On the weekend HHSC hosted OptiChicks – and what an incredible success it was!
More than 40 girls took to the water, mentored and inspired by some of Australia’s brightest young sailors. Sylvie Stannage, our lead mentor, guided the weekend alongside Mina Ferguson, with additional support on Saturday from Caitlin, Harper, Paige, Stella, India Sara, Gretel, Isobel and Victoria (2016 Opti World Champion from Malta). Almost all of these mentors were past Opti sailors who had attended OptiChicks themselves and returned to give back to the next generation – a true testament to the event’s spirit.
On Saturday night, the girls were treated to a special Q&A session with Evie Haseldine and Vanessa Dudley. They generously shared stories from their sailing journeys, advice on handling nerves before racing, strategies for bouncing back after a tough race, and their personal goals in the sport. The evening ended with t-shirt signings, leaving the girls inspired and motivated.
The weekend was filled with sailing adventures, learning opportunities, a big boat tour, and the fun of a clubhouse sleepover. The energy and enthusiasm of the girls was infectious, and it was wonderful to see such a supportive community coming together.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We are grateful for the support of:
Thank You to Volunteers
A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and volunteers who made the weekend possible. Jay, Sophie, and Bec worked tirelessly to set up and run the event, while Amal and Heather kept everyone well-fed with their support at dinner. Andy and others manned the BBQ, Andrew and James captured fantastic memories through their photography, and Alessio for his social media coverage. On the water, we were grateful for the race support provided by Ben, Phil, and Matt. And a special mention goes to Felicity and Noni, who generously stayed overnight to help supervise the sleepover — your support was invaluable.
The OptiChicks event is inspiring the next generation of female sailors and strengthening our community spirit.
