Why RBYC girls just want to have fun

Girl power was the order of the day at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club’s recent sailing programme.

The Girls Only Clinic was designed to keep the club’s older female sailors in the sport and to encourage a new crop of girls to take to the water.

The emphasis was on fun rather than racing and a total of 21 girls ranging from six to 13 years old attended. 

Most had never been in a boat before but were able to experience Optimists as well as some 420 action.

Head coach for the session was Katrina Williams, a Bermudian sailor who is managing the youth programme in Houston Yacht Club, Texas. 

The class were able to do some relay sailing, while a lot of the six-year-olds got to go out with an instructor.

It wasn’t all sailing, though. There was also some time for water volleyball, while the girls took part in a crossfit session.

Mothers and daughters also participated in a prize-giving fashion show.

 Miss Bermuda, Katie Arnfield, talked to the girls about the positive aspects of her experience as well as what she had to do to get to the top.

Out on the water, there was one capsize but the two novice sailors quickly rallied and jumped back in the boat for the relay racing and for the 420 sailing the next day.   

As one organiser put it: “We think they were more surprised by the cold water than by tipping over!”

With a mixture of ages and abilities in the group, a lot of the older more experienced sailors were able to help and nurture the younger or more inexperienced participants, which proved a great way to involve all age groups.

The club has already had interest from girls who wish to sail in the spring and the summer and plans are already afoot to organise the next Girls Only Clinic.