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Judy Spicer
The Winners! Judy Spicer and her lady-killers on board

GenderFemale
NationalityAustralian
HometownSydney
ClubMiddle Harbour Yacht Club
Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club

Judy Spicer

Judy Spicer was the granddaughter of one of the founders of Middle Harbour Yacht Club, George Griffin who owned Griffin Brothers' Boatshed at the Spit. For many years, the racing used to be conducted out of his boatshed.

Here are a few memories from Judy.

"I spent my early life at the Spit either at my grandfather's boatshed, Griffin's, watching him building yachts, or watching my father, Stan, sail skiffs at MH16' Sailing Club. In the early 1950's and 60's girls were not allowed to sail in 16's, but I often spend time as a baller when crews were short.

I started seriously in Solings with my father and his best friend, Merv Blanch. We had two and I was the forward hand and learnt quickly so that I looked like I knew what I was doing.

Sailing on Sydney Harbour was very competitive in the 70's and 80's. We then got our Etchell, and my father retired from sailing competitively and I took the helm. My father had been a brilliant helmsman and had high expectations of me.

I was the secretary for the E22 Sydney Harbour fleet and also worked on the AYF Olympic Planning Committee, and manager for the Women's Worlds at Rochester, New York. As a teacher I had to take leave without pay for this privilege and was so angry when a male teacher got paid leave to take a boys Rugby team, to New Zealand - no even a World Championship!!!

I sailed in Nationals, Worlds and it never occurred to me that being the only female skipper was worthy of any comment - despite some journalists' awful stories.

I was very fortunate to be invited to sail in some women's series, but always loved the Harbour racing on the Etchells.

A great memory of mine is sailing on the Clyde in the UK with Timmy and David Larr from the USA, and on a reach, with the kite up, seeing a periscope going past us at about 20 knots (watching us two girls) - the US had a fleet there.

Mike Cuddy from Long Island sailed my Etchell in the Worlds off Palm Beach, and we had a terrific southerly and it hailed. Obviously, he had not seen this before and said he just needed a scotch to go with the ice!"

1976

MHYC Log June 1976

TO ALL WOMEN MEMBERS OF MHYC                             

THE INAUGURAL AUSTRALIAN WDMENS YACHTING CHALLENGE

MIDDLE HARBOUR YACHT CLUB has kindly agreed to conduct this event on the 14th and 21st November, 1976.

The class of yacht to be used has yet to be decided but there will be one yacht from each of the six clubs who are being invited to compete in the four race series. At the moment, it appears they may be either Endeavour or Triton 24's.

As this is something completely new, we would like to have the maximum possible support from women members of the Club. Team racing is the keenest form of yachting competition and requires quick thinking, fast reflexes, a knowledge of the rules and a good knowledge of the type of yacht that you are sailing.

The M.H.Y.C. Winter series will give a very good opportunity to people to train for the November challenge.

Would any members of the M.H.Y.C. either women or men who wish to compete or support this event either personally or by loaning a yacht, please contact me or leave a message at the Club - 969 1244.

Vikki Willman

MHYC Log October 1976

The Womens Interclub Match Racing Series 1976, is to be conducted by M.H.Y.C. on Sunday, 14th and Sunday 21st November.

This series has attracted womens teams from R.S.Y.S., R.P.A.Y.C., C.Y.C. R.P.E.Y.C., Botany Bay Yacht Club and M.H.Y.C.

As a lead up to this series, a very interesting seminar on match racing tactics and rules was conducted at the Clubhouse on Tuesday 28th Sept­ember by Jim Hardy and Tony Mooney. We wish to extend our appreciation to these gentlemen for their time and interest, which, without any doubt was very much appreciated by the seventeen women sailors who were present.

MHYC Log December 1976

MHYC Log December 1976

The Womens Inter-Club Match Racing Series was an outstanding success, attracting a large spectator fleet, newspapers, magazines and television stations.

The series being the first of its kind was not without its teething problems some of which seemed at the time, unsurmountable. However everything seemed to sort itself out and I feel now that its future is assured.

The series was won by Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club. Their team, captained by Judy Spicer and a very capable crew of 'loverlies', won every heat they started in. The other clubs represented were - Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron -Pat Warn; Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club - Robyn Grosvenor; Botany Bay Yacht Club - Thompson; Cruising Yacht Club of Australia - Leslie Brydon and Middle Harbour Yacht Club was capably represented by Vicki Willman.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to Harvey Milne, Grahame Robertson, James Dibble, Geoff McBean and John Garner and Kerry Partridge who made their yachts available for the series, and a special thanks to Cavalier Yachts Pty. Ltd. who co-ordinated the loan of the boats.

