Friday, 21st March 2025
Robyn Coombs Awarded Life Membership of Sandringham Yacht Club
Being bestowed Life Membership at Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC) is the highest honour our Club can grant. It recognises outstanding dedication, passion, and contribution, typically over an extended period.
At the General Meeting on 18 March 2025, Commodore Mark Welsh had the privilege of awarding Life Membership to Robyn Coombs in recognition of her more than two decades of exceptional service and commitment to SYC.
A Legacy of Dedication
Robyn joined Sandringham Yacht Club in 1999 and, over the past 25 years, has been an integral part of the Club’s culture, events, and sailing community. Her enthusiasm, generosity, and tireless involvement have made a lasting impact, and her infectious laughter and warm smile have endeared her to many.
An accomplished sailor, Robyn has actively competed with her J24 yacht, Hyperactive. She has represented SYC in many all-female events, winning various regattas on both Hyperactive and Scarlett Runner. Some of those victories came at the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta and the WISC series.
She represented SYC at two J24 World Titles, one in Sweden (an all-female crew) and also in Italy. She also helped organize the J24 Class Championships hosted by the Club.
At Club level she has been a regular for many years in the Saturday keelboat series on various yachts, in the Thursday twilight series and also Wednesday Wonders. Robyn has also been involved in race management over the years including but not limited to Sail Melbourne, Sail Sandy and other countless regattas.
Championing Women in Sailing
Robyn has been a passionate advocate for the Women in Sailing Program, originally established by the late Doris Little. Her efforts have encouraged countless women to get involved in the sport, contributing to the creation of the Women in Sailing Interclub Championship—a testament to her influence and leadership.
Giving Back to the Community
Beyond her contributions to sailing, Robyn was instrumental in launching Challenge on the Bay, an inspiring community initiative supporting Challenge, an organisation dedicated to children with cancer. Robyn was involved in the inaugural event with John Chatham and she continued to assist John annually before taking over the reins some 18 years ago. This annual event has given hundreds of families the opportunity to experience the joy of sailing, creating cherished memories for all involved.
A Driving Force in Club Life
For eleven years, Robyn served as President of the SYC Social Committee, curating a vibrant calendar of events for members. From concert nights featuring top acts to live music in the Members’ Bar, she has played a crucial role in shaping the Club’s social atmosphere. Today, she continues to organise and book musicians, ensuring the tradition of lively entertainment lives on. The Christmas concerts, now attracting more than 400 members, stand as a testament to her enduring commitment. Robyn is still an active member of the social committee.
A Well-Deserved Honour
In 2011, during SYC’s Centenary Ball, Robyn was awarded Club Person of the Year to overwhelming acclaim. Then-Commodore Steve Richards summed up her impact, saying, “Robyn brings a ray of sunshine into every corner of the Club; she can even make ‘the grumpy old men’ smile!” True to her nature, Robyn was humbled by the recognition—momentarily speechless, even—but, in classic fashion, was also the last to leave the celebration!
Robyn is only the third woman in SYC’s history to receive Life Membership, following in the footsteps of trailblazers Sadie Mappin and Margot Watt. In her acceptance speech, she paid tribute to their contributions, particularly Margot’s advocacy for women’s rights within the Club. She also expressed pride in seeing female Commodores, a thriving Women in Sailing program, and young women excelling in the J70 program.
On behalf of all SYC members, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to Robyn Coombs on this prestigious and well-earned honour.