WWSA Spotlight: Gaye Jennings

WWSA Spotlight

Gaye Jennings

Vessel name and type:

Schionning GForce 17C

WildFire a

How long have you been sailing and what lead you to start?

First experience was on a mono RL24 at Eagle Point, Victoria, 25 years ago. A gust of wind had the boat heeled over. Of course, the kids thought it was mar vellous, having enormous fun – woohoo let’s do it again! Me, I was packing my bags and getting off at the first opportunity, which was two seconds later as we were still tied up alongside (rolled eyes). I gradually progressed to a Super Tramp Trimaran. The Skipper loved it on windy days – for me the seas had to be as flat as a pancake, with sunny days – after all a girl has to work on her tan with a drink in her hand. Apparently, you need wind to sail? I then upgraded to ‘cruise ships’. Now that was the life, very decadent, and no wind required. Somewhere, somehow, along the line the Skipper convinced me to go ‘sailing’. Most people buy boats – but noooo we had to build a boat, and a big one at that! Crazy stuff. We launched two and a half years ago, sat in Queenscliff Harbour, Victoria, for approximately two years while we finished off the boat and explored Port Phillip Bay. We left in March 2020 and got as far as Paynesville in the Gippsland Lakes before COVID-19 hit. So, definitely still got the ‘L’ plates on but learning every day, especially thanks to WWSA.

Who do you sail with (family/pets)?

environmentally friendly vacuum cleaner)

Favourite location(s):

Any berth close to cafes, good restaurants, and hairdressers. Docklands Melbourne was perfect for this. At the moment all locations are largely new and exciting. Just loving the sunrises and sunsets at sea or on the lakes.

What do you find the most challenging about sailing/cruising?

The lack of ability to control expenditure - eg BOAT (Break Out Another Thousand!). The poor reliability of marine parts that break just out of warranty. Understanding the intricacies of weather. The overwhelming knowledge of how much I don’t know and still have to learn.

What do you find the most rewarding?

D e f i n i t e l y t h e m e e t i n g o f n e w people. Kindred spirits and sharing different locations with fellow boaties and the subsequent friendships made

Just loved having the dolphins, seals, and various birds frolicking and greeting us as we came through the Lakes Entrance Bar.

Most essential item (other than safety equipment) on board:

Without a doubt ‘Marriage Savers’ (headsets) – worth every cent and best investment. At 17 metres we are a tad large and communicating can be tricky. With the ‘Marriage savers’ I now don’t have to screech just have to get the Captain ‘to listen’.

Funniest thing that has happened to you while cruising/sailing:

Many funny things have happened along the way from – first bed making experience with the Captain and the interesting positions we found ourselves in (ear covered - lalalala), to being ankle deep in you know what when the loo shate itself at 5.00 am, to my first experience on the radio signing off to Marine Radio Victoria with “Bye Hun”.* But it was the funny anecdotes that many of us WWSA woman shared through the recent Victorian COVID-19 lockdown that really helped save the day. The camaraderie developed and laughter shared, kept us entertained daily and certainly gave us all something to look forward to. Many great friendships were formed, some with people we are yet to meet. Humour certainly does help the world go round.

What do you enjoy or find helpful about being a member of WWSA?

Love, LOVE, WWSA. I came across WWSA by accident and joined immediately. The learning, the friendships, and the annual Gathering on the Bay in particular are just amazing. I consider WWSA an investment in my sailing education and knowledge bank and recommend the group to any woman sailor I come across.

* You can read Gaye’s humorous VHF tale in the January 2020 issue of SisterShip Magazine www.sistershipmagazine.com

BELOW: Gaye wearing her ‘marriage saver’ headset.