category for events held close to the coast.
It is becoming a rich man's sport, have more social sailing events.
Sailing isn't a cheap sport! Hahaha.
Is the annual Keel and Rudder inspection for a cruiser/racer really worth the cost of haulout and a shipwright/surveyor to do the inspection. Would a biannual inspection be more appropriate?
Yes it is an issue. However it is over all beneficial. Obviously subsidised compliance would help, but only for the off shore races. Otherwise ready access to auditors would help. Normally the cat standards help you set the boat up properly.
Lower safety category for events closer to the coast is helpful. And lower entity fees are helpful. But my own experience with RQYS for example on compliance matters has been positive compared to say CYCA in NSW. And i dont believe that safety has been compromised in any way by RQYS - safety was probably enhanced as i was able to spend more preparation time on substantive matters.
No.
An overhaul on the requirements for the safety audit should be regularly audited and risk assessed. So many requirements are issued after a fatality and are deemed to be showing they take action.
Yes.
There should be no compliance rules put around yacht racing offshore. The liability needs to be put on the yacht owner that they have a seaworthy vessel only. (This can be done by a simple one page document.)
Australian sailing needs to be removed from Offshore racing or offshore racing will fold completely.
not in my case
Easier Sat Phone Requirements, also a lack of understanding on how to get a IRC rating.
Compliant cost are high, and lowering the category is very difficult, as some one has to take responsibly that, and they may be called to justify in a coronal inquiry.
Our club has a 100nm race that is around islands, and has been kept to Cat 5N with some Cat 4 inclusions. It has significantly increased the fleet as compared to Cat 3 events (no longer run)
Apart from compliance costs, there is also the issue of organising and scheduling with auditors. Not sure why compliance requirements need to extend that far beyond legal requirements.
Lower category for events, even sailing in Keppel Bay the compliance is well over the top.
Political support.
Lower category requirements.
Hairsplitting and poor advice by paid administrators is extremely frustrating. This relates to care by administrators and requires awareness that not all of us are millionaire owners paying a BN to do the legwork
The medical kit is excessive for all Categories. It's a constant ongoing cost and compliance hassle.
Again I refer to YQ. I sailed a Darwin Ambon international yacht race 100% compliant, but I could not sail a Brisbane to Gladstone under YQ requirements so total compliance for racing in Qld waters needs major review.
Responsibility is always with the skipper of the Boat, on leaving the Marina....not some unknown government Authority...
AS stop adding new safety rules constantly, and ones that totally are not needed in cat5 races! And no need for annual checks, mabe just show oics of items that may become expired, flares etc
No, it's just information about what is needed.
Compliance is not massively expensive, and rig checks for insurance increase and keel/rudder/radio checks are good practice anyway. Rental of sat phone and liferafts is reasonably priced - we have an Iridium Go and the SIM and airtime for a month are not excessive. Sat phone/Go scheds are very easy to do (get very annoyed when we are double handing and have never missed a sched and some fully crewed boats miss radio scheds). Flares are a nuisance, not a huge expense but very wasteful. Subsidising some things like haul-outs for keel/rudder checks and liferaft rental would be good.
I have a perfectly good 9 metre tri.that i bought and reading the latest cat 3 regs for Brisbane to Gladstone in which i want to compete i need an an inboard. can some one tell me why I need an inboard on a F31 farrier/corsair in which could be used previously?
As these boats are safer than a lot to of boats with inboard motors? The quality and servicing of the motor is the point not inboard or outboard.
Lower category of events through judicious course selection, review of compliance requirements to substitute alternatives i.e white handheld flares which are difficult to purchase in regional areas.
Yes it's a significant cost. Sponsorship of events could make a huge difference.
Compliance has gone crazy!
Look at Gladstone for example.

Would a Compliance Coaching Clinic be useful in your opinion.

Would a Compliance Coaching Clinic be useful in your opinion - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Possibly - as above, teaching people race rules, what different ratings are, having a white sails or inshore race to coincide with the finish for the faster boats might build the fleet?
Would help new entries.
Free.
Prefer less compliance
Personally no but would certainly be useful for new competitors. That said the safety compliance is minor compared to the admin requirements and the club race administrators would be very useful if involved in this process. CYCA do this very well.
Not for me but others.
Culture needs to be addressed first.
One as a support for people wanting to enter.
Not really necessary but useful if there was a coaching clinic.
NA - Inshore racing only.
Pretty sure these already exist - no doubt at RQYS.
For those that haven't been certified already.
who gets the coaching? My experience in NSW at least is that the main challenges on compliance lie with clubs overreaching on safety paperwork. If i hold a valid audit certificate, why am i being asked by a club to send in photos of the fire extinguishers? Hopefully clubs do not lose sight of special reg 1.02?
We run them at our club, and it definitely helps.
Maybe to some.
Less courses etc, make sailing easier to participate in not harder!
We are struggling to improve compliance in our club for our own racing. Some owners who have been sailing for decades are very reluctant to change their ways - even to cat 5 level!
Possibly and it may be a way of promoting sharing of resources among club members.

