Saturday 19 September at the Kirribilli Royal Yacht Squadron, Carcoar Sailing Club was named 2026 NSW/ACT Club of the Year, taking the top honour from fellow nominees Hunters Hill Sailing Club and Saltwater Veterans Sailing Project.
As State finalists, Carcoar Sailing Club will progress as finalist in Category B for ‘Sailing Club of the Year’ at the National Australian Sailing Awards on 30 October 2026 at the Sofitel Hotel in Darling Harbour.
The Club achieved accreditation as an Australian Sailing Discover Sailing Centre 2 years ago, enabling it to deliver nationally recognised Learn to Sail programs for adults and children in the Central West.
Rene Reimers, Commodore of the Club and Australian Sailing Coach said the award reflected what the club had been working towards for the past 4 years, moving from 7 to almost 90 members.
“Our Club is about giving people in our region access to sailing, even though we are so far from the coast across the mountains. We’ve seen peeks and troughs of energy and activity over the last 53 years since the Club was established in 1973. We are proud to be part of a resurgence with lots of effort being put in to making be a member at the Club worthwhile – you can now turn up to the Club, with kids in tow, pull out a Club sailing boat and be out on the water together easily enjoying what many on the coast take for granted every day. We’ve been building towards having a fabulous team of instructors, and we’re now prepped to help locals learn the basic skills of sailing, helping them develop confidence on the water and making sailing available to everyone.”
“For a small inland club from the Central West to receive this recognition across NSW and the ACT is something we’re incredibly proud of. This award belongs to our volunteers, members, juniors, families, supporters and everyone who has helped us rebuild the club.”
“We want to open the doors of sailing to our regional communities. You shouldn’t have to live on the coast to discover this sport. We would love people from across the Central West to come out to Carcoar Dam, meet us and see what sailing is all about.”
The club’s programs are designed to cater for beginners through to experienced sailors, juniors and adults, with an emphasis on grassroots participation and practical sailing skills.
To provide the pathways in sailing. Accessibility is also central to the club’s future. Carcoar Dam Sailing Club shares its facilities with Sailability, helping create opportunities for people of all abilities to experience sailing.
From the Central West to the National Awards, winning at State level means Carcoar Dam Sailing Club’s successful nomination now progresses to the judging panel for the 2026 National Australian Sailing Awards. Australian Sailing describes the awards as the peak awards for the sport in Australia. National finalists are scheduled to be announced, with the national winners announced at the Australian Sailing Awards and Hall of Fame Inductions Gala Dinner at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour on Friday 30 October 2026. For a volunteer-run sailing club from the Central West, the national nomination provides an opportunity to showcase not only Carcoar Dam Sailing Club, but the potential for sailing and community sport throughout regional NSW.
Come and Discover Sailing at Carcoar Sailing Club
The community will have an opportunity to experience the club firsthand at the Carcoar Dam Sailing Club Open Day on Sunday 25th October 2026 from 10am.
The club will throw open its gates and invite families, prospective sailors and members of the wider Central West community to visit the facilities, meet the team and discover what sailing at Carcoar Dam has to offer.
The day will include club tours, membership information, demonstration sails, a coffee cart and sausage sizzle, providing an easy introduction for people who have never sailed before. No previous sailing experience is necessary to begin discovering the sport.
Carcoar Dam Sailing Club. 540 Carcoar Dam Road, Carcoar NSW
Further information about the Open Day, membership, Learn to Sail opportunities and the club is available on the Carcoar Dam Sailing Club website.
