Club in Focus: Koombana Bay Sailing Club
Koombana Bay Sailing Club (KBSC) is located on the shores of the beautiful north facing Koombana Bay Bunbury in Anchorage Cove, Western Australia. The KBSC has grown to become the local hub of sailing activity, regularly hosting community programs and a variety of racing opportunities.
Offering fantastic facilities for both inshore and offshore sailing, KBSC members have the chance to enjoy the smooth waters of the protected bay in summer as well as the challenge of ocean sailing or a combination of both with no need to lower their mast.
KBSC From the Sky
Club History
After arriving in Bunbury to find there was no sailing club in the area, John Allen enlisted two friends and set the wheels in motion to build the club as it is known today. Officially opened on the 4th of December 1954 by Bunbury Mayor FJ Withers, land for the KBCS was originally secured after approaching the Council about using one of the old camping huts on the North Shore.
After securing a loan of £200, club members built the first clubhouse, purchasing a steel frame from Tubular Steel Constructions of Fremantle for £83/10/-. In the early days the club consisted of VJ’s (Vaucluse Juniors) and the prices ranged from £45-£60 second hand.
The KBSC facilities have grown exponentially since 1954, with a clubhouse, permanent jetty and launching ramp now on offer to members.
Now a fantastic and well-established sailing club, the KBSC won the WA Sailing Club of the Year award in 2021 with two women at the Helm - Commodore Sarah Twigger and Vice Commodore Deri Price. The Club was recognized for the provision of inclusive opportunities for sailing, expanding the junior sailing program and a 114% increase in club membership.
KBSC Committee 2022
Membership
The KBSC currently boasts 496 members of which 189 are social members. The club continues to encourage our social members to participate in sailing via Sailpass registration and have been successful in converting some of these sailors to upgrade to Crew membership. New members are always welcome at KBSC, as are sailors from other clubs.
Classes Supported and Types of Sailing
KBSC offers a wide range of sailing opportunities for all ages, including Dinghies for juniors and seniors, Keelboats large and small, catamarans, and off the beach classes.
Saturday racing at KBSC is divided into four classes:
- Division 1 - for boats over 30M in length
- Division 2 - the S80’s or similar size
- Division 3 - for the smaller Keelboats
- JaM sailing, Cats, and off the beach boats – all centre board boats that are launched form the beach
The most popular sailing activity is the much-anticipated Wednesday night twilights – a relaxed sail in sheltered water with three starts for divisions 1-3. The twilight is designed so that all divisions finish at a similar time.
KBSC also offers inner bay and extended bay racing, with these races start at 12:00 noon and finishing at about 4:00pm.
Racing at KBSC
Programs on Offer
There are several community focused, successful programs run from KBSC, with engagement and retention a key focus.
KBSC offers junior sail training on Saturday mornings which includes Tackers, Dinghies and OutThere Sailing. They also hold a Discover Sailing Day which they combine with a Discover KBSC Day to attract new members and get the community involved in sailing, and host Rotary Sail into Life – an accessible sailing and fishing program for all who wish to take part.
Additionally, they host Keelboat Sail Training via Start Crewing and Start Helming Keelboat training in the club’s own S80.
Commodore: Deri Price
KBSC Commodore Deri Price
