Inaugural SheSails Mooloolaba Winter Women’s Regatta a huge success

The inaugural SheSails Mooloolaba Women’s Winter Regatta hosted by the Mooloolaba Yacht Club, held over the weekend of June 29 & 30 on the Mooloolah River was a huge success.

The event maximum of eight teams raced on Mooloolaba Yacht Club’s four Elliot 6 boats and attracted teams from Newcastle, Cleveland and locally.

Competitors aged from 16 to 60+ revelled in the camaraderie, support, competition and fun; and provided a colourful and entertaining spectacle for spectators at The Wharf and local parks.

Renowned international professional sailor Stacey Jackson (skipper of Wild Oats X in the 2018 Sydney to Hobart race finishing second in IRC and 6th across the line; & 2018 Volvo Round the World ‘Vestas 11th Hour Racing’ team member) teamed up with her local childhood fellow sailor Kristen Davidson and Carmen Barney to set the bar high in team ‘Backstitch’. However, the youth team (‘MYC Youth’) of Sarah Johnson, Emily McGregor and Paris Van Den Herik managed to challenge them with very close and exciting racing from all teams in the finals. Both ‘Backstitch’ and ‘MYC Youth’ teams finished on seven points with ‘MYC Youth’ emerging victors on a countback.

Third and fourth positions were also decided on a countback with our visitors from Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club -NCYC  (‘Screaming Jets’) who had never sailed on an Elliot 6 prior to the event finishing third and the ‘Titanic ‘Swim Team’ fourth (Danielle Kennedy, Kerri Smith, Margaret Scott & Ann Johnstone). Many thanks to Meika Wright, Peta Norris, Jenease Graham and Belinda Davey for travelling north to join us.

Cleveland Yacht Club’s-CYC team (‘Pink Pirates’) showed their versatility & sportsmanship by rotating positions throughout the competition. Well done Alenka Caserman, Christine Hunter, Jojo Skerman and Helen Wood.

For some local team members it was their first regatta having recently joined the MYC Women’s Skills Development Program and they excelled. Congratulations to Jazmine Mudie (team ‘Look out!’), Ann Johnstone and Margaret Scott (team ‘Titanic Swim Team’), Naomi Croft and Gayle Mayes (team ‘Deep Ship’).

Team ‘Fairweather Sailors’ had never met each other nor sailed together prior to the first race, however their love of sailing overcame any doubts and despite a shorthanded team of only three they stepped up to the challenge performing well. Congratulations Helen Fairweather, Julia Loginova and Gaye Hoole who finished in 5th position.

Likewise, team ‘Deep Ship’ had not met their helm Fiona Fuller, until the morning of the event, but quickly sorted themselves out to finish on equal points to team ‘Fairweather Sailors’ which resulted in a sixth placing on countback- again! Well done Fiona Fuller, Naomi Croft, Gayle Mayes and Jessica Sim.

Team ‘Look Out!’s helm, Kerry Lorimer had never helmed a tiller prior to the event but steered her team to an admirable 7th position just one point behind 5th & 6th placegetters. Well done- Kerry Lorimer, Kristie Hatch, Kerry Teed and Jazmine Mudie.

Stacey Jackson, owner of NautiBags kindly donated one of her beautiful handmade (by Stacey) totes made from re/upcycled sails. The tote donated had special significance as the pink band on it came from the Welcome Home banner for Jessica Watson’s successful return to Australia after completing her solo and unassisted circumnavigation in 2010.

Many nominations were made for this Sportsmanship and Encouragement Award, but it was deservedly awarded to Belinda Davey from Newcastle’s ‘Screaming Jets’. Bel learnt to sail 3 years ago in a SheSails program, ‘learning so much with a great attitude and always open to advice’. A women’s sailing success! Congratulations Bel.

Other prizes included The Race Officers award to Danielle Kennedy (Titanic Swim Team) who was over the start line at 5secs, had to return to the start line and carry out a 360 One Turn penalty but was the lead boat at the top mark- well done. Being a Canadian Laser representative at the 2012 Olympics has paid off.

We had a couple of ladies vying for the “Best Swimmer” award over the weekend. One just casually stepped off the boat at the dock into the water (well done Ann Johnstone), whilst  the other volunteered herself as ballast whilst trying to lean ‘Deep Ship’ over to unground her and ended up taking a dip- great effort Jessica Sim and congratulations on taking out this prestigious award.

The ‘Most Enthusiastic Foredeck’ award went to Carmen Barney (‘Backstitch’) for enthusiastically throwing the kite out before anyone was ready to hoist it.

The ‘Best Start’ award went to our lovely Newcastle ladies (‘Screaming Jets’) who as race officer Louise Davey described as ‘nailing it’.

The ‘Deep Shit’ award went to ‘Deep Ship’ who found themselves stuck in the shallows near the eastern cardinal mark- it needs a wide berth!

The ‘360’s’ award went to team ‘Look out!’ who had the opportunity to practise these a couple of times and are getting quite good at them.

The ‘Miss Congeniality’ award went to Gaye Hoole who seems to attract head knocks but comes up with a smile- and is always pleased to stay aboard – which she describes as a successful day on the water.

A few other memorable moments included:

A team having difficulty counting to three…how many laps have we done? (They had an accountant on board!)

A team hearing voices? Where is that coming from? Oh, we have a radio aboard. Anyone know how to use one?? (Kids!)

Team ‘Look Out!’ described it as ‘karma’ watching their mentor, Danielle Kennedy (‘Titanic Swim Team’) having to return to the start line after breaking it and complete a 360 One Turn penalty, having been out-manoeuvred by her in Race One, which resulted in ‘Look Out!’ hitting the turning mark and having to complete a 360.

Planning has begun for next year’s event which will be bigger and better- we hope you can make it!

The awards for the winning teams were generously donated by Helly Hansen and as always inspired teams to try harder.

Many thanks also to our on and off-water volunteers- your generous efforts have made this a great & successful event.

This event was “Proudly Supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program” and proudly sponsored by SheSails.