2020 WOMEN’S RACING SERIES IS CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19. SEE YOU IN 2021.
“Valley Girls” Vernon Yacht Club’s Weekly Women’s Sailboat Racing Series
2019 Okanagan Womens Regatta Overall by Fleet
2019 Okanagan Womens Regatta Race Results[4973]
Congratulations to Pam St Pierre on winning the 2019 Debbie Gittins Award and to Varua for winning the Boat of the Year Award. Kate Stefanuk won the Drama Queen Award. First Place winner in Coached Fleet was Mystique, first place winner in Non Coached Fleet was Captivator.
It’s a wrap 2019
Race Results
Pam St Pierre receiving the Debbie Gittins Trophy from Keith Sangster. This trophy is given to the Vernon sailor who exhibits perseverance, commitment, enthusiasm, determination, love of sailing, and joy of competition. Pamela Miller receiving the Boat of the Year award. This was Pamela’s first year of helming Varua and suffered a few mechanical failures but that did not deter her from competing.
Pictures by Jim Dillabough
Previous Year’s winners
| Year | 525 Fleet | PHRF Fleet | Coached Fleet | Host Club |
| 2008 | Shazam (G. Hayward) | Spoiler (Liz Balderston) | VYC | |
| 2009 | Goldmember (G. Hayward) | Le Papillon (j. Hildebrand) | WKYC | |
| 2010 | Contagious (G. Thomson) | The Factor (T. Delorme) | PYC | |
| 2011 | Ion (L. Balderston) | Ayesha (C. Craske) | Woohoo (A. Kaczmarek) | VYC |
| 2012 | Contagious (G. Thomson) | Ghostrider (K. Hardisty) | Fitzcaraldo (B. Hahn) | SYC |
| 2013 | —–(no fleet) | Contagious (G. Thomson) | Rocket Therapy (S. Tombe) | WKYC |
| 2014 | Captivator (C. Craske) | Ghostrider (K. Hardisty) | Rocket Therapy (S. Tombe) | WKYC |
| 2015 | Captivator (C. Craske) | Dauntless (S. Morris Probert) | Mystique (C. Laplante) | WKYC |
| 2016 | Shazam ( T. Lindsay) | Corona Bob (S. Ruuska) | The Factor (M. Sharpe) | WKYC |
| 2017 | —–(no fleet) | Wy Wurrie (M. Hales) | Ayesha (C. Appleby) | VYC |
| 2018 | —–(no fleet) | Contagious (G. Thomson) | Freedom | KYC |
| 2019 | —-(no fleet) | Always Something (K Hardisty) | Mystique (K. Stefanuk) | WKYC |
History: In 2007 the Kelowna Yacht club hosted the Canadian National Keelboat Regatta. The support for the sport was so overwhelming that it was decided to hold a women’s only regatta annually in the Okanagan Valley and that was the start of the women’s sailboat racing in this area. During May and June, women sailors race weekly at their receptive clubs to hone their skills and have FUN! Then we meet at the regatta to test our skills. Vernon Yacht Club held the first Okanagan Women’s Regatta in 2008, hosted it again in 2011 and July 2017.
We have two fleets – mentored/coached and non-mentored/non coached. In the non coached fleet, only women are on board. In the coached fleet, there is a coach aboard (male or female) BUT the coach cannot touch anything unless it is an emergency. The coach gives advice, instruction and verbal help BUT does not trim, adjust, etc. Currently we have six boats – 4 coached and 2 non-coached – and we always are looking to increase our numbers.
Crew placement: Each boat has approximately 4 crew members on board plus in the case of the coached fleet, a coach. Positions are generally, but not restricted to:
Driver; Mainsheet trimmer; Genoa trimmer; Bow
If you are interested in joining us and have a boat, welcome – we will help you put a team together. If you are interested and do not have a boat, we will put you on the list along with your qualifications. This list is then circulated to the boats and if they have an opening, you may get a call. We are always looking for spares, so don’t despair if you are not invited to join a team right away, we may give you a call to fill in for a night and that might lead to a permanent position.
Need more info? Contact Carol at 250 542-5644 or vycsailing@yahoo.ca
Okanagan Women’s Sailing Regatta Archives:
2018 Women Windup
Coached fleet Overall 2018
Non coached overall 2018
OWR2017 Windup
WOMEN Weekly Windup 2017
OWR 2017 results:
Coached Fleet Results
Non Coached Fleet Results
2016 Wrap
Vernon Women Shine at OWR2015
Okanagan Women Sailing Website and Regatta Info
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- Del accepting her award
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- Making a bowline in the main halyard.
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- Shelley
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- Cathy in boat race
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- Debbie
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- Mystique
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- Dancing the night away
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- Fun times
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- Phoenix getting their lunches
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- Captivator
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- Lyle dancing the night away
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- Captivator
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- Phoenix
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- Mystique
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- Genevieve & Colette synchronized swimming between races
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- Del winning boat race
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- Nancy & Katie – crew in training
Okanagan Women’s Racing History
In 2007, the Canadian Yachting Association held the Canadian Women Keelboat Championship at Kelowna Yacht Club. The women of VYC became involved and practiced intently until six boats were ready to compete in a field of 22 boats. Although Vernon sailors didn’t make the top three positions, the event ignited a desire within the women of the Okanagan to continue to foster this competitive fever so it was decided that VYC would hold the first Annual Okanagan Women’s Regatta in the summer of 2008.
Participants of 1st Okanagan Women’s Racing 2008
After that the event moved to West Kelowna, Penticton and Summerland before finding a permanent home at the West Kelowna Yacht Club. Interest in racing dwindled in Vernon but this past year, we were able to rekindle the fever for the 2015 OWR. In 2017, the regatta was again moved to Vernon then KYC in 2018 but rumor has it, it will be returning to WKYC in 2019.