Setting you and your boat up to win
Sonia Robinson and the WWSA Gathering on the Bay
Sonia Robinson has cruised and raced classic yachts in the Mediterranean, worked on luxury charter yachts in the Caribbean, sailed and instructed in Ireland, France, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, and worked as a delivery skipper in Greece. She has clocked up more than 25,000nm crossing oceans. In 2017 she started selling mostly production yachts in Sydney Harbour, and subsequently started 'EziYacht' in 2019 to focus primarily where her passion lies; with cruising and bluewater cruising yacht sales and services.
A qualified RYA Offshore Yachtmaster and Australian Sailing Senior Keelboat Instructor, Sonia has devoted a large part of her career to the development of sailing education programs with Australian Sailing, the Royal Yachting Association, Yachting New Zealand, and Fiji Yachting Association. She has contributed to training frameworks for sailing and kiteboarding operations in Australia and the Pacific, gaining national and international program recognition.
As a female skipper, boat owner, and having worked in the yachting industry for some 30 years, Sonia Robinson aims to empower other women to feel confident at the helm of their own boat, and comfortable taking command if they so desire. Sonia will be speaking at the 2023 WWSA Gathering on the Bay on April 2.
Sonia says, “I have always believed that anyone can achieve what they set their mind to. It's not all about skill, a lot has to do with shifting your mindset from 'I'm afraid I will fail' to 'I will succeed'.
Through my profession (both as a trainer and as a boat broker) I frequently encounter partnerships where the woman (in most cases) is comfortable being told what to do, and as a result, generally doesn’t get too involved with the technicalities of sailing the boat. Let’s call her Type A.
Type B, on the other hand, is the boss for the most part but happy to handover the wheel when approaching the dock or when the s**t hits the fan.
I like to consider myself as Type C – the all-rounder – able to take orders while also capable of taking command. Often, women have commented on my ability or wished they could be more Type C, to which I always reply “There's absolutely no reason why you can't ..you just have to try”.
I’m not afraid to give things a try – I know that if I fail, I will try again, learn from my mistakes, and eventually I will succeed. I would really love to see more women willing to take this approach to learning and to step up to the challenge.
Let’s look at this from a 'role sharing' perspective – which I believe is fundamental in a great boating partnership. My husband started out sailing with me, first as an ‘incompetent crew’! He quickly advanced to 'competent' and now, after some years and training, he is 'co-captain' when we are sailing on longer/overnight passages. He even took things one step further to gain commercial qualifications – but that may not be the road for everyone.
What is essential however, is to ENJOY sailing in all its forms, and for that to happen one needs to understand their boat, to plan and communicate well, and when passage making, to know when it’s time to rest by sharing responsibilities. Beyond these basic criteria, one should be able to take over at any stage if the other person is incapacitated.
Wouldn't you feel more confident knowing that you have full control over your boat?
At the Gathering on the Bay, we have a unique opportunity to build new friendships in a learning and supportive environment. We may possibly also set goals to challenge ourselves with new boating practices. This may be learning a new knot, interpreting the weather or a new navigational challenge, trouble shooting a mechanical problem, or simply understanding more about your own boat and setting it up to suit your needs.
I would like to draw from my own experience (as a boat owner and skipper) in supporting those of you who would like to take the next step, whatever that step may be, from being relatively clueless to possibly picking up a mooring, to simply taking the helm, or docking your boat. In this interactive session I will provide advice and talk through some scenarios on how to set your boat up to suit your sailing needs, to make it easier for short-handed sailing, and equip you with the confidence to step out of your comfort zone."
The 2023 GOTB will be held in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, from March 31st to April 2nd. You don't have to be a member of WWSA to attend the Gathering on the Bay. If you are a woman and you are interested in boats - you are welcome!
The 2023 GOTB is proudly sponsored by Down Under Rally, Ahoy Sailing Magazine and Soldiers Point Marina, and
supported by Rocna Anchors Australia, Marine Medical Solutions, EziYacht, Paper Sailors Rock, Hawaiian Heart Massage Therapy, DeckHardware, Thwaites Marine, and Coral Sea Marina.
Tickets available: http://tix.yt/wwsa-gathering-on-the-bay-2023
