Fiona Harrison with her husband Bruce and daughter Nicola on their boat High Point (a Farr 9.2) after learning to sail through WOW. Photo/Andrew Warner
Fiona Harrison with her husband Bruce and daughter Nicola on their boat High Point (a Farr 9.2) after learning to sail through WOW. Photo/Andrew Warner
Fiona Harrison always wanted to sail but never lived in the right place or had enough time.
She moved to the Bay in 2001, but it was not until 2004, when she saw an ad in the newspaper on Woman On Water, she thought she would give it ago.
I went out on a number of different boats and was really scared about falling off and making a fool of myself.
"ButI really like being out on the water, it is something about being on the water with no engine noise. Sailing is a great sport and gives an opportunity to meet new people."
Her husband Bruce started sailing with another family member and then from there they were both hooked.
They joined the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat club and decided to buy their own boat. "Over the years I have become so much more confident. I now helm and berth our boat on WOW days and any other time I can," she said.
"My daughter Nicola has also become very keen on sailing but unfortunately for me, she is jumping ship to helm another boat in the WOW series. It is great to see her becoming more confident too."
Women on Water chairwoman Delwyn Keyworth said the group started in 2001 after two women went out sailing on Tauranga Harbour and thought more women should do the same.
From there it has grown to where the club has 80 to 100 women each WOW night during the summer season, she said.
There are two divisions within the club, the racing and the cruising. The first is for women who have been out on the water and are looking to fine tune their skills, the latter is for women who have never been on a boat before or don't want to get into the serious side of it.
Mrs Keyworth said once out on the water it was up to the women themselves to sail the boat across the harbour.
There are already about 130 women on the database for this season, where meets are held every alternative Thursday with nine racing nights for the summer season.
Mrs Keyworth have also learnt to sail through the club, about eight years ago.
"I love being out there on the water. We are just so spoilt here. The harbour we have, it's quite peaceful and relaxing. But then the racing is fun, you are working together as a crew to make the boat go faster," she said.
"It's got to be fun or else it's not worthwhile doing it."
Anybody can learn the sport, she said. "You are always learning. Some women have bought their own boat and now bring it out to the racing. It's a good community, the sailing community. Everybody is really supportive of each other."
Mrs Keyworth said there was nothing to be scared of if others wanted to try out the sport.
Just come out and give it a go. The boat owners and skippers are all very experienced.
Their aim is to keep their crew safe. All the skippers could virtually sail their boats themselves but are keen to teach people too.
"For me, the more you learn about things the more you get out of it. That to me is what makes it fun. The women are all in the same boat together, all learning.
"You also get to experience nature, you are in the water in the elements. The wind, or a gentle breeze, on a sunny day. Maybe a light shower coming through. A beautiful sunset.
"Our harbour out here is just superb, it's so idyllic. Sometimes you see the little blue penguins, or a pod of dolphins coming through. Once or twice we have spotted the orca. It's a fantastic feeling."
Fiona Harrison after learning to sail through WOW. Photo/Andrew Warner
Sophie Headley said the upcoming season will be her third with the group. She had lived in Tauranga for nine years and never been out on the water, when she heard about it through another English friend who was keen to do some cool Tauranga-based activities.
"I had always quite fancied sailing but had then never done it. I went along and everybody was really friendly."
On her first race she was put on a boat with others in a similar situation to herself. "The sun set out across the water, it was quite special to be out there and on a beautiful yacht."
