Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club has a new approach to their race day
by Lyn Wallace 13 Apr 2023 14:38 PDT
Gippsland Lakes YC used a race day to encourage ladies to be organisers not just participants © GLYC
With a successful sailing season thus far, Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC) an all-inclusive sailing club on the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, tried a new approach to their race day recently... they had only females run every aspect of their club race day!
Australian Sailing has a program called 'SheSails' which is all about enjoying the sailing adventure in a fun, friendly and safe environment. SheSails is designed to recognise and promote all of the amazing female contributors to the sport of sailing, and to encourage women of all ages to enjoy sailing through organised activities at sailing clubs. GLYC took this program further and encouraged females to be the organisers rather than just participants.
The club's general committee embraced the initiate of our Club Race Officer and Commodore, which was fully supported by members. A large contingent of female members participate on race days normally, however this was taken a step further with only females doing everything on the day...the males only had to turn up and race. Vice Commodore Lyn Wallace said, "what a great opportunity to be inclusive, with the day run so smoothly, so it should be an annual event"
The tasks included Duty Officer of the Day, launching and retrieving patrol boats, briefing sailors for the day's championship series race, on-land tower management, on-water race management of three patrol boats crewed by females led by National Race Officer Jacqui Crawford. When returning to the club after the day's racing, the results done by RO Jacqui, were shared with members with the bar also manned (womanned) by our lovely female Bar Officer!
Many men wished they could stand around watching to ensure we did it all correctly however this was certainly discouraged and everything was done spot on and all with a huge smile. The day was enjoyed by everyone and all the ladies had a good day with a good laugh and sportsmanship in perfect sailing conditions.