NT - Case Study Darwin & Dinah Beach
Darwin Sailing Club & Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Association
Commodore: Lucille Panting (DSC) & Joy Eggenhuizen (DBCYA)
Key female participation contact: Claire Hall & Fiona McManus
What SheSails participation activities or events does your club run?
Female only courses including Keelboat, Powerboat Handling & Yacht Electronics.
An S80 reserved for an all-female crew in club racing as a stepping stone to link new female sailors to club member boats.
Social Wednesdays year round offering dinner & a short educational topic in a social setting to encourage transition into club membership.
How did you initiate and how do you currently run the activities/events?
A group of female members got together to identify activities that women wanted that could be implemented across both Darwin clubs. The clubs have opposing seasons and we wanted to continue activities throughout the year to maintain engagement, even if they are off water activities. Wants and needs were identified and interested parties joined a closed Facebook group that now has over 100 members across both clubs. The group coordinated with SUPP and Surf Life Saving Clubs in the outset to broaden their audience base.
Activities are now run under the She Sails initiative whilst the group of instigators (and some newbees) are now the NT She Sails Networking Group. Activities are identified and the group works with both clubs to coordinate things.
What have the results of the activities/events been?
In 2019 we will have 2 teams travelling to the AWKR in Melbourne in June. Renewed enthusiasm from women that were sitting on edge unsure if they would get involved in club sailing or volunteering. New members with a good number now sailing on weekends.
Did you have any challenges along the way and how did you overcome them?
Very definite sailing seasons at both clubs, this was overcome by working together to ensure continuity in programming.
Lack of on-water opportunities in the Wet Season meant that we had to be creative to maintain the engagement of participants.
For the S80 sailing we required the commitment of a leader/skipper to maintain as much consistency as possible. Without this in place it would not work. She is a volunteer.
How do you promote your activities/events?
Activities are promoted via Australian Sailing & club newsletters. The best promotion we seem to have locally has been the Facebook group which is a closed group but enables ladies the opportunity to ask questions and connect with each other without our coordination and feel comfortable in doing so.
What resources/staffing did you require?
The Networking Group are all volunteers.
Deliverers of activities are paid instructors (or people with the appropriate skill base).
What impact are your activities/programs having on overall participation at your club?
The S80 sailing has seen 26 new club sailors participating over the last Wet Season with a good number now crewing on other boats.
Social Wednesdays has had 10-15 women attending that are now all social members at both clubs, some have also taken up sailing membership and taken part in racing. Activities varied to sustain interest and always encouraged further leaning via a course. Topics included things such as trailer reversing, sail shape & outboard motor basics.
The Ladies Powerboating & Electronics courses have been very popular and will continue. We have also had requests for Fibre Glassing in 2019.
