Women and Girls in Sailing Committee 2007 – Women in Sailing Interest Group 2011 – VicHealth Women and Girls in Sailing Project 2012 – Yachting Victoria Women and Girls in Sailing Committee

Women and Girls in Sailing Committee Monica Tonner, Chairperson – Sandringham Yacht Club Cherry Birch – Yachting Victoria Board Member Catherine Beaufort – Royal Yacht Club of Victoria Robyn Brooke – Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Rosemary Colahan – Royal Brighton Yacht Club Alisanne Green – Port Melbourne Yacht Club Janina Goethel – Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Sally Herbertson – Royal Yacht Club of Victoria Jane Moffat – McCrae Yacht Club Amanda Wakeham – Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron

Yachting Victoria Strategic Plan PARTICIPATION AND MEMBERSHIP Deliver continual and sustainable participation and membership growth Success of the ‘Women and Girls in Sailing’ program >25% of commodores, committee members, coaches and instructors are female (Currently at 11%) >40% of members female (Currently at 25%)

Surveying sailing and non sailing females Gemba report released November 2011 Surveyed sailing and non sailing females July / August 2012

Survey Findings – Non Sailors 167 respondents 54% were interested in sailing 58% would consider doing a Learn to Sail course 76% believe that they need to be fit and healthy to sail Re Attractiveness of Sailing, the top rated responses were: –The outdoors (particularly young people) –Social possibilities – the opportunity to meet people, –Health/exercise Re Sailing Barriers the top rated responses were: –Time commitments –Lack of skill (particularly respondents over 40) –Believe you feel out of place –Not knowing how to get started 56% expressed interest in Club Roles with the most popular being: –Helping to organise social events (particularly young people) –Being on the rescue boat –Greeting new members

Actions already being taken Launch of WGIS website and newsletter Creation of Women and Girls in Sailing Logo ‘Local Heroes’ initiative YV funded adverts to promote Adult Learn to Sail Course for females –3 clubs in 2012/3 –2 more planned for 2013/4 sailing season Editorials in local newspapers featuring females sailing for the first time. YV Participation Committee developed document aimed at helping yacht clubs attract and retain volunteers

Women and Girls in Sailing Website

Women and Girls in Sailing Newsletter

Nora Livesey Mordialloc Sailing Club Story currently available on our website Women and Girls in Sailing Local Heroes Initiative

Actions already being taken Launch of WGIS website and newsletter ‘Local Heroes’ initiative YV funded adverts to promote Adult Learn to Sail Course for females –3 clubs in 2012/3 –2 more planned for 2013/4 sailing season Editorials in local newspapers featuring females sailing for the first time.

Things we are doing / want help with / club buy in YV plans to develop a guide which clubs can use to promote sailing within their local community Continued promotion of “learn to sail” courses (both OTB and Keelboat) on social media platforms such as Facebook WGIS rep at each club as main contact person – directory of these contact people on WGIS website WGIS Club rep to work with club to complete the “Increasing Female Participation” Club Workbook Ensure your clubs website has plenty of details of Learn To Sail courses for both OTB and keelboat YV Participation Committee developed document aimed at helping yacht clubs attract and retain volunteers

Survey Findings – Current Sailors 424 respondents 73% are interested in training options – –Racing keelboats, Learn to sail keelboat /keelboat crew and Racing dinghies most popular Suggested enhancements to sailing enjoyment: –More skills training and experience –Greater promotion of female sailors – more respect/open mindedness –Greater affordability –Greater access to sailing mentors and coaching 17% are aware of discrimination, 13% aware of bullying, and 11% aware of sexual harassment/ unwelcome attention 66% are interested in club roles: –Being on the rescue boat (large number 19 or<) –Serving on a committee –Race management 74% rated their club 7 or higher out of 10 in terms of being female friendly – however 14% rated their club 5 or less.

73% are interested in training options: Actions already being taken Learn to Sail courses – with YV WGIS specific promotion/advertising Coaching and training run in conjunction with PPWCS Support of Victorian International Optimist Dinghy Association (VIODA) Girl only coaching weekend successful event WGIS promoting training/coaching opportunities through website and newsletter

73% are interested in training options: Things we are doing / want help with / club buy in YV to continue to promote learn to sail courses (both OTB and Keelboat) on online media platforms including social media Case study to be developed from VIODA Girl only coaching weekend to be rolled out to other clubs WGIS will create a section on our website which will contain all information regarding training “PPWCS model” series to be explored for OTB to include racing dinghy training opportunities and/or other areas of Victoria (e.g. Westernport)

66% are interested in club roles: Actions already being taken YV to fund/run a rescue boat course for 10 females in August YV good governance program for clubs which includes looking at increasing the number of women on their general committee – 18 clubs involved. YV has started to mentor 3 females to become umpires YV will continue to subsidise identified females to become qualified instructors

66% are interested in club roles: Things we are doing / want help with / club buy in YV to organise/run training to support and encourage potential female leaders WGIS Club representative to support and encourage female representation on club committees WGIS Club rep to work with club to complete the “Increasing Female Participation” Club Workbook YV to continue to develop pathways for females to get into race management by creating opportunities at summer school sailing events

74% rated their club 7 or higher out of 10 in terms of being female friendly – however 14% rated their club 5 or less. Actions already being taken Suggestions for improvement: 43% More females involved in club leadership 25% More balanced gender mix in club membership 21% More female races 21% A female you can contact within the club Key actions listed previously address all the above points.

17% are aware of discrimination, 13% aware of bullying, and 11% aware of sexual harassment/ unwelcome attention against women in the sailing community in the last 2 years. 77% unaware of whether their club has an anti bullying/harassment policy/procedure. Actions already being taken YV staff have undergone MPIO training YV has created policies, in particular a Respect in the Workplace policy, which includes a complaints procedure. YV rolling out MPIO program across all clubs YV reviewing promotional material to ensure females and males sailors are portrayed as equals

17% are aware of discrimination, 13% aware of bullying, and 11% aware of sexual harassment/ unwelcome attention against women in the sailing community in the last 2 years. 77% unaware of whether their club has an anti bullying/harassment policy/procedure. Things we are doing / want help with / club buy in YV communicating with all clubs available MPIO courses YV to communicate with member clubs their “Creating safe and respectful environments” policies and documents and assist clubs adopt this policy Encourage yacht club committees to regularly promote where their policies can be viewed

Many would like to see greater promotion of sailing generally and to women specifically in terms of highlighting the following positives: Actions already being taken WGIS website – address how to get started and misperceptions re fitness or lack of skill Ensure website has plenty of details of Learn To Sail courses for both OTB and keelboat – covering all ages and all fitness levels WGIS rep at each club as main contact person – directory of these contact people on WGIS website Ensure all clubs display the WGIS rep contact details on their website and all Discover Sailing materials Local Heroes Initiative

Questions & Answers

Further Information Sam Watson – YV Staff Member Cherry Birch – YV Board Member Monica Tonner – Women and Girls in Sailing Chairperson