Canberra Yacht Club – 19 September 2010
The Canberra Yacht Club was founded in 1959 and has organised racing on Lake Burley Griffin, usually on a Sunday. The club has a Sailing School for adults and kids as well as organised racing on Lake Burley Griffin, usually on a Sunday.
The yacht club venue is now mamaged by the Canberra Southern Cross Club and has a full range of dining and bar facilities generally open 7 days a week 10am - 10pm.
Canberra Yacht Club History
The Canberra Yacht Club was founded in 1959 as a focus for people from the ACT and surrounding regions who enjoy sailing. The Club provides recreational opportunities as well as organised racing on Lake Burley Griffin, usually on a Sunday. During the warmer months twilight sailing on a Wednesday evening. We also offer a full range of training and discovery opportunities through our accredited non profit Sailing School and Youth Sailing Academy.
The club puts a strong emphasis on training and opportunities for young adults as members of the Club's Youth Racing Squad, see our Sail School pages. The Club also offers easy access to sailing for people of all ages through hire of boats to people with some sailing ability. We also operate a boat shop with a wide range of fittings and paints. To access more information on the Club, who to contact, racing and cruising activities, etc, use the search bar above or send an e-mail to: admin@canberrayachtclub.com.au
Two books on the Club history have been written –
Capital Sailing, published in September 2009, relates the story of the 50 year history of the CYC, from its origins on Lake George in 1959 through to 2009. The book tells the story of the club as an important part of the social fabric of Canberra and of the achievements of its members.
From Lake George to Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra's Pioneer Sailors, records in detail the history of the first 10 years of the club.
From Lake George to Lake Burley Griffin includes in text and photos information about the
One of the highlights of the CYC's early days was the visit by the Governor General, Lord De L'Isle, as the official guest for the opening of season regatta in late September 1961.
The book also tells the story of the building of Lake Burley Griffin and of the club's preparations to move to Canberra when the lake filled, the subsequent building of the clubhouse which is still used today, and the early years of racing on Lake Burley Griffin from the summer of 1964-65.
The club's major sailing activities have included the annual Canberra Day Regatta which, in the 1960s and 1970s, attracted entries in excess of 200 for a number of years, and Australian championships conducted by the club for several classes including 505, Mirror Dinghy and Flying Fifteen classes.
The 1990s was an especially difficult time, with the club deciding in 1996 that it would need to find a major benefactor if it was to continue to exist. The book tells the story of the path that led to the Canberra Southern Cross Club providing that life line from May 1997. The success of that union can be measured by the Yacht Club's nomination in 2008 as one of four finalists for a Yachting Australia sailing promotion award.
Source : Canberra Yacht Club website (
visit link)