Girls just have fun racing

Girls can get away with seemingly everything and that’s the way Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s Susannah Pyatt, Danielle Bowater and Taylor Holland like it.

Even with the disappointing 11th place finish in this year’s Governor’s Cup International Junior Match Racing Championship, the only all-female team in the tournament’s history is first for a number of fans.

“We got heaps of support,” said Bowater, Royal New Zealand’s middle-woman. “Everyone seemed to like us. It didn’t matter how we did.”

However, the team’s disadvantage was exploited in the water — especially the two days the winds picked up to above 12 knots — and reflects its six total points at the Gov Cup.

“We were a lot smaller and several KGs lighter than the other teams,” said Pyatt, Royal New Zealand’s skipper. “We don’t have much help when the wind picks up.”

This was also Pyatt’s first time in a match race and the team has raced together for less than a month.

But it didn’t matter if the winds were howling at 20 knots or if they had been practicing for years. All three said the Southern Californian weather was the “huge highlight” and a good change from New Zealand.

“Home at the moment is between minus one and 15 degree Celsius throughout the country,” said Holland, Royal New Zealand’s bow-woman. “It rains heaps and it’s just [horrible].”

Aside from racing, all three said they liked to listen to music and socialize with friends.

At this year’s Gov Cup, some of the social activities they enjoyed were the beer can racing — an event hosted at the Balboa Yacht Club — going down to the Balboa Pier and eating ice cream, and taking the ferry.

“It was pretty funny,” Bowater said. “It was [only] three cars. Back home a small one for us was like 20 cars. Then we got on this ferry and asked ‘Is that all’ and they said ‘Yep’ and we’re like ‘Whoa.’ ”

Far as music, Holland said she likes to listen to all types, especially old school, but quipped Bowater prefers more of the modern sounds.

“Danielle is into gangster beats,” Holland said, and to which Bowater didn’t deny.

Royal New Zealand team is staying with BYC host Chris Hamiem and thanked everyone involved in the Gov Cup for all their support

“It’s one of the most prestigious regattas amongst our sailing age group so it’s really cool to be here,” Holland said. “It’s been such a good learning curve for all of us.”