The weather was ideal for the 2025 Helly Hansen Women’s Challenge, a little overcast with a light southerly breeze. Graham and Maz Radford were our race committee aboard Ready, Get Set and John and Joe on Charlie’s Chariot laid the marks for the race and shepherded the boats around the course. Official photographer Marg Fraser-Martin was also on-board Charlies Chariot to capture all the action.
The first race saw Black Swan sailed by Catherine and Gigi round the top mark just ahead of Sophie and Ros in Woody. Anna and Roslyn in Ralph Newman followed closely behind, then Jessie and Alyse in Vin. Jackie and Jeannie in Eli D then led in Lisa and Kerry in Dolly Wallis, and Alex Martin sailed by Jenny and Petra.
The second race saw all but one boat opt for the preferred easterly side of the course, and the light breeze meant that sailing was very close. Black Swan finished ahead of a tight group of Vin, Dolly Wallis Woody and Ralph Newman all finishing with seconds of each other followed by Alex Martin and Eli D.
Once again, in the third race, with a little more breeze, the racing was very competitive. Black Swan led throughout most of the race from the start, until cheering from the starters boat convinced them that they had finished, when, in fact, there were two more legs to sail. This allowed the fleet to catch up and for Woody to sneak ahead, followed by Vin, then Black Swan, Dolly Wallis, Ralph Newman, Alex Martin and finally Eli D.
Following our very successful morning sailing and a welcome lunch on the dock, Catherine and Gigi were awarded first place overall for the regatta, with Sophia and Ros second and Jessie and Alyse in third place. The winners were presented with prizes generously provided by Helly Hansen, for which we are very grateful.
Thanks to all the competitors, Graham and Maz Radford, the support boat crew and all the onshore supporters, particularly Warwick, Denis, Michael B, Ken and Michael M, and to Marg Fraser-Martin who recorded the day with some fabulous photos. You can view all her photos on Facebook at “Marg’s Yacht Photos” https://www.facebook.com/margsyachtphotos#
The efforts of all our wonderful women sailors, volunteers and supporters contributed to making the day a huge success.
