Progress for world’s oldest yacht club

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
It was in 2012 when I wrote how my wife’s yacht club did not have spousal membership, which I assumed I had, with this report prompting some ‘shock and awe’ by people who assumed the same.

Changing gender policy can be contentious, as it was for one club established in 1928. My wife’s club eventually updated its by-laws to recognize spouses, but it appeared this situation was more common for old clubs than newer clubs.

Given that, progress has occurred with the world’s oldest yacht club now having its first female commodore. Founded in 1720, the Royal Cork Yacht Club made history with the election of Annamarie Fegan.

Commenting on her election, Fegan said she stands “on the shoulders of outstanding female members who worked tirelessly for the club but were not given this opportunity.”