GeelongPort Community Program continues to deliver new experiences

Last week saw the Royal Geelong Yacht Club host 36 Year-12 students from Western Heights College aboard the club’s fleet of RS21 keelboats as part of the GeelongPort’s community sailing program. 

Following on from successful introduction days throughout 2024, students were introduced to the fundamentals of orienteering and navigation around Corio Bay, promoting the benefits of teamwork and communication. 

For many students it was their first time sailing and for virtually all, it was their first time navigating with a compass. 

GeelongPort and the Royal Geelong Yacht Club joined forces in mid-2023 with the purpose of providing a sailing program for at-risk and disadvantaged youth from Geelong. 

To date, more than 175 teenagers from Geelong schools and community groups have experienced sailing on Corio Bay thanks to this partnership. 

“It is incredibly motivating to see a group of young adults who would not normally be exposed to sailing and use it to further their skills and development as our future generation,” remarked RGYC Sailing Manager Drew Malcolm. 

“One of the key reasons behind the club’s investment in a fleet of keelboats was to enable opportunities like these to the broader Geelong community, and with the strength of partnerships such as this one with GeelongPort, we can make that a reality.” 

The GeelongPort Community Sailing Program continues in May with upcoming visits from Geelong Youth Engagement and Western Heights College. 

The Royal Geelong Yacht Club would like to thank GeelongPort for making the experience possible and continuing to enable connections between the club and the Geelong Community. 

Thanks also to our valued partners of the Sailing Development Program RS21 fleet, and the RGYC volunteers and staff who continue to deliver these programs.