The Sigma 33 Elandra was out racing for the first time yesterday (27th April) with its mainly all-women crew on Belfast Lough. Victoria and Martin Dews have made Elandra available to encourage women to grab the chance to race or sail in a predominantly female crew. Victoria has been instrumental in creating opportunities for women to retain and deepen their interest in sailing.
Royal Ulster’s Opening Day at Bangor was the perfect opportunity to compete for the first time together and their third place overall on handicap in the YTC 2 fleet was a good start. Elandra was second over the line behind another Sigma, Squawk, (Paul and Emma Prentice). Victoria was pleased with the result. “Yesterday’s race was a great experience for our crew. The conditions were perfect for our first outing, and we really gelled as a team, despite our varied backgrounds and experience levels. I'm really chuffed at our 3rd place. We have a lot to learn, though! Again, we will be wearing our ‘lucky’ headbands, knitted especially by Martin’s mother”.
Elandra plans to participate in the first of the Northern Ireland Inshore Points series on 18th May, a race around the Copeland Islands off Donaghadee, about six miles east of Bangor.
Royal Ulster’s Opening Day results at Bangor
