How long have you been in the sport of Sailing?

On and off for over 45 years.

What Club, Association or company are you involved with?

Board of Directors/Secretary - Balmoral Sailing Club, Grants Officer/Member Georges River Sailing Club.   

Tell us how you first got involved with Sailing

I grew up in a rural area in the US, there was a sunfish we "played" with on a small lake; nothing formal until I moved to Chicago and learned how to sail a J21 on Lake Michigan out of Chicago's Belmont Harbor. Sydney's location to the water meant I had to take it up again when I moved to Australia in 1999.

There are many pathways in sailing, where has your journey taken you?

I met my husband in Sydney, he wanted to do something together, we bought a Tasar and sailed that together until he developed an eye disease that kept him off the water. I decided to go back to helming and after some lessons at Balmoral Water Sports bought my first RS Aero 5 years ago and have been sailing it at Balmoral and Georges River multiple times a week. I also still crew on a Tasar at Balmoral and Georges River. I was the first female Aero sailor at Balmoral so I've spent 5 years growing the Aero female sailor participation; we are 6 at Balmoral and I've helped a few start at Georges River. I also buy good used Aeros (which are as scarce as gold) and keep them aside so that when the new female sailors are ready to own their own Aero I have one to sell to them to get started. I also coach, demo, organized female aero sailing during the winter to get us up to speed.

Whatever part of sailing you belong to, tell us about what you enjoy about your sport?

When I'm sailing, I'm not thinking of anything else. Other sports I do are not as "mind consuming".

What would you say to someone thinking about getting into sailing?

For dinghy sailing, find a good group of woman to help get you going, even if you have to travel a bit to get to the club/event; we are much more supportive than the guys in the sport. Get some coaching, it makes a big difference.

Tell us your favourite story ….

I broke a rudder on my aero and drifted into HMAS Penguin waters. Someone asked one of the Navy divers on the nearby pier if they could rescue me with the RIB they had moored there. 20 minutes later a Navy Patrol Boat comes cruising up near me and launched a RIB off the back to pick me up and take me back to the shore. When I asked the 3 officers in the RIB why they hadn't just gotten me from the RIB on the dock they told me I had become a "training exercise" for them.....  Glad to of been of some help for them, I think!