Please rate your favourite entry system with 1 being your favourite

Please rate your favorite entry system with 1 being your favorite - photo © Ocean Crusaders

NB: There was a significant spike in SailSYS being the favourite when RQYS sent out survey to their members.

Would you be interested in a 'super series' that includes Surf to City, Brisbane Race Week, and Brisbane to Gladstone (Keel & Multihulls)/Bay to Bay (Sports Boats)

Would you be interested in a 'super series' that includes Surf to City, Brisbane Race Week, and Brisbane to Gladstone (Keel and Multihulls) Bay to Bay (Sports Boats) - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Interesting idea.
SYC has tried promoting this way with SSSA Series involving multiple clubs. It will only work if all participating clubs promote and support the events. SYC has commenced a Coral Sea offshore series. The first of which was Flat Rock and was poorly supported.
BRW on the same weekend as B2B. Why not include Airlie?
Maybe, but I'm a bit over B2G which is not as well organised as it should be. There should be a true 'Corinthian' category as per S2H.
Not really. Quite like the combination of a Regatta Series eg Canaipa with links to sub series as well as part of an annual series such as MCC.
That's a lot of sailing in just a few months, Plenty of divorced sailors, some of us still work for a living!
Offshore yachts above 13metres cannot rate against inshore or Moreton Bay under 13 metre yachts so a series needs to be compatible yachts.
Absolutely but not sure how you can include the listed events as Bay2Bay is for trailable boats and Brisbane to Gladstone is for offshore? Certainly a series that includes B2B, S2C and one other would be interesting.
Great idea!
YES, but better yet is a series that takes in multiple clubs events.
We may do Surf to City, and defiantley Brisbane to Gladtsone, but Brisbane race week is a very expensiev exercise to sail around mud islands. Including Airlie or Hammo would be far more appealing- at least they are nice places (ABRW 1st Preference).
Very SE Qld centric.

Do you think a Qld Yachting Championship including all of the above events would be a good idea, where yachts gain points on all events, with drops so you don't have to compete in all of them.

Do you think a Qld Yachting Championship including all of the above events would be a good idea, where yachts gain points on all events, with drops so you don't have to compete in all of them - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Yes - but not sure this would get more boats out there... who is our target audience?
to make it a qland championship you would need to include northeren events like ABRW, HIRW, and MIRW. Or a rotational roster of events.
SYC has combined Flat Rock, Julian Rocks, Cook Island and Gold Coast- Mackay for a Coral Sea Champ. with much fanfare and got four entries Champ.
Qld yachting championships should be its own special event.
IRC is not a trusted rating system.
Maybe!! Again your talking about involving completely different types of boating categories and I never have anything to do with Qld Yachting. Qld Yachting who?
There are already event winners. What you're suggesting by a "super series" is another event altogether so there shouldn't be any drops in my opinion. Every race counts same as the TP52 super series. It encourages owners to compete at all events.
There are some amazing events in Qld and any event to link them up would be great.
YES but not all in Brisbane.

Please provide any additional comments or suggestions regarding yachting events.

