NSW - NCYC

Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club

Commodore:  Steve Rae

Key contacts:

Jan Howard 0411864412 and Jacqui Bell (Sailing Academy NCYC) Ph 49408188

What SheSails activities does your club run?

We run a number of SheSails activities across the year. These include a learn to sail program in Force 24 keelboats, which is a casual program but can articulate into the Australian Sailing Keelboat Program. Each year we also host a SheSails Development Regatta, which is a half-day training session with mentor/instructor on board each boat followed by a whole day fun focussed regatta the following weekend with mentor/instructor on board each boat. This is followed by our SheSails Open Regatta, which is a whole day racing Elliot 6’s without a mentor/instructor on board.

How did you initiate the activities?

SheSails was initiated in 2009 by a group who began taking out all-female crews in our twilight series. Regatta crews are organised privately by female boat owners, or interested project leaders. Women’s Learn to Sail, SheSails regattas and National Sailing League Women’s representative crews are organised through the Sailing Academy.

Did you have any challenges along the way?

When we had too many interested women to include and teach sailing in offshore twilight racing, we decided it was better to have a proper inshore ‘lean to sail’ program. A couple of women got Australian Sailing Keelboat Instructor qualifications and we persuaded the club to buy the fleet of six Force 24 training boats so there is now a logical development pathway for women. We have developed a Strategic Plan for Women’s Sailing at NCYC which ties in with the overall NCYC Strategic Plan.

How do you promote your activities?

Club website, flyers, posters, social media, local newspapers and TV and radio. Merchandising (SheSails shirts, bags and flags etc).

What resources did you require?

We have a dedicated female Sailing Academy Manager and qualified keelboat instructors to help manage our fleet of six Force 24 training boats for entry level instructing and eight Elliot 6’s. We also have female boat owners / skippers who are willing to provide their yachts for all women twilight and regatta crews.

What impact is it having on participation at your club?

There is now a high level of female participation in normal club racing crews and offshore racing crews. Some of the highlights of the activities include:

  • There are two women on the Board of NCYC

  • 37 women regularly sail in NCYC races

  • 25% of total crew in Sunday club racing are women

  • 51% of total crew in Wednesday twilight sessions are women