KISS 2026 launched - Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy

by Rosie Colahan 29 Apr 21:21 BST 15 April 2026

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria launched the fourth edition of the KISS (Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy) 2026 program at Royal Brighton Yacht Club on 15 April with a "Meet Your KISS Team" interactive event.

A cohort of 43 registered women met up with their assigned boat owners, mentors, land-based facilitators and KISS committee members who will be providing training support through the program across 12 boats from clubs RYCV, HBYC, RBYC, SYC and including Gippsland Lakes for their second year, bringing our KISS community to 70 people.

Leading off, the Another Chapter syndicate members from RBYC spoke about their first KISS 2024 experiences with boat owner Greg Clinnick, mentor (and boat owner) Julie McKay and KISS alumnus Monique Bennet. With their success in gaining new trained crew to join their diverse activities with both club and ocean racing including international events, they now return to mentor a new group for KISS 2026.

Our KISS 2026 women have been attracted to the program by word of mouth, social media and promotion through yacht clubs, with 90% of our women aged over 40yrs, with 60% novice and 30% sailing less than 3yrs.

Representing 39 postcodes across the state, diversity abounds with our new recruits from Queenscliff and Bellarine Peninsula in the west to the Gippsland Lakes in the east, with six women living "outport" greater than 80km from Melbourne CBD as the crow flies. Inclusion of these women is being tested as a pilot model for the Gippsland Lakes cohort provides on water training from GLYC and visits to Melbourne to train on a similar boat for the finale.

Within a week, on 21 April, the women returned to explore Personal and Boat Preparation hosted at Melbourne City Marina Docklands, presented by RYA Offshore Yachtmaster Annette Hesselmans, principal of Paper Sailors Rock, as they start on their 14 week "journey of discovery". The program ahead comprises face-to-face knowledge and safety workshop activities, on-water skills training with their assigned Boat Team and online webinars including weather, navigation and passage planning, as they transition from "passengers" to confident active "participants". Ready to rise to lead roles of helm, navigator and radio operator for the finale, the 26nm KISS Passage Rally from RBYC to QCYC on the weekend of 1-2 August, celebrates the range of achievements of the KISS 2026 community.

Now only 12 weeks to go, boat teams are on the job setting up their training plans and building their team camaraderie.

It all begins, as Michel Legrand croons in his tune to "Let someone, start believing in you - and Watch What Happens!" Welcome aboard the KISS ship.