Photos and Report Written by Emily McCutcheon – RPAYC Women’s Fleet Representative
The RPAYC Women’s Development Racing Team had an exciting weekend at the SheSails Development Regatta, hosted by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC) on 1–2 March. This fantastic event provided an opportunity for female sailors to build confidence, develop racing skills, and enjoy some great camaraderie both on and off the water.
Congratulations to Louisa, Isabelle, Jill, and Leisa, who proudly represented RPAYC, sailing in Newcastle Harbour’s “The Basin” aboard the club’s Force 24s. This was a great chance to learn a new boat, adapt to a new harbour, learn starts and work on racing tactics, with each team member rotating crew positions—including helming—throughout the event. Impressively, the crew had not sailed together prior to this regatta, with each of them having completed the Start Crewing course at RPAYC. Leisa also sails regularly with Rock and Roll, while Louisa, Jill, and Isabelle are continuing their training and looking for boats to crew with regularly to further develop their skills.
The weekend was not just about racing but also about fostering connections and having fun. The off-water celebrations included bubbles and nibbles on Sunday, with plenty of laughs and friendships strengthened. It was a fantastic experience, reinforcing the importance of community, confidence, and continued learning in sailing.
A huge thank you to NCYC SheSails legends Mary and Jan, as well as Alison and her team of Race Official volunteers, for delivering a well-organised and welcoming regatta. The support from instructors and the great awards at the end of the weekend made the event even more special.
We were also proud to wear our RPAYC Racing Team bibs and polos, and we extend our thanks to our Club and Commodore Rob McClelland for all the support in making sure we looked the part on and off the water!
Keen to Get Involved?
The SheSails Development Regatta is designed for women who are new to racing or looking to step up and try helming after previously taking on other crew positions. If you’re interested in joining next time or want to know more, reach out to Emily McCutcheon (Women’s Fleet Rep) or speak to one of this team if you see them around. We’d love to see even more RPAYC women out there representing the Club at future events!
Visit SheSails | RPAYC | Sailing Club | NSW Australia – for more information.