Ladies Day Regatta 2022

After the type of racing held on Saturday, 13 August, the women of the Royal Cape Yacht Club should not be called soft! By Heidi Burger

The biannual Ladies Day Regatta went ahead in tough conditions and the women of the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) did not fail to dominate the event. The day started out in the RCYC Regatta Centre with a talk by Vasti Manser, which was as much inspiring and terrifying as it was hilarious. Vasti paints a picture of being a regular nine-to-five girl who likes her comfortable duvet and daily showers. However, apart from enjoying these domestic pleasures, she has also sought out her fair share of adventure, such as traversing the Atlantic Ocean in a little 7m rowing boat with her then fiancé (now husband), Riaan. Their 9 000km ‘take-me-to-New-York journey’ took them four-and-a-half months to complete and was filled with unforgettable memories, experiences and challenges. While not quite inspiring enough to convince everyone to follow suit, her talk roused everyone in the room to take on the day, despite the anticipated tough conditions. Eighteen boats left the docks to tackle a day of racing while enduring an expected heavy northwester. Race director Jennifer Burger and race officer Craig Leslie opted for a course commencing from the bridge hut on the wall towards Landfall, following a path to the illusive Milnerton mark. After finding the leeward buoy, the boats would race towards Lewmar and then finish off with a beat back to the bridge hut. All the boats promptly started the race together and sailed the same course in order to finish before the much alluded to 3pm storm. The beat was long and hard with a short and confusing choppy sea state. However, luckily, the swell period was less severe than expected for those of us prone to seasickness. The run down had a satisfying

angle and was very fast for those with asymmetrical spinnakers. MB’s top boat speed was 21.6 knots surfing down the waves. This was until their spinnaker had to be put away and Navionics had to be brought out in order to find the small Milnerton mark in among the waves. The leg from Milnerton to Lewmar was a two-sail reach that allowed heart rates to calm after the exhilarating downwind, before a final beat back to the finish. MB crossed the line first, followed by Ballyhoo Too and then Cape Dancer. After the race, there was much hanging around in anticipation of another race. Hiding behind the breakwater wall, the sailors sought to avoid seasickness and the cold while all the boats finished the race. However, by the time everyone had finished, the average wind speed was above 21 knots, gusting 28 knots and the decision was made not to have a second race. After such a great first race, there weren’t many people who complained. Prize-giving was held in the Regatta Centre. Overall, there were 86 women out of 123 sailors who sailed on the 18 boats. The L26 Hors D’Oeuvre won the spinnaker division, skippered by Linda Raubenheimer, followed by the Cape 31 MB , skippered by Heidi Burger and Megan Robertson, and the Mumm 36 Ballyhoo Too, skippered by Dominique Provoyeur, placed third. The Pacer 38 Cape Dancer won the non-spinnaker division with Becca Hall at the helm, followed by the L26s Escape, skippered by Nesia Khonza, and B&G, skippered by Sesona. The non-ORC division was won by new RCYC member Jodi Geldenhys on Julia. There were several lucky draws with many coveted prizes.

We were also introduced to the RCYC Power of Africa Ladies Sailing Team that has been invited to sail in the Lady Liberty Regatta in New York in September. They are representing not only RCYC, but South Africa. It’s a great indication to see where women’s sailing at RCYC is going. (They are tracking their journey on social media.) The goal of these ladies’ day events has been to get more women sailing in key positions on boats. This inherently broadens the space for and grows the number of women in sailing at the RCYC. With days like these, we are progressing towards and fulfilling this goal at every event. Thanks to South Africa Sailing Western Cape and World Sailing’s Steering the Course Initiative for sponsoring the event, along with product sponsors Clos Malverne Wine Estate, Krone, Ocean Star Sailing Academy, Stir Crazy, De Vleispaleis Steakhouse, The Rudy Project, Saint Anna Guest House, Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate and Harley-Davidson Cape Town. Thank you to all the boat owners who made their boats available. The next Ladies Day Regatta will take place on 27 May 2023.

A brief history of the Ladies Day Regatta

By Claire Heginbotham While we recently enjoyed the Ladies Day Regatta with good cheer, it might surprise you to know that the Royal Cape Yacht Club has been a ‘male-only’ club for about 63% of its existence…

‘Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.’ This quote fits right in at a yacht club. Trying to resist ringing the bell after a win and having one too many beers, forgetting that you’re wearing a peak cap in the back bar, cheering as you bob past the commodore during the opening cruise — all these traditions shape our culture.

But, like the Club, some traditions need renovation. And a mere 44 years ago, one of its most restrictive traditions was about to see the chopping block. Molly Warr and a group of female sailors were fighting for the right to become the first female members of the Royal Cape Yacht Club. Because, up until 1978, no woman was allowed to become a member. We have a lot to thank Molly Warr for.

Molly Warr, wife of Ken Warr, was an excellent skipper and a keen racer. She and her husband were renowned in the racing fleet for their very audible disagreements on their racing tactics, which led to their last boat being named Warrfare. After the rules were rewritten, Molly become a member and went on to start two races that are now very popular: the Ladies Day Regatta and Wednesday Night Races.

Both events were focused on getting more people on the water more often, having fun, and learning how to sail competitively. These two events alone have contributed to thousands of people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, countries and genders being introduced to sailing. And, of course, they’ve also allowed our sailors the time on the water they needed to become internationally competitive racers.

The current Ladies Day Regatta trophies were donated by Molly Warr. And, today, they cause some rumblings among sailors about their appropriateness (one only has to look at them to realise why). However, this generation of sailors must be humbled in the presence of such historically significant trophies, trophies that represent one group of women’s strength, intelligence and fire.