Sun, sailing and santa

The Australian Sailing and Cruising Club is getting set to enjoy the benefits of warm Christmases, with a range of social sailing events before the more serious business of racing begins in January.

Last weekend the group embraced the silly season in sunny fashion at a shoreside picnic in Vaucluse.
The group’s official Christmas party is on Tuesday, December 16 at the Taxi Club. Everyone is welcome to attend. The premiere event of the silly season, however, is sure to be the social cruise on Boxing Day to watch the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart, said publicity officer Daniel Philps.

The Christmas party is basically a once a year catch-up that goes for a few hours but it’s also a chance … for new members to meet the rest of the club.

The Boxing Day cruise is a really special event, which is also a fundraiser for the club.

It’s a really sociable day that’s on an entertainment cruise boat, so it’s not racing and doesn’t involve any work, Philps said with a thankful laugh.

It’s a truly different experience to watch it from out in the water. You’re among kindred spirits and you’re with a bunch of gays and lesbians and their friends. It’s also another great opportunity for people to come and meet the rest of the club, particularly for people who might have had bad experiences sailing. This isn’t about racing and getting yelled at.

Not that that’s what this club is about even when they are preparing for race season in January.
Philps assures that people of all sailing abilities are welcome to join in, with no particular emphasis being placed on winning.