Summer is almost here, and while Canberra has many beautiful places to soak up the sunny days, there’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon sailing. The Y Sailing Club has been operating on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin since 1964, and we’d love to share with you the joys and unique sense of freedom that comes with sailing, as well as how sailing contributes to the growth and development of the young people who participate. Learn more about harnessing the wind, finding peace in nature, and embracing adventure all while developing lifelong skills. 

Adventure in Canberra’s backyard 

These are waters that have already been chartered, but there’s something about heading out on Lake Burley Griffin that instils a sense of adventure. How many times have you visited or driven past some of Canberra’s iconic attractions including the National Museum of Australia, the National Library, and Black Mountain Peninsula? Sailing provides you with the opportunity to experience the sights of Canberra from a completely new angle. 

This sense of adventure also supports self-growth through outdoor challenges that build resilience, confidence and a sense of belonging. The sport challenges young sailors to adapt to dynamic environments, manage risk and push through discomfort by learning new skills and practising controlled capsizes. Over time, these practices help build inner strength and resilience. 

The thrilling sense of adventure encourages the development of autonomy, enabling our young sailors to make decisions independently by choosing a course, setting a goal, or finding solutions when the wind suddenly changes. In building these skills, the young people in our Sailing Club gain confidence, reinforcing feelings of mastery and personal efficacy. 

Calm, excitement and skill building

On a calm day, the peaceful stillness of a quiet sail can be meditative. The only sounds are the gentle lapping of water against the hull and the dull lull of Canberra traffic. On a breezy day, you feel the exhilaration of the wind filling your sails and propelling you forward. 

Sailing offers a rare form of freedom in today’s fast-paced, screen-dominated world. Sailing allows you to get some vitamin D, unplug, and leave the distractions of daily life behind you. Your pace is determined by the elements, which creates a more intentional rhythm to your day. 

Though it can be relaxing, sailing can also be challenging, requiring knowledge and skill – both of which can be learned! This blend gives each journey on the water a feeling of accomplishment and excitement. You might learn a new sailing technique one minute, and form a greater sense of camaraderie with your crew the next. It’s the thrilling mix of calm, excitement and connection that keeps our Members coming back for more. 

Through experiencing mixed emotions, and because sailing requires heightened awareness, the very nature of the sport encourages a state of mindfulness. This helps in emotional regulation, and practising remaining calm under pressure, for example, if they’re heading into heavy reeds, and making decisions in these stressful situations. Because sailors are in groups of two to three, these experiences support mental wellbeing and foster a sense of collaboration when things don’t go to plan. 

Community connection 

Though sailing can be a solo endeavour, it’s also an activity that fosters a strong sense of community. Working together to sail a boat requires communication, trust, and teamwork, and these are skills that can last a lifetime. Whether you’re taking turns at the helm, hoisting the sails, or simply enjoying a beautiful Canberra twilight on the deck, sailing offers moments of shared joy and accomplishment.

Sailing also involves teamwork, which fosters trust and cooperation with the people beside you in the boat. This encourages relatedness, helping young sailors build strong, supportive relationships both on the water and on land. 

Our Members are a wonderful community, always ready to welcome new faces. Over half of our Members are under the age of 30. But that doesn’t mean it’s a young person’s activity. We make sure that sailing is a fun and safe activity for all ages and abilities. 

Why sail with the Y? 

Our Sailing Club is a place for all ages and abilities, ensuring our Members can engage in competitive and non-competitive sailing and other aquatic recreation activities, such as kayaking and paddle boarding. 

Never sailed before? Don’t worry, we offer a range of exciting training activities. We are an Australian Sailing Accredited Training Centre and our courses are conducted to the Australian Sailing standards. 

Our courses include an introduction to basic sailing techniques (perfect if you’ve never touched a sail before), all the way to Better Racing where you’ll take your racing skills to next the level, creating waves and mastering the wind.  

Our school holiday course is the perfect way to fill the summer months. Discover the joy of sailing and spend your days learning to tack and gybe, and stop alongside a buoy or moored boat. 

Along with our courses, we pack our calendar full of racing, events and regattas. We race every Saturday from late September to early April for the off-the-beach multihulls and monohulls. 

So why not hoist the sails, catch the wind, and see where the horizon leads you?