Departing long-term yacht race participant Louise Becker shares her story

 
Last Sunday I was received a lovely and overwhelming surprise farewell from Dinah Beach as I completed my last Wet Season Race. True to form it was memorable sail having to stop mid race to allow the Gas Tanker to pass and then getting caught in a dramatic storm right on the finish line.
I would like to thank Joy for her very kind words which left me too emotional at the time to say anything in return. So here are a few words now.
I began sailing the West Season Races back in about 1988 on Saltotu a 33” Steel Temptress with my then husband Gavin.
I moved on later to sail controversially on Singapore Sling a 40’ trimaran with Peter Charles.
My independent skippering started with what became known as the pregnant Catamaran, Bird of Azure. And after selling her I moved down to a 25’ Peter Joubert sloop, Witchetty .
When I finally bought and started racing Boussole I remember the volunteers on the trailer saying “Finally Louise you have bought something that moves and we won’t have to wait until near dark waiting for you to cross the finish line”
Most importantly what kept me coming back to the club each season and racing no matter how I placed (and in those early days it was usually last!) was the warm, friendly and very supportive nature of this club. You knew you could just get out there and give it a go and that is what I have done all these years.
I joined the committee just because I believed it was time to give a little back and I have to say that those meetings provided me the opportunity to get to know some wonderful and very hard working Dinah Beach members and I see the club just going from strength to strength under the current Committee, Commodore and Manager.
I would finally like to thank my intrepid crew. It has been a pleasure to enthuse so many women to sailing over the years. Well done.
Although I will most likely not return to the Wet Season Races I will be back in the dry and hopefully once again join in the fun and pleasure of racing to Ambon.
Thank you all.
Louise (aka Captain Chaos)