Wallaroo Sailing Club

Wallaroo Sailing Club is based at 1 Heritage Drive, Wallaroo, on Wallaroo Bay on the Yorke Peninsula, about two hours north-west of Adelaide. The bay offers sheltered water for all kinds of water sports, with breezes that are usually south-westerly — light in the morning and brisker in the afternoon.

The club runs a Learn to Sail program, club racing and radio-controlled yacht sailing, and boats can be launched from the beach or the nearby ramp. The clubrooms have been modernised and can be hired for weddings and conferences, and Friday social gatherings are open to members and the public. Contact the club at wallaroosc40@hotmail.com or on 0493 966 458. See our Wallaroo sailing clubs page for more.

The club's Learn to Sail program introduces newcomers to sailing on the sheltered waters of Wallaroo Bay. Morning breezes are usually light, which makes them ideal for learning, while the brisker afternoon wind gives more experienced sailors a good workout. Sail training has deep roots at Wallaroo: long-time member Jeff Jones championed it for years and was named South Australian Yachtsman of the Year.

Once you have the basics, club racing is a friendly way to build skills. The club also has an active radio-controlled yacht group for those who prefer to sail from the shore. Our beginner's guide to sailing in Australia is a handy read before your first lesson.

The club is at 1 Heritage Drive on Wallaroo Bay, on the western side of the Yorke Peninsula where it faces Spencer Gulf. The bay is sheltered, and winds are predominantly south-westerly — light in the mornings and brisk in the afternoons.

Boats can be launched from the beach in front of the club or from the nearby boat ramp. Wallaroo's town centre, with accommodation, dining, a museum and a library, is within walking distance, and the neighbouring Copper Coast towns of Kadina and Moonta have shops and cafés.

Wallaroo is also a working port, with a large grain-loading jetty, so keep clear of shipping near the wharf. For passages across or along the gulf, see our FAQ on crossing Spencer Gulf.

Wallaroo Sailing Club was formed in 1964 by a small group of enthusiasts sailing a very mixed fleet. Within a few years the club had a boatshed and growing membership, and by the end of the 1960s there were 32 boats racing in three divisions. By 1969 it was hosting three regattas a year, each drawing more than 50 boats, and it has since hosted state titles for Herons and heat races for several classes.

Members have made their mark too: Ian Porteous won the 1981/82 Surf Cat title, Alvin Atkinson won the three-day Tripolis keelboat race across three Spencer Gulf ports, and Jeff Jones was named South Australian Yachtsman of the Year for his work in sail training. More recently the club modernised its facilities for public hire while keeping its Friday social gatherings going.