Comments on the above

Brisbane to Gladstone is competing with the Sydney-GC, GC-Mackay, Airlie, Hammo, Maggie race series and also then with the southern series around Sydney-Hob. Maybe the opportunity to build the race is to go after a different target audience of family boats, French production boats, inshore bundy to Gladdy etc (like surf to city which is run as two races in one). With a series around it, or a rally type sail back to Brisbane, it might then attract a different fleet. The gap between fast 'race' boats and others in finish times is what is putting off people as well.
One club for all.
The "boys club" is still prevalent and needs sime balance. Maybe a percentage rating for sime big races that are crewed with a balance. As a woman we are capable but obviously due to anatomy we do not have the physical strength of men. We have amazing skill sets but still struggle to race against a fully crewed male team. A balanced team definitely has benefits and should be encouraged
The sport needs to be promoted better as a whole, and we would get a lot more people interested
Making it easier and cheaper for the average sailor to get IRC certificates would increase participation rather than just having the grand prix boats compete.
I would like to see an off shore series. Airlie to Port Villa for example.
Appreciate what you are doing but have no magic solution.
This survey is a great step in the right direction, well done!
The demographic of sailors is getting older every year.
A serious media campaign that attracts young families to our sport is very necessary!
Soccer, cricket, league, union & Aussie rules clubs are amazing at attracting families to their sport, we have to be better than all of them at attracting young families to sailing
Time away is a major issue for me.
Internet keyboard warriors with personal agendas drive people away.
We need more young kids to want to race offshore.
Pay commercial skippers when they do work.
Yachting appears to be shrinking to the pleasure of corporate executive wage driven yachting management and non-caring staff. When employing staff much care and careful consideration is needed. If the boss person employs his best mate, best man, brother, sister then your club does not strand a chance. Good yachting staff are a very rare breed and when found should be respectfully engaged looked after and not treated like outsiders. When they say they are considering moving find out why, protect them, look after them. Do not shake their hand and say good luck because if you do, you do not deserve to be there. You failed.
As SYC have no interest in allowing Fast trailable Yachts or Sportsboats to Race offshore on any given Sunday due to category overreach I'm afraid my three sub 30 after race boats stay in the Shed.
Unfortunately big boat owners will push back on any Sportsboats intention to race on such days.
I believe increasing numbers is all about owners and their core crew groups making yacht events one of their life priorities. There will always be reasons other stuff is in the way if their yachting isn't a priority. The only way it becomes a priority is the sailors getting excited about it all between themselves. Healthy rivalries and enjoying the competition.
Port Douglas Race Week should be moved to after Magnetic Island Race Week.
Ownership is in serious decline, rising cost and lack of time are the general issue, but make entering and compliance as easy as possible.
Dump PHS.
You should have no drops so participation is valued in the points score total, like the 52 super series, if you don't attend events you won't do well, could potentially incentivise skippers to attended more events
Re Crew. I think we need a transition process for junior sailors to progress to Keel boat racing.
We sail from RQYS where season pointscore racing is in decline. Perhaps this form of event should be replaced with more regatta type events i.e. more races on less weekends.
Until all of the clubs in Moreton Bay get together and truly cooperate, it will be difficult to see again the enthusiasm that existed only a few years ago. Volunteers are time poor and they need to share the load.
Given the lack of true racing yachts in Southeast Queensland, the targets need to be the cruiser / racers and make the entry for those parts easier. Look at St Helena Cup and the amount of boats they get there, there is a secret sauce of making it a good day out to get the entries. Paying a bucketload to race against the same people around a boring course is no fun!
RQ Division Yachts can presently sail concurrently with RQ series as well as MCC series for example. There is no such opportunity for trailer boats in MCC Division 3 as RQ does not offer a Trailer Sailor Division. Seems to me that there is an opportunity for RQ to get RQ trailer boats racing if they had opportunity to participate in an RQ trailer boat division.
We are basically cruisers. In our last race with RQ to Mooloolaba (many years ago), we asked to depart before the start time as it was clear that we could not reach Manly in the required time / wind / tide. This was not allowed / competitive start. We withdrew from the race when it was clear we could not finish somewhere near Bribie. Not tried since.
Some short overnight races around Moreton bay would be great.
More education around sailing would be great from respected industry leaders.
I agree with having consistent entry system across all clubs. I suggest Yachting Australia should take the bull by the horns and adopt across all clubs and have YA memberships linked to the system ie crew update the profile, then a yacht can simply add crew from the database. Sailsys is has potential but it is clunky in some aspects. We are always having crew dropout at last minute (other commitments in life), so the ability to change crew in the system would be good. Coordination between clubs on events is a good idea to avoid events competing at same time. Boats like Mayfair are SEQ based, so more than happy to travel between clubs to race. Obtaining berthing is an issue at some clubs. Many 'Yacht' club marinas are clogged up with stink boats. Maybe clubs could prioritise berth for race boats and give discounts on berthing fees to encourage them to race. It is a big effort to deliver boats to events, so having flexibility with berthing helps.
Schedule has been a problem in the past, Wags is every Wednesday and Super series is first Wednesday of month and there are drops. That is very easy for the owner, skipper, and crew. (Hmmm maybe that's part of the appeal of wags).
Wags was great when it started at the old time an hour earlier. Also the wags courses are not long enough.
Follow what is working and trending. There will always be a need for top end racing yachts (IRC) and longer offshore events but in the end those owners will progress to a more cruising type boat and compete in WAGS, Brisbane race week (50% Cruising boats) and destination races like "Magnetic Island Race Week" (More than 50 % cruising boats - Sold out in seven minutes !!).We are seeing more cruisers in WAGS and the above events. Probably because they are more comfortable, require less crew and less experienced crew and get used more than a racing boat. After all there is always a "Handicap" and there is also close racing amongst the cruisers.
At QCYC my role focus of race scheduling strongly takes into account our own and other clubs "main events" to ensure numbers.
Whilst there is still a degree of room for one or two new SEQ events, there is plenty of sailing going on and it would be best if clubs worked in unison to ensure strong fleets for those "main event" races. That's where an "Overall Champion Series" as suggested above could assist numbers for both smaller and larger keel boats. Also, integrate multihulls into races as B2G has now done (again) and continue to encourage short handed divisions as well as smaller offshore capable boats over shorter destination race distance offshore as mentioned earlier. (Mooloolaba needs to keep the dredging up!).
We think shorthanded series or events locally might be popular.
Probably the most interesting competition format that I have participated in of late was the 3 day flathead fishing classic on the Gold Coast.
You participate like every other comp and there were trophy's and prizes for the winners as such.
But the majority of the prizes were handed out via lucky draw. So basically everyone who participated has a chance of winning as much as the next person. And they had really good prizes! Really good attendance each night etc. I'd imagine they sold a lot of food/drinks etc.
And if you're not at the presentation each night when your number is drawn you miss out.
Can you imagine how busy the club would be at the briefing and afterwards if more or less every crew member showed up because they had a legitimate chance at winning stuff?
