Last weekend (24/25 February), Dublin University Sailing Club Women’s Team travelled to Glasgow to compete in the annual RYA BUSA Ladies Team Racing National Championships. It was the first time in years that Trinity has sent a team to this event. This years competition was hosted by Glasgow University Sailing Club and The University of Strathclyde Sailing Club. Racing took place over two days in Lochore Meadows with teams from all over the UK and Scotland. Trinity was the only team from overseas.
Racing kicked off on Saturday morning with a total of 85 races taking place. Despite freezing conditions, the wind was favourable and the sun shined until the racing was finished for the day. Sunday morning took off slightly slower due to little wind with ice covering the lake bringing on another freezing day for sailors. The racing was arranged into leagues on Sunday following a sufficient number of races taking place the day before. Following stiff competition on Saturday, DUSC qualified for Bronze Fleet. The team won every race in the league qualifying them for the final. DUSC raced GUSC in the final, winning 2/2 races, proving the trip overseas to be a success. DUSC were unlucky with racing on Saturday however proved their capabilities and strengths as a team on Sunday.
A meeting held by the RYA took place on Saturday evening which aimed to discuss mechanisms to encourage more women helms in University Sailing. Caitlin Waters, captain of the DUSC Women’s Team and International Officer for the Trinity Sailing committee said that it was “a great opportunity to have a discussion with race officials and women from other Universities about ways to encourage more talented women to helm when they enter University Sailing.” DUSC is proud to have an increasing number of women helming in the club, and hope to push this further in the future.
The next event that DUSC will be competing in is IUSA Intervarsities which takes place next week in Kilrush, Co Clare hosted by UCC and NUIG.
