Derwent Sailing Squadron

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Derwent Sailing Squadron Offering a thriving Club culture, on and off the water, where everyone belongs! We look forward to welcoming new members into our family.

From its humble beginnings in 1906, the Derwent Sailing Squadron, more commonly known as the DSS, has grown to become one of Tasmania's premier yacht clubs, with a 1300+ membership base, many of whom berth their boats in the Club's marina. We pride ourselves on offering new members the warmest of welcomes and providing some of the best boating facilities in Australia. We know we are exceptionally lucky to have such a spectacular location on the banks of the River Derwent to call home. We are also exceptionally grateful to have such strong support all around us - from our members, our sponsors, our fellow clubs, our local community, our local council and our state government.

2015 was a pivotal year in the club's history, as we embarked on a major expansion of our marina to double its size. In doing so, our marina has become the largest and most technically advanced Club marina in Tasmania. The Derwent Sailing Squadron is supported by the Tasmanian Government.

10/10/2026

Combined Clubs Race Day 1 Cancelled. Unfortunately the wind is not playing the game.

We will look at a suitable day for a re sail of Race 1 and inform all Skippers ASAP.

Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Derwent Sailing Squadron Australian Sailing - Tasmania

πŸ”” DING DING – WHAT A START!! πŸ””Twilight sailing, we have missed you! 😍The Derwent Boat Sales Twilight season kicked off i...
08/10/2026

πŸ”” DING DING – WHAT A START!! πŸ””

Twilight sailing, we have missed you! 😍

The Derwent Boat Sales Twilight season kicked off in style tonight with plenty of sunshine, a lovely 12–14 knots from 030 degrees providing absolutely no excuse not to go for a sail 🌞

Race Officer Ian Ross reckoned it was one of the better breezes we’ve had for a while and made his job particularly easy. Happy sailors AND a happy Race Officer? We’ll take that! πŸ₯‡

There was tight competition across the divisions as everyone dusted off the winter cobwebs and remembered which rope did what. Some remembered quicker than others…

πŸ‘‡ Results are linked in the comments.

Next week we welcome the SB20s to the fun. Keep an eye out for our twilight super specials; there’s every reason to make a night of it back at the Squadron. 🍻🍽️

A big thank you to Jack Allison and Derwent Boat Sales for their ongoing support of this series and sailing more broadly.

Well done, Twilighters. A cracking start and see you all again next week! πŸ‘€ πŸ™Œ

05/10/2026

π–π„π‹π‚πŽπŒπ„ π“πŽ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐓 – π•πŽπŽπƒπŽπŽ π‚π‡πˆπ‹πƒ

Vodoo Child - A little more voodoo

The Farnell clan is coming back, and they’ve upgraded.

Last year, the family and crew had their first crack at the Launceston to Hobart aboard their Northshore 369 Voodoo Child, delivering across from the island to the north of Tassie on Christmas Day. Clearly, Boxing Day would have been leaving things a little late.

This year, they’re bringing a newly purchased and particularly slippery Sun Fast 3300. Still called Voodoo Child, but with a few more tricks up her sleeve.

The Farnell family’s sailing history stretches back generations, with Grandfather Harry a past Commodore of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. Following in that tradition, Voodoo Child’s owner Jason has sailed pretty much all his life across a range of classes, picking up the 1989/90 Australian International Cadet Championship along the way.

Jason’s kids, Will and Immy, have also come through the International Cadet factory and are into sailing up to their eyeballs. Will picked up the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc. (ORCV) Youth Offshore Sailor of the Year award in 2025, while Immy will arrive fresh from competing in the J24 World Championship. Fair to say the next generation is keeping the family name well and truly out there.

A family that knows its way around a boat, a new ride with plenty of promise and another tilt at the Launy. We reckon there are some exciting campaigns ahead for this Voodoo Child.

Representing the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, we welcome Voodoo Child and the Farnell crew back for the 2026 Knest Modular Homes Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.



Derwent Sailing Squadron | Tamar Yacht Club | Knest Modular | ORC - Offshore Racing Congress | IRC Rating | TasPorts | Australian Sailing - Tasmania

What a way to kick off the 2026 Sailing Season!Our Punk Pirates commandeered the RL Bugg Committee Boat and rocked the r...
03/10/2026

What a way to kick off the 2026 Sailing Season!

Our Punk Pirates commandeered the RL Bugg Committee Boat and rocked the river, with DJ Buff Raku pumping out the tunes!

It was fantastic to see crews aboard the other boats getting into the spirit and rocking along as the fleet celebrated the official opening of the season.

And the fun certainly didn’t stop on the water!

Members headed back to the Squadron for our annual At Home, where Commodore Paul Bottomley welcomed everyone and celebrated everything that makes our Squadron community so special.

A brilliant day on the water, a great night at the Squadron and the perfect way to launch another season of sailing, friendship and fun.

πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ The pirates may have commandeered the Committee Boat… but the Squadron definitely owned the night!

β›΅ Here’s to a fantastic 2026–27 sailing season! πŸ»πŸŽ‰

πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί 🌏 TEAM DSS TAKES ON THE WORLD! 🌏 πŸ‡¦πŸ‡ΊTonight, Hobart time, our Squadron team kicks off its campaign at the SAILING Cham...
02/10/2026

πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί 🌏 TEAM DSS TAKES ON THE WORLD! 🌏 πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί

Tonight, Hobart time, our Squadron team kicks off its campaign at the SAILING Champions League World Open Final in Kiel, Germany. β›΅

Joe de Koch, Janease Graham, Grace Stearnes and Tom Stearnes earned their place by winning the SAILING Champions League - Asia Pacific Final at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club earlier this year. πŸ†

Since the Sailing Champions League arrived in Australia, the Squadron has consistently been at the pointy end of the competition nationally. This crew continues a proud tradition of DSS teams earning the right to represent our club on the international stage.

We’re very proud of Team DSS, delighted to have supported their international campaign, and wish them the very best over the next three days of racing.

Many thanks to clothing sponsor Peter Johnston Ship Chandlers.

Go you good things! πŸ’ͺ πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί

30/09/2026

π–π„π‹π‚πŽπŒπ„ π“πŽ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐓 - π…πŽπ‘π‚π„ 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

Force Eleven - The Cartel is back.

Colin Bailey and Stephen Brown, the β€œForce Eleven Cartel”, are lining up for their third L2H, and it’s good to have them back.

After racing the Northshore 38 Mulgannon in 2021, the pair returned in 2022 aboard their newly acquired modified Adams 11.9, Force Eleven. Since then, they’ve had a crack at the Melbourne to Hobart 50th anniversary race and added a few local Category 3 races to the logbook.

This downwind flier knows her way to Hobart, having contested the L2H in 2016 and 2018 under previous owner Tristan Gourlay. She can even find her way to Osaka if required, having already made that epic journey, although if the crew end up there this time, it’s fair to say they’ve made a wrong turn.

Give her a decent breeze from behind and the Cartel and their loyal band of Bellerive burglars will be right in their element.

Representing Bellerive Yacht Club , we welcome Force Eleven and her crew back to the start line for the 2026 Knest Modular Homes Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.


Derwent Sailing Squadron | Tamar Yacht Club | Knest Modular | ORC - Offshore Racing Congress | IRC Rating | TasPorts | Australian Sailing - Tasmania

THREE DAYS TO GO! The countdown to the Commodore's At-Home Party is well and truly on. Saturday 3rd October is nearly he...
30/09/2026

THREE DAYS TO GO! The countdown to the Commodore's At-Home Party is well and truly on. Saturday 3rd October is nearly here.

Final call to lock in your crew and sort your fancy dress, because there are great prizes on offer for the best outfits and best-dressed boats.

A few things to know before the day:
Come back to the Squadron straight after the on-water activities for the season kick-off.

Find DJ Buff Raku out on the water on the RL Bugg, spinning tunes, with his Punk Pirates handing out prize wheel entries. He'll dock back at the Squadron to kick off the party at 4:00 pm, with a live set and dance floor.

Come join the new Commodore for his party and meet the new board as we celebrate the season ahead. Chef and his team will also be serving delicious dinner options, ideal after a day on the water for just $20 per person

Three sleeps to go. See you Saturday!

28/09/2026

π–π„π‹π‚πŽπŒπ„ π“πŽ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐓 – πƒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒

Dark Arts - A little magic heading for Hobart πŸͺ„β›΅

Every fleet needs a little mystery, and Ian Snape’s Aeolos P30, Dark Arts, brings plenty to this year’s Knest Launceston to Hobart Yacht Race.

Thirty feet of carbon fibre, a generous sail plan and a look that suggests she’s up to no good. We haven’t seen her wave her magic yet but going on appearances, look out!

A carbon racer called Dark Arts, Professor Snape on the helm and a crew of Slytherins on the sheets? Well, that works, doesn’t it? We suspect the crew’s pre-race reading might include Secrets of the Darkest Art alongside the sailing instructions.

Ian’s last L2H was in 2019, when he sailed his Elan S4, Frontline, to third on PHS. This time, he’s preparing something quite different for the trip down Tasmania’s East Coast.

Better still, the delivery north can happen on a trailer. How good is that? Save the wet-weather gear for the race and stop at Campbell Town for a pie on the way. There’s a certain magic in that alone.

We’re looking forward to seeing what Dark Arts can conjure up once the sails go up.

Defence Against the Dark Arts? The fleet had better learn quickly.



Derwent Sailing Squadron | Tamar Yacht Club | Knest Modular | ORC - Offshore Racing Congress | IRC Rating | TasPorts |Australian Sailing - Tasmania

This is Pete. He brings his tools to the working bee. He lends a hand at his club.He's generally a legend.Be like Pete.G...
23/09/2026

This is Pete.
He brings his tools to the working bee.
He lends a hand at his club.
He's generally a legend.
Be like Pete.

Got a few tools sitting around at home? Bring them along and help us get The Squadron ship-shape for summer!
πŸͺ΄ Garden hoses
πŸ’¦ Pressure cleaner
🧹 Brooms
⛏️ Spades

We’ll cover the rest!
πŸ“… Saturday, 26 September
⏰ From 8:00am

Come down, get stuck in and enjoy a BBQ breakfast while we knock over a few more jobs around The Squadron before the summer season kicks off.

No experience required, just bring yourself, a pair of willing hands and, if you have them, a few useful tools!

If you’ve worked up an appetite, why not stick around for the AFL Grand Final at Moorings with food, drinks and prizes!

Don’t forget to sign up so we have enough food and drinks for everyone.

Address

23 Marieville Esplanade
Sandy Bay, TAS
7005

Telephone

+61362231977

Website

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