The most fun you can have with your sailing clothes on

by MYC Media Gattegno on 23 Mar 2010 Attracting a fleet of 40 boats and many of the country's leading female sailors, Manly Yacht Club's Musto /Sturrocks Women's Challenge celebrated its 15th anniversary last Sunday on a perfect Sydney Harbour afternoon.

'It was just what we wanted,' said Race Director Ivana Gattengo. 'A 10-15-knot nor-easter, a sparkling harbour, some great but friendly competition and heaps of fabulous prizes from our sponsors Musto and Sturrocks. It's the most fun you can have with your sailing clothes on.'

This year the event attracted Olympians Jenny Danks and Nicky Bethwaite, and some very experienced harbour and offshore sailors such as Felicity Nelson, who has nearly 30 Cat 1 ocean races on her resume including 15 Sydney-Hobarts, and Melissa Yeomans, a leading Adams 10 skipper.

'With the NE breeze shifting and a few holes opening up, local knowledge seemed to pay off, with a little Swanson Dart named Melody steered by MYC's Candace Christesen claiming the handicap win in the all female Division 1,' said Gattengo.

Christensen said she was thrilled with the win but had really only wanted to beat the 'other Dart' in the race, an SB3 named Whistling Kite which is crewed by some friends.

'We had butterflies at the start of the race but soon settled down and had a good start and managed to get through the holes, really, all we wanted was to beat the other Dart!' she said.

Middle Harbour YC yacht Viva La Vita was first on scratch and Jenny Danks steered Lunch Cutter 2 to a second on scratch and third on handicap. Melody, which had Felicity Nelson on the bow, held off a few bigger boats to take third on scratch.

In division 2 (female skipper and mixed crew) another small MYC boat, the Santana 22 Bokarra, with Margaret Lucas on the tiller, came home last but claimed the win on handicap from a J24, Flying Carpet (I Gattengo), and the Soling class yacht Nortel that made the journey from Drummoyne with Dominique Winn steering.

'We had a non-spinnaker division as well and Nicky Bethwaite was too good in that, claiming the win for Middle Harbour Yacht Club in the beautiful wooden White Pointer,' Gattengo said.

'And another great women sailor, Alex Murray, wife of America's Cup sailor Iain, jumped in a Yngling and won that class, having sailed the classic 5.5 metre boat Pam in previous years.'

The only dinghy event this year was held in the Access class, with boats from the Sailability group based at MYC forming the biggest one design fleet.

First came Sunrise, with Helen Gregan and Alyse Saxby (Alyse is a Special Olympics silver medallist), with second going to Woody (Judy Cole) and third Lionheart (Deanna Smyth).

MYC Commodore Maz Theaker, who steered her yacht San Toy to 10th place in division 2, said the day had been a great success and extremely competitive.

'It's great to have such a talented bunch of female sailors all sailing together and telling the blokes what to do for a change. The turnout back at the club was fantastic and I'd like to thank Musto / Sturrocks for their continued support for what is one of Manly Yacht Club's most important events,' Theaker said.

'I know the Commodore shouldn't win the race but I'm going to have to have a word to the handicapper [her partner Graham Radford], he was way to harsh on me this year.'