The Canberra Ocean Racing Club was founded in 1979 to allow Canberra people to compete in ocean races, which the Club did successfully for 4 years in the yachts Mercedes IV and Nadia IV. In 1988, the Club’s focus was changed to allow members to spend more time cruising.
Since then the Club has purchased a new yacht every few years, the latest being Namadgi 3, a Bavaria 46 Cruiser, that was commissioned in July 2017.
The Club is organised as an incorporated association, and its affairs are managed by an elected committee.
There is a well-established booking system which allows individual members to use the yacht with their families and friends, and to sail with other members as well.
Sailing activities:
Most years, the Club’s yacht remains in New South Wales during the summer months, before undertaking a major winter cruise between May and November. This has taken the yacht as far afield as New Caledonia, Vanuatu, North Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand, and Fiji. Some years, the Club takes part in some ocean races, including the Sydney to Hobart Race.
- Family cruising in the Sydney area, including Sydney Harbour, Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River,
- Trips along the NSW and Queensland coast,
- Cruising in Tasmania, Lord Howe Island, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and more recently, in Fiji and New Zealand.
- Bluewater passages, and
- Occasional offshore races.
Social activities:
The Club organises a regular series of social events in Canberra, and an informal gathering of members is held at the Statesman Hotel, Curtin, on the last Wednesday of every month, starting at about 6.30 pm. Prospective members are welcome to join these gatherings and ask for any information they may require about the running of the Club.
Newsletter:
A newsletter, “Spindrift”, is published every couple of months to keep members up to date with the latest club activities and events.
