World-class Victorian Sailing Centre opens in Geelong

The Royal Geelong Yacht Club today established itself as Victoria’s premier sailing destination and training ground for the next generation of sailors with the official opening of the Victorian Sailing Centre.

This centerpiece of Geelong’s revitalised waterfront will host local, national, and international regattas while serving as an unparalleled education facility for government secondary school students across Victoria.

Member for Geelong Christine Couzens MP officially opened the final component of the $26 million first stage of the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbor Project today alongside representatives of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club and the City of Greater Geelong who partnered to fund the project.

“This is a wonderful part of the revitalised waterfront precinct that will not only help Geelong to host premier sailing events it will support first class education and training programs for Victorian students,” she said in a statement.

The opening ceremony was marked with a Welcome to Country, ribbon cutting ceremony, and speeches from the Christine Couzens MP, City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM, Newcomb Secondary College Principal Scott Newcomb, and the Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s Rear Commodore Chris Manton.

“This new Victorian Sailing Centre is positioning Geelong as Victoria’s home of world-class sailing,” said Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant.

RGYC Immediate Past Commodore Roger Bennett, Newcomb Secondary College Principal Scott Newcomb, Christine Couzens MP, Alison Marchant MP, and Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM cut the ribbon at the opening of the Victorian Sailing Centre. 

The state-of-the-art new sailing hub features modern training rooms, upgraded changing facilities, multipurpose spaces, a classroom, communications facilities, offices, workrooms, short stay accommodation for up to 48, and a publicly accessible Changing Places facility – enabling people of all abilities to fully enjoy Geelong’s waterfront.

“This world-class facility elevates our capacity to deliver premium sailing education and positions Royal Geelong Yacht Club as a central hub for both community connection and international competition,” says RGYC Commodore Paul Buchholz.

“From local programs to world championships and the iconic Festival of Sails, this centre is a game-changer, not just for our members, but for the entire region.”

The Victorian Sailing Centre marks the completion of the first stage of the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbor Project (GWSHP).  This includes the construction of the floating marina arm that provides additional berthing space, opened in 2021, and Wangim Walk, one of Australia’s longest on-water walkways.

The Victorian Government is the majority funder of the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Project, with additional contributions from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, the Australian Government as part of the Geelong City Deal, and the City of Greater Geelong.

“It’s fantastic to have the Victorian Sailing Centre here on Geelong’s foreshore. As home to our state’s oldest sailing race and as a city with a rich nautical history, Geelong is the perfect location for the Victorian Sailing Centre,” commented Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj.

“The opening of the centre marks yet another key milestone in the delivery of the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour Precinct.”

Student leaders from Newcomb Secondary College with Christine Couzens MP and Alison Marchant MP in the classroom of the Victorian Sailing Centre.

The Victorian Sailing School, operating as a second campus of Newcomb Secondary College, will make the centre available to government secondary students weekdays during 40 weeks of the school year.

“We are proud to be delivering this facility which will help students from all over Victoria experience sailing and learn vital water safety skills,” says Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney.

“We are very privileged to have this state-of-the-art facility in a fantastic location on the Geelong Waterfront that provides a sailing experience to not only students of Newcomb SC, but all state secondary school students throughout Victoria,” added Newcomb Secondary College Principal Scott Newcomb.

The Victorian Sailing Centre will be made accessible to members of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club over the coming months, while members of the public will be able to use the new facilities at events like the Festival of Sails.