RQYS MAINSHEET 2025

CEO’s message

Welcome!

A note from our CEO: here’s to 2026! “Well, 2025 has so far proven to be another momentous year in the lives of our Squadron and our Members.”

Chief Executive Officer Karen Baldwin briefly reprises the first eight months of 2025 and looks forward, with well-grounded optimism, to the opening weeks of our 141st Season and the exciting events which will underpin the start of calendar year 2026 for all in our RQYS community!

With 2025 now more than halfway gone, it’s great to reflect on what has been achieved by Members and our team and the many changes which have occurred. First, a major change with our Food & Beverage operation took place in at the end of May and, from 1 June, RQYS has now employed an entire hospitality team and a kitchen brigade and, so far, this has been a very successful and important decision in its realisation. Members are happy, staff are happy and food (particularly Chef Chris’s Seafood Chowder) is receiving the big ‘thumbs up!’ Second, at the AGM in July, the Board elections have not only seen the return of Past Commodore David Redfern to the Board but also confirmed the appointment of Flag Officers Commodore Curtis Skinner, Vice Commodore Todd Anderson and Rear Commodore Chris Land. Last, whilst we congratulate all our competitive sailors, the news we received about young Rory Meehan being crowned U19 Men’s World Foiling Champion in Brest , France is just outstanding — well done, Rory!

Looking ahead, there are many great activities planned, including:  the 141st Opening of the Sailing Season on Saturday 30 August ;  the annual Canaipa Longhouse Party on Sunday 2 November ; … and, in February 2026, RQYS will be hosting three weeks of Finns racing with the Finn Nationals, Finn Silver & Gold Cup and the Finn World Masters! In closing, I want to mention that this ‘transitional’ edition of MAINSHEET which you are reading covers the eight months of 2025 since the completed 2024 publication last December.

The next annual print edition of MAINSHEET will be released on track, ahead of the Squadron’s Official Opening Day in 2026.

U19 Men’s iQFoil World Champion Rory Meehan! Images thanks to SailingEnergy.com

With all good wishes for our forthcoming 141st year,

Karen Baldwin Chief Executive Officer, RQYS n

Mainsheet 2025

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Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook