St G.S.C.

How did it all start?

It started with the sale of my MG. I contemplated getting a 49er, however I also always wanted to sail a Moth. The Moth was a cheaper option so that’s what I got.

I saw an opportunity to introduce the Moth class to St George as the club didn’t cater for any single handed classes. This effectively meant that anybody who wanted to sail without a crew was forced to leave the club (probably joining the Laser fleet at G.R.S.C.).

With a number of other sailors keen to race from St George, I felt that we could get 4-5 boats regularly racing at the club. For the start of the 04-05 sailing season I wrote to the club and proposed they put a ballot to the members, allowing a new “open class” to race during the 04-05 sailing season.

The idea behind the open class was that it was a way of getting Moths into the club “through the back door”. With St George being quite a conservative place that is usually against any changes (even if it’s for better), they saw moths as a bit of a freak-show class that didn’t really fit with the club’s image.

Regardless, the members decided that the Open Class was a great idea and now the Moths were a part of the club, by being a part of the open class.

As it turned out, the Moths were the only class sailing under the open class banner and this name was just a formality.

There were a number of key people that made the idea work. They were mainly, Phil and Andrew Stevenson and Kylie Lowry. They persisted sailing from the club, even though the racing in the early stages was hardly exciting.

This was crucial though. With 3-4 boats regularly turning up to sail each weekend, it sent a message out that Moths were an organized and established section. This drew new people in, and we soon had 8 boats keen to sail in 05-06.

For next sailing season, Moths applied to be a class on its own, eligible for prize money and other benefits that come with being a St George registered section.

For the 3rd season things got even better. The numbers grew to 13 registered boats, including some very fast Moth sailors such as World Champ Chris Dey. The section also purchased their own inflatable boat for the purpose of training new sailors.

The comming 09-10 season should be a cracker with St George having the largest regularly racing  Moth fleet in the world.

                             

Why join St.George?

It’s the cheapest Moth sailing club in Sydney with the bigest foiling fleet in the world. We also have one of the largest boat sheds, and rigging is on nice sandy beaches (no concrete here!).

Where is it?

St George Sailing Club it situated in Sydney’s southern suburb of Sans Souci, about 30minutes drive from CBD.

St George S.C.
Riverside Drive, Sans Souci
Tel: 9529-4911

Want to join our fleet?

Then send an email to luka AT australia DOT edu.

The yearly fees include:

$17 Club Membership ($12 for renewal)
$40 Moth section fee
$54 Yachting Australia Membership
$185 Yearly Boat Boat Storage (optional)

So for as little as $111 you could be sailing for the whole season.

The club also offers prize money for all races, so it may not cost you much to sail at all!

Each boat get $5 starting money, as well as $15 for a 1st, $10 for 2nd and $5 for 3rd on handicap.

2009-10 Season positions

Organiser:                Phil Stevenson
Race secretary:       Phil Stevenson
Measurer:                 Bruce McLeod
Publicity Officers:    Steven Donovan

Working towards St George Moth Sailing Club (St G.M.S.C.) by 2010……..