ORCV Women, They're Part of the Blueprint

When we think about yacht racing, our minds usually jump to the rush of the start gun, the tension on the helm, the salt spray flying off the bow. But for every boat that crosses the start line, there’s a team of people behind the scenes making sure it can all happen—safely, smoothly, and with a whole lot of heart.

That’s exactly who we’re celebrating with the ORCV’s upcoming Women’s Helm, Navigator and Radio Race on July 26th. Yes, it’s about women at the wheel—but it’s also about the ones checking boats in, logging finish times, monitoring safety, and capturing every magic moment on camera.

This isn’t just about racing. It’s about representation. It’s about stepping up, saying yes, and discovering just how much you can contribute—whether you’ve sailed around the world or only just learned your port from your starboard.

Vicki Bayly – Calm on the Radio, Sharp with a Stopwatch

Vicki didn’t set out to become a race operator. She thought she’d try cruising. But when someone suggested that racing was the fastest way to learn, she gave it a go—and never looked back.

Now she’s the voice you’ll hear checking boats in, tracking their progress, and calling them across the finish line. She’s been trained to run races in 40-knot conditions and won the ORCV’s 2022 Race Operator Award. For this race, she’ll be up early and on the start boat with her notebook and VHF, noting positions and recording times.

“I didn’t mean to get into racing,” she says, laughing. “But it made me fall in love with it. It brings every bit of you into action. It’s calm. It’s exciting. It’s rewarding—and you don’t need to know everything to start.”

Vicki came through ORCV’s KISS (Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy) program and is a passionate advocate for other women to give it a try. “If there’s a gap, I like to have a go,” she says. “Doing is the only way to learn.”

Vicki in the 60^th Sea Pilots 30 March 2025 (provided by Vicki)

Marg Goddard – Watching Over Every Boat

Marg doesn’t crave the spotlight. You’ll usually find her behind the scenes, quietly monitoring a race via MarineTraffic, listening to VHF updates, and ready to step in if anything goes awry. She’s been part of the ORCV’s Incident Management Team since 2022—but her journey began years earlier at a dinghy club, when helping out in the race box gave her a whole new perspective.

“Being behind the scenes helps you become a better sailor,” she says. “You learn the flags, the rules, how races really work—and you see just how much support\goes into it all.”

A retired teacher and chaplain, Marg brings emotional intelligence and calm problem-solving to everything she does. And while she’s quick to point out that “it’s not for everyone,” she also says, “if you’re good with admin, dealing with people, and thinking on your feet—there’s a place for you.”

Marg has been mentored by some of the best, including Rik Head and Vanessa Twigg, and says she’s never felt alone. “There’s always someone to guide you. And that’s the beauty of this kind of volunteering—you learn, you grow, and you give back.”
 

Marg at the helm in the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta 2019 (photo provided by Marg)

Cas Bukor – Finding the Heartbeat Through Her Lens

Cas took up sailing at 65. Now 68, she’s a regular on the water—camera in hand, eye on the action. A professional graphic designer turned award-winning photographer, Cas combines her creative eye with her newfound love of sailing to capture the sport in its rawest, most joyful form.

“When people see themselves out on the water—boat heeled over, sails full, grinning from ear to ear—it means something. It becomes part of their story,” she says.

This will be her first official shoot for the ORCV, and she couldn’t be prouder. “Vicki invited me to come aboard, and I feel like I’ve found my people. I’ve found my place....Sailor Girl is also my inspiration..."

Cas won Photo of the Year at the Williamstown Camera Club for her photo of the Festival of Sails Regatta and created a local Williamstown calendar—but she’s just as happy with an iPhone as a DSLR. “Use what you’ve got,” she says. “What matters is showing up and being present.”

Cas' winning Williamstown Camera Club photo "Racing" of the startline for the Festival of Sails 2024. Boat in foreground is Smuggler.

Cas (R) and with Sailor Girl at the Festival of Sails. 

Catherine North – From Round-the-World Racer to Race Director

Catherine North has sailed around the world—literally. As a 2017–18 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crew member, she knows what it means to step up, dig deep, and go the distance. Now, as she sets her sights on the Melbourne to Osaka Race, she’s embracing a new challenge: stepping into leadership as a Race Director.

For the upcoming Women’s Helm, Navigator and Radio Race, Catherine is helping run the show—from pre-race briefings to finish logs, safety oversight to skipper communications. “It’s easy to showcase women on boats—and that’s important,” she says. “But we also need to showcase women in leadership roles. Running races. Giving out the prizes. That’s where the real change happens.”

Her journey into race management has been guided by the mentorship from the likes of Rik Head and David Schuller. “They’ve been generous with their time and knowledge,” she says. “It’s a steep learning curve, but I’m loving every minute of it.”

