The KISS of Success
The ORCV takes great delight in announcing that the KISS Program has been nominated in the 2026 National Australian Sailing Awards SheSails category. This recognition is enormous and pays tribute to the work of the KISS Committee over the past 5 years. We could not have reached this level of success without the generous support of 25 Boat Owners. They gave up their time, shared their knowledge and allowed our new KISS sailors to learn on-water skills on their well-found and valuable vessels.
The responsibility of imparting knowledge was also shared by our 29 mentors, who through their patience and care, our 145 participants became confident and useful crew members.
Each participant had their own sailing dream whether it be racing around the Bay or to Hobart, cruising their own boat up the East Coast of Australia or down to QCYC. We know that KISS has played a part in bringing that bucket list item, closer to being a reality.
KISS is designed by women, for women and in the main, presented by women. The language we use is simple, acronym free and clear. Our 12 female presenters and 9 KISS Committee members, provided not only the benefit of lessons learned during their lived sailing experiences but shone a light on women in sailing. You can’t be, what you can’t see, our presenters and committee members made sure that our participants understood that sailing is not only enjoyable but possible for females of all ages.
There are many reasons to be grateful for the generosity of the people who have been on the KISS journey to success. Our participants, some of whom are now boat owners, racing regularly, crewing on cruising boats or chartering yachts in the Whitsundays or in Europe,
we owe you a debt of gratitude. You took the step to leave your fear on the shore and become part of the KISS community of women sailing and learning together. Thank you.
And as Dee Mason says, “and the winner is sailing”. Whether KISS is a winner on the national stage is yet to be known but as the founder of the program I feel like we have already won.
When you visit any yacht club in Victoria, you will see women, active at all levels, living out their dreams and winning.
Words and photos by Lee Renfree, KISS Founder
