THE XX FACTOR

Janet Thornley will do her maiden Sydney Hobart with an all except one female crew. Her husband Alan Dowler “is aboard to do some helming and fix things that break,” Thornley says. The enduring Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR) competitor purchased the MBD41 design to provide a platform for women in sailing and to increase participation of women in offshore racing.

The Sydney Hobart was the end goal and the 80^th running was irresistible. Some of the South Australian’s crew are also exponents of the AWKR, including Belinda Duivenvoorden. This yacht is the 1995 winner, Terra Firma, built for Scott Carlisle and Dean Wilson the year she won.

Still bearing the same sail number, she then became The Banshee and did a couple of Hobarts before Thornley bought her.

Competitor Details