Steering the Course

Global Women’s Sailing Festival ‘Steering the Course’ launched in 2021 Hong Kong’s Inaugural All-Women Regatta

WORDS: ELAINE PICKERING | BOAT IMAGES: PANDA MAN / TAKUMI IMAGES

he inaugural global women’s sailing festival ‘Steering the Course’, a 10-day series of activities on and off the water, was a resounding success in Hong Kong and made history by being the first all-women sailing festival held here.

Steering the Course, supported by the IOC Development Fund (Olympic Solidarity Commission) was established to introduce women and girls across the globe to sailing, as well as to encourage those already engaged towards further developing their skills. This inaugural year the event took place in the Northern Hemisphere from 21 to 30 May 2021 and it will take place in the Southern Hemisphere from 1 to 10 October 2021. Kong, supported by a group of enthusiastic volunteers from HHYC, RHKYC, ABC. HHYC, with Sailability Hong Kong, operated the programme of activities, with The Capital Company and Beaufort Marine sponsoring the festival. The initiative was supported by the Hong Kong Sailing Federation who attended the opening ceremony along with other dignitaries.

Women on Water

During the festival week 353 women participated in activities both on and off the water, including competitive racing, a fitnessfor-sailing programme, taster sessions, social events and inspirational talks.

One popular activity was a chance to experience sailing a 38ft Seawind Catamaran. Sytske Kimman offered her boat Moments

to make several sailings around Port Shelter, providing an opportunity for 78 women to helm, manage the sails and learn key aspects of handling a big boat. After sailing in Hong Kong for 36 years Sytske commented, “This is the most positive experience of sailing I have had here. I met a fantastic group of women who deserve to be getting a chance to learn about sailing.”

Sailability Hong Kong had an incredible 10 days, over the course of which they took out 176 women, 61 of whom went out for the first time. This included women from the Disabled Women’s Association, SEN School, Golden Age sailors, ethnic community groups and amputees. Many new volunteers signed up during the festival to support this active charity, with Mercedes-Benz and HFW sponsorship covering all costs, including the many instructors, safety boats and all the other support that was needed to work with less advantaged participants, including some quite critically disabled people. The final regatta for Sailability, held in Port Shelter, had 26 boats entered in three classes; 14 Hansa 303s, three Hansa Liberty’s and nine 2.4mRs. The excitement was electrifying, and it was a wonderful experience for all involved. A huge shout out goes to Kay Rawbone and a multitude of volunteers, including HHYC for coping with all the complicated logistics.

RHKYC takes Regatta Honours

A highlight of the festival was the first Hong Kong women-only sailing regatta. An impressive 19 boats were entered into the three divisions with 87 women of all ages and skills participating. RHKYC, entered three J/80 teams, two RS Quest teams and one HKPN Division team to compete in this interclub three-race challenge. The races were managed by an all-women committee with RO Inge Strompf-Jepsen, DRO Sarah Houghton and ARO Lucy Sutro providing on-the-job training to a team of ladies new to race management, all of whom quickly picked up on their duties. As many of the participating sailors had not sailed together before, the RO, through a democratic vote, agreed to postpone the start of the first race by 30 minutes to allow for some practice. However, it was not evident by the high level of sailing that all the teams were newly formed, with many never having sailed the design of boats they were competing on until the lead up to the competition.

Notwithstanding missing winch handles, a broken tiller leading to unmanageable steerage (causing those looking on from the committee boat much consternation!), a broken mast, and a broken toe strap sending crew overboard, the display of sailing ability was impressive. With 12 to 15kts of wind the windward / leeward course set in Port Shelter was ably and enthusiastically raced. The final results of the competition saw the RHKYC J/80 team helmed by Scotia Ryer taking the honours, with second place going to the RHKYC team helmed by Tiffany Koo; RHKYC team on Arcturus, helmed by Florence Kan, took second place in HKPN Division; and RHKYC RS Quest team helmed by Gina Chen took second place.

