World Sailing’s “Steering The Course Festival”, an annual Festival which aims to introduce female sailors to the sport by highlighting the many different pathways and careers that are available in sailing has just reached its completion. This year the event took place between Friday 19th and Sunday 28th May 2023.
In Scotland the festival inspired contrast of No Buoys and Race Buoys, as we celebrated the females enabling activity afloat.
No Buoys Allowed
Port Edgar Watersports CIC, with assistance from Edinburgh Marine Academy ,Port Edgar Yacht Club and Portabello Sailing Club ran a series of on the water taster activities under the banner, “No Buoys Allowed”, a female takeover of the water sport’s centre as part of Steering The Course, with the energy and passion the volunteer female instructors brought creating a great community environment.”
74 women took part on the 19th of May, supported by volunteer female instructors and volunteers from Port Edgar Yacht Club and Portabello Sailing Club, enabling an amazing introduction to the recreational and professional pathways women can take in sailing, windsurfing, powerboating and paddle sports.
“The collaboration between the organisations to make the day happen was rewarded by seeing over £1500 being raised from funds for the event, this years funds going to Scottish Women’s Aid.”
Robyn Phillips said. “No Buoys allowed was a great success for the second year running. It was brilliant to see women of all ages with an 80 year old on the powerboat tasters with her niece. The group tried activities on the water with the energy and passion the volunteer female instructors brought created a great community environment. A massive well done to Roisin at Port Edgar for bringing it all together, and a big thanks to Port Edgar Yacht Club and Portabello Sailing Club getting involved, highlighting some of the many options for women to sail in the Forth.”
Race Buoys
The annual Scottish Series in Tarbert took place in Loch Fyne on the west coast from the 26-29th May. With a team of volunteers assisting in the race management, there were a significant number of women on the water enabling the event, with plenty of buoys at the event.
Eilidh Miller from Helensburgh took on the role of Assistant Race Officer (ARO) on the northern course, while the mark layers on the southern IRC courses were all women, as Jill Wadge, Catrina Still, Eilidh McQueen, Sophie Gibson and Naomi Angus volunteered to help anchor the buoys of the race courses.
The deep loch and shifting winds of Loch Fyne are always a challenge for race committees having to lift and move buoys in up to 120 metres of water when the winds change. Despite the fickle winds the team enabled 7 races across 11 classes for around 600 sailors taking part.
Volunteer Jill Wadge notes.
“When the call went out for volunteers I jumped at the chance. I have sailed at Scottish Series for many years so felt it was time to give something back to the event. It was a fantastic few days working with some incredible women, a very supportive committee and great competitors.”
“Setting up the marks, laying and lifting them got the adrenaline going as we were keen that the competitors not only got racing as quickly as possible but also had a decent course to sail. At the end of the day there was a real sense of achievement (and a few smiles) from us all.”
It is fantastic to highlight some of the Scottish women in sailing and the many pathways and opportunities available in the sport, through participation, careers, and volunteering.
If you want to get involved and grow participation for girls and women within our sport why not find out about our Pioneers?
