Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2023 Gloves - LEADERBOARD

Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta marks International Women's Day

by Di Pearson / MHYC media 4 Mar 15:17 PST 4-5 March 2023
Janette Syme and a crew member on Kaotic - Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta © Andrea Francolini

On Wednesday 8 March, the world will celebrate International Women's Day and Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), through its Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta this weekend, celebrates all those women contesting the regatta, taking part in the on-water race management roles and those ashore who have administration roles.

Women's participation in the sport of sailing continues to increase in Australia. Through clubs around the country and all the way up to the national and world authorities, specialised programs, learn to sail classes and Women's regattas are de rigueur these days.

This weekend there are women spread throughout the large fleet of 170 boats participating in Championships and the various divisions in NSW's largest keelboat event.

MHYC Sailing Manager, David Staley says, "Middle Harbour Yacht Club has been actively encouraging women to participate over the past few years. The Club's first Women's Regatta was held in May 2018 and a Women's Twilight Series commenced the same year.

"Since 2021, the Club has arranged activities in conjunction with World Sailing's Steer the Course program and was one of the foundation clubs contributing to running the Sydney Harbour Women's Keelboat Series.

"Club member, Tracy Richardson and crew, sailed a loaned Adams 10 to win the 2022 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta," Staley said.

Richardson owns the Adams 10, Artemis. She became interested in sailing eight years ago and has not looked back. Leading into the final day of the Sydney Harbour Regatta last year, she ultimately placed second overall. An extremely competitive sailor, Richardson is also president of the Adams 10 Association.

Janette Syme is skipper of Kaotic in the J/24 division. She won the opening race and placed third in the other two to be placed third overall leading into the final day, today.

"Very tricky weather. We had a very good Race 1 yesterday," Syme said. The top three boats were very close. We were all in front at some point. We took the lead at the last mark and just won, as the others were coming down to us with breeze.

As to sailing, Syme has loved it since taking up the sport at seven. "I started helming a Flying 11 at 11 and never looked back," said the grandmother of two. "I haven't given up on life yet," she said laughing.

"The reason we're doing this regatta is to practice for the Lady Liberty Women's Regatta in New York in September. It's in J/24s and there will be crews from 10 nations competing. Catherine Rofe (MHYC Sailing Administrator) is one of the women on our crew."

Karyn Gojnich is another prime example. She has represented Australia at three Olympic Games, is Rear Commodore of Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and is a big supporter of growing women's participation in sailing. For this event, Gojnich is at the helm of the one-design J/70, Jabiru.

Annie Taylor is a long-time inshore and offshore racer. She hops from inshore regattas to one-design sailing and offshore yachting. Here at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, she is racing offshore in IRC Division 2 on Bullwinkle, owned by Peter Farrugia.

Rosemary Merrington returns to fulfill her role on the start crew on E course. Robyn Tames is the Course Race Officer on D course and Alice Murphy, the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club's Club Captain, is also on D course. Shue Zhang and Renee Spinks are on F course, Sylvia Liang is on the offshore mark boat team on course G and Ali Braden is driving one of the media boats.

Braden is a Laser Radial sailor and Olympic aspirant. She had sailed a Laser 4.7 until switching to the Radial mid-January.

"The Club asked if I would drive the media boat and I was keen to see some cool boats and the good variety of people in the classes, so I said 'yes'. It's my first time and it was fun," the 15 year old said. "I would definitely do it again, I really enjoyed it."

For all information on the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, including results, please visit: www.shr.mhyc.com.au

Related Articles

Farr 40 Nationals - John Calvert-Jones Trophy
The Sprint format, conducted in the Sound of Sydney Harbour, provided an exciting racetrack The championship took place at Middle Harbour Yacht Club over the weekend of May 20 and 21. The two-day Sprint Regatta took place in May as a replacement for the usual three-day event held in March. Posted on 2 Jun
MC38 Series Act 3 at Middle Harbour Yacht Club
Happy Hooligan team emerge as winners The third Act of the MC38 2023 season took place over the weekend at Middle Harbour Yacht Club, and it was an exciting event that saw Hooligan emerge as the winner after securing three bullets in the final day's racing. Posted on 15 May
Sydney Jeanneau Sail Show in August 2023
Display will coincide with the Darling Harbour Boat Show The display will coincide with the Darling Harbour Boat Show, so for those visiting Sydney we look forward to seeing you at Middle Harbour. Posted on 15 Apr
MC38 Series Act 2 at Middle Harbour Yacht Club
Ginger crowned champions in challenging weather conditions The second act of the 2023 MC38 Season has concluded, and it was a weekend of intense competition and thrilling yacht racing. Hosted at Middle Harbour Yacht Club, the event drew in seven teams. Posted on 13 Mar
Conspiracy are Sydney 38 NSW Champions
Conditions could not have been more dissimilar over the two days They would not be denied, the reigning Sydney 38 NSW champions, Peter Byford and David Hudson today claimed their third straight Sydney 38 One Design NSW title with their beautifully named Conspiracy. Posted on 5 Mar
Nautilus Marine Sydney Harbour Regatta overall
Ideal autumn day decides winners An ideal autumn day on Sydney Harbour and offshore decided the winners and new Australian and NSW champions in three classes at Middle Harbour Yacht Club's 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta today. Posted on 5 Mar
Nautilus Marine Sydney Harbour Regatta Day 1
Light touch and patience win points A light and shifty nor' easter kept competitors on their toes at the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta today, favouring the lighter boats and those who were able to pick the crafty shifts and remain patient. Posted on 4 Mar
Contenders shape up for Sydney 38 OD Championship
Conspiracy ready to defend title at Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta Reigning Sydney 38 NSW champion Conspiracy, owned by Peter Byford/David Hudson, is ready to defend their title at Middle Harbour Yacht Club's (MHYC) Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta over two days this coming weekend, 4-5 March. Posted on 1 Mar
J/Boats set for Sydney Harbour Regatta
J/70's, J/99's and J/24's to compete in three of the thirteen divisions J/Boats and their classes to compete in three of the thirteen divisions in Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club to be held this weekend 4-5th March 2023. Posted on 28 Feb
Nautilus Marine Sydney Harbour Regatta Preview
High stakes and great prizes at Middle Harbour Yacht Club Numbers are building for the 2023 Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta and the good news is that organiser, Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC), has extended the early entry fee to 28 February 2023. Posted on 24 Feb
Vaikobi 2023 Gloves - FOOTERHella Dual Colour Floodlights - 728 x 90px - 1 jpg BottomHyde Sails 2022 One Design FOOTER