Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series – The almighty bullet!

by John Curnow on 31 Jan 2015 Everyone loves to see the numeral ‘1’ next to their boat name (the famed bullet). These days, the Smartphones are out to see how you went, even before the deck is packed up after a race. Interestingly, the joy of sailing, or esprit de corps if you will, could well have been somewhat veiled in recent times by all this technology. The aim of the new Teams Trophy in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series (PPWCS) is to actively promote and garner a bigger and wider sense of why we do this thing called sailing.

To that very end, the fundamental elements of participation, enthusiasm and endeavour are to be especially rewarded by this new component of the PPWCS. The incredibly accomplished ocean sailor, Rosie Colahan, is the chair of the Women and Girls in Sailing Committee (WGIS). Colahan said of the new trophy and the series, 'It will be a terrific trophy that will be struck by Ian Mann and whilst perpetual, there will be a small annual replica for the winning club to also hold onto.'
'Now into its third year, the PPWCS is succeeding in its core aim of getting more women and girls into sailing in Melbourne. Naturally, I am delighted to launch this season and look forward to even more crews getting out on the Bay and making it even bigger.'

'The five-race series runs from February to June and utilises existing female skippers’ races to make up a series. All the clubs from the top of Port Phillip have one event and it gets everyone involved, which is just tremendous. It is about getting more female sailors out there, but importantly, also have them take the helm and other senior roles on board. Short and longer passage races keep it varied and interesting.'

'Last year, over 20 new female skippered crews took part and in addition to the wonderful racing, the host club also ensure there is commensurate entertainment provided once back ashore. Because the series combines a number of races from many clubs, the details can be a touch daunting, but in essence you need to have a female skipper and comply with each Notice of Race. Details and assistance to help get you entered are available from www. womenandgirlsinsailing.com.au', said Colahan.

'Yes we do like to have lots of prizes and they reward things such as having over 50% of your crew as female. However, the big news this year is the creation of the Kingston Trophies PPWCS Perpetual Team Trophy. This innovation will see the winning club have more of it’s fleet out there, more often, with more women on board and you also get to pick up bonus points when you have more juniors and seniors as part of your crew.'

To ensure maximum craft availability, PPWCS races are on Sunday, so as not to clash with regular Saturday racing. Now the series itself had its launch on Friday, January 30, 2015, but the first race is the Jennifer Goldsmith Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron on February 15. Next up, the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria hosts the Val Hodge Trophy Race on Feb 22. Sandringham Yacht Club’s Women In Sailing Challenge race of March 29 is the next event and then on April 19, Hobsons Bay Yacht Club hosts their Lady Skipper’s race. The final leg is the Royal Brighton Yacht Club’s BLiSS race on May 24. Presentations will occur on Friday, May 29 at RMYS.

Red-hot racers can compete in IRC or the Australian Measurement System and there is also an Event Handicap System, which will take into account not only the boat, but also the skipper and crew experience. This is just the ticket for crews more interested in the burgeoning category of social racing. Good luck to the Handicapper!!! You do get one drop from the five races, but you need three for a series and only get that drop after the fifth is completed, so your worst could come back to haunt you. You can change female skipper as you go, provided you notify the respective Race Officer and you do need to be aware of each club’s rules regarding male crew and their roles on board.

So. You want to be No.1 with a bullet. Cool. But maybe another way to win is to get as many people, from as many areas of your club, out to sail in the 2015 PPWCS. With bonus points for younger and older sailors on offer, you could be part of the big win in 2015, which will be that new Teams Trophy. Now won’t that be something to see each and every time you walk into your club over the next year…

Sincere appreciation goes to Club Marine, Kingston Trophies, AUS Sailmakers and Custom Yacht Covers as proud sponsors of the PPWCS. Of course, Club Marine is Australia's largest provider of recreational boat insurance. Ian Mann of Kingston Trophies donated the perpetual Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series Trophy in 2013 for the inaugural event and is the person behind the new Teams Trophy as well. Sam and Liz Haines of AUS Sailmakers provide an Encouragement Award for each race. Finally, Sue Bumstead from Custom Yacht Covers provides the Encouragement Award prizes based on the whole PPCWS.

Details and full information about the PPWCS can be found at http://www.womenandgirlsinsailing.com.au or go and like https://www.facebook.com/WomenandGirlsinsailing.