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A Trend That Needs Tweaking By Kim Couranz
and Trials were released, she was able to ast weekend, I did some yard weight and strength are needed, likely most redirect and find another terrific sailor and work, watched some baseball teams would still sail with one man and all-around great person to crew for her with my husband, and caught up one woman. Having more weight hiking in training for that event and the regatta with friends. Yet where I really hard, taller shoulders working the boat over itself. And heck, in the breeze and waves wanted to be was just off the coast of Ft. waves, and more upper-body strength pulloff Ft. Lauderdale, that likely served them Lauderdale, FL, hiking hard on a dinghy ing lines clearly makes a boat go through well, as in addition to great sailing skills, and sailing against the best Snipe sailors the water faster in most conditions. So, he brought additional height, weight, and in the country. But I couldn’t. if two women choose to work with this likely strength (I do work hard in the gym Because I’m a girl. physical disadvantage, why not allow them though!). I was collateral damage in a trend to compete in these events? becoming more popular in dinghy All-women’s teams sailing in and some keelboat classes: the open events isn’t a new thing, ##The all-women Sea Bags J/24 team chases World Champion “mixed gender” requirement, and it isn’t just a few outliers here Tim Healy downwind. Photo by Christopher Howell mandating that there be a woman and there. There are teams sailing onboard. In this case, Snipes saildinghies, small keelboats, and big ing in the selection event for this boats. summer’s Pan American Games In addition to regattas as bowwere required to have a mixedman on big boats (including wingender team of one man, one tertime events in the Caribbean!), woman. Hillary Noble sails as tactician on Certainly this move for the Pan the Sea Bags Women’s Sailing Am Games—requiring a Snipe Team; they sail a J/24 with a team team to include one woman—was of six (Sea Bags Maine repurposes developed with good intentions. sailcloth into some really neat The goal is to get more women products). The team usually sails six into racing dinghies, especially in to 10 regattas each year. 2019 will countries where participation by include the women-only Lady Libwomen in these classes is not as erty Regatta in Manhattan as well Two weeks before the regatta, chatting strong as it is here in the United States as the open J/24 Worlds in Miami. For with Ernesto Rodriguez in the boat park (though yes, we still have a ways to go). Worlds, this team qualified via the District (Ernesto and crew Hallie Schiffman won I have been lucky to crew on a Snipe 1 Championship. the Snipe Pan Am Trials and will represent for a number of years for a friend who is Noble emphasizes how good it is for the United States in Peru this summer), I a woman. We have sailed a few women’s sailing in general to get more women on mentioned that I was bummed I couldn’t regattas, but for the most part, we simply boats: “Having the mindset to think outsail the Pan Am trials because of the sail in standard, come in whatever blend side your norm can be a good way to meet mixed-gender requirement. Ernesto noted of genders you want to, open Snipe regatsomeone new that could actually become that he had just assumed that I wasn’t sailtas. And we have found success—we have quite valuable [as a crew member]. It will ing the event because I couldn’t due to a qualified and sailed in two open Snipe open doors, provide opportunities for new work commitment or other real-life hurdle, sailors to join classes, and grow the classes.” World Championships and are working not that I couldn’t sail with my usual skipon logistics for our third this fall. The U.S. Indeed, more women in sailing is good per per the eligibility requirements. That team for the Worlds this year will include not only for those women who expand the mixed-gender requirement meant I 10 teams; we were the second team to their sailing, but for the classes they sail in. couldn’t crew for a woman skipper hadn’t qualify. Much of that success is built on Having more sailors means a more vibrant crossed his mind… and he thought it was years of practice, ironing out communicaclass, and the parties are always more fun wrong. tions, and solidifying the teamwork that is with more women on the dance floor. I agree. A simple rewording of the recritical in dinghies. There are so many great women sailors quirements would be much more inclusive: nowadays—smart, strong, eager—just on My skipper is a terrific sailor and an A boat shall include at least one female all-around great person, so once the average in a slightly smaller package. Just team member. In dinghy classes where eligibility requirements for the Pan Ams let us go sailing against the boys! ■ 90 May 2019 SpinSheet.com