THE Healthodontic Ladies’ Races were held at Royal Ulster Yacht Club on Sunday, featuring five entrants in the Spinnaker YTC/IRC class and three in the Whitesail YTC class.
The aim of the event is to showcase women getting out on the water and enjoying some relaxed racing, with the hope of encouraging others to do the same.
The only criteria for the event is to have at least one woman on board at the helm, plus more crewing. In fact, several boats even managed a fully female crew.
Race officers sent the fleet round separate courses, with the Whitesail boats sailing a short course inshore and the spinnaker class going further out.
The already lacking wind dropped off dramatically during race one, meaning the course had to be shortened to keep within the time limit.
Vicky Dews, at the helm of Plover, and with an all-women crew, came away with two wins in the Whitesail Class, ahead of the Sandra Christie-helmed Sunflower.
The competition was intense in the spinnaker class, with Suzanne Crain driving brother Rory’s Sonata and taking two first victories.
Eva Gilpin, at the wheel of Pippa VI, put up a great challenge and got line honours, but the races were too short to get far enough ahead for a win on handicap.
The visitors were Whitehead featured another allfemale crew, in the form of Sheela Lewis and her Ruffian 23 Icicle team.
This class had two more all-girl crews, with eight on board each of Charlotte Eadie’s Sigma 33 Mithril and Sinead Byrne’s Beneteau 31.7 Caesium.
The prize-giving took place at the club after lunch, with everyone able to relax, enjoying the live music, and each participant receiving McWilliam bags and drybags.
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