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Interclub Women Racing – 2007 Spring Meeting

February 8, 2007 – Nepean Sailing Club

 

 

Welcome and Introductions

 

NSC Fleet Captain, David Bradley, opened the Interclub Women’s Racing Committee meeting. He indicated NSC’s continuing support for the Women’s racing program, now in its 20th year.

 

Women’s Fleet Committee Representatives Lucie Napert (NSC) and Kelly Lyon (BYC) welcomed skippers and crew in attendance. Fifteen women attended, representing 9 boats: 6 from NSC and 3 from BYC. In total, 14 boats are expected to join the women's racing program this summer. They are (in no particular order):

Barbara James (T 22 to be determined, NSC) (represented)
Kelly Lyons (Kokopelli, BYC) (represented)
Kim Moffat (Thumper, BYC) (represented)
Linda Smaltz (Azura, NSC) (represented)
Mary Jaekl (Misty Star, BYC) (represented)
Carol Laidlaw (Jolly Rodent, NSC) (represented)
Pam Dargavel (Pretender, NSC) (represented)
Lucie Napert (007, NSC) (represented)
Harienne Rosenes (Zephyr II, NSC) (represented)
Sylvia Goodeve (Makai 27, BYC)
Laura Parkinson (T 22 to be determined, NSC)
MaryEllen Dempster (Watermelon, BYC)

new crew Boat Syndicate Shark
new crew CC 27

 

The 2006 Season in Review

 

The group were asked to speak about what worked well, and what needed improvement.

 

What worked well?

  • Lots of boats, weather was great, great Race Committee

 

What needs improvement?

  • The race course could be set further away from Blueberry reef. Would improve safety.
  • Communication in the event of storm warnings; the decision to bail out of the race rests with the skippers, not the race committee.
  • Skippers and crews should go over safety procedures at the start of the season and have a plan in case a storm rolls through unexpectedly.
  • Need to formalize a method of contact between all three clubs to confirm the NSC Race Committee boat has left the dock / or not. Perhaps BYC and Grande Riviere could contact the NSC Bosun to confirm.

 

Women in Wind Seminar – Spring 2007

 

  • An organizing Committee was identified
  • The date of the Seminar/Workshop will be Saturday, April 14
  • Post-meeting note: moved to April 21 due to room availability
  • The program will include guest speakers and a workshop

 

2007 Monday Night Racing Schedule

 

  • The group reviewed the racing schedule for 2007
  • First practice race will be May 14
  • Sailing Instructions will be available on the web mid-March
  • For those who wish to race, Boat Registration and PHRF Registration packages are available from your clubs.

 

Options to have more women join Monday night racing

 

The Women’s Fleet spent a lot of time discussing means of attracting additional women on the Monday night start line.

 

  1. As in previous years, ‘all women crew’ with a female coach on board can join the regular Monday night start and be scored.
  2. The Women’s Fleet is open to the idea of welcoming a second start for “Absolute Beginners” again this year. This initiative was piloted last year for mixed crew and was a great success. Since the logistics can be daunting i.e. creating a bank of coaches for a few weeks, lining them up with potential skippers who must ready their boat for racing and pull a crew together, the Women’s Fleet looks to the NSC and/or BYC Fleet Committees to spearhead the initiative.
  3. If the second start for ‘Absolute Beginners’ goes ahead – this race is not officially scored –, ‘all women crew’ with a male coach on board could join that second start until they feel ready to race on their own at which point they will be welcome on the regular Monday night start and be scored (even at mid-series).
  4. The Women’s Fleet also discussed piloting a new initiative to allow ‘all women crew’ with a male coach on board to join the regular Monday night start under a scoring penalty regime. Conditions were to include:
    • a boat racing under the scoring penalty regime would do so for the entire series (to prevent potential abuse)
    • the boat would carry a flag signalling to the race committee and fellow racers that they are racing under the scoring penalty regime (ensuring transparency)
    • the coach would provide verbal assistance only
    • the scoring penalty regime would ensure boats without male coaches are not disadvantaged
    • this initiative was to be a pilot to be reviewed at the end of the season to determine if it was successful in attracting new skippers on the start line and whether it should be maintained in the future
    • after attempting to reach consensus for over 45 minutes, a vote was held and the majority (one vote per boat) was prepared to include men-coached boats on the first start on the condition that a severe scoring penalty regime be instituted.
  • Post-meeting note: after further discussion at the Fleet Committee level (NSC-BYC), it was determined that a second start for the men-coached boats would be more suitable. Skippers will be invited to discuss implementation in April.

 

Safety

 

The group agreed that safety issues and procedures should be part of the Women and Wind Seminar in April. Some of the concerns that will be addressed are:

 

  • Crew Overboard Procedures
  • Crew Awareness – Emergency Equipment, First Aid, Heaving Line Practice
  • Safe Boating Guidelines

 

Other Business

 

  • NSC volunteers have agreed to maintain the tradition of providing Race Committee services for the 2007 racing season. Thank you Ray, Graham, Murray, Peter and crew.
  • NSC has acquired a second Race Committee boat.
  • NSC has acquired new race marks (different colours) that will make it easier to distinguish between the skiffs’ and women’s race courses.

 




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