Women In Sailing Podcast Series
By Deborah Wallace
Welcome to Sailing Women’s Network podcast series “WOMEN IN SAILING”.
I'm Deborah Wallace and I’ll be share with you a series of podcasts featuring women from all aspects of the sailing world.
It’s a series with you in mind during this time of isolation, and beyond.
I hope you are able to take something away for each and every conversation that we have.
Something that INSPIRES you to take the next step in your sailing, when we "do" get back on the water.
Something that connects and resonates with you
And something that will empower and motivate you to take action.
Women In Sailing Podcast SeriesJun 15, 2020
Women In Sailing - Simone Hill - My Crew Travel & Maritime Logistics
Women In Sailing - Kathy Veel & Bridget Canham - 2Birds2Hobart
Women In Sailing - Kirsten Neuschafer - Golden Globe Solo Retro Race
Sailing around the world using today’s modern navigational equipment, radar, satellite communications, cell phones and autopilot is one thing.
Take yourself back to 1968’s and ask yourself how confident you would be only using technology available then? Jump into a yacht between 32-36 feet and set your sights on winning a-round-the-world yacht race.
I’m Deborah Wallace from Sailing Women’s Network with another Women In Sailing Podcast.
I’m extremely excited to be talking with Kirsten Neuschafer, catching up with her in South Africa, using modern technology. Talking about her non-stop, Solo, Retro sail in the 2022/2023 edition of the Golden Globe Race.
Starting the race in September 2022, along with 15 entrances from around the world. She completed the race in 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes and 47 seconds.
She sailed past the great capes of the world and over 30,000 plus nautical miles, including 2 weeks in the dull-drums and rescued a fellow competitor after his boat sank and he was set adrift in his life raft.
Finishing the race, across the line back in France on the 27th April 2023.
She is the first South African Sailor and women to take out any international around the world yacht race.
It’s my pleasure to welcome Kirsten Neuschafer.
Women in Sailing - Maddie Lyons - A Magenta Mentee Experience
In 2022, Maddie was selected as a mentee in the Magenta Project Mentoring Program with the goal of expanding her sailing experience, including further offshore miles and foiling. Maddie started foiling at the Magenta Project and Foiling Week Try-Foiling Clinic held at Lake Garda, Italy in 2023. After trialling in the 69F class, Maddie joined the new Magenta Project Foiling Team and is currently campaigning to race on the 69F circuit in 2024
Women in Sailing - Nadine Tabak & AWKR
Women in Sailing - Michelle Lee - Extreme Solo Rower
Michelle Lee encompasses the spirit of adventure and values her freedom – above all else.
Twelve years in corporate banking and an end to a long-term relationship were the impetus to Michelle giving up her career, along with society’s expectations, and turn to a life of adventure.
Trekking 100km Kokoda trail in 2012 – where she turned 40 on day 2 – sparked Michelle’s love for extreme adventures requiring uttermost physical fitness, mental resilience, and self-discipline.
Since then, Michelle has completed triathlons, fun runs and has participated in events including the Bloody Long Walk, 65km Coast Trek, Spartan, and numerous short course triathlons. And that’s just for fun!
Today, Michelle holds the world record for the fastest woman to row one million metres on a Concept 2 rowing machine and is Australia’s first woman to row any ocean solo. She was awarded The Australian Geographic’s Adventurer of the year in 2019 for her 68-day solo, unassisted row across the Atlantic Ocean, and is regularly invited to share her story to inspire others to challenge their purpose and untapped potential.
Michelle continues to push her boundaries, setting ever greater new challenges to satisfy her curiosity to her full potential. With the desire to not die wondering, Michelle has now completed the world’s biggest ocean. The Pacific.
With influencers in her life including Bob Proctor who preaches that “being dissatisfied is the most creative state you can find yourself in” and Dr. Joe Dispenza with rewiring your brain methods, Michelle continues to learn and grow daily in areas of mindset and personal development.
It is this mindset and unwavering self-disciple that has led Michelle to perform at the highest level, confirming to her that as humans we are capable of so much more than we think. This was proven when crossing the Atlantic Ocean, she noted in her diary: “Day 46 – worse day ever!!!” and then continued to row for another 22 days to reach the finish line.
Start thinking you CAN and you WILL, is the motto that has become her mantra.
Women in Sailing - Stacey Jackson
Growing up in Mooloolaba, QLD, Stacey started sailing at the age of 7. Whilst not a champion junior sailor, her passion was always sailing. She sailed dinghies until she moved to Sydney to start a sailmaking apprenticeship aged 18. This move opened doors to racing on famous offshore yachts, such as Ichi Ban, Alfa Romeo 100, Black Jack and Wild Oats XI.
Today Stacey is recognised as one of the world’s leading female professional offshore sailors. She is one of very few women to have competed in two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, the pinnacle of offshore yacht racing, where she has competed in both an all womens’ crew (2014-2015) and a mixed crew (2017-2018).
She has also completed 13 Sydney Hobart races, including winning Line Honours in 2010, as well as creating and skippering the first all female professional crew in 2018, who placed second overall.
As an offshore sailor, Stacey is a master of resilience and high performance in incredibly stressful situations. Top level offshore racing involves small crews being at sea in small boats for weeks at a time, often with no real ability receive outside help if things go wrong. The pressure to push the team hard to win a race is always balanced against the increased risk of crew burn out and boat equipment breakage, where one error can cause the yacht to retire from the race.
Teamwork, trust and sustainable high performance are critical to success.
