A group of ladies will now be able to take the wheel at the helm of their vessels having qualified for their skipper’s tickets through a dedicated women’s course initiated by Cockburn Power Boats (CPB) with the support of iiCaptain and a Recfishwest community grant.
Two groups of five women, either members or contacts of CPB, took the course in the Woodman Point boat harbour lead by iiCaptain instructors.
The course consisted of instruction, a theory test and a practical test out on the water and all 10 ladies passed with flying colours!
CPB First Rear Commodore Tim Carson said, “We saw a lot of ladies coming down and going out on the water with their partners, but it was always the males reversing the trailer and driving the boat. We talked to a few of the ladies and we saw an opportunity to provide some training and to enable them to take charge of the boat.
“With some funding through a Recfishwest community grant and additional support from iiCaptain and the club, we were able to offer the course at a discounted cost.
“It’s been a great success, and we’ll certainly be looking to do more of this in the future – it’s good for safety, it’s good for getting more women involved in fishing and boating and it’s great fun too!”
Karin Barnes said getting her skipper’s ticket was always something she wanted to do and the opportunity to learn with a bunch of fellow women gave her the positive nudge she needed.
“We’ve got a boat and I’ve always wanted the skipper’s ticket to be safe – I know you only need one skipper’s ticket, but the more you have on board the safer it is,” said Karin. “It’s been a much easier accomplishment doing it as a team of ladies. With this bunch of ladies it puts you at ease – you don’t feel like you’ve got anything to prove. So, a big thank you to Cockburn Power Boats.”
CPB member Kristi Rant added, “It was really enjoyable and a great atmosphere out there today – a really positive environment to learn in.”
Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland commented,”Congratulations to all the women on successfully gaining their skipper’s ticket. And what better place to learn the ropes behind the wheel in the safe and accessible waters of Cockburn Sound? This is a great initative by a great club helping make fishing even more inclusive, and Recfishwest is happy to support it with a community grant.”
