Two Amendments to Australian Sailing Special Regulations

Attention all crews heading offshore, there are two amendments to Australian Sailing Special Regulations.  For a complete copy of the Australian Sailing Special Regulations including all amendments to date, click here

Special Regulations 6.01, Safety & Sea Survival (SSS) Qualification.

There is now a limit of 2 years on expired Safety & Sea Survival Certificates and renewing via the Refresher course bringing it in line with World Sailing.  Prior to this amendment there was no limit on the time between using the refresher course to renew your expired certificate.  Click here to read the Special Regulation 6.01

Medical Kits

Medical kits amendments will transition boats over 4 years to a modular system.

Read the Australian Sailing notice of these changes here https://www.sailingresources.org.au/news/amendments-to-the-special-regulations which has some FAQ's and a link to the Special Regulation amendment here 

The brief outline of these changes as explained by Australian Sailing is here 

Count Her In - KISS

Yes it is on again! The third running of the Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy (KISS) program is now open for registrations. The KISS program initiated by Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club’s (QCYC) first female Commodore Lee Renfree, was launched in 2022 created by women for women, to provide an introductory level of information and experience through a series of social, learning and practical activities for female sailors. 

So why the KISS program?

• To empower women to transition from ‘passengers’ to confident active ‘participants’.

And how to empower?

• By encouraging women to “Face Your Fears” and achieve confidence and skills through power of knowledge and hands-on experience
• Provide opportunity for personal growth, build camaraderie through teamwork
• Encourage stepping up to lead roles.

In the spirit of the United Nations International Women’s Day 2024 celebrations on 8 March with this year’s theme being  'Count Her In. Invest in women. Accelerate progress' we are ready to give you the means to achieve your sailing goals.

The KISS program rolls out from 15 May through to 24 August, with placement on boats with your assigned team for on-water skills and safety training, six webinars covering topics as outlined in the table below and face-to-face learning with the launch and the workshop day activities, all culminating in the KISS Passage Rally, with our KISS participants taking up all lead roles of Helm, Navigator and Radio Operator for the 26 nautical mile sail from Brighton to Queenscliff.  Yes - this will be you!

The KISS program involves the collaborative support of several Port Phillip keelboat clubs for its delivery and we are indebted to them for their contributions, as we could not do it without them.

Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC), the club of origin, will host the Passage Rally and celebrations at their iconic clubhouse on Sand Island.

Count Her In - Photo Denise Smeaton

Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) as a partner club, has provided technical and presenter support since the beginning of KISS in 2022 and continues their excellent support and partnership.

Our associate clubs, Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club (HBYC) will host the Radio and Safety workshop day this year with Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) hosting the Launch and pre KISS Rally overnight berthing.

An exciting new partnership has been formed this year, teaming up with charity partner “Sailing Lifts Your Spirits”(SLYS) which recognises front line healthcare workers and first responders for the work they do in the community putting themselves at significantly increased risk of mental health issues. Operating from Brighton, SLYS is committed to saying thank you and promoting positive changes to their mental health by providing twilight sailing experiences over the summer months to introduce them to the benefits of sailing: “Getting Active, Getting out into nature and Getting into a supportive Community”.

For women who have become keen to get into the sport, the KISS program provides a next step introductory course to set them on a pathway to progress their sailing dreams.

Jo Bone from Warrnambool embraced the KISS program Photo KISS media

To get a feel for the program, read Jo Bone’s account of her KISS 2023 experience. Living in Warnambool as the most far flung graduate of the KISS Class, she also scooped up her sister Melinda Williams along the way to sign up and her determination never faltered …..

 “Well…what an amazing adventure I have just had!

Initially I was incredibly nervous about jumping on a big yacht when I felt I had little experience. But instantly once joining the crew, meeting (Commodore) Lee and the other girls, I felt completely at ease. We were welcomed as a family and instantly, friendships began. The whole way through the program, we were guided and supported and Lee took us under her wing as any “mother” would. No longer was I being told to “pull the red rope, love”, instead, I was given the responsibility to trim the lines all by myself and not once did I feel overwhelmed, nervous, or scared about what I was doing.

The incredible mentors support, workshops with knowledgeable sailors, on water training and theory webinars were a mind blowing experience!! And I will always have these resources to refer back to. Being with other girls who were in the same situations, gave me a feeling of reassurance. Yes, we were taken out of our comfort zone, and yes… we were pushed to our limits at times, but this was the best way to learn.

Then, with our boat team assigned to the 48ft yacht Castille, owner  “King” Richard proclaimed I would be the helm for the Passage Rally to QCYC!!!  Fortunately, I had participated in the additional small keelboat Discover Sailing training day at HBYC in strong winds during the program which buoyed my confidence and I grabbed the opportunity.

Post KISS, I joined Royal Geelong Yacht Club and Melinda has joined Portarlington Sailing Club.  We have continued to sail with the “King”, enjoying being on the water and the benefits of the “mindfulness” one experiences having left the dock, focussing only on the task at hand and vigilance for the safety of boat and crew.”

