Australia's Women and Girls in Sailing focus for International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate the social, economic and political achievement of women around the globe. Women in sport is a growing conversation and aims to create opportunities to get more women participating and engaging in sport.

The sport of sailing is a typically a male dominated sport so seeing women wanting to be involved and succeeding at a high level is not only inspiring but also overdue.

Australia is one place which is leading the way in finding ways to increase the participation of women in sailing. In October 2012, Yachting Victoria (State Sporting Association for sailing in state of Victoria) formalised a committee named Women and Girls in Sailing. Its purpose continues to increase the participation of females in the sport and does so using the following implementation strategies:

–    Increasing female membership and participation in Clubs whether it be race management, club leadership or active sailing.
–    Providing opportunities for girls at school to take up the sport
–    Promoting female keelboat and off the beach sailing with a focus on Learn to Sail opportunities
–    Creating a network of support through Women and Girls in Sailing Club Representatives

Dedicating such a group to this focus absolutely works; in the past year Victoria has welcomed over 1500 new female members. The WGIS Committee is well on their way to achieving their membership target of 40% by 2017 with a solid 7% increase since it’s gestation to 32%. They have also smashed their target of getting more women into leadership roles (such as commodores, committee members, coaches, instructors etc.) since 2012. They started at 11% engagement and have already had a 20% increase in these roles (some 6% ahead of their 5-year target).

Debbie Parker, President of the Women and Girls in Sailing Committee and a board member of Yachting Victoria, believes it all comes down what opportunities have been created to learn, “It’s important to be active in continuing to create equal opportunities for women. In the sailing world women don’t always get the chance to take on major roles in the boat simply because they’ve never had the opportunity to build their skills.

“Groups such as the Women and Girls in Sailing Committee pride ourselves on building such chances. We hope to create a broader community by introducing new skills and opportunities to women and that also aligns with the celebration of International Women’s Day.”

The Women and Girls in Sailing presence is seen across all disciplines of sailing in Victoria. From the Port Phillip Women’s Championship Series (a series of Keelboat races where only female helms and a majority of female crew are allowed to participate) to the Women & Girls Lake Challenge (a dinghy coaching regatta where women only are allowed to participate and have all dinghy equipment provided) there are opportunities for all abilities to be involved in sailing.

If you would like more information on Women and Girls in Sailing please visit their website www.womenandgirlsinsailing.com.au or check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WomenandGirlsinsailing/.

With International Women’s Day on the 8 March, World Sailing will be focussing on women in sailing with a group of features showcasing just a few of the achievements and personalities we have in our sport.