When is it most appropriate to call a boat “she”? When everyone onboard is female, during the Herrington Harbour Sailing Association (HHSA) Women’s Regatta, an annual three-race event, with all-female crews competing head to head, no Y chromosomes allowed. HHSA held the 2015 event June 14. Emily Mayes, skipper for Jubilee, says, “Getting women to go out and collaborate, stepping up to do the job and do it well, is a very empowering feeling.”
The boats participating in the regatta were a combination of the HHSA racing and cruising fleets. Owners either volunteered to put their boats in the hands of an all-female crew for the day, or female co-owners took the helm. Dave McCullough, HHSA’s rear commodore of racing said, “We want women to know there is an opportunity to drive a boat at HHSA.” Most crews got together before race day to practice sailing and boathandling skills aboard an unfamiliar vessel.
The day of the regatta was warm, with a light clocking breeze. The regatta drew crewmembers from HHSA, West River, and Annapolis. McCullough notes, “Several boats wanted to put up spinnakers, but we need to add a few more boats and we can have more classes.” The regatta’s three races followed three different triangle courses. Alli Bell, skipper for Gitana, says the races were “very competitive—really tight, challenging conditions. We had some challenges such as recreational boats in the middle of the race course, but everyone handled it with really good spirit and camaraderie, on and off the water.”
After the day on the water, the racers were enthusiastic about the event and the opportunity to sail with other women. “It’s a great group to race with... the people at HHSA are wonderful. They are supportive and they are really encouraging women to come out here,” says Eunice Lin, skipper for Liberty Prevails.
Racer Shirley Franko comments, “The best part of the race is the camaraderie… getting people together with that sense of competition, but also sharing skills and knowledge and awareness, and just developing friendships.”
Mayes notes, “When we get back to the dock and the party, the first thing the women are talking about is doing it again next year.”
Bev Wright, commodore of HHSA and crew member on Whoosh, congratulated all the racers and encourages any woman interested in racing to participate next year. “Women racers should come down to the HHSA Women’s Regatta because it’s a real confidence builder.”
Top Three Finishers
Jubilee, E. Mayes
Gitana, A. Bell
Zalek, K. Grimsely
