INTRODUCING NO MAN’S LAND
Sydney 38 – Owned and Skippered by Sal Balharrie
There’s no such thing as a big decision. There’s just a thousand mini-decisions in the lead up. I’m not one to agonise, to dwell on the – should I, shouldn’t I. For me, opportunities either stack up or they do not. Granted I have a high tolerance for risk packaged neatly with a low threshold for boredom. So buying a Sydney38 was a completely logical decision.
And there you have the mindset of the person who purchased Chutzpah38,
renamed her No Man’s Land and sent out a curious email to a broad range of women, with one key question – would you like to learn how to sail?
In less than 24 hours I had a core of 12 prepared to commit to the challenge of learning how to sail, together as a team, headed for the Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta.
For a moment, think about your own boats, your own crews and think about your collective years of boating experience. On Fair Winds (our other boat, a 1956 Rhodes 43) there’s a core crew of 6 men with 275 years collective sailing experience. Do the maths and that averages out at 45 years a piece. While on No Man’s Land – with a crew of 12 women – there’s my 30 years and Angela’s 10, and that’s it. 3.3 years a piece. That. Is. It.
Sobering or, incredible exciting. I’ll take exciting. Clearly. Blank slates, fresh and keen, loaded with intelligence and smarts at a time in their lives when they realise it’s difficult to make new friends, learn new skills, join new teams with a shared goal. The operative word here being – keen.
Sarita, in one of her moments of inspired wisdom said “Sal, you know why we’re all here?” I looked at her at little lost, because on day one I didn’t know. “Everyone has been drawn to this boat to build self-confidence. Everyone in some way or another was lacking and No Man’s Land is a path towards it.”
It’s an interesting thought. It’s also interesting to reflect that for people looking to to build confidence, choosing to learn how to race a boat when you’ve never done it before is a sizable jump out of comfort zones. But if a greater sense of self confidence is to be found in satisfaction of achievement as a team, the choice is perfect.
For me sailing is an escape and the boat a sanctuary where we leave all the other stuff that’s going on in our lives on the dock and we sail. It’s why I love being on helm. The only thing that matters is the start, then rounding the first mark, then the second, then the … I love being in that zone of laser focus.
I also happen to be a competitive person. Being on a start with Adrenalin in my veins is my happy place. And here I am, on helm, Skipper a fast boat, crewed with novices.
After the passage race to Geelong, having a glass of wine with my sister, moored beside a top notch Sydney38 crew like Chainsaw, Kylie asked me if I regretted my choice, “Do you wish you’d put it round to hot sailors that you were looking for crew?” And while I thought about this for a fleeting second, the answer was a resounding “No, no regrets. Not one”. You see, I’m not setting out to primarily win trophies, I’m setting out to build a culture, to have experiences that shape people’s lives off the boat, just as much as on. Don’t get me wrong, my girls can attest to how seriously we take it every single time we step on board The Man, as she is affectionately known. However the level of seriousness is not cast towards winning, it’s cast towards doing things safely and well, I can honestly say, it is the journey that matters. This is more a mindset of personal best and if we all aspire to be the very best we can personally be, well then we’re all winners in my book.
Meet the women of No Man’s Land and make sure you follow our journey on Instagram @no_mans_land_racing and launching March 1 – www.nomaslandracing.com
Sal Balharrie – Helm
Began by windsurfing with her dad on Swan Bay. Married a sailor. Bought their first boat in the UK, spent a year travelling the French Canals, circumnavigated Corsica age 23. Ran a sailing holiday company in Greece. Owned Cotton Blossom, then Fair Winds. Bruce Taylor offered her Chutzpah38. Now growing the culture that is No Man’s Land. Plan to do AWKR, Hamilton Island, don’t rule out a Hobart.
Kylie Balharrie – Trim
It’s taken a career running hotels and raising three kids to be old enough to leave on weekends for Kylie to realise that she is every inch a natural sailor, just like her sister. On board Kylie’s culinary skills find her much, much loved! The Balharrie Sisters prove that country kids get stuff done! Little prior experience.
Angela Riolo – Main
A young woman with sailing knowledge well beyond her years. Able to move to any role on the boat, Angela is generous and calm with how she shares insights pre and post-race and all bits in-between. Quick with a joke. Has a questionable passion for tattoos. Is fast becoming Sal’s right-hand, girl. Solid Experience.
Sarita Johan – Halyards
Both on and off the boat, Sarita is the Office. In her other life, Sarita is a business coach, training teams all over the world to excel in the concept of personal best. A watchful observer, Sarita’s smarts are the stuff of team glue. Recreational experience.
Jess Zhang – Trim
When I first sent out the email testing the water to see who’d be interested in this mad idea, Jess was my first responder. And her previous experience? Jess once traveled on a Hong Kong ferry – so not a lot, though she has a super power – Jess is seriously intelligent and is crafting process around all she’s learning. No prior experience.
Rima Yiyu – Trim
When Rima heard about the boat, nothing was going to stop her being a part of it. She literally told Sal so – how could Sal say no to this dynamo who was flying the kite like a pro in under 20 mins. Rima is the glamorous one. No prior experience.
Petrina Dorrington – Sail Runner
If Jess was first responder, Petrina was second – with a super affirmative – count me in, I need this! It’s people like Petrina who keep teams grounded and focused on learning in ways that enrich all, building confidence over time. From the humble of boating beginnings, watch this smart chick fly. Even her partner is in on the act with talk of water based purchase!! Passions taking hold. No prior experience.
Nadine Tabak – Mast
One day there was a girl wandering along the pier looking for Matrix. Sorry Matrix, we grabbed her and we’re not letting her go! This Kiwi dynamo sets kites flying. She’s plugged every course into Navionics. She’s bloody smart and focused and found our way around Course 34 – our first race without coaches – like a salty. No prior experience.
Marie Panguard – Bow
If Rima is the glamorous one, Marie is the cool one. She’s French. Hailing from Les Sables d’Olonne, sailing is in her blood – it’s just that she hasn’t done a lot of it, yet. She’s got the cool gear. She’s got the cool attitude and she’s freakingly talented on Bow. She’s tiny and she’s mighty. No prior experience.
Charlotte Stephens – Campaign Co-ordinator
A smoothly run ship relies on smooth organisation. While Charlotte has been a member of the team from day one, an unfortunate ACL injury has found her dockside. Fingers crossed she’ll be back on board late Feb. Charlotte is instrumental in working with Sal to evolve the NML brand, website and podcasts which we’ll be launch in the coming months. No prior experience.
If you see the team around the club then please make them welcome and say hi.