Put on a breakfast, give out some prizes. Put on some beers and bbq afterwards, give out some prizes! Make RQ great again haha.
When an owner pays a seasons entry fee all club events should be included in that fee as the costs for a year are now turning owners off multiple events.
Berthing is always a saga!
Cost of living, cost of sails are factors. We also need to concentrate on the availability of crews and make it easier for crews to participate and reduce their costs to enter.
I hear skippers looking for crew & also crew looking for boats... a better coordination system - although understand issues of taking unknowns on your boat
Yacht racing needs to attract younger people, the average age of participants is noticeably older each year. Accommodation costs for Hamilton Island race week have become obscenely expensive (and the quality of the food has declined markedly) - unaffordable for many, especially younger people - if younger people can't afford to the attend the prime events as young people, they will be unlikely attend when they are older, the older the average of participants the less attractive the events are for younger people - the answer has to be to attract young people, not less older people.
A state wide, streamlined approach with consideration for inclusiveness for regional competitors may increase general interest and participation.
Additionally the marketing for events needs improvement.
I see no lack of events to enter.
Don't hold them on public holiday long weekends. Due to increased accommodation prices. My crew would rather take a Friday off from work
I really enjoy WAGS but haven't participated since October (in Corsair880) because of some difficult family circumstances and the rain (which you can't do anything about). Thanks for persisting, I reckon once we get some consistent fine weather, the numbers will come back.
Get kids sailing funded!
My biggest issue is time. You can see who the regular racers are - often near or in retirement who have the time/money to complete and sail.
With regard to multihulls, they seem mostly cruisers. How to convert them to enjoy a race? or rather convince them that racing will make them better sailors and learn their boats better. Some form of targetted campaign to get them interested?
We need to inject more social sailing for new people to get involved in sailing, also more junior sailing.
Happy to help in any way I can if you wish to chat via email or WhatsApp.
PHS is an issue for me - I would prefer a more objective system. I guess AMS was supposed to provide a simpler measurement based system. If there was a system which combined both a simple measurement and a performance tweaking that might be better.
Anything to ease the burden of entry for offshore races would be helpful.
This requires a co-ordinated effort from both clubs and from Australian Sailing. For example: * has AS gone through the special regs to ask what requirements can be dropped or modified or how can the audit process be simplified?
* with IRC certificates due for renewal on 31 May 2025, it was a bit disappointing that AS thought 20 May was a suitable date to announce some fundamental changes to the IRC rules which would require many many owners to get their boats re-weighed at great expense and inconvenience. It might also have been a good idea for AS to ensure that weighing facilities were plentiful and ready to go for that purpose?
* clubs that organise offshore races need to think carefully about what role they play with regard to safety. Does overzealousness on safety mean that they are increasing their potential civil liabilities by encroaching on the role of the person in charge? If i hold a valid audit certificate, why am i being asked by a club (in NSW) to send in photos of the fire extinguishers?
You do not need any compliance to sail a yacht up or down the coast (and rightly so).
The clubs are focused on themselves and not the competitors in a yacht race.
A good example is 2024 Brisbane to Keppel there was no wind forecast for 24 hours around the start time. The competitors wanted a delay, the club went and started the race anyway in no wind. This year no competitors and no race.
Am just re-entering the sport now, on my Hanse 575. Would be great if there was help in co-ordinating the differing race series, however its been diffcult to simply get everything together. However, I would like to note that everyone has been wonderful to me.
Crew availability is a significant factor. Races that start and finish in the same place have far more appeal, and the ABRW very popular with our crew.Our club has reformed races so they start and end at home, even if they are overnight. That has increased participation.
We have watched the offshore fleet gradually die since 2000, and now very dramatically in the last few years. It seems there is no interest from above (Australian Sailing), and since the name change from AYF, offshore racing/event seems to be the runt of the litter (ignored and let die).
The current trajectory of yacht racing seems to be more expensive, exclusive, boats with better and better trained teams, however that does not encourage joining as an underdog or newcomer. Likewise, having to earn points as crew before being able to enter as a skipper with an own boat is an unnecessary deterrant. There should be more clarity for all parties regarding the responsibilities of clubs and skippers when it comes to accidents in racing events and that may open events up to some new engagement opportunities and likely result in bigger fleets with some more casual entries.
Greater meaningful connection between the racing event and the surrounding Club or Association EVENT.
Volunteers are hard to find especially those that are qualified. been told that revalidation of race officers is a nightmare.
Some locations treat yachting as a cash cow to be exploited.
For smaller clubs, have all boats racing in the one division. Not much fun if only 1 or 2 boats in a division.
We need to be able to give crewing opportunities leading to longer races. Each race has compliance requirements that restrict the number of new crew. Potentially training could substitute for previous experience.
I lead a fleet to offshore reefs each year with sound ocean going boats and sailors, many of whom are ex racers with similar disappointments so no longer race. We watched YQ destroy our much loved Yeppoon to Mackay race with changes imposed. I think a total shakeup of your lead body is needed to bring many of us back. It is with a heavy heart we gace up racing in Qld waters.
Avoid long weekends etc as most of us work full time and these weekends can be valuable with the family.
Get into the racing earlier in the day, why wait until the afternoon. If we are going to get the yachts ready at least go to the effort of getting several races completed.
I sold my race yacht an Adams 10 that i had and raced for 35 years as it is difficult to find younger crew and i am getting older and worried about fixing problems if they occur at sea. I am 76. Not happy with aus yachting fees. My club wont let me enter races without paying aus yachting fees. I have been a member for 43 years. i now sail a small trailer sailer that 2 of us can handle and i sail along with boats racing in wynnum manly sailing club., which i was involved with forming.
Make sailing easier to participate in, not harder like AS has done in recent years! Scrap sailpass as we all know its a money grab, as each boat has insurance to race anyway, and for one off times taking friends or family out for a race when policed is just another AS think making sailing harder!
We have very few boats from our club participating in outside events. Many skippers are fixated on their minute credit from sailing SAGS and/or WAGS and have no ambition to go further. Average owner age is maybe 65-70. Some have done ocean races years ago.
The tyranny of distance is an issue. From Scarborough it is three hours on a good day to Mud Island, four to Manly, so any race starting near there becomes an all day event from here, adds three hours to the end of Surf2City, etc.
Free or subsidised berthing before or after might help.
ORCV in Melbourne collaborates across the other clubs to run ocean races for all clubs. Maybe something similar could help here, maybe an extension from the Manly Combined Clubs to incorporate Southport, QCYC and MBBC, etc? ORCV also has a good training program, to help build skills for potential offshore sailors around Melbourne, see orcv.org.au/training
Please relax the paper work. We just want sail.
A focus on getting back to grassroots of the sport and camaraderie is required instead of trying to monetize all aspects of it. Owners get tired of being milked.