Catherine’s message is clear: representation matters—and not just on the water. “I want to show women that we’re in the club. That we do things. It’s important that the club talks the talk by having women in positions of authority.”

Race directing, she says, isn’t all high-octane starts and dramatic finishes. “You need to be detail-oriented. There’s a lot of time sitting in the van, watching boats come in. It can be monotonous—but it’s also deeply rewarding. You're the one making sure everyone gets home safely.”

While prior sailing knowledge helps, it’s not essential. “You’ll get trained. You’ll learn as you go. What matters is being aware—aware of where the boats are, what’s happening, and what needs to happen next. It’s a chance to learn the other side of sailing.”

Having crewed around the world, Catherine is now focused on developing her own sailing leadership skills. The Melbourne to Osaka race will be her first as skipper, and she’s soaking up everything she can. “Race directing is helping me understand the safety side, the logistics, the broader picture. I’ll take that back to the boat.”

More than anything, Catherine is about empowerment—creating environments where people can stretch themselves and discover just how capable they really are. “That’s the greatest thing I’ve learned: we are stronger than we realise, when someone gives us the space to grow. I want other women to experience that.”

Her advice? “Talk to the people doing it. Talk to the club. Ask questions. You’ll find there’s a huge amount of support. Just put your name down—you won’t regret it.”

L-R Rik Head (back of photo), Catherine North, David Schuller (front) at the 2024 Devonport Race

Be Part of the Team That Makes It Happen

Whether it’s on the radio, behind a camera, tracking boats online, or helping hand out trophies—this race is a celebration of what’s possible when women step up behind the scenes.

You don’t need a lifetime of sailing experience. You don’t need expensive gear. You don’t even need to know how to tie a bowline (yet). You just need curiosity, a bit of courage—and a willingness to give it a go.

👉 Want to volunteer? Visit orcv.org.au There’s a spot waiting for you.

Because the real magic of sailing? It’s made by the people who care enough to show up.

Why the return of the ORCV Women's Helm Race Changes Everything

Rachel Mcguigan during the Devonport Race 2023

Some people drift into sailing. Rachel Mcguigan charged in—eyes up, hands on, no time to waste.

When she first spoke to Leo Cantwell, skipper of Aileron, he asked her straight: “What do you want to learn?” Her answer was clear and fearless: “I want to do a helming course. I want to learn bow. I want it all. I’m not mucking about.” And she wasn’t. Leo took her seriously—and from that moment, things started moving.

She’s now helming Duxelle, (X 362 sport) which is co-owned by Catherine North, in the upcoming ORCV Women’s Helm, Navigator & Radio Operator Race (WHNR), and it’s not luck that got her there. It’s work.

“You don’t get much time on the helm unless you own the boat…”

That’s the challenge when you're starting out. You can be determined, capable, full of potential—but unless someone gives you a shot at the wheel, you’re stuck trimming, grinding, or watching. Rachel’s lucky to have had skippers who invested in her, gave her time, and trusted her to take the lead.

She got her early miles and hands-on experience crewing on Magic Bullet and Aileron—learning the boat inside and out, doing deliveries, soaking it all up. But helming? That came slowly, outside of race mode, often on long, cold passages or casual sails. It was valuable, yes—but limited.

So, she doubled down. Dinghy courses. Helm time anywhere she could get it. She trained her eye to look outside the boat—to read wind, laylines, VMG and ladder runs. She started taking notes, replaying races in her head, and thinking deeply about her next step.

She's learning the helm, one honest mile at a time

When Rachel races, she makes one thing clear to her crew: “Here’s what I’m good at. Here’s where I need to grow.” That honesty, she says, is non-negotiable. “It’s dangerous to overstate your skills. You have to be upfront and open to learning—otherwise no one can help you.”

What’s next? She’s training for the Melbourne to Hobart this year. She’s already done a stack of double-handed races with Leo on Aileron, soaking up every moment. Her dream is the big one: Melbourne to Osaka, double-handed. She’s studying Pip Hare’s videos, reading every tip she can find, and pushing herself to get comfortable in every role onboard.

“I live sailing,” she says. “It’s in everything. You have to drive yourself—be patient, speak up, and stay curious. When people see that, they’ll start trusting you. That’s when it clicks.”

Why the WHNR Race Matters

Some people ask, “Why do we need a women’s race?” Rachel answers without blinking: “Because we need to prompt opportunity. We need to create space for people to grow and that's exactly what both Catherine and Leo have provided me... I'll be eternally grateful..."

Photo by Rachel Mcguigan

She’s right. The ORCV Women’s Helm, Navigator & Radio Operator Race, now back in 2025 as a standalone passage race, is more than just a race. It’s a chance for women to step into leadership roles—at the helm, on the bow, on the radio, in the nav seat—and show what they’re made of.

