News

Newsletter, 6th August 2025

Published Wed 06 Aug 2025

With child safety in the spotlight across Victoria, our club is taking real steps to strengthen our own approach - starting with Working With Children Checks for all adult members from next season. Meanwhile, August brings a flurry of events: major regattas, Frostbite finals, and training every weekend. We’re also gearing up to launch windsurfing at the club and welcoming new sailors through Learn2Sail and Try Sailing. It’s a full calendar, and we’ll need all hands on the water, behind the BBQ, and everywhere in between.

From the Commodore

Child Safety Update
You may have seen recent news highlighting serious child safety issues in Victoria. At HHSC, we are committed to ensuring the highest standards of child safety and have been working hard to strengthen our policies. Currently, all members of the Management Committee and paid Instructors over 18 are required to hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC).

To further align with best practice and meet our obligations under the Office of the Children’s Guardian, the Club intends to make WWCC mandatory for all volunteers for the 2025/2026 season. As we are a volunteer-run club, this will apply to all adult members.

Many of you may already hold a WWCC through school or sports volunteering. If you do, please update your details via the "My Profile" section on the HHSC website: My Profile – Hunters Hill Sailing Club
If you don’t yet have a WWCC, you can apply free of charge through Service NSW: Apply for a Working with Children Check | Service NSW

Volunteers Needed – August Regattas
We’re hosting two major regattas this month and need your help both on and off the water:

NSW Optimist Travellers Trophy – Sunday 24 August
Interclub Series final – Sunday 31 August

We’re expecting strong turnouts with plenty of visiting sailors and supporters. These events are also excellent fundraisers through BBQ and canteen sales. Please mark the dates and lend a hand if you can!

International Spotlight
Congratulations to Sophie Borner-Harrison who represented Australia and HHSC at the ILCA 4 World Championships at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club in Los Angeles! Sophie placed 71st overall and achieved an impressive 8th in the Silver Fleet. Well done, Sophie!

Club Racing – Frostbite Series Final
The final round of the Frostbite Winter Series is this Sunday, 10 August. Presentations for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (based on Australian Sailing Yardsticks) will follow racing. Results will be posted online afterward.

HHSC_Season_2024-2025_Calendar.xlsx

Results - Hunters Hill Sailing Club

Windsurfing at HHSC
As previewed in our last newsletter, windsurfing lessons and racing are coming to HHSC! Sessions will start once the weather warms up, led by Matthew Quinlan - Burman Family Trophy winner and part of the Australian iQFoil Development Squad.

We'll begin on Bic Techno 293s with a view to progressing to iQFoil Youth boards.

Target participants: Sailors aged 12+ with existing skills from Optimist, ILCA, 29er, Teens & Tweens, or High School programs.

Sessions will be held on Saturdays at 1pm, allowing crossover with other training. Already a proficient windsurfer? Join us on the water and help grow the community!

To join the Windsurfing WhatsApp group, email: commodore@huntershillsailingclub.org.au

Learn2Sail

Weekend Learn2Sail is back, with young sailors braving some wild winter weather - check out these shots:

Teens +Tweens Sailor, Thomas 📸 Belle Parker

Learn2Sail Pro: very soggy session 📸 Belle Parker

L2S Momentum 📸 Belle Parker

Upcoming Learn2Sail camps

All holiday camps and Try Sailing sessions are now open for registration via the events page.

Camp schedule:

Monday 29 September - Friday 3 October 2025
Monday 8 - Friday 12 December 2025 (Teens & Tweens only)
Saturday 20 - Tuesday 23 December 2025
Monday 12 - Friday 16 January 2026
Monday 19-Friday 23 January 2026

Please help us promote our Learn2Sail and Teens & Tweens programs by circulating this flyer through your school, sports and community networks:

Have family or friends who would like to try sailing? They can register for one of our upcoming free Try Sailing sessions being held on Saturdays at 9:00-11:00am on these dates:

Optimist fleet

Interclub @ Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron 📸 Andrew Lee

The Interclub event at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was action-packed with strong 20-knot winds, dramatic finishes, and a few swims! Don’t miss the live commentary clips featuring Sijia, Kirra, and Luca going head-to-head. Final round: 31 August at HHSC. It’s going to be close!

Pointscore Standings – Open

Luca de Giosa (HHSC)
Sijia Deng (HHSC)
Emerald Jacobsen (WSC)
Kirra Howell (HHSC)

Pointscore Standings – Intermediate

Axel Ryves (HHSC)
Drayden Huang (NSC)
Charles Ball (WSC)
Fletcher Royan (NSC)

Key August Dates:

Sat 9 Aug – Open & Intermediate training (1:00pm)
Sun 10 Aug – Frostbite at HHSC (Note: City to Surf clash—extra volunteers needed!)
Sun 24 Aug – Traveller’s Trophy at HHSC (Large fleet expected!)
Sat 30 Aug – All clubs training hosted at HHSC
Sun 31 Aug – Interclub series final at HHSC

We’ll need all hands on deck to host these events successfully—help out on the water, run the BBQ, or assist with boat launching. Let’s make our visitors feel welcome!

Follow NSWIODA on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.

OptiChicks Returns!
Coming this September, HHSC is excited to host the OptiChicks Weekend - two action-packed days of fun, racing, and the legendary sleepover! Registrations are open - don't miss it!