Torbay Tiller Girls
Sailing
Royal Torbay Yacht Club’s sailing group known as the Torbay Tiller Girls is for ladies to enjoy some fun sailing and socialising. There’s strictly no pressure, no racing and no shouting. Anita Newcombe dons her lifejacket and climbs aboard.
T
his evening I’m meeting Caroline Aisher and Jules Waddington who jointly founded Torbay Tiller Girls. They felt that many members would enjoy the chance to have a gentle introduction to yacht sailing or to improve their confidence and skills in a supportive environment. The evenings are not designed to be teaching sessions but as we cast off from Torbay’s Inner Harbour on Caroline’s stunning French Tofinou 8 yacht Lennie, it is clear that her calm and considered approach gives the crew ample opportunity to develop their knowledge and boat handling skills. However, any lady who just wants a relaxing evening on the water and a pleasant chat is very welcome too. There are normally 3-4 yachts plus a RIB and the sailing boats are owned by club members and helmed by experienced ladies, many of whom are (or have been) RYA instructors. This evening’s RIB is a very smart affair
Tiller Girls’ sessions are held fortnightly during the season, which runs from May to October
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Caroline Aisher and Helen Brown
Sandra Robinson, Jules Waddington and Tania Hutchings
and is being driven by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club’s new Commodore Adrian Peach (they allow ‘female-friendly’, male RIB drivers who are instructors so that ladies can have a go at driving under supervision). He comes alongside and I am taken aboard so that I can whizz over and meet the crew of ladies aboard the evening’s other two yachts – a Colgate 26 and a Sadler 26 skippered by Sam Sale-Parkes and Jules Waddington respectively. They often have social events such as a recent sail to Brixham for supper at Rockfish and a planned sail plus beach barbeque. In the winter, the group meets monthly and has talks, suppers, and other fun activities like bowling. To join Torbay Tiller Girls you need to either be a member of Royal Torbay Yacht Club or a member of Torquay Tennis Club. Fees for the whole seasons’ sessions are just £15 and this includes 10-12 sails. They run fortnightly (May – October) on Mondays from 6pm. o rtyc.org August/September 2017
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