Sydney Flying Squadron Australia's oldest open boat sailing club, est. 1891
Historic 18-footers running under red-striped, solid red and blue ringtails past the spectator launch off Watsons Bay

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.

Opening hours

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

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

Venue details

On the harbour now

The wind at Fort Denison, the sea at the Heads and the tide, logged every five minutes.

Harbour conditions

Next 12 hours

The wind forecast for the harbour, hour by hour, beside the readings.

Harbour conditions

This month at the club

Cherubs and 12-foot skiffs visit
Saturday 14 November 2026

13-foot and 16-foot skiff State titles (to be confirmed)
Saturday 21 November 2026

Christmas party on the deck
Saturday 19 December 2026

Everything that's on

Next 18-footer race

Race 3, Spring Series Heat 3, Balmain Regatta
Sunday 25 October 2026 · scratch start, 12.25pm

Handicaps
Race 2 results
Racing calendar

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 $200, Club $90, Social $35, and Deck Membership free.

Join or renew

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.

  • Historic 18-footer skiffs with red, blue and yellow sails racing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

    The eleven boats

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

  • Crew in golden-yellow smocks hiked out as spray bursts over the bow of a varnished timber skiff

    Try sailing

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

  • The clubhouse dining room with warm timber floors, an under-lit bar, fresh flowers and windows onto the water

    Eat and drink

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

  • The mahogany and gilt Honor Roll board flanked by framed sepia skiff photographs on the clubhouse wall

    The Honor Roll

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

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