Club in Focus – Port Kembla Sailing Club
Situated on the northern shore of Lake Illawarra at Berkeley harbour, is Port Kembla Sailing Club (PKSC). Lake Illawarra, ‘pleasant place by the sea’, from the Dharawal, is said to be one of the most picturesque spots on the coast.
Lake Illawarra has been permanently open to the sea since 2007, leading to better water quality; this in turn improving the foreshore and recreational opportunities in and around the lake, making it a great location for many water-based activities including sailing.
The club boasts to have one of the best sailing locations in NSW, with its large, grassy rigging area, great facilities (including camping on site for regattas), an accessible beach, a big clubhouse and plenty of free parking.
The lake provides great sea breezes in the summer and is uncrowded and large enough to set good size courses with any breeze direction. The club itself sits in a protected bay that makes it ideal for beginners and learn to sail classes.
Great camping facilities for Regattas
Club Membership
The PKSC began in 1949 in an old boat shed on the lake foreshore around 1-2 km east of the club’s present location. Local boat builder Stan Dix led a breakaway group of V J Dinghy sailors from the IYC and formed the club on his boat building premises. This location is marked by the remains of Dix's boat harbour which can still be seen today adjacent to the cycleway.
PKSC is a family-oriented and fully volunteer-run club with its members working hard to provide coaching and racing for juniors and adults on Saturdays. The club is home to 92 members of a wide age range, from 8 to 80. Female membership sits just under 30%, the club intends to increase this number even further by introducing some SheSails events this season, with hopes to encourage more women to join in the fun.
Many successful state and national championships have been hosted by PKSC over the years and the club has been home to many state and national champions, particularly in small and large catamarans.
Cherub States Weekend
Classes Supported & Types of Sailing
PKSC provides junior and adult learn-to-sail classes, boasting excellent coaching for those who have never sailed before.
Trailer yachts and 14’ catamarans (Windrush & Maricat) are amongst the traditionally popular classes, however recent years have seen a growth in Wetas.
PKSC expects to see a resurgence in Lightweight Sharpies with new boats being built and previous members returning to the club. There is also a mixed-class AS yardstick division that includes boats such as Moths, 49er, Musto, Farr 3.7, 505.
Sailing day is on a Saturday and the club offers both windward-leeward and triangle courses. To increase membership even further, PKSC hopes to be a recognised Discover Sailing Centre in the 2024-25 season, and of course, visitors are welcome.
TYs, Wetas, Cats and Sharpies make up most of the racing fleet
Juniors and LTS fleet of O'pen Skiffs, MJs, Flying11s and Laser 4.7
Key Club Events
PKSC’s signature event is the ‘Kembla Klassic’, which is annually held on the last weekend in November. The event is the premier dinghy/catamaran sailing regatta of the Illawarra region. It attracts entries from far and wide, as well as class associations for their State Championship or traveller’s trophy, to sail on the beautiful lake and enjoy the surroundings of the Illawarra.
It is a regatta not to be missed with its fully licensed bar and fully catered canteen, serving breakfasts, coffee, PKSC’s famous hamburgers, and a BBQ dinner on the Saturday.
The club recently transferred its website onto the Revolutionise Sport platform which has provided a fresh new look, enabled a much better user experience and an easier method for website admins to post information, advertise events and keep content up to date.
Camping at PKSC Regattas is a big attraction
Recent Challenges & Successes
Modernising the fleet of club boats and increasing the boat storage area to cater for expansion are some of the biggest challenges PKSC is facing. The club has applied for several grants to remedy this. However, with the commitment and drive of the club volunteers, the club has overcome many an obstacle greater than this. PKSC managed to keep the club running during covid without missing many racing days, which wasn’t an easy feat. Their Weta fleet has quadrupled with an increase from 2 to 10 boats, and they have established the O’pen Skiffs as a junior class with 10 boats. There is no doubt that the dedication of the club’s volunteers will continue to tackle any hurdles that come their way.
PKSC hosted the Weta Nationals in January 2022 allowing sailors from across NSW, Queensland and Victoria to experience the beauty of Lake Illawarra and the great facilities PKSC has to offer. The event was a big success despite the possibility of not going ahead due to covid. It was also a great way of showcasing the very friendly, vibrant and welcoming atmosphere the club has to offer.
President: Tony Sanderson
Club Captain: Hugh Lewis
Secretary: Stephen Watts