In recent Surf to City's how would you rate: (63 Submissions)

In recent Surf to City's how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Many of the boats currently racing cannot enter QCYC - we finish the race and have a two/three hour trek to RQ to berth. Impossible to then get to the briefing before trying to get back to GC.. not sure what the solution is but maybe move the presentation? The VHF skeds were hit and miss.
Preentations need to be more professional, move to 4 weeks prior to B2G so RSHYR boats can get back to compete
Easier to enter and no extra cost for more than one division
IT issues each year at online briefing. Limited to very poor coverage. Most coverage is from competitors. Response to sms check ins is great
Brilliant job
Effort and organisation seemed lacking.
mistakes at presso im positions awarded, presenter not understanding the difference between phs and rating calling rating handicapped repeatedly.
Confused handicapping. Cat5 sign off needed but not for B2B
Difficulty of firming up Berthing before the race.
It's a really great course and concept, but since the departure of Nigel it seems to have lost its fun element. SYC are less welcoming since becoming just another nice pub by the water.
Results are published late. Briefings are a waste of time.
Best race of the Year
Qcyc is too far away for most people
An evening presentation in Brisbane central location would be good
As a cruiser racer we will encourage other keel boats to go inside (As long as it is not a northerly) Plenty of water and a good test of your navigation skills.
More needs to be done to accommodate competitors at Southport yacht club pre race.
As a trailer sailer who wants a bert on teh saturday night - this has not been guaranteed in the past
We need to improve the quality of the online briefing. That's recognised and being worked on. I think it best however to strongly encourage personal attendance of the Skipper/Navigator to briefings. They are important. QCYC has engaged a media manager to oversee/run all size aspects of our sail racing events including B2G26/S2C26/BC25 etc and any "live" feeds and all sponsored and social media. A big step that will lift race profiles/exposure/sponsorship/entries. So this really is feedback to survey organisers I guess.
Need better pre race organisation and better coordination with Southport. Finish line was in shallow water and a concern for a number of boats
Generally S2c is a successfully run event. I don't recall anything that I felt could or should have been done differently
Years ago there was continued updates on the race and those who finish. Would be great to have again!!!
No complaints great race
They Really Helped me out and were understanding that it was my first off shore race in Shimbiri
Allways a great race!