Women in Sailing - Jan Howard & Mary Holley
Women In Sailing - Lisa Blair
Women in Sailing - Carolijn Brouwer
Women In Sailing - Julie Hodder
Julie Hodder has been an Australian Yachtswoman for over 50 years and has competed competitively in most major Australian events, including 13 Sydney Hobart races as navigator. As well as owning her own boats, she has competed and been on the winning team in many other international events around the world, including Australia, Asia, the Caribbean and Europe. She started sailing dinghies in her younger years, then progressed to racing JOGs offshore with her dad and brother David Thomas in her teens, out of Lake Macquarie Yacht Club. After going to University in Sydney she started sailing the JOG boat (Outlaw) with Ian Thomas winning lots of JOG races including the National JOG Championships. Her first serious long offshore racing (and first Hobart) was on Diamond Cutter out of Middle Harbour Yacht Club with Alan Sweeney in the late 1970s. She progressed from the runners to navigation as that was her passion. There were not a lot of females sailing in those days and Alan and crew were very supportive after their initial doubts about females sailing offshore! She has enjoyed racing and navigation competitively on well-known yachts such as Apocalypse (Barclay Wade), Wild Oats (now Wild Rose) & Hauspie (Roger Hickman), Condor (Bob Bell), Heaven Can Wait (Warren Johns), Austmark (Gunther Schmidt-Lindner), Zen & Fujin (Gordon Ketelbey), Toy Box (Ian Box), Hollywood Boulevard (Ray Roberts), Margaret Rintoul (syndicate), Pla Loma & Exile (Rob Reynolds), and recently on About Time (Julian Farren-Price) in the 2019 Hobart Race. Whilst she does not currently own a yacht, for many years she previously owned yachts with Peter Sorensen and (shock jock) Stan Zemanek, including the Farr 50, Morning Mist (or Foxtel Titan Ford) in the 1998 Hobart, and the Volvo 60 Magnavox. She is very grateful for all the support of all these owners and great tacticians such as Bob Frazer, Jamie Wilmot and Steve McConaghy have provided. She is passionate about not only ocean racing, but also in developing the sport of sailing. As an enthusiastic member of both MHYC since 1977 and a 20+ members of the CYCA, she has taken on various roles and responsibilities including the distinction of being the first female Commodore of Middle Harbour Yacht Club (2011 – 2013) and is now a Life Member of MHYC. She is chairperson of the Frank Likely Trust supporting youth sailing at MHYC and was the volunteer chairperson of the 2012 Access Worlds in April 2012. The special feature of this regatta was that whilst 80 % of the sailors had some form of disability, the competition was open to all. There were over 120 competitors from 9 different nations and 200+ volunteers needed to run the regatta. Julie describes this period in her life as one of the most enjoyable and rewarding, ever. At age 65, she says that sailing must be the best sport in the world. You can take it up cruising non-competitively, or racing competitively. Sailing is a team sport that you can do and any age, any gender and any ability. You don’t need a lot of money, especially if you want to crew. And when you are sitting on that rail in 20+ knots, it is very often hard to tell what age, what gender and how well off the person sitting next to you is.
Women in Sailing - Adrienne Cahalan
Women In Sailing - Liz Wardley
Women In Sailing - Wendy Tuck
Our next Guest in the Women in Sailing Podcast series has skippered 3 of her 13 Sydney to Hobart Races, she has skippered 2 round the world Clipper Races winning a division and then overall Line honors. Participated in 10 Sydney to Gold Coast races and much more.
I talk to Wendy Tuck about her recent time as skippering on Maiden from Sri Lanka to LA via Sydney.
She also shares with us her experience and achievements, as skipper, on the Clippers around the world race. And we touch on her Sydney to Hobart races and the Jane Tate Trophy.
Wendy Started sailing with her ex husband in her 20’s, they bought a boat and lived in Spain for a number of years, after taking a break and returning to Sydney she discovered sailing again, and so began the next leg of her sailing career.
She got her first commercial ticket in 2002 and is a RYA Yacht master instructor and examiner. Holding a Master 5, Med 3 ticket. She is studying MED 2 with a goal of studying Master 4, to enable her to driving bigger boats hopefully on the harbour.
I’d like to welcome Wendy Tuck
Women in Sailing - Karyn Gojnich
Karyn has sailed all her life and started out at the Lane Cove 12 ft Sailing Skiff Club. She has sailed Sabots, flying 11st, Cherubs, 18ft skiffs, keelboats and windsurfers to name a few.
She has represented Australia at 3 Olympic games, competed in multiple world, European and National Championships.
And it doesn’t stop there.
In addition to the comprehensive Sailing Program at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Karyn and the team are continually investing in growing female participation in Sailing. Through programs such as the Ladies of the Sea Wednesday Coaching Sessions, Tuesday Twilights Women's Helm Racing and the LOTS Coaching Regatta.
Karyn is still an active sailor, boat owner, giving coach, and passionate advocate for the sport of sailing.
We chat with Karyn about her sailing life, the games, sailing experiences and influences over the years.
Women in Sailing - Lisa Darmanin
I'm very excited to talk with our first Women in Sailing podcast guest Lisa Darmanin
Lisa will compete with teammate Jason Waterhouse on the foiling Nacra17’s at the Tokyo Olympics.
After sailing together for a number of years the team of Lisa and Jason got their first taste of gold at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Braiel 2009.
Then in 2016 they made their Olympic debut in RIO and proudly bring home the silver.
Lisa was also named the Australian Female sailor for both 2015 and 2016.
And these are just a few of her achievements during sailing career.
The Covid19 virus has changed everything for everyone including our Olympians, and they now have 12 months to go until the Tokyo games.
I talk with Lisa about various aspects of her sailing career, past experience, challenges and the lead up
Tokyo Olympics next year.