News - 2012

12:00 Sunday 12 Aug 2012 Sue Pelling/CWLGill Smith makes debut as first-ever female Principal Race Officer at the regatta

The conditions on the opening day of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week produced spectacular racing. Winds from the east gusted to over 20 knots and, as crews came ashore, there was plenty of praise for those running the racing.

Interestingly, a piece of history was made yesterday, when Gill Smith of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) became the first ever female Principal Race Officer to run racing in the 186 years of the event.

Smith, who is a member of RTYC, has been involved with Cowes Week for over 25 years and, as well as competing, she has carried out most other roles in race management at the event over the years. Not surprisingly when Malcolm McKeag (who was the previous RTYC representative at the regatta) retired, Smith was the natural option to take his place. Smith commented, “It was time for me to step up to the mark, and today was quite a step forward and an historic occasion. Irrespective of gender its a great privilege”

Although Cowes Week is steeped in tradition, it is refreshing to see an event keen to embrace change. For Smith however, today’s debut as Principal Race Officer meant there was a lot resting on her shoulders. “I think it means less to get it right, than it would mean if I had got it wrong.”

Smith continued: “The key to success is making sure there are a lot of supportive people involved. That makes all the difference. You have to be able to trust and respect the knowledge of others and give them the opportunity to utilise their skills. When you can do that, everything else falls into place.”

Smith and her team including representatives from the other two clubs – the Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, which make up the First Triumvirate - will be back on the Platform at the Royal Yacht Squadron tomorrow to complete three days of duty.

The clubs rotate two years at a time as head of the Triumvirate. This year and next year it is the turn of the Royal Thames YC, then the responsibility will rest with the Royal London YC for two years, followed by the Royal Southampton YC.