This year’s Marlay Point Overnight Race will feature four all-female crews, including a team of friends who usually explore the calm waters of Bunga Arm as part of their annual week-long Sea Scout camp each January.
The crew of WHO RAAH, one of four Bonito 22s competing this year, includes Rosie, Andrea, Anna and Holly.
Rosie, 16, the youngest of the crew, has been sailing dinghies on Port Phillip Bay. This will be her first Marlay Point race, and she is eager to experience her first overnight race.
Andrea, now in her 20s, grew up sailing on Lake Hume with the Albury Wodonga Sailing Club. She has spent many summers on the Gippsland Lakes supporting young people to explore the natural environment. A veteran of several Marlay Point races, Andrea is the driving force behind bringing the crew together and is excited to race alongside her scouting friends.
After a 25-year break, Anna is returning to compete in her third Marlay Point race. Inspired by the Swallows and Amazons books, she began sailing in primary school at Somers Yacht Club before moving onto keel boats and ocean racing in her 20s. A long-time advocate for women in sailing, Anna helped develop the Women’s Keel Boat Regatta in the mid-1990s. Today, she enjoys sailing with Sea Scouts across Victoria and mentoring the next generation of sailors.
Holly rounds out the crew, having sailed with her family all her life. This will be her second Marlay Point race, competing alongside her father and brothers, Brook and Jack Felsenthal. Above all, Holly is looking forward to sharing the experience with her fellow crew members and enjoying the camaraderie of the race.
