On Friday 27^th July 2018 Australia Sailing collaborated with Wynnum Manly Sailing Club to hold a Friday Night female networking event in conjunction with the Wynnum Manly Sailing Club Lady Skippers Race social event.

The event consisted of champagne on arrival, food, a live entertainer and an informal information session, facilitated by Donna Little from Way To Be, about the activities of the women & girls representatives group. The information included details about how clubs can get a female representative to join the group, initiatives already instigated, the new ones coming up and the main aim of increasing female participation in all aspects of the sailing community. A panel of three representatives; Mickey Dousett from Port Douglas Yacht Club, Kim Lawrence from Wynnum Manly Yacht Club and Yachting Queensland Board Member and Alison Turner group leader from Australian Sailing Queensland, were able to provide details from their perspectives of how this group can help female participation and be sustainable in the long run. The group has recently confirmed that there is a National branding for women and girls in sailing initiatives and it is now called ‘She Sails’.

The Friday night was attended by about 60 to 70 people and a lot of positive feedback was received from the women who attended, as well as those interested in the Lady Skippers Race. The event marketing by Australian Sailing Queensland attracted at least two women who had no previous knowledge of the Lady Skippers Race and who just turned up in the interests of learning how they could sail and generally get involved. To keep in the loop & network with like-minded people, request to join our facebook group: she sails qld. For additional information contact: Alison Turner Australian Sailing Qld Ph: 07 3393 6788 or E: alison.turner@sailing.org.au