Biggest Women's Regatta Cancelled
by Lisa Delaveau - Waikawa Boating Club 6 Sep 2021 01:47 PDT
On Appro making a move © Karmyn Ingram - Waikawa Boating Club
Lockdown has had a massive impact on the Waikawa Boating Club inhouse racing and the nationally significant Evolution Sails Women’s Regatta. 195 registered crew have been told they won’t be racing in the 2021 edition of the highly regarded annual event.
David Grigg, Rear Commodore Sailing said, “It’s still difficult to grasp that the biggest ever version of the Women's Regatta has been hit by lockdown. But in the grand scheme of world events, it's easy to find some perspective”.
Women sailors, experienced and novice, from 11 regions, Fijordland to Northland were descending on Waikawa Boating Club for the annual Women’s Regatta in September this year. More than 80% of registrations were from out of region sailors.
Grigg said that, “Through the decision making process to cancel or postpone it has become very clear that the Evolution Sails Women's Regatta is firmly entrenched in September on the national sailing calendar and that's where we need it to stay, so cancelling is the best option.”
Club Development Officer, David Hancock observed the economic impact for the region, “That’s more than 500 guest nights Picton and Marlborough are going to see cancelled. Food and beverage orders are cancelled and the sailors certainly enjoy a wine and a gin. T-shirt sales won’t happen, donations to guest speaker organisations are off and the local juke box hire is also going to miss out.”
The two-day regatta had Olympians, global circumnavigators and Sydney to Hobart veterans as well as newcomers to sailing on the registration list. The weekend of yacht racing is a wonderful reason for two-hundred women to get together for a bit of fun and personal challenge.
Evolution Sails have said they’ll be there for September 2022 and the Waikawa Boating Club army of volunteers will get started early in the New Year to make it happen.
Next major events for the Waikawa Boating Club:
25 September – start of the Versatile Offshore Series
8-9 January 2022 – Giesen New Year Regatta
17-18 September 2022 – Evolution Sails Women’s Regatta