Jo’s final advice -

“I would highly recommend this program to any woman who has either sailed before or is looking to begin her sailing adventures. For too long men have dominated the sport, and now thanks to Lee Renfree and her KISS program, it is time for us girls to shine!

Jo Bone in charge of Castille in the KISS Rally Photo Denise Smeaton

Thank you Lee for an amazing sailing adventure, I will always be thinking of you when I am sitting on my own yacht, living my dream!!!”

The 2024 program is limited to 40 participants this year with information and to register fro the 2024 program click here 

For further information,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rosie Colahan

KISS Chair

0409 865 283

KISS comes ALIVE in 2025

An exciting new chapter for all female keelboat sailors in Victoria is now ALIVE! We welcome you to this central hub, which aims to provide a comprehensive calendar for all female focussed keelboat events for women across Victoria and beyond. Whether training, racing, cruising, volunteering or just chilling, we want to make sure you never miss out on an opportunity to participate.

Our new strategic platform KISS ALIVE officially debuted at an International Women's Day event on 11 March 2025, underlining the commitment to #accelerateaction for gender equality in the sport. The event co-hosted by the ORCV, KISS program and RBYC attracted a packed audience of 200 attendees, for An Inspiring Evening with Melbourne to Osaka Female Duo on Fika: Annette Hesselmans and Sophie Snijders featuring the intrepid female mother-daughter sailing duo.

Fresh from their epic 2024 Sydney Hobart double-handed win in the 2024 Sydney Hobart double-handed division, they discussed their preparations for the 2025 Melbourne to Osaka double-handed, non-stop 5500nm race as the first ever mother-daughter team in the ninth edition of this iconic corinthian race. Monday 17 March they lined up at the Portsea pier, amongst a coterie of six women (including three Australian women under the age of 30yrs) in a field of 34 co-skippers. finally Osaka bound after years of preparation and training.

Follow the fleets inspiring adventures at Blue Water Tracks 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup.

From Passenger to Participant

In 2022, QCYC's first female commodore, Lee Renfree, had a vision to provide a program "for women by women". Deemed the "Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy" (KISS) program, partnering with the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria supporting technical training and Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club providing on water passage rallies to "Paradise". The KISS class of 2022 graduated 25 women, bringing them from "passengers" to active, confident and competent "participants". Fast forward to 2024, numbers doubled to 50 enrolled women supported by 17 female mentors and 13 boat owners bringing the KISS family to 80 sailors and a Wait list in the wings for the next program.

"Leave no woman or girl behind..."
(From International Womens Day 2018)

The friendships that have rapidly developed across three years of the KISS program has provided connection amongst all our 105 graduates, the generous boat owners providing boats, our female mentors leading the training and our all female KISS committee. Seeing is believing - "you cannot be, what you cannot see" KISS has provided role models and ongoing mentorship to empower women to discover and pursue their own sailing dreams

Changing Up

The KISS 2024 program was a sellout with an overwhelming number of women continuing to register on the wait list. Demand now exceeds resources, requiring a major "change up". The committee has trebled, training is to be overhauled with self paced online learning, coaching upskilling for more mentors, recruitment of more boats and boat owners to increase on water training activities and opportunities. The support of the ORCV since Day 1 has been pivotal in establishing the KISS success and ensured its longevity adding it to their diverse training programs in 2024. KISS ALIVE is also building stronger relationships with keelboat clubs to enhance their existing female focussed events and devise new activities, both sailing and social. Sadly, the Committee are very sorry that we cannot run the full KISS program in 2025, but we will be contacting all on the wait list to meet up with our KISS family of graduates, boat owners, mentors and supporters to keep the dream "ALIVE" with a series of new interactive events. Our investment in a "GapYear" will enable us to provide a robust blockbuster program in 2026 resourced to be readily upscaled for the future.

"From little things, big things grow"

We want all women in Victoria interested in sailing keelboats, all our KISS connections and all keelboat clubs to get onboard to enliven opportunities and increase female participation. The KISS Committee need connections with clubs to access boats and identify female mentors for training. We want to see all existing female focussed keelboat events grow and encourage development of new innovative activities to attract more women to participate and become valued regular crew and club members. The KISS Committee under the auspices of the ORCV will provide marketing support to all participating keelboat clubs to promote their signature women's events.

Being Alive 

From a training progam, to building a community, KISS is now "ALIVE" with a holistic focus on providing ongoing support, accessability and more diverse pathways for all women to shine.

Get in Touch -  If you are keen to be involved but unsure as to how to connect, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will get back to you.

For clubs - we are keen to promote your female focussed events to our keen and passionate KISS network of sailors. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your dates and we will get in touch.

Register for the KISS 2026 Training Program

If you are keen to join the KISS 2026 Training program, please add your name to our Waitlist to keep you updated as we further extend the program's reach and resources.

For those already registered, we look forward to meeting you soon as we are planning regular bi-monthly interactive activities to support you in the lead up to the 2026 full program.

We look forward to having you aboard!

For further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2025 Female Keelboat Sailing Events in Victoria

KISS ALIVE - powered by the ORCV and has the support of QCYC.

