The Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club’s commitment to encouraging and supporting women into sailing continues to grow as it launches its first ever annual Women’s Sailing Program for the 2021/22 Season.

While there is a long history of women sailors at the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club, including an all-women’s team who entered the Milang-Goolwa Freshwater Classic back in the 1980’s; the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club recognises the need to provide a renewed focus and opportunities for women to become involved in the sport of sailing. 

In 2018 it set aside a race in the Winter Series as a dedicated women’s helm race and created coaching and practice sessions to ensure participants would have the experience to participate.

From a single race for the next 3 seasons, the Women’s Sailing Program has continued to grow including a Women’s Twilight Series which was introduced in 2020.  In 2021/22 the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club formalised its support of the initiative and created the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club’s SheSails Committee to oversee and progress the Women’s Sailing Program.  SheSails is a national scheme established under the umbrella of the National Sailing body: Australian Sailing.

Building on the success of the Women’s Helm Races, on water practice and coaching, informal training sessions and Women’s Twilight Series the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club’s SheSails Committee has established a comprehensive program for the 2021/22 season which encompasses over 20 events including:

• a dedicated twilight series where the helm and 50% of the crew must be women
• formal and informal training courses
• midweek cruises
• a coaching clinic
• dinghy practice sessions
• overnight Coorong cruise
• networking and interclub visits

The program has been designed to provide variety with a view that people will register for the events in which they are interested.  Most are free of charge and suitable to all skill and interest levels.

The program is primarily focussed on women, along with their supporters.

All women members, their friends and family with an interest in getting out on the water are encouraged to join in. 

It would not be possible to run this program without the fabulous support from all our volunteers, members and advocates and we welcome their active participation in the program.

To find out more, contact the Goolwa Regatta Yacht Club SheSails Convenor, Louise Edwards on louandbri@hotmail.com or 0431 053 104 or Club Manager Jade Irvine on gryc@gryc.com.au or 8555 2617.