KISS 2026 Passage Rally goes from Fear to Fabulous
Presentation time at QCYC / Photo by Lee Renfree
It all began back in April when we welcomed our ORCV KISS (Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy) 2026 enrolled women aboard the KISS ship to the tune of Michel Legrand crooning “Let someone, start believing in you - and Watch What Happens!”
Fourteen weeks ago, 43 women lined up for the roll out of the fourth Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy (KISS) 2026 training program attracted 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. Ten women (23%) who were not currently connected to a yacht club joined the ORCV.
Representing 39 postcodes across the state, the diversity of our new recruits from Queenscliff and Bellarine Peninsula in the west to the Gippsland Lakes in the east and Albury to the north, six women were living “outport” (>80km from Melbourne CBD as the crow flies), all undaunted by the tyranny of distance to participate. Eleven Boat Teams comprising generous boat owner (27% female), mentor (100% female) and 4 KISS women bonded over Cat 5 audits and on-water training sessions, popped up on fortnightly knowledge webinars, attended a full day hands-on interactive Safety Workshop at Elwood Sailing Club with a silent auction of donated pre-loved wet weather gear to get them started on their sailing journey. A previous pilot trial with Gippsland women in 2024, providing their on-water training from Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club with visits to Melbourne for face-to-face events and participation in the KISS Passage Rally weekend, enabled them to take up lead roles of helm, navigator, radio operator and boat team manager on a local Melbourne boat to join the fleet. With diligent attention to weather and tides in the lead up to the KISS Rally the women popped up again for the online pre Rally briefing on Thursday 30 July, with forecast of a cool, calm, slow 26nm voyage from the start at Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) to Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC).
Friday 31 July, RBYC Commodore Peter Demura welcomed KISS boat teams to the club with 70 participants for an informal meal and free overnight berthing for visiting boats from other clubs and rally start for the next day.
Saturday morning the day dawned as forecast. With Rally Sailing Instructions allowing extras and documented periods of motoring to maintain Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) as determined prior to the start, an array of approaches waved across the fleet with choices of the site-seeing route or the crow-flies route with a “tableau” (silent, motionless groups of people dressed in costumes to represent a scene, or striking visual pictures) of spinnakers/ code zeroes or mighty motoring while others drifted slowly in the sunshine. At the turning mark Transit 1 of Port of Melbourne Channel near the centre of Port Phillip and 6nm from the start, the wind machine died with most choosing to crank the motor for the remaining 14nm with boats appearing at the finish line at West Channel Pile emerging from different interesting angles. Our fleet MV Amalfi III (SYC) with captain Chris and Radio Operator Anne Hunting onboard were on station to signal and record each boat’s arrival.
A “motor” cade of sailing vessels then continued down the West Channel to reach the Queenscliff Harbour for the deeper keeled yachts - White Spirit, Another Chapter, L’Etoile and Next Page II to be greeted and bussed to QCYC across the bridge and causeway to QCYC Clubhouse on Sand Island to join the <2.6m draft boats Atmospheric, Cavarlo, DuXelle, Encore, Kiela 2, Minna and Streetcar.
Blessed with sunny weather, a cloudless sky and a sea of smiling happy faces, the celebrations commenced led by KISS Committee Chair Lee Renfree, who became QCYC’s first female commodore in its 60-year history in 2021. In 2022, her vision founded and launched the KISS Training program and approached local Borough of Queenscliff businesses to give perpetual trophies which reflect each of the winning categories.
This year, the winners are -
- 360Q Helm Perpetual Trophy awarded to the nominated primary helm on the boat with the most accurate ETA for the passage rally, with each boat locking in at the pre rally Sign on schedule.
Congratulations to Pru Britton (ORCV) helming DuXelle (RYCV)!
Pru Britton hard at work on the helm on DuXelle
- Searoad Ferries KISS Passage Navigators Trophy for the Navigator with the best documented Passage plan and recording of observations for the passage.
Congratulations to Sarah Sheahan (ORCV) on L’Etoile (RBYC)!
Navigators Award Winner Sarah Sheehan / Photo by Cas Bukor
- Queenscliff Maritime Museum KISS Passage Radio Operators Trophy awarded for the best adherence to radio protocols and logging of all relevant radio calls.
Congratulations to Lou Rocchi (ORCV) on White Spirit (RBYC)!
Lou Rocchi who won the radio operator award / Photo by Agata Korbus
- Yachtmaster Sailing School Encouragement Award
Congratulations to Madeleine Rode (ORCV) on Minna (HBYC)!
Yachtmaster Sailing School Award Winner Madeleine Rode / Photo by Cas Bukor
- Photographic Competition awarded for the best photo of the onboard action on KISS boats participating in the Rally.
Congratulations to Next Page II (SYC)!
After a great night of celebration, Sunday dawned cool with a dropping baro, but still blue skies and initially 10kn northerly for the passage back to the top of the bay. Exiting the West Channel, the winds slowly built as did the short waves, requiring reefed main and smaller headsail. The strengthening northerly on the nose saw the KISS women cautiously take the helm but all slowly built their confidence as persistent waves and wind at 20-25kn with the odd gust to 30kn challenged them. Seeing the massive shifts in their confidence from “fear” on Saturday morning to “fabulous” on arriving back at SYC 1800hrs Sunday after tacking all day, with the support of their mentors, they got their sea legs and never missed a beat. From one of the new graduates “15kn wind is slow and boring after helming in 20-25kn. I want to keep sailing!”
ORCV Commodore Cyrus Allen, who provided his Beneteau 50 White Spirit for the KISS 2026 program, concluded -
“Wow! What a spectacular weekend and wonderful way to end the KISS program for 2026. I'm so proud to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team who have once again delivered one of Australia's premier women in sailing programs.
The visible energy, enthusiasm and sense of achievement in the room on Saturday was wonderful to experience. I wish I could get my boat into QCYC - a magnificent facility, location and club, I am grateful for their support.
I would like to wish each and every KISS graduate the very best in their sailing career. Whether that be cruising or racing, on the bay or beyond, there are no limits to what you can achieve. Fair winds everyone!”.
So here is the next opportunity with the ORCV Women’s Helm, Navigator and Radio Operator Race on Saturday 29 August, from RBYC to Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) open to all women with options for Racing or Cruising divisions. Boat owners please register your interest and keen women sailors register to secure a spot. Let’s ride the crest of the KISS wave!
Written by Rosie Colahan, ORCV KISS ALIVE Media
