It was a privilege to be part of the Brighton contingent of boat owners and mentors taking part in this year’s Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy (KISS) Rally to Queenscliff organised by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria over the weekend.
As Commodore Peter Demura said at the pre-rally dinner “Your own sailing journey is only limited by your enthusiasm, imagination and willingness to have a crack and in doing so, you will make lifetime friends, go on some amazing adventures, and see and experience things most people only ever dream about.”
Three Brighton boats rose to the challenge, Another Chapter – Greg Clinnick and Julie McKay, Cavarlo – Lou and Marnie Irving and Cath Hurley and L’Etoile – Wes Thomson and Celestine Eramo, mentoring teams of women over the winter months. It’s a big commitment, but fantastic for our club helping to identify and develop new sailors for our keelboat fleets for the future. Participants were given the opportunity to helm, navigate and organise radio skeds. RBYC alumnus and women’s sailing enthusiast Rosie Colahan took part in her boat Encore and was a key member of the KISS organising team along with Lee Renfree from QCYC. Brighton member and Vice Commodore QCYC Matt Gault was on hand to see us off and to greet us at Queenscliff Cruising Yacht Club and Brighton member Vanessa Twigg was the Incident Manager for the event. Thanks also to Peter and Susie Strain for providing accommodation on It’s a Privilege.
The weather gods shone on Saturday with a gentle northerly wind sending the fleet on its way and plenty of winter sunshine. Although the iron sail had to be deployed to reach our final destination all arrived in good time and in good spirits.
After a night of celebration at QCYC the teams faced a stiff northerly beating up the bay and returned home tired but energised.
It’s a joy to see the confidence the program has given these women, many of whom had never had the chance to helm a keel boat before going on the program. If you’re a boat owner and have never mentored new sailors, whether male or female I’d strongly encourage you to give it a go. You don’t have to be an elite sailor to share your skills snd knowledge with others.
The final word goes to KISS participant on Cavarlo, Carley Wright “My KISS goal was to absorb as much as I could through the sessions and through meeting other sailors. Never did I imagine I would conquer my fear of helming and not just feel comfortable on the helm but actually enjoy it. You have changed the course of my sailing journey”.
Congratulations to all involved.
Cath Hurley,
Rear Commodore RBYC
