The Team
Who are we?
Jane Williams is our volunteer lead who got the project off the ground, supported by helms Karen Melling and Fiona Hiscox and members Heidi Channing, Barbara Hall, Karen Wilson and Claire Mills. We are supported by a wider group of experienced dinghy and cruiser female sailors in the club.
Rob Adams (Club Professional) will be supporting the administration for the sessions.
We are involved in many areas of the Club, and are very approachable. If you have a general question, then I am sure we can help you, or signpost you to the experts, some of us have particular qualifications and interests which are highlighted below.
Why do we do this?
Organisations such as the RYA and Sport England have highlighted the huge difference in numbers of men and women participating in sport. Generally, women respond to having set dates (to work home / work / family commitments around), and to joining a group of other women to take part. Many of our sailors are novice, however, those that do already sail have joined in so that they can have a go at different roles in sailing (e.g. dinghy helm if always crew, bowman on cruisers or helming cruisers etc.). Whilst the club has plenty of opportunities to take part in sailing, our group has responded well to specific women only sessions, giving confidence and camaraderie.
Ultimately, we would like our female members to make the most of their membership subscriptions, with many of the group never having sailed before! The positive promotion of women in sailing will hopefully increase our number of active female sailors, and iron out the imbalance currently seen – at our club we have a 60:40 spread of male to female members, but that is not reflected on the water.
Our “Girls Go Sailing” scheme follows the ethos of the national campaign, This Girl Can , which positive promotes female involvement in exercise and sport. More details at http://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/activities/sailing/
Jane Williams
Chair of the Girls Go Sailing Steering Group
Extensive dinghy racing in UK and Europe. Cruising experience includes transatlantic crossing and trips in my cruising yacht Indulgence to Azores, France, Spain, Portugal and Scotland. Just basically love being on the water!!
Email – Janesnich35@gmail.com
Karen Melling
RYA Yachtmaster Instructor
Enjoyed learning to sail with my brothers – if we stayed dried we must have got it right. First sailing course I did was when I was 37, then I realised you learn much quicker being taught! I very much enjoy teaching now.
Barbara Hall
Helps out with our GGS social events and keeping everyone in touch.
I joined the club 10 years ago and initially went on some courses (PB2, Competent Crew, Safety Boat) but hadn’t done much sailing since, so I joined GGS to give me a push and what a great time I’ve had as a result!!
If you are thinking of joining us but aren’t quite sure it’s for you, just email me with your contact number and I’ll give you a call and you can ask me any questions to help you decide one way or the other.
Fiona Hiscox
Helps us get some goodies for our ladies and support for our events
A fair weather cruising sailor, a new ESC member but with several years of cruising from the Exe, along the SW Coast including the Isles of Scilly and Brittany. I continue to expand my horizons and combat my anxieties. I understand the ups, downs and joy of cruising, and offer advice and signposting with enthusiasm.
Karen Wilson
Loves meeting new people, so if you’re looking to find out about GGS, then please get in touch.
I am new to Exmouth so finding my feet with the club and local sailing conditions! Mainly I have raced dinghies but I am keen to enjoy the wide range of club activities and help others to do the same.
Heidi Channing
Helps Karen with supporting our GGS interested members to access what we offer
I joined the sailing club in 2019 as I have always loved being on the water. I have had motor boats but never sailed. So I took the competent crew course. I volunteer with the GGS group and assist with new members.
Becca Neil
Dinghy instructor and the youngest in our group and happy to help those who are in education and young at heart.
I have been a member of the sailing club all my life, with my parents joining before I was born. I started sailing from a very early age, achieving my RYA Assistant Instructor not long after I turned 11. I have continued to volunteer in the training centre and helping new sailors discover the group.
Gill Stacey
I started sailing as a child in a Mirror dinghy and a Laser Radial. I joined this wonderful Club 4 years ago, and I thoroughly love cruising around in my Laser up the river and out to sea. The social activities are great too, there’s even an Art Club and a Christmas choir! I simply love being on the water, in RIBs and yachts too, and I feel passionate about supporting and encouraging others, whether that’s in dinghies, yachts, cruising or racing. Any help, support and confidence building you may feel you need is here waiting for you – just get in touch.
Claire Mills
Last Year I joined Exe Sailing Club having not done much sailing in the last 30 years and was immediately welcomed into Girls Go Sailing. During the season I volunteered for Sailability and crewed once a week on the Hawk which I found extremely rewarding and fun. I was also encouraged to join the cruiser racing on a Thursday night. Prior to that I did my RYA Day Skippers Certificate (In the 80s),and cruised the South West, Mediterranean, Caribbean, again all about 30 years ago. It has been so good to get back on the water after such a long break and I recommend it to anyone who is slightly hesitant like I was.
Last updated 22:12 on 1 October 2024