Champion sailors to headline all-female regatta

by Alisanne Green on 18 Sep 2014 The Sarah Blanck Perpetual Trophy Regatta, to be hosted by Westernport Yacht Club (WYC), at Balnarring Beach in Victoria’s Westernport Bay, on 8-9 November 2014, is creating much excitement for female sailors and officials. This is an all-female coaching regatta for Sabre and Laser classes, with an all-female team of officials, jury and coaches. Entries have opened and competitors from as far away as Townsville and Brisbane have already entered. With an outstanding team involved in organising the event, including former Olympians, movers and shakers in Australian women's sailing, and WYC’s own local champions, the event is anticipated to be a great success.

Sarah Blanck (after whom the regatta is named) is a dual Australian Olympian having placed fourth in the Laser class at both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sarah will be coaching groups at all levels throughout the regatta.

'Sarah is an amazing role model and an inspiration so it [is] only fitting to have a regatta name in her honour' said event organiser and WYC’s Women and Girls in Sailing (WGIS) club representative Peta Pietromonaco. 'WYC is extremely fortunate that Sarah agreed and as this is the first one, we are hoping it to be a huge success and would like to run this as an annual event.'

The regatta will provide women and girls at all levels of sailing and on-water experience with the opportunity to meet with, learn from, and be coached by outstanding female role models in the sport. 'Aside from having support from some very good sailors, it has been interesting the number of women who are using this regatta to get back to sailing, post children, and others who are novices looking for some coaching.'

Whilst it is a coaching regatta (similar to the highly successful Lidget Trophy at Davey’s Bay Yacht Club), it is also an opportunity for women who wish to be involved in other areas of sailing such as driving RIBs, setting race courses, and becoming Race Officers, as well as increasing their knowledge of coaching. The event will provide all participants with mentoring over the weekend, with Lou Hutton, National Race Officer, Glenys Hitchen, team racing official, Belinda Stowell Brett, Australian Youth Coach, and Sarah Blanck on hand to support and coach.

'Lou is the youngest National Accredited Race Officer and is passionate about mentoring women who are new to officiating and to develop skills of those wanting to achieve their Racing Officer Qualification. We are also delighted to have Belinda Stowell Brett as a Head Coach. Belinda is Australia’s first female sailing Olympic Gold Medallist winning the 470 class in Sydney 2000. She is currently head of Western Australia’s Institute of Sport Sailing Program, and Yachting Australia Youth Sailing Team Coach. Belinda will be giving specific attention to coaching the most advanced sailors at the regatta but will also be coaching the coaches.'

Local champions will also be there, including Victoria’s current Female Sailor of the Year, Pip Pietromonaco. Pip has won National and World Championships in various classes and is currently training towards representing Australia in the 2020 Olympics in Japan, whilst competing in the Nacra 17 World Championships in Spain. Joining the team also is Somers local Caitlin Davies. Caitlin represented Australia at the world Laser Radial Championships in China last year. Caitlin regularly coaches at Sandringham and Westernport.

WYC hopes the event will inspire women to enrol in their Women’s Sailing Program. The Program is a Sunday morning, all-female sailing school, with female instructors. Students learn to sail with a view to becoming either race ready or competent social sailors, and also obtain their Powerboat Handling Certificate, and learn skills of race management.

Entries for the Sarah Blanck Regatta opened on 1 September 2014 and places are filling up. All female sailors should register online while there are still spots available via the WYC website. Others that would like to get involved or would like more information should check out the WYC website or contact Peta directly (ppietro@bigpond.net.au).