Elegantly positioned near the steps of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, the Yacht Club Lady proudly holds a silver trophy with a fascinating story.

The cup was originally awarded to a yacht named The Paddy during one of Geelong’s earliest sailing regattas. When the real trophy went missing, Jan Mitchell carefully recreated it from an old photograph for the bollard artwork. Thankfully, the original has since been returned to the club.

This well-dressed figure represents a time when Geelong’s passion for sailing was already strong, even before the Yacht Club was officially established in 1859. Early yacht races were held in the waters between Yarra Street Pier and Eastern Beach, drawing crowds and fierce competition.

Her location near Eastern Beach is a thoughtful nod to those original racecourses, even though the Yacht Club’s first premises were actually based at Western Beach.

Graceful and detailed, the Yacht Club Lady celebrates Geelong’s long and proud sailing tradition.