2 min read · Updated 18 June 2026
Melbourne's sailing happens on Port Phillip, the large bay the city sits on — a broad, mostly sheltered expanse of water ringed by yacht clubs and swept by reliable sea breezes. From the St Kilda foreshore around to Williamstown, Sandringham and Geelong, the bay supports one of the deepest keelboat fleets in the country and a calendar that includes some of Australia's largest regattas.
The venue
Port Phillip is almost an inland sea — large enough for serious racing and offshore-style passages, yet protected enough by its narrow entrance to stay manageable. Sea breezes fill in dependably through the warmer months, and the bay offers everything from flat-water tactical racing to brisk, bumpy days when the breeze is up. Its size is the key feature: there is room for huge fleets, which is why it can host an event the scale of the Festival of Sails.
The clubs
Clubs line the bay from the city around to Geelong. The major keelboat clubs include:
- Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) — at St Kilda, founded in 1876, host of the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta.
- Royal Yacht Club of Victoria (RYCV) — at Williamstown, one of the state's preeminent clubs, with a strong club-racing programme.
- Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC) — a large club on the bay's eastern shore.
- Royal Geelong Yacht Club — at the head of the bay on Corio Bay, host of the Festival of Sails.
The major clubs contest the Association Cup, the long-running inter-club championship raced on the bay.
The racing
The standout is the Festival of Sails at Geelong over the Australia Day long weekend, one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest keelboat regattas. Port Phillip also hosts the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta in June and the Cock of the Bay, and it is the start point for the bay's great offshore races: the Melbourne to Hobart, the Melbourne to Devonport and the epic Melbourne to Osaka. Weekly club, twilight and one-design racing fills out the season.
Getting involved
Port Phillip's many clubs make it easy to start, wherever in Melbourne you live. They run learn-to-sail courses, twilight and club racing and crew registers, and welcome beginners with no boat or experience. See our guides to getting into sailing in Australia and joining a yacht racing crew, and the sailing terms glossary for the vocabulary of the sport.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do people sail in Melbourne?
- Melbourne sails on Port Phillip, the large bay the city sits on. It is a big, relatively sheltered body of water with reliable sea breezes, ringed by yacht clubs from St Kilda and Williamstown around to Sandringham, Mornington and Geelong, supporting one of Australia's deepest keelboat fleets.
- What are the main yacht clubs in Melbourne?
- Major Port Phillip clubs include the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron at St Kilda, founded in 1876; the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria at Williamstown; Sandringham Yacht Club; and, at the head of the bay, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club on Corio Bay. The clubs contest the Association Cup, the inter-club championship on the bay.
- Is Port Phillip good for sailing?
- Yes. Port Phillip is a large, mostly sheltered bay with dependable sea breezes and room for big fleets, which is why it hosts events as large as the Festival of Sails. Conditions range from flat-water bay racing to brisker days when the breeze is up, and the bay is well suited to both beginners and serious competition.
- What famous yacht races are held on Port Phillip?
- The Festival of Sails at Geelong each January is one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest keelboat regattas. Port Phillip also hosts the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta in June, the Cock of the Bay, and the starts of the Melbourne to Hobart, Melbourne to Devonport and Melbourne to Osaka offshore races.
- How do I get into sailing in Melbourne?
- Join one of the Port Phillip clubs. They run learn-to-sail courses, twilight and club racing and crew registers, and welcome beginners with no boat or experience. With clubs right around the bay, from St Kilda to Geelong, there is usually one close to wherever you live.