Building on the momentum of the Yachting New Zealand & SheSails NZ Top awards’ debut in 2024, the Female Helm Trophies are inspiring a new wave of women sailors. According to Yachting New Zealand’s national sport development director, Raynor Haagh, the initiative embodies the powerful idea of ‘you need to see it to be it.’ Haagh explains, “Seeing female helms in action inspires others to try helming and encourages those already involved to stay engaged, knowing our community values their contributions.”
Haagh also emphasises the significance of Bay of Islands Sailing Week as a platform, offering opportunities for female sailors of all levels to showcase their skills across diverse divisions and vessel types.
Sally Garrett, who is also the NZ Flying Fifteen president, agrees. Reflecting on the event, she notes, “The Bay of Islands offers exceptional sailing conditions—clear waters, minimal wakes, and well-organised races. It’s the perfect training ground for the upcoming Flying Fifteen World Championship in Weymouth, UK.”
Sally Garrett: A trailblazer at the helm
Garrett’s accolades are impressive. In 2024, she and her crew sailed The Godffather to victory in the Flying Fifteen National Championships, becoming the first female helm to win the title in New Zealand. Notably, the 2024 Nationals saw four female helms in the top five, with a 50/50 gender split across the leading crews and 30% of all participants being women.
Garrett’s journey into the spotlight has been defined by determination and community. In 2019, she won the New Zealand Women’s Keelboat Championships with a team she first sailed with 20 years earlier. After an 11-year hiatus—where crew members focused on raising children, competing in the Olympics, and offshore sailing—they reunited in 2018 and reclaimed their competitive edge. This victory marked a pivotal moment for women’s keelboat racing, with the 2019 Nationals attracting 13 crews and over 90 women—a far cry from the smaller fleets of prior years.
“While we were going through our ‘lost years,’ women’s keelboats were going through their own,” explains Sarah Ell, a Boating New Zealand writer, sailor, and Sally Garret’s long-time friend. Ell recalls the changes that brought many women back to the sport, including a restructured annual race boat chartering approach. “It brought a lot of women who were no longer sailing out of the woodwork. The top crews included many women in their 40s and 50s. It’s great we’re still out there doing it.”
Balancing passions: Science, sailing, and motherhood
Beyond her sailing achievements, Sally Garrett is a scientist studying waves in the Southern Ocean—a career that mirrors her adventurous spirit. Her scientific expertise complements her understanding of the maritime environment, a synergy she brings to the helm.
Garrett’s life is a testament to the balance between professional pursuits, family, and a deep-seated passion for sailing. She first competed in the Sydney to Hobart in 2017 as the navigator aboard Imalizard and returned in 2024 aboard Indigo II, finishing 28th in Line Honours. With well-over over 40,000 nautical miles under her belt, Garrett’s experience underscores her dedication to the sport.
Paving the way for future generations
The Female Helm Trophies at the Bay of Islands Sailing Week are more than awards—they’re a call to action. By showcasing the achievements of women like Sally Garrett, the initiative is inspiring a new generation of female sailors to take the helm and make their mark.
As Garrett prepares for the Flying Fifteen World Championship in Weymouth, she carries not only her sailing dreams but also the hopes of countless women watching her journey. In a sport once dominated by men, the tides are undeniably turning, driven by passionate leaders like Garrett and the visionaries behind initiatives like SheSails NZ.
