Join the Youth Advisory Sub-Committee for its inaugural networking event, on Friday 7th November from 6pm in the Flags Room.

Join the Youth Advisory Sub Committee (YASC) for an evening of networking with marine Industry professionals. Take time to hear how you can turn your love of racing into a professional sailing career through industry trades and discuss future sailing opportunities with other young members. The YASC would later like to open the floor to discuss your ideas on how you think the experience at RQYS could be innovated to the best it can be for young members now and into the future. This is your opportunity to mix and mingle with the younger members of RQYS and share your thoughts on what is required to make RQ the best it can be to attract Youth as members – both the sailing kind and social kind!

Doors Open 1800

Industry Talks 1830

Open Floor Networking to follow

Featured during this event will be a special panel presentation from three special guests – each sharing their story of how sailing led them into their successful careers in the industry.  Not everyone wants to go on to become a professional athlete, so what other options are there to combine passion with career?

THE SPEAKERS

• Chris Anderson – Rope Solutions.  Chris started his sailing journey in 125s, 420s, Cherubs and 16 foot Skiffs before moving into Etchells and competing in two world championships.  Later, Chris moved into offshore sailing and has been part of the Blackjack sailing team from 2011 to 2024 and competed in nine Sydney to Hobart races and 15 Brisbane to Gladstone regattas.  He has also been fortunate to compete in several regattas in Europe – most recently the Rolex Giraglia, Palermo to Monte Carlo and Rolex Middle Sea Race.

• Ben Kelly – North Sails.  Ben highlights winning 14 Multihull OMR Nationals on 6 different boats, racing 505 and F18 catamaran world titles. Being Bowman on the monohull classic “Wraith of Odin” has been a highlight of his sailing career while also competing in three Syndey to Hobart Yacht Races. Ben was a co-designer and builder of his own 9m trimaran ‘El Toro’ which he races in and around Moreton Bay.

On the work-front, Ben completed his sailmaking apprenticeship in 1999, bought his own sail making business in 2004 but went on to a position at North Sails. At Norths, Ben went on to become the Asia-Pacific Multihull sail specialist and has recently become the Global Multihull Market Segment Leader for North Sails. In the OTB monohull space, Ben was previously involved with the sail design for 49er and 49erFX 3Di Olympic-class sails

• Melanie Peasey – 27 South Ocean Training.  Melanie started sailing Sabots on the Brisbane River at Oxley Sailing Club at a young age, then sailing 420’s at RQYS in her teens.  Coming home at 19 after working on the Isle of Wight as a sailing instructor she graduated to sailing ‘big boats’ and has now competed in most of the East Coast of Australia’s offshore races. She was proud to have competed in her 3^rd Sydney to Hobart yacht race last year. She divides her time between offshore or racing dinghies most weekends.Melanie has never been far from boats in general, spending most of her life working in and around the industry; ships chandleries, sailing schools, a maritime college and now with Australian Sailing, as the Safety, Rules and Ratings Officer. Melanie also co-owns a Sea Safety and Survival center with best friend Stacey Jackson.

Bar will be open so please join us after training.  Please RSVP below so we can expect you!