Women’s Program announced as Australian Sailing (Qld) SheSails Finalist

Australian Sailing- Queensland have announced their 2019 finalists and proudly the Mooloolaba Yacht Club’s Women’s Keelboat Sailing Skills Development Program has been selected as a finalist in the SheSails category..

With females representing only approximately 30% of the sailing community, the MYC Women’s Sailing program set out to do what they could to tilt this statistic onto a more ‘even keel’ by sharing their passion for the sport and changing the misconception among women that they didn’t have the strength to sail keelboats.

The program has achieved outstanding results in the short time it has been operating, thanks to the dedication of a core group of volunteers. This group share their skills, time and passion for sailing to advance the MYC sailing opportunities for women.

Each woman has willingly made valuable contributions to ensure the program roles are not arduous for any one individual and the job gets done.

Beyond the regular training sessions, these women have arranged races and regattas, sought and obtained sponsorship, developed program materials, and worked together effectively to drive the program to be recognised within the local business and sporting community.

Critically, they have used their professional and personal skills to ensure the sustainability of this vital program.

The MYC Women’s Skills Development program continues to prove sailing is accessible to women of all ages and backgrounds. It empowers women to overcome fears and barriers, build self-confidence and to connect with their local community all while ensuring there is fun experiencing the great outdoors with a sense of freedom, adventure and achievement.

The Mooloolaba Yacht Club (MYC) Women’s Keelboat Sailing Skills Development Program was founded in 2017.

From its humble beginnings the program has quickly evolved to successfully facilitate women of all ages who want to improve their sailing skills as crew and/or as helms. The youngest is 14 and the oldest over 60.

It is operated on a volunteer basis with a core group of 11 women who share their skills and time to advance the MYC sailing opportunities for women.

Danielle Kennedy, 2012 Olympian (Canadian Laser Radial representative) and Stuart Kennedy (veteran of 3 Sydney to Hobart races and with an extensive keelboat racing history) coach the program.

Women participating in the program train in the classroom and on the water on the Elliott 6s to develop sailing skills and confidence in a supportive team environment.

In two years the program has achieved:

  • On average 100 women following the program with 15 to 20 women actively involved on a regular basis.
  • Fortnightly training programs which include classroom and on-water instruction.
  • An advanced squad has also been formed and trains weekly with a view to representing MYC at events locally and interstate. The representative members are skilled racing sailors who collectively hold a diverse range of sailing experience and outstanding boat handling skills.
  • In 2018 the MYC representative teams:
  • Placed 1st and 2nd in the Newcastle Yacht Club SheSAILS Regatta.
  • Two teams competed at the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta with one placing 3rd in the PHS division whilst the other received “The Most Improved “award. Great outcomes from their first year of competition!
  • In 2019 the MYC representative teams have already contested the Manly Yacht Club Helly Hansen Women’s Challenge (NSW) in March.
  • Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (VIC) June- 2 teams attended and placed 3rd in IRC (equal points for first 3 placegetters) & S80 class (equal senond on points), and the second team placed fourth in the S80 class (only 2 points behind equal second)
    They will also compete in the following 2019 events:
  • She SAILS Winter Regatta, Mooloolaba (QLD) June.
  • Sunshine Coast Ocean Regatta (SCOR), Mooloolaba (QLD) July.
  • Townsville Yacht Club GaLs Regatta (QLD) September.
  • Women’s Match Racing Nationals, Mooloolaba (QLD) September.
  • Newcastle Yacht Club She SAILS Regatta (NSW) November.The club will host two all-women’s regattas in 2019:
  • She SAILS Winter Regatta, Mooloolaba (QLD) in June, which will see eight teams from around Australia competing on the Elliott 6s; and
  • Women’s Match Racing Nationals, Mooloolaba (QLD) September.Other achievements include:
  • The program has a popular ‘MYC Women’s Sailing’ Facebook page which regularly shares images and videos from training and racing, and other information related to sailing opportunities for women to advance their skills.
  • Two program members have completed the AS Keelboat Instructor course.
  • The program plans to soon offer Discover Sailing which will provide learn-to-sail opportunities for women and girls.
  • Two of the program members have progressed to buying and campaigning their own offshore keelboats. They are racing them with other program members in club racing (Galatea – Karen Young & Spartan – Tanya Kelly) and offshore races such as the Hart Cup and Brisbane to Gladstone races. Later this year they will contest the Airlie Beach and then the Hamilton Island race weeks.
  • The program members have worked hard to engage the broader club membership in the program, ensuring the program plans and achievements are communicated to and shared with all club members. Often the women have joined club member boats to share their sailing skills and contribute to the performance of mixed crews.
  • The MYC Board are keen committed supporters of this Women’s program.

Please contact us if you would like to be part of this program- we’d love to have you aboard!