As the five-minute horn pierces the air, 15 J-24 sailboats will be wrestling for the perfect spot on the start line.

Anxious crews will trim jibs, mains and watch their competitors as they fight for clean air.

The start is when the adrenaline gets pumping, says Sail Naked’s skipper Danielle Roberts.

The boats are in close quarters, sometimes just feet apart. Timing is paramount, every second counts.

Roberts has sailed and raced for seven years, but the races on Sept. 12-13 will be a first.

That weekend, when Roberts and her crew bare down on the start line they’ll be alongside an all-women fleet as West Vancouver Yacht Club hosts the Women’s National Keelboat Championships.

“It’s exciting,” Roberts says while her crew prepares the boat for a practice sail. “Predominately (sailing) has been a male dominated sport. It will be nice to get out there with a bunch of women.”

With up to six members per crew, the championships are drawing approximately 100 female sailors from across Canada to the North Shore, says the yacht club’s race chair Sonia Telford.

It’s a healthy number and one that’s growing, she adds.

When Telford joined the club 13 years ago, there were two female boat owners in its membership, today there are more than 10. Last year Telford became the club’s first female commodore.

“Promoting women’s sailing is a particular passion of mine,” she says.

Although there is some brute force involved, sailboat racing has a lot to do with tactics.

The wind, ocean currents and other boats’ positions all play a role in what course a skipper decides on. It’s an empowering sport, Telford says.

“When things go wrong you can’t just get out and walk away,” she adds.

Some of the yachting world’s big names are female. Eight years ago, British sailor Ellen MacArthur finished second in the single-handed Vendee Globe round-the-world race after 94 days, eight hours and 22 minutes. A year later she went on to win the transatlantic single-handed race Route du Rhum in a record time.

With such sailors inspiring female newcomers, the yacht club’s junior sailing program is split 50-50 boys and girls, Telford says.

“We have a generation (of sailors) where (gender) was never really an issue,” she says.

Sail Naked is ready. There’s enough wind to full her sails and the crew is eager to get out on the water. Before Roberts joins them, she puts in one last word.

“Sailings fun. There are great people (involved in the sport), it is a challenge and there’s speed.”

Inspiring female sailors

Dee Caffari — This British sailor was the first women to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world “the wrong way,” meaning westward against the prevailing winds and currents.

Lisa Ross — This Canadian sailor has attend two Olympic Games. In Athens she placed 16th overall and in Beijing she placed 17th.

Isabella Bertold — This B.C. sailor is a part of the 2009 Canadian Youth Sailing Team. Bertold placed 4th at the 2008 International Sailing Federation Youth World Championships in Denmark.

For more information on the races or if you want to get involved with sailing contact the yacht club by visiting www.wvyc.bc.ca or calling 604-921-7575.

raldous@northshoreoutlook.com