Hobart mum leading the way on International Women’s Day

Cook your own dinner – Jill’s going sailing. In fact she is skipper of the only all-female crew competing at this year’s national championship regatta in the Derwent this long weekend.

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WHEN Jill Abel called her boat Cook Your Own Dinner, she wasn’t kidding.

It was a shot across the bow of her family – you guys can fend for yourself midweek while I go and sail.

It was great “me time” for Jill.

The 51-year-old Hobart mum was part of the crew that won the Australian SB20 women’s sailing championship last year.

Jill Abel skipper of boat Cook Your Own Dinner will compete in the SB20 Australian Championships over the long weekend. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

And on International Women’s Day, she is proud to be skipper of the only all-female crew competing at this year’s national championship regatta in the Derwent this long weekend.

“There are two other boats with female helms, but for the women’s division you need to have a female helm and 50 per cent of your crew to be female,” she said.

“Both of those other boats have one male onboard, and we’re the only one with four females.”

Jill is a gun sailor and knows the Derwent like the back of her hand.”

The quality of the field in the high-competitive one-design keel boat class is red-hot.

It includes world champions, national champions and Americas Cup sailors.

“The River Derwent throws out enough surprises every single day that it never gives us a home advantage,” Jill said.

“The teams that are here are quite regular visitors for SB20 racing as well.

“The field is such a mix of social sailors, professional sailors, amateurs who take things very seriously, and that’s what makes the class so much fun.”

Originally published as Hobart mum leading the way on International Women’s Day