PETER Kieley from the South Gippsland Yacht Club has just returned from the national mosquito titles with first placing in the cat-rigged division.
Competing against some of the most competitive yachtsmen in Australia Pete was thrilled to bring home the Martini & Rossi perpetual trophy for mosquito catamarans.
It was Peter Kieley’s first win at national level sailing his catamaran ‘Sixth Element’.
Sailing is a family affair at the South Gippsland Yacht Club with Pete’s mother Susan Mueller from Koonwarra a staunch supporter along with his father Henry Kiely and sister Samantha.
“It is fun”, said Peter.
“I started when I was eight.”
Progressing through the arafura cadet class Pete started racing at 13 with the help of his mum and the South Gippsland Yacht Club.
A veteran of Hamilton Island race week Pete was part of the crew of Biddy Hu a Beneteau 50 from Williamstown.
Pete plans to compete in the Race Around French Island in February and the state titles at Somers over the Labor Day weekend in March.
The Martini & Rossi perpetual trophy will take pride of place in the SGYC clubrooms.
South Gippsland Yacht Club juniors 15-year-old Rowan Sairli and 16-year-old Eli Gergory have just returned from the junior state titles at Somers as Best Juniors in a mosquito 125 laser.
Sailing in a wooden mosquito catamaran gifted to the pair from the President of the Victorian Mosquito
Association Rowan and Eli also intend sailing in the Around French Island race in March as well as the sloop state titles in Rye.
“Sailing at Inverloch is tricky but fun,” said Rowan.
“There’s not much water at times depending on the tide with sandbars everywhere. If you can sail at Inverloch you can sail a lot of places.
“You learn a lot.”
Rowan started sailing when he was twelve and Eli only started sailing this summer.
“I enjoy it,” said Eli.
The South Gippsland Yacht Club has 150 members aged from five to ninety-five.
Many club members start as family members or progress from the club’s Learn to Sail events.
“Twenty students sailed this year,” said commodore Matt Kiely.
The SGYC will host its 11th annual Classic Wooden Dinghy Regatta on the weekend of February 15 and 16 with up to 100 boats expected for the weekend.
The wooden boats will include classic double-enders, brand-new and older model moths, impulse, sabres, mirrors and sailfish.
The moth dinghy originated at Inverloch and is now an international class.
For more information on the South Gippsland Yacht Club go to sgycinverloch.com.au or search for South Gippsland Yacht Club on Facebook.
SGYC Race Results Sunday, January 19
Race 1: 1st Geoff Rippingale, 2nd Matt Kiely and 3rd Toby Leppin.
Race 2: 1st Matt Kiely, 2nd Toby Leppin and 3rd Andrew Biram.
