Keelboats - Cruisers
In Summary:
FUN AND SOCIAL SAILING FOR ALL AGES
Junior & Adult
Type:
Twilight sailing and fun racing is the Keelboat vibe at Mounts Bay. You may not even get wet or spill your drink!
Age & Weight Range For Keelboats:
Any age and size – the keelboat is an excellent family-friendly boat, far more accessible than most dinghies.
About Keelboats
There are many varieties of keelboat sailed today, and all are deigned to provide the best possible experience for crew and passengers. The stability of a keelboat allows you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the river without the risk of ending up in the water yourself.
Keelboats range from the simple and affordable to the deluxe, and even those boats with accessibility modifications to accommodate sailors with disabilities. While some keelboats are designed with racing in mind, offering increased speed and agility, many more favour space and stability to provide the perfect family sailing boat.
Features & Benefits of Keelboats
Keelboats are notably larger than dinghies, typically around 20 to 30 feet in length, with a ballasted (or weighted) keel for stability. Unless facing extremely severe conditions, this ballast prevents the keelboat from capsizing, making it a particularly safe and family-friendly choice for both racing and cruising.
Many keelboat designs date back 50 years or more, but the popularity of these reliable boats shows no sign of letting up.
Racing in the Keelboats
When it comes to racing, Keelboats lend themselves to a highly tactical competition. The flat waters and strong sea breezes on the Swan River create the perfect environment for keelboat racing.
Official Keelboat racing typically takes place in one-design fleets, offering a level playing field for extremely close competition. The heavier weight of keelboats makes crew positioning and weight distribution on board a keelboat critical for accomplishing high speeds, particularly when it comes to accelerating.
Twilight Keelboat Sailing @ Mounts Bay
One of the cornerstones of Mounts Bay Sailing Club is our weekly Twilight Sailing event, with a Keelboat fleet that competes every Friday evening during the season. Whether you’re keen to race or just want to enjoy a beautiful night on the river, join us for Twilight Sailing – the perfect way to wind down after the working week.
Each Twilight Sailing session is followed by a BBQ and sunset socialising at the club’s waterfront bar. Bring the whole family along to enjoy a fantastic evening out at MBSC.
Keelboat Fleet in Perth – Mounts Bay Sailing Club
At Mounts Bay Sailing Club, we welcome new members to join our Keelboat Fleet, whether that’s sailing your Keelboat in our family-friendly Twilight Sailing or weekend racing events or participating in any of our training programs.
You may not even need a boat of your own to get out on the water at Mounts Bay – as Keelboats require multiple crew members, you may be able to connect with a keelboat crew in need of an additional member.
Interested in sailing a Keelboat in Perth? Get in touch with MBSC’s sailing development officer to find out how we can get you out on the Swan River as part of our Keelboat Fleet.