CSC Lady Helm Race 2026
What a satisfying end to the 2026 Northeast Monsoon sailing season! After a successful Commodore’s Cup last week, we expected the winds to ease slightly for the CSC Lady Helm Race — but we were glad to be proven wrong. A blustery 15–20 knots greeted the fleet, giving all 14 lady helms an exciting day on the water and putting their helmsmanship and sailing skills to the test.
It proved to be a true team effort, as the choppy seas and gusty conditions kept everyone on their toes throughout the race. Of course, sailing in such challenging weather does carry the risk of mishaps — and unfortunately for SMU Sailing Club, a minor one occurred aboard Quarterdeck. After hoisting the spinnaker on the downwind leg from Tekong Buoy, it wrapped tightly around the forestay, forcing the J24 to eventually retire to sort out the issue. Fortunately, the crew escaped unharmed, with only the spinnaker suffering damage.
Her sister ship fared better in the race. ShengLi battled through a couple of broaches but still managed to stay in touch with the bigger and faster boats in the IRC Class. Skipper Nicole ultimately steered her to 3rd place on corrected time. Just a minute ahead was the steady Claire Canning at the helm of Koru. The J29 adopted a conservative strategy, opting to sail the race under white sails only — a decision that proved wise, as they looked composed and in full control throughout the course.
However, neither could threaten the leading boat, Shardana. The Dufour 34 fielded an eclectic mix of experienced sailors and newcomers, with the ever-reliable Cara Loo returning to the helm. She guided the team confidently around the course to secure first place in the IRC Class.
In the PY Keelboat category, Waka Tere lined up with a full crew onboard. Fidelis Tan returned to the helm — her previous outing on the boat in 2023 also resulted in victory — and it seemed as though she had never left. Together with an experienced crew, she handled the heavy air with ease, delivering an excellent display of teamwork. Despite starting five minutes behind the IRC fleet, her performance closely matched the pace of the leading boats.
She successfully held off a strong comeback from Fortissimo 8, skippered by Lisette Sens. The Dehler 39 recovered impressively from a poor start to finish just seconds behind Waka Tere on corrected time. Meanwhile, the fight for the final podium spot came down to two J24s — Jock and RSYC Tiga. In the end, Jock, skippered by Nadine Hertel, edged ahead of Anthea Jackson’s RSYC Tiga by a mere 37 seconds. Close racing indeed!
Making it four consecutive victories, Aspiah Huri at the helm of Miss Visayan remains the undisputed Lady Helm Champion since 2023. Dot Dot Dot made her earn it, however, establishing a clear lead over the first two legs of the course. Miss Visayan refused to give up, eventually overtaking in the vicinity of Squance before holding the lead all the way to the finish.
Special mention must go to the crew of Dot Dot Dot, who rotated the helm between three talented sailors during the race. Well done to Anna, Lena, and Seulnan on a fantastic result.
Congratulations to all teams! Now an annual tradition, the CSC Lady Helm Race is held in conjunction with International Women’s Day (8 March), celebrating the economic, social, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. We look forward to welcoming an even larger fleet in 2027.
Results
- 25th Ambassadors’ Cup 31 October 2026 - 2nd November 2026
- CSC Twilight Series III 2026 – Race 2 - 25th October 2026
- CSC x NUS Seafarers Ketam Clean-Up 24 Oct 2026 - 25th October 2026
