CATALINA 22 HONORS FEMALE SAILOR

STORY BY BETSY ILER

Dora McGee has served as the backbone of the Catalina 22 National Association in a variety of roles for nearly half of the organization’s 50-year existence. Currently, she serves as the dedicated secretary and treasurer. According to the U.S. Sailing Association, McGee is fondly known as the “mother hen” to the organization and its 525 members. Outside of this role, she participates in a wide variety of sailing events across the Southeast. Last month, McGee was awarded the John D. Gardiner One Design Service Award for her commitment to the Catalina 22 class. Over the past 20 years, she has participated in 45 Catalina 22 regattas and 65 other one-design regattas. Lifelong friendships and the opportunity to meet new people have kept her strongly involved with the Catalina 22 class. “The award was a surprise. Most, if not all, of the previous winners have been men with big accomplishments,” the honoree said.

Sailing is typically a male-dominated sport, but McGee has not let this stop her.

“Just get out there and do it. There is nothing to be afraid of,” she said. “Learn to sail properly, have a support system and get training. Women today can have all the opportunities they want to

Dtake. Take the initiative and do it on your own. Know your boat and how to handle it, learn CPR and first aid.” Her advice aligns with the U.S. Sailing mantra: fun, safe, fair. In 1974, McGee learned how to sail while her husband was stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They lived there for four years, and sailing was one of the limited activities available on the naval base. This introduction to sailing led to a lifetime of dedication and support of the Catalina 22 class. In recent years, McGee and her husband have focused on participating in race committees rather than competing in regattas. McGee is known as the gold standard that all race committees should strive for, even being described as the epitome of racing. Her calm demeanor and determined nature allow her to excel on the race committee. She described the necessary qualifications for race committee success as dedication, listening skills, ability to make decisions under pressure and strong concentration. McGee utilized her race management skills at the 2022 Region 3 Championship Regatta and 62nd Annual Punchbowl Regatta at The Dixie Sailing Club on Lake Martin last month.

The DSC welcomed Catalina 22s, 420s and MC Scows from across the Southeast for the competition. The Punchbowl Annual Regatta was introduced in the first DSC board meeting to provide a spring regatta for sailors in the region. Since 1975, the first place trophy has been kept by the winner until the following year’s event. The 2022 Punchbowl Regatta Gold Fleet first place winners are DSC members, Keith and Jennifer Bennett.

Unpredictable weather prevented the chance to sail leading up to the regatta event, but fortunately, the first weekend of April – designated as the Region 3 Championship Regatta – dawned with no rain and enough wind to launch three races on Saturday and two more on Sunday. And despite the dual economic woes of inflation and high gas prices, five racers entered in both Gold Fleet and Silver Fleet – from more than just the hosting club.

Very close races and finishes required that the scorer know the details on resolving ties for the top three in Gold Fleet and all five places in Silver Fleet.

Saturday started cool and cloudy but delivered a decent light wind, until the second race that had to have a shortened course event. Heading back to the committee boat, the winds picked up to the degree that a third and final race for the day was going to the longer five-leg finish at the windward mark race. More new winds picked up before that start got going, and it was back to a four-leg downwind finish in hopes the winds helped out, which they did.

Sunday proffered sunshine and more consistent winds for the closely competitive races. It was close competition for the top three places in both fleets.

The regatta concluded with a Region 3 annual meeting to determine the new Region 3 commodore. The holder of the role determines the location and date of the 2023 Region 3 Championship regatta. Rich Gailey from LMSA, Florida, took the position, and DSC’s outgoing Commodore Cline ended his term by teaming with son, Mark, on crew to win the R3 Silver Fleet title.

The Dixie Sailing Club is a private club located on Lake Martin. The groups offers a variety of sailing activities, including an annual free introductory sailing lesson and the opportunity to crew on a boat. The DSC has two certified sailing instructors and several national champions. The club hosts races almost every weekend from March to November. All experience levels and age groups are welcome. For more information about the DSC and the Punchbowl Regatta, visit the Dixie Sailing Club website or the Facebook page.

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