In recent Brisbane to Gladstone's how would you rate: (50 Submissions)

In recent Brisbane to Gladstone's how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Felt very flat this year. Small fleet, no atmosphere on the start line and nothing at the end.. maybe think about keeping all the boats together on O'Connell wharf (not sure if structurally we can raft up as we used to..) Have a BBQ at the presentations to encourage crews and family to stay around.
Don't do presentation in town, get people to club to make money at bar, have a professional race management team run the event, not the commodore and Linda, have Grant run briefing, coverage, presentation. More coverage during race. Look at RSHYR presentation and run like that where owner goes up once to get all trophies they run. Don't allow IRC into PHS. Too many divisions
Needs way more coverage on socials. Start is great but only for those that know where to look. More interaction with coastguard then organising groups
we need to stop the 2 races for multihulls and monos.... these are just divisions and should be one race.
Get rid of SailSys.
Brilliant job
Announcing the boats motoring as getting results is an absolute joke. Might as well give the safety car a result in safety car laps in car racing.
Run a true 'Corinthian' division like S2H do. If you want more participants encourage them. Having professionals in the PHS division is not really in the spirit of the race and it's history.
Brisbane to Gladstones coverage is dismal these days
Bring the start line closer to the peir for the smaller boats like the old days to encourage spectators to see
The team Gladstone Ports are so helpful Always welcoming.
We are over it ! Costly, average destination, Easter is family and cruising time, To early in the year to continue on to another destination.
No completed recently
The best is yet to come. And it will with steps taken.
Unfortunately, we think the B2G has a very limited life.
The financial sponsors is now the only attraction.
This years event was the worst promoted event in my living memory, my first was in 1973, so I have some background.
The NOR and SI have errors and legacy things that don't make sense. They need a serious revision for the little things, and a good tidy up. It might be worth sending out to Others for that review.
Great race, well run.

In recent Brisbane Race Weeks how would you rate: (27 Submissions)

In recent Brisbane Race Weeks how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Really suprising for a newish event. Fantastic collaboration with local clubs.
Great event, our crew really loved it and brought back the fun of racing.
Make it less RQYS centric if you want more boats outside of RQYS to enter. A lot of the RQYS speak was lost on the outsiders. Personally I'd prefer less emphasis on alcohol.
Fantastic, Great fun, good courses, very social.
Not completed recently
The continuation of Liquor Spirits for prizes is not the encouragement for owners or crews to enter and win, physical prizes from sponsors or Accomodation packages would be a drawcard.
Organisation felt tight.... communication clear, timely, useful...racing group felt like a big friendly group which the organisers actively nurtured.... Culture of friendly healthy competition, fun, inclusive of all those from outside RQ
Promotion
I crewed this year. Well organised on and off the water
Onshore part of race week was awesome! Sailsys handicapping terrible, mainly due to some boats race everyday with Spinnakers where some dont due to wind strength!

In recent Gold Coast to Mackay Races how would you rate: (24 Submissions)

In recent Gold Coast to Mackay Races how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Last year was an ok start - briefing was good and lots of atmosphere... the end was a bit dead. need showers to be open. Hamburgers were a good idea! It was good that finished boats came down and welcomed in the other finishers as they arrived. A breakfast get together for all crews once most are in would be good? The presentation was a bit scrappy and spread amongst diners.. it will improve with time.
Hard to find coverage.
Did not even know about this race!!
Local bars and cafes need to know we are coming as a large group. The bar hated the fact we made them so busy. Should be the opposite.
I'll leave this for others to comment as I was heavily involved.
Good coverage, good presso, great tace track
A well organised race. Shame we retired and didn't see festivities in Mackay.
Did not complete
great event need more boats
provide more general awareness of the start and promote it to the gold coast community. Have commentary (like the Brisbane to gladstone) and an event center for friends and family to watch the start at cavil avenue. There was a chopper but no big screen on the beach for people to watch it with.

