The Making Waves Foundation will take part in the Festival of Sails for the first time in 2024.
Legendary female skipper, Wendy Tuck, the first female skipper to win the Clipper Round the World Race, and Sailing Operations Manager for Making Waves will helm the TP52 class yacht for racing and try sailing opportunities, at what will surprisingly also be her first Festival of Sails.
“I haven’t actually taken part in the Festival of Sails, can you believe it?!” exclaimed the well-travelled Wendy Tuck. “I can’t wait to sail and take part in Festival of Sails 2024 with the Making Waves Foundation!”
Making Waves Foundation is an Australian registered not-for-profit charitable organisation, which has been providing unique on-water experiences for young people with disabilities or young adults experiencing disadvantage out of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club for the past 12 months.
“Making Waves used to be known as Sailors with Disabilities”, said Tuck. “It started just over 27 years ago, [first] taking adults with disability to Hobart, and then started taking children out on jaunts around the Harbour”. “We have morphed and grown”, she continued. “We are just about to start operating in our fifth location [Brisbane], we have changed our name to the Making Waves Foundation, and we mainly focus on taking kids with disability sailing”.
“Then we took the big step down to Royal Geelong Yacht Club”, she exclaimed. “Geelong has been so supportive of us, getting us a berth, looking after us, and it’s a great location”.
“We took the boat down there last year, but we just didn’t do the regatta, so it’s exciting to be sailing in Festival of Sails. I can’t wait!”
“This is the best bit about sailing as a sport, there is a level of participation for everyone, and at an event like the Festival of Sails, taking part and the community is just as important as the racing.”
In the spirit of participation, the Making Waves Foundation will be offering try sailing opportunities on their TP52 Yacht located on Wangim Walk from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th January for anyone who wishes to participate, or to see what Making Waves is all about!
“I’m hoping you are going to see lots of big smiles for our crew and all who come sailing”, said Tuck.
“I can’t wait to be in Geelong for the Festival of Sails!”
Make sure you put Festival of Sails in your diary, 26-28 January 2024.
About Festival of Sails
The Festival of Sails combines history with tradition; heritage with technology; tactics with teamwork.
First held in 1844, the Festival of Sails has consistently attracted the highest calibre of sailing craft and crew, family and friends, attracting over 100,000 visitors every January, held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) and along the Geelong waterfront.
In 1997, the successful merger of the Geelong Waterfront Festival and RGYC’s historic regatta saw the beginning of a new major event in Victoria – the Festival of Sails. The Festival of Sails is strongly supported by the Victorian Government and the City of Greater Geelong, along with several other stakeholders.
Festival of Sails is particularly famous for its Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race – the oldest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere – which kicks off the festival each year and in 2024 will celebrate its 181st anniversary.
About Making Waves Foundation
Our team of dedicated volunteers are passionate about sailing and committed to supporting and encouraging participants to realise their potential. We also extend our programs to caregivers of people with disability, offering exhilarating adventures on the water that foster a more profound sense of connection and community.
Since 1994, we’ve empowered hundreds of young people with disability and youth experiencing disadvantages to discover their potential through sailing. Our programs can transform lives, from helping participants develop new skills and friendships to building confidence and self-esteem.
https://makingwaves.au
Story by Nicole Douglass
Presenter, commentator, multi-platform journalist/PR pro & content creator
Sunset Media – Adventures of a Sailor Girl
