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Women to the Fore at East Down Yacht Club

12th August 2023
Women paddle boarding at East Down Yacht Club
Women paddle boarding at East Down Yacht Club

Women have always featured prominently at East Down Yacht Club in Northern Ireland, with several holding club officer positions over the years.

Now in an initiative by Margie Crawford, the New Members Liaison officer, and following a very successful Women’s Cruise in Company in June, lady members once again took to the water, but this time on a much smaller craft.

The club is blessed with a sheltered stretch of the western shore of Strangford Lough inside Island Taggart.

Two paddleboarding sessions were run last weekend, with 14 members taking part.

During the afternoon, the sessions were run by Senior Instructor Kelly Richardson of WaveRides, Belfast, with light winds and a few torrential rainstorms passing through.

Team work or disaster - EDYC Women enjoy a paddle boarding sessionTeam work or disaster - EDYC Women enjoy a paddle boarding session

Nothing deterred the ladies, however, and the sessions finished with a challenge on the Mammoth 18ft paddleboard; as Margie says, “It was all about teamwork or else disaster!”.

Betty Armstrong

About The Author

Betty Armstrong

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Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down

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