It’s been a long time between drinks, but Waikawa Boating Club’s women’s regatta was back in full force this year, with a record number of entries. Female sailors from around the country – including Sarah Ell, sailing with most of the crew led by Sally Garrett who won the women’s national keelboat title earlier this year – made the journey to Marlborough in mid-September for two days of racing in typical Sounds conditions.
Last year the regatta had to be cancelled due to covid restrictions, so it was great to see the event back in full swing for 2022, with a new sponsor: Evolution Sails. Thirty boats and more than 220 female sailors raced in two divisions, over both triangle and ‘harbour’ courses in the waters off Picton.
In Auckland we get used to keeping an eye out for ferries, but they’re on a slightly bigger scale here: the regular movements of the Interislander, which has the impact of a small building on wind and sea conditions, were closely watched and in some cases were a significant tactical factor. Conditions were light to moderate, with more than the odd ‘bullet’ spiralling down off the forested hills and providing the ever-present risk of the boat performing a sudden and unexpected tack.
Our charter boat for the regatta was Global, a Beneteau 36.7 owned by Marlborough sheep farmer David Griggs. Dave was kind enough to give us pretty much free rein once again, after we proved ourselves at the previous regatta in 2020, while also offering lots of useful local knowledge and plenty of humour. For our crew there are two big attractions: getting the chance to sail somewhere completely different to our usual base on the Waitemata Harbour, and also to spend time with each other and other sailors in a relaxed and fun environment. Don’t think for one minute that the racing isn’t competitive, however, with entries in our division including Olympians such as Leslie Egnot and former national champion Karleen Dixon.
The regatta began in traditional fashion with a cruise hosted by Richard Macalister of Kiwi Yachting, whose bach at Blackwood Bay makes a great place for the Taste of Marlborough wine and food tasting event. Who knew merino sheep were as delicious as they are good at producing wool? After racing on Saturday was the regatta dinner with speaker Annika Andresen, and on the Sunday the prizegiving function gave crews more time to mingle and share stories. Word is certainly out about how much fun the weekend is, on and off the water, and many participants will have already marked next year’s regatta dates in their diaries. Heads up, ladies – next year, a winery tour is being added to the agenda on the Thursday before the sailing starts.
Waikawa committee member Juliet Abbott, one of the driving forces behind the regatta, says it’s great to see the event gaining momentum and getting more female sailors involved. The event has also attracted local government support through the Te Tauihu Regional Events Fund. Abbott says the event is “a real mix of having fun with girlfriends and reconnecting with the Sounds and as well as the social side, some good sailing.”
“As well as the full crews, we have quite a few women who come on their own and are then placed in a team,” she says. “A lot of them haven’t sailed since they were in youth classes, for twenty years or so, and for some it’s their first time on a yacht. We just want to encourage women to get out on the water.”
