Sassy Sailing Sister Program for 2022-2023 has concluded.
The Women on Water weekend was a great success and included the culmination of the Sassy Sailing Sister program. Over the last five months, the program offered 25 women from various ages, backgrounds and levels of experience the opportunity to immerse themselves in all things sailing in a safe and supportive environment. This included weekly rotations on keel boats, mentoring, monthly sessions delivered by SisterShip Training®, group workshops, social activities, experiences with off the beach pacers and race management activities.
On Saturday the women demonstrated their skills acquired throughout the program with a Rally including navigation, passage planning, radio calls, sea safety, weather and much more. A huge thank you to the owners and crews of Bundaberg, Patternmaker, Vivacite and SecOnda taking time out of your long weekend to support the Rally.
The Rally was then followed by a spirited presentation dinner filled with fun and laughter for all participants, mentors, family, friends and supporters. In attendance was local MP and Sassy Sailing Sister Ambassador Christine Couzens, world record holder for the fastest, non-stop, solo and unassisted circumnavigation of Antarctica Lisa Blair and RGYC Commodore Roger Bennett who presented the following awards to participants:
- Best Team Player: Steph McDonald
- Best Radio Operator: Jenny Perks
- Best Navigator: Fiona Tremaine
- Embodied the spirit of the SSS program: Jenny Stein
- Best Future Cruiser: Melissa Rutherford
- Best Helmswoman: Melinda Troeth
The Sassy Sailing Sisters Program would also like to take an opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Royal Geelong Yacht Club for their unwavering support of the Sassy Sailing Sister Program. The Royal Geelong Yacht Club has provided a safe and welcoming environment for all participants, and their assistance has been greatly appreciated.
The Organisers would also like to thank the programs sponsors the Victorian State Government through the “Change Our Game” program and Better Boating Victoria for making this program possible and providing so many women with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience in sailing.
Organisers further wish to expresses their gratitude to a number of individual members and boat owners within the club who have made the program possible, these members will be acknowledged this Wednesday night (as too many to name individually here!)
Photo credit: Denise Smeaton