 

 

 

First All female Regatta in Sydney Harbour - Australian Sea Spray 17th Dec 1976

Those Cavalier Ladies really Pushed their Flying Machines

Edwards wins the Barbarian Cup

JUDY SPICER, who usually sails on Etchells, won all five heats of the Barbarian Cup (for women!) and brought the Cup back to her club, Royal Prince Edward. She skippered Little Cav, one of six Cavalier 26s loaned for the series which was held on Middle Harbour late in November.

She was ably assisted by Anne Martin, Judy Furber and Mandy Furber.

The Barbarian Cup was presented by the all-girl crew of Barbarian, the yacht which made headlines in the 1975 Sydney to Hobart Race. Vicki Willman skippered Barbarian in the Hobart and she also skippered Rough Rider into fourth place in the Cup series for Middle Harbour YC. Ruth Reinehart, Pam Brinsmead and Helen Halliday helped her.

The CYC's team of Leslie Brydon, Ann Wilson, Robyn Miles and Francis Johnston tied with MHYC for fourth spot with two heat wins. They sailed Cavatina.

RSYS and Botany Bay Yacht Club tied for second overall. The Squadron crew of Pat Warn, Joyce Warn, Marjorie Coleman, Eve Shephard and Verity Halvorsen sailed Laura. Botany girls - Maureen Thompson, Clareen Brown, Catherine Brown, Ann Brown and Pauline Eltoft - sailed Too Much. The Squadron and BBYC won three heats each.

Sixth, but not least, were Royal Prince Alfred YC lasses sailing Bolero. They didn't win a heat yet sailed well Robyn Grosvenor, Helen Cotben, Moyce Cahill, Jan Tunbridge and Nan Paul represented the Alfreds.

The Cup was sailed for in Cavalier 26 yachts which were balloted for before the series. No dramas or accidents were recorded and the all-girl crews earned praise for their good boat handling. Vicki Willman provided the only incidents: she broke the start twice.

One spinnaker, three headsails and one mainsail were allowed on each Cavalier.

After the main presentation, the owners of the Cavaliers were presented with engraved winch handles by Barlow and the girls gave them tankards in appreciation.

Next season's series should be keenly contested with honour to uphold

Pictures

The Winners! Judy Spicer and her lady-killers on board
Male Observers - observing the girls! - admitted that they didn't see any of them get into trouble and that they handled their boats very well. Next year we'll see more yacht and even keener crews
MH 238 - Too Much
Add at back of Article - wonder what they are fishing for!

1977/78

MHYC Log September 1977

In December this year, there will be inter-match races for the Barbarian Trophy, with the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht ClubBotany Bay Yacht ClubCruising Yacht Club of Australia and Middle Harbour Yacht Club. This will be contested in an Endeavour.

 
Julie Hodder comment: I do not have the results, but I am told that this year Vicki Willman won, beating Judy Spicer. 
I believe it was also held in 1978 by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron from March 23-27 (MHYC Log March 1978). May 1978 reports 'The Tasmanian team, lead by the ever-consistent Barbara McDougal of the Derwent River Squadron, sailing Kermit, scored convincingly from NSW (Anne Finlay of MHYC) sailing "Freckles" and SA (Helene Messner of the Port Adelaide Yacht Club) sailing "Seabird"
After that regatta, it the female Championships seemed to have gone interstate. Many of the female sailors at the time also competed in World Women's Championships.

1978

Judy to Sail Against Top Yachtsmen (24/9/1978)

By Peter Hahoney

A woman will take on the world's top Yachting skippers in a gruelling Sydney series Next week.

But the prospect of battling the breeze with champions and America's Cup veterans does not daunt Judy Spicer, a 31- year-old German teacher.

"It doesn't worry me at all," she said this week between classes at Mosman High School. "I've sailed in three world championships.

"I've just come back from the world championships in California. I didn't do very well -but none of the other Australians did, either."

Judy skippered her Cavalier 26 to win Sydney's first inter-club women's match racing series in 1977.

Her next challenge is a series of match races beginning with elimination heats at Rose Bay on Thursday and continuing through the long weekend.

They are part of a show called Sailboats Afloat that the Yachting Association of NSW hopes will introduce large numbers of youngsters to the sport.

The show will centre on a floating marina in Farm Cove made from 11 pontoons, each with enough room for 200 people.

A range of boats from dinghies  to deep-keel yachts, cruisers and ocean racers, including Gretel II, will be on display.

Visitors' trials

A spokesman for the association, Mr Garry Smailes, said visitors would be able to go trial sailing.

