Sailing
A water sport that involves the use of wind powered boats.
Sailing as a sport in Australia dates back to the 1820s and 30s with formal races being held in Sydney and Hobart.
The first Australian yacht club was established in 1837 in Launceston, Tasmania. It wasn't until 1950 that a national body for sailing, the Australian Yachting Federation, was established. 1,3
Discover more about sailing through the Clearinghouse evidence base:
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make sailing more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about sailing.
Evolution:
- Australian Yachting Federation [1950-2001]
- Yachting Australia [2001-2016]
- Australian Sailing [2016-]
Participation
An estimated 75,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in sailing at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 5,000 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in sailing at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 24,000 Australian women [aged 15+] and an estimated 50,500 Australian men [aged 15+] participated in sailing at least once in 2024. 2
Explore further participation statistics for sailing through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
Australian Sailing, opens in a new tab is the organisation recognised by government at all levels as the National controlling body for the sport of sailing in Australia.
Following the creation of Australian Yachting Federation in 1950, the organisation became Yachting Australia in 2001. In 2016, a One Sailing governance model can into effect and they became known as Australian Sailing.3
REFERENCES
- About, opens in a new tab, Australian Sailing, (accessed 15 January 2026)
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 15 October 2025)
- History, opens in a new tab, Australian Sailing, (accessed 15 January 2026)
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2023[PDF • 5.72 mb]
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2022[PDF • 7.75 mb]
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2021[PDF • 5.52 mb]
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2020[PDF • 3.39 mb]
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2019[PDF • 1.38 mb]
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2017-2018[PDF • 3.29 mb]
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2016-2017[PDF • 3.89 mb]
- Australian Sailing Annual Report 2015-2016[PDF • 3.37 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2014-2015[PDF • 3.23 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2013-2014[PDF • 4.72 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2012-2013[PDF • 1.43 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2011-2012[PDF • 4.03 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2010-2011[PDF • 2.58 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2009-2010[PDF • 2.14 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2008-2009[PDF • 4 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2007-2008[PDF • 4.79 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2006-2007[PDF • 3.55 mb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2005-2006[PDF • 992.96 kb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2004-2005[PDF • 892.07 kb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2003-2004[PDF • 262.57 kb]
- Yachting Australia Annual Report 2002-2003[PDF • 1.67 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 2001-2002[PDF • 1.99 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 2000-2001[PDF • 1.16 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 1999-2000[PDF • 170.2 kb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 1998-1999[PDF • 2.56 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 1996-1997[PDF • 1.28 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 1993-1994[PDF • 1.62 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 1992-1993[PDF • 1.15 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual Report 1991-1992[PDF • 1.01 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual General Assembly 1993[PDF • 1.64 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual General Assembly 1992[PDF • 1.17 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual General Assembly 1991[PDF • 1.03 mb]
- Australian Yachting Federation Annual General Assembly 1990[PDF • 1.14 mb]
Annual reports for 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 1997-1998 not held.
- Sailing 2032 : The Strategic Plan - Status Report (2024)[PDF • 259.69 kb]
- Sailing 2032 : The strategic plan for Australian Sailing 2022-2032[PDF • 2.53 mb]
- Sailing 2032 : The Strategic Plan for Australian Sailing 2022-2032 [one page summary][PDF • 81.1 kb]
- Australian Sailing – Towards 2020[PDF • 388.36 kb]
- Advance Sailing : Building the Capability and Capacity of Sailing 2016-2020[PDF • 955.25 kb]
- Yachting Australia Rolling Strategic Plan 2013-2017[PDF • 754.44 kb]
- Yachting Australia Strategic Plan 2009-2013[PDF • 136.22 kb]
- Yachting Australia Strategic Plan 2005-2009[PDF • 218.45 kb]
- Instructor, Coach and Official Development Strategy (2023)[PDF • 968.49 kb]
- National Sailing Participation Census (2017)[PDF • 963.21 kb]
- National Sailing Participation Census (2015)[PDF • 1.54 mb]
- One Sailing: Case study (2016)[PDF • 1011.82 kb]
- One Sailing: Quantification Analysis (2019)[PDF • 658.86 kb]
- The case for change (2015)[PDF • 1.72 mb]
