Strength, vision and legacy: the Strength in Sailing program continues to deliver

Empowering Aboriginal Youth through sailing, the Strength in Sailing program continues to support and engage indigenous youth in Geelong and its surrounds.  

Held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, the program is run in partnership with the Strong Brother Strong Sister Foundation, a culturally safe place designed to nurture the success of First Nations young people. 

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of NAIDOC Week this year and fitting in with the theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, we sat down with Strength in Sailing founder and RGYC Member Bill Chittenden to chat about how the program has been supporting First Nations youth since its inception in 2022.  

Strength: What makes Strength in Sailing different from other sailing programs in the community?  

“We remain completely independent from external stakeholders,” explains Bill.  

“We don’t take any donations specific to the program which gives us more flexibility. There are no strings attached, because there are no strings.” 

The program is run on Wind Whisperer, a Hanse 430 E yacht, co-owned by Bill Chittenden, Mick and Pauline Friars, and Allan Buckley. It’s this ownership team, Cormach Evans from Strong Brother Strong Sister, and Christine Couzens MP who are the pillars behind the success of the program.  

“A search began in late 2023 to find a suitable yacht, as we felt our J 111 Racing Yacht was a bit lively,” says Bill.  

“Mick Friars located Wind Whisperer in Hobart and she was deemed to be as close to perfect as we could expect. The rest, as they say, is history.”  

“I’m so grateful to the co-owners of this yacht and our very generous crew who help facilitate this program for the kids.”  

Vision: How did the idea for the Strength in Sailing program come about?  

“It came out of a casual conversation, really,” says Bill.  

“I was talking with Christine Couzens MP about the various sailing programs available to disadvantaged or disabled groups in Geelong and she asked me: Bill, what’s stopping you from doing this yourself?”  

From there, the idea for the Strength in Sailing program was born. The ‘founding Godmother’ of the program, as Bill calls her, Christine Couzens MP was one of the instrumental figures in getting the program off the ground and connecting Bill with the Strong Brother Strong Sister Foundation.  

Picture: Bill Chittenden, Christine Couzens MP, and Cormach Evans and Keeden Graham from Strong Brother Strong Sister at RGYC’s 2025 Keelboat Presentation Night. 

Legacy: What impact has Strength in Sailing had on the community?  

For Bill, it’s not about making money or gaining awareness. It’s about the kids. 

“It’s brilliant to see the little kids and to see how they enjoy it,” he says.   

“At the end of the season last year we fired up the barbeque on the back of the boat for a bit of fun with all the crew.” 

“We have such a good group of owners and crew, and we are very lucky. It truly is a team effort.”   

Up to 8 young sailors can hop on board with 4 crew members as well as a rotating adult mentor team from Strong Brother Strong Sister; Keeden Graham, Jorja Lewis-Jackson, Ruby Evans, and Cormach Evans. 

“Historically, over the first two seasons we participated in Wednesday Evening Twilight racing,” says Bill. “But given the ages and diverse range of neuro challenged participants this season, we adjusted this to meet the safety and ability of all on board.”  

This year, in lieu of Twilight Racing, the program commenced just after 4pm, allowing the younger group of participants aged between 8-10 to attend the program after school. 

“We started earlier this year to get the kids out sailing, have them watch the start of Twilight Racing, then get them back onshore in time for dinner,” says Bill.  

The Next Generation: What challenges does the program have and how can you get involved?  

With three successful seasons under their belt, the team at Strong Brother Strong Sister are keen to grow the program and offer to other local Indigenous Youth Communities the same opportunity and experience they have enjoyed.  

“The question of inclusion has never been a question,” says Bill. “Everyone we have spoken to has felt welcomed in the club.” 

Strong Brother Strong Sister is currently preparing a fundraising event to tap into local entities, not only to attempt to secure some funding for a second yacht for the program (this time owned by Strong Brother Strong Sister), but also help pay for ongoing costs like improvements, maintenance, and insurance.  

The initial yacht Wind Whisperer will remain the primary yacht for the program, as independently funded by its trio of owners.  

“With the right amount of time, money, and resources you can do almost anything,” says Bill Chittenden. “But we don’t have that, so running a program like this is always going to have its challenges.” 

“We would love to be able to expand the program with the use of another boat for Wednesday night outings.”

“If we could secure another suitable yacht through a volunteer, we can get more people on board to support this experience for even more.”  

The Strength in Sailing program remains grateful for the ongoing support of MUSTO, Garner Marine and their team, and the Baum family at DYSC Marine Supplies, all of whom have donated time, effort, and goods to the kids. As well as Christine Couzens MP and her ongoing contribution to the program.  

If you have a yacht you think could support the Strength in Sailing program, please reach out to Bill Chittenden via the club at [email protected]. 

To find out more about how to join the Strength in Sailing program or the Strong Brother Strong Sister Foundation, you can visit their website here.

National NAIDOC Week runs from 6 – 13 July 2025 to commemorate and recognise and history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2025 theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Visions & Legacy. You can read more about NAIDOC Week here.