J/80 captain Christina Cully commented, “It was amazing to participate in such a fun regatta where women from various yacht clubs and sailing classes came together and shared knowledge, capabilities and experience, encouraging us all to become better sailors.” RS Quest crew Chloe Bischoff and Trinh Hoang signed up for their first ever race. Chloe said, “In the first race our hiking strap came unhooked and, comically, we both went overboard. Gina successfully avoided capsizing, and, fortuitously, managed to confuse the other boats who wondered if the race had finished. So, despite two out of three of us being flung into the water, and us being in stiches for the remainder of the race, we managed to maintain our leading position to come first in the first race. It was a really thrilling adventure.” Kristen Chatellier was delighted that she was able to helm for the first time in a race. A recently joined member who has been taking sailing lessons through the introductory scheme she said, “This was an amazing opportunity to get more involved. The confidence to helm was thanks to the great instruction at Middle Island and

From top: RHKYC Teams in the Women’s Regatta; All Women’s Committee Boat

the incredible support and camaraderie from all the Royal Ladies who took part. I think we swam away with the prize for most capsizes, but I’m so pleased to have done it and can’t wait to do more.” Big thanks go to Bo Lee for co-ordinating the RHKYC competitive teams, all the helms for organising their respective teams, and the keen-spirited crews who enthusiastically jumped into taking part.

Well Supported

The festival was well supported by teams of men, some of whom gave their time to coach, lay marks and operate safety boats. They were also well able to assist with the draining of several bottles of post-regatta Prosecco that were waiting for the returning boats, all shared with good grace, gratitude and much merriment. Mark Ashton said, “One of the great things about the sport of sailing is that it is a sport for life; from youth to advanced age. It is also a sport that allows men and women to compete together. Unfortunately, our statistics don’t currently reflect that. The energy, sheer fun and high standard on display at the women’s Regatta sends a clear message that this is a sport for women and we must do more to make it more accessible for them.”

Encouragement

Laughter was frequently heard throughout the festival. One participant created a smile and a few knowing nods when she quipped, “I love sailing with the guys I race with, but they usually take charge and it has been a tremendous boost to realise I know more than I think I know and I’m actually quite a capable sailor even without being told what to do!” Poignantly, one volunteer told of how she had lost her live-aboard yacht during Typhoon Mangkhut and had sustained a difficult injury during the salvage process. Not venturing onto the water since, friends had encouraged her to participate in the opening J/80 friendly race. She said, “Two weeks after Mangkhut my home in the UK got flooded and when I was heading to the Isle of Wight the ferry I was supposed to be on, and luckily didn’t take, ran aground in fog. It was such a stressful time that I became convinced I was jinxed and avoided anything to do with getting on the water. But, surrounded and encouraged by awesome ladies this week, I have found my sea legs again.” Organiser Juliet said, “It was an absolutely fantastic 10 days. The festival introduced and re-introduced so many women and girls to sailing. It’s been wonderful see the enthusiasm from those who had little confidence in their sailing abilities, either because they hadn’t dare try or had an incident that put them off. That’s what has made this festival a success; not just that we pulled this off during complicated times, but, more importantly, that we have women and girls signing up for more.” The whole event had a spirit of co-operation, camaraderie and possibility about it. There are not only a good number of highly-skilled women sailors, rowers and other water sport enthusiasts involved in competitive racing in Hong Kong, but a whole host of women who participate in many support activities, or who simply enjoy being skilled enough to take to the water for exercise and leisure. The festival provided inspiration and encouragement to those women who would like to learn and get more involved. It is an aim of the Club to continue to support the development of women engaged in water sports, at all levels, with inter-class women crew networks being established and further all-women activities being planned. A big thanks to all who participated in this inaugural festival. We now have some tremendous collective enthusiasm from which to further develop the participation of women.

Participating RHKYC Teams (photographs) in the Inaugural Women-only Regatta on 29 May 2021.

RS Quest

Gina Chen (helm) / Chloe Bischoff / Trinh Hoang Kristen Chatellier (helm) / Liz Duffy

J/80

Scotia Ryer (helm) / Eleanor Crandall / Elise Kelly / Bo Lee / Berenice Voets Kathleen Chan (helm) / Christina Cully / Rosina Hau / Cathy Lam / Liz Wai Tiffany Koo (helm) / Jade Bourne / Violette Fung / Claire H. Park / Joyce Wong

HKPN Division – Arcturus

Florence Kan (helm) / Claire Becq / Fiona Cheung / Yan Pui Ha / Vicky Lee / Lifia Leung / Jeanette So / Wing Tsang / Irene Woo / Clarice Yu