By Jo West

I started this by trying to write a report of the Parkstone Masters sailing event this weekend. I’m not a writer, and it didn’t go well, especially as I only viewed the event from my position at the back of the fleet… hence why I decided to focus on another important sailing matter. I started sailing outside club racing in the last couple of years. My friend Zoe had mentioned that she had been to a masters event, loved it, and suggested that I come too. At first I made excuses; “my kit isn’t all class legal, my kit is old, it might clash with a youth event where my daughter competes and that’s my priority, I’m not a good enough sailor”.. etc etc. She had an answer for everything; “the inlands don’t clash with youth events this year, no one cares if you’re at the back and they will support you if you even are, Alison has an old sail in her loft that she can bring to the event for you”.. etc etc. In the end I gave in and went and had a fantastic weekend surrounded by amazingly enthusiastic sailors. I remembered that I am more than just a mum: I was hooked!

I’ve been attending masters events ever since and I even got up the courage to sail in a Weymouth qualifier event alongside my daughter this year. There is just one issue that I ask myself at all events - where are the women? At Parkstone I was one of only 4 women out of a field of 80 competitors, in Weymouth I was the only woman over 25. Zoe and I have been having a chat about what makes an event attractive and accessible to us, and honestly it’s about having the support of each other. Therefore, we have set up a female masters‘ WhatsApp group. This is for all female ILCA sailors over 30 years of age, even if you haven’t attended an event yet or are still unsure about joining us. We want a place where we can support each other, share which events we are attending, share knowledge about where there is accommodation, what are the socials, and discuss stuff like how we set up our kit. We really want you to help boost the number of women at events, so join our WhatsApp group (to be circulated by email) and hopefully we’ll see you at an event soon.

We need you - ILCA 6 Women Masters!