Because the future of sailing depends on fresh hands and hungry hearts. And Rachel? She’s leading from the front.

Ready to Race? Saturday 26 July 2025 is just around the corner.

If you're a boat owner or skipper, the WHNR needs you. Match your boat with a crew through the ORCV’s Expression of Interest form, or for more information on how to enter go to the ORCV race page.

If you're a female sailor looking to jump onboard—helm, nav, radio, or crew—this is your moment. You can also complete the ORCV’s Expression of Interest form and take part. The team will match you to a boat accordingly.

Let’s get more women on the water, more often.

Weather and Navigator Courses Now Open!

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated Weather and Navigator courses, designed to empower boating enthusiasts, sailors, and adventurers with essential skills for mastering the seas. Whether you're a seasoned mariner or a newcomer to the world of sailing, these courses offer invaluable knowledge to enhance your safety, confidence, and enjoyment on the water.

Dive Into the Weather Course

Photo by Cyrus Allen

Understanding the weather is a cornerstone of safe and successful sailing. The ORCV Weather Course provides participants with the tools to interpret meteorological data, predict conditions, and make informed decisions on the water. From decoding synoptic charts to recognizing the signs of impending weather changes, this course equips you with practical skills that could make all the difference during your next voyage.

Tailored to suit a range of experience levels, the Weather Course is perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the elements. Visit the Weather Course page for full details on session dates and booking information.

Chart Your Path with the Navigator Course

Navigation is the art and science of finding your way across the open water, and the ORCV Navigator Course is your gateway to mastering it. This comprehensive program covers everything from traditional chart work to modern electronic navigation techniques. Learn how to plot courses, account for tides and currents, and use the latest tools to ensure you reach your destination safely and efficiently.

Whether you’re preparing for a coastal cruise or an offshore adventure, this course offers hands-on learning that’s both practical and engaging. Check out the Navigator Course page to explore the program details and secure your spot.

Book 2 Courses and Save 25%

To celebrate the launch of these exciting courses, ORCV is delighted to offer a 25% discount for participants who enroll in both the Weather and Navigator courses.

If you want to take advantage of this exclusive deal, simply book each course separately and enter the promo code Weather&Nav2025 in the Gift Certificate/Promotion Code box at checkout for each course. This is a fantastic opportunity to build a well-rounded skill set at a reduced rate!

Book your spot for the Weather Course and Navigator Course to start your journey toward becoming a more skilled and confident sailor.

The sea is calling—equip yourself with the knowledge to answer it. We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

Margaret Goddard Honoured as Royal Yacht Club of Victoria’s Club Member of the Year

Marg Goddard at the helm of Twice Five during the Geelong return in 2023

Congratulations to Margaret Goddard on her award this week as one of two Royal Yacht Club of Victoria’s Club Member of the Year Season 2024-25.

Marg is a boat owner, passionate sailor, first-class volunteer, and has many strings to her bow.

At her home club, she is a regular volunteer assisting race management, and as a chaplain is also called upon for the annual “Blessing of the Fleet” ceremony. And when not at her home club, Marg also volunteers for race management and Incident management roles as a member of the ORCV (Ocean Racing Club of Victoria) for their various bay and ocean races. She is also a long time member and on committee of MTYC – Melbourne Trailable Yacht Club.

A lifelong sailor, since her childhood Marg has been fascinated by everything sailing, and has a lifetime of experience “messing around in boats” from early days in dinghies, progressing to trailer sailers and later keelboats, always bringing her prodigious DIY skills to the fore.

With her teaching background, she has mentored many sailors, whether running school sailing camps or encouraging, mentoring and inspiring more women to get out on the water to progress their sailing dreams.

The launch in 2022 of QCYC’s KISS (Keelboat Introduction to Sailing Savvy) training program - for women, by women - saw Marg sign up as a boat owner to provide on water training and mentoring for other women and was soon co-opted to join the KISS Committee. Since then, she has been involved in developing and delivering Safety Workshops including VHF radio and MOB and freelancing as a KISS event photographer when needed.

Most recently, Marg has joined yet another yacht club, Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club (GLYC), penned her Noelex trailer sailer there and represented the ORCV KISS ALIVE program, assisting with delivery of a very successful Safety Workshop day at the GLYC “WOW (Women on Water) Gathering” last month.

Always cool, calm, collected and willing to support, Margaret is a great role model and inspiration for many sailors. Check out the photo of the beaming faces of the women in her KISS 2023 boat team aboard her Northshore 33 “Twice Five” and you can see how everyone aboard is having so much fun.

Congratulations Marg!