The ORCV acknowledges Lee Renfree as the KISS^TM program Founder.

 “Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy”

Buoyed by positive feedback from our 52 graduates over the last two years, preparation for the program is well underway with roll out from 15 May through to 24 August, providing accessible training during the winter months.

The KISS program initiated by QCYC Immediate Past Commodore and ORCV Member Lee Renfree, was created by women for women, to provide an introductory level of information and experience through a series of social, learning and practical activities for female sailors.

Here's how Jo Bone, who lived in Warrnambool described her experience with the 2023 program:

 “Well…what an amazing adventure I have just had!
I would highly recommend this program to any woman who has either sailed before or is looking to begin her sailing adventures. For too long men have dominated the sport, and now thanks to Commodore Lee Renfree and her KISS program, it is time for us girls to shine! 
Thank you Lee for an amazing sailing adventure, I will always be thinking of you when I am sitting on my own yacht, living my dream!!!”

With KISS, everyone is welcome. Keeness and commitment are the prerequisites for the program, no matter the experience and is open to those 18+ years.  We will lead you to new horizons.

The 2024 has sold out.  Join the waitlist and be the first to know about the next time we run this program in 2025.  

Why KISS ?

To empower women to transition from ‘passengers’ to confident active ‘participants’.

And how to empower?

• By encouraging women to “Face Your Fears” and achieve confidence and skills through power of knowledge and hands-on experience
• Provide opportunity for personal growth, build camaraderie through teamwork
• Encourage stepping up to lead roles.

So if you are a female sailor wanting to take the opportunity to set your own course, come and join us.

KISS 2024 Program Sessions 

Program Launch

The KISS 2024 Program Launch kicks off on 15 May 2024, with a panel discussion on “Facing Your Fears” featuring our three KISS Rally Trophy winners from the class of 2023.

You will be assigned to a boat team of 3-4 KISS sister sailors, your boat owner and mentor, with the first task to appoint a Boat Team Manager and the team to design your own on-water training schedule to fit.

Skills Training

For the practical experiences, you will undertake a safety audit on your assigned boat and learn to use the equipment safely and effectively.

The single-day hands-on workshop run at the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria's (ORCV) office provides “live” VHF radio training, Man Overboard training and Safe Transport Victoria (STV) Maritime will also attend demonstrating self-service your own inflatable life jackets.

Additional Skills Training

is also encouraged outside of the KISS content and we can recommend training providers for these courses -

Recreational Boat Licence and VHF Radio Licence.

Small keelboat training - helm, competent crew, etc provided by Discover Sailing Centres at clubs or private providers.

Please note this additional training is not included in the KISS program fee.

KISS Rally

The program concludes with a real journey, with you and your boat team planning and stepping up to roles of helmsperson, navigator and radio operator for the KISS Rally, a 26 nm passage from Brighton to Queenscliff, with a celebration dinner and overnight stay at Sand Island, the home of the iconic Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club.

Register for KISS 2025

Join the waitlist and be the first to know about the next time we run this program in 2025.

We look forward to having you aboard!

For further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

KISS - supported by the ORCV and QCYC.

An evening with Jeanne Socrates, record breaking solo sailor, unassisted circumnavigation via the Five Great Capes

Join the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) in partnership with the Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) for an evening of inspiration and adventure as we delve into the world of solo circumnavigation with Jeanne Socrates.

A renowned British yachtswoman, Jeanne is hailed as a true trailblazer in the world of sailing. Born on 17 August 1942 in Lymington, she has achieved remarkable feats in her sailing career, which she started at the age of 50. Jeanne holds the record as the oldest female to have circumnavigated the world single-handedly and is the only woman to have circumnavigated solo nonstop from North America, having achieved this aged 77.

Jeanne's accomplishments have been widely recognized and celebrated. She was awarded the Cruising Club of America's Blue Water Medal and the Royal Cruising Club Medal for Seamanship in 2013. In the same year, she received the Ocean Cruising Club's prestigious Barton Cup and was elected as an Honorary Member of the OCC in 2020.

Despite facing setbacks due to a major injury in 2017, Jeanne's determination prevailed. On 3 October 2018, she embarked on her latest attempt to solo circumnavigate the world, and on 7 September 2019, she became the oldest person ever to achieve this feat non-stop. While her record may have been surpassed since then, Jeanne remains the oldest person to have sailed round the world "singlehandedly, unassisted and non-stop via the Five Great Capes.

In recognition of her incredible achievement, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority in Victoria, Canada, named the inner harbor commercial dock as the "Jeanne Socrates Dock."

Jeanne will dial in from New Zealand and share her remarkable journey, providing insights into her experience, challenges, and triumphs as she conquered the world's oceans.

Event Details:

Date: 17th April 2024

Time: 6:45 pm

Venue: The Royal Brighton Yacht Club, 253 Esplanade, Brighton VIC 3186

To secure your place at this event, please book your ticket here.

Come for dinner ahead of time at the RBYC Olympic restaurant and bar

For a table at the Olympic restaurant book here.

We look forward to sharing this remarkable evening with you.