Issue date
More than 50 women are expected at an unpcoming Women on Water weekend in the Bay of Islands when they will be taught things like boat-handling, navigation and passage planning skills.
The weekend on April 13-15 is being organised by Great Escape sailing school in Opua and nearly 140 people have registered an interest, including a crew from Australia.
Events like the Volvo Ocean Race have opened up opportunities for women with gender rules but not all females are interested in racing, and certainly not at the top level. Others have plenty of experience on boats but rarely get the chance to take the helm.
"Many just don't take the helm or make decision on a boat because their partner is in charge," said Julie Kidman from Great Escape, who is also a Yachting New Zealand keelboat instructor. "This is a chance for them to do that in a fun and low-stress environment. It's also not a racing environment because many women don't want to race.
"Hopefully they will get more confidence and feel more capable and want to go out in all conditions. When people get scared, they get angry and defensive and don't want to go sailing any more. If we can help take that feeling away, they are going to enjoy it more."
A raft of women of all ages have expressed an interest in the weekend and Kidman hopes to fill about 10 boats, or the equivalent of about 50 sailors. It's an idea she borrowed from her sister who is running a Women on Water programme in Australia and other areas around New Zealand have offered similar events.
An emphasis will be put on planning a safe passage based on the weather forecast and navigation skills. The fleet will then sail to an agreed destination and spend the night at an anchorage.
"It will be very casual with the emphasis on fun and participation," Kidman said. "Women can bring their own boats or use one of ours. If they want to join as individuals, I'm making crews up sharing the more experienced sailors around."
See here or email info@greatescape.co.nz for more information.
