Inaugural Ladies Regatta at Elton Sailing Club
by Lisa Moore 24 Aug 2015 18:51 BST
20 August 2015
2015 sees Elton Sailing Club's third year of "Ladies who Launch", an initiative set up as the name suggests to encourage more women into the sport of sailing.
Last year four lady sailors completed the Assistant Instructors course, which has enabled us to aid instructors with rigging, launching and recovery of boats.
Retention of members is always foremost in our minds and we have been delighted to see the progress of women at the helm and crewing during our Thursday night ladies-only session to racing on a Wednesday evening and Sunday.
This year has seen further interest and demand for tasters and ongoing training culminating in our very first Ladies Regatta.
More experienced sailors took to the helm with experienced women crewing and "having a go" at helming during our race of a triangular course. We were also delighted to see women in their newly purchased boats sailing solo this year.
Our overall winner was Anne Stevenson, a stalwart at the sailing club who was awarded a bottle of fizz and a beaufitful bouquet of flowers kindly donated by Hip Ivy flowers, Ainsworth Road, Bury. Anne has been sailing for a number of years and is a role model to us all!
Wendy Kent and Janet Scott teamed up in a Gull taking two laps each at the helm for the first time. Caroline Williams is in her new Streaker "laugh out loud" and can be seen regularly competing in races. Lisa Moore partnered with new girl Christine Rooney in her Albacore. Francessca Perkins and Kim Scott also newly paired together were successful in completing the race in a club RS Feva. Rochelle Broxap and Joanne Clark competed unreefed in at times windy conditions in club Toppers. Tina Morris took to the helm for only the second time with less experienced sailors Jayne McGroarty and Jacqueline Griffin in the club Laser Bahia's.
Thanks to our Lady President Carol Haines for attending our Ladies Regatta Prize Giving.
Ladies who Launch will remain a popular and successful part of the programme for years to come we're sure and in particular thanks to Dave Read and Jed Morris for providing the instruction; encouragement and relentless enthusiasm on Thursday evenings.