Cruising: The Gunrunner in the CYC Barbados Rum Twilight Race, Sydney Photo by Bill Cuneen, Army newspaper

Sunset: On Sydney harbour. Photo by Bill Cuneen, Army newspaper

By Pte Shannon Joyce

IT’S not often you see a yacht publicly labelling itself a gunrunner, but for members of the Army Sailing Club in Sydney, it’s a fitting name for their racing yacht and brings little suspicion from competitors.

Rarely seen to finish anywhere near the top six of the local in-shore racing circuit, Gunrunner isn’t in the business of winning, strangely enough.

Club Captain Capt Reece Young said the sailing club prided itself on crewing inexperienced soldiers with an interest in yachting.

“We’re a vehicle for members of the Army, be they regular, reserve or ex-serving members, to learn about sailing,” he said.

“We’ll take you out on Gunrunner, and you’ll learn on the fly.

“It’s certainly done in a safe manner, so you’ll never feel as though you’re out of your depth.”

Before skippers are able to take newer crews out, they go through rigorous courses, and are then vetted by Club Commodore Maj Jeff Butler.

Crew members coming in with no experience might start on the winch, Capt Young said.

“By attending, that’s how you’ll pick it up,” he said.

Every week Gunrunner races, the crew will change.

“On some weeks there can be eight people who don’t know each other, but are learning to sail and function as a team,” Maj Butler said.

“We also have a dedicated crew who are leading the Royal Australian Navy Sailing Association Twilight Series, while aiming to raise the pro. le of Army sailing.”

“While we don’t have the reputation of being a particularly fast boat or crew, it’s our willingness to try and dogged determination to .nish every race we start that draws cheers from other clubs when our name’s called,” Capt Young said.

The cost to keep the yacht on the water is funded partly by Training Command grants towards sporting bodies, but mainly comes through membership fees.

“Membership is $20, or $50 if you intend to race a lot,” he said.

Though the yacht’s only ticketed for estuaries and inshore sailing, Capt Young said the club had bigger aspirations.

“We’d like to employ Gunrunner offshore. We have in the past, and she performed quite well,” he said.

“It’s not just short-offshore racing we’re interested in, but also the longer overnight races; even to the stage where we can go on Northsail.”

The club races in Sydney three times a week, weekly in Townsville and is available for adventure training activities.

Members currently living in Sydney and Townsville who are interested in sailing with the club are encouraged to contact Capt Young at Maurice.young@defence.gov.au

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