Our Early Days

The first races staged by the Keppel Bay Sailing Club were held on the Easter weekend of 5th and 6th of April, 1957.  The Saturday race was to be a scratch race and the Sunday race a Handicap event.  Six boats rigged on the main beach at Yeppoon. They included three Vaucluse Juniors (VJ's), Keray,Quicksilver andVJ, and three dinghies rigged with sails. The pick up boat was a dinghy converted to sail.  Weather conditions were ideal with a light easterly breeze blowing.  The VJ Keray was the eventual winner.  It had been built by Kevin McNulty and Ray Channells in six weekends of frenzied night time building.

A trophy to be raced for over 12 months of the first sailing season was donated by W Kennedy.  The Club quickly grew in numbers and many boats were constructed under houses in Rockhampton and Yeppoon. Before long the fleet consisted of Gwen 12's, Skates, Thorpe 12's, VJ's and Moths.  Racing in the first season was very keen and races were usually held off the Yeppoon Main Beach.  When conditions on the coast were unsuitable, however, the venue was changed to the Fitzroy River where crews had to pit themselves against frustrating winds and tides.