Ocean Yachtclub Lipizzanerheimat
Ocean Yachtclub Lipizzanerheimat (OYC) is an Austrian offshore and inland sailing club based at Freizeitinsel Piberstein on Lake Piberstein in western Styria. The club grounds include a log cabin clubhouse, a private jetty, a slipway and a bathing beach, with restaurant, hotel and campsite nearby. Members use 14 training boats and benefit from club cruises, regattas and a comprehensive sailing school from Junior A-certificate through to international coastal certificate levels. Founded about 20 years ago from the sailing passion of Ing. Helmut Theinschnack, the club has grown into an active training and cruising association with more than 130 members.
History
It all began with an invitation to a sailing trip some 46 years ago, when Ing. Helmut Theinschnack caught the sailing bug. From that grew Ocean Yachtclub Lipizzanerheimat (OYC / Ocean Hochsee Yachtclub), ZVR number 096393731. In 2024 the club celebrated its 20th anniversary; the jubilee event was held on 10 January 2025 together with the delayed 2024 Christmas party. ASVÖ recognised the club’s work with a certificate of honour and extraordinary funding, awarding gold merit badges to Gerhard Brunner and Helmut Theinschnack and silver badges to Adolf Machany, Helmut Kassler, Adolf Kern and Jürgen Reinprecht. The home port is Freizeitinsel Piberstein in the Voitsberg district; the club grounds with cabin, jetty and slipway are used for club regattas, barbecues and season openings. On 23 June 2024 the reopening of Lake Piberstein was a success for Köflach and the OYC. The club is a member of Seefahrtsverband Süd, holds the ÖHP A PRO quality seal for training and examination, and trains many skippers each year – about 23 IC-FB2/3 candidates in 2024/2025. Today the OYC counts 131 members, 14 training boats and 17 privately owned yachts and regularly organises club cruises, training and exam trips and safety courses.
Information
Facilities
Club grounds at Freizeitinsel Piberstein on Lake Piberstein with a classic log cabin, private jetty, slipway and bathing beach; restaurant, hotel and campsite nearby; 14 training boats and member access during the sailing season.
Activities
Club cruises (spring sail-out in April/May, autumn sail-in in September/October), club regattas and barbecues, charter brokerage, sail and motorboat training (A-certificate, Junior A-certificate, coastal areas 1–4, radio, pyrotechnics), ISAF/World Sailing safety training, and yacht and boat brokerage.
Youth section
Training for children and young people aged 7 to 16 for Junior A-certificate and A-certificate on Lake Piberstein; free membership for children up to 14, youth membership from age 14 with a separate fee.
Boating license training
Available: 1
Ing. Helmut Theinschnack
Jürgen Reinprecht
Gerhard Brunner
DI (FH) Markus Theinschnack, MBA dipl. IM
Ing. Helmut Kassler
Bianca Reinprecht
Theory as distance/self-study and Zoom; practical 7-day exam cruise or weekly A-certificate courses Thu–Sun from end of May to end of October