MYC Women Place Third in Townsville GaLS Regatta

Racing a borrowed boat and on unfamiliar waters, the MYC Women’s Representative team out-placed local contenders and interstate challengers to place third overall in the Townsville Yacht Club GaLS women’s regatta, held over the weekend of September 7-8, 2019.

Ninety women competed on 12 yachts, including teams from as far away as Melbourne, Newcastle and Mooloolaba and six local teams, three of which raced boats owned and skippered by women.

The regatta was held on the waters between Townsville and Magnetic Island, with four short-course windward-leeward races on Saturday and two longer races on Sunday.

After Day 1, MYC was sitting in 4^th place but lifted their performance to achieve the best score of the fleet on Day 2. However, it wasn’t enough to outdo the overall winners, Vaya Con Dios, owned and skippered by Townsville local, Karen Carson, followed by fellow local in second place, Lyndey Sawbridge and her team on Helena May.

 

 

The MYC team was made up of Tanya Kelly, Danielle Kennedy, Karen Young, Gaye Hoole and Kerry Lorimer, with the help of visiting Tasmanian, Karen O’Shea. The team raced the Hunter Legend 37 sloop, Unhinged, kindly loaned to the team by Townsville Yacht Club member and owner, Vaughn Thompson.

Although initially a bit nervous about lending his baby to a bunch of women sailors he didn’t know, by the end of the regatta, Vaughn commented that he’d been really impressed by the MYC women’s calm and collaborative teamwork, and by how they’d handled the boat: he’d never seen her pushed as hard or fast, despite racing her regularly in Townsville!

Thanks, Vaughn, for your generosity, calmness – and for trusting us!

“We had a great weekend of racing in the beautiful sailing grounds of Townsville. It was such a well-organised, fun regatta with an interesting mix of courses and excellent competition,” said Tanya Kelly.

Hosted for the third year by Townsville Yacht Club, the GaLS regatta is designed to help female sailors develop and hone racing skills, challenge themselves and compete with like-minded women in a supportive environment.