The women's interclub Match Racing Series 1976, is to be conducted by MHYC on Sunday 14^th and Sunday 21^st November.

This series has attracted women's teams from RSYS, RPAYC, CYC, RPEYC, Botany Bay Yacht Club and Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

As a lead up to this series, a very interesting seminar on match racing tactics and rules was conducted at the Clubhouse on Tuesday 28^th 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 - THE RACE SECRETARY

"The Women's 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 Lesley 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 coordinated the loan of the boats.

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

The team from Botany Bay Yacht Club on the Cavalier "Too Much" was - Noreen Thompson (skipper), my Mum Cloreen Brown, sister Kathryn Brown, Ann Brown (no relation) and myself (Pauline Eltoft). 

I don't remember a lot of the detail of the actual series, but the photo of "Too Much" brought back a lot of the feelings.

It certainly was a very big deal for us and we were all extremely nervous. I wondered if the faith other people obviously had in our ability was misplaced.

We had all sailed as crew regularly In club races with our husbands and fathers but we had no match racing experience. Apart from the annual Ladies Day race, poor Noreen had little practice as a skipper. We recognised some of the names of our opponents and were in awe of their yachting pedigrees. We came from Botany Bay - say no more!

Despite being completely out of our comfort zone, I remember feeling that all the men involved were very supportive and were genuinely encouraging of females in yachting. I'm not sure if this is the first all female match racing series but it was probably an important turning point in attitudes.