Duncan Dey
Sailboat dinghy racing in our region is confined to the Richmond River at Ballina, and the even smaller Tweed River at Fingal, but both clubs have great women sailors and their numbers are growing.
The Richmond River club held race one in its Women’s Series on October 24 which saw eight crews in the competition.
Boats with women on board compete on their rest-of-season handicaps.
Best race results in the season opener went to four existing eligible crews led by Sarah and Ian in trailerable yacht Serenity.
Fifth place went to the normally single-handed Casper sailed by the author and fellow Byron Shire resident Hannah Pike.
‘Welcome to small boats Hannah,’ I said after the race. ‘Surfers just get it, when they splash around the river under sail.’
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