**BOOKED OUT**
Join women sailors from WWSA - Women Who Sail Australia for a fun and informative hour sharing practical knowledge, stories, and friendship about sailing. If you’re already a member of WWSA you will know how inclusive and supportive this group is ... if you’re not a member yet come along to learn about our great group.
WWSA is a mix of skippers, cruisers, racers, and women just starting out enjoying wooden boats as well as modern production boats. Two accomplished Tasmanian skippers will share some of their tips and experiences on the day. They will also share some of the special places here in Tasmania to take your boat, accompanied by lots of great photos. In addition, there will be hands on advice and demonstrations of rope handling and shorthanded berthing.
Location: Founders Room, Salamanca Arts Centre (access through Woobys Lane, Salamanca)
Date: Saturday 11 February 2023
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am
Price: Free
Venue Capacity: 80 people
WWSA present:
- Intro into history of Women Who Sail WWSA admin representative Gail Grant
- Sailing on a wooden boat solo- presented by Jane Wilson
- Lasso berthing guide and demo presented by Linda MacKenzie
- Sailing to beautiful Tasmanian destinations presented by Sheenagh Neill
- A practical smorgasbord of knot tying - a hands on exercise presented by Julie Porter
Meet the Presenters
Gail Grant
Gail is from Sydney. Gail and her husband sail a Bluewater 420 monohull yacht named Southern Belle which was launched in July 2011.
They have sailed the Queensland coast multiple times and as far north as the Louisiades Archipelago in Papua New Guinea. This is their third time sailing Tasmania. Gail has been a member of WWSA since 2014 as one of the original members
Jane Wilson
Jane Wilson, lives mostly on Bruny island and the rest of the time on her Atkins 32Erik ( a sister ship to Suhali). A career involving veterinary, winemaking , truck driving and now organic auditing has fully equipped Jane for the frustrations and delights of wooden boat sailing and ownership.
Equipped with the sage advice of ‘stay away from the hard and dry bits’ Jane has dragged herself towards a degree of skill making lots of mistakes as she went.
Constant helpful advice from the wooden boat owners and importantly from Women who Sail Australia that has kept Jane going. That and the love of landscape and the privilege of being able to sail in Southern Tasmania in her stout little ship. Jane has been a member of WWSA since 2017
Linda MacKenzie
Linda Mackenzie is a wooden boat owner of 10 years sailing the East Coast of Australia for 6 months on , 6 months off.
Linda has been a member of WWSA since it’s inception and find the knowledge of such a group to be encouraging and inspiring and have also attended the WBF for the last 3 events .
As a late comer to sailing Linda cites WWSA talks or demonstrations as both helpful and at times life saving. Linda is a expert short handed berthing expert-in WWSA. has been a member of WWSA since 2014.
Sheenagh Neil
Sheenagh has been sailing on and off since her youth. Her love grew from her childhood trip sailing to Australia. In 2015, she moved from racing/delivering on yachts to serious cruising on her own yacht.
Since then she has sailed up and down the east coast of Australia both in her own yacht and as crew. She has sailed as far away as Vanuatu . In recent years she has led cruises for several Hobart yacht clubs to remote places in Tasmania.
She is passionate about promoting women sailors. Sheenagh is the Tasmania administrator for Women Who Sail Australia and loves being part of such a wonderful supportive sailing group. Sheenagh has been a member of WWSA since 2016.
Julie Porter
Originally from New Zealand, a registered nurse Julie now lives in Tasmania overlooking the Channel and Bruny Island. Julie is a self confessed tall ship and classic boat enthusiast with a passion for sharing traditional sailing skills and ensuring the art lives on to the future.
She owns tall ship Rhona H (operated by Not for Profit Heritage Sailing Tasmania) with her partner Charles, as well as a Lyle Hess 24’ pilot cutter “Heather-Belle”. Julie joined WWSA in 2018 and is also proud to be supporting Women Who Sail. Julie has been a member of WWSA since 2018.