Competitors in the match races will crew Etchell 22s, an internationally classed three-man yacht.

Mr Smailes said the Hartford Monarch insurance group was bringing out Pelle Petterson, skiper of Sverige, the Swedish challenger for the 1977 America's Cup, to take part.

Other well-known yachtsmen include Noel Robbins (skipper of Australia's latest America's Cup challenger Australia), Jim Hardy, Gordon Ingate, 18-footer expert Ken Beashel, Ben Lexcen, Frank Tolhurst (who won the world 5.5 metre title a few weeks ago), Peter Antill and Olympic Gold medallist Dave Forbes.

Interstate yachtsmen, to be flown to Sydney by Ansett, include Fred Neil (SA). Noel Brooke, John Dunn and Mark Bethwaite, all from Victoria.

Sailboats Afloat will be staged in conjunction with the Department of Sport and Recreation's Water Safety Week.

Girl Skipper Judy Spicer won her way though to second round

This is one of Judy's proudest moments in her sailing career.

Sweden for 1980 America's Cup

By BOB ROSS

Pelle Petterson, Sweden's America's Cup challenge skipper, who is in Sydney for a Match-racing series, said yesterday that Sweden definitely would challenge again; for the Cup in 1980.

It would challenge with Sverige, the 1977 challenger which Petterson designed.

He said the bottom shape would be modified slightly and there would be a big improvement in the mast, rigging and sails.

"The rig and sails were our weakest point last year," Petterson said.

"Our crew work was very good, but we lacked some experience and time was against us."

After the match-racing series in Etchells 22 class yachts ends on Monday, Petterson will fly onto San Francisco to compete in the world Star Class championships.

Yesterday he and Gordon Ingate, who skippered Gretel. II in the America's Cup eliminations, were the only two skippers to win all three of their races.

Girl skipper Judy Spicer won her way through to the second round with two wins, together with Bruce Ritchie and David Forbes. Miss Spicer beat Forbes in their race.

Eliminated were Ben Lexcen, John Savage, Harold Vaughan and John Messenger.

The races were sailed in Rose Bay in a 12 to 15 knot breeze.

A record fleet of 43 yachts has entered Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club's Ampol Montagu Island race which starts off Clark Island in the Harbour at 5 pm today.

The fleet includes Australia's original America's Cup challenger, Gretel, converted for ocean-racing by a Melbourne syndicate and now owned by a Sydney group headed by Bernard Lewis and John Cleland.

Gretel has been thoroughly overhauled for the race and its crew includes seasoned ocean racing hands Dave Kellett (skipper, Roger Grimes (navigator) and John Dawson.

Gretel has a chance for line honours, given a good share of windward work, but if it is a reaching race, John Biddle-combe's Casablanca could be home first.

Syd Fischer and his Ragamuffin crew, sailing Melbourne Admiral's Cup yacht Superstar' while Fischer's new yacht is being built, have a chance for both line and handicap honours.

1987

Women's keelboat series 1987 

Alex Murray won the inaugural Women's Keelboat series, sailed in Cavalier 28 production yachts, in convincing fashion on August 29/30, taking the gun in all three races on Sydney Harbour. The 26-year-old Sydney yachtswoman had some assistance in the first two heats from her husband lain of Twelve Metre and 18ft skiff fame. lain sailed as foredeck hand for Alex, along with the owner of the Cavalier 28 Basilisk, Bob Tinning, regular crew Margaret Marsh, and Sydney sailmakers Michael Coxon and Peter Cowman.

Second overall was Judy Spicer, formerly a top Etchells 22 skipper, who sailed Rod Mitchell's Cavalier 28 Centaurus into two third placings and a fourth. Third was 18ft skiff sailor Vanessa Dudley in Ca Va, a close 0.6 points behind Judy with two seconds and an eighth.

Offshore yachtswoman Susie Kidd was fourth overall in Swashbuckler, while Rosemary Hay (Sheer Extravagance) and Louise Sullivan (Enigma), both of Sydney Amateur SC, tied for fifth overall.

The series was sponsored by Cavalier Yachts P/L, with boats supplied by members of the Cavalier 28 Association, and was hosted by the Sydney Amateur SC. Each of the 11 competing yachts carried a minimum of two women, including the skipper, amongst their five or six person crews. Entrants included Mooloolaba yachtswoman Margie Brown.

Racing was extremely close in the light to moderate conditions, with less than 10 minutes separating the leaders and tailenders most of the time and placings being swapped continually through tight duelling amongst the fleet.

Vanessa Dudley
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