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TIME HONOURED

It’s always a bit blowy around the front of the yacht club, and the yellow weatherboards and glimpses into the shipyard don’t give a lot away. But when you walk through the doors of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, what this place is really all about becomes clear. The walls are lined with photos of yacht races and people on the shore watching the sailing on the bay dating back to the 1800s and glass cabinets are brimming with trophies that cover the history of the club. On the large digital screen are the dynamic images of the big keelboat races of recent regattas.

But it’s through the sunny front windows that the real story is told. The sun is shining on the bay and the masts are swaying gently, the breeze ruffles the surface of the water in the way you might ruffle the hair of a child and you feel yourself relax. Even if you’ve never been on a boat in your life, that view would be enough to make you want to take up sailing.

The Festival of Sails event is older than the Ashes and older than the Melbourne Cup, and what was known as the Geelong Annual Regatta is the oldest ocean race in Australia. The regatta began 15 years before the club started in 1844. The running of the regatta and the beginnings of the club are intertwined.

The regatta has evolved over the years to become not only the largest annual keelboat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere but a spectacular community event that spans the Waterfront.

So much of Geelong’s history is tied to the water and having a north-facing bay on the doorstep of the city remains one of the great advantages of our region.

From the kids of yachties running around the club, to kids at school getting their first taste of the sheet in their hand at the sailing school, through to recreational and competitive sailors, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club is steeped in not only the history of the city, but also in the history of many local families.

One of those families is the Neilsons. Andrew Neilson from Power Drive Marine was the previous Commodore, with Ian Murray from Morris Finance the current Club Commodore.

Andrew’s grandfather Percy became Club Secretary at a time when a firm hand at the rudder was needed, as, apparently, there was some funny goings on at the club. Percy steered the club back on to a steady course, and years later his son and Andrew’s father, John, a dentist by profession, set the courses for the regatta.

Like all long-standing clubs, the public history is what is told, but it’s the history of the people and the families involved that make the club what it is. And this club is steeped in wonderful stories.

While the club didn’t add the Royal to its name until 1924 – and there is a story of club rivalry woven into that as well – the club has had its share of right royal visitors.

On December 2nd, 1876, Prince Albert officially started the regatta from the Yarra Street Pier. Queen Victoria’s consort was supposed to be visiting Melbourne, but had, quite firmly from the reports, said that he wanted to go rabbiting in the Western Districts, so came to Geelong instead.

When the Queen visited Geelong on her 1988 royal tour of Australia the Waterfront had a very different outlook. It was

an industrial port area, with the rail line still running down the pier, and wool stores and shipping businesses running along Eastern Beach Road – including marine manufacturing business owned by Ruth Plummer, Total Tough Marine Manufacturing, on the site where Pier Point is located now. Ruth got the call that the royal car was coming down the road. She told the staff to find a window or go out upstairs where they could see and dashed down the stairs to the street. To her surprise, the car slowed down and stopped, halted by the procession ahead, and Prince Philip rolled down the window so that Her Majesty could have a chat.

Ruth grew up around the yacht club; sailing as a child with her family and boats became her life. She went on to become

the club’s only female Secretary, Rear Commodore then Vice Commodore, and is now compiling the history of the club that has been such a big part of her own story.

In 1987, Prince Henrik of Denmark, husband of Queen Margrethe II and father to Crown Prince Frederik, was at the club to enjoy the racing at the World Dragon title and was photographed with RGYC veteran yachtsman, David English.

Now, it is a new generation who are making the club their own and the changing times have seen the development of women’s sailing programs, the opening up of the club for café meals and functions. But while the view is spectacular, it is out on the water where the heart of the club remains.

Royal Geelong Yacht Club

Shore Based Festivities Sponsor:

Overall Major Sponsor:

2015

WATERFRONT GEELONGAUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEKEND

More than 90 street stalls displaying local produce, services & productsActivities, festivities & live music

Bay FM outdoor Broadcast Geelong Cats players & Half Cat to meet the kids!

This free event is proudly bought to Geelong by

Don’t

miss what’s

shaping up to be

the BIGGEST Water

Regatta yet!

- Over 100 yachts

already booked

- A total 400 expected

come race day!

The Festival of Sails officially kicks off on Friday the 23rd of January with the traditional, massive passage race from Williamstown, across Port Philiip Bay and through Geelong.

The winning boat takes honours and the title of 2015 line honours winner!

All yachts will compete in more than 25 classes with what promises to be 4 days of amazing yacht racing!

For more information, please call 03 5229 3705 or email membership@rgyc.com.auRoyal Geelong Yacht Club. 25 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong www.rgyc.com.au

Sailing is a great way to relax, make new friends, increase fitness and even compete individually or as part of a team. Give it a go and see for yourself!

“The Festival of Sails event is

older than the Ashes and

older than the Melbourne Cup”

On the shores of the bay