SheSails for RPAYC
The RPAYC will be represented at this year’s SheSails Open Regatta hosted by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and scheduled for November 28-29, by Nicole Butcher, Lisa Ratcliff and Lauren Crossman.
Competitors and organisers are hoping a NSW government easing of restrictions in relation to out of area visitors means the regatta can go ahead at full capacity utilising the club’s fleet of Elliott 6s.
Regular on Darren Drew’s Crowther 50 Top Gun, Nicole Butcher, has previously helped at Newcastle to deliver the women’s development regattas and this year will helm while Lisa, who also crews on Top Gun for the women’s twilight series, will be on the main.
Lauren’s sailing career encompasses Lasers, match racing and achieving the bucket list special of participating in last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. In fact, all three women completed the 75th running of the Great Race, Nicole on Noel Cornish’s St Jude, Lisa on Ashok Mani’s classic S&S Windrose sailing for Tasmania and Lauren on Keiran Mulcahy’sSoozal.
Newcastle will be the first event for this newly formed crew and the RPA is getting behind the team, offering an Elliott 7 for training.
Up to 16 teams will race windward/leewards on Newcastle Harbour over the weekend series.