Danielle Kennedy

Danielle Kennedy (2012 Olympic Laser Radial representative for Canada, now resident in Queensland) - has given freely and generously of her time, on a volunteer basis, to lead the development of the Club’s Women’s Skills Development Program.

While studying medicine full-time, Danielle was instrumental in developing the Women’s Skills Development Program, training on the MYC’s Elliott 6 yachts. She spearheaded the organisation, promotion, mentoring and growth of the Program.

Danielle patiently mentored and encouraged women ranging from beginners to experienced sailors from age 16 through to well into their 60’s, helping them expand their skills, abilities and confidence through regular Saturday sailing activities both in the classroom and on the water.  She oversaw the outstanding growth of the Program starting from just a handful of women a couple of years ago to well over 65 participants.

As a result of her mentorship and the confidence and skills she has imparted via the Program, one particular outcome has been that the male members of the Club have begun to view the women sailors as proficient crew members and regularly seek them out as crew or to helm aboard their yachts for Club racing.

Her leadership and drive led to the Club having women’s representative teams successfully compete in several women’s regattas including the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta, Newcastle SheSails, Townsville GaLS, National Match Racing Championships as well as Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island Race Weeks.

She was instrumental in establishing the annual SheSails Mooloolaba Women’s Winter Regatta in 2019 which included teams mentored through the Program.

Her mentoring style instilled a spirit of camaraderie among the women which has resulted in many of the more experienced women going on to also become mentors in the Program.  

Danielle’s contributions have not been limited to mentoring and racing.

All who have benefited from Danielle’s mentorship echo the sentiments of three of the Program members -

“Thanks to the wonderful encouragement and mentoring from Danielle at the MYC SheSails Development Program I have found a new confidence in my ability to learn to sail” said Naomi Croft.

“Since beginning this program with Danielle, I was firstly supported to enter the MYC SheSails Regatta.  I then went on to join the MYC team in the Newcastle SheSails Regatta.  I have now joined the MYC team to represent Mooloolaba in the Darwin Keelboat Regatta.  Onward and Upward! “

“I will always appreciate the knowledge and experience Danielle shared …  I felt so privileged to have her support and encouragement.  What a wonderful gift she has given me.”

Fiona Fuller adds: “Danielle’s energy and enthusiasm for mentoring women sailors is quite humbling.”

“Whilst she was completing her last year of university, she would always be available on the weekends to lead, mentor, support and share her experiences both on the water in our fleet of Elliott 6’s or via a whiteboard in the clubhouse.

“Our women’s development group quickly grew as women experienced the nurturing and tireless support that Danielle gave to this wonderful group of women.”

“Personally I have learnt so much from this group and re-established my love of competitive racing in a supportive team environment and have represented our Club in the SheSails Regattas locally and interstate which I would not have had the confidence to compete in if it was not for Danielle and our supportive local team of women sailors.”

“I am now also mentoring our less experienced sailors and encouraging them to compete in future SheSails Regattas as well as introducing many to the traditional way of sailing aboard the youth sail training, gaff-rigged schooner called ‘South Passage’ where I am a female watch leader on voyages.”

“I strongly believe Danielle deserves to be recognised as an ambassador and true inspiration to women’s sailing development and support of the ever growing SheSails organisation.”

Kerry Lorimer added:  “Danielle  is such a wonderful mentor;  modest and encouraging; incredibly skilled and knowledgeable; patient and inspiring, pushing all of us to get out of our comfort zone and strive for things we wouldn’t have otherwise done.”

“I competed with her in match racing as well as fleet racing in a number of regattas and now help out in a mentoring role for other women in the MYC program.”

“Danielle is a skilled sailor – but more than that, she’s a natural and inspiring leader and mentor, who has given so generously to the MYC Women’s Skills Development Program and I wholeheartedly believe she deserves to be recognised by Sailing Australia.”

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