50th Anniversary HMAS Goorangai Memorial Trophy Race

Written By Rosie Colahan

Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club’s annual Goorangai Memorial passage race turns “50” this year with its female helm division the Eliza Ramsden Trophy running for its second year, leading off the Club’s 63rd sailing season on Saturday 1 November 2025. All keelboat owners are invited to join us for the 26nm race south from RBYC to QCYC to enjoy the paradise of QCYC on Swan Island over the Melbourne Cup weekend. 

Royal Brighton Yacht Club are providing their regular race start and management support from the top of Port Phillip. RBYC has also marked an auspicious year in 2025 celebrating their 150th anniversary year, having started out in 1875 as the Brighton Sailing Club, then Brighton Yacht Club and in1924, with the receipt of its Royal Warrant became the Royal Brighton Yacht Club.

At the bottom of the Bay, the inception of QCYC in 1962 by the collaboration of keelboat owners from clubs all around the bay and their commitment to toil to build a club house and wharf on Swan Island, provided a safe haven for visiting yachts from around the bay or those entering from the treacherous Bass Strait. Situated close to Port Phillip Heads and the notorious RIP, QCYC members have become entwined with the intriguing maritime history of vessels and lives lost at sea over many years. Some of these stories have become the legacy of those brave sailors who have had their names or boat names commemorated with perpetual trophies for QCYC signature club sailing events.

Fast forward to 2021 when QCYC elected their first female Commodore, Lee Renfree established the Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy (KISS) training program, ‘by women-for women’ rolling out in 2022 and continuing to grow exponentially. Since then, all QCYC on-water events now provide female helm divisions amongst their signature club races.  

In 2024, the Eliza Ramsden Trophy was instituted to include a women’s division of the club’s long standing Goorangai race and encourage more female sailors to actively participate in the race. The trophy bears the name of the UK built trading barque commissioned as “Eliza Ramsden” in 1874, and in 1875, when visiting Melbourne (and in the same year as RBYC was established), struck Corsair Rock whilst departing Port Phillip Heads and sank, fortunately with no loss of life. 

Sixty-five years later from this tragedy, in 1940, in close proximity to the site of the Eliza Ramsden wreck, HMAS Goorangai came to grief in a collision with MV Duntroon in wartime blackout conditions, with loss of her and all her ship’s company and becoming the RAN’s first casualty in WWII.

Further north, another sailing milestone will be reached on 26 December 2025 with the 80th Sydney to Hobart Race being contested with a bumper fleet, providing a spectacle for both ocean racers and armchair sailors alike. 

So start your own summer season journey with us over the Melbourne Cup weekend. An opportunity to make your own history and add your name to the illustrious previous winners of the Goorangai trophy or for women, get on board and build the future history of the Eliza Ramsden.

With daylight saving arrived and warmer days ahead, QCYC invites all keelboat sailors to join the destination race to QCYC for a great long weekend of camaraderie and celebration in Paradise.

Stay overnight Saturday and join in QCYC’s Opening Day celebrations on Sunday with Blessing of the Fleet, official opening of the club’s brand new North wharf and luncheon.

Book now to secure your spot…..

  • Notice of Race 

HMAS Goorangai Memorial and Eliza Ramsden Trophy 2025 NOR v3

  • Entry form for Goorangai and Eliza Ramsden Trophy Races -

    50th HMAS Goorangai Event and Eliza Ramsden Trophy Entry Form (RBYC)

  • QCYC Berthing

All boats are required to fill out the QCYC Berthing Application form

All participating boats in both races are entitled to free berthing on Sat 1 Nov for race entrants. Additional nights will incur boat and crew fees as published on the club website.

Boat owners will be invoiced direct from QCYC on registration of their race Entry and approval for berthing. 

  • Sailing Instructions 

The Sailing Instructions will be available after 09:00 on October 24th 2025 from

Any questions? Contact Club Captain Michael Phelan

Mobile: 0429 982 832

Email: mphelan@bigpond.net.au


Rosie Colahan

KISS Co-ordinator and Media

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Swan Island access update