The Sabot class is developing the sailing skills for our sports’ future and is extremely proud that the junior training class is a continuing overachiever on the aims of SheSails. 

74 Sabot sailors registered to compete in the recent Sealink 57th Sabot National Titles and Sabot Week, held at Townsville Sailing Club in July 2021.  Of the registered competitors, 34% of the sabot sailors were female.    While COVID-19 restrictions unfortunately reduced the number of sailors from Sydney who made it to Townsville to compete, the officials redesigned the regatta structure a number of times to get the 49 sabot sailors in Townsville on the water to further develop their sailing skills.

SheSails aims to promote and celebrate girls’ participation in the sport of sailing and to provide female sailors with the opportunity to enjoy their sport with other like-minded people.  Undoubtedly the sabot class is attracting female participation in the sailing scene – after female skippers placed 3 of the top 6 sabot results on scratch in the 1-up Nationals fleet (2^nd - Keisha Day ‘Holy Guacamole’ NSW, 4^th - Breanne Wadley ‘Breezy’ North QLD, 6^th - Teshi Collins Good ‘The Wobbly Boot’ South QLD), and were runner-up in the 2-up Nationals fleet (Alyssa Matthieu and Jackson Weber ‘Hound Dog’ North QLD).   The winners of the introductory sailing group known as Sabot Week in both the 1-up and 2-up divisions were also female skippers (1^st Sabot Week 1-up - Willow Bailey ‘Island Magic’ North QLD and 1^st Sabot Week 2-up - Edith Cullinane and Zachary Tait NSW).

A Pre-Nationals Sabot Series was held 4 & 5 July as the first part of racing competition at Townsville, in a redesigned regatta structure due to the Covid related restrictions.  This preliminary series consisted of 6 heats and included all competitors from Queensland and NSW not in quarantine.  Following quarantine, the Nationals and Sabot Week commenced and consisted of 8 heats, sailed over 2 days, to ensure all competitors who made it to Townsville were able to participate in the Nationals and develop their sailing skills. 

Sabot sailors enjoyed brilliant racing conditions for the Nationals and Sabot Week – held primarily in consistent, moderate winds.  The junior sailors loved catching the awesome rolling waves of Cleveland Bay – sending their sabots and having great rides.   Junior sailors were spoilt by the vast open space of the Bay, only sharing it with support craft, turtles and the odd dolphin.  The Nationals was taken out by NSW sailor Miles Greenwood, in ‘Miles Away’, from Gosford Sailing Club on 8 pts, followed closely by fellow NSW sailors Keisha Day 12 pts (2^nd) and Marshall Day ‘Speed Demon’ also on 12 pts (3^rd) from Wangi Amateur Sailing Club.  The 2-Up division was won by North Queensland brothers Kalen and Connor Linton in ‘Nut on the Tiller’, and Laken Eaton and Eliza Mann in ‘Poker Face’ placed 3^rd.

Sailing a sabot provides opportunities for connection between competitors and promotes a strong environment of inclusion.  This training class is a leader in gender equality within the junior sporting community, with sailors competing and developing their skills together in mixed fleets.

Results of the Sealink 57th Sabot National Titles and Sabot Week can be viewed at https://www.sailwave.com/results/sabotnats.htm

Sabot sailors are excited to compete in the upcoming Lake Macquarie City Council 58^th Sabot National Titles and Sabot Week, to be held at Teralba Amateur Sailing Club 27 December 2021 – 3 January 2022.