MYC Women’s Teams enjoy competitive racing in Newcastle Regatta
Eight ladies from the Mooloolaba Yacht Club’s (MYC) Women’s Sailing Skills Development Program headed to Newcastle for their third annual SheSails@NCYC (Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club) Open Regatta over the weekend of November 9 and 10.
With winds gusting well over 30knots on Friday, unfortunately there was no opportunity for the teams to train and familiarize themselves with the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club’s new fleet of eight 2012 Olympic one-design Elliot 6 yachts that they would be racing on. These were the boats used for the women’s match-racing event in the 2012 London Olympics.
Upon arriving at the Race Course on day-1, crews found ‘Wild Oats XI’ alongside the commercial wharf salvaging her mast – damaged in the strong conditions experienced in the Cabbage Tree Island race the night before, while the TP52 ‘Koa’ was towed across the race track after suffering delamination and engine problems in the same race.
Day-1 started with a nice 10-15knts SW breeze, but teams quickly realised this to be shifty, gusty and unpredictable in the lee of the City of Newcastle‘s waterfront high-rises.
As the day progressed, winds increased to a similarly shifty and gusty 15-20knts SSE breeze. Each team competed in a demanding eight windward-leeward races in a ten-race program for the day.
When teams were not racing they were able to enjoy watching all the action from the waterfront tables on the balcony at Honeysuckle Hotel.
It was a tough day of high-class competition. The girls enjoyed celebrating a successful and hard day on the water at the ‘Bubbles and Nibbles’ function at NCYC after racing whilst meeting and sharing sailing tales with teams from Sydney, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
Day-2 saw the fleet of ten teams split into Gold and Silver fleets following the deciding round robin from Day-1. Each fleet completed three races to decide the final placings.
The MYC team of Fiona Fuller (helm), Suzanne Mabbott (main and spinnaker), Helen Wood (jib) and Naomi Croft (foredeck) started the day in third position in the silver fleet. They had a great morning of racing finishing with a fourth, a first and a second. This left them in overall third position in the Silver Fleet as they carried three points from day-1.
The conditions again started light but quite quickly moved and increased in strength resulting in the course boat making many mark changes to maintain the windward-leeward courses.
A huge congratulations to this new team. This was their first regatta together and they lifted to the high level of competition. Day-2 saw a close and dogged spinnaker-flying fight to the finishing line to see them take first place.
Each day skippers nominated sailors they felt deserving of the ‘Sailor of the Day’ award and our Suzanne Mabbott was Sundays’ deserved recipient.
The team of Tanya Kelly (helm), Kristie Hatch (main and spinnaker), Jasmine Mudie (jib) and Kerry Teed (foredeck) entered the Gold Fleet in fifth position after tearing a spinnaker on day one. They raced hard and well but were unable to move off fifth amidst the tough competition.
The women came away from the regatta with new skills, big smiles and looking forward to next year’s event and other regattas.
Many thanks to NCYC for running a professional, well organized and friendly regatta of high-standard racing.
Congratulations to all competitors and placegetters.
First place: RANSA/CYCA- Elizabeth Borberg, India Howard. Jess Tavener. Chelsea Williams (Sun)
Second place: NCYC/LMYC- Natalie Butterworth, Sarah Gamble, Tracey Hanson
Third place: NCYC- Justine Ella, Kristen Anderson, Karma Randall, Samantha Hickey
Founders of the SheSails campaign and winners of this year’s national Australian Sailing She Sails Award, Jan Howard and Mary Holley from NCYC were thanked for their part in kickstarting the sailing and social adventures of countless women in a post sailing celebration on Sunday evening, enjoyed by all.
