Issue date
Attempts are being made to establish a network of female sailors as the ILCA class look at ways to recruit and retain more females.
There were 14 females among the 51 competing in the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) in both the open and masters fleets at the recently-completed ILCA national championships hosted by the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club.
It's a number Yachting New Zealand women's sailing manager and ILCA 6 programme manager Jenny Armstrong would like to increase and it's prompted her to look into ways this can be done. This could be newcomers but also some older sailors returning to the boat.
Armstrong would love to hear from anyone keen to be involved or who has ideas to help attract more females to the class and sport.
One of those who has put her hand up to be involved is Helen Spencer, who won the masters title at last week's nationals.
Spencer is a former international footballer who tried sailing when her daughter quit the Starling in 2016. She had been in and around the sport for a few years, mostly as parental support, but wanted her experience to be different to some of those around her.
"I wanted to show that women can drive powerboats and go sailing, not just be in the kitchen," Spencer said. "I was more interested in sanding boats and sailing.
"I was a late starter but we have to bring about change for another generation. We know that in order to develop sailors at the pointy end, we need to nurture them at the bottom level. That feeds into the bigger question of how do we retain them so they sail for life?"
It's a question Yachting New Zealand have been focusing on for some time and something that gained momentum during research into the organisation's Women and Girls in Sailing Strategy.
Both Armstrong and Spencer see any female ILCA network will feed directly into the wider female sailing network. The Women in Sailing NZ group meet on a regular basis and to find out more visit the Women in Sailing NZ Facebook page.
Yachting New Zealand would encourage other classes to set up a similar group as the ILCA class. For more information on the ILCA female group and to offer ideas, please contact Jenny Armstrong.
- Pic: Helen Spencer in action at the national championships. Photo: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die.
