Squadron Keelboat Program
About
The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron’s keelboat program was founded in 2000 and aims to provide Youth Members with the opportunity to become involved with keelboat racing at a Club, national and international level.
The 2023-2024 program places a renewed focus on developing sailors’ keelboat handling skills with both symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnakers to an advanced level. Sailors will have the opportunity to test their skills throughout the season at a variety of local and international match racing and fleet racing regattas.
The program uses our Club’s fleet of Elliott 7s keelboats and other Squadron owned vessels to develop sailors’ boat handling skills to an advanced level. The program is coached by Nev Wittey, Olympian and America’s Cup skipper, and is supported by the SKP management team of Zac West, Claudia Thackray and RSYS Captain Michael Lindsay.
Junior Squad
The SKP Junior Squad is targeted at sailors aged 13 – 18 years old who are active dinghy or keelboat sailors and can demonstrate a high level of fleet racing skills.
The Junior Squad will train once a week and focus on developing an intermediate to a high standard of boat handling skills in the Squadron’s fleet of Elliott 7s. Sailors will have the opportunity to compete in various local and state regattas including the Harken International Match Racing Championships and the Junior Match Cup.
Senior Squad
The SKP Senior Squad is targeted at sailors aged 17 – 22 years old, who can demonstrate a high level of sailing ability at a national level or have previously participated in the SKP.
The Senior Squad will train once a week and focus on refining their keelboat handling and match racing skills at an advanced level. Sailors will have the opportunity to be selected to compete at national and international youth match racing events.
Open Squad
The SKP Open Squad is targeted at sailors aged over 22 years old, who can demonstrate a moderate to high level of sailing ability in keelboats or have previously participated in the SKP.
The Open Squad will train once a fortnight and focus on refining their keelboat handling and match racing skills at an advanced level. Sailors will have the opportunity to compete in club racing and be selected to compete at national and international open match racing events.
Squadron Keelboat Program Regattas
Squadron Elliott 7 Series
Squadron Elliott 7 Series
The Squadron Elliott 7s Series is a Saturday racing series hosted by the Squadron Keelboat Program. The series will consist of a number of fleet racing and match racing days on our Club’s fleet of Elliott 7s keelboats.
Fleet Racing Dates
- 22 July 2023
Notice Board & Race Documents (Fleet Racing)
Entries (Fleet Racing)
Results (Fleet Racing)
Match Racing Dates
- 19 August 2023
- 7 October 2023
- 20 January 2024
Notice of Race (Match Racing)
Sailing Instructions (Match Racing)
Entries (Match Racing)
Results (Match Racing)
Hardy Shield
Hardy Shield 14-15 October 2023
Hosted by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Keelboat Program, the Hardy Shield is a two-day Open World Sailing Grade 4 match racing regatta. Up to eight teams will be invited to compete on our Club’s fleet of Elliott 7s keelboats.
Donated by Sir James Hardy OBE, an America’s Cup veteran, World Champion and Olympic yachtsman, the Hardy Shield aims to increase racing opportunities for sailors of all age groups.
Notice of Race Sailing Instructions Previous Results
Christmas Cup
Christmas Cup 2-3 December 2023
The RSYS Christmas Cup is the final match racing event for the year in Australia. Hosted by the Squadron Keelboat Program it is a two-day open WS Grade 4 match racing event. Up to eight teams will be invited to compete on our Club’s fleet of Elliott 7 keelboats.
Hardy Cup Sydney International Regatta
Hardy Cup Sydney International Regatta
Donated by Sir James Hardy (Event Patron), an America’s Cup winner, World Champion, Olympic yachtsman and prominent RSYS Member, the Hardy Cup is one of Australia’s most prestigious match racing events and is aimed at further developing the match racing and tactical skills of youth sailors.
Since its inception in 2001, the Hardy Cup has been hotly contested by under 25’s teams and has maintained a World Sailing Grade 3 international event status. The previous winners of the event include David Gilmour, Adam Minoprio and Michael Dunstan,
Racing for the event is held over four days on magnificent Sydney Harbour. against a backdrop of the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. In addition to this fantastic location, RSYS always provides a world-class Race Management and Umpire team to provide the best possible racing conditions.
The event is sailed in a fleet of Elliott 7s keelboats and has previously received entries from across Australia and overseas, including Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the USA.
Program Documents
SKP Program Handbook 2023-2024 – Click Here
Contact Us
Zac West (SKP Coordinator)
E: [email protected]
Claudia Thackray (SKP Regattas)
E: [email protected]
