How long have you been in the sport of Sailing?

40 Years

What Club, Association or company are you involved with?

Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club at Longueville

What part do you play in our sport? (eg. Sailor, club volunteer, committee member)

Sailor and Club Volunteer

Tell us how you first got involved with Sailing

I grew up watching my brother sailing at a time when I was more into ballet.  We spent family holidays up and down the coast at dinghy regattas.  He has been a pro-sailor for 30+ years.  I am the opposite, just a keen club racer - no world championships for me.  Just a love of sailing.

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

My first “boat” was a windsurfer. I met my husband sailing on Narrabeen Lake.  We had identical Bombora Tri Fins - mine pink, his blue 🤣.  He gave me a Laser one Christmas - 30 years later we still race our Lasers against each other every Saturday!

We’ve enjoyed family bareboating in the Whitsundays, Greece & Turkey.  Most recently, in addition to racing my Laser, I’m enjoying Twighlights on all-girl crewed boats - both one design and larger yachts - at the RSYS. 

Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club, Longueville (with fabulous new storage facility on the left)

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

I enjoy the diversity of Club membership – you meet so many different people with one common interest – sailing!   I enjoy rigging on the beach, racing and the casualness of the Club afterwards.  As much as I enjoy racing, a casual sail on the Harbour with friends is also hard to beat.

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

Absolutely, try it!  Do a sailing course!  Visit different clubs, become involved.  If you decide sailing is not for you, don’t shy away from joining a club; think about being involved in other ways.  Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club has an amazing team of volunteers - both sailors and non-sailors - running the response boats, helping with Learn to Sail, organising social functions, serving in the canteen, or maintaining the clubhouse, boat sheds and response boats.
           
If purchasing a boat is a bit daunting, Clubs like Lane Cove have boats you can use whilst you decide. Or you can join the response boat team and spend many happy hours on one of the best harbours in the world!

Vicki Sailing a Laser - Credit Darcie Collington

Tell us your favourite story ….

Two stories:

• Watching youngsters I taught at Lane Cove, on a one week sailing camp, moving on to become very successful sailors 10-15 years later - racing 18ft skiffs, doing Sydney-Hobarts and competing internationally.
• Having both my children love sailing as much as I do.  Both started off in Sabots, then Lasers. Now it’s nice to watch my son and daughter-in-law race their Cherub, or head-off towing their boat to regattas with lifelong friends from the Club.  Similarly, it was great to see my 23yo daughter race in a keelboat regatta.  A passionate Club member kindly lent her his J35!  They put together an all-girl crew; she trained with them, then raced and ultimately won the InterClub regatta!