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Leven Yacht Club making sailing more accessible for women

Published Tue 11 Feb 2020

The Leven Yacht Club will do their bit in trying to improve the base of female sailors on the North-West Coast by holding a Try Sailing program for women on February 16 and 23.

A group of Leven Yacht Club sailors including Teresa Badrock and Bethany Dodwell were motivated to run a women's beginner program after finding out through a Australian Sailing web seminar that only 30 per cent of sailors across the country were female.

Badrock said the group realised the was a space in market to try and make the sport for accessible for women while offering them the chance to learn the required skills.

"Australian Sailing started to roll information to clubs to help encourage clubs to run events to try in and get women in the sport," she said.

"Because I was the training coordinator last year, I asked parents and other sailors for what the club actually needs and if there was a missing link.

"The first idea was a race where women helm the boat, but we thought coaching and training will be a better way because the extra support will make them feel more comfortable."

READY TO GO: Bethany Dodwell and Teresa Badrock will teach the female sailors the ropes. Picture: Phillip Biggs

Dodwell said she started sailing because of family connection and can understand why women may not be comfortable trying to get into the sport.

"When you come into sailing and you mostly see men it can be confronting, even though most of them are lovely," she said.

"I joined with my sisters and that did make it easier, I may not have as comfortable without them."

Badrock said there had been solid interest already, but they were open to many more women getting involved.

"We have two women that have signed up that have experience sailing with their husband or kids and they want to learn what it takes to help a boat and we have also had others that haven't sailed before," she said.

"It will depend what people who come want to get out of the program and we have spoken to other clubs who have women that want to learn and we have people signed up for the first day.

To show your interest, go to the Leven Yacht Club Facebook page and find the SheSails 2020 event for contact details to book your place.
 


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