Swett sails away from competition in the 2024 Women's Championship at the New York Yacht Club
by Stuart Streuli 1 Jul 2024 11:24 NZST
June 28-30, 2024
2024 Women's Championship at the New York Yacht Club Winning team (l-r) Hannah Swett, Melissa Purdy, Joan Porter, Sophia Hacket, Rachel Bryer © Hannah Lee Noll
Traditionally when the boats are close together on the racecourse and at the finish, that's mirrored in the overall standings. But that wasn't the case in the 2024 Women's Championship.
While the New York Yacht Club team, skippered by Hannah Swett, won seven of the 13 races in the regatta and won the regatta by a very healthy margin, there was rarely a a lot of daylight between it and the competition.
Swett's team started Day 3 of the regatta with a 31-point lead. But with the fleet tightly compressed all the way around the course, nothing could be taken for granted.
"It was still nerve racking," said Swett. "It's a really good fleet. So you can't let your guard down. We were on our game, and it came out well, but there was no letting our guard down whatsoever.
"My team has a great mix of people I've sailed with for 30 years and some brand-new people. It's really fun to mix up the people I've sailed with forever and bring in some new people with new ideas. It was a great combination."
Ultimately, the combination of Swett, Melissa Purdy, Joan Porter, Sophia Hacket and Rachel Bryer had all the right components and Swett's team finished the regatta with a 42-point lead over the second-place team skippered by Cory Sertl. Carmen Cowles skippered the third-place team with Erin Maxwell in fourth and Sara Morgan Watters in fifth.
The second edition of the New York Yacht Club Women's Championship featured 19 teams of four or five women from across the United States sailing in provided one-design Sonar keelboats. The regatta was sailed Friday, June 28, through Sunday, June 30, out of the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, R.I. The winning team received the Joan H. Towse Trophy, named for the passionate sailor, race committee member and late wife of former New York Yacht Club Commodore Robert C. Towse Jr. The Women's Championship, the Women's 2v2 Team Race (June 1 and 2) and the mixed-gender crew requirement for the IC37 class and the Morgan, Hinman and Grandmasters Team Races are all examples of the New York Yacht Club's continued commitment to increasing female participation in sailing. The Women's Championship is sponsored by Helly Hansen, Safe Harbor Marinas, Peters & May and Hammetts Hotel.
As was the case two years ago with the inaugural edition of the Women's Championship, the competition on the water over the past three days was matched by the camaraderie and positive vibes off it.
"The energy is so fun at this event because there's so many people we've sailed against for so many years coming back together," Swett said. "So it's a really good time. Everyone's excited to see each other and go sailing. It's a reunion of sorts."
In celebration of the infectious camaraderie of the event, Helly Hansen donated $3,000 worth of sailing gear to be given to the youth program of choice of the team displaying the best sportsmanship during this year's Women's Championship. This award was presented to the team that exhibited the best Corinthian spirit both on and off the water. Each team, as well as the Organizing Authority, had one vote. This year, the winners were the family-focused team of Heidi Backus Riddle, Amy Backus, Megan Riddle Tracy and Liz Backus Barker (above, left), representing Vermilion Boat Club in Vermilion, Ohio.
"We feel so honored," said Backus Riddle. "We've sailed a long time together and what we think about is family and giving back and whatever we can do for this sailing group. And so when people asked us a couple questions, we said, yes, we'll do it, we'll give you some advice. For us, it's all about having fun, and it's an honor to win this truly. It's better than winning the regatta. Well, maybe not better, but close."
Backus Riddle said she and her teammates were going to review some of the youth sailing programs around their home base in Ohio and pick one that would really benefit from the donation.
At the inaugural event two years ago, the Backus sisters connected with one of the youngest teams in the regatta, led by twin sisters Carmen and Emma Cowles. They reconnected again this year, as the Cowles' sisters, representing Larchmont Yacht Club, placed third with 81 points and usher in the next generation of women's sailing.
"It's just an awesome event to be able to meet women from different generations that you wouldn't otherwise have met," Carmen Cowles said.
While the Cowles sisters finished seven spots better than the Backus sisters in this regatta, there is still a lot of knowledge than can flow from the veteran team, particularly when it comes to making sailing a lifetime sport.
"Just remember your sailing friends that are lifelong friends," said Backus Riddle. "That's how we look at it."
Overall Results:
1. Hannah Swett, 30pts
2. Cory Sertl, 72pts
3. Carmen Cowles, 81pts
4. Erin Maxwell, 89pts
5. Sara Morgan Watters, 90pts
6. Emily Maxwell, 98pts
7. Sally Mace, 105pts
8. Kelsey Wheeler, 105.5pts
9. Jen Provan, 106pts
10. Heidi Backus Riddle, 107pts
11. Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick, 113pts
12. Katrina Williams, 135pts
13. Meredith Carroll, 147pts
14. Hannah Lynn, 164pts
15. Megan Ploch 181pts
16. Ery Largay, 199pts
17. Sarah Desilva, 206pts
18. Katie Mallory, 211pts
19. Vicky Wiseman, 225pts