Monday, September 3, 2012

"Girl Power" Trumps Hebe Haven J/80 Series

J/80 one-design sailboat- all-girls sailing team Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)- Sailing is growing faster and faster in China and nowhere is this more evident than the J/80 teams that are sailing off the two principal clubs on Hong Kong's amazing harbor- Royal Hong Kong YC and their counterparts on the north side, Hebe Haven YC.  Both clubs have done a remarkable job to cultivate sailing as both a recreational activity and competitive sport-- especially for women, children and newcomers to sailing in China.  Well, it seems the program is beginning to demonstrate that it has some interesting dividends.  Recently, it looks like the "girls" beat the "boys" in the Hebe Haven Typhoon J/80 Series.

J/80 women's sailing teamMore to the point, Lauren Mead's all-girls team won on their J/80 HAKAWATI!  Here is Lauren's report (courtesy of SA)- "Team Danger, as we're often referred to by the "boys" on the other teams, has had its share of moments in Hong Kong sailing.  The Hebe Haven Typhoon Series concluded with a windless race around the islands (Typhoon Tembin has been threatening to give us some awesome sailing conditions all week but they failed to materialize on the day).  I helm the J/80 HAKAWATI as part of Hong Kong's first all-girls team in about 15 years (we are known as "Team Danger" in Hong Kong for reasons entirely un-deserved), and we won our series overall - with help from some suspect swimwear and distraction tactics!

Thought I would pass the photos along to you as a demo of what NOT to wear sailing (but, our clothing sponsors demanded we needed to!), but also to prove that girls can wear literally anything on a boat and they will get attention!" - Anarchist Lauren.   For more Hebe Haven YC J/80 Sailing information