Women take to the water

The Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron is about to launch its new Women on Water programme. Daily Post sports reporter KATIE FARMAN is granted a sneak preview and discovers what participants can expect.
My instructions were simple.

Just north of Rotorua I was to turn right into Okawa Bay Road and follow my nose, until I came across the home of the Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron (BOPTYS) and my host would be waiting.

I was running 10 minutes late.

But thankfully the patient Jackie Holt was waiting next to her Catalina seven yacht called Hot Mumble.

"Right," she said.

"I'll explain one or two things, then I'll show you how to set the janoa sail."

Jackie has been entrusted with establishing the squadron's Women on Water (WOW) programme, following the success of a similar programme operating out of the Tauranga Yacht and Powerboat Club for the last three years.

WOW aims to introduce sailing to women in a non-threatening and supportive environment - focusing on learning and improving skills, learning about water safety and for those enthusiastic participants, learning the ins and outs of competitive sailing.

"WOW is for anyone," she said. "It's an opportunity for women to get a feel for sailing, learn some important skills and meet like people."

Having limited sailing experience myself, I accepted Jackie's offer of getting a sneak peek of what WOW participants may experience during tomorrow's opening day, by crewing on board Hot Mumble during the squadron's Wednesday night alternative sailing programme - affectionately known as WASP.

Also accompanied by experienced sailor Barry Bringans, we tackled the lake course with 11 other yachts - the majority being Noelex 25s.

Light winds, which eased off during the race, kept skippers and crews on their toes and provided me with the perfect introduction to trailer yachts.

Jackie and Barry explained to me the finer points of tacking, jibing, setting the main sail, winching, water safety, rigging, hoisting the spinnaker, wind direction and wind speed.

But as the shifting conditions upwind resulted in some early tactical gains by the rest of the fleet, I quickly decided the secret of translating this new knowledge into practice may take another session ... or three.

However, as we sailed downwind with the colourful spinnaker up you couldn't help but gasp at the beauty of the night.

Under a twilight sky with an almost full moon above us we cruised down to the final buoy - the sight was so gorgeous on Lake Rotoiti I was almost tempted to quote lines from the great Lakes poets William Wordsworth or Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

But the shifting wind and a hurried need to bring down the spinnaker pole snapped me back to reality.

As we crossed the line seventh on handicap - with Invisible Touch, Sub 60 and Buzz Off enjoying the top three placings - Jackie informed me the BOPTYS has over 120 active members and offers both racing and cruising activities.

Committee members have also worked hard over the years to develop a range of facilities, which include a 50-boat secure boat park, secure car park, boat moorings, marina complex, launching ramp and jetties.

As I shared an obligatory drink with the crew afterwards I was reminded that it's never to late to begin new challenges.

Just as well I'd sent that memo to Dean Barker and Ben Ainslee letting them know I was unavailable for this weekend's Match Racing Championships in Auckland.