Local crew, Team Orange, took out the 2022 Mooloolaba Women’s Keelboat Regatta over the weekend of May 13 -15, in some of the most challenging conditions seen in the event’s history.

Above: The Mooloola River - turned brown by flood waters - was the venue for the Mooloolaba Women’s Keelboat Regatta. Photo: Christopher Tang.

Eight teams of three to four competed in the MYC’s Elliot 6 keelboats over two days of  close-quarters fleet racing on the Mooloola River. They faced everything from driving rain and 30-knot gusts, to trying to make headway, in no wind, against a six-knot tide fed by flooding rains upstream.

Above image: Competitors in the Mooloolaba Women’s Keelboat Regatta, including winners, Team Orange, in orange caps. Photo: @boredzebra

Team Orange – skippered by MYC Commodore, Tanya Kelly – consistently out-sailed the competition, which included teams from Sydney, Townsville, Newcastle, Tweed and four local teams.

The regatta has grown out of the Mooloolaba Yacht Club’s successful Women’s Skills Development program, which aims to promote pathways for women to build their racing, cruising and skippering skills in the traditionally male-dominated sport of sailing. The program has seen over 100 women sign up for sailing at the club since its inception in 2017.

“Despite the challenges of the weather, I think it was the best regatta we’ve had to date, in terms of the competition, the standard of sailing and the camaraderie between the crews,” said Ms Kelly.

Above: The first day of the Mooloolaba Women’s Keelboat Regatta saw strong winds and rain squalls. Photo: @boredzebra

Above: By contrast, Day 2 started with barely a breeze and hot sun. Photo: @boredzebra

“It’s fantastic to see our Women’s Skills Development program members competing so successfully – their hard work and learning have really paid off. We’re a completely volunteer-run club, and we’re incredibly lucky – and grateful – to have so many highly qualified and generous supporters in our Race Committee, coaches and community.”

“We’d like to thank the interstate teams for their support and for providing such great competition – we hope to see everyone back next year.”

The Mooloolaba Women’s Keelboat Regatta is run in association with SheSails, the Australian Sailing campaign running in yacht clubs across the country to increase women’s participation in the sport of sailing.

RESULTS

1st Team Orange – Tanya Kelly MYC, Kristie Hatch, Jasmine Mudie, Lea Van Dijk

2nd NQ Girls – Tilley Pain TSC/TYC, Lynda Sawbridge, Jo Petersen

3rd SheSails Newcastle – Alyson Gearing NCYC, Belinda Davey, Ann Lindner

4th We Meant To Do It – Sophie Honeyburne NYRC, Lauren Clemett, Tamra McFarlane, Julia Loginova

5th Wingin’ It – Lucy Osborne MYC, Helen Wood, Naomi Croft

6th G.O.A.T.S – Sara Ladd RSYS, Phoebe Reedman, Karyn Gojnich, Jane McCullough

7th Lunasea – Kerry Lorimer MYC, Tara Slocombe, Kerri Smith

8th Team Tweed – Maddie Lyons TVSC, Debbie Jones, Catherine Davies, Emily Johnson.

For further details: www.mooloolabayachtclub.com.au

Video Credit: Christopher Thang