Wendy Tuck guest speaker for Port Phillip Women’s Champs and Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta
by Di Pearson 14 Jan 2019 22:01 PST
31 January 2019
Wendy Tuck (with Clipper overall winner trophy), her crew and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston © Denise Wilson
Wendy Tuck, winner of the 2017-2018 Clipper Round the World Race, is to be the guest speaker at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS), for the start of the Port Phillip Women's Championship series for the Jennifer Goldsmith Perpetual Trophy.
Tuck the only female to ever win an around the world race when she skippered a near-novice crew to win the Clipper Round the World race this year, was named Australian Female Sailor of the Year and inaugural Offshore Sailor of the Year for 2018, and was a finalist in the Rolex World Sailor of the Year.
The yachtswoman will speak at the RMYS on Thursday 31 January at 7.30pm in the Harbour Room. For those wanting to make a night of it, dinner will be available at the Club beforehand. Those wishing to attend can register at www.rmys.com.au.
The down-to-earth Sydney sailor, who skippered separate yachts back-to-back in the last two Clipper races, has 12 Sydney Hobart races to her credit too; the latest in December when she helped sail Zoe Taylor's Cookson 12, Grace O'Malley, to win Division 3.
Tuck remains unaffected by her new 'golden girl' status, and is as keen as ever to continue to teach and encourage women to sail.
"I'm really looking forward to coming to Melbourne and speaking. The Port Phillip Women's Championship series is a great opportunity to encourage and get women young and old involved in sailing. It will be my pleasure to be there," Tuck said.
"I'm only sorry I am unable to attend the Championship, as I'll be away sailing Maiden," the Sydney sailor said, referring to 'Maiden Factor', founded by high-profile British yachtswoman, Tracy Edwards MBE. Edwards is using her yacht Maiden for a world tour to facilitate the education of girls around the globe starting this month.
Other doors have opened to Tuck since her Clipper win. In November, she skippered a near-novice female crew at the China Cup and last month was a judge in the Miss World pageant in Sanya, China. This came after skippering Sanya Serenity Coast in the Clipper Race, inclusive of a Sanya port stopover.
That same month, she was a guest speaker at a CYCA special event in Sydney, where she packed the house. Some missed out, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
A sailing teacher, Tuck's philosophy is to: "Stay positive. You must never give up."
It continues to pay dividends for the inspirational yachtswoman, and she is still bemused to have found sailing fortune later in life (she is 53). A wonderful role model, Tuck is already making a big impression on females in the sailing arena.
Other inspirational women have also been making their mark in sailing and will feature in upcoming guest speaking roles, and the 'Change Our Game' grant from the Victorian State Government is helping to fund these.
Sponsored by the Goldsmith family, the Port Phillip Women's Championship for the Jennifer Goldsmith Perpetual Trophy will kick off the Port Phillip Women's Championship series on Sunday, February 3. The date also marks the launch of the 29th Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), to be held on Port Phillip, with entries open from that day.
The AWKR is held to provide opportunities for all women to explore participate in, and thrive at, competitive keelboat sailing. For more information, please go to: www.awkr.com.au
For information on the Jennifer Goldsmith race, please click here.
Register for Wendy Tuck at www.rmys.com.au