KISS 2023 has the Vibe!
It started with a KISS………….
Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club is now midpoint for its second running of the Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy (KISS) program. With only seven weeks to go, the excitement amongst the 29 women sailors is palpable as they mark their transition from passengers to competent, confident active participants.
With varied levels of sailing exposure, they came from across the state to sign up to Face their Fears, learn about Personal Preparation (Commodore Lee Renfree) and Boat Preparation (Sal Balharrie) and set their own course for their sailing journey.
All aboard with seven boats and support from ten mentors, the members of each of the seven teams have quickly bonded over Cat 5 Boat audits, on water skills training and MOB manouevres and loving it!
As they dive into the wide blue yonder, the KISS program encourages all participants to obtain their Recreational Boating Licence and VHF (SRCOP-Short Range Certificate of Proficiency) Radio Licence, with a few choosing to go beyond the horizon to undertake the HF (LRCOP-Long Range Certificate of Proficiency) certification.
In addition, the KISS partnership with other clubs has enabled further opportunities for additional optional specific training for those wanting to go further.
KISS 2023 launched back in May hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV). Four graduates of the KISS Class of 2022 reflected on their own pathways in sailing and regaled the audience with their own inspiring achievements in the wake of the KISS program, setting up a lively vibe for this year’s class.
Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club (HBYC) Discover Sailing program provided small group on-water keeboat skills training sessions which received rave reviews for instructor Edel Doyle with Michael Bradley ably assisted by Sue Burke.
The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) as principal partner, have provided highly experienced presenters for Webinars on Navigation (Annette Hesselmans), Weather and Tides (Grant Dunoon) and access to additional optional online training with their excellent courses in Navionics, Fundamentals of Navigation and Weather for Sailors.
Ahead lies the ORCV hosting a full day hands-on Workshop for KISS on Sunday 6 August, with practical sessions operating VHF and viewing the communications network in the ORCV van. Safe Transport Victoria Maritime (Vanessa Spark) will follow with a Safety Briefing, flare demonstration and self servicing of lifejackets.
We are indebted to our generous sponsors, who have each sponsored a webinar and been given the opportunity to showcase their businesses to our audience. Thank you all - Ocean Racing Club of Victoria, Boating Central (Andrew Neilson), Paper Sailors Rock (Annette Hesselmans), BlueWater Sailing School (Tim Foster) and Mandy Jackson (Independent Consultant for Nutrimetics).
The heat is now on as the final phase of the KISS program builds upon the participants acquired knowledge, skills and teamwork, with the Passage Planning webinar (Robyn Brooke) on Tuesday 15 August and a pre Rally webinar briefing on 24 August splicing it all together. For the KISS Class of 2023, the “jewel in the crown” will be the KISS Passage Rally on 26 August from the top of Port Phillip to QCYC, with the KISS sailors confidently and proudly taking up lead roles of helm, navigator and radio operators, whilst our “guides on the side”, our generous boat owners and mentors, stand by and enjoy the ride.
The reward will be the arrival in Paradise (aka the legendary Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club) for a night of celebration for our KISS 2023 graduates.
“It started with a KISS” - let’s “Seal it with a KISS”!!!
Further information about the KISS program is available on the QCYC website or email us at kiss@qcyc.org.au