In recent Airlie Beach Race Weeks how would you rate: (34 Submissions)

In recent Airlie Beach Race Weeks how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Always fun, well organised. Last year the food trucks left too early and they needed more of them, but by and large, really well run week.
Was great when you had the days wrap movie as it brought everyone to club.
It is the best regatta
Good events. Just need to work with the marinas to make it easier
Always fantastic and easy for following families to find results, photos, footage and updates. Commendable.
have a reason for everyone to come back to club after racing, more communication re events on the particular evening at the marina.
Needs a follow on race, perhaps to Port Villa?
Awesome
Errors with the PHS rating (a fairly obvious typo) and a certain race officer's very rude response (and not the only person, nor the first time this has happened) really put a dampener on the regatta, especially considering this was the owner's first time and had spent a considerable amount of money getting the boat up from Sydney
Great regatta
One big issue is "Berth allocation" "Berth availability". We will not be going back until this improves!
Also need guarantee of a berth for teh week
Predominantly Alcoholic prizes is not the drawcard for owners or crews these day, use sponsors to provide crew and owner rewards.
Berthing is a major problem
How can I participate! Love to crew on a boat but need lead time to organise work
too many divisions for multihull - fleet sizes for each division are very small - makes the event feel small and insignificant compared to the cost of entry, compliance and accomodation - does not represent proportionate value. Run performance and OMR concurrently with 2 or 3 divisions only to create feeling of being part of more significant event - will increase post race socialising as entrants will have more in common with each other.
I crewed on a trailer sailor last yr, the race Managment we're struggling with the PBH and results published incorrectly, but we were able to help them get it sorted. Just human errors but a little bit slack we thought
Berthing is a problem, but difficult for the club to fix.
No Thanks
Have done over 20 airlies and keep comming back, best of the race weeks!

In recent Hamilton Island Race Weeks how would you rate: (42 Submissions)

In recent Hamilton Island Race Weeks how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Well run.
Very expensive week.
either make it a 5-star grand prix event or don't, race week feels like an each-way bet.
make it about the racing and not the events on the island, nobody wants to go to that expense, then spend less than 2 hours on the water for the day.
Awesome
Cost of participation. Accomodation, Food, Restaurants etc
More diligence is required in handicapping. Initial handicaps are often unfair and poorly considered. The presentation is rushed (far too many awards for a single night). Last year's MC was appalling.
It's to expensive for crews to participate
Expensive to stay on island
FUN FUN FUN, best week of my life !
The PHF handicap system is dreadful. IRC numbers low for some reason.
A Race boat regatta, has got very costly in recent years.
Its really a BIG BOAT race week - little emphasis on trailer sailers
Entry cost and any extended stay berthing costs are not aligned with total costs of entry. Accomodation on Hamilton Island is now prohibitive.
Awesome. Keep it up
How can I participate! Love to crew on a boat but need lead time to organise work
accomodation is obscenely expensive - especially for younger people or families. represents poor value with progressively declining food options of increasingly poor quality.
too many divisions for multihull - fleet sizes for each division are very small - makes the event feel small and insignificant compared to the cost of entry, compliance and accomodation - does not represent proportionate value. Run performance and OMR concurrently with 2 or 3 divisions only to create feeling of being part of more significant event - will increase post race socialising as entrants will have more in common with each other.
Haven't been there in years either but it's possibly one of the only places where drink prices go up so you can drink from a plastic cup!
One of the most scenic and challenging courses and wished I could do this event each year. The cost of doing this however stops me. Such an expensive regatta!!
need one long passage race(they used to have one)
The presentation dinner is too stuffy and limited in numbers who can attend. Heaps of younger sailors cant even afford a ticket
No Thanks
Great racing, accom prices up there!

In recent Magnetic Island Race Weeks how would you rate: (10 Submissions)

In recent Magnetic Island Race Weeks how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Stop handicapping rorting so local boats win. Be fair
Fantastic event and deserves more recognition.
great event very centralised for all competitiors, need to introduce OMR and IRC racing or club versions... phs is terrible only option
Attended last year and going again this year - Great event leaning towards cruising boats. Up there with one of the best regattas I have attended in recent years
Best regatta up the coast. Relaxed social and friendly atmosphere. Cost is way cheaper for access and accomodation.

In recent St Helena Cups how would you rate: (48 Submissions)

In recent St Helena Cups how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Always good to- well established, good fleet and good atmosphere.. primarily local RQYS WMSC boats though.
Free bbq and happy hour
Just gets better every year
Fantastic event
Brilliant
There is no briefing and external coverage of the race is minimal.
Race briefing was a complete waste of time as it was treated as a joke by the organisers.
Well organized but only participated when it was concurrent with MCC series
This has great friendly welcoming feel.
This is the MORTON BAY RACE WEEKEND. Do not miss this, every crew member wants to be involved.
Great weekend! Good racing for both racing and cruising boats. A must do each year.
Again - a big boat race
St Helena race starts are a colourful spectacle and exciting with a good fleet turning out for a local Brisbane based race. Surely, some TV news exposure should be possible? This is one of the better run "local" races on the calendar. Long may it prosper!
WMYC cannot accomodate the number of participants each day after racing.
Awesome.
Great atmosphere and fun team event. Having so many boats on the start line is always fun!
Well done by WMYC Voluteers
The Holy Grail of yachting in Brisbane

