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Sail Our Way Case Study: Sandy Bay Sailing Club
Club: Sandy Bay Sailing Club
Location: Sandy Bay, TAS
Contact: Shona Prior | secretary@sandybaysailingclub.org.au
About the project
Sandy Bay Sailing Club delivered a series of Sail Our Way activities across February and March 2026 designed to introduce more women and girls to sailing, build confidence on the water, and strengthen female participation pathways within the club.
The program included a Women’s and Girls Come and Try 29ers session, two Discover Sailing sessions, and a “Girls who Sail” presentation and mentoring session with Australian Sailing coach Amelia Catt. Across the three events, a total of 35 women and girls participated.
The activities created welcoming and accessible opportunities for participants of all experience levels, while also showcasing female leadership, coaching, and progression pathways within sailing.
Participation
- 35 female participants across three events
- Women’s and Girls Come and Try 29ers: 8 participants
- Discover Sailing Sessions: 14 participants
- Girls who Sail session with Amelia Catt: 13 attendees
- Supported by coaches, instructors, assistant instructors, and club volunteers across all activities
About the delivery
The Women’s and Girls Come and Try 29ers session gave participants the opportunity to experience high-performance double-handed sailing in a supportive environment using club-supported 29er boats.
The Discover Sailing sessions used Pacers to introduce girls to sailing through hands-on, on-water experiences. To maximise participation and confidence, coaches and instructors sailed alongside participants in the boats throughout the sessions. Both Discover Sailing sessions were fully booked, with the reduced $30 participation fee helping make the program more accessible for families.
Sandy Bay Sailing Club also undertook targeted promotion to local schools where the club had lower existing participation, helping attract girls from a broader range of backgrounds and communities.
The “Girls who Sail” session with Amelia Catt focused on confidence, resilience, and leadership in sailing, with Amelia sharing her personal journey and encouraging girls to back themselves both on and off the water.
Outcomes and impact
The program delivered strong outcomes in supporting women’s and girls’ participation in sailing:
- Increased participation: All Discover Sailing sessions were fully booked, demonstrating strong demand for girls-only sailing opportunities.
- Pathway development: Three participants from the Discover Sailing sessions signed up for upcoming Tackers 1 holiday programs.
- Confidence and connection: Feedback highlighted that participants enjoyed learning in a girls-only environment and valued being able to participate alongside friends.
- Increased visibility: The activities helped raise the visibility of women and girls in sailing within the local community.
How the funding helped
The Sail Our Way grant helped remove barriers to participation by allowing the club to offer heavily reduced-cost and free activities for women and girls. The funding supported coaching, safety boats, equipment use, catering, and event delivery, helping create accessible and welcoming entry points into sailing.
The reduced cost of the Discover Sailing sessions was highlighted by families as a key factor in encouraging girls to try sailing for the first time.
