Hot on the heels of several stories in Afloat about women appointed as Club Commodores, East Antrim Boat Club has joined the ranks again for 2023 as Lucy Whitford has been given that position for the third time.

When she was made Commodore in 2020, Lucy was only the third lady in the Club's 70-year history to enjoy that position. The others were Lilian Stewart and Anne Morris. 

Time was when a woman wouldn’t have been considered for the position of Officer or even a General Committee member. Many have faced the ‘glass ceiling’ syndrome, but thankfully times and attitudes are changing, and it has at last been recognised that a woman can do the job as well as a man. It is thought too, that for the first time in over 70 years, EABC has an even split female/male on the General Committee.

Although Lucy is a regular sailor, and her daughter Zoe is a leading ILCA 6 sailor, Lucy comes from a motorsport background. She competed in motorsport from the age of 16, first auto testing and then rallying, surely a lot faster than anything she would be used to now. It was a family thing as both her parents competed, and her husband is also involved.

Lucy says she is looking forward to working with Vice Commodore Chris Dorman as well as the other Committee members, including the women at the top – Hon Secretary Alison Liddle, Hon Treasurer Melanie Morris (well known in the GP14 world), RYA Principal Debbie Hanna and Caroline Wilson Membership Secretary.

Looking ahead, East Antrim Boat Club will run its Christmas Regatta on 27th December, a Junior Coaching Clinic at Half Term (13th -15th February) next year, and new for 2023, a ‘Ladies that Launch’ campaign to get females participating in a fun race series on a regular basis.