In recent Sail Paradise events how would you rate: (23 Submissions)

In recent Sail Paradise events how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Generally good - some on water improvements in administering sailing rules would be helpful, but generally, a fun and well run event but as with St Helena Cup, mainly attracts local Southport boats.
Fantastic event
Too much windward returns
Did not even know about this race
Poor... very unfortunate
Lack berthing is an issue
Good all-around regatta
Cost of Entry for a few days is high.
Fantastic venue... especially for female crew as v short queues!!... comataderie on the dock great!
Really need to access the courses you allocate. Can get very boring.
Great weekend
I've crewed in this event. I would not take my own boat. Race management needs a lift

In recent Bay to Bay Events how would you rate: (29 Submissions)

In recent Bay to Bay Events how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Party at Gary's.
For a small club with volunteers they have this event perfectly managed and supported when any issues occurred.
Awesome
Dump PHS
Great fun. Heaps of boats which is great. Well organised. Organisers are obviously invested
Presentation has improved
The entry set up works but maybe the sailsys system would make it easier for them, other than initially swapping over.
Another awesome weekend
Keep it up, such a cool event

In recent Brisbane to Keppel Yacht Race how would you rate: (4 Submissions)

In recent Brisbane to Keppel Yacht Race how would you rate - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Comments on the above

Shame it didn't run this year. The new format and the changes RQ made were good but just too late.
Egos have wrecked this race, egos from RQYS, egos from crew who should know better, it used to be fantastic, but recent decisions have made it the ghost that it is currently. I don't know how you revive it, as the Southport / Mackay race is now in its place, and probably a better option after the Sydney / Southport. Perhaps looking at a race back from north instead?

How do you usually hear about upcoming yachting events in Queensland?

Comments on the above

surely sailsys or topyacht could automatically send out prompts to the database when events are added.
Im not online so I only hear by word of mouth or Traditional advertising
Need more media, announcements, emails about events. Often have to go looking for them.
Owners
Clubs' calendars

How far in advance would you like to see event details released?

How would you rate the effectiveness of the current Sailing/Racing event promotion in Queensland?

How would you rate the effectiveness of the current Sailing Racing event promotion in Queensland? - photo © Ocean Crusaders

Which types of promotional content influence your decision to enter or attend an event?

Comments on the above

Not everybody is on bookface
Minimally actually doing what you have pointed out here in these choices. personal invitation is so important. Imaging having 50 boats attend one year. next year 40, the next 30 and so on. Calling every entry from last year over phone is an absolute MUST, especially from an enthusiastic, charismatic, efficient staff member.
Prefer lack of bullship
None of the above. Our program of events is prepared well in advance and is based on previous participation.
Word of mouth that people are keen
More social media coverage on all platforms engage the younger generation
consistency - there does not appear to be a considered or structured approach to marketing the events, information is sporadic, surely there is a skilled social media expert wishin the sailing community who could promote the sport and events more consistently
I don't rely on social media for anything
Owners
Believe it or not, it is a smart move for the organising authority to send an email with an invite or to make a phone call.

Do you follow any Queensland yachting events on social media?

Comments on the above

Bow Caddy Media, individual boat channels
B2G, ABRW, HIRW
Facebook
Insta, Facebook.
B2G
Brisbane Race Week
RQYS wags group
B2G
B2G Start
Facebook pages during events
FB
Facebook
Instragram
Southport yacht club inshore division facebook page
Mackay, Gladstone, Airlie, hammo, Hobart.
Too many to mention.
Facebook, Instagram
Facebook, WhatsApp
RQYS, Southport, Hamilton Island, CYCA, QCYC
Brisbane to Gladstone, Hamilton Island
Insta Facebook tick Tok
Face book and WhatsApp
FB - Insta
QCYC, SYC, WMSC, RQYS, HIRW, ABRW, GPCB2G, SailGP, RolexS2H to name a few.
RQTV, QCYC trackers and result info
Sailor girl
Tp52 league
Plenty of YouTube channels etc
All the Rorc rolex majors
18 footers
All the nz stuff
Brisbane Race Week, B2G is poor, Surf to City is poor, Hamilton Island Race Week is poor, Airlie Beach Race Week is OK, Brisbane to Keppel cancelled due to lack of entries but the race is great.
FB /Insta
No - social media & communication fatigue (tho hardly do social media & poor source reliable info)
Various sailing clubs
Australian Sailing
ABRW
HIRW
Facebook - Qld Sports Boats, Multihull Scene (run by an Aussie chap), MYCQ, QCYC, The Hervey Bay Boat Club Bay to Bay Yacht Race
Hamilton island race week.
Facebook, Linkedin
Face book
Generally not on social media, but do use B2G and ABRW Facebook,
Facebook YouTube