Ladies love sailing in Torbay

Ladies afloat in Torbay © Manya McMahon

The ladies of Royal Torbay Yacht Club have started weekly sailing evenings with the aim of introducing more women into the world of sailing.

Organiser Julia Waddington explains: "The idea is to get as many women out on the water as possible in an enjoyable, fun and friendly way. We don't plan on doing any racing, there are no exams to pass or tests to revise for – we just have several lovely boats and keen female skippers looking to share their love of being on the water.

"It's informal, and there will be no shouting on board. There is no need to commit to each session, so even if you just come along for one sail we're sure you'll love it so much you'll want to come again."

The first evening sail took place on Monday 3 August and the ladies are enjoying regular Monday events beginning at 4.00pm right into September.

As Julia adds, there are plans for the ladies to meet regularly over the winter too: "We are also thinking of how we can get together throughout the winter and still keep up our fitness, so that we can be ready for next year's sailing season."

All women are welcome – whether experienced or complete novices – and all they need to bring is warm clothes, soft non-slip shoes and a waterproof top. They do have to be members of RTYC for insurance reasons, but there are substantial membership discounts available currently.

The cost per session is just £10.00 to cover fuel costs, repairs and a kitty for an end-of-season night out!

For more information, please email organisers or

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