Catch up with Wendy in our late October interview as she prepares to compete again in the Annual Rolex Sydney Hobart race. Play the audio below – you will find Wendy at 11:45 minutes in – following the Americas’ Cup update with Christopher Caen, Karen Lile and NYYC Commodore Christopher Culvert.
Wendy is preparing to race in the 76th Rolex Sydney to Hobart often harrowing race – but this time double handing! For those who are not familiar with this course – the crews are typically 6-12 strong. Held near the end of December when the wind conditions are favorable. Follow her journey of training and seeking sponsorship on her website.
Tuck was born in Australia in 1965. Having begun sailing at the age of 24, she has competed in 13 Sydney Hobart races and was the first woman skipper to finish in 2017, earning the Jane Tate Memorial Trophy.
Wendy Tuck (born c.1965) is a yachtswoman and previous chief instructor and principal at the Clipper Race training base in Sydney, Australia. She was the first female skipper to win a round-the-world yacht race.
Tuck first took part in the Clipper Round the World race in 2015-16, becoming the first Australian woman to do so. In 2017-2018 she became the only Australian to repeat the challenge skippering the 70-foot yacht, Sanya Serenity Coast, over 40,000 nautical miles and six oceans. The yachts are named after the tall ship clippers that raced tea to England. Tuck’s crew was not constant and changed regularly throughout the race. On 27 July 2018 12.36 (UTC) she crossed the finish line becoming the first female skipper to win the Clipper Round the World race (or any Round the World yacht race). The second-placed yacht was also skippered by a woman, Nikki Henderson.
She subsequently won the Australian Yachtswoman of the year and Australian Ocean Sailor of the year in 2018.
She was a guest skipper on Maiden‘s global voyage in 2018 in support of The Maiden Factor Foundation which stopped in San Francisco at the St. Francis Yacht Club and South Beach Yacht Club as one of its many destinations.
Find previous interviews with Wendy on Sail Sport Talk here and here.