Tangalooma under full sail on Sydney Harbour

Australia's oldest open boat sailing club

Eleven historic 18-footers, coloured sails, a handicap start and a thrilling finish, every summer Saturday on Sydney Harbour since 1891.

Open today

Foys Kirribilli Restaurant and Bar
Sun to Thu 12pm to 8pm
Fri and Sat 12pm to 9pm

The Flying Bear Cafe
Seven days, 7am to 2pm, walk in

Sailing Club Office
Mon to Sat 10am to 4pm

Venue details

This month at the club

Sample Season opening race
10 October 2026

Sample Club open day
19 September 2026

Sample Presentation night
8 May 2027

Everything that's on

Belong to the club at the end of Careening Cove

Membership is open to everyone and offers the best value of any Sydney sailing club: Sailing $180, Social $30, and Deck Membership free.

Join or renew

Countdown to the season

The 2026 to 2027 season opens in October.

Racing calendar

The club Mark Foy built

The Sydney Flying Squadron is the original home of the famous Sydney Harbour sailing skiff class, the 18-footers. Founded by Mark Foy in 1891, the club challenged the sailing conventions of the day with coloured sails, prize money, and racing that spectators could actually follow.

The historic 18-footers still race with coloured insignia so you can tell each skiff apart, over courses in view of the shore, with a timed handicap start that delivers a first-over-the-line finish. These unique wooden boats keep alive the skills and excitement of boats you would normally only see in a museum.

  • Five historic 18-footers racing together on Sydney Harbour

    The eleven boats

    Every hull, its story, its people and its colours.

  • Crew sailing an 18-footer

    Try sailing

    Sail three times before joining. You must be able to swim; we provide the rest.

  • Dining at Foys Kirribilli with harbour views

    Eat and drink

    Foys Kirribilli, a waterfront restaurant inside a working sailing club.

  • Historic 18-footers off Bradleys Head

    The Honor Roll

    155 names from 1916, and 40 stories still open. Help us finish them.

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